Powell, Thomas

We first hear of Thomas Powell in 1662. In 1663 he became the Town Recorder, at the age of 22, for the Town of Huntington; in 1667 he became Constable at age 26; Trustee of Freeholders and Overseer a few years later. Records show that Thomas held many honorary and elected titles over the years. He was a devout Quaker and in 1676 he stunned his Anglican neighbors by refusing to pay taxes for support of the established church. He was brought into court at Riverhead for bucking the church tax, but apparently retained his civic standing. In 1687 he moved south from Huntington. In 1683 Powell purchased 15 square miles of land from the Secatogue, Marsapeaques, and Matinecock Indians for 140 pounds of sterling known as The Bethpage Purchase. In 1695 the deed to this land was executed. He built his home on what is now the Hempstead Turnpike sheltered by the Manetto Hills. Powell taking time to explore his purchase discovered that there was an undeeded portion of land known as "The Rim of the Woods" between his holdings and Captain Seaman's plantation, and he arranged to buy this land from the Indians. Most of present-day Bethpage falls in this area. Thomas's large family helped to cultivate the vast acreage of his holdings; parents and children attended the Quaker Westbury Meetings. During his lifetime he had one apprentice, Thomas Whitson, and in 1700 Powell deeded one-third of all his Bethpage land to him, and the remainder of land to his descendants. In 1719-20 he made his will: "Now being indifferent in health and of perfect memory. . . I do in the first place give and bequeath my soul to God my maker from whom I received mercy and hope and believe I ever shall as I keep in his fear and stand in his counsel. . . .Secondly, I give my body to the earth from whence it was taken. . . " On December 28, 1721 Thomas died. Information from "Bethpage Bygones" and the "Bethpage Tribune" February 8, 1984 - Bethpage History by Rosalie Walsh Niemczyk

Great Grandson of Thos. Powell I. b. 1762, d. 1835, married? Children: Thomas - married Elizabeth Stymus, Joshua, James(b. 1790, d.1881) married Jane Covert (b.1791, d. 1879); John and others. Joshua Powell, b. 1790, d. 1861. (were he and James twins? - or both roughly 11 months apart?) Married Elizabeth Covert (b. 5/13/1813 d. 7/2/1881) - married John Jarvis (b. 9/3/1810 - d. 4/11/1893); Letty - married William Jarvis; Ruth - married James Van Sise and others. John Powell, b. 1796, d. 1887. Married First, Catherine _______, b. 1797, d. 18-- married, second Sarah, b. 1818, d.? Children: Ebert, b. 1835 d. 1/16/1909; Sarah Ann, b. 1847, d. 2/15/1901 - married George Powell (1824 - 1904) ; Charles (1829 - 1860) Thomas Underhill Powell (1843 - 1902) was the son of Richard S. and Sarah Underhill Powell of Old Bethpage. He married Hanah Anne Ketcham (1845 - 1901) Thomas U. was descended as follows: Thomas (1), Thomas (2), Joshua, Benjamin, Richard. Elbert, Sarah Ann, Charles, George, Thomas U. and Hannah Anne Powell Powell are buried in the cemetery on Quaker Meeting House Road in Old Bethpage/Farmingdale area. John, Catherine, Thomas, James, Jane and several other Powells are buried in the cemetery within the Grumman Aerospace Corps' property. Joshua and Elizabeth are buried in Plainedge Methodist Church Cemetery, Hicksville Road and Central Avenue, Bethpage.

By Rosalie Walsh Niemczyk

See Bethpage Purchase and Cemeteries