Our Line of Descent from
Robert Bedell of Hempstead, Long Island, New York
By Marie E. Velardi
Last update: March 27, 2011

Return to the Family History Homepage


As likely as it is, we have yet to find documentar proof that our our ancestor, Benjamin P. Bedell, was a descendant of Robert Bedell of Hempstead, the first settler of that surname on Long Island. However, we're able to trace our descent from Robert through our ABRAMS and SHAW lines, which tie back into our own Bedell family eight generations later.  As they say, "what goes around, comes around".

Here's a direct-ancestor chart starting from Robert Bedell of Hempstead town to Vivian Seaman Velardi,  born more than 300 years later in the same vicinity. The chart was compiled from various print and online resources, the most useful and credible of which are listed at the bottom of the page.

This chart also outlines our ABRAMS ancestors, the first one we know being Charles Abrams, born about 1651, an early resident of Hewlett, Long Island.

 

GENERATION

    DIRECT LINE ANCESTOR SPOUSE
 

1		  
Robert BEDELL
  • BIRTH: Between 1619 and 1624 (probably in England, parentse unknown.)
  • MARRIAGE: To Blanche <Unknown> in the 1640s..
  • ISSUE: 7 children -- Daniel, Matthew, John, Mary, Robert, Sarah (see below) and Elizabeth Bedell.
  • OCCUPATION: Husbandman (farmer) and sometime cow-keeper of the town of Hempstead. Appointed to the office of townsman in 1657.
  • RESIDENCE: Hempstead, by 1654 /55 until his death. 
  • DEATH: Early 1702. Died before 20 March 1701/02 (1702 by our modern calendar), the date an inventory was taken of his estate.

He is considered the 74th settler of the town of Hempstead, Long Island.  Robert Bedell a.k.a., "Beagle" is listed as having 7 acres at Coe's Neck (present-day Baldwin) and 4 at Mill River. in the town proprietors' list of 1654-55.
+ Blanche <Unknown>
  • BIRTH: Probably in the 1620s (parents and birthplace unknown)
  • DEATH: Before the Hempstead census of 31 August 1698.
   

                 
 
2   Sarah BEDELL
  • BIRTH: About 1660, probably in Hempstead, Long Island.
  • MARRIAGE: To Charles Abrams about 1680 (before 16 November 1681).
  • ISSUE:  4 children by 1698 -- John (see below), Charles, Sarah and Jane Abrams.
  • RESIDENCE: The South Woods near Rockaway, town of Hempstead. See notes for spouse, Charles Abrams.
  • DEATH: After 1 April 1699; the date she was named in a land transaction between her husband and Jeremiah Wood..
     
 + Charles ABRAMS
  • BIRTH: About 1651 (parents and birthplace unknown).
  • RESIDENCE: At least one source claims he came from Flatbush (Brooklyn). Arrived in Huntington, Long Island by 1670. In Hempstead town by 1673.  Settled in the South Woods near Rockaway.**
  • OCCUPATION: Farmer.
  • DEATH: Unknown. after 1700. Some sources claim after  September 1733.

His surname sometimes spelled "Abrahams".  Its origin may be Dutch.

** At one time, his property is said to have extended from present-day Lynbrook through Hewlett into Woodmere. The Abrams' farmhouse was located on Broadway (then called the Rockaway Road) in present-day Grant Park,  Hewlett. It was built about 1700 and stood until the 1950s, according to this newspaper article posted at Clay Abrams' website.
.
   

                 
 
3   John ABRAMS
  • BIRTH: About 1683, probably in Hempstead, Queens County, New York.
  • MARRIAGE:  To (1) Hannah Linnington by 1710;  (2) Elizabeth Murray on 7 August 1738 at the Presbyterian Church in Huntington, Suffolk County, New York.
  • ISSUE: 9 children by Hannah -- John, Henry, Charles, Mary (see below), Samuel, Elizabeth, Jonas, Margaret and Hannah Abrams.
  • OCCUPATION: Husbandman (farmer).
  • RESIDENCE: South Hempstead.  Town records indicate his property included his father's lands in the South Woods near Rockaway.
  • DEATH: Late 1738.
+ Hannah LINNINGTON
  • BIRTH: About 1690, probably in Hempstead, Queens County, New York.  Daughter of John Linnington and Mary <Unknown>.
  • DEATH: 1730s. Between 1732 (birth of her last known child) and August 1738 (second marriage of spouse, John Abrams).
   

                 
 
4   Mary ABRAMS
  • BIRTH: About 1718, probably in Hempstead, Queens County, New York..
  • MARRIAGE:  To Harman Shaw on 4 September 1737 at St. George's Episcopal Church in Hempstead.
  • ISSUE:  At least one son , Amos Shaw (see below); possibly others not yet verified, including one Henry Shaw of Hempstead, who in 1766/67 registered a cattle ear mark identical to the brand used by Amos Shaw.
  • RESIDENCE:  South Hempstead.
  • DEATH: Unknown; most likely before 1785.
 + Harman SHAW
  • BIRTH: 1709. Baptized on 16 August 1709 in at the Reformed Dutch Church, Jamaica, Queens County, New York.  Son of Jonathan Shaw and Phebe Hendrickson of  Hempstead.
  • OCCUPATION: Yeoman (farmer).
  • DEATH:  Early 1785. Before 3 March 1785 in South Hempstead, Queens County, New York, the date letters of administration were assigned to his son, Amos Shaw.
   

                 
 
5   Amos SHAW
  • BIRTH: 1738-1745, probably in Hempstead, Queens County, New York.
  • MARRIAGE: To Elisabeth Peterson on 8 January 1772 at St. George's Episcopal Church in Hempstead.
  • ISSUE: 5-6 children -- Rachel, Silas, Reuben (see below), Mary, Jacob and possibly Sarah Shaw.
  • RESIDENCE: Towns of Jamaica and South Hempstead, Queens County, New York.
  • MILITARY: Queens County militia (British Loyalist) during the Revolutionary War.  One of the local militiamen who, in July 1780, captured the crew of the American privateer Revenue, which had been run aground in Reynolds Channel off present-day Barnum Island/Island Park..
  • DEATH: July 1825 in Hempstead. He wrote his will on 7 July 1825. It was probated  9 days later on 16 July 1825.
 + Possibly Elisabeth PETERSON
  • BIRTH: By 1755 (parents and birthplace unknown).
  • DEATH: Before 1825. No wife is mentioned in the will of Amos Shaw.

It's not known for certain if she was the mother of our ancestor, Reuben Shaw (see below). There is a wide gap in known births between about 1775 and 1787, the year Reuben was born, which strongly suggesting that Amos had  more than one wife-- though no record of a second marriage has ever been found. .  I have an unsourced note indicating  that the nother of Amos' youngest son, Jacob, was named  "Presila", ie., Priscilla.
   

                 
 
6   Reuben SHAW
  • BIRTH: February 1787. Baptized on 15 April 1787 by Rev. Joshua Hartt in Hempstead, Queens County, New York.
  • MARRIAGE:  To (1) Phebe/Phoebe Cornwell on 16 July 1806 in Christ's Presbyterian Church in Hempstead; (2) to Margaret or Mary <Unknown> in 1850.
  • ISSUE: 11 children by Phebe/Phoebe -- Nelson, David, Jacob (see below), Mary, Lydia, Reuben Jr., Benjamin, Silas, Elizabeth, Phebe and Adriana Shaw.
  • OCCUPATION: Farmer.
  • RESIDENCE: South Hempstead. In or around present-day Valley Stream, Nassau County, New York.
  • MILITARY: Bedel's 2nd Regiment, New York Militia, during the War of 1812. 
  • DEATH: 16-17 May 1862 in Hempstead. Buried in Sand Hole (now Rockville) Cemetery, Lynbrook, New York.  Find-A-Grave Memorial  31777898.
+ Phebe/Phoebe CORNWELL
  • BIRTH: 1787 (parents and birthplace unknown).
  • DEATH: 21 November 1849. Buried in Sand Hole (now Rockville) Cemetery, Lynbrook, New York.  Find-A-Grave Memorial #31777874.
   

                 
 
7   Jacob SHAW
  • BIRTH: 1810-1816, probably in Hempstead, Queens County, New York.
  • MARRIAGE: To Emily Granger about 1838 in Fosters Meadow, Queens County, New York.
  • ISSUE: 8 children -- Elizabeth, Susan, Ruth Ellen, Joseph, Benjamin, William, Georgianna (see below) and Harriet Shaw.
  • OCCUPATION: Farm laborer.
  • RESIDENCE: South Hempstead. Present-day Valley Stream, Nassau County, New York, or nearby.
  • DEATH: 30 September 1860, probably in Hempstead.  Burial place unknown.
 + Emily GRANGER
  • BIRTH:  1820  in Shelfanger, Norfolk County, England.  Daughter of John Granger and Elizabeth Cobb.
  • IMMIGRATION:  Her family immigrated to New York about 1830 and settled first in Brooklyn, and later  in the(Near Rockaway/Fosters Meadow area of Hempstead, Long Island.
  • MARRIAGES: After Jacob's death, to Henry Mott of Hempstead on 12 June 1861 in Queens County, New York..
  • DEATH:  20 April 1895 in Springfield, Jamaica, Queens County, New York. Buried in St John's Methodist Cemetery, Elmont, Long Island, New York  Find-A-Grave Memorial #38707372.
   

                 
 
8   Georgianna SHAW
  • BIRTH: 2 Sept. 1855/56 in Springfield, Jamaica, Queens County, New York.
  • MARRIAGE: To Alfred Curtis Bedell on 4 July 1873 in the Methodist-Episcopal Church, Lawrence, Queens County, New York. Both residents of Woodsburgh (Woodmere) at the time.
  • ISSUE: 7 children -- Celestia, Araminta, Charles (see below), Alfred, Willis, Ethel and Phillis Bedell.
  • RESIDENCE: Settled in Rockaway Beach, Queens County, New York in 1877.
  • DEATH:  27 February 1919 in Rockaway Beach. Buried in Trinity Church Yard, Hewlett, Nassau County, New York.. Find-A-Grave Memorial #45036165.
 + Alfred Curtis BEDELL
  • BIRTH: 22 November 1852 (range: 1851-1853) in Near Rockaway, Queens County, New York. Son of Benjamin P. Bedell and Cornelia Foster.
  • OCCUPATION: Bridge carpenter, Long Island Rail Road
  • DEATH: 1 April 1932 in Rockaway Beach, Queens County, New York. Buried in Trinity Church Yard, Hewlett, Nassau County, New York.  Find-A-Grave Memorial #45036584.
   

                 
 
9   Charles Benjamin BEDELL
  • BIRTH: 22 May 1883 in Springfield, Jamaica, Queens County, New York.
  • MARRIAGE: To Agnes May Smith on 15 June 1905 in the Methodist-Episcopal Church, Matteawan (now Beacon), Dutchess County, New York.
  • ISSUE: 1 daughter, Elsie Bedell (see below).
  • OCCUPATION: Bridge carpenter, Long Island Rail Road.
  • RESIDENCE: Primarily Rockaway Beach, Queens County, New York.
  • DEATH: 22 February 1948 in Rockaway Beach. Buried in Rockville Cemetery, Lynbrook, Nassau County, New York.. Find-A-Grave Memorial #45228864.
 + Agnes May SMITH
  • BIRTH: May 1874 in Matteawan (now Beacon), Dutchess County, New York. Daughter of Leonard C. Smith and Mary Olivia Hughson
  • DEATH: 4 January 1949 in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York. Buried in Rockville Cemetery, Lynbrook, Nassau County, New York,  Find-A-Grave Memorial #45229038.
   

                 
 
10   Elsie Ritter BEDELL
  • BIRTH:  3 April 1906 in Rockaway Beach, Queens County, New York.. Baptized on 17 June 1906 in the Methodist Episcopal Church, Matteawan (now Beacon), Dutchess County, New York
  • MARRIAGE: To Rowland Seaman on 28 October 1925 in Rockaway Beach.
  • ISSUE: 5 children -- Richard, Vivian (see below), Robert, Elsie and Harold Seaman.
  • RESIDENCE: Primarily  Rockaway Beach and Far Rockaway.
  • DEATH: 6 December 1995 in Far Rockaway, Queens County, New York. Buried in the Long Island National Cemetery, Farmingdale, Suffolk County, New York.  Find-A-Grave Memorial #1166725.
 + Rowland Seaman PINKHAM (a.k.a. Rowlan Pinkham Seaman JONES and Rowland SEAMAN)
  • BIRTH: 22 June 1892 in Ozone Park, Jamaica, Queens County, New York. Baptized 1 January 1899 at the First Congregational Church, Rockaway Beach, Queens County, New York.
  • MARRIAGES: (1) To Irene Langridge, daughter of William Langridge and Hannah Selig, on 18 April 1913, in Brooklyn; (2) to Elsie R. Bedell.
  • OCCUPATION: Electrician (self-employed).
  • MILITARY: Army Aero-Squadron in France (World War I); National Guard; civilian service  at the Brooklyn Navy Yard during World War II.
  • DEATH: 27 December 1973 in Far Rockaway, Queens County, New York. Buried in Long Island National Cemetery, Farmingdale, Suffolk County, New York.  Find-A-Grave Memorial #1166766
   

                 
 
11

 

 

   Vivian Marie SEAMAN, born 1928.
8th great granddaughter of Robert Bedell
7th great granddaughter of Charles Abrams.		 + Nicholas Carmen VELARDI, 1925-1994

 

Sources and resources include:

  1. Abrams, Clay. Abrams Family of Long Island NY
    .http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~abramsc/
     
  2. Clarke, Ryan Gordan. Robert <?> Bedell (Beedle) descendancy chart at Early New Netherlands Settlers.
    http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rclarke/page3/bedell.htm
     
  3. Frost, Stephen P. Descendants of Robert Bedell at Long Island Genealogy.
    http://www.longislandgenealogy.com/bedell/surnames.htm
     
  4. Frost. Stephen P. Descendany report for/of Robert Bedell at Long Island Genealogy.
    http://www.longislandgenealogy.com/bedell/rbedell.html.

  5. Rhea, Joseph C., Mary Ellen (Bedell) Rhea, Margo Miller and John Bedells. Early History of the Bedell Families: Research on their Origins. Rev ed.  Aurora CO: published by the Author, 2001-

  6. Rushmore, Robert P. The Early Proprietors of Hempstead and the 1654 List. In: The Roots and Heritage of Hempstead Town. / Edited by Natalie A. Naylor; prepared under the auspices of Hofstra University.. Interlaken NY: Heart of the Lakes Publishing, 1994, p. 183-191.

Return to the Family History Homepage