John Hicks was born in 1607 in London, England, died in May of 1672 in Hempstead Township, Queens County, New York.  Immigrated to America in 1635, lived at Weymouth, Mass. and Newport, R.I. before coming to Hempstead in 1642. He served as Adjuster of Indian land claims in 1647. Delegate from Long Island in 1663 to a Council whose aim was to secure aid from the General Court at Hartford against the Dutch. Delegate from Hempstead in 1665 to a Council called by Governor Nicholls to make alterations to existing laws. Representative from Flushing in 1653 to the Coucil called by Gov. Stuyvesant. Justice of the Peace 1666. Grantee of Patents of land in Hempstead March 6, 1666. Among the the first patentees for Flushing granted by Gov. Keith to English Immigrants.

He married three times, first to Heriodias Long before 1636 in England.  This ended in divorce:

1655, June 1. Divorce granted to JOHN HICKS of Flushing, L. I. from his wife, HARDWOOD LONG, with right to Hicks to remarry. - "First Settlers of Ye Plantations of Piscataway and Woodsridge Olde East New Jersey" part 5, page 778 (from the "Calendar of Historical Manuscripts in the office of the Secretary of State, Albany, N. Y., edited by E. B. O'Callaghan, 1865." Dutch Manuscripts, 1630-1664)

"Married, second, Florence Carman, widow of John¹ Carman, who, at her death, was sued by John², Caleb, and Benjamin Coe in behalf of brother Joshua to get the estate of their father back, which Hicks appears to have gotten through the marriage of him to the widow Carman. This land is assumed to be the area known briefly as Fordham's necke, later to be Hicke's necke (because John Hicks now owned the property of John Carman), and later to become Baldwin Harbor. John Hicks appears to have lost most of the property in the suit. Because of this law suit John Hicks has a pre-nuptial agreement made between him and his third wife, Rachell Starr. "Hicks, John; in 1641, came, with Thomas and Robert, from Holland to New York; 1645, named in Dutch patent for Flushing; 1650, or about that date, at Far Rockaway; 1653, Memb. of Engl. Convention from Flushing; signed the petition, with others; 1658, appointed at Hempstead to settle lines with the Indians, acting as Assistant Magistrate; 1663, Delegate to Hartford from Hempstead, and appointed Magistrate; 1665, Member of Assembly from Hempstead" - List of Proprietors of Hempstead in 1647, The Early History of Hempstead, L. I., by Charles B. Moore, Long Island Source Records, from the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, p.580.

John Hicks, having learned his lesson, prepared the following pre-nuptial agreement for his third wife, Rachel Starr:

 January the 22 1662 - Conditions of an agreement betwixt John Hickes of Hempstead of the one party , And Rachell Starre of Oysterbay of the other Party Jointly and freely agreed upon by both parites before they enter or joyne in Marriage estate, about the settling of their Estates, and for the preventing of Differences betwixt the Children of the said John Hickes and Rachell Starres shall bring to the said John Hickes of her owne (being taken upon Inventory) If it please God to take her away first by Death, that then ye said estate which Shee brought to ye said John Hickes shall return to ye children of ye sd Rachell Starre. And likewise, the estate of said John Hickes, which is given in by him by Inventory, the Day and year above written, In ye presence of Mr Richard Gildersleeve, Mr Robert Ashman, & Jonas Houldsworth, Amounting to the Summe of thirteen thousand three hundred and sixty gilders, and all Debte Discharged, shall likewise return to his children, in case that the sd John Hickes bee taken away by Death before her the sd Rachel Starre, (as is before specified to her children). And further it is agreed upon between them, that it it shall please God that their estate shall or Do increase that then the said increase shall equally bee divided, the one hal to him and his children, the other half to her and her children, at the death of either of them. And further the sd John Hickes Doth give to the sd Rachel Starre (in case hee Die first) During her widowhood, the house and lands and Meddowe belonging to it and Six Cows, Foure Oxen, with the instrument of husbandry belonging to them, with so much of the housaldstuff as she shall think meet for her Necessary use and a good horse for her use. In witness whereoff wee do Mutually hereunto set our hands the day and yeare before specified.
Testes
Richard Gildersleave      John Hickes
Robeert Ashman             Rachell Starre
Jonas Houldsworth
 

"John Hicks, Hempstead, "Being weak in body but sound in understanding," makes son Thomas executor, and "he is to pay to my wife Rachel, L100 in cattle, according to wheat at 5 shillings a bushell." Leaves to wife household utensils "besides her own wearing clothes, and what goods my said wife brought with her to me." I leave to each one of my daughter Haviland's children, a colt." Leaves to daughter Hannah L100, one third in horses and two thirds in cattle. Legacies to "children of my son Thomas," and to "my son-in-law Josyas Starr." Dated April 29, 1672. The will is also signed by his wife Rachel, "in token of her satisfaction." Witnesses, Jonah Fordham, Richard Valentine. Proved at Court of Sessions, held in Jamaica, June 14, 1672. Anthony Waters, Clerk. Letter of Administration granted to Thomas Hicks, June 17, 1672." - Abstracts of New York Wills, New York Historical Society, NYHSW001:0023.

 

Children of John and Heriodias (Long) Hicks: