In 1687, Thomas Powell bought land from the Marsapeaque, Secatog, and Matineoc Indians. Representing the tribes were Maume, William Chopy, Sacenin, Rumppass, Seuruckung, and Wamassum. He paid 140 pounds sterling for the land. It was a tract 3 ½ miles wide and 5 miles deep. The land included what today is Bethpage, Farmingdale, Old Bethpage, Plainedge, and parts of Melville and Plainview. This would become known as the Bethpage Purchase. The deed for the land was not executed until 1695.
In 1691, when his eldest son married, Thomas Powell built himself a house on Merritts Road. He discovered an undeeded portion of land called Rim of the Woods between his holdings and land owned by Captain John Seaman called Jerusalem (now Wantagh and Island Trees). In 1699, he made the Rim of the Woods Purchase.
When Thomas Powell died, one third of his estate went to his apprentice Thomas Whitson. Hi son Thomas received the greatest share, 430 acres. Son John was given 135 acres. His youngest son of his first marriage, Elisha, received 60 acres. His other sons Jonas, Caleb, and Wait were not given land rights, but received other substantial gifts. His married daughters were gifted clothing or furniture and his unmarried daughters were given his bed, bedding, and bedroom furniture.
When Thomas Jr. died, he divided his lands equally. With different generations with separate rights, the Powells hired Samuel Willis to survey the land in 1732. It was completed in 1734. The land was broken up and parts of it were sold to other families.
The original deed of the purchase reads as follows:
To call Christian people to whom this present writing shall come or in any concern be it known that we, Maume (alias) Sewamas, Willie Chopy, together with the rest of ye Indians proprietors, whose names are hereunto subscribed; being ye proprietors of ye Indian land at Massapege, upon Long Island Nassau, in ye colony of New York, for and in consideration of the sum of £140 in current money of this colony, in hand paid, and by us ye said Indians, received before the sealing and delivery hereof, in full satisfaction and other good reasons; the aforesaid named Indians especially moving have granted, alienated, engrossed, assigned, sold, and confirmed, and by these presents, ye Indians do give, grant, and alienate, enfeoff, assign, sell and confirm unto Thomas Powell, senior, a certain parcel or tract of land, beginning at ye west corner at a dirty hole upon ye brushy plains near Manett's Hill from thence up a hollow on ye south side of Mannett's Hill and out of that hollow across ye hills eastward pretty near Huntington south line to ye brushy plains on ye east side of ye hills and along ye east side of ye valley that goes to the east branch of the Massapege swamp, ye head of ye swamp being south east corner, and from thence to range along William Frost's line till we come to ye West Neck, the Northeast bounder belonging to Oyster Bay, and from ye said northeast bounder of ye Went Neck so to run on ye west side of ye hollow that comes from the west branch of the Massapege swamp so far as there is any trees and from thence to ye foresaid hole of dirt and water near Mannett's Hill called by the Indians, "Masacopas." Part of ye above bounded lands having been in the possession of ye said Thomas Powell about seven years before the assigning and delivery hereof, we said Indian proprietors do give, grant, assign, sell and conform all the said land included in the aforesaid lines unto ye said Thomas Powell, Sr., together with all our right and interest claim and demand, whatsoever, which we the said Indians now have or which any of our heirs, executors, assigns may hereafter have, of, to, or in ye fore mentioned tract of land and every part or parcel thereof with all profits and issues from thence arising or growing to have and to hold unto him the said Thomas Powell, his heirs, and assigns forever more and the fore mentioned Indians have put the said Thomas Powell in a lawful and peaceable possession of ye premises by ye delivery of turf and twig and by delivery of these presents only the said Indians do reserve unto themselves the liberty of hunting and gathering huckleberries upon ye said land as they see cause, and ye above mentioned Indians do for themselves, their heirs, executors, and assigns further covenant and agree to and with ye said Thomas Powell, that it shall be lawful for him, the said Thomas Powell, his heirs and assigns, quietly peacefully to hold, occupy, possess and enjoy all the aforesaid premises with ye full appurtenances thereof, forever without ye least hindrance and interruption of them or any of them ye said Indian heirs, executors or assigns or any other person or persons lawfully claiming by, or under them, or any, or either of them, not withstanding any former gifts, grants, bargains or sale whatever and ye said Indians , do hereby bind themselves to warrant and defend the said tract of land with all the privileges and appurtenances thereof as well, themselves as also their heirs, to ye said Thomas Powell, his heirs and assigns forever. In witness whereof, we the above named Indians have hereunto set our hands and seals this eighteenth day, the eighth month, one thousand six hundred and ninety-five.
Signed sealed and delivered in ye presence of us Benjamin Seaman, Solomon Townsend, Sascenenin X his mark, Rumppass X his mark, Serwamoes X, his mark, William Chop X his mark, Seruckcung X his mark, Wamussum X his mark. Entered the second day of June 1698 in the book for Entryes for Queens County No. 1.
January the 9, 1696 pere-was aningen and peawekeung aningen apperred before me and onad this deed to (one) of his magistis be their act and deed as witness my hand John Jackson (Justices) of the pease for Queens County.
Sources:
Junior Historical Society of Farmingdale. Farmingdale's Story: Farms to Flight. The Society, 1956
Gibbs, Iris and Alonzo. Harking Back. Kinsman Publications, 1983
Vining, Dorothy H. Farmingdale: A Short History from the Ice Age to the Present. Farmingdale Public Schools, 1983