Person:Griffin Gale (3)

From George Gale's 1866 Gale Family Records, "Of Mamaroneck, N.Y. Nothing is known of his wife and the usual tradition says he was from England or Wales. We have placed him, on probabilities, as the son of John, of Stamford, Conn. If we are in error on this, his proper status will probably be found when the other families of Abell's children are traced out." For supposed father John Gale, George Gale also wrote, "We have no records of what became of him nor as to his family, and he may have followed the sea as did his father; but solely on the ground of the similarity of family names and location, we have taken the liberty to assign to him as a son, Griffin, who was known to have lived at Mamaroneck, N.Y.--Griffin might, however, have been a brother of John, born after the family left Stamford Conn.

From researcher Wayne Fries: Listed in Westchester in 1763 as a Freeholder with the occupation of Cordwainer (shoemaker). Purchased land in the Village of Rye in Westchester in 1764. First child was born on, or before, 1772 in Westchester. If a man was a Freeholder, and purchased land by 1764, I would guess that he would already be in his early 20's by that time. That would estimate the birth of Griffin Gale at about 1740. If that is true, then John Gale b. 1753 of Stamford would more likely be of his same generation such as brother or cousin. Griffin Gale is associated with the Field family of Greenwich Connecticut in deed references. The "Alphabetical School Book of Edward Willett" schoolmaster of Jamaica, Long Island from 1734-1741 has these students with the name of Gale and the years that they attended: Griffin 1740, Jemima 1741, Joseph 1734, Keziah 1736, Nehemiah 1738, 1740, 1741. No reference to names of parents or ages of children. This only proves the name Griffin was used in Jamaica, which was the home of the Abell Gale family in the late 1600's.

From researcher Shirley Simpson: 1764 Griffin Gale of Rye, New York bought 20 acres in Hog-Pen Ridge. May 2, 1785 Griffin Gale of Rye, cordwainer, and Freelove, his wife deeded to Daniel Lewis of North Castle, land in North Castle, bounded by land of Samuel Palmer, deceased. 1790 Census: Griffin Gale was in North Castle, Westchester, NY. 2 males over 16, 2 males under 16, 2 females. 1793, 2nd day of April, Town of North Castle, Griffin Gale and also, his son Silvenus Gale, were elected district overseers of roads. 1800 Census: North Castle, Westchester, NY. Griffin Gale. 1 male 45, 1 female 26-45. 31st October 1804, New York Wills: Griffin Gale, late of North Castle, now residing in New Castle, devised that daughter Sarah Carpenter be supported out of Estate, and at her decease, Estate to be divided between children to wit: Dorothy Carpenter, Mary Cornwell, Abigail Roe, Elizabeth Wiley, Sylvanus Gale, Griffin Gale, Andrew Gale and Samuel Gale. Executors: son Andrew Gale and Aaron Field of Greenwich, CT. Witnesses: Elizabeth & Abel Smith. Probated April 10, 1807. His wife, Freelove is not mentioned in his will dated 1807. Can we assume she died before that time?