James Way (abt. 1656 - 1715)

Born about 1656 in Newtown, Queens County, Long Island, New York

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 13 Dec 1715 at about age 59 in Newtown, Queens County, Long Island, New York

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Biography

James Way owned much land in Newtown, NY as evidenced by his will noted below.

James settled on Staten Island.^{[citation needed]}

He married Mary Gancel ^{[citation needed]} (note two of the witnesses of the will bear a similar name "Gamel" which could be "Gancel."

James d. in 1715. He had issue^[1]

Children:

1. Martha m. Wm. Leverich
2. Mary m. Samuel Reed
3. Sarah m. Johannes Culver
4. Elizabeth m. William Osborn

James Way's will dated 7 July 1714 Newtown, Queens, Nassau Island. To daughter Martha Way the homestead and orchards...lands near that of Joseph Sackett Jr. He describes all lands at length. Other lands to daughters Mary Reed and Sarah Culver. Monies to Elizabeth Osburn, and granddaughter Hannah Osburn. Names sons-in-law Samuel Reed and Johannes Culver as exe. Wits John Way, Judiah Gamel and John Gamel. 3 Dec 1713 ?5?). ^[2]

• Fact: http://familysearch.org/v1/LifeSketch PLEASE READ: JAMES WAY was the son of JAMES WAY. The following explains his birth family.

MARY WAY, wife of THOMAS PETTIT, JR., was the daughter of JAMES WAY. It is hoped that this sketch about JAMES WAY AND HIS SON-IN-LAW THOMAS PETTIT [II] will put an end to a lot of errors that have been made for these families. JAMES WAY WAS NOT the son of Henry Way the Emigrant and many mistakes have occurred by trying to mix these different families from different colonies. James was not on the passenger lists for the Mary and John with Henry Way and family. The citation for that fact is at the end of this Life Sketch. The first proven record for this James Way is on the 1656 Newtown Indian Rate List cited in Annals of Newtown, p. 43. This English town was settled primarily by Calvinists from New England but there were also previous settlers there among the Dutch and Native Americans.

In his 1685 will James left us the record of his living children and of his son-in-law Thomas Pettit [Jr] and grandson Thomas Pettit [III], who was the husband of his daughter Mary Way, unclear by other records if she was by then deceased. One abstract of James Way's will is given in Henry B. Hoff, Long Island Source Records, p. 128 that reads:

"Way, James, Sr., of Mespatt Kills, 5 Oct., 1685. Devised uses of half the estate to wife Ede during widowhood, with remainder to son Joh. Other half to five children: James, Hannah, Elizabeth, Francis, and Martha Way. Bequests to son-in-law Thomas Pettitt, and to grandson Thomas Pettitt. Unless son Francis amends his life his share shall remain in the hands of overseers for the benefit of his wife and children. Overseers: sons James & John & Jeremy Burroughs. Wits: Theophilus Phillips & James Taylor. Pro. at Oyer & Terminer 25 Oct., 1685."

Long Island Source Records also includes proof that son-in-law Thomas Pettit had married James Way's daughter Mary:

Page: 124: On 9 March 1690, "Thomas Stevenson sells to Wm. Alburtus, both of Newtown, a lot 7 May 1696. Wits: Edward & Charitie Stevenson. Thomas Pettit, husband of Mary Way, testifies that his father-in-law James Way has paid Mary for a lot given her by Thomas Reeder. 9 Mar. 1690." William Alburtus was a brother to Arthur Alburtus who was Pettit's brother-in-law having married James Way's daughter Elizabeth.

On page 125 at Newtown on 8 Jan. 1686: "Thomas Pettit, on behalf of his sons-in-law, John & Thomas Moore, exchanges land with Jeremiah Burroughs 8 Jan 1686." Jeremiah Burroughs was Pettit's brother-in-law, Jeremiah having married James Way's daughter Hannah.

Thomas Pettit III was very much at Newtown at least until 1713/14 when the birth dates of his children were entered on Newtown town records. See Hoff, p. 126.

James was born in England about 1620. James is not given as part of Henry Way's family in Great Migration, or in Henry Way and descendants. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2496/images/42521_b158320-00640?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&queryId=7d669676d4657a2aab04aee750022349&usePUB=true&_phsrc=Brl209&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&pId=71074

Sources

1. ↑ Riker, James. The annals of Newtown, in Queens County, New York; containing its history from its first settlement, together with many interesting facts concerning the adjacent towns;... New-York: D. Fanshaw, 1852 pp 378-379
2. ↑ New York Wills, Vol 008, 1710-1716 https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/8800/005518047_00257?pid=779156

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 30 November 2020, 02:57), entry for James Way (PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:M9ND-VS3 ); contributed by various users.

Acknowledgments

• Thanks to Katharine E for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Katharine and others.