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V
GENEALOGY
pentiiict& in ^m^rifit.
HENRY MARVIN BENEDICT,
•• CreJiu w voiii folium raiiart SibylU." Jdt
'■■i^ 187C ^'^^
ALBANY: JOEL MUNSELL, Si STATE STREET.
1870.
cs
7/
I i 16
TO
9l|t Jnemorg
OP
LEWIS AND SUSAN BENEDICT,
SXEMPLAKS OP THB BBST QUALITIBS OP
THBIR PURITAN AND DUTCH
PKOGBNITORS,
Sl^fs OTorit to 9e)i(catell
BY
THEIR SON.
PJREFACE.
** ^od si deficiant wrety audacia arte Lous ertti in magnis xfoiuisse Mat est,**
|H£ full and interesting Introduction from the pen of one of the most distin- guished members of the &mily now living, leaved but little to be said by the Compiler. He forbears to consume the time of the reader by detailing the difficulties which have attended the pre- paration of the work. The time he has devoted to it may be measured by years. The correspondence would fill volumes ; to say nothing of journeys, searches and personal examinations in books, in grave-)rards, and in the flesh. It is due to himself to state that be must add his own to the complaints of all genealogists, that letters of inquiry, and appeals for information, have been met with an indifference and neglect that argue unfa- vorably for the courtesy or family pride of too many of the name. To this cause he refers most of the incompleteness that is to be found in the work ; and it would be a source of permanent discomfort to him if he had i)ot the hope, that the
vi Preface.
sight of the book itself may inspire many with a desire to furnish information they have hitherto withheld, and to provide him with material for a supplementary volume he meditates, which he trusts will correct all errors, and supply all omissions, of the present. He does not consider his work finished as it stands.
While the Compiler is conscious of no self-reproach for lack of patience in the preparation of the book, he confesses that it has been hurried in the publication. He has, in fact, delayed his departure from the country to allow himself to print what he had collected and prepared, in order to secure it against loss or dispersion in his absence. This haste excludes from the present volume the Military Roll of the family — a proud one — and certain other tabular statements, for which abundant material exists, and most of which he has collected.
If some of the kindred have exhibited less interest in the enterprise than proper family feeling ought to have excited, others have extended a cooperation so zealous and effective as to burden the Compiler with obligation. He takes pleasure in specially acknowledging the valuable assistance he has received from Hon. Erastus C. Benedict of New York, Rev, Nathan D. Benedict of Bridgeport, Deacon Andrew L. Benedict of Bethel, William Northrop Benedict of Ridgefield, Ct., and Isaac Hoyt Benedict of Washington, D.C.
Henry C. Ryder, Esq., of Danbury, Ct., bound to the family by no tie of blood or afEnity, has, nevertheless, rendered aid to the work that entitles him to grateful mention.
Albany, N. Y., May, 1870.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
1. Rev. Abner Benedict, ...
2. Rev. Henry Benedict,
3. Seth Wiluston Benedict,
4. George Wyllys Benedict, LL. D., Burlington, Vt
5. Charles Linnaus Benedict, LL. D., Brooklyn,
6. Robert Dewey Benedict, A. M., Brooklyn,
7. Erastus Corneuus Benedict, LL. D., New York
8. Abner Benedict, .....
9. George Kohler Benedict,
10. Major Abner Raleigh Benedict, U. S. A.,
11. Erastus Carlton Benedict, Newark, N. J.,
12. Adin Wheeler Benedict, Huntingdon, Pa.,
13. Hon. Adin Wheeler Benedict, i4« Farrand Northrop Benedict, LL. D., Parsippany,
15. William Burritt Benedict, A.M., .
16. Joel Tyler Benedict, A. M., New York,
17. Abner Benedict, A. M., New York, .
18. Lewis Benedict, ....
19. Brevet Brig. -Gen. Lewis Benedict,
20. Monument of Gen. Lewis Benedict, .
21. Jesse Wheeler Benedict, New York,
22. Coleman Benedict, New York, .
23. Hon. Platt Benedict,
24. George Amos Benedict, A. M., Cleveland, OhiO;
25. Hon. Aaron Benedict, Waterbury, Ct.,
26. Z. Russell Benedict, New York,
27. Gen. James Benedict,
28. Hon. Charles Benedict, Waterbury, Ct.,
N.J.,
Pagb.
86 124 208 211 213 214 216 218 219 219 221 221 221 222 224 225 227 229
234 236
348
350 381
383 384
385 387 397
EXPLANATORY.
Figures of two sizes will be observed in the left hand margin of the pages. At birth each child that subsequently becomes the head of a family is numbered by figures of the smaller size, and when taken up as the head of a family, receives the same number, but in figures of the larger size. Thus, on page 76 will be found Henry, numbered 125 in the smaller figures, and having become a father he reappears on page 1 24 with the same number, but in figures of the larger size. Still other smaller figures will be found above and at the right hand of names of heads of families. These denote the respective generation to which each name belongs, counting from Thomas, the first of the name in this country ; thus : Henry^ (John,s Nathantel,^ John,} John,' Thomas'), means that Henry of the 6th generation was the son <^ John of the 5th, who was son of Nathaniel of the 4th, who was son of John of the 3d, who was son of John of the id, who was son of Thomas of the ist.
The abbreviations used are : b., born ; bap., baptized ; ch., child or children ; coll., college; d., died; dau., daughter; m., married; grad., graduate or graduated; res., resides, resided, or residence ; wid., widow.
When the name of the state is omitted, that of New York is understood, except in the case of the familiar Connecticut towns, like Norwalk, Ridgefield, Ridgebury, New Canaan, Bethel, Danbury^ etc.
INTRODUCTION.
I ORE than forty years ago T began with zeal to collect materials for the Benedict genealogy. After a few years came active professional life and, also, some discouragements, which compelled me to neglect the work without abandoning the idea of ultimate publication, till two years since, when the author of this book entered upon the same work. With great satisfaction I placed my materials at his service, and he has ever since pursued his object with the intelli- gence, industry, perseverance and success which the pages of this work show. My grateful acknowledgment for his labor in a common cause, would not permit me to deny his request that I would write an introduction to his interesting volume.
When r say interesting, it will of course be understood that I am speaking only to our little family, on a family matter. The outside world will please consider that it is none of their affair, and we are not bound to interest them. We may get ourselves together in our own way and in our own time, and fill up our family record and album without apology. We have a right to be kindly afFectioned one to another. We are blood relations, and like all well constituted families we are a mutual admiration society, and no one can complain while we keep our mutual admiration within our own little. circle, and do not sound a trumpet before us as the hypocrites do to be seen of men.
X Introduction.
Surely we may look in our glass in our own room. In all these dead generations we see ourselves. They are our family mirror.
Benedict.
The name is derived from the Latin benedictus^ blessed, well spoken of. Though unknown as a proper name in the Latin, it is common, as such, in those languages of modern Europe which are derived from the Latin, or are, from the prevalence of the Romish religion, sprinkled with Roman derivatives — Benedict, English and German, Benedek, Austrian, Benedetto, Italian, Bendito, Spanish and Portuguese, Benoit, French, and many other derivative forms. It undoubtedly became a proper name from the ancient custom of adding to, or substituting for a family name some striking individual characteristic, or the name of some patron saint. This custom prevailed extensively in the Romish church, and does to this day. The members of religious houses usually take a new name on taking their vows, and the popes often take descriptive names, as Pius, Innocent, &c. Benedict is accordingly found in all those languages, first as the name of an ecclesiastic ; and the known custom of giving to children the names of persons distinguished in religion would soon secularize the name.
The first that illustrated the name was St. Benedict, an Italian hermit of great holiness and austerity, who about the year 520 and afterwards, wrought miracles and was canonized. He built twelve monasteries, and established the monkish order of the Benedictines, so famous all over Europe.
The order of St. Benedict has been one of the most illustri- ous in the Roman Catholic church, being distinguished for the number of great men, saints, writers, men of learning, of piety and of high literary and moral culture, and persons worthy to be elevated to the thrones of the churches, which they have governed with great wisdom and probity.
Two hundred years ago the Benedictine list reached forty
Introduction. xi
popes, two hundred cardinals, fifty patriarchs, one hundred and sixteen archbishops, forty-six hundred bishops, four emperors, twelve empresses, forty-six kings, forty-one queens and thirty- six hundred canonized saints. No one can doubt that the high qualities of the order have been preserved and perpetuated, if not improved, by their love for their patron saint and his excel- lent name. The name has by no means lost its power in our day. When I desired to be admitted with my wife to visit the beautiful cloisters of the order attached to that glorious temple of the living God at Rome, the church of St. Paul without the walls, some rule, I do not now remember what, excluded us, but on presenting my card, with the remark that we were Benedicts, the custodian, with a significant smile, threw open the door and we entered and gratified our curiosity.
The Abbe de Benedictis, the distinguished secretary of Car- dinal Mazarin and his agent, and the agent of France at the court of Rome, made himself famous by his skill and taste in pomps and funeral honors, by the ceremonies got up by himself in honor of the cardinal and of the queen of France, of which full accounts were published. Fourteen popes, scattered all along from the year 574 to 1740, have taken the name of Benedict, oti taking the triple crown. In England, the name was made famous by a noble Saxon abbot, in the year 640 and afterwards, .who founded two monasteries, and introduced great improvements in architecture and the polite arts. He too was canonized. In Denmark, the prodigies of bravery performed by Benedict, the brother of Canute IV, in defending the king, his brother, covered the name with honor. The list of eminent men who have borne the name in some of its forms, in all Christian countries might be largely extended.
There is no difficulty in finding glory enough for the name in past ages. It is not so easy, however, to appropriate enough of that glory to light up the humbler story of those in whose vdns has run the blood of the Benedicts in America. Nor would I trace them to those old world saints. The bones of
xii Introduction.
the good old ministers and deacons who lived with affectionate wives and had goodly sons and daughters not a few, would hardly lie quiet in their graves if an attempt should be made to trace for them an irregular descent from the more distinguished but not more pious or useful Benedict saints of the olden time, whom rules of celibacy, and vows of monkish seclusion, com- pelled to solitary sterility.
Ours is the genealogy of a line beginning with the pioneers of Christian civilization, in the settlement of a new continent, and, whatever may be their lineage, their lives, in the infant hamlets of their new home, could not be otherwise than simple and humble. Many of gentle blood and noble birth, came with the early settlers and accepted the equality of wilderness life, but we can make no boast of heraldry. Aside from dim traditions, traceable to no authentic source, that we are of Huguenot origin, there is nothing to mark the family history but the incidents of humble, plebeian life in America.
There is, however,^ coat of arms, with an appropriate Bene- dict motto, supposed to have been made within the last quarter of a century, by a traveling Englishman with some heraldic knowledge and more pretension, and offered for sale by him to individuals of the family, with a statement that the family is of Silesian origin, bearing the titles of Count of the Banat and Baron of the Holy Roman empire, the last German count Von Benedict having passed, first to France, and then to England, in the time of Edward the Sixth. This coat of arms, artistically blazoned with its pairs of ostrich feathers, tied with gold, and its crests of helmets, and coronets, and plumes, ' is a beautiful picture, but there is no reason to doubt its being an entire sham, intended to impose upon the credulous. We will have none of it except the motto Benedictus qui patitur^ which we make our own. The sterling virtues of our forefathers, and their excel- lent example, are our true hereditary distinction. It cannot be said more truly of us than of the noblest families, that the full and true genealogy of the family must contain many
Introduction. xiii
obscure and worthless individuals. Let the nobleman of the highest rank and the longest ancestral line, bring in review before him all his family, direct and collateral, and he would behold a motley crowd in that grand procession. Rags and tatters would be quite as conspicuous as purple and orders^ and the tools of labor might be more numerous, as well as more useful, than the sceptres, and batons, and escutcheons of nobility. Henry the Eighth said : ^^ I can make seven lords of seven plowmen, but I cannot make one Holbein of seven lords ; " and Burns has only expanded that idea when he says :
" A king can male* a belted Icnight,
A marquis, duke, and a* that ; But an honest man *8 aboon his might,
Guid faith he maunna fa that ! For a' that, and a* that.
Their dignities, and a* that, The pith o* sense and pride o* worth,
Are higher ranks than a' that."
It has been said that one who has no family pride, no regard for his ancestors, probably never had a grandfather. This is too strongly expressed, but it is safe to say, that one who has regard for his ancestors, will be more likely so to conduct himself, and so to teach his children, by precept as well as by example, that they may be proud to keep a record of their ancestors. Family pride is wonderfully conservative and elevating in its influence. As blood will tell, so character will tell. National, tribal and fiimily characteristics are but the evidence of transmission of personal qualities, but they are transmitted as well by precept and example as by the hereditary flow of the blood. The fondness for ancestral history, in itself a highly estimable quality, is one of our &mily traits, as is shown in the history of the growth of this genealogy. Our first American grandmother, who walked in all the ordinances of the Lord, blameless, till she looked over the brow of a hundred years into the happy land, must not be omitted as the author of the first Benedict genealogy, and our first teacher of the moral lesson of family
xiv Introduction.
pride. Like an old chronicler, she told the traditionary story of the family in England, and of its first generation here, to her grandson James, afterwards one of the seven deacons of the seven churches, through whom the diaconal succession has come down, in increasing numbers, through the seven generations ; sacred number seven. He reduced the tradition to writing, and in due time it passed from him, by a copy, to his grandson Abner, then a student in college, and afterwards the first clergy- man in the family, thence to me his grandson. My inquiries showed that many copies of it were extant in the original form.
In 1840, while delivering the anniversary discourse before the alumni of Williams College, I had for a listener Lewis Bene- dict, an eminent merchant of Albany, who was there to listen to the orations of his two sons — Lewis on taking his degree as master of arts, and Edmund A., his degree as bachelor of arts. He sought an introduction to me for the purpose of inquiring whether I had any knowledge of the family pedigree, which he had hithertcP sought in vain. He was furnished with a copy of the old record, with its additions. To it he added his own line, and printed a small edition for gratuitous distri- bution in the family. From him it came into the hands of his son Henry Marvin. All these parties, before him, had added to the record as they acquired new information, and he, the final family historiographer, has sent out in every direction, and explored all sources of knowledge, and having collected, from willing sources, all the scattered threads into a manifold cord, has bound us all in one bundle of fimily life. We need no better evidence than his correspondence and this book that honoring our father and our mother is a family characteristic. Our days as individuals and as a race have been long in the land — we are long-lived — perhaps in fulfillment of the divine promise, ^^ to honor thy father and thy mother."
Early sickness took Henry M. from his studies and gave him years of suffering, and made him an invalid for life, as we are told in the too brief notice of him. Benedictus qui patitur. We
Introduction. xv
regret the wearisome days and nights of his illness, but we rejoice that it gave him leisure to become famous in the &mily as the chronicler and genealogist of the Benedicts in America.
The very ungracious manner in which Col. Nicolls took New Netherlands from the Dutch, rendered it necessary to select reliable men for officers of the English military organization, and the choice of pur first American progenitor Thomas, pater omnium Benedictorum^ as lieutenant of the foot company of Jamaica, is perhaps evidence that he had that loyal and military instinct which has characterized the fiimily.
When the' little train band ^' exercised " on the plains at Jamaica, we cannot doubt that some of the lieutenant's sons were in the ranks, while his youngest son Daniel, with other boys, looked on with childish delight. Ten years later young Daniel volunteered for the ^^ direful swamp fight.''
In the early days the armies and battles were small, but the bravery and the victories and the consequences were great. Hobomak, pointing to Pecksuot, the dead giant savage chief, whom little Captain Standish had killed in a hand to hand fight, said to the captain, ^' He said yesterday you were but a little man, but to-day I see you are big enough to lay him on the ground." So it was with these few American forefathers, who sought to introduce civilization and Christianity into a savage wilderness. They were big enough for their share of the great enterprize of beginning a nation.
Mr. Robinson, the saintly minister in Holland, when he heard of the deeds of Standish, thought ^^ perhaps the Captain was of too warm a temper and wanting in the tenderness of the life <5f man, made after God's image, and that it would have been happy if they had converted some before they had killed any." We are compelled to say that young Daniel fell under the same condemnation when, leaving his father and brothers at home to take care of their wives and children, if the Indians should come upon their little hamlet, he took his life in his hand and his firelock on his shoulder, and marched with some of his
xvi Introduction.
■
neighbors to join the little army of one thousand one hundred and twenty-seven, which, after a march of ten days in the deep, untrodden, snow of a wilderness, in the severest cold of a Northern winter, went into that direful swamp fight, almost the bloodiest of all battles. They, too, seem to have been of a warm temper, with little tenderness for either their own lives. or those of the savages. This much is clear, that they left to the Lord to save such of those merciless Indian savages as His abundant grace might please, while they addressed themselves, with singleness of heart, to the more human duty of saving their scattered little homes and cradles from the war-whoop, the scalping-knife, and the torch of Indian warfare. Some hundreds of the whites and more thousands of the Indians fell in the dreadful slaughter, which destroyed the proud and powerful Narragansetts.
To-day, two hundred years after that day of small things, we read with pleasure the record of that little community — popula- tion two hundred and forty-nine, men, women and children — that they, ^^out of respect and thankfulnesse to the sayed souldiers doe with one consent and freely give and grant unto so many souldiers as were in the service at the direful swamp fight twelve acors of land.'' Daniel got his twelve acres Feb. i6, 1677. That land grant in the town was more than one hundred and sixty acres in the far west now. It was visibly there, a memorial for him and his children, and his children's children to the latest posterity.
Those who look through this genealogy will see that the dwellings of our patriotic ancestors were selected by the public enemy for conflagration, and will find its pages thick, from the beginning to .the end, with the names of chaplains and officers and soldiers, who for two hundred years have, at the call of their country, left the pursuits of peaceful life to fight the battles of every war, from the swamp fight of King Philip's war to the multitudinous battles of the greatest civil war in history, in every war, bleeding on the bloodiest fields and starving in the most cruel ipxison^.^- Benedictus qui patitur.
Introduction. xvii
It is proper to say something, also, of the ^^ American " character of the fiimily — its flexibility and its ready resources. It started here anew. Three generations of only sons were the last of the race in England, and when Thomas Benedict had sailed for America, the name was unknown in the British islands. As he started on a new career he seems, almost to have taken a new nature, so completely did he take on what has since become the habits of an American settler, advancing to and carrying forward the line of national progress, and practically embracing in his own person the many functions of civil life. Landing in Massachusetts bay, then a settlement seventeen years old, he soon sought the more thinly populated region of Long Island, then comparatively inaccessible from the mainland in the winter , and he was charged with the powers of a magistrate, and substantially with the powers of the government — in the language of the old record, ^^ empowered to act in point of government," ^^ invested with magistratical power on the island." He was a pillar in the church. He was the arbitrator of diiFerences, civilized and savage; the pacifier of the oflfended Indian chief. He was an officer of the little train band of the neighborhood. He was the member of the legislative body to create and to codify the system of law on the island after the conquest from the Dutch, and afterwards of the colonial legis- lature. He aided in the organization and sending out of little colonies to plant new neighborhoods, entrusted with these func- tions by the voice and choice of his neighbors, \^hose entire confidence he enjoyed. Every person who has mixed in frontier life, will readily recall instances of such men, and testify to their great influence for good. Such was our ancestor ; all sorts of offices in church and state clustered around him, forced upon him by the popular choice, and every where he wrought righteousness. His characteristics are not yet extinct.
The religious character of this history is not its least remark- able peculiarity. It is well known that the churches of those
days were ecclesiastical democracies. The office of deacon
C
xviii Introduction.
embraced the functions of the elder and deacon in the Presby- terian churches. In the sickness or absence of the pastor, or a vacancy in the pastorate, ^^ a deacon's meeting " was the regular sabbath service of the church, the exercises being conducted by one or more of the deacons, a sermon being read by a deacon or perhaps by a layman on the request of the deacons. The deacons are always chosen by the popular vote of the commu- nicants, male and female. The highest fitness for the office comprized intelligence, practical business capacity, and devout religious feeling, holding the mystery of the faith in a pure con- science, performing the works of faith with the labor of love. To fill such an office ^ with good acceptance to God and man till old age and its attendants rendered them unable to serve,' was a duty of usefulness and honor, and especially of holy living. Those patriarchs of our family who have come down to us in their life and example with the odor of sanctity, let us bear them in our heart's core, our heart of hearts. The original pair were evidently most devout and exemplary persons, and it was fitly said of them by their grandson that they walked in the midst of their house with a perfect heart and in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless and obtained a good report through faith. Their descendants should not fail to become familiar with the full and admirable biographical sketch with which the genealogy opens. The same character went down to the next generation unimpaired, and the unction with which Capt. James Benedict in 1755 speaks of the first three genera- tions, including his own, shows that the lessons of his grand- parents had not fallen on unwilling ears, and that their devout life and holy example had left its impress on all those who came within the sphere of their influence. It is plain that the religious character of this primitive pilgrim pair had struck in and was incorporated into the family nature, and so we find, through all the subsequent ages, members, deacons, and pastors of churches spread through all the family — yet not running in one narrow^ bigoted and sectarian line of faith and practice, but with true
Introduction. xix
evangelical fraternity, branching out into the leading denomina- tions of Christians.
It should be said, finally, that no comparison is made of our femily with other families. Our ancestors did not live or work alone. Hundreds of similar genealogies might be made, and many, doubtless, of more striking character than this. As aids to national and local as well as individual history, our libraries ought to be filled with such genealogies of all those primitive^ families, that by their excellent qualities, made possible that Christian civilization, on popular principles, which underlies our national prosperity, and which was the more remarkable, as these people sprang from monarchical stock, and many of them were of noble blood. The interfusion and assimilation of all classes and ranks was complete, which would hardly have been possible, had it not been that the religious faith and sympathies of the earliest settlers, made the theocracy and republican equality of the early Hebrew commonwealth the cement of their association, the laws of Moses their su£5icient code of elementary moral law, and liberty, equality and fraternity the necessary result of their common perils, and their one great purpose.
May we not hope that the striking lessons taught by this £imily record will be impressed upon all of us, so that two hundred and fifty years hence, when eight more generations shall have passed away, the family may still show an unbroken record of the same characteristics.
ERASTUS CORNELIUS BENEDICT. May, 1870.
THOMAS BENEDICT.
•* Libera per vacuum posui xfestigia princept*^ Horacx Epist. *' Magistratus indicat virum,**
|MONG those Englishmen who went into voluntary exile, rather than endure the cruelties and oppres- sions of Stuarts in the State and Lauds in the Church, was Thomas Benedict, of Nottingham- shire. There is reason to suppose that his own remote ancestor had made England his refuge from religious persecution on the Continent. There was a tradition in his family which ran, that anciently they resided in the silk manufacturing district of France and were of Latin origin ; that. Huguenot persecutions arising, they fled to Germany, and, thence, by way of Holland to England. It is said of Thomas Benedict, that he was born in 1617 ; that he was an only son, that the name had been con- fined to only sons in the family for more than a hundred years ; and that, at the time he left England, he did not know of another living person of the name ; whence, it is assumed, that his father was not living. "*" His mother he had lost early, his father mar- rying, for his second wife, a widow, whose daughter, Mary
* Hinman sayi : ** Thomas Benedict was the only early settler found in the colony of Connecticut of the name of Benedict." The same is true of all the other C0I07 nics.
2 Thomas Benedict
Bridgum, came to New England in 1638, in the same vessel with Thomas, then in his twenty-first year. Soon after their arrival they were married, and finding the society and institu- tions of Massachusetts Bay congenial, they resided in that colony for a time. These facts in the history of Thomas Bene- dict are verified by the testimony of Mary Bridgum herself, who lived to the age of one hundred years, and in her life- time communicated them to her grandson. Deacon James Benedict, of Ridgefield, Conn., who recorded them in 1755."^
* " Be it remembered that one William Benedict, about the beginning of the 1 5th century,'^ who lived in Nottinghamshire, in England, had a son born unto him whom he caUed William, after his own name (an only son) ; and this William, the 2d of that name, had also an only son whom he called William ; and this 3d William had in the year 161 7 one only child whom he called Thomas; and thu Thomases mother dying, his father married the widow Bridgum.
Now this Thomas was put out an apprentice to a weaver, who afterwards, in the 2ist year of his age, came over into New-England, together with his sister-in-law, Mary Bridgum. Afterwards said Thomas was joined in marriage with Mary Bridgum. After they had lived some time in the Bay parts, they removed to Southhold on Long Island, where were born unto them five sons and four daughters, whose names were Thomas, John, Samuel, James, Daniel, Betty, Mary, Sarah and Rebeccah. From thence they removed to a farm belonging to the town, called Hassamamac, where they lived some time. From thence they removed to Huntingtown, where they lived some years. Then they removed to Jamaica on said Island, where Thomas, their eldest son took to wife Mary Messenger, of that town. And last of all, they removed to Norwalk, in Fairfield county, Connecticut, with all their family, where they were all married. John took to wife Phebe, daughter to Mr. John Gregory, of said Nor- walk. Samuel took to wife Rebecca Andrews. James took to wife Sarah Gregory, sister of the above said Phebe. Dznicl took to wife Mary Marvin. Their daughters were all married. Betty to John Slawson, of Stanford ; Mary to John Olmsted ; Sarah to Jaiffes Beebe ; Rebeccah to Samuel Wood. From these have risen a nu- merous offspring.
The children of Thomas, the 2d of that name, were Thomas (an onlyi^son), Mary, Hannah, Esther, Abigail and Elizabeth. The children of John were Sarah, Phebe, John, Jonathan, Benjamin, Joseph, James, Mary and Thomas. The children of Samuel were Joannah, Samuel, Thomas, Rebeccah, Esther, Nathaniel and Abraham. The children of James were Sarah, Rebeccah, Phebe, James, John, Thomas and Elisabeth. The children of Daniel were Mary, Daniel, Mercy and Hannah. The children of Betty were Mary and Thomas. The children of Mary were John, Mary, Jane, Sarah, Rebeccah, Elisabeth, Daniel, Richard, Eunice and Deborah. The children of Rebeccah were an infant (I know not his name), and Samuel. The
*** Probably meaning about the year l^oo; otherwiae the three generations would extend through 200 years. [Signed] Abnbr Benkdict.**
The First Settler. 3
The separate colonies, which afterward formed that of Con- necticut, had been founded under auspices peculiarly hopeful, and were nourished by influences specially edifying and elevating in the view of the more austere of the Puritans. The founda- tions and expanding superstructures were according to the plans and specifications of Winthrop, of Haynes, and, especially, of Hooker, "the light of the Western churches." The valley of the Connecticut, too, was famous for its fertility, and the stream wa$ considered a principal natural channel for the lucrative trade in furs with the natives of the interior. It had waged its first Indian war with a vigor and severity which precluded all present dread of another. Thomas Benedict seems to have been so far attracted J>y the moral or material advantages of this promising
children of Sarah were Sarah and James. All of these were the children and grand- children of our honoured predecessors, Thomas Benedict and Mary his wife, * who walked in the midst of their house with a perfect heart. They were strict observers of the Lord*s day from even to even ; * and I think it may be said of them, as it was of Zacharias and £lisabeth, ^ that they walked in all the commandments and ordi- nances of the Lord blameless, and obtained a good report through laith.** Their excellent example had a good effect, by the blessing of heaven, upon their children. He was made a deacon of the church at Norwalk, and used that office to the good satisfaction of that church to his death, which was in the 73d year of hu age ; and two of his sons, viz : John and Samuel, used the office undl old age and its attend- ants rendered them unable to serve any longer. And there are, at this day no less than seven of the family and name that use that office, and some of them at least, I hope, to good acceptance with God and man.
The children of John, the 2d of that name, were John, Matthew, Caleb, Nathan- iel, Annah and Phebe. The children of Benjamin were Benjamin, Timothy, John, Samuel, Daniel, Amos, Elisabeth, Mary, Rachael and Thankful. The children of Joseph were Joseph, Gideon, Anna, Pitmln, Jonathan, Mary, Ezra and John. The children of James were Sarah, Ruth, Peter, Hannah, Phebe, James, Martha and John and Thomas. The children of Thomas were Ebenezer, David, John, Thomas, Betty and Seth. The children of Phebe were Enos, William, Noah, a son and Phebe. The children of Mary were Ezra, Josiah, Phebe, Asa and Isaac. AU these were the grand-children of Deacon John Benedict, the ist of that name, who was my honoured father.
[Signed] JAMES BENEDICT.
Ridgefield, March y« 14, 1755."
* Lcrit. 1] : 1%. *^ Prom even to even aball ye celebrate your Sabbath*,"* was to oar New-Eng- land ancestorB tnfficient Scripture aathority for their following Jewiih example in commencing the •abbath on Satnrday evening at sunset.
4 Thomas Benedict
region as to have removed within its rigorous jurisdiction, still, it could scarcely have been the rich meadows of the valley, or the facilities for traffic afforded by its river, that enticed him, for he soon sought the opposite shore of Long Island, already dotted with settlements from the mainland. In the statement of his wife, Mary Bridgum, to her grandson, before referred to, she names Southold as his place of residence and birthplace of their five sons and four daughters. It is certain, that in June, 1657, he was a resident of Huntington, which leaves but little doubt that he was, early, an inhabitant of Southold, which was settled in 1640. In conjunction with three others, in 1649,* he pur- chased a tract of land belonging to the town of Southold, called Hashamomack, and this interest he conveyed, in 1659, describ- ing himself in the deed as then of the town of Hunting-
* These presents Witness,
That fVilliam Salmon of Hashamomack alias NesAuggatuUf have sold unto Henry ff^hitneyy Edward Treadweli and Thomas Benedick three parts of all his upland lying bqtwixt Thorns Creek so called by the English and Mr. Goodyeare*s land reaching to a fresh pond lying by the North Sea, with an island of trees standing in it, with all the marsh grounds and mowing lands lying by the aforesaid Thorns Creek, from the one end of it to the other, in the wcb meadow the aforesaid W^ Salmon is to have no share, excepting to himself all other meadow grounds lying within the same cum- pest of Lands within the neck of Land lying gainst the harbor on the south w^b neck of Land he b to fence in at his own cost and charge and to maintain for ever-whcb fence is to begin at the now dwelling house, of John Corey and to run straight point- ing at the wading place leaving out all the meadow sold to the aforesaid parties, in which neck of Land so fenced in the other parties are to have no shares, but is to remain to his own proper land to him and his heirs forever — Likewise the said fFilliam Salmon doth give Liberty unto the aforesaid parties to fence in for themselves a corn field, beginning at the backside of the now dwelling house of Thomas Benedick and to run to the nearest cutt to the North Sea where they shall find most con- venient— which piece of Land being so fenced in is to remain their own proper land to them their heirs and assigns forever, with three parts of all his other lands by what name or names soever called (except before excepted, with Warrantie against the said H^illiam Salmon his heirs and assigns and only them, peaceably and quietly to enjoy the same without any molestation or disturbance the aforesaid Henry ff^hit- ney, Edxvard Tredioell and Thomas Benedick paying to ff^illiam Salmon thirty pounds for the same — Likewise the aforesaid JVill^ Salmon doth except so much liberty to himself that when he shall see fit to fisnce in his meadow he may take in so much upland as that he may in some measure run straight from meadow to meadow, pro- vided nevertheless that when the other parties shall have occasion to carry or recarry
The First Settler. 5
ton."^ This tract of land, though within a mile or two of Southold, was not, technically, within its limits ; for, at a meeting of the General Court held at New Haven, May 31, 1654, upon the
any thing by ua they shall have the liberty of the Water side at any time — to all which Presents the aforesaid M^"*- Salmon hath set his hand and seal the 8'* day of October 1649. Sealed & delivered in the Wx F Salmon his mark,
presence of yokn Corey Ann cA Corey
Ha$hdmommuck Beath and Plantation,
** Examine Chase*s Map of Saffolk County7 N. Y., and you may see a Small body of water marked just north west of the northwest point of Shelter Island and almost connecting Peconic Bay and Long Island Sound. The only separation is a level flat of Sand and Shingle, a few rods wide, and perhaps twenty long, partially covered with sedgy vegetation. Across this flat the Amous Guilford expedition drew their whale boats when they made their successful descent upon the British post and stores at Sag Harbor. This flat is Hashamommuck Beach. The Small body of water is now generally called Mill Creek, a tide-mill to grind grain having been built upon it many yean ago, and one is still in use near the old site. The proprietor of this mill some six or eight years since cut a canal firom the Sound to the creek and thus poured the water of the Sound across Hashamommuck Beach into the creek, to give him more water and a higher head for his mill. But the action of the Sound soon closed the Canal with sand, as all intelligent persons predicted. This creek was formerly Thomas Benedict's, and in the oldest records of Southold is ^miliarly called Thomas's Creek and then for convenience it became Thom's Creek and even Tom's Creek. I have heard it called Tom's Creek - even in my da^. The Creek is* a few rods more than two miles east of the First Church of Southold. It is just two miles east of the Southold station of the Long Island Rail Road. Hashamommuck is about a square mile directly east of this Creek."
Ex. letter Rev. Eph. Whitaker, Southold, L. I.,, dated Jan. 30, 1868.
* These presents witness, that I Thomas Benedickt formerly of Hashamommuck near Somthold on Long Island^ now of Huntington on the same Island for good considera- tion, me thereunto moving, have granted bargained and sold and by these presents do fully and absolutely grant bargain and sell unto Thomas Rider now of Hashamommuck aforesaid and to his heirs and assigns for ever. All that my dwelling house, bam, orchard, garden^ whom lot, fences and all other dividends and appurtenances of Land thereunto belonging both of meadow and upland with £omon and comons of pas- ture, situate lying and being in and upon the said neck called Hashamommuck, and all right appertaining to me the said Thomas Benedickt^ as also right of comonage and pporcon of meadow for a second lot in all the rest of the necks of land and meadows lying eastward from the land last mentioned wherein South hold inhabitants have in- terest and in as large and ample manner in every respect as they proportionably. To have and to hold the said dwelling house, barn, whom lot, orchard, garden, fences, meadows, pastures, comon and comons of pasturq, and all other the premises herein
6 Thomas Benedict
request of the Deputies of Southold, it was advised that, ^^ Thomas Benedict and som others who Hue nere Southold" should be permitted ^^to joyne" it.'*' Still, he had been recog- nized as of Southold, and must have attained some prominence as a citizen, for we find that when Uncas, the celebrated Sachem of the Mohegans, complained to the commissioners for the United Colonies in New England, because the Mohansick
before mentioned to be hereby granted with their and every of their appurtenances to the said Thomas Rider his heirs and assigns for ever, with Warrantie against the said Thomas Benedickt my hein, executors, admrtn and assigns and every of them claim- ing by from or under my estate right or title.
In witness whereof I the said Thomas Benedickt have hereunto set my hand and seal the seven and fsoentieth day of Februarie 1659.
Sealed, subscribed and delivered Thomas Benedickt.
yi the presence of
yohn Conckelyne Sen*"'
hl« Henry 7 H^hitney. mark
Recorded by me
Willm ffTells, Recorder.
* At a Generall Court held at New Haven for the Jurisdiction the 3i>t of May 1654.
The deputees of Southold informe the Court that Thom : Benidict and some others liue nere Southold doe desire to joyne wth them, wch the Court advised to, so it might be to mutuall satisfaction. Hoadly, Nnv H. Col. Rec, p. 96.
Anthony Waters, Attorney for John Conclcling, Tho. Osman and Tho. Rider, inhabitants in the land called Hashamommock, plainteifs, entred an action of the case against John Budd Senior, for breach of an ancient order made for yc prservation of good neighbourhood, wch order or agreement is as followeth [240] We whose names are vnderwritten inhabiting on ye neeke of land comonly called* Hashamom- mock, considering that our comfort and quiett settlem< consist and stand in yc in- joym< of good neighbourehood, did make this agreemt at our first sitting doune, that what man soeuer should desire to remoue and so endeauour to make sale of his ac- comodations, should put in such neighbour as the other inhabitants liueing with him shall approue off.
This is a true coppy of ye [Signed] F William Salmon
record, coppied by mee F Henrt Whitney
fFilliam H^ells, Recorder. F Edward Tredwell
Tho. Benedick
(John Budd Junior appeared to answere the sute, &c.)
Southold ReCf May 17, 1660.
It will be observed that Tho. Benedick was the only one of the four who did not make his mark for his sign-manual.
The First Settler. 7
Sachem !>{ Long Island, had killed $ome and bewitched others of Uncas's men, and even Uncas himself, that body, at Hart- ford, Sept. 5th, 1650, referred the matter, with large powers, to the famous^ ^^ Captaine Mason " and others, and to Thomas Benedict, of Southold, to be adjusted.*
It has been stated positrvely that Thomas Benedict was resi- dent in Huntington in June, 1657. This is on the authority of affidavits of himself and wife made on the 13th of that month, in the course of probate proceedings in the matter of the estate of his old neighbor, William Salmon of Hashamomuck.f His connection with affairs of a public nature may be inferred from such records of them as still remain. In May, 1658, the Court of Deputies and Magistrates, sitting at New Haven, were solicited to receive the town of Huntington into the jurisdiction of New Haven, the petition therefor being signed: "Will. Smith, Tho : Benedick, W" Leuerich, in y' name and with y* consent of y* rest."| That he was put forward as a representa-
• * At a meeting of the Commissioners for the United Colonies in New England at Hartford the 5th September, 1650.
Vncus Sachem of the Mohegins informed the Commissioners and complained that the Mohansick Sachem in Long Island had killed som of the said Vncus his men, beMritched diuers others and hiselfe also and desired the Commissioners that hee might be righted therein. But because the said Sachem of Long Island was not there to answare for himselfe It was thought meet and accordingly aduised that Commission bee graunted by the Gouernment of Connectacot to Captaine Mason Mr. Howell Mr. Goemer and Tho. Benedict of Southold or any three of them to examine the Matters charged by Vncus and if proof bee cleare to labor to convince him thereof, require satisfaction and in case of reasonable complyance endeauor a Composure thereof; but if no satisfaction will bee giuen for Injuries proceed then to lett him to know they giue the English just cause of ofience and will bring trouble upon tfaemsclues. Hazard's Hit* Coll., vol. II, p. 151.
f See Deedx^ II, 143 and 144, Secretary of State*s office, Albany, N. Y.
J At a Gen : Court held at New Haven for y« Jurisdicon the 26tb of May, 1658.
Jonas Wood and Jonas Wood, both of Huntington on Longe Island, as agents for y« inhabitants of> ye same pfsented to ye court ye desires of their towne to ioyne in combination wtb this colony, to wch purpose they presented a writeinge subscribed by three of the inhabitants thereof, whereby it appeared yt the said agents were author- ised to treat of and to finish this business wtb the Court, ye contence of wcb writeing is as followeth. To the honoured Court of Magistrates and deputies now sitting at
8 Thomas Benedict
tive man in a movement so important, after so brief a residence, argues that he was not among the least notable of the inhabit* ants. That he maintained an honorable distinction is made clear by the action of his townsmen, who, in pursuance of instructions from the General Court, nominated two persons to be* appointed by that body, commissioners to exercise certain functions of government in the town, Thomas Benedict being one of them ; and the General Court appointed him. May 15, 1662.*
There are traces of his presence in Jamaica as early as Dec. 12, 1662, when, in conjunction with two others, he was ap- pointed to lay out '^the south meadows." At the same time the towQ voted him ^' a Home lot." He was also one of a
Newhaven. May it please this honoured Court to Tnderstand ' y< a modon being made by one of o' town of Huntington, at y« Court of comissionen sitting in Boston yc last year that or towne might be put vnder Newhauen gouernment, and y< motion being consented to by y« honoured comissionen there p^sent, or towne of Huntington aforesd, in pursuance of their desires, haue thought good to make their addresses to this honoured Court by their deputies, viz., Jonas Wood (O,) and Jonaa Wood (H,) for the obtaining of their proposed ends, having given vnto them full power and authority to treat of and finuh this business wth ye court in their names, humbly desireing therein acceptance of vs, and further yt you will be pleased, (con- sidering y« remotenes of yc place, y« great charges yt such iniant plantations are vsed to be attended with,) to condescend to such moderate ppositions we have ordered them to comend to yc Court in or behalf, in hopes whereof we rest
Yor* in all due observance 17 of 3d — 58. Will Smith
Tho. Bknsdick Wm Lkusmch in ye name and with yc consent of yc rest which being read they were desired to give in, in writeing, what they had ppoted in ye psuance of this business wch accordingly they did in 5 propositions, 4 of which pper to ye case in hand, wch were as foUoweth, &c ice, Hoadly N, H. Ccl, Rec.^ pp. 236, 137.
* At a Court of Election held at Hartford
May 15, 166a. This Court hath granted the petition fi'om Huntington, and doe confirme Jonas Wood and Thomas Benedick,, according to their desire, who are impowred to act in point of Gouernment according to ye liberties granted to that Towne by this Court; and the Secretary is to glue them a coppy of ye Articles with Southampton, vpon wcb t^rmes they are accepted. Col. Rec. Conn., vol. I, p. 379.
The First Settler. 9
comoiittee charged with the duty of ^making 7* rate of 7^ minesters house and transporting y* minester." March 2, 1663, his name appears as one of twenty-four freeholders who deed a house and lot to the ^^ minester," Mr. Walker.'*' March 20, 1663, he was appointed a magistrate' by the Dutch Governor Stuyvesant, an honor, it is to be feared, which he never requited by loyalty to the Dutch government.f Sept. 29, 1663, ^^ ^"^ him, with other inhabitants of towns on the west end of Long Island, petitioning the General Court of Connedicut to be what, in our day, would be termed annexed to that colony.^
* i66ay Dec. 11. It it ▼oted and concluded upon by the Town thtt Ooodman Bencdik (with H. Whitney and N. Denton) thall lay out the South Meadows ag •00a as they can ; and that they shaU have %d an acre each for their labor. Vol. I, page 19.
i66fly Dec IX. The Town haue given a Home lot to Thomas' Benedik.
1663, Dec. 22. It is ordered that Goodman Benedik shall lay out the meadows upon the ftrther East Neck to them they belong to.
1663, Dec. 3. Voted and agreed upon that Goodman Benedik be Lieutenant of this Town.
Jan. 31, 1664. Further vcted that Thomas Bendick shall have a ten acre lot beyond the Rocky Hollow under the Hills to the East of the Jamaica lots already laid out.
Feb. 5, 1664.' Voted that Lt. Benedik [and two othen] make out a rate for the payment of the land bought of the Indians.
Feb. 14, 1664. It u voted by the town that Goodman Benedik &c shall make a rate for Mr. Walker's mantenance.
Feb. 27, 1664. The Town vote* that Thomas Benedik shall uke account of Wm. Foster and D. Denton's last years actions for the poor.
Feb. 15, 1664.* Thomas Benedyck signs his name as a witness to a bill of sale. Page 34. Extracts from yawtaiea Recordt,
^offKX^ r^ChTW^^^x
Fac simile of his signature to deed.
f See 0*CaIlaghan*s lUg. of New NetktrUnd^ p. 94.
% To the Generall Court to be assembled at hartford October the eighth 1663. The humble petition of vs the Inhabiunts [of] Jemaico, Middelborow and Hem-
• Mo« likely 1665, at h !• the faut time his name ocean. la a list of rigoaturcs of March », s665<4^ T. B.*t aaaie Is aot fbnad.
lo Thomas Benedict
He was, in &ct, one of the bearers of this petition to the court at Hartford, November 3, 1663.* December 3, 1663, he was appointed lieutenant of the town. March 7, 1664, a petition from ^^ CrafFord alias Jemaico " asks for ^^ help of your (Conn.) authority for the settling of peace amongst us and the killing
•tead upon Ix>ng Island, (whose names are subscribed,) to the Honored General Court to be assembled at Hartford 8th Octob. 1663, humbly sheweth: — That foras- much as it hath plesed the aldisposing Providence who determines the times before appointed and the bounds of men's habitasion to apointe unto vs our dwellings in these parts of the cuntery under the Dutch gouernment, in which gouernment we mete with seuerall inconvenyances that doe much tmbble ts, and which we finde Terry uncumfortable, and forasmuch as we haue received information how it hath plesed the highest Maiesty to move the hart of the King's maiesty to grant vnto your colony such enlargements as comprehends this whole Hand thereby opening a waye for vs (as we hope) from our presant bondage to such liberties and inlargementi as we are informed your patten affords ; and seeing your worshiphs were pleased the last yere Co manefest your respect to vs and care of vs by Capt. John Youngs and since by letters; shewing your willingness to accept of vs and that we may be true to the comforts of ourselves and these concerned in vs, we make bould to become peti- sioners to yr Worships, and accordingly our humbel pedsion is, that as we ar alruddy according to our best information under the scurts of your patten, so you would be plesed to cast over vs the scurts of your gouernment and protecktion, for assuredly if you should leaue us nowe, which we hope we haue not cause to feare, our liues, comforts and estates will be much indangered; as wo full experiance makes manefest, yt a contryman of ours for cariing a mesage to a neighbor plantasion from sum of yourselues have bin imprisoned for several weks and how long it will be con- tinued we know not. Our petition therefor is yt your worships will be plesed seri- ously to consider our condision and giue vs such an answer as your wisdums shal judg mete with as much speed as mav beej and leaue the full declarasion of things to our trusty messenger and thus we shall for the present take leaue of your Worships, comiting ourselues and concernes to the Supream disposer and remaine your humbel petisioners as aforesaid. Sept. 29. 1663. .
(Signed) RoBBST Cob
John Stickland Zachabiah Walkbb Thomas Bxnnydick Thomas Bbnnydick, Junior and 21 others. — Toront and Lands, I, 18 ; also 0*Callaghan*s History of New NetAerland^ VoL II, p. 4^6, note.
* Towns and Lands, I, 19. To the honerable Counsell off Conecdcut Greeting. These may sertefie that these two men here nomenated ar sent and imployed by us the inhabitants of the inglish towns upon the wester. ind of long jland namely Capt. John Coe and Anthony Waters to actt in our behalfe as if we were personally prsant
The First Settler. 1 1
and quelling of mutcnous and facsious sperits." Except the signature of his colleague, this document is in the handwriting of Thomas Benedict, and is signed by him. It fills three- fourths of a page, of cap paper, is clean and well preserved, and
to all intenti ind purposes as may ^d^r apere by other writing — as namely hemp- stead Jemero Neutown Grauesand flushing. Witness our hands who ar the repre- sentatives of the fiue towns abouesayd. November 3d 1663.
(Signed) Robirt Cok
Thomas Bbnntdick and seven others.
Endorsed : These may certify the hon<l Counsel yt was Capt. John Coe is on yc other side mentioned as one deputed by yc representatives oi y« fiue tounes for the mannaging of this or business providence so disposing that he was unexpectedly to himselfe and others prevented, Mr. Thomas Benedicke was desired to come in his stead \ for •clearing wrof wee in stead of more for y« present haste have subscribed or names.
(Signed) Robut Cob
Zachakian Walkxb
Ndther of the above are in handwridng of T. B., but were probably written by Robt. Coe or Rev. Zach. Walker.
To the Honrd Gouernour and the Counsell of Connetcut Colleny in New Eng- land. The Humble Petition of Thomas Benedict and Anthony Walters. Sheweth
That wee your petitioners beeing deputed by the representatives of five Townes on Long Island to make this our adress to your Worshipps, doe humbly declare to -p worships that whereas those fiue Towns via Hemsteed, Jamecao, Midleburrough, Grauesand and Flushing, finding that they are both subiects to their soueraigne Lord Charles the Second King of England tu, : and all soe that they doe line nppon and inhabite part oi his maiesde*s dominions haue as they iudged it their duty proclaimed his royall maiestie in thair said towns and haue reiected wholly all other pretended JurrisdTctiones over them and submitt themselues wholly to bee gouerned by his maiestic*s Laws, nottwitzstanding which wee haueing allredy in part found the des- like of some persons to such reasonable p^eedings and the eflects that will nessesa- rily follow the same and fearing more of that nature wee doe therefore Humbly icquest of your Worthipps who under our Lord, the King and in hb behalfo as wee concdue are bound by his royall pleasure to take care of Gouern and protect those his Loyall subiects, that you will please to let those his subiects inioy the benifit of his Mati«s pleasure expressed in th^ Charter Lately Granted by him, as the rest of the members of the same Corporation doe at this present. And that whereas we allone as it were are without such officers as may from your ielues Administer the wholesom Laws of this corporation to us, that that may be speedily settled and esta- blished in those fiue townes, for the executeing the laws by which they ought to bee gooemed which will be the praise and incouragement of those that doe well and for the due punishment of all offenders which matter being of no less importance then the pfcsservadon or Loss of those his matlet Subiects and towns, and the well or ill- of the inhabitants — wee think it needless to press it farther not doubting of
1 2 Tbomas Benedict
a very neat autograph.* He hdd the oflice of commissioner when the Dutch Goremor Stuy vesant surrendered New York and its dependencies to the English, under Colonel Richard
your care to fiillfil liit mati«« pleasure, and that thoae hit snluects wUl find all doe redreM of eviUa and protection from you, wee waite fot yonr wonhipps pleasure herein and for yonr wotthipps as onr doty b we shall
ener pray &c. (Signed) Thomas Bnnrmiac:
Amnoirr Watvcs. Hartibrd, Nooembcr yc izth 1663. — Ttmn mmd Lamit^ 1, ¥9, State Libniy, Hartford, Ct. The body of this pedtion is in the handwriting oi William Pitkin, schoolmaster, of Hartford. The signa- tores are aotographs.
* March the y^b 1663-4. To the honored assembly at hartfbrde for the Colony of Connecticot . these fowe lines we make bowld to present to yoor wonhipfoU considerations, as being necesitated therconto in regarde of some trooblesome occor* anti we haoe met witz since the dme we met wits your honered commisttoner Mr. AUyn at hemstead, whoe had sadd ezperiance of the beginings of it at that meting, and after oore return whome we met wits no smale trubbles In oor plantations far it being declared by Mr. Allyn In the name of the Consell of Conectecut that we ar witzln your charter Grant, we accordingly did unite thereunto, but Captin Scott hane labored to make voide that combynation, telling the people that yon haoe nothing to doe witz Long Island, and that you dare not take us in by Tartoe of your pattin, which hath made a grcate dde of stirr in our plantations causing many to fdl ofe, yet witz us In our toune we haue more than a m^or part that ar resolued to howld to that Ingagement made at hemsted, hopng that your worships will take care of us, and spedcly euse all doe mens for our relafe ; aflbrding vs that help of your authority, for the setling of peace amongst us and the killing and quelling of mutenus and facsious sperits which otherwise will disturb and destroy all good order, and orderly proceedings boeth in church and co'menwdth, and that you will be plesed spedcly to put an end to this grand controverci/ — that you ¥rill take us In by Tartne of yonr pattin, for that all men saye if yt evedintly apere they will submit, but we shall not Inlarge haueing Soe trusty a Mesenger as Mr. hiks to speak in our behalfe to whome we shall comit the managing of these our afiayers unto, and so take leaove of yoor worships desiring the lord to be present with you and president amongst yoo In the managing of all your great and waity afiaires, and rest yours to comandc.
from Crafibrd alias Jemaico (Signed) RoBzar Cos
Thomas BsmrnncK — Town and Landi^ Vol. I, p. oS.
March 7, 1663. Confirmation of Wamatumpacks former sal^ to the Inhabitanti of Crafibrd, alias Jamaica in the year 1655, subscribed before Daniel Denton and Thomas Bcnnydick. Dttii^ VoL II, p. 163, oflice Secretary of State, N. Y.
The First Settler. 1 3
Nichols.* This change of jurisdiction was especially welcome to the English settlers, whose encroachments on the western end of the Island had kept them in a state of embroilment with the Dutch, and even inspired them with ideas of colonizing beyond the limits of their own territory. Sept. 26, 1664, Thomas Benedict, with John Bailey, Daniel Denton and others, ^^ made a written application to Col. Nichols for liberty to settle a plantation upon the river called Arthur Cull Bay," in New Jersey. On the 30th of the same month, the Governor granted the petition and promised encouragement. The place is now Elizabeth City. The principal petitioners were in Jamaica, in 1665. It is, therefore, to be presumed that they sent out a
colony.f
Governor Nichols issued, ^^ To the magistrates of the several tounes upon Long-island," an order, dated ^^ James ffort, in New York, 8^ February, 1665," reciting, that the inhabitants had for a long ^time groaned under many grievous inconveniences and discouragements, occasioned partly from their opposition to a foreign power, in which distracted condition few or no laws could be put in due execution ; bounds and titles to lands were disputed, civil liberties interrupted, and from this general con-
* May lo, 1664. Thn Court doth nominate Mr. Richard Coe and Mr. Thomas Benedict comminionert for Jamacoe. * Cot, Ret, Cmn.f p. 379. 0*Callaghan*t New Netierlmmd Meg,, p. 94.
May i%f 16S4, Thomaa Benedick, freeman for Jamaicoe. &/. Ru, Cb«»., Vol. i, p. 4a9.
f ** To the Right Honourable Col Richard Nicolli, Esq. Ooremor of New York tec. The humble Peddon of ut luBtcribed Sheweth,
That tereral of ut your Petidonert being intended formerly to hare purchased and settled a Plantatk>n, upon the River called Artkitr Cmll Bs^t before your arriTal unto dicse Parts; our Intendons notwithstanding our making some way with the Indians, and charges and Expenses about the Premises, was obstructed by the then ruling Dutch, and some of us, by Reason of not having any Accommodations here, were pot upon Thoughts of removing into some other of his Majesty's Dominions ; but now .upon this your happy Arrival, and the Decease of the Dutch Interests ; we would gladly proceed in the Design aforesaid, in order whereunto, we make bold, with all Humility, to Peddon to your Honour that you would grant us Liberty to purchase aad settle a Parcel of Land to improve our Labour upon, in the River before men-
14 . Thomas Benedict
fusion, private dissensions and animosities had too much pre- vailed against neighborly love and Christian charity; and in discharge of his duty ^^to settle good and known laws," he required two deputies to ^^ a General Meeting" to be chosen from each town *^by the major part of the freemen;" and recommended '* the choice of the most sober, able and discreet persons without partiality or faction," to meet, ^* on the last day of February, at Hempstead." The delegates from Jamaica were Daniel Denton and Thomas Benedict.* This is thought to be the first English legislative body convened in New York. He was appointed, by Governor Nichols, lieutenant of *^ the Foot Company of Jamaica ; his commission bearing date at "Fort James, in New York," the 7**^ day of April, 1665. f
doned ; and some of ut being destitute of Habitations where we are, we crave your answer with as much Expedition as may be j we humbly take our Leave at present and subscribe
Your Honor'** to command ^
[Signed] John Bailit From Jamaica Damxxl Dsnton
Commonly So called Thomas Bsnnydick.
Sept z6th 1664. Nathaniel Dbnton.
John Forrut LvKs Watson. Upon Perusal of this Petition I do consent unto the Proposals, and shall give the undertakers all due* Encouragement in so good a Work.
Given under my Hand in Fort James, this joth of September, 1664.
[Signed] R. Nicholls **
A Deed of a tract of tracts of land in New Jersey on a part of which stands Elisa- beth city was obtained by purchase of Indian chief inhabiting Staten Island Oct. siSth, 1664$ and a deed of Richard NichoUa Dec. 2, 1664.
Four families admitted to have settled under this purchase. See BImabetktown Sill in Ckancajf pp. 25, 26, 28, 29.
** The four families found at Elizabeth town by [Gov.] Carteret were the pioneers of the Jamaica Colony.** Whitehead's B. Jeruy under tke Proprittwiy pp. 38, 39. See also) Smith's Hit, N. J., 8vo, 1765, p. 62.
* See Thompson's Long ItUnd, vol. I, p. 132, also N. Y. Gvi/ List (1865), p. 31.
f ** Richard NicoUs Esq Deputy Governor under his Royall Highness the Duke of York, of all his Territoryes in America
To Bryan Newton, Captaine of the ffoot Company of Jamaica.
Whereas you are chosen by the Towne of Jamaica as Captaine of a ffoote Com-
' The First Settler. 15
The £ict that, in this same year, he is recorded as having been chosen town clerk of Norwalk, Ct., gives color to the supposition that some confusion of dates was occasioned about this time by the introduction, into the possessions acquired from the Dutch, of the style in use in England, then, aiid for many years afterward, and also from the practice of double dating. A flight to the jurisdiction of New England, from that of New York, whose governor must have seemed a lineal representative of the persecutors who had driven the Puritans from the mother country, would not be a surprising thing in the case of any of that people. In that of Thomas Benedict it was a most natural result. Honored, and to some extent, trusted, as he had been by both Dutch and English governors of New York, it is beyond controversy that his heart had always been with the government of Connecticut, and that he was the especial enemy of Captain John Scott and his party ; for ^^ the killing and quelling" of whom he had, indeed, in 1663, invoked the authority of Connecticut. It is not improbable that after the supremacy of the English had been fully established in the west end of Long Island, Thomas Benedict, and others of like principles, found themselves, socially at least, in a condition not unlike that of the Union men in the south after the Civil War, and could but regard the territory as an excellent one to migrate from. At this time he had a numerous family, one of his sons
pany, Listed or to bee Listed, within the said Toune ; You are by these Presents con- firmed and constituted in the said office as Captaine \ You are to the best of your skiO and knowledge, to Instruct and teach the Souldiers under your command, the use and practice of their Armes, and to take care that the Military Lawes bee duly executed, or the defaults duly presented and Punished. Every private Souldier it hereby required to obey you as their Captaine ; and you are also required to obey your Superior Officer or Officers, according to the Military Lawes establis*ht — Given under my hand 9l ffort James in New York this ytb day of Aprill 1665.
[Signed] Richd Nicolu**
The foregoing is the form of a Military Commission in 1665. Thomas Benedict was appointed Lieutenant and Abraham Smith, Ensigne of Capt. Bryan Newton*s Foot Company. Their commissions also bear date ytb Aprill 1665. Book of Deeds^ 11, pp. 25, 26, office of the Secretary of the State New York.
1 6 Thomas Benedict
was married and settled near him ; still he took to Norwalk with him all in whose veins his blood ran. Others, who shared his religious and political proclivities, betook themselves to Con- necticut, at the same time, and, doubtless, for the same reasons.* He must have been a welcome addition to the society of Nor- walk, to cause its -people to make such haste to elevate him to official station ; nor was it a spasmodic appreciation of him merely, for, in the following year, he was not only reappointed to that office, but was, also, made a Selectman of the town. He was continued Town Clerk until 1674 ; and, after an inter- val of three years, was again appointed. The records, in his own handwriting, are still preserved, are legible and properly attested by his own signature. His term of service as Selectman covers seventeen years, closing with 1688. His name is one of forty-two who comprised the list of Freemen in 1669. He was the representative of Norwalk in the General Assembly in 1670, and again in 1675. In the Patent, granted by the General Court in 1686, confirming the title of Norwalk to its territory, his name" is inserted as a patentee. In May, 1684, the General Court appointed him and three others to plant a town ^^ above Norwalke or Fayrefeild," at Paquiage f ; and in the £ill of that
* Thomas Benedick, Sen. (fiecorded March 1, 1669-70, having poHCited it some years before), purchased of Mr. Hanfbrd i acre i rood, of John Ruscoe % roods, of John Bowten i rood — 4 acres. Bounded east by Mr Handford*s and John Ruscoe's, west by John Bowten, north by Town Highway, south by Richard Homes. HaII^
Thomas Benedict, Sen., in 1669, bought of Samuel Campfield his houselot, granted him by the* town, between Tho Betti and Ephraim Lockwood. Ihid,^ p. 17.
For location of Thomas Benedict*s home lot see Map of the Old Settlement in Hall*s Hitt. of Norwalk^ Ct. There is now (1870) upon the Lot a neat two story Irame building owned by H. Hoyt — It u reached on the rail road almost imme- diately after crossing the Norwalk bridge going East. The track crosses a corner of the original lot.
f At General Court of Conn., held May, 1684:
Mr. John Bur, Mr. Tho. Fitch, Mr. Tho. Benedict are by this Court appoynted and impowred a Committee for to order the planting of a Towne aboue Norwalke or Fayrefeild and to receiue in inhabitants to plant there} and what they, or any three
The First Settler. 17
•
year and the spring of 1685, Samuel and James, sons of Thomas, and six others, with their families, settled there y the land hav- ing been purchased from the Indians. The parties mo^t inter- ested asked that their settlement might be named ^ Swamfeild " ; but, in 1687, the General Court denied their request and called it Danburjr.*
Beside the service of these more conspicuous appointments, be rendered much to his friends jn a non-official and neighborly way. His good sense and general intelligence, some scientific knowledge and his skill as a penman, made him their recourse when papers were to be drafted, lands to be surveyed and ap- portioned, or disputes to be arbitrated. It is evident that very general respect for his judgment prevailed, and that trust in his integrity was equally general and implicit.
Little has been said of Thomas Benedict's labors in that other department, which, in view of the character and mental habitudes of the communities, at the time he dwelt among them, were of public importance, and, perhaps, in the popular estimation far transcended in value his civil services, that of ecclesiastical aiiaurs. No extended account of them will be given now, see- ing that it is impossible to make them of much interest to the people of this day. The early church records, both of South- old and Huntington, *are not now to be found ; but the position he held among the citizens of both make it highly probable, that he was concerned in establishing the first church in each. Where the church records of any town in which he lived are preserved, they furnish abundant evidence of his zeal and dili-
of them ihall doe in the premitet shall be good to all intents and purposes (on the planting o( Paquiage. &/. tUc, Conn,^ Vol. Ill, p. 142.
* A( Gen'l Court held Oct. 13, 1687 1 A Petition dated Oct. 6f^f was presented ^t the Genl Court &c., in behalf of the plantation of Paquiage, that the same maf be constitttliBd to be a towne, and to be named Smmmftild ice : Signed by Tho. Fitch, Jehu Burr, John Burr and Tho. Bennydick. Town smJ Laneb, I, 1x6.
The General Court substituted the name of Danbury. The petitioners stated that ** there are twentie families inhabiting at Paquiage and more desirable persons a cote- minge.** Col. Rec., Vol. Ill, p. 240.
3
1 8 Thomas Benedict
•
gence in establishing and maintaining the public worship of God. Whether it was settling or supporting a minister, repairing the church pdifice or building a new one, providing seiats or allotting them, Thomas Benedict's name is almost certain to appear on the records in connection with it. He is identified with the founding of the first Presbyterian church in America, at Jamaica, in 1662 ; and during the term of his residence there, he was of the committee to make the rate and provide the means to sup- port its minister. '*' In Norwalk, he was chosen Deacon, and held the office during his life.
No record can be found that indicates the day of his death \ one, of his Will, is extant, which states that Jie was ^^ weak of body 5 " " aged aboute 73 years ; *' and that his Will was ex- ecuted the '^ eight and twentieth feb.r. ano dominy 1689-90." An Inventory of his Estate, in which he is described as ^^ late deceased," was taken on the 18^** of March in the same year;
'R- " December y« 20th 1662. A town meeting called : The town haye voted and concluded and agreed upon y< these five namely Mr. Coe, Goodman Benedick, Good- man Smith, Goodman Baylie and Daniel Denton shall make y^ rate for y« minesters house, and transporting ye minester. . . Records i, p. 20.**
''February yc 14th 1663. A town meeting called : Voted and agreed upon by y« town yt Goodman Benedick and Nathaneel Denton shall be oveneers in behalf of y« town to supply Mr Walker* wants wt what hee shall stand in need of according as y« town shall agree to make a supply ; and to appoint men as their turns come to bring in what shaU bee needfull in yc premises, as need shall require. Rec. p. 21."
'* Feb. 14th, 1663. It is voted by y« town yt Mr Coe and Goodman Benedick and Daniel Denton shall make a rate for Mr Walkers maintenance. Rec. i, p. 22."
''March y« 2d, 1663. The freeholders of the town, 24 in number, including ' Thomas Benedick * gave to Rev. Zechariah Walker their ' minester * the use of a house and a home lot, to be his in ^-simple if he remained as minister of the town, or if they should so act as to be the cause of his going away. Mr. Walker's salary was £60 per annum, and Dr. McDonald remarks : "In raising this generous sup- port, BO much beyond what many infant churches at the present day, especially in new settlements, feel themselves able to do, every inhabitant contributed his due pro- portion.** t
"Dee. yc 13th, 1664. Thomas Benedick Senior and Daniel Denton shall make a rate for yc minester. ,Rec. i, p. 32.** Macdonald*s Oldett Pres, Church in jlmericdf pp. 37, 38, 40.
The First Settler. 19
it is therefore quite certain that he died, at Norwalk, in the in- terval between those two dates. '*'
He seems to have been seldom or nevef without some em-
* I, Thomas Bennidick of Norwalk, in y« County of Fairfield, in y« Colony of Conecticue, aged aboute 73 yean, being weak of body, yet of perfect mind and mem- ory, do make and declare this as my last Will and Testament.
Imprimis. I do commend my Soule into ye hands of my gracious Ood yt hath made it, and do give my body to ye Earth from whence it was, to be decently buried, in hope of a happy and gracious Resurrection at y« last day ; As for my temporall Estate, I do desposc of as followeth :
I do will and bequeath to my loueing wife Mary Bennidick my whole Estate, house and households. Lands, Cattle — to use and despose according to y« controU and ad- vice she, with my oveneen afterwards mentioned, shall judg [e] most [ ] during yc Time of her naturall Life, and after y^ decease of yc said Maiy, my wife, I do will and bequeath to my Sonn, Daniell Bennidick, my dwelling house barne and house- ing, orchard and four ewes — y« whole of my homested — to be to him and his heirs, to have and to howld, fbrevcr.
I do will and bequeath my Sonn, John Bennedick, my calve pasture Lot — he [to] pay to my grandchild Thomas Slauson, yc Son of my daughter, Elizabeth Slasson, y« sum of ten pounds — which I give him as a legacy in time convenient.
I do also give to my said Son, John Bennedick one third part of my Sticky plaine Lott, which is half broken up. I also bequeath to him yt part of salt meadow lying be yc bridge at y* Indian Fdld. Also, unto him, I bequeath eight acres of upland laid out above y« Long Swamp beyond ye New feild — All these lands to be to him and His fidis forever.
I do will and bequeath to my son, James Benedick, my Long Lot of Salt Medow — over y« River — lying between Keloge and Bets — I do also bequeath to ye said James, my son, half my fruitefull Spring Lot — y< Lyeth sideing by ye medow, pro- vided ye said James shall pay to my Grandchild Elizabeth Slausson, ye sum of five pounds, in time convenient, the afibresaid Land to be James and his heirs forever.
I do will and bequeath to my grand child Thomas Benedick, one 3<1 part of my Sdcky plaine Lot which he hath in part improued and is in part unbroken. I also, bequeath to ye s^ Thomas, my second division of medow called Mamathemans — the lands to be to him and his heiis forever.
I do will and bequeath to my Grandchild Samuell Benedict, ye other half of my firnitfull Spring Lot lying next to Nathaniel [ ] I do also bequeath to ye sd
SamucU, a small parcel of medow which is salt — [ ] Kellogg* Swamp runs through — also one y^ part of my sticky plaine Lot on ye [side] I have broken up. I do also bequeath to my tA grand child Samuel, half my comonage which is 50 pounds ; and the other half I do give to my grandchild John Bennedick ye eldest son of my son John Bennedick. I also will and bequeath to my Grandchild Samuell Benne- dick my ould Horse and one yearling Calf. I do also bequeath to ye %^ Samuell, my Carts and Iron plows and chains and irons belonging to plow and cart. Also ye bed and bedsted — y( in ye chamber with what belongs to it — leauving it to his Grand- mother and ye overseen to give him of ye moveables what they can spare, provided
20 Thomas Benedict
ployment of a public nature. Until his settlement at Norwalk, when he was nearly fifty years old, no one place appears to have held him long ; and it is a remarkable thing that these changes of abode, each of which must have made him a new comer, never prevented his immediate preferment either in church or state affairs. It would be only reasonable to infer, that the alacrity with which he was honored and trusted, under the cir- cumstances, was due to his established character for prudence and ability. The action of the General Court, whenever his name came before it, shows that he was known and esteemed by the authorities of the main land \ indeed it is apparent from cotemporaneous events that he was a main support of the cause of Connecticut on Long Island. That he was a man of
he carry and behauTc himself dutefiilly and loavingly towards his Orandmother — to doing, I do, also, will and bequeath to y« s^ Samuell half of my sheep.
I do will and bequeath to Joanna Bennedick, One Cow, one half of my sheep — the trukle bedstead w'b je bed thereupon and the furniture of it, and what eke of household her Orandmother shall bestow on her, provided she liue with her and be tender of her while she shall continue in this vrorld.
As for my Out Lands, undesposed of, it is my will that my Son James and DanieU diuide y« Upland between them equally except y« peace of boggy medow which I wiU to be equally divided between my son James and grandchild Samuell Benedick.
I do will and bequeath to my daughter Rebecka Wood [the] mare yt is now run- ning in y« wood ; and I leauve it to my wife to give to my Daughter Sarah and Re- becka what of y« moveables she shall see meet and can spare.
I do will and bequeath to my Orand child Mary Olmsted, a legacy of twenty shillings ; I also give to Hannah Benedick, my grand child, ten shillings the [same] to be paid out. of ye estate af^ my decease.
Finally it is my will and I do hereby appoint my Son John and my Son SamU Ben- nedick to be joynt overseers of this my last will and testiment — willing these my loueing sons to be carefiill of their Mothers comfortable liudng and to councell her in y« ordering her afllairs and desposall of goods ; and to see carefully to y« payment of all lawfuU debts.
In confirmation of yc premises of this my will and Testiment, I do set my hand and seal this eight and twentieth febr Ano dominy 1689-90.
[Signed] Tros Bknkdick, Senr.
Signed and Sealed in presents of us,
Thoimat Hanford Jokn Piatt, Jr, Memorand : in y* twentieth line Elisabeth is bloted out and Mary put in yc Mar- jent accordin to y« will of y« testator — y« name mistake [n] by the writer
Thoi. Hamtoba.
The First Settler. 21
enlarged viewSy such as in this day are supposed to characterize statesman, and that he had the cours^ and energy to attempt to
An Inrcntwy of the Estate of Thomaa Benedick Scnr of Norwalk^ late deceased,
taken this i8. of March 1689 or 90. Imprimis :
The Homested and Buildings
Item ' in Lands
« " Neat Cattle
•* « Horts Kinde
*■ ** Beding and furniture
** '< Table linen and Napkins
« « Wearing Cloathes
«< ^ Bedsteds, Chests and boxes
** << Iron Kettle and pott
** ^ Pewter, brass Earthenware and Woodenware
•* ** Several iron things
** " Carts and wheels and 'k
Irons belonging to them j
** " Knailes and other Small things
** ** Plogh and Graine
** ** Arms and Ammunission
'* ** Saddle, bridle and Sundry small things
« « 5 SmaU Swine
the total Taken by us :
TA0mat Seamer
ymmts Olwuted,
Mary Benedict, y« Relickt of Thos Benedick Senr, late of Norwalk deceased, appeared before me, the 5<lk of November 1690, and attested upon oath yi according to yc best of her knowledge, y« above s<l Inventory is a true Inventory.
[Signed] Thos. Fitch, Comiss.
The Will and Inventory of Thomas Benedick, deed of Norwalk, being exhibited
to y« County O, in Fairfield, this ^^^ of November 1690, y« probate whereof being
deferred until the next County Court in March, I do also appoint these two persona
who wear appointed overseers of the s^ will, viz : John and SamU Benedick with
y« widow, Relickt of y« s<t deceased Benedick, to administer on the s^ esute — to
receave and pay all debts due to and from y« s^ estate and to husband y« estate and
pRMTve it hum imbes*mcnt.
[Signed] Nathan Gold, Clark.
The County O this 10. of Mar 1 690-1 do except y« above sd Will and Inventory
and order them to be recorded.
[Signed] Nathan Gold, Clark.
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Mem : The foregoing Will and Inventory are recorded in Vol. of Probate Records, ** 1 689-1 701,** pp. 38, &c., deposited in Probate office, Fairfield, Conn. The original will conld not be found.
22 Thomas Benedict
realize them, it proved by his persistence in schemes designed to increase the power and expand the jurisdiction of the common- wealth he loved. The four &milies found by Carteret, at Elizabethtown, were the pioneers of the Jamaica colony, of which he was one of the projectors. His connection with the founding of Danbury has been stated. Traces of other plans for colonizing are visible yet, but the event of them is not."*" They were, of course, less successful than those mentioned ; but they serve to show his zeal and enterprise in that direction. The holder of military commissions, in so unquiet a time, it might naturally be expected that some feats of arms would illustrate the annals of his life. Nothing appears to satisfy such an expectation, reasonable as it may be ; and, probably, for the reason that no occasion for service of that sort arose, at the times and places, when and where, he held military rank. If, however, the training of his children may be regarded as an indication, it is entirely certain, that he did not fail to educate them to the high duty of fighting for their country. His &mily participated in the Indian wars of the time, and one was promi- nent in perhaps the most bloody struggle of all. His son, Daniel, in 1677, received a grant of land, from the town of Norwalk, for his services in ^^ the direful swamp fight " of Dec. 19, i675.t By this mournful and expressive title, bereaved New England was accustomed to identify the memorable expe- dition against the Narragansetts, which, however disastrous to the savages, filled the whole country with woe and lamentation. His posterity have never shown themselves derelict in respect
* At a Court of Election May 9, 1672 :
Whereat Rich^ Olmtteed, Thomaa Benedict and 11 others have given in their names for a beginning of a plantation neare the back side of Norwalke and by their deputies desired the countenance of the Court therein, — The Court hayeing consi- dered the same doe see cause to nominate a Com« to view the place moved for to make a plantation and to order the planting thereof and to entertein inhabitants to joyne with the afoarnamed people of Norwalk, in the planting the afbarsayd plantation. — CoL Rec. Conn.y Vol. II, p. 176.
f See Hall, p. 63; and Bouton^s Norwaik Bi-Centennia/ Addreu^ pp. 27, 28.
The First Settler. 23
either to loyalty or bravery. The public enemy has ever been their enemy ; the muster rolls of every army ever raised to defend the country, or to achieve or maintain its independence, abound with their names ; and none more so than those of the last and greatest of all American armies ; the army, whose loy- alty, patriotism, bravery and patience, saved the cause of Liberty and Civilization, first for their countrymen, and scarcely less, for the rest of mankind.
It is to be regretted that few or no details of the social or domestic life, no personal traits, no characteristic incidents, of himself or wife have come down to us. During the term of their migrations, with so numerous family, the household cares and duties must have been especially burdensome and perplex- ing to the wife and mother. It was within^this period, too, that the character and habits of their children were, mainly, formed ; for at the time they ceased to wander and sat down in Norwalk, their eldest born was twenty-five years old, and married, and their youngest must have been eight years old at least. The fruits of their culture and discipline, under circumstances certainly not favorable, are conspicuous enough, in the character and lives of their children, and childrens* children ; and prove him to have been a wise and prudent father, and her a judicious and faithful mother. The love which united them at the beginning kept them united to the end ; and his Will, probably one of the last acts of his life, is full of evidences of thoughtful afiection for his wife ; his great concern seeming to have been to secure her comfort when he should be able to provide for it no longer. Their grandson. Deacon James Benedict, of Ridgefield, is the only one of their posterity, who, speaking from actual know- ledge, furnishes even a glimpse of this interesting couple. He says : ^^ they walked in the midst of their house with a perfect heart. They were strict observers of the Lords day 'from even to even' ; and I think it may be said of them, as it was of Zach- arias and Elizabeth, that ' they walked in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless, and obtained a good re-
24 Thomas Benedict.
port through faith.' This excellent example had a good effect, by the blessing of heaven, upon their children. He was made a Deacon of the church at Norwalk, and used that office to the good satisfaction of that church to his death, which was in the 73*^ year of his age ; and two of his sons, viz : John and Samuel, used the office until old age and its attendants rendered them unable to serve any longer. And there are at this day [1755] no less than seven of the family and name that use that office, and some of them at least, I hope, to good acceptance with God and man." This proclivity toward deaconship continued in the fiunily ; for, as late as 185 1, another of his descendants. Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Bouton, in an Historical Discourse pronounced by him, July 9^ of that year, on occasion of the two hundredth anniversary of the settlement of Norwalk, closes a tribute to the memory of his ancestor thus : ^^ The savor of his piety, as well as his venerable name, has been transmitted through a long line of deacons and other godly descendants, to the seventh generation.'*
Thomas B£NEDicT,b. 1617 ; m. Mary Bridgum, i64o(?). Ch.
I. Thomas, b. 164-; d. Nov. 20, 1688-9.
II. John, b. 164-.
III. Samuel, b. 164-.
IV. James, b. 164-.
V. Daniel, b. 164-.
VL EuzABETH, b. 16—, Southold, L. I. ; m. after 1676, John Slau-
son (his sd wife), Sumford, Ct. VIL Mary, b. 16—, Southold, L. I.; m. John Olmsted, "Lieut.
Olmstede,'' Norwalk, Ct., July 17, 1673.
VIII. Sarah, b. 16—, Southold; m. Dec. 19, 1679, James Beebc,
Stratford. He was one of the eight who purchased and settled Danbury in 1685. Their son James, b. Norwalk, 1682, was a deacon of the church in Danbury.
IX. Rebecca, b. 16—; m. Dr. Samuel Wood, an able physician, b.
and educated in England, and a very early settler of Danbury.
§tmuAmtfi 0{ m^mu ^tnditt, ft
mtnimt^ mi f b0m»j9i ^tmM, §x.
** At genus kumanum multo fuit lUud in ar%fh DuriuSf ut decuit, ullus quod dura creastet**
— LuCRlTIVt.
1. Thomas* {Tbomas^\ was b. 164-, Southold, L. I., where, and at Huntington, he passed his youth and early manhood. In 1662 he removed with his father's family to Jamaica, and in the year following the town granted him a ^^ home lot " and ^^ ten (10) acres of meadow/* I conjecture, from this grant and from the fiict that, Sept. 29, 1663, he signed with others a petition to be taken under the government of Connecticut, that he was of age. Dec. 13, 1663, he was appointed ^^to gather the rate made for the purchase of the Hills." He m. Jan., 1665, Mary, dau. of Andrew Messenger, one of the original settlers of Jamaica, March 10, 1656, and magistrate in 1661-62. Tho- rny removed to Norwalk 1665-6, and was made freeman in 1669 ;* pounder fence viewer and surveyor between 1667 and 1686. He d. at Norwalk, Nov., 1688-9. His inventory filed Nov. 5, 1689, shows a clear estate of ^169. His wife sur- vived him. (See Jamaica Rec. ; Hall's Hist. Norwalk^ Ct,y
PP- 75» 83)- Ch.
Mart, b. Dec. 4, 1666. Esther, b. Oct. 5, 1679,
2. Thomas, b. Dec. ^, 1670. Abigail, b. June 8, 1682. Hannah, b. Jan. 8, 1675-6. Elizabbth, b. 1684..
* Thomas Benedict, Jr., bought of Joseph Fenn, 1 671, <<now home-lot, lyinge hj the tide of the creek or river called the Coafe ** — 4 acres — Hallos Hist, of Nor- vudk^ O., p. 26.
28 Descendants of
2. Thomas' {Thomas^^ Thomas^\ b. Dec. 5, 1670, Norwalk; m. May 13, 1697, Rachel, dau. of Samuel and Rachel (Marvin) Smith of Norwalk, b. 1672-3. He was often fence viewer and surveyor between 1692 and 1723; selectman 1709-11 and 1730 an4 1732. He is called ensign in 1717. Rachel ^^ the virtuous and pious consort/' d. Dec. i, 1737* He. m. 2d Oct. 14, 1740, Hannah. Knapp of Danbury, and d. May 10, 1743. His inventory, which includes one negro man Winsor, amounted to £160. His will was proved June 5, 1744. Ch.
Mary. b. Dec, 4, 1699 ; m. Daniel Sr. John (^Hist. fFaterhury, Ct., p. 464). 3.' Thomas, b. Oct 29, 1701; d. Feb. 11, 1757. 4* Samubl, b. Jan. 31,1 703-4 ; d. 1 7 — . Daniel, b. April 7, 1707; d. June 9, 17 — . Rachel, b. Sept. 27, 1710 ; m. June 13, 1734, Eliasaph Kellogg
of Danbury (Hall, p. 211). Nehemiah, b. Dec. 21, 171-.
Sarah, b. June 6, 1717; m. April 28, 1735, I^anicl Hoyt Jr. of of Norwalk (Hall, p. 21 8).
8. Thomas^ [Thomas^^ Thomas^ Thomas% b. Oct. 29, 1701 ; m. May 21, 1725, Deborah, dau. of Jonathan Waters of Jamaica, L. I., b. 1699 ; d. March 2, 1757, pounder, lister, fence-viewer, tything-man and surveyor often between 1723 and 1747. He d. Feb. 11, 1757. Will recorded March 17, 1757. Cb.
5. Thomas, b. Feb. 25, 1725-6 ; d. Feb. 21, 1802.
Deborah, b. June 8, 1728 ; m. May 30, 1745, Abijah Comstock ; d. Nov. 15, 1770.
6. Nehemiah, b. Jan. 9, 1729-30 ; d. Sept. 29, 1800. Rachel, b. Feb. 28, 173 1-2 ; d. Sept. 7, 1743.
Hannah, b. Dec. 13, 1733; ™« ^^^ t ^753i John Carter of Nor- walk; d. Feb. 22, 1780 (Hall, p. 234)..
7. Jonathan, b. June 18, 1736 ; d. June 20, 1759.
4. Samuel* (T^tfWtf J,' Thomas^^ 71&«/wtfj'),b. Jan. 31,1703-4; m. 1st, Jemima Canfield, April 18, 1724 ; 2d, Experience Jar- vis (?), before June, 1736, when they moved to New Canaan parish and joined the church there. He was fence viewer, tything-man and lister between 1724 and 1748. No record of their death. Ch.
Jemima, b. March 8, 1724-5 ; m. Peter Smith, Feb. 29, 1743-4.
8. Samuel, b. Dec. 5, 1726 ; d. Bedford, about 1803.
Thomas Benedict^ yr. 29
Mahy, b. fane 14, 1728; m. June 12» 1746, Deacon John ^ Bene- dict (28) ; d. Dec. 7, 1800. 9. Daniel, b. March 8, 1729-30; d. Aug. 21, 1 776.
10. Stephen, b. May 20, 1731; d. May 15, 1809. Sarah, b. Jan. 30, 1733-4; ("*• Timothy HaitY)
AmcAiL, b. July 7, 1735; (*"• Jcdidah Smith, March i6, 1758?) Esther, b. Sept. 9, 1737; m. John Levake, March 16/1758?) Rachel, b. June 24, 1739; m. Hezekiah^ Benedict (30), April 5, 1759; d. few years after.
6. Thomas,^ ( Thomas^^ Thomas^^ Thomas^^ Thomas')^ b. Feb. 25, 1725—6; m. Jan. 4, 1758, Hannah, dau. of Capt. John Raymond of Norwalk, b. Aug. 31, 1732, and d. July 30, 1766; lister, gnmd-juror and surveyor between 1750 and 1777, select- man 1756 ; was merchant in Norwalk. His bouse, store, cider- mill and distillery were destroyed July 1 1, 1 779, when the British under Gen. Tryon burned Norwalk: d. Feb. 21, 1802. Ch.
Hannah, b. Feb. 18, 1759; ^- ^*j- ^^^^^ Cleft; d. 1787.
Deborah, b. April 14, 1761; m. Jan. 1, 1782, Capt. Samuel Bur- rail ; d. March 12, 1823.
Catharine, b. April 13, 1763 ; m. Samuel Grumman, Jr. ; d. April 7, 1792.
11. Thomas, b. March 14, 1765; d. Jan. 5, 1852.
6. Nehbmiah^ (Thomasj^ Tbomasy^ Th$mas^^ Thomas^\ b.
Jan. 9, 1729-30 ; m. Dec. 17, 1751, Hannah, dau. of Capt.
Samuel Keeler, b. 1725 ; lister, surveyor, fence viewer, 1758 to
1775, constable 1768-9, selectman 1776. He removed to
New Canaan parish and d. Sept. 29, 1800, having survived wife
and children. His wife d. Dec. 6, 1783. Will proved Dec.
3, 1800. Ch.
Nehemiah, b. Oct I, 1752; d. June 26, 1776.
William, b. Sept. 14, 1754; d. Aug. 30, 1776.
Waters, b. Oct. 7, 1756; d. Jan 12, 1776.
Hannah, b. Dec. 11, 1759; m. Oct. 14, 1779, Isaac Richards,
who was chosen in 1 782 lister of Norwalk; selectman 1796-1 800;
finally settled in New Canaan, and became the most distinguished
atizen of the town, serving as magistrate and representative, &c.
His memory is stiU cherished with profound respect. She d.
Feb. 21, 1786. ,
Thomas, b. March 25, 1764; d. July 24, hj^j.
7. Jonathan* {Thomas^^ Thomas^ Thomas^ Thomai^\ b. June 18, 1736 J m. Mary ; d. June 20, 1759. Ch.
Jonathan Waters, b. Sept. 11, 1758; d. May 27, 1761.
3© • Descendants of
8. Samuel* {Samuely^ Thomas^^ Thomas^ Tbomas^)^ b. Dec.
5, 1726 ; m. 1st, Jemima J.arvis, no children by her ; 2d.
; 3d, Mary Bristol, widow of Mr. Tuttle, by whom he
had Mercy, Polly, Joseph. Ch.
12. Samu/l.
Lydia, bap. Oct 26, 1755, New Canaan ; m. Benajah Smith.
Jemima, bap. June 26, \y$7. New Canaan; d. young.
Hannah, bap. May 13, 17^9, New Canaan; m. Jacob Richards,
and settled Saratoga Co. Mercy, m Maffit. Polly, m. Aaron Smith.
13. Joseph, b. July 22, 1767; d. July 15, 1817.
9. Daniel* {Samuel^* Thomasy^ Thomas^* Thomas^), b. March
8, 1729-30; m. 1st, Hoyt ; 2d, Mary Seymour, who
moved to South Salem soon after the burning of Fairfield, Ct.,
in 1779. She m. Close, and d. Oct. 24, 1837, aged 95. He
went to the relief of his son in 1776, who was sick of camp
distemper at Bergen Point, N. J., took the disease and died soon
after returning home. On the distribution of his estate, Nov.
1784, his widow Esther (Esther Mary i) received ^£58 9s. 9d.,
Thaddeus, <£i8o 15s. 3d., and his daughters Rachel, Anna,
Mary, Esther, £60 5s. id., and the heirs of the remaining
daughters £60 5s. id. Ch. (order of birth unknown).
Daniel, b. 175-; soldier in Revolutionary army; d. 1776, of camp fever at Bergen Point, N. J.
14. Thaddeus, b. Sept. 2, 1758, in parish of New Canaan, Cc; d.
Aug. 1 81 2. Rachel. Anna. Mary, b. 1763 ; m. Jan. 17, 1782, Ebenezer Phillips ; d. Feb.
25, 1850. Esther, m. Philetus Phillips (bro. of Ebenezer), Aug. 3, 1784. Sarah. Jemima. Catharine.
Abigail, m. (Pean of Danbury, Cl ?)
10. Stephen* {Samuel^* Thomas^^ Thomas^* Thomas^\ b. May 20, 1731 ; m. 1st, July 31, 1750, Ruth Keeler; 2d, Oct. 13, 1763, Hannah Finch, who d. Nov. 24, 1782, in her 52d year; 3d, Mrs. Mary Bouton, who d. Nov. i, 1828, aged 96. He was a surveyor, tything-man and lister between 1759 and 1777. He lived and died at New Canaan. His will was proved June 14, 1809. Ch.
Rhuhamah, b. Dec. 24, 1751; m. about 1768, Jacob Reed of Southeast.
Thomas Benedict y Jr. 3 1
Ruth, b. Nov. 19, 1753; m. Aaron Stocker; and settled in N. Y.
15. Stephen, b. Jan. 16, 1756; d. Nov. 23, 1833.
Rhoda, b. Jan. 6, 1758; m. Abel Hoyt, settled in Paulding. Mehitabel, b. Aug. 30, 1759; m. Stephen Hays, Feb. 12, 1794;
d. Feb. 5, 1832. Esther, b. July 2, 1761 ; m. and d. not long after. Abel, b. March 29, 1763; d. Aug. 27, 1763. Hannah, b. July 29, 1766; m. Nehcmiah® Benedict (103), Oct.
26, 1786; d. Dec. 7, 1814. Sakah, b. June 2, 1768; d. June 23, 1768. Sarah, b. July 14, 1770; d. Oct. 20, 1787. EuA, b. Jdy II, 1772; m. Jachin Bouton; d. July 4, 1788. Jemima, b. Aug. 30, 1774; ">• L"^^ Keeler, May 20, 1793 ;
moved to Norwalk, Ohio, in 1817; d. June 24, 1859.
16. Daniel, b. April 28, 1777; d. Dec, 1814, at Sacketts Harbor.
11. Thomas* ( Thomasj^ Thomas^^ Thomas^ Thomas^ Thomas^)^ b. March 14, 1765; m. Oct. 8, 1795, Mary, dau. of Phineas Watcrbury. Hall, in his History 0/ NortvaU (pp. 174-77) gives some of Mr. B/s reminiscences of the burning of the town by the British. He (Mr. B.) says they came Saturday, while the people were harvesting. Our soldiers collected fast, and stopped to drink wine on the stoop of his father's house. The family packed up their goods hastily, and took refuge that night at Belden's Hill. A party of light horse came in the night, and in the morning they saw the smoke rising from Nor- walk. The house where Mr. B. lived (1847) ^^ ^^^^ ^'^ hospital by the British, was set on fire when the retreat com- menced, but the people rallied and saved it from the flames. Mrs. Benedict, who lived at Roton river, saw the fleet coming from Long Island. She remembered that one night her mother courageously gave the alarm when the tories were stealing the cattle. A tory fired at her mother, and Mrs. B. heard the ball whistle. Thomas d. Jan. 5, 1852. Ch.
17. Thomas, b. Oct. 7, 1797.
18. Edwin, b. Aug. 10, 1801.
Catharine, b. Dec. 26, 1806; res. in Norwalk.
12. Samuel^ {Samuel^i Samuel^< Thomas^^ Thomas^ Thomas^\ m. Oct. 30, 1786, Ballston, Saratoga county, whither he had removed from New Canaan, Betsey Monroe. He is found among the church members of Ballston in 1776. He may have married before leaving Connecticut. I have not been able to
32 Descendants of
find any of his pdsterity, although it is certain that he had a son Nathan and three daughters. Ch. Nathan. Dau. Dau. Dao.
13. Joseph* [Samuel^^ Samuel^* Thomas^^ Thomas* Thomas^)^ b. July 22, 1767, New Canaan, Ct. ; m. 1789, Jemima, dau. Nehemiah Smith, who d. March 16, 1854, Monticello. 'Ch.
Sally, b. Jan. i, 1790; m. Jacob Hornbcck, Sr., Deerpark, Scpu 2, 1812.
19. Smith, b. July 23, 1791; d. Nov. 4, 1859.
Laura, b. April 23, 1793; m. Jesse H. Wickham; d. Middle- town, Aug. 21, 1823.
20. Samvel, b. Dec. 25^ 1794*
21. Hiram, b. Dec. 18, 1796.
Cyrus, b. July 28, 1798; d. Aug. 26, 1826.
Polly, b. Jan. 20, 1800; m. ist, Wm. Gardner; 2d, Knox; 3d,
Poe. Emily, b. Feb. 3, 1802; school-teacher; d. March 22,
1836, Wurtiboro.
22. David, b. May 31, 1803.
23. Nehemiah, b. June 5, 1805.
24. Lewis, b. Dec. 5, 1807.
25. Henry, b. Aug. 16, 1809.
Fanny J., b. Aug. 25, 1811 ; m. Jacob Romer, May 22, 1836; d. Sullivan county, Aug 7, 1853.
26. Joseph Augustus, b. June 10, 1814.
14. Thaddeus* {Daniil^^ Samuel^^ Thomas^^ Thomas^^ Th^ mas^)^ b. Sept. 2, 1758, New Canaan, Ct. ; m. Sept. 3, 1778, Ruth Lock wood ; moved, May, 1 791, to Delhi ; was a school- teacher; d. Aug., 1812. Wife b. April 5, 1759, Norwalk, Ct. ; d. March 18, 1840, Deposit. Ch.
27. Daniel, b. Feb. 20; 1783; d. Nov. 18, 1818.
28. Thaddeus, b. May 4, 1785; d. Feb. 3, 1868.
29. JosiAH, b. Sept. 1, 1787; d. Dec. 30, 1864.
30. Isaac, b. March 28, 1790. Esther, b. April 23, 1793; m. Wm.
Hawley of Deposit; d. before 1836.
31. Jeremiah, b. Aug. 3, 1795; d. Jan. 12, 1852. ^ Sally, b. Dec. 11,1 797 ; d. June, 1 8 1 2.
32. David, b. Sept. 12, 1800.
16. Rev. Stephen^ {Stephin^^ Samuel,^ Thomas^^ Thsmas^* Thomas^)j b. Jan. 16, 1756 ; m. Feb. 8, 1781, Miriam Jones, who was b. Jan, 22 i d. in Greenville, Aiig. 4, 1822. He d. at Manlius, Nov. 23, 1833. ^^^ the ch. were b. at Greenville. Was a Methodist minister. Ch.
Thomas Benedict^ Jr. 33
33. Stephen, b. Dec. 1 8, 1781.
Esther, b. Dec. 4, 1783 ; m. Jonathan Palmer, Nov. 13, 1814 ;
d. Sept. 5, 1840. Sarah, b. March 8, 1786 ; m. Oct. 2, 1804, David King ; d.
Oct 27, 1807. Rttth, b. June 2, 1788 ; m. Nov. 30, 1815, John Myers; d.
Allen, Mich., Jan. 20, 1856. Mart, b. Dec. 4, 1790 ; res. Dewitt.
34. Joshua, b. Oct. 25, 1793.
35. Jacob, b. March 4, 1796.
Irena, b. Nov. 10, 1798 ; m. Nov. 30, 1825, John Salter ; res.
North Adams, Mich. Elizabeth, b. March 27, 1801 ; d. Jan. 28, 1822, Greenville.
36. Joseph Blaisdell, b. Aug. 16, 1803.
16. Daniel* {Stephen/ Samueh Thomas^^ Thomas^ Thomas^ b. April 28, 1777, New Canaan; m. Eunice, dau. Hezekiah St. John, April 27, 1797 ; was a soldier in war of 1812 ; pre- viously a school-teacher. Wife d. Morgan, Ohio, Oct. 10, 1850. All the ch. but Royal F. b. New Canaan, Ct. Ch.
Deborah, b. Jan. 18, 1799; "^* J^^X ^» ^^^7* Bradley Nash, who d. Aug. II, 1828, aged 32 yrs.
37. Anson, b. Jan. 18, 1800.
38. Hezekiah St. John, b. Jan. 28, 1801.
39. Royal Finch, b. N. Y., Jan. 20, 1807. ' Sally Refine, b. Jan. 31, 1809; m. ist, Ira Weed, 2d, Gaylord;
d. Geneva, Ohio. Mary W., b. July 24, 18 10 ; m. April 7, 1830, Silas Pepoon ; d. Aug. 8, 1 867, Warren, III.
40. Stephen, b. Aug. 17, 181 3.
17. Thomas^ {Thomas^ Thomas^^ Thomas^ Thomas^ Tbth- mas^ 3TrdiiMj'),b. Oct. 7, 1797 > "*• March 26, 1820, Susan, dau. Henry and Rebecca F. Betts of Norwalk, b. Feb. 20, 1799 ; res. South Norwalk, Ct. Ch.
Mary, b. Jan. 19, 1821; d. Dec. 20, 1830.
41. Thomas, b. June 27, 1824.
£lizXbeth, b. Jan. 5, 1827 ; d. Sept. 22, 1827.
Sarah C, b. Feb. 10, 1832 ; m. Nov. 29, 1853, Richard H. Parmelee.
Julia W., b. Sept. 3, 1334 ; m. Oct. 27, 1858, Geo. O. Keeler.
Edwin, b. Oct. 24, 1839 ; m. March 15, 1866, Sarah W. Ray- mond, Southport, Cl ; enlisted and served four years — regt.
18. Edwin7 {Thomas^^ Thomas^^ Thomas^^ Thomas^^ Thomas^ Tbomas^)^ b. Aug. 10, 1801 ; m. Sept. 17, 1827, Eliza P.,
5
34 Descendants of
dau. Zophar Halsey of Clinton Co., b. about 1803 i merchant, res. at Pittsburgh. Ch.
b. Oct. 28, 1828; d. Nov. 9, 1828.
Mary £.» b. Nov. 26, 1829; d. July 25, 1831,
Catharine M.* b. Oct. 9, 1831 ; d. June 26, 1849.
Caroline £., b. Dec. 30, 1833; d. March 13, 1835.
William F., b. March 22, 1836; d. Oct. 25, 1837.
Mary C, b. Sept. 26, 1837; m. Feb. 4, 1863, Dr. E. M. Lyon.
Walter Hauey, b. May 6, 1840; Capt. Co. H, 96ih regt., N. Y. Vol. Inf. ; killed by a shell near Fort Darling, Va., May 15,1 864. His body was brought home and interred Plattsburgh.
Edwin Thomas^ b. Sept. 9, 1842.
19. Smith7 {Joseph,^ Samuel,^ Samuel^^ Thomas^^ Thomas^^ Thomas^ b. July 23, 1791, Bedford; m. May 15, 1815, Anna Brown, who d. Oct. 10, 1816 ; m. 2d, Oct. 8, 1817, Catherine Roberts, who d. Nov. 17, 1832; m. 3d, Jan. 8, 1834, Hannah, dau. Calvin and Hannah (Hulburt) Bush, b. April 7, 1800, Colebrook, Ct. Ch. all b. Mamakating. Widow res. Monticello. Ch. by his second wife.
John Wesley, b. Feb. 3, 1819; d. Feb. 11, 1844.
Laura A., b. April 19, 1823; m. July 4, 1847, John V. Smith; d. Feb. 4, 1854.
£mily» b. June 18, 1827; m. Dec. 21, 1846, Samuel D. New- kirk ; d. Jan. 17, 1868.
Cyrus RobertSj b. Feb. 29, 1^3^ ; d. March 8, 1834.
By his third wife. Calvin Roberts, b. March 12, 1837; res. Monticello.
20. Samuel^ (Joseph^^ Samuel^^ Samuel^^ Thomas^ Thomas^ Thomas^\ b. Dec. 25, 1794; m. Harriet T6wn, who d. Jan., 1858. Ch.
42. Joseph, b. Oct. 14, 1828.
Elizabeth, b. Oct 29, 1829; res. Greenwich, Ct.
43. Moses, b. Jan. 24, 1832. 43. Aaron, b. Jan. 24, 1832.
21. Hiram7 {Josephy^ Samuel,^ Samuel^^ ThomaSy^ Thomas^ Thomas^)y b. Dec. 18, 1796; m. Jane Griffin, a Quakeress; settled Mamaroneck, accidentally killed July 14, 1865. Im- perfect returns from this fiimily. Ch.
Aaron. Hiram. Charles.
Thomas Benedict^ Jr. 35
22, David7 (Joseph^^ Samuil^^ Samuil^^ Thomas^^ Thomas^^ Thomas^\ b. May 31, 1803, Bedford j m. July 5, 1824, Mary, dau. Richard Page, b. about 1808. He res. Calicoon. Ch.
Mary J.> b. Jan. 23. 1827; m. Francis Litde; res. Ohio.
45. Wu.UAM, b. Dec. 4, 1828.
Mary A., b. March 21. 1831 ; m. Mihon Litde; res. Ohio.
46. David Cyrus, b. Aug. 28, 1833.
47. Joseph Henry, b. Oct. 28. 1835; drafted Feb. 22, 1865. Harriet M., b. Dec. 4, 1837; m. Quick.
John L., b. June 14, 1839; m. (no returns). Enlisted — regt Almeda C, b. May 27, 1841; m. about 1863, and d. next year. James M., b. June 25, 1843; m. (no returns). Enlisted Co. F« . 143d regu N. Y. Vols.
28. Neh£Miah7 (7«x/^i6,6 Samuel^^ Samuel^^ Thomai^^ Th^
mas<^ Tbomas*)^ b. June 5, 1805 j m. Esther Porter j res. Mam-
akattng ; imperfect returns. Ch.
Henry, m. Cordelia Palmer, about 1857.
Joseph A., b. 1836; m. Emily Smith; has two ch., Elma and Ed- ward. William, b.'i844; enlisted Co. E, 143d regt. N. Y. Vols. Nancy, m. Geo. Tyrocson, about 1848. Cecelia, d. Oct. 1853, in her 21st year. Mary C, d. Dec. 1857, in her 19th year. Another, unknown.
24. Lbwi87 {Joseph^ Samuel^^ Samuel^^ Thoma$y^ Thoma$^ Tb9mas% b. Dec. 5, 1807, Fishkill Mts. ; m. Sept. i, 1828, Catharine A., dau. John and Mary Hendrix, b. Feb. 11, 1806) Bloomingburgh ; res. Dundee. Ch.
48. Francun, b. Jan. 19, 1830, Mamakating ; d. May 17, 1859,
Dundee. Washington, b. Oct. 24, 1831, Rockland ; d. Feb. 1$, 1863, D. Wesley, b. Aug. 4, 1833, R. ; merchant at D. Lewis Smith, b. June 9, 1835, R.; d. June 19, 1856, D. Mary J., b. Dec. 4, 1836, Orange; m. Nov. 23, 1865, Harrison
Horton of D. Harriet M., b. Nov. 3, 1838, O. ; m. April 6, 1859, Marcus
Joseph Hilton of Troy, Penn. Delia M., b. April 11, 1841, O. ; m. Sept 11, 1862, James M.
Sh^maker of D. ,
49. Jewett, b. June 10, 1843, at O.
Hester A., b. May 11, 1845, O. ; d. Dec. 14, 1862, D.
25. Henry^ {Joseph^ Samuel^^ Samuel^^ Ihomai^ Thomas^ Tbomas^)^ b. Aug. 16, 1809, Middletown ; m. Sept. 29, 1838,
36 Descendants of
Rachel Gillett of Westbrookville, b. May 14, 1801, and d. March 28, i860; res. Cuddebackville. Ch.
Lewis Smith^ b. July 25, 1839, Wurtsboro ; res. Cuddebackville. Annette A., b. Aug, 25, 1841, W. ; m. Dec. 29, 1864, John
R. Case Jr. of C. •
James Wesley b. June 8, 1847, W.; res. Phelps.
26. Joseph Augustus^ (Joseph^^ Samuel^^ Samuel^^ Thomas^^ Thomas^ Thomas^\ b. June 10, 1814; m. Mary Montgomery, April, 1837, who d. Ohio; m. again and moved to Michigan, St. Clair P. O. No returns.
27. Daniel7 {Thaddeus^ Daniel^^ Samuel i Thomas^^ Thtmas^ Thomas^) J b. Feb. 20, 1783, Norwalk, Ct. ; m. Nov. i, 1803, Lois, dau. Benajah McCall, who d. May 26, 1 861, at Walton. He d. May 18, 18 18, Walton. Ch. all born Walton.
50. Harry M-, b. April 23, 1804.
Sophia, b. July 15, 1805; m. Jan. i, 1822, William Brown ; d.
Feb. 15, 1863. Sally, b. July 18, 1807 ; m. Aug. 15, 1824, John S. Williams ;
res. Hancock.
51. Daniel B., b. June 14, 18 14.
28. Thaddeus7 (Thaddeus^^ Daniel^^ Samuel^^ Thomas^^ Thtn mas^ Thoma5% b. May 4, 1785, Norwalk, Ct. ; moved May, 1 79 1, to Delhi with his parents, thence to Deposit in the autumn of 1806; m. Sept. 2, 1807, Polly, dau. John Hulse, the first
• white child born in Tompkins (vide "Tompkins," A^. Y. Ga%et^ teer)\ joined Baptist church in 18 12, and was a Deacon for more than fifty years. He d. East Lansing, Feb. 3, 1868 ; wife d. Lansing, April 21, 1868. Ch. all b. Deposit.
Angeline Z., b. April 4, 1809; m. Jan. 19, 1835, Willis. J.
Downs of Deposit. JuuA A., b. Oct. I, 1 8 10; m. Sept. 19, 1833, Rev. C. A. Fox
(Baptist); res. Middletown. Orilla, b. Oct. 25, 1812; d. March 29, 1813.
52. Emilius Lysander, b. July 14, 1815. ^ Marcellus, b. Sept. 3, 18 16; d March \6, 1817.
Marietta G., b. April 27, 1820; m. May 16, 1839, Benj. S.
Seaman; d. Sept. 17, 1849, Deposit. Thaddeus Decatur, b. Aug. 13, 1831 ; d. Oct. 5, 1831. •
m
Thomas Benedict y Jr. 37
29. JosiAH^ {Thaddeus^ Daniel^^ Samuel^^ Thomas^ Thomas^ Thomas^ b. Sept. i, 1787 ; m. and res. Lanesboro, Pa. No returns. Ch^ reported as follows :
Esther. Irene. Rev. Thaddeus» Baptist clergyman, d. Phila- delphia, aged about 25. Daniel, m; res. Lanesboro. Jere- miah, m ; same res. David, m, ; moved west. Nathan, m. ; same res.
80. IsAAc7 (Tbaddeus^^ Daniel^^ Samuel^^ Thomas^^ Thomas^ Th(mai^\ b. March 28, 1790 ; m. Oct. 24, 18 13, Sophia, dau. Asa Larrabee of Masonville, who was b. April 22, I799) and d. Aug. 16, 1830 ; m. again, Sept. 20, 1833, Polly McKeever, who d. Nov. 19, 1840; m. again, Sept. 8, 1846, widow Lydia (French) Goodrich, b. Jan. 20, 1799, Dutchess Co. Long time Deacon of Baptist church ; served in War of 181 2; res. Bainbridge. Ch.
Sophia, b. March 10, 1817; d. Feb. 27, 1844.
Emily, b. April 4, 1819; m. Ira Jones of East Guilford.
Clarinda, b. April 10, 1821 ; m. John Burghdorf of Afton. 53. Addison, b. July 18, 1823, Bainbridge. 54* Samuel Augustus, b. Aug. 24, 1825, B.
Adeune a., b. May 30, 1828, B ; m. Justice Crumb of Bennetville.
55. Alejcandfr, b. July 9, 1834, B.
Esther, b. Sept 18, 1836; m. Warren K. Welch, who enlisted Aug. 1, 1862, Co. H, 114th N. Y. Vol.; served three years; wounded in left arm, below elbow, at Opequan, Va.
56. George, b. July 19, 1840.
31. Jeremiah^ (Thaddeus^ Daniel^^ Samuely^ Thomas^ Tho- masy* Thomas^)y b. Aug. 3, 1795; served in War of 181 2; moved to Cincinnati, Ohio ; m. Elizabeth Herbert of Alex- andria, Ky., and had by her twelve children ; probably settled at or near Covington, Ky., about 18 16. Deceased some years. A son Josiah, b. 1835, and one or more of his brothers, went to California.
82. David7 {Thaddeusy^ Daniel^^ Samuely^ Thomas^^ Thomas^ Tbomas^)j b. Sept. 12, 1800, Delhi; m. 1827, Sarah Knapp, b. Aug. 6, 1806 ; located at Starucca, Pa. ; ch. b. there; present post-office Peckville, Pa. Ch.
57. Nelson M., b. July 7, 1827.
Truman W., b. Aug. 11, 1829; d. June 16, 1836.
Ruth S., b. April 18, 1 832 ; m. Nelson Callender, Green Grove, Pa.
38 Descendants of
Frank S., b. Feb. 6, 1835 ; served two years in lix Pa. Vol. Artillery ; shot through right hand ; clerk.
Albert H., b. Jan. 23, 1837.
Clarissa D.» b. Dec. 8, 1839; m. Clark of Greed Grove.
Almira J., b. June 21, 1842; m. Jan. 16, 186-9 Columbus Hub- bard of Thompson, Pa.
Olivb M., b. June 23, 1845; m. 1867, Henry Everson.
•
33. Stephen7 {Stephen,^ Stephen,^ Samuely^ Thomas,^ Thomas^* Thomas^)j known as Stephen S., b. Dec. 18, 1781 ; m. Sept. 27, 1808, Miriam, dau. Joseph and Miriam Waldron, b. July 3, 1787, Greenville, and d. March, 1854. Ch. all b. Green- ville. He d. Dec. 24, 1828, Otuwa, 111. Ch.
First two died young.
Sarah, b. Jan. 7, 1812; m. May 24, 1828, Henly Claiborne ; res. Westville, Ind.
Joseph Holland, b. Sept. 29, 18 13; m. Nov. 1, 1862, Letitia, dau. Jared M. Whittaker, b. May 24, 1819; woolen manu- facturer, Eddyville, Iowa.
Affa M., b. Feb. 16, 1815; m. Nov. 6, 1834. Ben. T. Biyant; d. about 1864.
58. Levi Jones, b. Nov. 29, 1817.
John Keeler, b. April 23, 1820; m. 1847, Susannah Morgan; went to California in 1852, and d. in 1853. They had Mi- riam, m. Wm. Brunt in 1863, and d. 1865.
59. James Waldron, b. Sept. 19, 1822.
84. Joshua^ {Stephen^^ Stephen^^ Samuel^^ Thomas^^ Tho- mas^ Thomas^\ b. Oct. 25, 1793; m. Sept. 17, 1809, Mary, dau. Harry and Priscilla Wicks. (Partial returns.) Ch. Henry Wicks, and Priscilla ; m. again ; res. unknown.
86. Jacob7 {Stephen^ Suphen^^ Samuel^^ Thomas ^"^ Thd- mas^ Tbomas^\ b. March 4, 1796 ; m. March 29, 1820, Cyn- thia, dau. Henry and Mary Brightman, b. Dec. 15, 1801, Junius. Ch.
JuUA A., b. June 9, 1821, Greenville; m. Dec. 6, 1840, Dr. Edward E. Gardner of Hartford, Ct. ; Dr. Gardner d. Sept. 12, 1852, Nevada City, Cal.; m. 2d, Dec, 1856, Daniel Samuel Waldo ; res. Joncsville, Mich.
Miriam M., b. ^pril 20, 1823, Junius; m. June 6, 1843,
Ba^ Lewis, who d. Burr Oak, Mich., Jan. 25, i860; m. 2dy March 6, 1862, Henry Duncan of Sherwood, Mich., local preacher in the M. E. church, whb d. Sept. 25, 1865, Burr Oak.
Thomas Benedict ^ Jr. 39
Joseph Blaisdbll> b. May lo, 1826; private in U. S. A., in Mexican War ; honorably discharged ; completed the study of medicine in Cincinnati^ Ohio. Went, in 1853, to Baton Rouge, La.y and d. Sept. 24, 1854.
36. Joseph Blaisdell? [Stephen^ Stephen,^ Samuel^^ Thth- mas^ Thvmas^ Thomas^)^ b. Aug. 16, 1803 ; settled Onondaga Co., in 1827 ; m. Oct. 6, 1830, dau. John and Hannah Salter, b. Greene Co., June 5, 1801 ; res. DeWitt. Ch.
Matilda, b. Nov. 23, 183I9 DeWitt; m. Jan. i, 1850, Edgar Webb.
60. Caleb, b. June 16, 1833, DeWitt.
Helen, b. Feb. 9, 1840, Cicero ; d. Jan. y, 1841. Edwin, b. July 8, 1842, Cicero ; d. Aug. 17, 1842.
37. Anson7 {Daniel,^ Stephen^^ Samuel^^ Thomas^ Thomas^^ Thoma5^\ b. Jan. 18, 1800 ; m. May 8, 18 19, Mary, dau. of Ezra Bouton, b. and d. New Canaan, May 24, 1854. Ch. all b. New Canaan. Ch.
61. Lewis Bouton, b. Nov. 22, 1819.
62. Anson Royal, b. April 6, 1822.
63. Samuel J., b. March 25, 1824.
Cordelia £., b. May 25, 1826; m. Dec. 29, 1844, Joseph James Lockwood; d. June 14, 1869.
64. Orestes Hawlby, b. Sept. 27, 1828.
Enos St. John, b. Oct. 10, 1830; enlisted Jan. 5, 1863, Co. C, 2d Ct. heavy artillery ; wounded battle Cedar Creek, Oct. 19, 1864 ; discharged June 23, 1865 ; m. Dec. 25, 1867, Pamelia, dau. Alex. Jones ; res. Pound ridge.
65. Rupus St. John, b. Oct. 10, 1830.
Benjamin Weed, b. Nov. 23, 1832; m. May 12, I854> Angeline, dau. Alanson Ferris; d. April 6, 1861, Lewisboro. They had George B., b. Lewisboro, Feb. 22, 1858.
Ursula J., b. Dec. 29, 1834; m. Feb. 3, 1859, Wm. Slauson of Norwalk, Ct.
Elsie A., b. March 1 5, 1837 ; res. Vista, with her mother.
88. Hezekiah St. John7 {Daniel^ Stephen^^ Samuel^^ Tha- mas^ Thomas^ Thomas^\ b. Jan. 28, 1801 ; m. May 22, 1840, Sarah A., dau. Samuel Doty ; res. Falls Village, Ct. Ch.
Emily N., b. Jan. 12, 1841, Hillsdale ; m. Dec. 29, 1859, John
W. Scovill. Frank, b. March 15, 1844; enlisted Sept. 19, 1862, Co. B, 2d
Ct. H. Art'y ; mustered out July 19, 1865. Bergenette B., b. March 5, 1845, North Egremont; m. April
10, 1866, George E. French.
40 Descendants of
Samuel ViLLANEUVE, b. N. E.« Sept. i, 1847; enlisted Dec. 25, 1 863, Co. fi, 2d Ct. H. Art'y ; killed battle of Cool Arbor, June 2, 1864.
EuzABETH, b. Dec. lOy 1852; m. Sept. 15, 1867, Charles Hills.
89. Royal Finch^ [Daniel^ Stepben^^ Samuel^^ Thomas^^ Tho- mas^ Tboma5^\ b. Jan. 20, 1807; m. Nov. 12, 1826, Delia, dau. Jakin Bouton of New Canaan, b. Dec. 12, 1806 ; res. Painesville, Ohio. Ch.
Francis Marion, b. New Canaan, Sept. 8, 1827 ; m. 1852; d.
Feb. 5, 1863. Mary H., b. Nov. 4, 1828, at N. C. Sarah,
b. Jan. 3, 1831, N. C. ; d. Oct. 24, i860. Rhoda, b. Aug.
19, 1834, Painesville, Ohio ; d. June 25, 1835. Henry Clay, b. June 25, 1837, Painesville; ro. and has two
children ; res. Chesaning, Mich. Wilbur Fisk, b. Jan. 1 8, 1 840, P. ; m. and has six children. Harriet A., b. Nov. 16, 1843; d. Sept. 10, 1844.
40. Stephen^ (Daniel^ Stephen^^ Samuel^^ Thoma$^^ Thomus^
Thomas^)^ b. Aug. 17, 18 13, New Canaan ; m. April 14, 1837,
Eliza, dau. Henry Teator of Alleghany ; res. at Troy. Ch.
Daniel W., b. March 3, 1833 ; res. Troy. Henry C.,b. April 24, 1841 ; jeweller ; res. Troy.
41. THOiAAS^{^Thomas^f Thomas^ Thomas^^ Tbomai^ Thomas^ Thomas^ Thomas^), b. June 27, 1824 ; m. Dec. 30, 1862, Cornelia A. Weed of Plattsburgh ; res. So. Norwalk. Ch.
Thomas, b. Nov. 26, 1863. Two daus., d.
42. Joseph* (Samuel^^ Joseph^ Samuel^^ Samuel^^ Thomas^ Thth-
mas^ Thomas^\ b. Oct. 14, 1828 ; m. Aug. 20, 1855, Mary E.,
dau. Wm. and Julia A. Goldey of N. Y., b. July 6, 1835 ;
clerk, Brooklyn. Ch.
Charles Sumner, b. Dec. 9, 1856, N. Y.
Julia A., b. March 19, 1858. Joseph Goldey, b. Feb. 20, i860, Brooklyn; d. June 13, 1868. Harriet, b. Feb. 19, 1869, B.
43. MosES* [Samuel ^ Joseph^ Samuel^^ Samuel^^ Thomas^^ Tho- mas^ Thomas^)y called Smith, b. Jan. 24, 1832, Whitlockville ;
m. Oct. 18, 1853, J^'^^ ^M ^^"* J^^'^ ^^^ Rachel (Burr)
Whitlock, b. July i, 1829. Postmaster, 1861 ; reappointed,
1863 ; silversmith \ res. Katonah. Ch.
Everett, b. July 2, 1854, Katonah. Ada, b. Sept. 8, 1855, at K. ; drowned Dec. 13, 1862. Elizabeth, b- June 22, 1859, at K. DeWitt, b. July 13, 1863, aiK. Augusta, b. Aug. 20, 1866, Whitlockville.
Thomas Benedict ^ Jr. 41
44. Aaron* {Samuel^ Joseph^ Samuel^^ Samuel^^ Tbomasy^ Tbomasy* Thomas^^ b. Jan. 24, 1832 ; m. April 3, 1852, Eliza, dau. of John and Harriet Worden of Bedford^ b. March 8, 1829; enlisted 14th Ct. S. S., in 1861 ; d. in the service Nov. 28, 1862, Thibodeaux hospital. La.; res. High Ridge, Ct. Ch.
George Lewis, b. June 12, 1853, Bedford. Mary E., b. Feb. ^5t 1855. B. Harriet, b. March 9, 1858, B. Anne M., b. March 30, 1862, High Ridge, Ct.
45. WiLU AM* {Davidp Joseph^ Samuel^^ Samuel^^ Thomas^ J Thomas^* Thomas^\ b. Dec. 4, 1828. No returns ; the follow- ing from N. Y. Census of 1865: wife, Mary £., aged 37. Ch. Jonathan, aged 14. Mellen W., aged 7. Clara L., aged 3. Mary £., aged 4 mos.
46. David Cyrus* (Davids Joseph^ Samuel^ Samuel^^ Tho^ ma$^ Thmnas^ Thomas^) j b. Aug. 28, 1833. No returns j the fol- lowing from Census of N. Y., 1865 : wife, Armenia, aged 26. Ch. David H., aged 8. Mary £., ^ed 6. Aaron W., aged 5.
47. Joseph Henry* {David^f Joseph^ Samuel^^ Samuel^^ Tbo- mas^ Thomas^* Thoma$^\ b. Oct. 28, 1835. No returns; the following from N. Y. Census of 1865 : wife, Catharine, aged 29. Ch. Henry S., aged 4. Edwin, aged 2.
48. Franklin' {Lewis^ Joseph^ Samuel^^ Samuel^^ Thomas^ ' Thomas^* Tbomas^\ b. Jan. 19, 1830 ; m. Oct. 3, 1855, Marilla, dau, Madison and Merinda Rapalee, b. Aug. 25, 1839. Ch.
Charles Madison, b. Nov. 9, 1858.
49. Jewett* {Lfwisjf Joseph^ Samuel^^ Samuelj* Thomas^^ Tbomasy* Thomas^\ b. June 10, 1843, Orange; m. Nov. 16, 1865, Emma Rogers ; enlisted Co. E, 126th Regt., N. Y. V. L, discharged on account of sickness ; re-enlisted as musician, and was two years Norfolk, Va. Immigrated to Kidder, Mo., 1867. Ch.
Son.
60. Harry M.« {Daniel^f Thaddeus^^ Daniel^\ Samuel^^ Tho- mas^ Thomas^* Thomas^)^ b. April 23, 1804, Walton, N. Y. ; m. May 16, 1827, Ann Eliza, dau. John McCall; farmer and
6
42 Descendants of
m
lumberman j Deacon of Baptist church for 28 years } d. Wal- ton, Sept. 18, 1862. f h. all b. Walton*
Almira p., b. June 16, 1828 ; in. Oct. 7, 1845, James Fftnce ;
res. Hampden. Daniel £., b. March 8, 1836; d. May 18, 1846. Ansel J., b. May zg, 1839; res. Walton ; travelling ag^nt John H., b. Oct 14, 1841. WillardS., b. Nov. I, 1844; d. May 13, 1846.
51. Daniel B.« [Danul^i Thaidius^ Daniel^^ Satnuel^^ Tho- ma5^\ Tbomas^^ Thomas^\ b. June 14, 18 14; m. Nov. 6, 1836, Nancy M., d^. Peter Welden ; res. Hampden. Ch. all b. Walton.
Esther, b. Aug. 8, 1837; m. July 4, 1856, John M. Raymond of Walton. Sarah, b. June 4, 1840; m. Oct. 25, i8$7, R. H. Atwell of Walton. Adeijhe A., b. Nov« 9, 1841; m. Nov. 22y 1864, James M. Sureine of Scott, Pa.
George £., b. March 30, 1844; m. May 31, 1866, Eliza HoUey of Walton, b. Jan. 27, 1847. Ch. Laura, b. April 29, 1867.
Maria, b. Aug. 12, 1847. Emma, b. April 6^ 1850; m. May 31, 1866, John S. HoUey of Walton. Sophronia, b. March 17, 1852. Sophia, b. Dec. 20, 1854. Florella, b. Jan. 26, 1856.
Daniel W., b. Feb. 22, 1857. Frederick L., b. May 3, 1859.
Marshall J., b. Dec. 18, 186 1.
52. Rev. Emilius Lysander' {Thaddeus^ Thdddius^ Dan^ iilj^ Samuil^^ Thomat^^ Thomas^* Thomas^\ b.July 14, 1 815, De^ posit ; m. Feb. 3, 1836, La Mora L, dau. Samuel and Maria Shaw. Baptist clergyman ; res. East Lansing. Ch. all b. De- posit.
Curtis Thaddbus, b. Nov. 19, 1837 ; lawyer; res. Rochester, Minn. Samuel LeMont, b. March 8, 1843; res. E. Lansing. Ellen G., b. Dec. 11, 1844.
68. Addison* {Isaac ^ Tbaddem^ Daniel^^ Samuel^^ Thomas^
Thomas^ Thomas^\ b. July 18^ 1823; m. ist, Oct. 28, 1846,
Mary Jane Cossaret of Westford, who d. May it, 1854 ; m.
2d, Julia (sister) July 4, 1855, who was b. July 27, 1831 ; res.
Bennetsville. Ch. by first wife :
David, b. Oct. 22, 1847 ; res. Antelope, Neb. JuUA, b. Jan. 14, 1853.
By second wife : Francis E., b. April 5, 1856. Charles Emerson, b. June 24, i86i. Harriet, b. Jun^25» 1867.
Thomas Benedict^ Jr. 43
54. Samuei. Augustus' {haaQ Tbaideus^ Daniel^^ Sam- utl^ Tbojnas^ Tboma$^ Thomas\\i. Aug. 24, 1825} ^^ ^^5^9 Clariiida Ann, dau. Thos. A. Everett, who ivas b. Aug. 1%^ 1833. Unlisted ist Eng. Regt., N. Y. Vols. Res. Corry, Pau Ch. (Census, 1865),
Mart A., b. Feb. 12^ 18$ i. Samuel Lorenzo, b. 1854. Charles Augustus, b. 1856. William H., b. 1863.
55. Alexander' {haac^ Tbaddeus^ Damel^^ Samuely^ Tb^masj^ Thomas^* Thomasi)^ b. July 9, 1834^ m. March, 1861, Ellen Smith. Enlisted Nov., 1856, *U. S. army ; served five years, most of the time Oregon and Washington territories ; was in two fights with the Indians ; re-enlisted Oct.,
1 86 1, ordnance department, and served three years Watervliet arsenal. Ch. Herbert. Louisa. Eugenia, b. Nebraska.
56. George' {IsaaCy^ Tbaddeus^ DaniiL,^ Samuel^^ Tbomas^^ Tb&mdfy* Thdmas^)j b. July 19, 1840 ; ra. Oct., 1866, Sarah Lamphere ; enlisted in Co. •— -^ Regt., Wis. Vols., and served 3 years ; was 6 mos. a prisoner Andersonville, and in the
Libby ; re-enlisted in Co. Regt., Penn. Vols., and served
to close of the war. Ch.
Charles, b. June, 1867.
57. Nelson M.« {David^^ Thaddeus^^ Dantel^^ Samuel^^ Tho- mas^ Thomas^ Thomas^ b.jujy 7, 1827 ; m. April 30, 1850, Rosalie, dau. Horace and Thankful Hathaway \ m. 2d, Oct. i,
1862, Amanda R. Stoddard, b. July 15, 1843. Postmaster Starucca, Pa. Ch. by first wife, born at S.
Helen V., b. Feb. 3, 1851. Devilla Theodore, b. Sept. 8, 1854. Florence O., b. June 12, 1856. By 2d wife. Frank Alvaro, b. Dec 6, 1857.
68. Levi Jones' {Stephen^^ Stepben^^ Stephen^^ Samuil^^ Thomas^ Tbmas^ Tbomas^\ b. Nov. 29, 181 7; m. Feb. 27, 1840, Dorothy Taber of Pa. \ res. Westville, Ind. Ch.
LoviNA, b. 1842; m. C. Weed of Westville, Ind. William H., d. 1846; m. Clart, b. 1862.
59. James Waldron' (Stepben^ Sttpbtn^ StepbiHy^ Samuel^^ Tbomas^^ Thomas^*' Tbomas^\ b. Sept. 19, 1822) m. Jan. 5, 1847, Julia, dau. Daniel and Martha (Shurtliff) Church, b.
44 Descendants of
June 3, 1828. Justice of Peace, county commissioner, county judge of Cass Co., Iowa, 1854-5. Trustee, etc., M. E. church. Perry, Jeff. Co., Kansas ; farmer and miller. Ch.
Martha V., b. June 3, 1850, Wcsivillc; m. Sept. 30, i868yjas. •Bourlane of Johnson, Neb. Sarah P., b. June 30, 1852, £d- dyville, Iowa. Mary Lovina, b. April 25, 185 5, Lewis, Iowa. Osceola Church, b. Nov. 22, 1857, Lewis, Iowa. Leonard Orea, b. Nov. 8, i860, Tecumseh, Neb. George Wu.liam, b. April 14, 1864, Tecumseh, Neb.
.60. Caleb* {Joseph Blaisdell^'' Stephen^^ Stephen j^ Sam-- uei^* Thomasy^ Thomas j* Thomas^\ b. June 16, 1833; m. July 3, 1855, Sarah Ann Baum, b. 1839. Ch.
Frances, b. Jan. 26, 1859.
Charles, b. Nov. 24, i860 ; d. Feb. 15, 1862.
Mernice, b. May 27, 1863. Isaac, b. Dec. 8, 1866.
61. Lewis Bouton* (Anson ^ Daniel^ Stephen^^ Samuel^^ Tho-
mas^ Thomas^ Thomas^\ b. Nov. 22, 18 19; m. Maria, dau.
Bates Weed, March, 1839. Enlisted Co. H, 17th Regt. N.
Y. Vol. Inf. Res. New Canaan, where all the ch. were born.
Melissa J., b. Feb., 1840; m. Cicero Montrose. Julia A., b. May 10, 1843; m. Alexander Hoyt. Mary £., b. June, 1846 ; m. Thomas MonU-ose.
62. Anson Royal" (Anson^ Daniel^ Stephen^^ Samuel^^ Tho^ mas^ Thomas^ Thomas\\ b. April 6, 1822; m. widow Esther (Munroe) Hoyt, who d. April 27, 1862, aged 45 years ; m. 2d, 1863, Elizabeth, dau. Lewis Slauson; ch. b. New Canaan; res. Norwalk. Ch. by first wife :
Ezra H., b. July, 1846; enlisted in Scott's Nine Hundred ; d. July 12, 1868. William A., b. March, 1851.
68. Samuel J.' {Anson^ Daniel^ Stephen^^ Samuel;^ Thomas^^ Thomas^ Thomas% b. March 25, 1824; m. Dec. 23, 1846, Sarah A., dau. Rumsey Fancher, who d. Jan. 25, 1854, Vista, aged 28 ; m. 2d, Feb. 5, 1862, Joanna, dau. Jarvis Hull \ res. New Canaan. Ch. by first wife :
Enoch B., b. Dec. 13, 1847, Vista; enlisted Co. H, 17th Ct. Vol. Inf., Feb. 1, 1864; taken prisoner Feb. 5, 1865; dis- charged June 3, 1865.
64. Orestes Hawley' {Anson^^ Daniel,^ Stephen^^ Samuelj Thomas^ Thomas^ Thomas^ b. Sept. 27, 1828 ; m. April 28,
Thomas Benedict^ Jr. 45
1 85 1 9 Martha, dau. Lewis Slauson. Ch. b. Norwalk; res. Painesville, Ohio. Ch.
A&THun Lbsub, b. Feb., 1853. Ida J.^ b. 1854. Cora. FuDBRicK Lincoln.
66. RuFUs St. John* {Amm^ Daniel^ Stepbiny^ Satnuel^^
Tbamasy^ Thomas^* Thomas*)^ b. Oct. 10, 1830; m. Feb. 9,
1 85 1, Maria^ dau. Henry Lynes; enlisted Co. G, 17th Ct.
Vol. Inf., Sept. I, i864-; discharged July 19, 1865. Res.
New Canaan. Ch.
Charles A., b. April $, 1852, Vista.
Ons M.9 b. June 28, 1855, New Canaan.
Samuel J.y b. Dec. 2, 1856, N. C.
Sarah A.» b. Oct. 3, 1858, Norwalk.
EofWARD L.» b. Sept. 29, i86o« N. C.
Viola D., b. Sept. 18, 1862, N.C.; d. Sept. 13, 1863.
Viola D., b. June 3, 1864, N. C. ; d. OcL 13, 1865.
♦*
§mtnAmi^ 0f |0ta ^tmixfA.
tmnimU of i0kiK %tmM.
'pictos ostenJere vultus majorum.** Juvinajl.
!• JoHN^ {Tbomas^)j born at Southold, L. I., removed with the family to Norwalk and married Phoebe, daughter of John and Sarah Gregory* of that town, Nov. ii, i670.f He was a freeman of Norwalk in 1680, and succeeded his father as selectman in 1689. ^^ ^^^ a selectman in 1692-94 and '99 ; and also held some minor civil appoint-
* Adam I Grcgorie= * * * fil. et cohaer Adae Ormeston, co. Lancas ; Will. * Oregory=sDoro. fil. * * * Parre de Kempenhaugh, in com. Lancas ; HugoJ Gre- gory=Maria * * * ^ Thom.4 Gregory=Doro. Beeston, de Overbroughcon, com. Noct. (on borden of Leicestershire, north of Frisby and Asorby) ; John5 Gregory= Alicia * * * de Broughton Sulney ; Henry6 de Boston in Nova- Anglia.
Henry<^ Gregory, of Boston, N. £., whom we find mentioned in the foregoing pedi- gree, was at Springfield 1639, and removed in a few years to Stratford, Ct. Savage says that he probably died soon after, as a distribution of his estate was ordered 19 June, 1665, his eldest son John being appointed administrator, and to receive double portion, and that no other children are mentioned ; though perhaps Judah Gregory of Springfield, who m. 1643, Sarah, dau. of Henry Burt, was another son. John Gregory, of New Haven, and afterwards of Norwalk, Ct., was possibly the adminis- trator above refirrred to ; he had Joseph, bapt. 26 July, 1 646 ; Thomas, 1 9 March, 1 648 ; his other children and their issue are mentioned by Savage, and by Hall in his history of Norwalk; of his daus. [Phcebe and Sarah], m. into the family of Thomas Benedict, of Southold, L. L, and afterwards of Norwalk, who came out at the age of ai about 1 639, and was said to be the only son of Wm. Benedict of Nottingham- shire. N. E. Hist, and Gtn, Reg,^ vol. XXIII, pp. 304-7.
Thomas Benedict was a witness to will of John Gregory of Norwalk, Ct., made Aug. 15, 1689. He bequeathed his estate to his wife Sarah. John and James Benedict (sons of Thomas) are mentioned as sons-in-law. Sarah also, in an instru- ment, dated Oct. 9, 1689, so names them. Proh. Ree. (Fairfield), vol. 3.
f Bought in 1678, home lot upon Dry Hill, 4 acres. Hall^ p. 28.
7
50 Descendants of
ments in the town. He was occupied, however, mainly, with church affairs, having become Deacon, probably, upon the death of his father. Thenceforth the records show him to have been constantly on conimittees having charge of the religious and educational interests of the community, now ^^ obtaining a minister," then, '*hyering a schoolmaster." In 1705 the church honored him by voting him a sitting '^ in y* seat before y' pulpit." He gerved as representative in the General As- sembly in the sessions of 1722 and 1725. The date of his death is not to be ascertained, nor is that of his wife. The volume of probate records, which probably covered the time within which they died, unfortunately, is missing. He conveyed property to his sons James and Joseph of Ridgefield, in 1722 and 1723; and that he was living in 1727, is thought to be certain, because his son is then referred to as Deacon John Benedict Junior. (See Hall^ pp. 83, 88, 93, loo, 102 ; and Town Records, Norwalk, Ct.) Ch.
Sarah. Phgebe, b. Sept. 21, 1673.
2. John, b. March 3, 1676, Norwalk,"^. Jonathan (no des. given in the old Ms.).
3. Benjamin, b. 1678.
4. Joseph.
5. James, b. Jan. 5, 1685. Mary, or Mercy.
6. Thomas, b. 1682.
2. John' {John^^ Thomas^)^ b. March 3, 1676 ; was select- man 1705 and 1 7 15; surveyor 1709 and 1711; lister and fence viewer 1713--18; called Serjeant in 1717; townsman 1722 and and 1724 ; Deacon before 1725, which office he held for many years \ m. Mary (Haite?); d. Norwalk, Jan. 16, 1766. Wife d. June 5, 1749, aged 72 yrs. Ch.
7. John, b. 1701 ; d. 1770,
8. Matthew, b. Oct 2, 1703 ; d. July 7, 1757.
9. Caleb, b. 1709. '
10. Nathaniel, b. 17 16; d. April 2, 1808.
Anna, or Hannah, m. Matthew Gregory, and removed to Dan- bury, Ct. PHCEBE,in. April 4, 1731, Ezra Hoyt. {Hail^ p. 215.)
8. Benjamin^ {John^^ Thomas% b. 1678, Norwalk; m.
Mary ^ who d. Nov. 30, 1771. He moved to Ridgefield,
and, in 1720, was selectman and third Deacon of the church
John Benedict. 51
there. He d. July 3, 1773, Stamford, Ct., and was buried at Ridgebury. Estate settled Nov. 2, 1773 — real, .£13 9^. 6^., moveables, £129 4/. Ch.
Elizabeth, b. Jan. 17, 1705 { m. Dec. 18, 1728, Wm. Drink* water; d, before 1 773. *
11. Benjamin, b. Oct. i, 1706,
12. Timothy, b. Nov. 15, 1709; d. May 12, 1791. Mary, b. March 5, 1 7 11 ; m. John Dibble.
13. John, b. Oct. 5, 1714.
14. Daniel, b« Nov. 27, 1716.
Samuel, b. June 29, 1719; d. Oct. 13, 1740, (No heirs men- tioned in will of Benjamin^). Rachel, b. June 17; 1721 ; m. Benj. Bostwlck; d. before 1773.
15. Amos, b. Sept. 17, 1722; d. July 29, 1809. Thankful, b. June 23, 1727; m. John Whitney.
4. Joseph' (y^^Aw,* Thomas'^\ b. Norwalk; m. Anne ;
removed to Ridgefield, where she .d. Dec, 9, 17 16; m. 2d, March 21, 1720, Mary . By his first wife he had four ch.
16. Joseph, b. July 29, 1708; d. March 2$, 1790.
17. Gideon, b. March 15, 1710. Anna, b. Dec. 17, 1713.
18. Samuel PffM AN, b. Jan. 31, 1721; d. 1775.
19. Jonathan, b. Feb. 2, 1721-2; d. Sept., 1800. Mary, b. July 25, 1726.
Ezra, b. Aug. 19. 1730. (Descendants, if any, not ascertained.)
6. James' (y^Aif,* Thomas^\ b. Jan. 5, 1685; m. 1709, Sarah, dau. Thomas and Mary Hyatt of Norwalk, b. Dec, 1686, and d. Feb. 9, 1767. ^^ In 1708 he and other inhabitants of Norwalk purchased a large tract of land between that town and Danbury.. The purchase was made of Catoonah the chief sachem, and other Indians, who were the proprietors of that part of the country. Deed bears date Sept. 30, 1708. At the Norwalk town session, 1709, it was ordained that it should be a distinct township by the name of Ridgefield.'* {Trumbull^ p. 460). James was also one of the original settlers of this township. Fence- viewer in 17 15, called Ensign, 17 19, after- wards Captain, and, 1737, Esquire. He was appointed jus- tice of the peace for Fairfield county, Ct., May, 1732, and was reappointed annually until 1733. He was representative for Ridgefield, from May, 1740-45, and 1 748-1 752. He was the first to write the genealogy of the Benedict family. In his youth he lived with his grandmother, Mary Bridgum, wife of Thomas,
52 Descendants of
and she delivered to him, from her own mouth, the genealogy down to his own memory, and he reduced it to writing. His Genealogy of the Family of the Benedicts^ dated March 14, 1755, has been the foundation of all the subsequent ones. His grand- son, Abner Benedict, a member of the junior class in Yale College, made an exact copy of it, June 23,. 1768. James was the second Deacon of the church in Ridgefield, till old age and its attendants rendered him unable to serve. He sustained the character of a pious and exemplary Christian. His death occurred Nov. 25, 1762. The following inscription is on his gravestone in Ridgefield.
Here lies interred ^ the body of James Benedict Deacon of the first Church of Christ in this town \
Together with
Sarah, His Wife
Who, after having served their generation
According to the will of God,
fell asleep and were gathered to their fathers,
the first on Nov. 25. 1762
in the 77*** year of his age ; the other, February
y* 9*S ^1^1 1 ^^ ^^^ 81* year of her age.
Ch.
Sarah, b. May 23, 1709-10 ; m. Gideon Smith of Ridgefield. Ruth, b. Dec. 3, 171 1; m. Thomas Rockwell. .
20. Peter, b. March 20, 1714.
Hannah, b. Jan. 25, 1715-16; m. Daniel Birt; d. March 12, 1737. Phcebe, b. March 14, 1717-18; d. young.
21. James, b. Feb. 19, 1719-20.
Martha, b. April 15, 1722; m. James Scott.
22. John, b. Oct. 3, 1726; d. July 9, 1814.
23. Thomas, b. Oct. 3, 1726.
^ 6. Capt. Thomas' {John^^ Thomas^ b. 1682, Norwalk, Ct. ; m. 1705, Millison, dau. Thomas and Mary Hyatt of that town. Thomas Hyatt was active and brave enough in the Indian wars of his time to incite the town to make to him a grant of land as a testimonial of its gratitude, and a requital of his services. Mil- lison, b. Dec, 1686, was twin-sister of Sarah, who became the
John Benedict. 53
wife of Dea. James' (5) Benedict of Ridgefield. Thomas ap- pears to have possessed a strong desire for military distinction, together with so much aptitude for affairs of that character, that during his whole life, he was never without some military rank. He comes before us as " Sergeant," in 1713 ; as " Ensign," in 1724; as "Lieutenant," in 1742, and as "Captain," in 1746; this latter title adhering to him for the rest of his life. It is very evident, however, that civil position was not distasteful to him ; for he was chosen selectman not less than seven times, and moderator of the annual town meetings at least ten times ; the last occasion being the year preceding his death. He was representative in the General Assembly, probably in 1737 and 1740, and certainly in 1744. He exhibited the family tendency to do service in the church. Dec. 2, 1724, the town desires him " to sett y^ tune to y' Psalme, at such times as that part of service is to be performed in y^ publik worship of God ; and to read y^ Psalmes needed \ y^ town, also Seat y^ said Bennedick in y* 3** long seat at y* end of y* middle alley." The power of his voice must have been something remarkable, for it is stated on credible authority that he could be heard and understood at the distance of more than a mile. It is probable he was a Dea- con of the church (Congregational) of which he and his wife were members (1725), but the loss of the church records pre- vents certain knowledge on this point. His will bears date May 20, 1763, and was proved July 5, 1763.* He died, of course.
* In the Name of God, Amen. The 20tb day of May, A D 1763. I Thomas Benedict of Norwallc, in the County Fairfield and Colony of Connecticut, being weak of body but of sound mind and memory, and willing to mind my mortality, do make and ordain this my last will and testament.
Principally and first of all, I commend my soul into the hands God who gave it, and my body I commit to y« Earth to be decently buried at the discretion of Execu- tors hereafter named nothing doubting of its resurrection and hoping for eternal life through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Redeemer. And as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless .me with in this Life I will, devise and bequeath the Same in manner and form following :
My will u yt my just debts and funeral charges be first paid out of my moveable estate.
Imprimus : I give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife Millisson Benedict all my household goods and furniture to be her own forever ; also, the use and improve- ment of my dwelling house and the one half part of my real estate during her natural life in lieu and in full of her dowry.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my two sons John Benedict and Seth Benedict and my daughter Betty Betts, and to each of them, their heirs and assigns forever,
54 Descendants of
in the interval between those dates. His wife survived him, but the date of her death is not known. Ch. all b. in Norwalk. — (See Hall's Hist, Norwalk^ Ct.y pp. 113, 114, 125.) Ch.
Ebenezer, m. Thankful and moved to New Canaan ; was admitted
admitted with his wife toCong'l church there Oct. 1733.* Ch.
I. Phethe^ bap. Oct. 21, 1733.
II. Samuil^ bap. April 28, 1734; may have m. ist, Sept. 8, 1763,
Dinah Hayt, and ad, Nov. 6, 1771, Mary Roscoe. m. -ff^^»f2^r,bap. Oct. 8, 1738. iv. ^^^ffiii^, bap. Dec. 10, 1740. V. Esther, hap. Dec. 26, 1742. vi. Jnna, bap. April 3, 1745. VII. Levi, bap. Oct. 18, 1748.
twenty Are pounds lawful money to be taken out of my Real EsUte according to the apprizal of said Estate.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my two grandsons Stephen Benedict 'and Uriah Benedict and to each of them, their hein and assigns forever, ten pounds lawful money ; and, also, to my grand daughter Betty Benedict and to her heirs forever, five pounds lawful money, to be taken out of my Real Estate according to the appriral of said estate.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my loving sons Ebenezer, John, Seth and my daughter Betty Betts, and to their heirs, the four sixth parti of the residue and remainder of my estate, both real and personal.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my grandsons Jesse Benedict and David Bene- dict, the one sixth part of the afore mentioned residue and remainder, vix : To Jesse and to his heirs forever, the two third parts of the last mentioned sixth part of the aforesaid remainder : and to David, the one third part of y« aforesaid sixth part to his heirs forever.
Item. I give and bequeath unto the surviving children of my son Thomas Bene- dict, late deceased, and to their heirs forever the other sixth part of the aforemen- doned residue and remainder not before disposed of, to be equally divided among them.
I likewise constitute, make and ordain my loving sons Ebenezer, John and Seth Executors of this my last will and Testament ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and Testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, the day and date above written.
(Signed) Thomas Bknedict [L. S.]
Signed, sealed, published and pronounced and declared by the said Thomas Benedict the Testator, to be his last will and Testament in the presence of us, the subscriben.
Davio Comstock William Hanfokd Hayns Fitch.
Mem. John and Seth accepted trust — will ordered approved and recorded July 5, 1763.
Original will is on file in Probate office, Fairfield, Ct., and the record is contained in vol. ** 1761-63," p. 28.
* An Ebenexer Benedict of Norwalk, Ct., d. in 1775, and left a will which was proved Jan. i, 1776; mentions wife Mary (St. John?j and appcMnts his brother-in- law Nathaniel St. John, executor. No children mentioned.
A deed on record at Norwalk, Ct., Sept. 18, 1797, mentions lands bounded by property of ** heirs of Ebenexer Benedict.**
John Benedict. SS
vm. Isaar, bap. July 29, 1750; may have m. Aug. 18, 1794, Polly Carter.
IX. Dehorab^ bap. Aug. 26^ 1753-
X. Mariba^ bap. June 1 2» 1 757.
Ebenezer (son of Ebencxer and Thankful), ro. Nov. 13, 1763, Mary, dau. Absalom Gray, the widow of Ebeneaer Wixon. He d. Paw- lings, 1807. Ch.
I. Deborah, b. Aug. 9, 1 764 ; m. Thomas Rogan ; d. June 24,
1823, Turin. , ,
n. Esther, b: Feb. 25, 1767 ; m. William Hollaway ; her son
Ransom was representative in Congress for 8th District of
New York, 1849-51. in. Anna, b. Feb. 10, 1769 ; m. John Salmon, Dec. 20, 1788 ;
d. Oct. 5, 1838. Turin. •
IV. Levi, b. April 5, 1771 ; d. June 11, 1833, Turin.
V. Martha, b. June 2, 1773 ; m. May 8, 1806, Abner Alford.
Levi (son of Ebcnezcr and Mary Wixon), b. April 5, 1771 ; m. Dec. 22, 1791, Mary, dau. Daniel and Cornelia Turner of Dutchess Co., b. April 27, 1772, and d. July 19, 18 14. He m. 2d, May i, 1819, Clarissa, dau. Wm. and Polly Carter of Westfield, Mass., who was b. April 25, 1789, by whom he had three ch. He removed to Turin, soon after its settlement, in 1 796 ; he was overseer of the highways, March 14, 1800. His ch. were b. at Pawlings and Turin. Ch.
I. Elizabeth, b. Dec. 14, 1792 ; m. 1814, Elijah Salmon of Turin;
d. SepL 8, 1829.
n. Mary, b. May 22, 1794; d. April 18, 1818.
in. Henry^ b. Feb. i, 1796; d. Sept. 6, 1869.
IV. James, b. Nov. 27, 1797, Pawlings.
V. Ebenezer, b. Feb. 12, 1801 ; d. Jan. 21, 1870.
VI. Allen, b« Aug. 28, 1804; res. Turin.
VII. Jane, b. Sept. 29, 1807; d. Oct. 9, 1829. vui. Levi, b. May 22, 1810.
IX. John, b. Aug. 31, 1813.
X. Mary, b. May 2, 1820; m. March 6, 1866, Harvey Miller of
Lowville. «
XI. Delia, "h. May 13, 1823; m. Feb. 14, 1855, Jesse Walworth
of Rome.
XII. Esther, b. May 23, 1826; m. Oct. 1, 1844, C. F. Kellogg;
d. March 8,1852.
James (son of Levi and Mary Turner), b. Nov. 27, 1 797 j m. Oct. II, 1842, Jeanette A., dau.. Andrew Doig of Low- ville, who was b. April 10, 1816. Served in War of 1812. Ch. b. Turin :
I. Jane Cornelia, b. April 15, 1845; m. Sept. 8, 1868,
Adoniram Lee Foot.
II. James Clinton, b: June 27, 1848. lu. Andrew Doig, b. Oct. 11, 1856.
56 Descendants of
Ebenezer (son of Levi and Mary Turner), b. Feb. I2» 1801 ; m. Sept. 27, 1827, Candace Clark, b. July 29, 18 10. Ch. all b. Turin :
I. Sylvester Henry, b. June 7, 1828; d. Nov. 10, 1868.
n. James T.,b. Jan. 28, 1833; m. Dec. 2, 1855, Celia A. Jones, b. Aug. 2, 1837, Turin and had: Candace Addy, b. Feb. 2, 1858. Jennie B., b. Oct. 29, 1864.
III. Madison A., b. Oct. 28, 1837; d. June 8, i860.
Levi (son of Levi and Mary Turner), b. May 22, 1810; m. Feb. 19, 1834, Clarissa, dau. Joseph Wetmorc of Leyden, b. Jan. 29, 1810. Ch. b. at Turin. Ch.
I. Jane £., b. Jan. 30, 1835 ; m. Sept. 23, 1859, Martin
Wilkin, who enlisted in 14th N. Y. An. Regt.; was * in the various engagements of the regt ; killed at the
retaking of Fort Stedman, March 27, 1865.
II. Oscar Hannibal, b. Nov. 6, 1837^ m. Homer Henry, b. Feb. 5, 1840.
IV. Louisa M.y b. May 28, 1844; d. Oct. 13, 1854^
John (son of Levi and Mary Turner), b. Aug. 31, 1813; m. Sept. 24, 1839, Levantia W., dau. Dr. Sylvester Miller of Lowville, who was b. July 4, 1815; was a member of Assembly from Lewis Co., for 1852. Ch. b. Lowville :
I. Sylvester Miller, b. July 2, 1840; merchant, Lowville.
II. John Spencer, b. March 5, 1844; d. May 30, 1864,
at Utica.*
24. David, d. March, 1762. {Hai/^ p. 158.)
25. John, d. 1789.
26. Thomas, b. 1719.
Betty, b. March 14, 1721 ; m. May 22, 1748, Thomas Bctts of Norwalk, d. May 21, 1782. Their son, Capt. Hezekiah Bens, a Revolutionary soldier, d. May 31, 1827. {Hail, p. 212.)
Seth, b. June, 1725; m. about 1754, Eleanor, dau. Jonathan and Eleanor Fairchild, who was b. 1730. He was tything-man, lister, and fence-viewer, between 1752-58; d. Oct. 13, 1764, without issue, bequeathing by will his whole estate to his wife ; his will was proved Nov. 7. 1764. His widow m. 2d, Daniel Lyman, Esq., of New Haven, and after his death Thaddeus Betis of Norwalk. She d. March 23, 1825, in her 95th year. She was a member of the church 61 years. (^Hall, p. 226.)
7. JoHN*(7oA«,J Johriy^ Thomas \ b. 1 701 ; m. Dinah Bou- ton; removed to New Canaan, June 20, 1733; joined, by
* The proper position pf Ebenezer, ton of Ebenezer and Thankful , was
ascertained after the manuscript was arranged, which will account for the introduc- tion and completion of his line in the same connection. Descendants, if any, of his brothers Samuel, Levi, and Isaac, not ascertained.
"John Benedict. ^j
letter, the Congregational ch., of which he became Deacon.
He m. 2d, Mary ^ who survived him. He d. Feb. 27,
1770. His will lysts made Feb. 19, 1770, and proved April 17, 1770. Ch.
27. Daniel, d. in 1777.
28. John, b. Sept. u, 1724; d. Jan., 1807.
Jachin, d. July, 1760. No record of descendants. The follow- ing from church and town records: £leazer, bap. Jan. 12, 1755 ; his uncle John appointed his guardian, Dec. 2, 1760; he was living in New Canaan, 1782; (an Eleazer Benedict d. New Milford, Ct., 1802, leaving wid. Ruth; no mention of ch. in the distribution of estate, Sept. 1 8, 1 802 ; John Warner and wid. were appointed admrs.). Elizabeth, bap. Feb. 15, 1756, probably d. before 1760. Jachin, bap. April 23, 1758; ^ was living. New Canaan, 1782 (deed) ; admr. of Jachin Sr., appointed Aug. 5, 1760.
29. Joseph, b. May 20, 1730; d. Aug. 24, 1785.
Dinah, bap. May 5, 1734; m. Nov. 10, 1763, Eleazer Bouton; d. before 1771. yl^^i^ bap. 1735^ m. Nov. 28, 1754, Jere- miah B. Eelk. (jSafri NQrwalk; p. 225.)
30. Hezekiah, bap. Oct. 23, 1737; d. 1813.
Rhoda, bap. June 16, 1739; m. April 5, 1759, Samuel Lawrence. Mary, bap. April 24, 1743; single; d. after 1771. Sarah, m. Feb. 4, 1761, Timothy HoyL {HalPs Norwaik, p. 302.)
8. Capt. Matthew* {Johny^ Jobn^^ Thomas% b. Oct. 2, 1703; m. Ruth, dau. John Keeler of Norwalk,* Dec. 8, 1727 ; d. July 7, 17579 of small-pox, Ridgefield, Ct. Ch.
31. Matthew, b. Oct. 28, 1728, Ridge/ield.
Anna, b. Feb. 22, 1730; m. Wright Northrop of Newtown, Ct. John, b. April 23, 1732; d. April 24, 1732. Ruth, b. March 24, 1733; d. about 1774, unm.
32. Jesse, b. Feb. 2, 1735. Elizabeth, b. Jan. 2, 1737; m. Oct.
*7» ^758* Elijah Smith, (m. 2d, Thos. Hyatt?) Ph(£bb, b. Aug. 2, 1739; m. Samuel Stunevant of Danbury. Ezra, b. Nov. 5, 1741; d. Sept. 15, 1745. John, b. Sept 3, 1743 » ^* about 1763, unm.
9. Caleb* (5iA«,» Johny^ Thomas^ b. 1709; m. Mehitable, dau. Caleb and Mehitable (Blatchly) Hoyt of Norwalk, who was b. 1 7 14, and d. Dec. 13, 1797; moved to New Canaan, and was received into the qhurch, 1773 ; surveyor, lister, con- stable, and tything-man, between 1735 and 1773 ; selectman, 1 774 and 1 785 ; was known as ^^ Ensign " as early as 1 755 ; lived
8
58 Descendants of
on Brushy Ridge, and d. May 19, 1761, of small-pox. Ch,
all b. New Canaan. {Hally p. 198.) Ch.
Caleb, bap. Dec. 1, 1753. Mbhitablb, bap. May 9, 1735. Ruth, bap. Sept. 11, 1738 ; m. March 7, 1759, Daniel St. John.
33. Caleb, bap. Dec. 28, 1740.
34. James, bap. Dec. 18, 1743-
35. Ezra, bap. May 27, 1746.
Mehitable, bap. Dec. 25, 1748; d. young. Anna, bap. June 23, 1 75 1; m. March 15, 1774, James Stevens, and removed to Danbury. Adah, bap. June 23, 1751 ; m. Dec. 12, 1771, Eliasaph Kellogg. {^Hali, p. 211.)
36. Benjamin, b. Oct. 21, 1755.
Mehitable, bap. Feb. 10, 1760; m. Nov. 23, 1778, John Stevens.
10. Nathaniel* (y«A»,' y(?A«,* Thomas^\ b. 17 16, and m. Mary, dau. Deacon Lockwood, who d. Jan. 12, 1763, aged 42. He m. 2d, Jan., 1764, Hannah, dau. Rev. Thomas Hawley, who d. Jan. 31, 1795, aged 67. Fence viewer, sur- veyor, lister, constable, and collector, between 1739 and 1757 ; selectman, 1755, *6i, '62, *66-'72, '75, '76, and '78 ; called '* Lieut.," 1762 ; representative in Gen. Assembly, Oct., 1762 His house and barn were burned by the British in 1779. The followinjg obituary notice of him was written by Hon. Roger Minot Sherman : '^ He died at Norwalk on the morning of the 2d of April, 1806, after a shock of the palsy, with which he lingered about twelve days, in the 90th year of his age. On the 3d his remains were followed to the grave by a large con- course of friends and relatives, among whom were his twelve(?) surviving children, and many of his more remote posterity. He has left ninety-one grandchildren and eighty-eight great- grandchildren, the whole number of his descendants, now liv- ing, being 191. For about thirty-two years he sustained the office of Deacon of the First Congregational church in that town. Deacon Benedict was one of those venerable person- ages by whom what remains of the pious habits of our fore- &thers, have been transmitted to the present generation. His long life has been eminently exemplary, and years to come will feel its happy influence. Every morning and evening witnessed his devotion. His sabbaths were faithfully appropriated to public worship and religious family instructions. An amiable, cheerful disposition, a sound mind, improved by a good degree
John Benedict. 59
pf reading, and much reflection, and adorned with a bright con- stellation of Christian graces, comprised his character. At his funeral an appropriate sermon was delivered by Rev. Dr. Bur^ nett, from Prov. xiv, 32. ^^ The wicked is driven away in his wickedness ; hut the righteous hath hope in his death.** Ch.
Anna, b. 1 740 ; m. Seth Seymour.
Molly, b. 1741-2; m. Deliverance Bennet; removed to Sauga- tuck; d. April 23, 1835.
37. Nathaniel, b. March z6, 1744; -d. Feb. 24, 1833,
Joseph, b. June 29, 1 746 ; m. Hannah Hoyt ; removed to Dan- bury, where he d. Dec. 9, 1835. His wife was b. Dec. 6, 1759, andtl Jan. 3, 1836. Ch.
Hannah, b. Oct. 4, 1777; m. March 26, 1796, Elijah Gre- gory j d. June 17, 1836.
Luther, b. Aug. 20, 1780; d. Oct. 15, 1807.
Saiiy, b. April 28, 1783; m. Nov. 25, 1802, Ephraim G. Stevens; d. Lutinda, b. April 27, 1785 ; d. April 21, 1857.
PhUa, b. June 9, 1787; m. Sept. 28, 1806, Ezra Peck, son of Peter^ (52) Benedict of Danbury; d. Nov., 1868.
Fanny, b. 8ept. 7, 1790; m. Nov. 2, 18 13, Augustus Wil- cox; d. June 7, 1849.
Mary, b. Sept. 7, 1790; res. Danbury.
Esther, b. 1748; m. Jan. 20, 1766, Uriah Raymond; d. July 27, 1806. (^Hail^ p. 292.)
38. Isaac, b. July 6, 1751 ; d. May 17, 1841.
William, b. 1753; m. Feb. 20, 1782, Nancy Fitch, who d. Sept 11, 1830. He d. Sept. 2, 1821, Norwalk. Ch.
Jnna, b. July 31, 1783; m. N. Lockwood.
CharUtte, b. Sept. 29, 1785 ; m. Jer. Camp.
Charles, b. Sept. 29, 1785 ; d. about 1810.
SuJ^ej, b. Jan. 30, 1788 ; m. James I. Hoyt.
Sa/fif, b. Nov. 17, 1790; m. Daniel Smith.
Esther, b. May 10, 1793; "*• Edward Smith.
Mary, b. April 4, 1796 ; m. George Brown.
Fanny R., b. Dec. 30, 1798; m. Seth Williston' (264)
Benedict. Deborah, b. Dec. 30, 1798; m. George Scribner.
Sally, b. 1756; m. Nathan Hoyt; removed to New Milford. Betty, b. Feb. 20, 1759; m. March 22, 1781, Enoch Scribner {Hali, p. 298); d. April 19, 1835. ; 39. Nathan, b. Dec. 10, 1765; d. Feb. 3, 1832.
Hannah, b. 1766; m. April 3, 1782, Deacon Stephen Wood;
d. Nov. 28, 1826. (^Hail, p. 289.) Lydu, b. 1768; m. Capt. Lemuel Brooks; d. Feb. 18, 1828. 40. John, b. Feb. 3, 1770; d. 1839.
6o Descendants of
11. Benjamin* [Benjaminy^ John^^ Tbomas^)^ b. Oct. i, 1706 ; m. Jan. 18, 1731, Hannah Bostwick of New Milford; d. Canaan, Ct., Sept. 2, 1779. Ch.
Mary, b. 1734 ; d. July 16, 1790. Rachei., m. Tamer. Hannah, m. Osborn. Noah, probably lost at sea.
41. John, signer of Revolutionary Pledge, 1775 {Blait^s Putnam €$,,
N. 2^., p. 102). Samuel, also a signer Rev. Pledge ; resided Amenia ; will, recorded March 28, 1801, mentions wife Martha and nephews.
42. Benjamin, b. Dec. 28, 1757; d. Oct. 13, 1828.
12. Capt. Timothy* {Benjamtn^^ Jokn^^ Tbomas^)^ b. Nov.
15, 1709; called "captain;" m. Jan. 24, 1733-4, Sarah, dau.
Ebenezer and Sarah Smith, b. 1713 and d. Jan. 18, 1765 ; was
appointed justice of the peace 1770 ; m. 2d, Elizabeth ;
res. Ridgefield; d. May 12, 1791. His will made Aug. 20,
1782. Inventory showed £1,716 Ss. od. Ch. .
Sarah, b. April 13, 1735; ^' Bartholomew Weed. Abiah, b. Dec. 20, 1736; m Samuel Keeler Jr. Timothy, b. Sept. 27, 1740 ; d. June 21, 1757.
13. John* {Benjamin^^ Johrty^ Thomas^\ b. Oct., 1 7 14-5;
m. Nov. 29, 1738, Lucy . Ch.
Alexander, b. Dec. 22, 1739. Lucy, b. June 6, 1741. Samuel, b. April 26, 1743. John, b. June 16, 1745. EujAH, b. Oct. 6, 1747.
14. Daniel* {Benjaminy^ John^ Tiomas^ b. Nov. 27, 1716 ; m. Feb, 13, 1739-40, Agnes Wallace, by whom he had seven
ch. ; m. 2d, , had two ch. by this wife ; m. 3d, Hannah
Burr, had by her two sons and one dau. Ch.
Mary, b. Nov. 15, 1740 ; m. James Crawford.
43. Daniel, b. April 2, 1743; d. Dec. 23, 1822. Rachel, b. Feb. 27, 1745; m. Archibald Crawford. James, b. May 30, 1750.
Sarah, b. May 13, 1752 ; m. Joseph Scofield.
Benjamin, b. Aug. 22, 1754 ; d. in the revolution.
Daughter (Martha? b. Jan. 14, 1757) ; m. Joseph Hazen.
Joseph, m. Nellie Smith ; settled Lodi.
Elizabeth, m. John Smith ; settled Lodi. Jambs, settled Living- ston Co. Archibald, setded Livingston Co. Daughter, setded Livingston Co.
15. Amos* {Benjamifty^ J^hn^ Thomas^\ b. Sept. 17, 1722; m. Martha Sturtevant ; removed early from Norwalk to South Salem (Lewisboro, Westchester Co.) ; d. July 29, 1809. In
John Benedict. 6i
his will, proved Sept. 2, 1709, after liberally remembering his heirs, he emancipated his slave ^^ Johnno " for faithful service, and devised to him and his heirs five acres of his farm, also an acre of meadow, one cow, one feather bed with pillows, sheets and coverlets. Ch.
44. Isaac, b. Aug. 7, 1746 ; d. Aug. 10, 1813.
45. Solomon.
Amos, m. Elizabeth Brown ; killed by the fall of a tree ; had Abigail, m. Brown.
46. Jacob, b. 1751.
47. Jonah, b. Aug. 7, 1762 ; d. Feb. 26, 1826. Rachel, m. Arnold Dickens.
Martha, m. Brown ; killed by the Indians. Hannah, m. Bishop.
16. Joseph* {Joseph^^ John^* Tbomas% b. July 29, 1708,
Norwalk, Ct. ; m. May 8, 1732, Susannah ; m. 2d, —
— ; m. 3d, Lydia . He res. near the the village of Cross
Roads, in the town of South Salem ; justice of the peacd. Lydia d. Feb. 24, 1791, aged 75 years; he d. July 17, 1793. By his three wives he had 23 ch., most of whom d. under age. The names of the following only have been ascertained, who with the exception of first three are mentioned in his will, proved Nov. 6, 1793. Ch.
Joseph, b. Feb. 17, 1732 ; no record of his descendants ; pro- bably d. before 1793. Jeremiah, b. May 14, 1735 > ^- ^^7 '7» '735- Susannah, b. March 25, 1736.
48. Lewis, b. June 25, 1754 ; d. JuJy 21, 1827. Lydia. Nancy, b. 1756. It is said of her that '' she was superior in educa-
don to those around her, and that she was constantly teaching her neighbors to read and write." In 1776. when Gen. Howe advanced northward from New York, she mounted her horse, and with other heroic women, followed the army and witnessed the battle of White Plains." Joseph^ lived near the " neutral ground," and had in his employ one David Williams, who, when not en- gaged in military service (the whigs who encountered the " Cow- boys " in their excursions into the country were generally in the roilida service on short enlistments), made the house of his em- ployer his welcome home. Thus it happened that Williams was enjoying an agreeable tete-h-tete with Nancy Benedict, in the fall of 1 780, when she pointed out to him a small company of armed men approaching their village. They entered an inn near by, and Williams, having recognized Isaac Van Wart, John Paulding and others, they set out together for Tarrytown ; the especial object of Williams being to reclaim the property of a neighbor.
62 Descendants of
the widow Pelham, or avenge the death of her husband, killed the night before by a party of Cow-boys. Al Tarryiown, Wil- liams, Paulding and his cousin Van Wart separated from their companions, taking the east road, at an angle of which they con- cealed themseh'es, obtaining a north and west view of it for some distance. The approach of Major Andrd, his arrest, etc., fol- lowed. Congress having granted Williams, Nov. 3, 1780, a medal, a yearly annuity of $200, in specie, or an equivalent in current money, during life ; also, the privilege of locating any confiscated lands in the county of Westchester, to the value of $1,250, or of receiving the said sum in cash, he married Nancy Benedict, and with the $1^250 bought a part of the farm owned by his father-in-law and settled upon it, erecting a log cabin to to live in." ***** In the fall of 1 830, he visited the city of New York on the invitation of the corporation, to be present as a guest at the celebration of the French Revolution. Here he ' received all manner of attentions, and was presented with a silver- cup, a silver-headed cane, an elegant horse, carriage and harness. He died at Broome, Schoharie Co., Aug. 2, 1831. After her husband had been dead ten years, Mrs. Williams obtained a con- tinuance of his pension, which had been stopped at his death, receiving $2,000 at once.** She d. about 1 848, in her pzd year. {Simm^s ScbobarU Cot/Hty, etc., p. 649.)
49. Ambrose.
Susannah (?), m. Miller. Anna, m. Robert Murphy.
17. GiDEOU* {Josephj^ John^ Thoma$^\ b. March 15, 1710, Norwalk, Ct. ; m. April 11, 1737, Dorothy Botsford of New Milford, Ct. ; he res. and probably d. New Milford, where his ch. were b. The names of only two are known. Ch.
Dorothy, m. Pratt.
50. Elijah, b. 1741; d. Underbill, Vt.» Jan., 181 1.
18. Samuel Pitman* {Joseph^^ J^l^^y* Thomas^)^ b. Jan. 21^ 1720, -Norwalk, Ct. ; m. Mercy Bostwick of New Milford, Ct., who d. Arlington, Vt., 1772; ch. all b. New Milford. He removed to Arlington, Vt., after 1765, and d. there 1775.
Ch.
Joanna, m. Ward.
Abel, b. 1750 ; made purchase of a farm 1 774-7 S* on the in- tervales below the falk in town of Colchester, Vt., then included in the '' New Hampshire grants.*' With Ethan Allen and the mass of the settlers on these grants — a brave and hearty race of men -^ he resisted the claims of New York ; and, a decree of a convention of the inhabitants of the counties of Bennington and Rutland, viz : ** that no person should take grants, or con- finnadon oi grants, under the government of New York, etc./'
^obn Benedict. 63
having been violated by one Benjamin Hough, he was selected with John Sawyer to carry out in part the sentence of the Com- mittee of Safety, passed after trial upon said Hough. The judgment was " that the prisoner be taken from the bar of this Com. of Safety and tied to a tree, and there on his naked back to receive two hundred stripes ; his back being dressed, he should depart out of the district, and on return to suff*er death, unless by sp<;cial leave of the convention. Hough was tied by Ethan Allen to an apple tree and whipped, the act being witnessed by many of the inhabitants.** The instrument of punishment was termed the " beach seal/* in allusion to the great seal of New Hampshire affixed to the grants made by the governor of that province, of which the beacb rod well laid on the naked backs of the *' Yorkers " and their adherents, was humorously con- sidered a confirmation. Enjoying as we do the protection of just and equal laws, it is difficult to form a proper estimate of such measures. There was no choice left to the N. H. grantees between an entire surrender of their farms rescued from the the wilderness of nature, and made valuable by their industry, and a determined and persevering resistance by force. Up to Jan. 26, 1775, vhen Hough was whipped, no division of senti- ment with regard to matters of public policy had taken place ; and it is significant that Arlington was not represented in any of the convendons of the different towns of Vermont that met to confer upon the Declaration of Independence and other subjects. Her leading men were not prepared for measures so decisive ; they had suffered much from New York, but it would have been difficult for them to specify wherein the king had harmed them. The king had given them their farms for a nominal price, had provided reasonably for their religious and secular instruction ; in the words of one of them who suffered the loss of all things for his loyalty, " they did not think it right to rebel against a king who had done them no harm.*' Possibly this feeling and the obligation resting upon churchmen to aid the head of the church — so well known to have influenced great numbers at this trying period, led Abel Benedict to join the Royalist army. He was killed at the battle of Bennington, Aug. 16, 1777.
Sophia, b. 1752 ; m. Eldad Andrus of Cornwall, Vt.
Phobbe, b. 1754 ; '^* Heth of Cornwall.
51. IcHABOD, b. Jan. 15, 1756 ; d. March 2, 1822.
52. BiNAjAH, b. 1758 ; d July, 1832.
Chloe, b. 1 76 1 ; m. Jacob Mead of Manchester, Vt.
53. Zachariah, b. Jan. 19, 1767 ; d. Aiig. 30, 1836. RuniXA, m. Lindsley of Cornwall
19. Jonathan* (^i/f^A,' John^ Thomas^\ b. Feb. 2, 1723 ; m. Lucy Castle, who d. New Milford ; moved to Manchester,
64 Descendants of
Vt., where he m. 2d, wid. Margaret (Seelye) Pinnock, by whom he hid one child. Ch.
54. JOSEPH, b. Aug. i» 1749.
Mary, m. Sackett, and zd, Kellogg. Her son. Rev. Ezra B. Kel- logg (Episcopal), res. Gambia, Ohio.
Martha, m. James Hard ; removed to Ohio ; m. 2d, Caniield.
Lucy, m. Peter French of Hampden. 5^. Samuel, b. March 19, 1758 ; d. Sept. 4, 1820.
56. Ezra, b. April 15, 1763 ; d. Jan. 8, 1817. Sarah, m. Morse Leavenworth, Roxbury, Ct.
Sylvia, m. Thomas Bull ; children res. Columbus, Ohio.
57. Jonathan, b. Jan. 23, 1766 ; d. June 7, 1833. Esther, m. Henry (Joseph ?) Mears ; ch. res. Vt.
Clara (Merilla?), m. Isaac Burton ; ch. res. Manchester, Vt.
20. ^\TB.K^ {James^^ John^ Tbomas^)^ b. March 20, 1714, O. S., Ridgefield, Ct. ; m. Oct. 29, 1734, Mary Parish; m. 2d, Agnes Heaton, dau. John Tyler of Branford, Ct., and wid. Rev. Samuel Heaton, A. M., June 23, 1737. He res. North Salem, then a small settlement on the borders of Ct. Aug. 20, 1779, there was a meeting of church members residing in Upper Salem, Cortland's Manor, and other places adjacent, to consult as to the expediency of organizing a church. Peter Benedict was chosen moderator of the meeting. Peter Ferris, the hus- band of his dau. Hannah, was also present. On the 25th of the same month a church was organized, and Mr. Benedict was chosen Deacon. His two sons, Joel and Abner, were the first pastors of that little flock. His sons were all men of education. Abner grad. Yale college, and Joel, Nassau Hall. Peter entered Yale, but did not graduate, leaving to join the army, the family all being ardent whigs. He d. in 1787, aged 73. His wife d. in 1802, aged 88. A short time before his death he wrote a brief paper of exhortation to all his children of a most affection- ate and devotional character, closing with his prayerful blessing, which is evidence of his real character and of the light that shone on his declining years : ^^ Oh ! Thou most blessed Being, Thou sovereign Disposer of Thine own mercies and blessings, I beseech Thee to bless these instructions, and bless my offspring to the latest posterity. And bless this society, and most gracious Sovereign bless this church, this little flock. Build it up in faith, love and kindness. And, oh ! Thou Great Head of the Uni-
John Benedict. 65
verse, I beseech Thee to build up Thy Kingdom, glorify every- where Thy name, and fill the world with Thy knowledge and with Thy glory. Amen/' Ch.
Pbtbh, d.* in Infancy. Jo9iah» d. in infancy. Mary, b. Dec. 22, 1738; m. Nathan Smith.
58. Abner, b. Nov. 9, 1740.
Phcebb, b. Dec. 5, 1742; m. Thomas (lOwrey.
59. Joel, b. Jan. 8, 1 745. Hannah, b. Feb. 20, 1748 ; m. Peter Ferris. Agnes, b. Aug. 4, 1751; m. Daniel Furdy.
60. PrrERy b. March 4, 1753.
21. ^PMX.^ {James^ John^ Thomas^\ b. Feb. 19, 1719-20, Ridgeiield, Ct. ; m. May 8, 1740, Mary Blackman of Green
Farms, Ct. ; m. id, Jemima j became a member of the
Baptist church, Stamford, Ct., and was licensed by that church to preach the Gospel. Having received a call to become pastor of the church at the new settlement of Warwick, Orange Co., N. Y., he removed to that place, and was ordained Nov. 17, 1766. Some time during the troubles of the war of the Revo- lution, he removed to Wyoming, Pa., and was, with his family, among the sufferers from the fearful massacre of the inhabitants of that place by the tories and Indians under the notorious Brandt. His influence and character as a preacher with the Indians, protected himself and family from personal injury at their hands, but his property was mostly lost or destroyed. After suffering great hardships he returned to the town of War- wick in the year 1777) where he resided until his death, Sept. 9, 1792. His wife died some time previously, and he had m. 3d, wid. Bross, who survived him, but of this third marriage there was no issue. His remains, and those of his first wife, rest in the old Baptist burying-ground near the village of Warwick, but no monument marks their graves. Their descendants form a numerous and highly respected portion of the citizens of Orange county. The memory of the " old Elder," as he is familiarly spoken of, is held in great esteem and veneration by the community at large, as well as by the church of which he was paBtor. The following is an extract from its records: *^ Those who knew him, and yet survive, hold his memory in great respect, and say that it is blessed." Ch. b. Ridgefield, Ct. Mary« b. March 31, 1741; m. James Grey.
9
:^
66 Descendants of
Sarah, b. Feb. 6, 1743*; m. Gideon Smith.
61. James, b. May 8, 1745; d. Nov. 9, 1822.
62. John, b. April 24, 1747-
Jemima, b. July 25, 1749; ""• J®^" Newberry; res. Warwick. Martha, b. June 16, 1751 ; m. John Hampton; res. Scipio* Phcebe, b. Aug. I4» 1753; m. Abram Dolson.
63. William, b. July 14, 175$.
Anna, b. July 25, 1757; m. Calvin Bradner ; res. Warwick.
64. Joseph, b. May 11, 1760; d. Jan 20, 1847.
22. John* {James^^ John^^ Thomas'), b. Oct. 3, 1726 ; m. Jan. 24, 1749-50, Esther, dau. Joseph Stebbins, b. 1724, who d. Feb. 10, 1814. He grad. Yale College, 1747. He was justice of the peace, 1777-1804; member of the legislature in 175S1 '56? '59> '64, '77, and 79; was fifth Deacon of the church in Ridgefield, and' officiated many years. We learn ^^ that his mother meant him for the gown, but he chose another dress." Mr. S. G. Goodrich, in his Recollections (p. 223), thus presents the portrait of Deacon John Benedict : ^^ He was a worthy old man, and enjoyed many claims to respect. He was not only a Deacon, but a justice of the peace, and respected the law, especially as it was administered in his own person. He was severe upon those who violated the statutes of the state, but one who violated the statutes of Deacon John Benedict, committed the unpardonable sin. He was the entire police of the meeting-house on Sfunday, and not a boy or girl, or even a bumble bee, could offend, without condign punishment." He d. July 9, 1814. Ch. b. Ridgefield:
Esther, b. Jan. 12, 1751 ; d. young.
65. John, b. March 7, 1753.
Sarah, b. March 7, 1753 5 ^* Jabez Keeler.
66. Abijah, b. Feb. 22, 1759 ; d. March 2, 1818. Esther, b. Feb. 25, 1757 ; m. Joab Smith.
Delight, b. April 26, 1759; was a school teacher. Mr. S. G. Goodrich says : " I was about six years old when I first went to school. My teacher was Aunt Delight, that is. Delight Bene- dict, a maiden lady of Rfty^ short and bent, of sallow complexion and solemn aspect. Having no children of her own, she combed and crammed the heads of other people's children, and in this way she was eminently useful in her day and generation.'' (^See bis Recollections^ pp. 34, 35, 224.)
Hannah, b. Feb. 28, 1762 ; m. Jonah Foster.
John Benedict. 67
28. Thomas* {James^^ John^ Thomas^\ b. Oct. 3, 1726; m. May 27, 1752, Jane Gunn ; he settled on land between the Hoosick patent and Pittstown in the spring of 1779, and in August, 1785, had improved 600 acres, "on which there were some very good buildings and orchards." In 1781, he was one of two representatives of " Scorticook" to a convention which met at Cambridge, which proposed articles of union between the eastern and western districts of the New Hampshire grants. He d. in the district (Broadalbin), and was buried at Pittstown, N. Y. Ch. b. Ridgefield.
67. Thomas, b. Feb. 27, 1753.
68. Aaron, b. April 15, 1755 > ^' J^*^- l^» '845.
Darius, b. Dec. 6, 1758 ; Revolutionary soldier and pensioner; adm'r app'd Sept. 21, 1844.
69. Joseph, b. Oct. 26, 1760.
70. James, b. Aug. 12, 1762 ; d. July 18, 1849.
71. Isaac Oliver, b. Aug. 14, 1764 ; d. Oct. 24, 1845.
Sarah, b. March 18, 1766 ; m. Josiah Carpenter ; moved, 1812,
to Chautauqua Co. Phiup Lewis, b. Sept. 4, 1 767 ; d. Oct. 4, i jtj. Hannah, b. Jan. 9, 1 769 ; m. Holt ; res. near Troy, Mary. Esther.
24. Hkvii^ {Tbomas^^ John^^ Thomas% m. (Tabitha?); was grand juror and lister 1739-48 ; was prominent in church mat- ters ; the erection of a pew for his Honor, the Governor, to sit in, was left to a committee of the Prime Ancient Society in Norwalk, assembled Dec. 25, 1754, of which he was chair- man. {Hallj p. 158.) Probably d. early in 1762, as his inven- tory is filed March 30, 1762; it amounted to .£440 lu. 6d. His wid. probably survived, as Tabitha Benedict was chosen guard- ian by his children David, Tabitha and Sarah. Ch.
72. Jesse, b. about 1740 ; d. after 1786. Tabftha. Sarah. David. He is mentioned in his grandfather's will made in 1763.
25. JopN* ( Thomas^^ John^ Thomas^ ), m. Elizabeth — r- j d. 1789; was pounder, tythingman and lister between 1735-65. His wiir was made May 24, 1787 ; proved Aug. 31, 1789. In- ventory showed £106 lOi. 4^. Ch. b. Norwalk.
73. Enoch.
74. Abraham.
Mary, m. Stephen Gregory. Elizabeth, m. Thomas Hays.
68 Descendants of
Sarah, b. June 15, 1752; m. William Bouton, Feb. 15, 1769; d. Aug. 26, 1844. Mr. Bouton, b. Jan. i6» 1749, was son of Joseph, son of Jachin, son of John, son of John, an original settler in Norwalk, 1651. He d. May 31, 1828. {Ha/i, pp.
« 306-7.) Rev. Nathaniel Bouton, D. D., their son, b. June 20, 1799; %^^' of Yale, 1821 ; Andover TheoL Sem. 1824; pastor of 1st Cong, church Concord, N. H., from March, 1 825-1 867. He delivered, July 9, 1851, in the first Cong, church, Norwalk, an historical discourse in commemoration of the 200th anniver- sary of the settlement of Norwalk, Ct. Res. at Concord, N. H., and is engaged in editing state papers. His eldest son N. Sher- man Bouton of Chicago, 111., was Brig. Quar. Mast, in an IIL Regt., and was in the battles at Stone River, Chattanooga and Chickamauga ; his second son, John B. Bouton, grad. D. C, 1849, and is chief editor of New York Journal of Commerce.
26. Thomas* ( TAoOTtfx,' John^^ Thomas% b. about 1720 ; m. Abigail (Scrivener ?), about 1740-41 ; was grand juror, surveyor, tything-man and fence viewer between 1745-59. He d. about the close of 1760, and his widow was probably deceased before Dec. 7, 1762, as the ch. then had guardians appointed for them in her place. The inventory of his estate amounting to £247 i8x. o^/., was approved March '^, 1761 ; and distribution among his nine children, b. Norwalk, Ct., was ordered accepted July 5, 1763. Ch.
5. Stephen, b. March 28, 1743 ; d. March 10, 1835. 76b Uriah, b. Feb. 15, 1745 1 ^* ^^^* ^5* i^oo.
Betty, b. 174" ; d. 1765; her brother Stephen appointed admin- istrator of her estate, April 10, 1765.
EuAS, b. 1 74- ; d. 1 772 ; inventory of his estate dated Feb. 9, 1 772.
Phcebe, b. Dec. 14, 1748 ; m. Gershom Morehouse ; d. March ^9 1^35 9 Gershom Morehouse appointed 1st Lieut., Ct. Con- tjjiental Regt. in 1776.
Abigail, b. 1752; m. Nov. 19, 1776, Hezekiah Gregory of Danbury ; removed to Milton, Saratoga Co., in 1790, and setded March, 1793, in New Lisbon, Otsego Co., and d. Nov. 2, 1834, aged 82. She d. July 12, 1836. Their son. Rev. Seth Gre- gory, d. Dec. 17, 1869.
Moses (his descendants, if any, not ascertained). 77. Thomas, b. Sept. 28, 1858; d. Ruth.
27. Capt. Daniel' (J^'*"/ 7^*»»' Jobn^^ Thomas^\ b. about
172- ; m. Phoebe , b. 1723, and d. 1815. They were
members of New Canaan church 1750. He was known as *^ captain," and d. early in 1777, in the Sugar House (.^).
A
yobn Benedict. 69
His will was made Oct. 9, 1776, and proved March 3, 1777. The inventory of his estate, filed June 21, 1779, footed ^357 31. id. Ch. all b. New Canaan,
78. Daniel, b. probably 174-; d. 1779> Fort Ann. AzARXAH, bap. Nov. 18, 1750; d. young.
79. John, bap. Feb. a, 1752; d, 1809-11. Phcebb, bap. Oct. 6, 1754*
AzAJUAH, bap. June 12» 1757. No knowledge of descendants, if •any; an Azariah Benedict joined New Canaan church May ii^ 1783 ; sold his homestead Feb.,7» 178$; a private in Hunt's Co. Wcsscnfel's Reg't., in 1782.
AiTNEy bap. Nov. 4, 1759. £uzABETH» bap. June 6, 1762.
AsBNATHy bap. Ai|g. 269 1764; m. Wood; res. Saratoga Co.
Mart, bap. May 10, 1767.
Eri, bap. April 15, 1770; m. ; moved to Greenfield, Saratoga Co., with his brother John, and was living there April 17, 1799 \ thence he went to Nine Mile Creek, Onondaga Co., and may have finally settled in Michigan. He had a dau. Maria and probably other ch. Maria m. and went to Texas.
Mary, bap. Jan. 22, 1775.
28. John* (John^^^ John^ John^ Tbmnas% b. Sept. 11, 1724 ;
m. June 12, 1746, Mary, dau. of SamueH (4) Benedict, who
was b. June 14, 1728, and d. Dec. 17, 1800. He joined New
Canaan church July 15, 1744, of which he became a Deacon.
She joined church Oct. 4, 1747. In 1803 ^'^ removed to
Walton, Delaware Co., where he d. Jan., 1807. ,Ch.
Mary, bap. Dec. 13, 1747; m Feb. 6, 1765, Ezra* (35) Bene- dict Rebecca, bap. Oct. 20, 1751; d. unm. Dinah, bap. June 17, 1753. Rachel, bap. Sept. 26, 1757. Betsey, m. Jehial Weed. John, d. young.
29. Col. Joseph* {Jabn^^ Jobn^^ John^^ Tbomas% b. May 20, 1730, O. S. ; m. Keziah Wood, Nov. 22, 1750 ; she d. Sept. 23, 18 1 7. Moved to South Salem, West Co., between 1757 and 1759. He was appointed Capt., 2d Co., 4th N. Y. Continental Regt., June 28, 1775. Promoted Major in 1777, and Lieut.-Col. of Regt. of Associated Exempts, March 4, 1780. (See Forceps Am. Jrch,^ vol. II, pp. 373 and 384; Jour-- nal Prov, Congress^ vol. I, pp. 84, 91, and vol. II, p. 218 ; 0*CaUagban^s Rev,' Papers^ vol. I, p. 108, and vol. II, pp. 41^ 43). Appointed justice of the peace, Feb., '78, Sept., '80, and Oct., '83. Member, of assembly 1778 and '79. For land grants in which he was interested, see CaL N. T. State Historical
70 Descendants of
MSS. (English), pp. 651, 770, 779, 795,810. He d. Aug. 24, 1785. Ch.
JBo. Joseph, b. New Canaan, Oct. 11, 1750; d. April 13, 1841.
81. Nathan, b. N. C, March 9, 1753; d. Jan. 31, 1803.
82. Enoch, b. N. C, March 26, 175$; d. Jan. 18, 1833. Hannah, b. N. C., March 16, 1757; m. Solomon^ (45) Benedict;
m. 2d, Lebbeus vMead ; d. Feb. 28, 1802. Rhoda, b. South Salem, Aug. 30, 1859; m. Stephen Northrop; d. Aug. 23, 1842.
83. Timothy, b. Jan. 24, 1762; d. Sept. 11, 1830. Betsey, b. April 4, 1764; d. April 11, 1785.
Keziah, b. July 18, 1766; m. Sept 25, 1791, Joseph Webster.
84. Jared, b. Nov. 15, 1768; d. Sept. 15, 1842. John, b. Oct. 14, 1770; d. Feb. 4, 1775.
85. Stephen, b. June 4, 1773; d. Dec. 23, 1851.
80. Hezekiah' {John^^ John^^ John^ Thomas^\ bap. Oct. 23, 1737; m. April 5, 1759, Rachel, dau. SaniueH(4) Bene- dict, b. June 24, 1 739 ; m. 2d, Martha, dau. Jonathan Bell pf Stamford, Nov. 10, 1763. They joined, April 28, 1765, the New Canaan church. Martha d. Feb. 11, 1804, aged 66. Grand juror, surveyor and lister between 1768-72. He lived and d. July 11, 1813, at Brushy Hill, New Canaan, on The Homestead. Ch.
Rachel, bap. Sept. 30, 1759.
Dorcas, bap. Aug. 2, 1762; d. July 3, 1791.
Hezekiah, bap. Oct. 5, 1764; d. New Canaan.
Martha, bap. April 6, 1766; m. Nov. 12, 1793, Daniel Weed
of N. C. {Ilal/, p. 263). Dinah, bap. Sept. 20, i j6j ; m. Capt. Eliakim Smith of Norwalk. Jonathan, bap. Feb. 12, 1769. Eunice, bap. Nov. 11, 1770. Rachel, bap. Sept. 20, 1772. Eunice, bap. May 20, 1774; ^'
Oct. 17, 1816, Adoniram Skeele of Durham. Elizabeth, bap. April 7, 1776; m. March 26, i8io« Deacon
Seth Hickok of N. C.
86. Jonathan Bell, b. March 4, 1778.
87. John, b. March 15, 1780.
Sally, b. May 4, 1782; m. Jacob Weed of Stamford; d. near Albany.
81. MatthewJ {Mattbewy^ Johfiy^ John,* Thomas^), b. Oct. 28, 1728 ; m. Elizabeth Pomeroy, Nov. 6, 1738, who d. Nov. 8, 1762; m. 2d, Abigail Silsby, Aug. 17, 1763, who d. Feb. 26, 1813 ; he removed from Ridgefield to West Stockbridge,
John Benedict. Ji
Mass., about 1773, where he d. Dec. 30, 1777; will proved Jan« 5, 1779* {Lenox Records,) Ch.
Matthew, b. Oct. 6, 1758; d. Oct. 8, 1759.
88. Matthew, b. Nov. 23, 1760; d. Jan. 28, 1825. Elizabeth, b. Oct. 31, 1762.
89. John, b. May 1, 1764; d. Nov. 20, 1833. EujAH, b. — 17, 1766; d. April 18, 1770. Anna, b. Feb. 28, 1768.
EujAH, b. April, ^77^\ d. March i, 1772. David, b. Feb. 14, 1772; d. Aug. 9, 1777. Sarah, b. July 11, 1774.
90. Jonathan, b. Sept. 26, 1776; d. July 29, 1863.
82. Jesse* {MattheWy^ John^^ John^ Thomas^\ b. Feb. 2,
1735; m. Sept. 15, 1756, Mehitable, dau. Gamaliel and Mary
(Dauchy) Northrop, b. June 16, 1737, and d. Dec. 11, 1804;
lived and d. Ridgefield, Sept. 2, 1805. Ch.
Elizabeth, b. June 16, 1757; m. Jasper Mead of Troy; d. Dec. 30,' 1837.
91. Jesse, b. Dec. 13, 1758; d. July 3, 1826.
92. Gamauel, b. Nov. 9, 1760; d. June 20, 1835.
Mehftable, b. Sept. 11, 1762; m. Severus Deering(?) of Brook- field; d, Jan. 24, 1842.
93. Ezra, b. April 8, 1764 ; d. Dec. 30, 1840.
Ruth, b. Sept. 6, 1766 ; m. Matthew Keeler; d. Nov. 28, 1836.
94. Joseph, b. Jan. 17, 1770; d. July 28, 1838.
9 J. Benjamin, b. Jan. 17, 1770; d. July 13, 1847.
96. Thaddeus, b. Jan. 7, 1772; d. Aug. 31, 1828.
97. Lewis, b. Dec. 6, 1773 » ^« ^P^* 7» ^^3^'
Hannah S., b. Jan. 4, 1779; m. Piatt Raymond, Norwalk; d. April 7, 1844.
88. CalebJ (Ctf/^V 7«*»^' 7^*»i* Thomas% bap. Dec. 28, 1740; m. Deborah St. John, January 28, 1760; m. 2d, Han- nah Pennoyer, January, 1786, who d. 1806 ; will proved March 26, 1806. He d. May 6, 181 2. Ch. all b. New Canaan.
98. Caleb, bap. April 18, 1762; d. Sept. 21, 1822, Walton. Silas, bap. Nov. 27, 1763; m. Oct. 22, 1785, Mercy, dau. of
Matthew and Mary (Lockwood) Hoyt, b. Aug 17, 1765, d.
Nov. 17, 1837; settled in Walton, Delaware county, about
1790; no issue. He d. July 17, 1835. Deborah, bap. Dec. 8, 1765; m. Eleazer' Bouton Jr., Jan. 22,
1786. Elizabeth, bap. Nov. 1, 1767; m. Lindal Fitch and settled in
Walton about 1790. Mehitable, bap. Nov. 5, 1769; m. Daniel Weed.
7^ Descendants of
99. Ezra, bap. June 5, 1774; d. Dec. 27, 1846. 100. Aaron, b. Sept. 19, 1777; d* ^ov, 26, 1849. loi. Matthias, b. March 23, 1782; d. Oct. 18, 1831.
Mary, m. Henry Seymour, Nov. 28, 1799; d. in New York.
102. Trowbridob, b. July 20, 1784; d. Nov. 21, 1869.
84. James J {Caleb^^ Jobn^^ >*»»* Thomas^ bap. Dec. 18, 1743; m. May '5, 1763, Thankful, dau. of Ephraim and Thankful (Grummon) Lockwood, b. March 24, 1745 {Hall^ pp. 184 and 215), and d. June 17, 1838.
Nehemiah, b. April 16, 1764; d. Nov. 7, 1765.
103. Nehemiah, b. Dec. 29, 1765; d. April 26, 1819.
104. James, b. Nov. 24, 1767.
Ruth, b. May 28, 1769; d. Aug. 17, 1770.
105. Matthew, b. Oct. 29, 1770. David, b. SepL 22, 1772.
106. David, b. April 7, 1774.
107. Billy, b. March 7, 1777.
108. Lockwood, b. March 29, 1779. Thankful, b. July 10, 1781 ;
m. Feb. 8, 1800, Jos. Bouton Hoyt; d. Oct. 27, 1844.
109. Caleb, b. July 6, 1783; d. Dec. 12, 1861.
Ruth, bap. Jan. 12, 1785; m. May {, 1803, Jacob Reed, and res. North Wilton, Ct.
85. Lieut. Ezra* {Caleb^^ John^^ Jobn^* Thomas^\ bap. May 27, 1746 ; m. Feb. 6, 1765-6, Mary, dau. John* (28) Benedict, bap. Dec. 13, 1747^ and d. July 9, 1829. He was appointed ensign. May, 1777. In 1780 he served as ensign (2d lieut.) in Capt. D. Olmstead's Co. (Col. Beebe's Regt.), on the lines near Horseneck, skirmishing with Delancey's Horse. {Hinman^ Conn, in the Rev.y p. 277.) Moved to Walton, Delaware Co., 1797. He d. Sept. 11, 1832. Ch.
Jemima, b. July 9, 1766; m. Thaddeus Hoyt, Oct. 29, 1785.
John, bap. May i, 1768; d. Sept. 23, 1778.
Mary, b. Feb. 8, 1770; lived to old age, unmarried.
Dinah, b. Jan. 26, 1773; m- Oct. 9, 1803, Jared Ayres.
Anna, b. Dec. 31, 1774; m. Jan. 7, 1805, Cook St. John, 2d
wife {Ha//, p. 249), and d. June 9, 1850. Mr. St. John was
b. June I, 1773, ^'^d is living at Wahon. Rebecca, b. March 7, 1779; lived to old age, unmarried. Rachel, b. Feb. 12, 1781 ; d. Aug. 27, 1785. Cynthia, b. Oct. 26, 1782; m. March 30, 1800, Rufiis Fancher- Esther., b. Aug. 29, 1784; m. Nathaniel Steele, Delhi. John. b. Oct. 31, 1786; d, Aug. 27, 1789.
110. Ezra, b. Oct. 2, 1789.
yobn Benedict. 73
86, Capt. Benjamin* (Gj&*/ John^^ John^ Thomas% b. Oct. 21, 1755, New Canaan, Ct. ; m. Mar. 27, 1775, Elizabeth, dau. Abijah Gilbert, who d. Nov. 25, 1838. "Capt. Benedict removed to So. Salem before 1776, and finally settled at Patter- son, near the close of the last century. Here he became a member of the Presb. church, and held the office of Deacon for many years. During the Revolutionary War he performed considerable service in the American army. He served at least one enlistment in the Continental army, in the campaign of 1777, on the northern frontier; but the most of his service was rendered in the county of his residence (Westchester). Living near what was then called the ^ lines,' or ^neutral ground' between the British army in N. Y. city, and the American armies in the interior, they were constantly in danger from the raids of the British army, and the depredations of * Cow-boys,' as they were called. He belonged to a company of organized militia, called ^ minute-men,' who were obliged to be in readiness to march at a moment's notice, and in this capacity did much service. He was a member of the guard over Major Andrd, during a portion of the time of his con- finement, trial and execution." He was appointed Ensign, May 4, 1780 ; Lieut., June 24, 1786, and Captain, March 8, 1 79 1. He d. Patterson, Oct. 17,1832. His ch. all b. So. Salem.
Anne, b. Nov. 23, 1776; m. Alexander Douglass ; d. Hebron, IlL
111. Stephen, b. Dec. 19, 1778. Ruth, b. Oct. 3, 1784; m. Thad-
deus N. Scurgis; d. Tonawanda. Ellen, b. Dec. 30, 1787; d. April 8, 1864, Patterson.
112. Abijah Gilbert, b. Nov. 13,1 790.
113. Benjamin Brush, b. June 21, 1801.
37. Nathaniel* {Nathaniel^^ ^ohn^^ John^^ Thomas^)^ b.
March 26, 1744; m. June 6, i7|o, Anah Raymond, b. 1750,
and d. Feb. 26, 1792; m. 2d, April 2, 1794, Hannah Selleck,
b. 175s, and d. Sept., 1800. Justice of the peace from May,
1777-9; surveyor, 1768 and '76; grand juror, 1774 and '78.
He d. Feb. 24, 1833. Ch.
Mary» b. March 23, 1770; m. Nov. 19, 1792, John Everslcy Jr. (fitf//, p. 283.)
114. Andrew^ b. June 21, 1772.
115. Nathaniel, b. July 17, 1774; d. May 20, 1834.
1 1 6. Simeon, b. Sept. 1 2, 1 776.
10
74 Descendants of
117. Raymond, b. April 2, 1779.
118. Asa, b. July 7, 1781.
119. Uriah, b. Sept. 13, 1782.
Anah, b. July 4, 1789; m. Levi Scribner; rem. to Wilton, Ct. Hannah, m. Nathaniel Furnald; d. Alfrbd, b. May 7, 1791; d.
38. Isaac* {Nathaniel^^ John^^ John^^ Thomas% b. June 26, 1 751 (O. S.), Norwalk, Ct. ; m. Oct. 13, 1773, Jane, dau. of Samuel Raymond of Norwalk, b. 1753, and d. Jan. 26, 1794; m. 2d, Aug. 19, 1794, Mary, dau. of Deodate Davenport, b. June 2, 1764, and d. Sept. 17, 1836. ^^Soon after his marriage he removed to New Canaan and settled upon a farm which he cultivated with his own hands for sixty years. For some time he was a soldier in the Revolutionary War (pensioner) ; held several public offices in the community ; for fifty-nine years a member of the Cong, church, and an efficient Deacon in the same for thirty-six years. He possessed great meekness and gentleness of disposition. His deep interest in the wel&re of his country, and in all that appertained to the prosperity of the cause of the Redeemer, led him to make willing contributions, both of his money and services, to the cause of Christian benevolence. The poor found in him a steadfast friend, and to the church he was both an ornament and pillar. Both his cor- poreal and mental powers remained unimpaired till almost the close of his honorable and useful life, and his end was peace. He d. May 17, 1840, in his 90th year, having reached exactly the age of both his father and grandfather. An appropriate dis- course was delivered upon the occasion of his funeral, by his pastor, Rev. Theophilus Smith, from Gen. xxxv, 29. ^ And Isaac gave up the ghost and died, and was gathered uiito his people, being old and full of days.' " Ch.
120. Isaac, b. July 13, 1774; d. Oct. 3, 1846, Norwalk, Ohio. Gould, b. Feb. 4, 1776; m. Sept. 30, i8oi, Betsey, dau. Moses
Foote Sr., one of the first settlers of Clinton, who d. April 2, 1846, aged 69; m. 2d, Mrs. Melinda Comstock, b. about 1799^ and d. Aug. 27, 1853. "In 1797 he started, with his older brother Isaac, on a tour of exploration and inquiry to central New York, then the " far west," and was so well pleased with Clinton, Oneida Co., that in the following spring he fixed upon that town as a place of settlement. He was a carpenter, and erected many of the best houses in the village of Clinton. In
yohn Benedict. y^
1812 he removed to Lennox, and opened a public house in that part of the town known as Quality Hill. At the close of the • war he returned to Clinton, and was employed for two years as college steward, keeping ' commons ' in the building now used for the mineralogical cabinet. He made a profession of religion in 1820, and was chosen Deacon in 1844 (Cong, church). He was active and efficient in all matters which concerned the wel- fare of the church and the community. He was a diligent teacher in the sabbath-school, and liberal in his gifts to objects of philanthropy and benevolence. He was not a man of many words, but his testimony was never wanting on the side of virtue and religion. Deacon Benedict continued his habits of activity up to old age. He d. Aug. 7, 1868, aged 92 years, 6 months and 3 days. Mrs. Benedict, his 2d wife, was a valued and faithful member of the church. With a discreet and reliable judgment, and firmness and energy of purpose, she blended a con- ciliatory deportment, prudence, and pracucal wisdom. Of great equanimity and uniformity of temper and disposition, she was eminently fitted to be useful. These qualities were sancti- fied and consecrated by divine grace. She died in the exercise of an humble faith, after a long and tedious illness." -, b. Nov. 22, 1777, and d.
Samuel R., b. Aug. 22, 1779; ^- March 12, 1794.
AncAiL, b. July 24, 1781; m. Sept. 12, 1802, William Davenport of New Canaan, who was b. March 25, 1781, in Stamford, Ct. *' Mrs. D. was a woman of much native energy, blended with great mildness and gentleness of character. Her piety was of a cheerful cast, lightening every burden of life, sustaining the heart under trial, sanctifying affliction and rendering the future ever bright and joyous through the power of divine faith and love. • • • It was in the private circle of home that her virtues shone most brightly. With a strong faith in the promises of God to parental faithfulness, she labored diligently and prayer- fully to inspire her children with honorable and right impulses, and to train them up for usefulness and for heaven. * ^ * After weeb of painful suffering, which she bore with Christian resignation, she sank to rest, Oct. 9, 1839." (^Davenport Fam- hy^ p. 255.) Their son, A. Benedict Davenport, Esq., author of a History and Genealogy of the Davenport Family, was for many years the principal of a private school in Brooklyn. He is at present professionally engaged in the law and in real estate in Brooklyn.
121. Obaduh M., b, Aug. 19, 1783.
122. Lewis, b. Sept. 27, 1785.
LoRANA, b. Sept. 7, 1787; d. Jan. 13, 1793.
123. Amzi, b. May 19, 1791.
LoRANA, b. Dec. 7, 1795; m. Nov. 23, 1843, Emory Whitlock;
d. Dec., 1868. Mary Seelye, bap. Sept. 2, 1797.
76 Descendants of
89. Nathan^ {Nathaniel,^ John^^ John^^ Tbmas% b. Dec. 10, 1764; m. May 6, 1795, Susannah Sammis, Huntington, L. I., b. March 15, 1765, and d. April 13, 1836. He d. Feb. 3, 1832. Ch.
124. James, b. Oct. 16, 1797.
^ William Sammis, b. April 23, 17999 d. Dec, 1822. Nathan, b. Aug. 29, 1802; m. Mar}' P., dau. Ebenezer and Oliye Chichester, b. 1806, and d. Sept. 5, 1837. He d. March 13, 1861, Ohio. Ch.
Henry Chichester^ b. 1831; d. Feb. 4, 1866, Claremont, O.
Amelia^ d. young.
Gilbert Chichester^ d. April 9, 18 — , aged 23, at C.
Mary S., b. May 3, 1805; res. Norwalk, Cl
40. John J {Nathaniel^^ John^^ John^* Thomas*), b. Feb. 3, 1770 ; m. April 4, 1792, Jane, dau. Samuel Raymond of Nor- walk,* b. 1774, and d. April 22, 1828. He d. Ch.
Alfred, b. Dec. 27, 1793; in. 18 19, Martha, dau. Samuel and Jane Cooper of Stillwater, who d. Feb. 8, 1848; m. 2d, May 20, 1852, Emily, dau. Luther and Tamer (Rand) Hulbert of Saratoga Springs, b. Nov. 4, 18 14. Res. Saratoga Springs. Ch.
John Henry, b. 1824; d. 1829.
125. Henry, b. Jan. 22, 1796; d. July 18, .1868.
Betsey, b. Aug. 17, 1799 ; ™- ^^^* Xenophon Betts, Aug. 27,
1829 {Ha//, p. 295); d. March 19, 1838. Anson, b. Nov. 21, 1801 ; m. Sept. 27, 1835, Charlotte, dau.
Thomas and Mary (Jeffreys) Hoskins, b. March 14, 1812,
Sdllwater. Res. Saratoga Springs. Ch.
Catharine J,, b. Dec. 29, 1836; m. April 17, 1866, Hon.
John C. Hulbert, Saratoga Springs. Mary J., b. March 28, 1839; d. May 12, 184 1. Mary J,, b. Aug. 29, 1841; d. July 18, 1853.
John, b. April 14, 1804; d. unm.
Jane A., b. Dec. 27, i8oi5; m. Rev. Xenophon Betts, Nov. 7, 1838.
Samuel Raymond, b. Aug. 25, i8o9;*m. Loretta, dau. Abigail
Belden of Haverstraw, b. June 6, 1813, and d. July 23, 1849;
res. Brooklyn. Ch.
Char/es Henry, b. June 9, 1836; d. Nov. 18, 1838. George Raymond^ b. Jan. 17, 1838; d. May 10, 1849. Louisa J,, b. Feb. 15, 1840; m. April 25, 1867, Edwin M.
Merritt. Samue/ Belien, b. April 8, 1842; d. Nov. 25, 1865. Mary £., b. Dec. 10, 1844; d. Dec. 24, 1844. E/t%a A,, b. July 15, 1846; d. Sept. 25, 1865. Henry Clay^ b. July 16, 1848; res. Kansas.
yobn Benedict. yj
Harriet, b. Feb. 2, 1812; m. Nov. 9, 1839, J^^'^ Merritt; res. South NorwalL
Amanda, b. Aug. 30, 1818 ; in. George, son of Asa^ i}^^) Bene- dict
41. JoHN^ {Benjamiriy^ Benjamin^^ John^* Tbomas^)^ b. New Milford, Ct., probably not far from 1740 ; m. twice ; names of wives unknown. He appears to have settled early in Amenia, Dutchess Co., and is among the signers of the Revolutionary Pledge in 1775. His will, made Aug. 30, 1807, mentions sons Noah, William, Samuel and Allen and dau. Betty. He d. between Aug., 1807, and the recording of his will, Jan. 20, 1808. His ch. b. Amenia. Ch.
126. James, b. Aug. 3, 1780; d. Dec. 6, 1864. •
Noah, a miller by occupation, Norwich, Chenango Co.; killed at
the batde of Queenstown Heights, in war 1812; was unm. WiLUAM, m. Sarah Anson ; d. at Amenia; no issue.
127. Allen, b. July 6, 1792.
Lewis, was well educated, and a teacher in different parts of New York, until a shon time before his death, which occurred about 1837 (?), at Tioga or Owego.
Betsey, m. Asa Hubbell of Amenia.
Samuel, m. Martha Hubbell, b. in Connecticut, and d. Feb., 1855. He d. Feb., 1855, Woodstock. Ch.
CaroUne, m. Cyrenus Wood of Topeka, Kansas. Chiles ^
res. Wis.; m., has number of ch. Bitsj, m. Ringe; res.
Homer. SiiaSf res. Brookdale, Pa. yane^ m. Smith; res.
Truxton. Harriet ^ d. De Ruyter. Sarah, d. De Ruyter.
Liuy, m. Filmore; res. Manlius. Mary, m. Rice; res.
Kansas. Jolm H., b. Aug. 12, 1826, New Woodstock; ro. Margaret
M., dau. Stephen Mills of Schoharie Co., who was b.
1827. Ch.
I. John Henry, b. Sept 8, 1852, Wis. n. Mattie E., b. Sept. 5, 1855. ni. Emma L., b. April 26, 1857.
IV. Clara £., b. Dec. 11, 1861.
V. Margaret R., b. Oct. 19, 1865.
42. Benjamin^ {Benjamin,'* Benjamin,^ John,* Thomas^), h. Dec. 28, 1757 s m. Dec. 7, 1780, Mary, dau. Capt. Timothy Moses of North Canaan, who was b, Aug. 19, 1761, and d. Sept. 25, 1839; he d. Oct. 13, 1828, Canaan, Ct. Ch. all b. Canaan. Ch.
78 Descendants of
128. Moses, b. Sept. 4, 1782; d. May 27, 1863.
129. Benjamin, b. May 26, 1784; d. Dec. 8, 1833.
Samuel, b. May 23, 1786; m. May 14, 1809, Clarissa Bills, who survived him and married 2d, Wm. Newell of Stamford, and d. ; hed. Feb. 13, 1834.
Sarah, b. July 5, 1788; d. Sept. 5, 1791.
Thankful, b. Aug. 29, 1791 ; 91. Mar. 28, 181 9, Daniel Spaulding.
Hannah, b. Feb. 19, 1793; m. April 3, i8ii; Daniel Spauldfng (first wife); d. March 12, 18 14.
130. Timothy, b. May 25, 1795. Phoebe, b. Jan. 19, 1798; m. Feb.
28, 1817, John Watrous Mead of Canaan, Ct. ; d. June 28, 1859. John, b. Nov. 28, 1801; m. March 12, 1820, Nancy Stevens; d.
Oct. 5, 1830; wid. m. 2d, Alex. Roraback of Canaan Valley,
Ct., and d. about 1864. James Knox, b. Nov. 24, 1807; d. April 19, 1828.
43. Daniel* {Daniel^^ Benjamin,^ John,* Thomas^)y b. April 22, 1 741-2, Ridgefield ; m. July 28, 1774, Mary, dau. Timothy Wood of Warwick, where he lived and d. Dec. 23, 1822. He appears to have possessed and improved land in Warwick, prior to July 25, 1782. {CaL N. Y. Hist. MSS. [English], p. 83s). Ch.
Phcebe, b. April 19, 1775; d. Aug. 14, 1776.
Wallace, b. July 27, 1776; m. March 17, 1779, Rachel Depew; settled Indiana, 1839; d. Ch. Peter. Sarah. Ruth. Dan- iel. Rachel.
Hannah, b. Nov. 22, 1777; m. 1802, John Smith.
Mary, b. July