Bethpage Purchase

The following information was submitted by Owen Murphy to the CPHS as a result of his research on "The History of the Powell Burying Grounds, Bethpage, L. I., NY." (See listing under Cemeteries)

Thomas Powell (1641 - 1721) was the first settler in the area. He bought a 15 square mile tract of land from three local Native Americans Tribes: Marsapeaque, Matinecoc, and Sacatogue, for 140 English pounds on the 18th of October, 1695. This land, which includes present day: Bethpage, Old Bethpage, Farmingdale, South Farmingdale, East Farmingdale, Plainedge, Plainview, and part of Melville that became known as the Bethpage Purchase. Powell had named the area after the town of Bethphage in the Gospel of Matthew because of its location between the towns of Jericho and Jerusalem. The second home that he had built on his property in 1700 is still lived in today and has been granted a Historic Home with a marker by the New York State Depatment of Preservation. It is located on Merritt Road in Farmingdale.

After Powell's death, his property was divided among his 14 living children. Thomas Powell married his first wife, Abigail Wood (1646 - 1681) and had the following children:

1. Thomas Powell (1665 - 1731) married Mary Willets (1671 - 1737)

2. Abigail Powell (1668 - 1757) married Richard Willets

3. Elizabeth Powell (1670 - 1704) married Samuel Titus

4. John Powell (1672 - 1738) married Margaret Hallock

5. Jonas Powell (1674 - ) married Anna

6. Caleb Powell (1676 - 1741) married Sarah

7. Wait Powell (1680 - 1750)

8. Elisha Powell (1678 - 1739) married Rebecca

Thomas married his second wife, Elizabeth Phillips of Jericho and they had:

9. Hannah Powell (1691 - ) married William Willis

10. Phebe Powell (1693 - 1751) married Henry Willis

11. Rachel Powell ( - ) married Thomas Willets

12. Mercy Powell (1702 - 1759) married Jacob Seaman

13. Solomon Powell ( - 1736) married Ruth Carman

14. Sarah ( - ) married Nathaniel Seaman

15. Amy

and possibly:

16. Elizabeth Powell (1682 - 1704)

17. Walt Powell (1684 - )

Solomon (#13) was the only one of his children to be born in Bethpage. After his wife's death, Thomas moved with his children to Westbury. Solomon never owned land in Bethpage, but had inherited his share of his father's estate in money. Solomon had a son, Thomas Powell (1733 - 1781). This Thomas also had a son that he named Thomas (1762 - 1835).

Thomas Powell (1762 - 1835) married Martha O. Smith (1759 - 1849) and had twelve children:

1. Thomas Powell (1770 - 1840) married Elizabethp Stymits (1783 - 1854)
2. Joshua Powell (1783 - ) married Elizabeth Covert
3. James Powell (1789 - 1880) married Jane Covert (1791 - 1879)
4. John Powell (1792 - 1877) married Catherine Smith (1797 - 1858)
5. Jarvis Powell (1791 - 1862) married Deborah Saxton (1793 - 1889)
6. Samuel Powell (1794 - 1876) married Deborah Ketcham (1797 - 1858)
7. George Powell (1804 - 1858) married Maria Mitchell (1803 - 1882)
8. Charles Powell (1804 - 1875) married Mary (Polly) Wood (1810 - 1880)
9. Epenetus Powell (1800 - 1829) married Martha Van Wyck (Wyke)
10. Nancy Powell (1784 - 1862) married Gershom Saxton (1770 - 1854)
11. Sara Powell ( - ) married Eliphalet Hendrickson
12. Ruth Powell (1789 - 1817)

See entry: under Cemeteries by Owen Murphy