Welcome to Seaman’s Neck Road, a stretch in Seaford named after Captain John Seaman, one of the earliest settlers of this area. This geocache is dedicated to the life and legacy of a man who played a pivotal role in shaping the history of this region.
Captain John Seaman was an early European settler who arrived in the area now known as Seaford in the 17th century. Originally hailing from Seaford, East Sussex, England, he became a prominent figure in the development of the region.
John Seaman was one of the twenty men who were the first settlers of Stamford, Connecticut, in 1640. In 1644, he moved on to Hempstead, Long Island, where he became one of the 62 original signers of the Hempstead compact of land. In 1647, he officially settled in Hempstead.
European settlement on Long Island began with leaders like Capt. Seaman. After obtaining a land patent from the Massapequa Indians, he oversaw the creation of Jerusalem South—the first European name for the town that would eventually become Seaford. It was also widely referred to as Seaman’s Neck.
In 1644, he built a house nicknamed "Cherrywood" at the intersection of Jerusalem and Wantagh Avenues in Jerusalem (now Wantagh, New York), where he was a pioneer settler and patentee of the Hempstead Purchase.
Captain Seaman was a staunch defender of religious liberty and a key figure in the settlement of Long Island. Although he passed away in Hempstead and was interred at the Seaman Family Burying Ground, the gravesite has since been lost. However, his legacy lives on through his many descendants and the landmarks that bear his name.
Captain Seaman’s Contributions to the Region Include:
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Securing land grants and establishing a thriving settlement.
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Encouraging the development of agriculture and community building.
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Leaving a legacy reflected in Seaford’s roadways, landmarks, and namesakes today.
Seaman’s Neck Road was named to honor Captain Seaman’s foundational role in the area. The name serves as a reminder of the region’s early settlers and the enduring legacy of those who shaped its history. While he earned the rank of Captain during the Pequot War in 1636, John Seaman later became a pacifist Quaker, holding religious meetings in his home.
Seaman’s prominence as a major landowner, his involvement with a group of influential colonists united by their Quaker beliefs and shared economic goals, and his close relationships with local Native American leaders solidified his political significance during his lifetime. By 1695, when John Townsend of Oyster Bay and Thomas Powell of Bethpage executed his will, Seaman’s influence was well-established.
From this one individual, the Seaman family expanded significantly in the region. By 1873, it was estimated that half of the population in the Jerusalem/Island Trees area (present-day southern Levittown and northern Wantagh) were descendants of Captain John Seaman.
Parking and Accessibility: Parking is available along nearby streets. The cache location is easily accessible by foot.