Matthias Curwen

Citations

1. [S133] Virginia Wines, Pioneers of Riverhead Town, pp. 59.
2. [S344] Josephine C Frost, Ancestors of James Wickham and his Wife Cora Prudence Billard, page 37 - 1. MATTHIAS CURWIN (now Corwin) was born in England, probably between 1590 and 1600, and married Margaret, whose maiden name may have been Morton, according to the family genealogy (Corwin Genealogy, p. 160). He was in Ipswich, Mass., in 1634 but in 1640 had joined the party of Rev. John Youngs and located in South-old, L. I., where on December 5, 1655 (Southold Town Records, Vol. 1, p. 25), he registered his holdings, which shows his home lot of four acres was between those of Barnabas Horton on the west and Thomas Brush on the east. On December 11, 1656, he was one of five men appointed to order the town affairs (Corwin Genealogy, p. 160; South-old Town Records, Vol. 1, p. 330).
   He made his will in Southold, August 31, 1658, which was presented in New Haven at a court held March 5, 1660. He made his wife Margaret Curwin and his son John "true and lawful agents to administer," and gives his daughter Martha 20£ over and above "such goods my wife shall buy for her in the Bay;" son Theophilus, 20£ ; remainder to wife and son John equally, but in case she marries, John is to pay her 40£ upon the day of her marriage. Witnessed by John Underhill and Barnabas Horton. (Southold Town Records, Vol. 1, p. 442.)
   Issue : Martha, Theophilus, John.
3. [S342] Wayland Jefferson, Southold Town, Suffolk County, Long Island, New York, page 31 - MATTHAS CORWIN - Came from Ipswich to Southold in 1639-40. Born in England circa 1590; d. at Southold 1658; m. Margaret Morton. Issue: Martha; Zheophilus; John. Martha-2 m. Henry Case; Vide Case Gen.; Theophilus-2 m. Mary -; Issue: Theophilus-3; John-3; Daniel-3; Samuel-3; Theophilus-3 m. Hannah Ramsay; Daniel-3 m. Mary Ramsay; 2nd Elizabeth Cleaves; John-3 m. Mehetabel Clark; Samuel-3 m. Experience Corwin; John-2 m. Mary Glover, died at Southold Sep. 24, 1702. Issue: John-3; Matthias-3; Samuel-3.
   
4. [S139] Edward Tanjore Corwin, Corwin Genealogy (Curwin, Curwen, Corwine) in the United States, pages 160-162 - 1 MATTHIAS CORWIN,1 (the first settler of the name in America) was probably born in England, between 1590-1600, d. Sept. 1-12th, 1658. M. Margaret (Morton ?) (See Appendix G.)
   Ch. John, Martha, Theophilus.
   His name also appears written sometimes Curtain, and even Currin, for a probable explanation of which, as well as the origin of the family, see Introduction. His name appears on the Commoner's Record at Ipswich, Mass., in 1634, as Currin, when he receives a second grant of land in that place.
   Ipswich was settled under the lead of Rev. Nathaniel Ward, When the tide of emigration turned from the older settlements, toward the beautiful Connecticut valleys, he joined the companies which went thither, probably by selection of the citizens at Ipswich, (Felt's Ipswich, p. 55) and his name, as Curwin, accordingly appears among the first founders of New-Haven. (Hollister, i. 506.) But about this time Rev. John Youngs with several families, arrived at New-Haven, and this company bought the east end of Long Island of the Indians, and Mr. Youngs led his families thither, and settled at Southold, in October, 1640. Matthias Corwin joined this company. (Trumbull's Connecticut, i. 119.) The record at Ipswich notes that he emigrated thence to Long Island. He received a lot of land for a house, directly opposite the present Congregational church in South-old. The new lecture-room of that church now stands on the very plot. Here he lived for eighteen years, till his death, having been in America, altogether, about twenty-five years. He died between August 31st and September 15th, 1658. On December 11th, 1656, he was appointed, together with William Wells, Lieutenant Budd, Barnabas Horton, and William Purrier, to order town affairs. They were to meet in the " meeting-house," and were to be fined twenty shillings for non-attendance, unless they could show a good reason. (Southold Records.)
   On December 5th, 1655, the property of Matthias Curwin is described as follows :
   (1.)     House lot, 4 acres, with lot of Barnabas Horton on the west, and that of Thomas Z. Keryhes ? on the east.
   (2.)     18 acres of woodland, toward the north sea, (L. I. Sound) bounded north by lands of Henry Whitnie, formerly, (now Pastor Young's) south by lands of Thomas Moore.
   (3.)     21 acres of woodland, toward the north sea, behind, bounded by Mr. Wells's (formerly Thomas Peakin's) lands east, and Mr. Hubbard's west.
   (4.)     6 acres of woodland in the neck, near Tom's Creek Head ; lands of Philemon Dickinson, north, and John Hubbard s, south.
   (7.)     2 acres of meadow at the head of Tom's Creek.
   (8.)     15 acres of woodland, adjoining the meadow of John Tucker. and John Herbert ; lands of Purrier, west, and of Henry Whitnie, east.
   (9.)     3 acres of meadow, by Tom's Creek Pond ; the meadow of Pastor Young's, north, and of Lieutenant Budd, south.
   (10.)     1?~ acres of arable land, in the old field, between lands of Joseph
   Horton, south, and John Tucker, north-west.     .. (11.) 2 acres of meadow, at Goose Neck, adjoining Pine Neck; the meadow of Henry and John Scudder, (now Mr. Elton's) lying north.
   (12.)     1 acre of meadow, on north-east side of Hog Neck, Mr. Wells's meadow, (formerly Edward Ketchum's) lying north-east.
   ( 13.)     3 acres of woodland in the Calves Neck.
   (14.)     4j- acres of meadow, in Oyster Pond meadows, near to the south end of the hedge, about the tobacco houses. (His son John exchanged this with Gideon Youngs for a meadow lot, containing six acres, having lands of Charles Glover on the east, and the meadow of Thumas Moore, Sr., (formerly John Tuthill's) on the west.)
   (15.)     A third lot of meadow at Accoboack; Jer. Vail's meadow, lying north, and Abr. Whitehares, south-west.
   (16.)     A third lot of meadow at Corchacke, lying on the west side of the old fields, and extending from the head of the meadow to the sea, containing 3 acres ; Joseph Horton's meadow lying west.
   (17.)     A fourth lot of meadow, on south side of Pechaconnicke River, containing 8 acres ; Thomas Mapes's meadow, (formerly John 'Paine's) west, and John Elton's, north.
   (18.)     200 acres of woodland at Corchack; John Elton's land, east, and William Wells, west.
   (19.)     40 acres of woodland at Corchacke; Richard Benjamin's land, north, and John Budd's meadow, south, and lying partly inclosed in said woodland.
   (Southold Records, Lib. B, p. 11, on new Book, Lib. B, p. 127.)
   His will, as recorded in the Southold town records, is yet preserved. The following extracts from the New-Haven records are found, referring .to this will :
   " A writing was presented, for the last will and testament of Matthias Curwin, but returned for legal probate. An inventory of the estate of said Matthias Curwin was presented, taken 15th of the seventh month, (1658) by William Purrier and Charles Glover, amounting to £313 8d. That the appraisement was just, was witnessed upon by the above appraisers before " BARNABAS HORTON."
   (Extract from Hoadley's Recs. New-Haven, vol. ii. 35.)
   On p. 400, he adds, "The last will and testament of Matthias Curwin, late of Southold, was presented, subscribed by John Underhill, and deposed by Barnabas Horton, at the Court, March 5th, 1660. Before William Wells, John Youngs." The original will may possibly yet exist in the New-Haven archives. The following is a copy :.
5. [S181] William Salmon, The Salmon Records, a Private Registar of Marriages & Deaths of the Residents of the Town of Southold, Suffolk County, N.Y., and of persons more or less closely associated with that place, 1696-1811., Unknown Corwin:
   page 9 - Martha Curwin died 24 Jan. 1707
   page 10 - Elesabeth Curwin died Apr. 1714.
6. [S139] Edward Tanjore Corwin, Corwin Genealogy (Curwin, Curwen, Corwine) in the United States, pages 162-163 - Will of Matthias Corwin.