Origins

The Origins of John Pinney are unknown to me. Some theories:
 
1. Riverhead History, by Virginia Wines shows John Penny and then gives us records of a ship captain in the 1650's and 1660's. Her presentation implies that they could be the same person. It seems to me he could have been more likely a son or other relative of that captain, based on dates of wife, children, etc.

2. He could be a son of an earlier immigrant elsewhere in the colonies who moved to Long Island. However, he is probably not tied to Humphrey of Windsor. Humphrey had a son named John who is accounted for elsewhere. Published genealogies of that Penny family don't account for him as a grandson.

3. Could he be the prisoner, "John Pinny", exported to Barbados from the Monmouth Rebellion, arrived in Barbadoes apparently sometime Oct-Jan 1685 (remember Jan 1685 follows Oct 1685 in the old calendar.) At first blush, this seems to blend well with the first signs of John Pinney in Southampton about 1685. The main problem with this theory is that the first record of our John Pinney is in Sep, 1685, which means he was already in the states when the prisoners were captured during the Rebellion. Worthy of note is that there was another prisoner whose last name is given as Jasper Dyamond. A Thomas Diament / Diamont married a daughter of John Pinney.

There seems to be scant information on John Pinney or his origins. As far as I have been able to determine, there has not been a published genealogy of him, or an article in the NEGHR or TAG. He is treated, however, in "Pioneers of Riverhead", by Virginia Wines.
 

Born:  Prob 1650-1664, based on 21 years before first adult record in 1685 (see below). The Samuel Cooper referred to as his brother-in-law was born, probably, about 1650. Assuming they were contemporaries, that gives a range of 1650-1664.

First record 1685:  On Sep 23, 1685, when "John Piny, now a resident of East Hampton, cutler or smith," signs an agreement with Edward Howell, Obadiah Rogers and John Howell, Jr., representatives of Southampton, to 'come and and dwell' at Southampton 'according to his ability to supply the town in the trade of a smith'". (Pioneers of Riverhead, Wines, p 28 )

Spouse:
 

The death of a Mary Penny, widow of John Penny, is recorded in the Salmon Records on March 31, 1733. If this be the widow of our John Penny, this, then might be the mother of the children, although not certain. At any rate, that only gives us a first name. No will is existant, that I am aware of. (Pioneers of Riverhead, Wines, pg 30)

"In 1696/7, John Pinney of the Town of Southampton, blacksmith, appointed his brother-in-law Samuel Cooper as his attorney..."  (Pioneers of Riverhead, Wines, pg 29 )  Ms. Wines speculates that then, a sister of Samuel Cooper, first name Mary, ie Mary Cooper, might be the wife of John Pinney and possibly the mother of his children. However, there are at least two other ways John Pinney and Samuel Cooper could have referred to themselves as brothers-in-law. One is if Samuel Cooper's wife was John Pinney's sister. This can't be ruled out, because, as far as I know, Samuel Cooper's wife has not been identified. The other way is a "loose" use of the term to mean that the wives of the two men were sisters.

"The Early History of Southampton, L.I., NY", on pages 198-200, lists the birth, marriage and death records from the Town Records. It shows a Mary Cooper married a Samuel Whitehead on September 12, 1682, had two children from 1684-1686, and died on April 10, 1687. If this Mary Cooper is the daughter of John Cooper, then she is not likely the wife of John Pinney.

Of course, there are other scenarios that could work here. Another sister of Samuel could have caused the "brother-in-law" relationship, then she died and a subsequent wife, named Mary, died in 1633. Of course, there could be mixups all through these sets of facts between John and his son, John, the multiple possible "brother-in-law relationships and so on.

The identity of the wife of John Pinney is far from a certainty, or even a likelihood.

Real Estate Purchases, 1688-1692:  There are four real estate transactions involving John Pinny/Piny purchasing land, from 1688-1692. (Pioneers of Riverhead, Wines, pg 28)

Moved to Carolinas, 1696:  There is an indication that he may have moved to the Carolina's, as Sam Cooper was appointed as the attorney for John Pinney on account of his removal to the Carolinas, abt 1696. (Pioneers of Riverhead, Wines, pg 28)

Real Estate Sales, in Absentia, 1698-1709:  John Penny is not in the 1698/9 census. Sales recorded in 1696, 1697 in absentia, appointed brother-in-law Samuel Cooper "to sell all housing & lands... to pay my debts" in 1696/7, Samuel Cooper sells two parcels for John in 170(1)? and 1709.

Buys Real Estate, 1711:  Note: Is this a return of John Pinney? Another John Pinney? Or, the son, John Penney? John Penny, of Southold, a tanner, buys a parcel of land in Aquebogue from Israel Parshall in 1711/12. Note that the earlier John Pinney was referred to as "cutler or smith".

Death. 1713:  A death for a John Penny is recorded in the Salmon Records on February 14, 1713/4. Is this the father? the son? Another man?

Will:   I have not located a will for this John Penny.

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 None found yet !

There are five Penny's who have been identified as possible children of John Pinney in the Pioneers of Riverhead. As I understand it, these are presumed children of John Pinney and have not been proven. See his list of children and grandchildren below.

The major branches will be named, besides Penny: Diament, possibly changed by some descendants to Demming, Dimon, Diamond, or other variations, and Youngs.

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Pioneers of Riverhead Town, compiled by Virginia Wines (didn't get the page with date, but it was in the 1980's).

CS71.F756 1895 Foster, Alonzo, 1841-A family record of the Foster family, the Penny family and the Squires family from their settling on Long Island to the present time [microform] /compiled by Alonzo Foster. -- New York : Printed by G.F. Nesbitt & Co., 1895. 85 p., [11] leaves of plates : ill., coat of arms, ports. ; 23 cm. Nineteen pages at end blank for "Record of parentage" and "Family record". Illustrated material preserved in MicRR. Call number of original: CS71.F756 1895. Master microform held by: DLC. Microfilm. Washington, D.C. Library of Congress Photoduplication Service, 1985. 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm. I. Title. Microfilm 85/5674 (C)                  85-127720.
 

Note: The level of scholarship of the above work does not look very high. Not much more than a list of names, dates, and places. It only takes the descendants of a Revolutionary War era Pinney down. It does not show ancestors of this Revolutionary War era Pinney.

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Origins of John Pinney / Penny?
 
His origins are a mystery. Very little is known about him.


Identity of Wife:
 

The identity of the wife apparently comes from an entry found by Virginia Wines in Pioneers of Riverhead Town, that 22 March 1696, Appointed brother-in-law Samuel Cooper as his attorney. Her first name apparently comes from a record, in 1733, of the death of Mary Penny, "widow of John Penny." However, there are other ways that John Pinney and Samuel Cooper could have been brother-in-laws, so I think this not definitive..
Will of John Penny
 
I have not yet located the will of John Penny.
Spelling Variations
 
Piny, Piney, Pinny, Pinney, Penny, Penney, and so on. Don't even disregard Pine.

Here is what I have for the children and grandchildren of John Pinney. Please drop me a line if you have any changes, deletions, corrections, or additions!
 
 1   John Pinney 1650 - 1714
..  +Possibly: [Mary Cooper] 1662 -
........ 2   Hannah Penny 1686 -
............  +Thomas Diament 1686 -
........ 2   John Penny 1690 -
............  +Juda 1690 -
.................. 3   Robert Penny 1716 -
.................. 3   Christopher Penny 1718 -
........ 2   Edward Penny 1695 - 1726
............  +Katherine 1695 -
.................. 3   Mary Penny 1718 - 1798
......................  +Daniel Youngs 1712 - 1755
.................. 3   Nathan Penny 1724 - 1789
......................  +Mary Paine 1724 - 1789
.................. 3   Isaac Penny 1726 -
......................  +Margaret Howell 1726 -
........ 2   William Penny 1700 - 1776
............  +Sarah Howell 1700 -
.................. 3   Penny 1733 - 1738
.................. 3   William Penny 1742 - 1832
......................  +Abigail Downs 1742 - 1785
..................  *2nd Wife of William Penny:
......................  +Esther Dickerson 1734 - 1837
.................. 3   John Penny 1744 -
........ 2   Freelove Penny 1712 - 1770
............  +Josiah Youngs, Jr. 1712 - 1772

We have two lines from John Pinney/Penny

Direct Descendants of John Pinney
 
 1   John Pinney 1650 - 1714
....  +Possibly Mary Cooper, ? 1662 -
.... 2   Edward Penny 1695 - 1726
            That this Edward is a son of John Pinney is likely, not proven
..........  +Katherine Gamlin 1695 - 1734
........... 3   Mary Penny 1718 - 1798
.................  +Daniel Youngs 1712 - 1755
                        "Danie Youngs" (1712-1755), the brother of Christopher (1700-1786) on the church account, resided on the Youngs farm south of the Country Road, and opposite the south end of Tuthill's Path at Jamesport. He married Oct 16, 1732, Mary Penny, probably the daughter of Edward and Katherine Penny. Pioneers of Riverhead Town: Virginia Wines, 1987, p 82

.................. 4   Rufus Youngs 1748 - 1828
........................  +Mehitable Tuthill 1760 - 1830
........................ 5   Mary 'Polly' [Youngs?] 1791 - 1864
..............................  +Jacob Aldrich 1787 - 1829
............................... 6   John Youngs Aldrich 1810 - 1874
.....................................  +Eleanor Wells 1810 - 1862
...................................... 7   [2] Mary Jane Aldrich 1836 - 1862
............................................  +[1] John Kasar Hallock 1831 - 1875
............................................ 8   [3] Morris Wells Hallock 1858 - 1941
..................................................  +[4] Harriet Loetta Pollock 1865 - 1936
................................................... 9   [5] Inez Evangeline Hallock 1886 - 1976
.........................................................  +[6] Arthur Willis Baldwin 1876 - 1961

We are also descended from Hannah Youngs, sister of Rufus Youngs:

.................. 4   Hannah Youngs 1754 - 1823
........................  +Zachariah Hallock I 1751 - 1820

".......Possibly, it was the home of Richard Swezey which became the first
known residence of Capt. Zachariah Hallock (1749 - 1820) and his wife Hannah
(Young) Hallock.  He married Hannah, the daughter of Daniel and Mary (Penny)
Young in 1771.   On March 30, 1780 he purchased "one equal half" of a strip
of land bounded north by Long Island Sound which included the northern part
of Richard Swezey's farm with a small house.  Hallock family records
indicate that Capt. Zachariah and Hannah lived in this house near the east
line of the Trubisz farm about half way to the Sound for several years and
then moved down to a house on the north side of sound Avenue on the same
farm." Riverhead Town: Virginia Wines, 1987, p 84.

........................ 5   Bethuel Hallock 1790 - 1866
........................  *2nd Wife of Bethuel Hallock:
..............................  +Harmony Howell 1794 - 1864

"Home of Bethuel Hallock was in West Mattituck, Long Island. Business, farming." A Hallock Genealogy, William, Charles, and Lucius Hallock, revised in 1860, 1906, and 1928, respectively, Pg 194


............................... 6   [1] John Kasar Hallock 1831 - 1875
.....................................  +[2] Mary Jane Aldrich 1836 - 1862

"John Kasar Hallock was a farmer of West Mattituck. He was an active member of the Franklinville Presbyterian Church. The family plot is in Laurel Cemetery." A Hallock Genealogy, William, Charles, and Lucius Hallock, revised in 1860, 1906, and 1928, respectively, Pg 194


...................................... 7   [3] Morris Wells Hallock 1858 - 1941
............................................  +[4] Harriet Loetta Pollock 1865 - 1936

Morris Wells Hallock moved to Kansas for his health and married Harriet in Ada, Kansas in 1881.


............................................ 8   [5] Inez Evangeline Hallock 1886 - 1976
..................................................  +[6] Arthur Willis Baldwin 1876 - 1961
 
 

The Monmouth Rebellion - Featured George Penne for the King, Azariah Pinney for the rebels, and a Peter Mews for the King (Mary Cooper's mother was a Mew(s). Azariah was shipped to Barbados after the Monmouth Rebellion.. connection or not, it's an interesting story.

Boxes in the Attic - A page of a Penny / Youngs cousin, with Penny/Penney info.

Pinney GenForum

Penny GenForum

The Pinney / Penney Home Page

Other Penny / Penney lines - no known relationship to us:
 

The Thomas Penney Family of Maine (no known relationship to us)
Pinney/Penny cousins -if you want to be listed, drop me a line

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