On 2/6/04 (6:55:51 PM MST), in a posting to NY-LONGISLAND-L@rootsweb.com, Jan (jgrellim@sbcglobal.net) asked, "I have ancestors (Trowel) who lived in Hempstead before Nassau was Queens County. They had land appearing in wills bequeathing land on Hicks Neck. I inquired some time back, but I guess Walter was not on the message list. These ancestors also had land on what (I think) is called Great Neck now--but I wonder if that was ever called Coe's Neck?I lived on LI from birth to the 50s and I didn't know how to connect those names to the names we know now. Sigh." You can stop sighing and breathe again. I queried my source at the Long Island Regional Planning Board -- who, by the way, is a descendent of Robert Coe, one of the founders of the Town of Huntington, Suffolk County and the Town of Jamaica, Queens County -- for his help. Here's his reply: I thought I drew a blank on this one but I do have a lead for you. According to the current Hagstrom Milburn Ave. turns into Coes Neck Rd. south of the Southern State Pkwy. in Baldwin. There is a Coes Neck Park on this road. Further south it is called Woodside Ave. which runs into Grand Ave. Further south Grand Ave. forks into Grand Ave. and Milburn Ave. both of which extend down into the neck of land known as Baldwin Harbor. This may be grasping at straws but it's the only lead I have. In 1660 the area was called Hick's Neck, in honor of English settler John Hicks. Later it was called Milburn. The following was on the web at the Carmen Bloodlines website: The origins of the family lines in Baldwin (know by many names over the years, starting as Bethel, then Hicks Neck, part was Coes Neck, Baldwins, Milburn ... ) which is today still part of the Township (sic) of Hempstead, can be traced through land as it moves through the family starting with the second generation where John2 and his brothers can be seen holding lands in the South of Hempstead and "the South Woods" which is a little farther north. Following is another reference: On 3 Apr 1697, Robert Beedel, Sener, planter, conveyed to his son Robert 1/4 of the meadow on Coes Neck, bounded, westerly by Hicks Neck Creek, northerly by Thomas Ellison's land, and easterly by land of John Smith, Rock. (Source: www.longislandgenealogy.com/bedell/surnames.htm) I can add to what my source at the Long Island Regional Planning Board has written: Baldwin Harbor is one of those many communities on Long Island where none of the places in Baldwin Harbor have a "Baldwin Harbor, NY" mailing address. Additionally, Baldwin Harbor is the newest hamlet in the Town of Hempstead, when, in 1990, the area south of Atlantic Avenue was separated from the Hamlet of Baldwin and was formed into the Hamlet of Baldwin Harbor. The pertinent geography: Originally called Coe's Neck, Baldwin Harbor is a hamlet (an unincorporated community) in the southern section of the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County. There are 36 hamlets and 22 villages (incorporated municipality) all or partly within the Town of Hempstead. There are 2 cities and 3 towns in Nassau County. (I'm including after my name a NYS Geographic Glossary with the NYS definitions of county, city, town, village, hamlet and postal zone.) Beginning on its northern border and proceeding clockwise: The Hamlet of Baldwin Harbor in the Town of Hempstead is bordered on the north by the Hamlet of Baldwin and the village of Freeport; on the east by the Village of Freeport; on the south by the Hempstead Bay; and, on the west by the Hamlet of Oceanside. And, as occurs in all but one of Nassau County's 136 communities (2 cities, 64 villages and 70 hamlets), the Hamlet of Baldwin Harbor has a different border than does the postal zone that services its area. In this case, there is no "Baldwin Harbor, NY" postal zone. ...............................................acres ...Hamlet of Baldwin....................895 ...Baldwin Harbor, NY ?????.......none Most places within the Hamlet of Baldwin Harbor are in the "Baldwin, NY 11510" postal zone; a few places are in the "Freeport, NY 11520" postal zone. For those who have their copy of the 2002 or earlier edition of the LI Population Survey or have already downloaded the report from the Long Island Power Authority web site (eMail me directly if you need instructions on how to access and download the report), you'll find the Hamlet of Baldwin Harbor in the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County on pages 5 & 8 (map) and 9 (population estimate). I hope this information is useful or, at least, interesting. Regards, Walter Greenspan Cities, Towns, Villages, Hamlets and Postal Zones in New York State New York State is divided into counties. County A county is a municipal corporation, a subdivision of the state, created to perform state functions; a "regional" government. All counties are divided into cities, towns and Indian reservations. City A city is a unique governmental entity with its own special charter. Cities are not sub-divided, except into neighborhoods, which are informal geographic areas. Town A town is a municipal corporation and encompasses all territory within the state except that within cities or Indian reservations. Towns can be sub-divided into villages and hamlets. Village A village is a general purpose municipal corporation formed voluntarily by the residents of an area in one or more towns to provide themselves with municipal services. The pattern of village organization is similar to those of a city. A village is divided into neighborhoods, which are informal geographic areas. Hamlet A hamlet is an unincorporated area in one or more towns that is governed at-large by the town(s) it is in. A hamlet is divided into neighborhoods, which are informal geographic areas. Postal Zone "City" and "Town" A postal zone "City" and "Town" is an administrative district established by the U.S. Postal Service to deliver the mail. Postal zone "City" and "Town" may not (but are encouraged to) conform to municipal or community borders. Thus, postal zone location does not always determine city, village or hamlet location. Please be aware: In many areas of New York State, the problem of non-conforming postal zones leads to a situation where the majority of places have a different community name in their mailing address than the community where that place is actually located.