Josiah Stansborough
Josiah Stansborough was probably born about 1600 in Canons Ashby,
Northamptonshire, England. He was the son of William Stanborowe.
He died in 1661 at Sagg (now Sagaponack) on Long Island, New
York. The will of Josiah Stansborough is dated July 6, 1661 and
was proved September 3, 1661.
Frances Gransden, one of seven daughters of Henry Gransden of
Turnbridge, Kent, England. Frances died before 1657, as Josiah
married again in 1657 to Alice Wheeler, widow of Thomas Wheeler
of New Haven, Connecticut.
Josiah is first mentioned in records as being in Lynn,
Massachusetts in 1637, when he was alloted 100 acres of land. In
1640, he was one of the eight original "undertakers"
who formed the new settlement at Southampton, Long Island. The
settlers journied by way of Peconic Bay, landed at North Sea on
the spot that became known as Conscience Point, now marked by a
boulder monument. This marker and a bronze tablet was placed
there by the Colonial Society of Southampton. It is recorded that
the name is due to the remark of one of the women on landing:
"For conscience sake, I'm on dry land once more."
By the close of 1640, it is mentioned that "fourty
families" -- numbering from one to two hundred settlers --
made the new town of Southampton their home. The first period of
Southampton history shows an unusually large proportion of men of
intelligence, ability and energy, being respectable both in
character and education.
Josiah Stansborough founded Sagg, known today as Sagaponack. He
had purchased large amounts of land there and sold his home in
Southampton in May of 1656. His house stood at the south end of
Sagg Main St. on what is known as the "Stanborough Lot."
To the town of Southampton, the oldest English town in the state,
belongs the distinction of first organizing whaling as an
industry -- primarily the harvest of beached whales.
Back to Biographical Sketches or TimeTraveler's Genealogy Page