John MEAD

1634 - 1699  (65 years)

• Name	John MEAD
  Birth	1634	Lydd, Kent, Eng.
  Gender	Male
  Will	16 Mar 1694/95	Greenwich, Fairfield County, Connecticut   [1]
  Death	5 Feb 1698/99	Greenwich, Fairfield County, Connecticut   [2]
  Burial	Greenwich, Fairfield County, Connecticut   [3]
  	"John Mead (1) , it is supposed, was buried in an old burying-ground a little southwest from the old one yet in existence on Greenwich Point. All traces of this burial place are now removed, the tombstones having been taken to build fences, and the ground often ploughed over without any respect for those who lie sleeping there."
  Notes	For more information on the Mead genealogy, see Spencer Percival Mead, History and Genealogy of the Mead Family of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Eastern New York, Western Vermont and Western Pennsylvania, from A.D. 1180 to 1900 (New York: Knickerbocker Press, 1901), 182; Daniel M. Mead, A History of the Town of Greenwich, Fairfield County, Conn., With Many Important Statistics (New York: Baker & Godwin, 1857), 612-13, treats only the first generation. From Spencer Percival Mead's book: "John (1) removed from Hempstead, Long Island, to Old Greenwish (now Sound Bech) in 1660, and purchased land from Richerd Crab, October 26th." "In 1670 John Mead (1) was propounded for a freeman of Greenwich by the Assembly, and was a member of the Assembly in 1679, 1680, and 1686. The first settlement of the Town of Greenwich, as has been previously stated, was made at Elizabeth Neck (now Sound Beach), but about the year 1672 a number of persons, mostly living in the town, though some were from other colonies than Connecticut, purchased from the few Indians then living abou the western part of the town, Miosehasseky (Horseneck), now Greenwich Borough. These purchasers were twenty-seven, and were styled the "27 proprietors of 1672." On the list as it appears in the Greenwich Town Records are found among the twenty-seven the names of Joseph Mead, and John Mead (1)." "The following anecdote, which has been preserved by tradition, shows his character: One day when he was quite an old man, as he was going for his grist on horseback to the mill at Dumpling Pond, before he reached the Mianus River he overtook an old Quaker jogging slowly along, loaded with a heavy budget. In a real spirit of kindness he offered to take the Quaker's load upon his horse, and thus give him a lift on his journey. "No," replied the Quaker, "thee don't get my bundle, for I can read men's thoughts. Thee wants to get my bundle, and then thee'll run off. Thee don't get my bundle." "Very well," was the simple reply, ans so they went slowly on together. At last they came to the brink of the Mianus River. Here the Quaker was really in trouble. How to cross a river, two or three feet deep, dry shod, was quite a puzzle. But he gladly accepted a second offer of assistance from the horseman. The bundle was mounted in front, John in the middle, and the Quaker behind. Arriving at the centre of the river, in pretending to adjust his stirrup John caught the Quaker by the heel and gave him a gratuitous bath. Such treatment was too much, even for Quaker forbearance, and the victim, with his hands full of peebles, would have take summary vengeance, had not the other party threatened to put the bundle under a similar course of treatment. This threat, and the lecture following it, gradually cooled off the Quaker's anger. John informed him that all had been done for his good, to teach him a lesson. And the lecturer said he hoped the stranger would never again profess to read men's thoughts. "For," said he. -- I asked you to ride, kindly in the first place, when you refused: but at the second time of asking, I really intended to do as I have just done." So saying, and tossing the bundle back, he rode on, leaving his companion to apply the moral as he thought best." [4]
  Person ID	I3637	Ellingboe
  Last Modified	6 Jan 2011

  
  

  Family ID

  F2771

  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Sources

  [S132] NEHGR, (NEHGS), Gail Blankenau, Some Descendants of Nathaniel Mead of Greenwich, Connecticut, Through His Son Josiah Mead, Vol. 163 (2009), p. 33. (Reliability: 3). [S315] Spencer P. Mead L.L.B., Mead Family Genealogy, (New York, New York: The Knickerbocker Press, 1901.), p. 19. (Reliability: 3). [S315] Spencer P. Mead L.L.B., Mead Family Genealogy, (New York, New York: The Knickerbocker Press, 1901.), p. 25. (Reliability: 3). [S315] Spencer P. Mead L.L.B., Mead Family Genealogy, (New York, New York: The Knickerbocker Press, 1901.), pp. 15-16. (Reliability: 3).