History of Richmond County, New York, 1887



Bedell Family

We find this name at an early date in America, but not in connection Genealogy with Staten Island. In 1673 we find Robert Beedill, Daniel Beedel, Mathew Beedel, and John Beddel, enrolled among the inhabitants of Hempstead, Long Island.

It is nearly a century after that date, that we find the name in any of the records of Richmond county. In 1767, Silas rendered a bill for "docktering," whence we infer that he was a physician. In the same year mention is made of John, who was county treasurer when he died, in the early part of 1781. There is a Joseph also mentioned in 1770, but not the Joseph alluded to elsewhere as having been taken prisoner by the Americans when a boy; they were father and son. The father made his will October 28, 1793, proved November 19th of the same year, in which he speaks of his sons Jesse and Joseph, and his daughters Mary, Pattie, Pegge, Catharine and Jane; his wife's name was Catharine; his son Joseph was born October 24, 1763; Jesse was born in 1773, and died August 28, 1852.

Stephen and Catharine Latourette were married in May, 1766, and had a son David born July 19, 1771.

Silas (the doctor) and Mary his wife, had the following children: Phebe, born November 19, 1770; James, born April 9, 1773; John, born March 28, 1775. James married Hetty Parker January 12, 1806.

There was another John, wife Catharine, who had a daughter Hillite, born April 7, 1771.

Stephen and Mary Donelly were married March 9, 1808; Israel died at Elizabethtown, N.J., August 30, 1830; he was the father of the Rev. Gregory Townsend Bedell, D.D., an eminent divine of the Episcopal church, who was born at Fresh kill, October 28, 1793, and died August 30, 1834, just four years after his father to a day. Rev. Dr. Bedell was the father of the Rev. G. Thurston Bedell.

Gregory Townsend Bedell was born on Staten Island, in the harbor of New York, on the 28th of October, 1793. His father, Israel Bedell, was a man of true excellence of character, of a peaceful temper and spirit, and much beloved by those who were connected Genealogy with him. He lived to see fourscore years, to witness the full eminence and usefulness of his only son, and to receive many happy proofs of his filial gratitude and love. He died at Elizabethtown, in New Jersey, on the 30th of August, in the year 1830, in the comfort and confidence of a Gospel hope, and leaving behind him a character unblemished and unreproached. His mother was a sister of the Right Rev. Bishop Moore, of Virginia. She was remarkable both for her mental accomplishments and for her external beauty, adorned Genealogy with a most amiable disposition, and kind and benevolent to the poor. She was early admitted as a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal church, and honored the doctrine of her Saviour by a consistent walk of faith and piety. She was married late in life, and lived only until her son was nine years old.

He was the only son of his parents. His father had three daughters, the children of a former marriage, who were in a most eminent degree affectionate and useful sisters to him, and made, in the hands of God, the main instruments in educating him for the work in which his life was so usefully employed. They were permitted to receive from him in return the most unequivocal proofs of his affectionate gratitude, and two of them survived him to lament his departure from the earth.



Source: History of Richmond County, (Staten Island) From its Discovery to the Present Time: Richard M. Bayles: New York: L.E. Preston & Co.; 1887












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