By a letter dated Nov. ^|, 1653, from Jongeshall to William, Earl of Nassau, it appears that Col. John Cromwell was then in Holhuid. Through the ill behavior of his wife Abigail, he was from the most afliuent circumstances reduced to the brink of ruin, i^y his wife (continues Noble,) Col, Cro.nwell had a daughter Joan, baptized September 23, 1634, and perhaps other chili rcn,"^ In 16S6 we find John Cromwell'^ of the town of W^estchester

a Noble's Life of Oliver Cromwell, vol. i. 534-8.

b John Cromwell (.the supposed son of Col. John,) is s:iid to have emigrated from Holland during the time the Dutch held the province.

254 HISTORY OF THE

and Mary his wife, selling lands to Thomas Hunt, sen., of the West Farms. These lands v/ere situated upon Long Neck, afterwards known as CromweU's Neck.^

John Cromwell (the supposed son of Col. John Cromwell,) left issue by his wife Mary, John, from whom the present Oliver Cromwell and Jeremiah of West Farms are descended, and James Cromwell, who was living in 17 17. The latter by his wife Anne Godfrey had two sons, John and James. The oldest son John Cromwell was residing upon the property in Harrison at the commencement of the revolutionary war, for his name occurs in General Washington's military map of the county, dated 1778, as the occupant of the homestead.^ The present Wilham Cromwell of Harrison is the grandson of the above named Jolin Cromwell.^

From an early period, the Thomas family have resided in the eastern part of this town. The first member who purchased land here, was the Hon. John Thomas, son of the Rev. John Thomas, for many years Rector of St. George's Church, Hempstead, Long Island. Concerning the latter individual, Dr. Carmichael in his history of St.