Richard Cornell

Citations

1. [S461] M.A. Rev. John Cornell, Genealogy of the Cornell Family: Being An Account of the Descendants of Thomas Cornell of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, pages 143-147 - RICHARD,' of Thomas,'b. about 1625, in England probably Co., Essex, as his sister Sarah at her marriage is recorded as being from Essex; d. 1694 (see will); m. Elizabeth* , about 1655. Children:
   2001 Richard, b. about 1656; d. 1725; m. Sarah before 1692.
   2002 Sarah, bap. July 4, 1657, Reformed Dutch Church, New York; m. (1) John Washburn; m. (2) Isaac Arnold, 1691.
   2003 Elizabeth, bap. July 2, 1662 (Sponsors, Sarah Bridges and George Woolsey); in. 1679, John Lawrence.
   2004' William, b. about r667; d. 1743 (see will) ; in. (I) (supposed) Elizabeth Smith; m. (2) Jane Whitehead.
   2005 Jacob, b. about 1663; d. about '756; m. Hester
   2006 Thomas, b. about 1675; d. 1719; M. (r)     ; in. (2) Charity Hicks, Dec. 2o, 1712.
   2007 Col. John, b. about 1672; d. 1745; M. Letitia
   Printz; marriage license, March 6, 1703.
   2008 Mary, b. after 1675; in. (1) William Creed, Jr.; he d.
   about 1710; she in. (2) Richard Betts (supposed ).
   He was settled at Flushing, L. I., probably before 1656, in which year his name appears in the account book of John Bowne now in the Library of the Long Island Historical Society. " Court Proceedings, May 4, 1663. Hendrick Janzen (Cooper) of the ship Purmerland Church, now a prisoner, acknowledged that he with Jasper Abrahamzen, committed great violence at RendeI Huit's house and forced his wife to give them to eat; they proceeded to Joris Wolsey's house and demanded drink, so that Wolsey & Ely Douty & Ritzert Cornewell had enough to do to put them out, then they went to Carel Van Brugge's house and demanded drink, and continued their violence in a manner indecent to be mentioned, so that CareI & Douty & Ritzert CornewelI had enough to do before they could get them out, not without tearing a flap or fall of his unmentionables. which they removed in the shoving out of his body.. Ordered that they be scourged and banished." (Records of New Amsterdam, IV., 234.)
   In the same year, 1663, the Town Clerk of Flushing informed the Governor that Richard Cornhill had been sent to agree with him about tithes. He was authorized to offer "200 Schapel of grain, 34 of peas & % of wheat'. (Waller's History of Flushing). 1665, he was delegate from Flushing to the Hempstead Convention that framed the "Dukes Laws," the first code made in the Colony. Four of the writer's zncestors were members of this Convention, viz.: Richard Cornell, Jacqu as Cortelyou, Frederick Lubbertsen (from Brooklyn), and John Stryker (from Flatbush). This Convention was assembled under the rule of Governor Nicholls. Long Island, Staten Island and Westchester were united to form the District or County of Yorkshire and many of the provisions were evidently applicable to York-shire alone (Yi-aller's History of Flushing). justice of the Peace in x666, also Feb. 16, patentee of Flushing from Governor Nicholls with seventeen others among whom were John Lawrence and William his brother, Charles Bridges, etc. Feb. 20, in the same year, he bought from Thomas Hicks, land on Madnan's (Great) Neck, which in 1687, he conveys to Palmer. 1667, appointed by Governor Nicholls to enroll the Militia. 1670, appointed by the Governor and Council to Iay out roads in Newtown, and the following year was appointed to adjust the boundary between Bushwick and Newtown, but did not serve. He was permitted to sell liquors and powder to the Indians. 1673, appointed by the Council to arbitrate between Roger Townsen and the Westchester people, also to arbitrate between Richard Smith and the inhabitants of Huntington. General Lovelace paid him a visit at his house just before the capture of New York from the Dutch. His sisters Sarah and Rebecca appoint him their attorney to collect legacies under their mother's will. This power he transfers to his brother John and brother-in-law William Earle. In 1676, he had a survey of 180 acres on the south side of Fresh Kill (Staten Island). In 1684, he petitions to be put in possession ..)f this Iand. In 1679-80, William Haviland filed a petition reciting that his brother-in-law Capt. Thomas Hicks who had in 1660, obtained from Governor Nicholls a patent for Madnan's (Great) Neck in the town of FIushing, which was divided equally between him and Richard Cornhill and Elias Doughty, that petitioner bought Doughty's interest, that Cornhill and Hicks had settled their son-in-law on one of the three lots and Mr. Cornhill is settling his other son-in-law John Lawrence on a part of said tract. Petitioner prays that they may be stopped. Commissioners were appointed to divide the tract in three parts and to lay out the 300 acres for Richard Cornhill, Thomas Hicks and William Haviland. In 1679, Richard Cornhill bought from Abraham Smith zoo acres of woodland in Hemp-stead, northwest of Little Success Pond, on the road to Madnan's Neck. In 1680, appraiser of the estate of William Lawrence; forced to resign a patent for land; owed the estate of Cornelius Steenwyck 247 guilders Io stivers in wampum. 1684, Takapousha and other Indians sold to Richard Cornhill and others all the lands called Flushing, bounded west by Flushing Creek, south by Jamaica line, east by Hempstead, north by the Sound. Richard Cornhill, Sr., and others buy 966 acres adjoining the rear of Cow Neck, deed on record in Land Office, Albany, with map: "Survaied and Laid Out for Mr Richard Cornwell Serer & Companey A Certaine tract of land being siteuat and lyeing on the East side of Cow Neck upon Long Island Acording to An Indian purchase baring date begining at A Red & white coke Trees one the North side a small Creek knowne by the Indian name of Snakerne Creek one the West side of Long Neck from therre into the woods South East & by East two degrees and fifteene minits southerly nintey six Chaines to the Indian Line in the Midle of the Neck then by said Line South foure degrees Easterly twentey to a White oake tree neare the head of a small Swamp from therre East by North one degree and fortey five Minnits, Northerly seventy six Chaines to the Bay, twelve Chaines to the south of the poynt wheare Mans sloope was Cast away and from therre by by the Sound to the first small Creek Including A small Island with Meadows Conteining in all nine hundred sixty six Akers performed this 25th Day of     1684. PHILLIP WELLES SURVR." Survey in 1685, to Richard Cornwell, Sr., of 837 acres in Hempstead and Flushing, southeast of Little Neck, at Success (part of this land is still owned by his descendants). 1686, survey of more land at Cow Neck to him. Part of this tract was sold Dec. 25, 1691, to James Sands who married Mary' Cornell (John,' Thomas'). It includes the burial ground of the family of John Cornell, Cow Neck.
   He and others resisted the encroachments of new patentees of Flushing. Richard Cornell of Cornbury, Flushing, conveyed to his son-in-law John Washburn land in Flushing, south of the brook that comes from Rushmore's Mill (on re-survey Cornbury was found to be in Hempstead). In 1687, he conveyed to Richard his eldest son one-half of a piece of Iand at Success, also salt meadow at Cornbury Neck. Aug. 20, 1687, he of Cornbury (Bayside), bought from John Palmer lands that had been granted to Palmer by Lieut-Governor Dongan, Nov. 3, 1685, south side of Long Island in Rockaway, bounded east by Hempstead, north by the patent Iine, south by the main sea or ocean, west by the gut or inlet whirl" makes the bay or sound as it runs easterly until it comes to the Hempstead line.* This tract including all of Rockaway Neck, had been purchased Oct. 9, 1658, by John Palmer, a resident of New York from Peeman, Sagamore of the Rockaway Indians for £30.** Richard Cornwell and Elizabeth his wife, the same day convey to Palmer one third of a tract at Madnan's Neck, formerly granted by Governor Nicholls to Thomas Hicks and which Hicks sold in i666 to Cornwell.
   Soon after this date he transferred his residence from Flushing to the new purchase, improved the lands, erected a dwelling and other buildings and resided there until his death, being thenceforth known as Richard Cornell of Rockaway.
   In i683, Richard Cornwell of Cornwell Hall, Queens Co., conveyed to Thomas Hicks (who married Mary Washburn, granddaughter of Richard), lands in Huntington. He leased the Court House at Jamaica for twenty years, agreeing to keep it in repair and to allow courts to be held in it. The next year he owed some money and was plagued with demands of the Hempstead men.
   He and his wife EIizabeth sold 50 acres near Success to John Cornell "our cousin" (nephew, probably son of Thomas') living near Success; bounded south by brother Edward and west by Richard Jr. The deed was acknowledged Jan. 27, 1696, by Richard Cornwell, Jr., heir-at-law of Richard Cornwell, Sr. In 1680, he conveyed to "my son-in-law John Lawrence," lots 6r and 37 in the last division of lots in Flushing and in the same year bought from Little John Smith for Z30, land at Rockaway, bounded west by Lattins Spring.
   Richard Cornell of Rockaway, will dated Nov. 7, 1693; proved Oct. 30, 1694 "Sicke & weeke." He makes over all his lands at Rockaway for the payment of a certain debt owing to the children of John Washburn. (He was Washburn's executor.) "To son William, land at Rockaway, bounded north with the old fence on the south side of last year's wheat field, running east to Hempstead line, south by the sea, excepting that my now dwelling house with orchard and pastures, houses and tillage about it, gardens, springs and outhouses I give to my wife Elizabeth during her widowhood, and afterwards to William forever. To son Thomas, the land I bought from Little John Smith, also a tract bounded south by William, north by the middle of the fresh cove that Robert Beadel's meadow was laid out in, running east to the three rail fence. To Jacob and John, lands north of Thomas, bounded north by the Great River or Cove, east by the rail fence, to be divided between them according to quantity and quality, except to Richard, ro acres joining Wells Iine. To daughter Elizabeth Lawrence, ro acres joining William. To daughter Mary, £roo when she is eighteen years old or married, also half my movables within doors, money excepted. To wife, the use of negroes, stocks, etc., for the maintenance of the children during minority, excepting among other things, twelve two year heifers which I give to my twelve grandchildren when they are of age, that is to the children of my son Richard, son Washburn and son Lawrence. To daughter Sarah Arnold, two cows. If William, Jacob, Thomas, John or Mary should die without heirs, their shares to go to the survivors. If wife shall marry she shall have £roo and half the movables within doors, money excepted, also negro girl Jane. Negroes James and Dinah to go to William. Lands at Cow Neck to be sold. My right to the undivided lands at Hempstead to descend to my five sons. Jacob and John to have two acres purchased of Little Smith, if they choose to build thereon. Debts due me shall be used to pay the children of John Washburn and to Captain Charles Lodwick. Executors, my wife and sons Richard and William with Colonel Thomas Willett, Lieut.-Col. Thomas Hicks and Captain Daniel Whitehead as overseers." All the executors qualified.
   The original is on file in New York Surrogate's Office where I have seen it and it is well preserved. For complete copy of this see appendix. The will is also recorded Liber s, of Wills, page 45. 1698, in census Queens Co., Mrs. Elizabeth Cornell, John, Thomas, William.
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   * Nothing is known of the wife of Richard Cornell, beyond the fact that her name was Elizabeth. The date of the marriage must have been about 1655, and as it is not recorded In New Amsterdam where other Cornell records are found, it seems probable that it took place on Long Island, not long after Richard Cornell settled there. Edward Jessup was Justice of the Peace at Newtown, where he settled about 1633; this town adjoining Flushing, where Richard Cornell lived. Jessup removed about 1663, to Westchester and in 166$, he represented that town in the Hempstead Convention, of which'Richard Cornell was a member. In 1666 or earlier, he purchased a tract of land now known as Hunt's Point, adjoining Cornell's Neck, then owned by Sarah Bridges. It is reasonable to suppose that Jessup's purchase was a result of his intimacy with Richard Cornell and Sarah Bridges. By his will, Aug. :6, 1666, Jessup appoints his wife sole executrix and names as overseers of his will "my well beloved friends Mr. Richard Cornhill, Justice of the Peace, Mrs. Sarah Bridges, my well beloved brother-in-law John Bur-roughs, and Ralph Hunt." That Jessup should have placed Cornhill and Bridges first, naming them before his brother-in-Iaw, and nephew Hunt who was probably a kindsman of Thomas Hunt, perhaps son-in-law, seems to indicate some strong family tie and this belief is strengthened by the fact that Flushing where they Iived was a long way from Westchester and that one of these overseers was a woman and therefore not Iikely to have been chosen for business considerations. All this seems to point to the probability that Richard CornelI's wife was a relative, perhaps a sister of Edward Jessup
   ** Reccrded Lib. 13, of deeds p. 15, New York.
   t Recorded Lib. 13, No. 5 of Deeds, Queens Co., p. 50.