James Way

James Way was born in Somerset, England, in 1600 (or 1616 in Dorset, England), and died in Newtown, NY, 2 October 1685. He was the son of Henry Way and Elizabeth Bachelor.

He left a will in which he made bequests to his wife, Ede Hendrick, three sons and three daughters. He was the son of Henry Way (b. 1583). cf http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/m/o/f/Brenda-Moffatt-1/PDFGENE5.pdf

James married Ede Hendrick (b 1630- d 1891, Newtown, NY). On March 30, 1676, he was elected one of the eleven “Overseers” of the town.

Children: Francis, James and John

Francis Way - b. 1664, Long Island, NY; d. 1712; married Elizabeth Pater; (descent to Irene Weise) Francis, seems to have left no will, but his widow, Elizabeth, married Peter Buckhout in 1712.

Francis had issue James, John, Elizabeth, m. Benj. Cornish ;* and Diana. After his death his widow, Elizabeth, m. Peter Buckhout in 1713. James, son of Francis, became blind, and d. Jan. 8, 1767. He was twice married, and by his first wife, Hannah, dan. of John Leverich, whom he m. in 1716, and who d. Nov. 10, 1729, he had issue Elizabeth, b. Feb. 16, 1717; Francis, b. May 27, 1719; and James, b. Nov. 24,1721. John Way, son of Francis 1st, m. Martha, dau. of John Leverich, and d. at Hellgate, Oct. 13,1750. His ch. were John, Leverich, Walter, and Hannah, who m. Wm. Leverich, father of the late Jesse Leverich, &c.

James Way - d 1715; children: Martha (m Wm. Leverish), Mary (m. Samuel Eeed (?), Sarah (m Johannes Culver), Elizabeth (m. Osborn)

John Way - m. Mary Losey (d 1769). After her death, he removed to Halfmoon Township - then in Albany but now in Saratoga County.

Hannah Way - m Jeremiah Burroughs

Elizabeth Way - m Arthur Alburtis

Martha Way - m Thomas Taylor

From “The Picton Times” Aug 4, 1951 - Way Family Reunion at Wellington, Aug. 15

Several hundred members of the Way family will gather at Wellington, Wednesday, August 15 for their annual reunion. Officers of the family group are: Mrs. Harold Pitcher; president; Miss Helen Dellege, vice-president; Mrs. J. J. Way, secretary; Glenn C. Way, Historian. The following article deals with the Way family history;

Way Family

In 1642, a group of English colonists in Taunton, Mass., under the leadership of Rev. Francis Doughty, who had been ordered to leave because his preaching did not please the authorities, resolved to settle in the Dutch territory of New Netherlands to be free from religious persecution. They were granted 13,332 acres of land at Maspet, first called Middleburg, and later known as the English Kills. The tract embraced the present town of Newtown, which is now a part of the Borough of Brooklyn in Greater New York.

The next year the little town was burned by the Indians and the settlers fled across the bay to Connecticut. They returned after the war and in 1652 a goodly company arrived from New England towns and villages, and others came directly from England. In 1653, when war broke out between England and Holland, the settlers fled across Long Island Sound to Stamford, Conn., but returned later that year. In 1656 the settlers began to have doubts as to their right to the lands ceded to them by Governor Peter Stuyvesant and decided to pay the Indians for the land they occupied. The price agreed upon was one shilling per acre and each colonist paid according to the number of acres he had.

The deed from the Indians is still in existence and shows that JAMES WAY paid two shilling - but he later purchased more land. No record has been found of James Way’s arrival in America, but records show that he was a resident of Newtown in 1652, and that he embraced the principles of the Quakers.

On March 30, 1676, he was elected one of the eleven “Overseers” of the town. He lived until October 2, 1685, and left a will in which he made bequests to his wife, Ede, three sons and three daughters. His son, Francis, seems to have left no will, but his widow, Elizabeth, married Peter Buckhout in 1712. He had two sons and two daughters. His son, James, became blind and died 1767. His wife was Hannah Leverich, daughter of John and granddaughter of Caleb who was son of Rev. William Leverich (1602-1677) first pastor of the Newtown church.

The last mentioned James Way had three sons, Francis, James and John. James settled on Staten Island. Francis and John settled at Fishkill in Dutchess County. Francis Way of Fishkill had five sons and five daughters. His wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Jose Gorsline, a Huguenot. Daniel Way, eldest son of Francis, settled at Northport, Ontario, after the Revolutionary War and his brother, John, settled near there in 1805. Another brother, Jose, lived at Brunswick, Rensselaer county, and had a daughter, Deborah, wife of John Kotchapaw of Picton. They were grandparents of Sir Rodmond Palen Roblin, one-time Premier of Manitoba. Another brother, Francis Way Jr., had a son, Lawrence Daily Way, who settled at Pickering, Ontario, in 1811. He had a large family, all of whom removed to Michigan in 1838.

John Way, brother of Francis of Fishkill, married Mary Losey, who died in 1769. After her death, he removed to Halfmoon Township - then in Albany but now in Saratoga County. His son, Daniel B. Way (1762-1840) removed in 1800 to Bethel, near Picton, and settled on the farm where his great-grandson, Arnold D. Way, spent his entire life.

James Way, brother of Daniel B. Way, was grandfather of Rev. David B. Way (1795-1865) who was great-grandfather of the family historian.

The Three Way Pioneers in Canada

Daniel Way (1743-1829) settled at Northport in 1789. He had served as a private in the Second Regiment, Duchess County Militia, in which his father was a Lieutenant. That he was no favorite of his father is evidenced by a bequest in the latter’s will of “Five pounds as his birthright.” His other children shared equally. His wife was Jemima Kilburn. They had eight sons and one daughter. The latter was wife of William Heliker of Whitby. James, his eldest son, married Sarah, daughter of Abraham Cronk in 1792. He was then a widower. The name of his first wife is unknown. Samuel Way’s wife was Catherine Pine. Daniel married Catherine Fox, and Benjamin’s wife was Catherine Chisholm. Nothing is known concerning Henry, John, Joseph and Francis. They probably died unmarried, or in childhood.

John Way, brother of Daniel, married Mary (Molly) Budd. He enlisted in the 3rd New York Regiment June 4, 1777 and served as Private, Corporal and Sergeant, until the end of the war. He later lived at Greenbush, Reneselaer County and in 1805 removed to what is now Prince Edward county. The graves of John Way and his wife are in an old cemetery on the Foster farm near Northport. Two of his daughters married in New York and did not go to Canada. Mary was wife of William Anderson who was member of Parliament, Margaret married Richard Sprung, and Letitia was wife of John Tripp. His son, Francis, left no descendants, John married Mary, daughter of William Casey and his wife, Martha Robinson, and Benjamin R. Way married Lydia Gorsline Adams. The names of her parents are desired.

Daniel P. Way, first cousin of Daniel and John Way, settled in Canada in the winter of 1800. He left a written record of his family and gave it to his daughter shortly before his death in 1840. A copy of this record was given to the writer by her son, Richard L. Hubbs, who was for many years Clerk of Prince Edward County and assisted the writer as long as he lived. Daniel B. Way served a Private in the 8th Regiment Albany County Militia. His first wife was Jemima Mosher (1761-1806) who had eleven children - five of whom grew up and married. John the eldest, married Cornelia Fox, Sarah was wife of Benjamin Hubbs, Elizabeth of Archelaus Doxsee, David’s first wife was Janet Chisholm and his second was Elizabeth Brooks and Reuben B. married Lydia Gleason.

Daniel B. Way’s second wife was Abigail Reed (1779-1808) who was widow of John Spencer and ---- Giles. Her only son, William Way, married Hannah Tripp. The third wife of Daniel B. Way was Sabra Foster (1771-1841) a descendant of Stephen Hopkins who came in the Mayflower in 1620. She had four children, two of whom died young, Jemima who became the wife of William H. Heliler, son of William Heliker and Elizabeth Way, and Abigail who married John Thompson.

More than six thousand descendants of these three pioneers have been found in all of the Provinces west of Quebec and nearly every state in the U.S.

More than twenty years ago the late Gideon Way of Trenton invited the descendants of his grandfather, James Way (son of Daniel) to meet for a Family Reunion and the next year the invitation was extended to all of the descendants of the three pioneers. Each year since that time (except during the war) a Family Reunion has been held in Canada.

This year the Reunion will be held at Wellington on Wednesday, August 15th. All of the descendants of the three pioneers are cordially invited. The big family gets together to visit and have a good time and listen to remarks by visitors from away. The Family Historian will try to answer questions that any one cares to ask. It will be a basket picnic. Tables will be spread at 12:30 (Standard Time), and many will remain for supper at about 8 p.m. A large attendance is expected. Wellington is 10 miles from Picton, 22 miles from Trenton and the same from Belleville, on Lake Ontario. Near the park is the oldest house in Ontario. Don’t fail to see it. Hope to meet you August 15th.

Glenn C. Way, Family Historian.

THE WAY FAMILY.

i. James Way, the founder of this name in Newtown, was of an ancient English family, who, under the appellation of " Waye," appear on the records of Somersetshire, as early as the fifteenth century. Mr. Way was an early and reputable settler at the English Kills, where he acquired a large estate, including the premises of the late Judge Furman. lie was a useful man in the town, and served as an overseer. He embraced the principles of the Quakers, which his descendants have very generally maintained. He d. Oct. 2, 1685, having had issue James, Francis, John, Hannah, who m. Jeremiah Burroughs; Elizabeth, m. Arthur Alburtis; and Martha, who m. Thos. Taylor. James d. in 1715, leaving issue Martha, who m. Wm. Leverich; Mary, m. Sam'l Eeed; Sarah, m. Johannes Culver; and Elizabeth, who m. Osborn. Francis had issue James, John, Elizabeth, m. Benj. Cornish ;* and Diana. After his death his widow, Elizabeth, m. Peter Buckhout in 1713. James, son of Francis, became blind, and d. Jan. 8, 1767. He was twice married, and by his first wife, Hannah, dan. of John Leverich, whom he m. in 1716, and who d. Nov. 10, 1729, he had issue Elizabeth, b. Feb. 16, 1717; Francis, b. May 27, 1719; and James, b. Nov. 24,1721. John Way, son of Francis 1st, m. Martha, dau. of John Leverich, and d. at Hellgate, Oct. 13,1750. His ch. were John, Leverich, Walter, and Hannah, who m. Wm. Leverich, father of the late Jesse Leverich, &c.

* The Cornish family, formerly of considerable repute in this town, were descended from a respectable settler, Thomas Cornish, who was by occupation a maker of pipestaves, or cooper, and d. in 1662. He left sons John, James, Thomas, and Benjamin. From the latter, who d. in 1736, a. 84, leaving sons Thomas and Benjamin, most of the name since resident in this town are presumed to have descended; but my notes are too imperfect to warrant a fuller notice of the family.

2. John Way, son of James,1 m. Nov. 22, 1687, Sarah, dau. of Sam'l Dean, of Jamaica, and in 1691 acquired the paternal farm at the English Kills, by purchase from his brothers and sisters. He also became the owner of a large tract of land in Amewell, N. J. which at his death in 1715, he left to his three daughters and his son John. His widow surviving him, ^d. in 1747, in her 85th yr. His ch. were Elizabeth, b. Oct. 11,1691; John, b. Jan. 26, 1694; Samuel, b. Sep. 11, 1696 ; Sarah, b. Oct. 27, 1698 ; Mary b. Apr. 14, 1701; and James, b. Aug. 15, 1708. James m. Mary, dau. of Thos. Alsop, and had issue Thomas and John, neither of whom married. By a division of his father's property with his brother John, in 1729, he came in possession of the homestead and lands at the English Kills, on which he lived till his death in 1788. He left £1000 to the Quaker society, and £1000 for the support of a charity school. His brother Samuel, a saddler at the Kills, m. Jane, dau. of John Cancel, whom he survived seven years, and d. Aug. 3, 1767, leaving issue Samuel, John, Mary, who m. Richard Hallett and Jona. Roberts; and Sarah, who m. Thos. Betts. John m. Mary, dau. of Wm. Betts, but left no male issue. His brother Samuel, by the will of his uncle, James Way, fell heir to his property at the English Kills, where he d. in 1798. He was twice m., and by his wife, Esther Valentine, had an only dau. Jane, who, in 1784, m. Dr. Henry Mott, father of Dr. Valentine Mott, of New-York. In 1815 the Way estate was sold to the late Garret Furman.

3. John Way, son of John,2 settled on the premises, now of widow Sarah Way, and on July 19, 1716, m. Sarah Burling, of Flushing. He lived to the age of 80. His ch. were John, b. Oct. 12, 1721, and Samuel, b. Nov. 11, 1723. Samuel remained on the paternal farm till his death, Oct. 20, 1796. He had issue John, Burling, Richard, Sarah, who m. Sam'l Spragg-, (father of Richard Spragg, Esq.) and Mary, who m. Chas. Farrington. John, eldest of the three sons, m. Mary Marsh, of New Jersey, and was the father of Charles F. Way, of Newtown. Richard m. in 1786, Sarah, dau. of Thos. Hyatt, who survived him and is living, aged 87. Their ch. are Catharine, Sarah, wife of Richard Spragg, Esq., Judith, wife of Abm. Furman, Walter, Thomas, dec., Richard, Samuel, dec., and Rachel, wife of John Kolyer. Burling Way, m. June 3, 1776, Phebe, dau. of Martin Schenck, and d. Dec. 12, 1811. He had issue Phebe, who m. Ab'm Folk, Judith, m. Jos. Furman, Hannah, m. Arthur Remsen, Martin, Samuel, Peter, James, and Schenck Way.

Descent - Way - to Weise