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THE BENEDICT FAMILY NEWS

Volume II Number 3 Winter 1995, pp. 11-20

Editor: Mary Alice Benedict Grindol

Table of Contents

Early Benedict Home Near Saratoga

Staff changes

New Editor

Benedict-Adams Marriage

Re: Memoirs of Bertha Bennett Benedict

Fairfield Probate Records (BENEDICT)

Benedict Saves Norwalk by Getting the Enemy Drunk!

Stephen S. Benedict in Court (Greene Co., New York)

The Stephen S. Benedict Family of Greene County, New York, Ottawa, Illinois, and LaPort County, Indiana

Expanding on the Story of Thomas and Mary (Bridgum) Benedict

Norwalk Vital Records (Aaron thru Henry BENEDICT)

Abstracts - California Cemeteries

Queries (Thomas BENEDICT/ GRANGER/ SEVERING (SEBRING); John, Abraham Lincoln BENEDICT/ HOSPELHORN/ BEEMER/ JONES; Joseph BENEDICT/GREGORY; James BENEDICT/HYATT/GREGORY; Mary BRIDGUM

Norwalk Patent Names Thomas Benedict as Proprietor

Early Benedict Home Near Saratoga
From Coral Crosman, 339 Middle Grove Rd., Middle Grove NY 12850

My intrigue with the surname "Benedict" stems from the discovery, when after a prolonged and sometimes frustrating quest to "date" the old house in Saratoga County in upstate New York where I have lived for nearly 18 years, I learned that it was probably once inhabited by Thomas Benedict [b. 28 Sep 1758], a Revolutionary war soldier and husband to the widow Sweet (Selote Sprague, wife of Theophilus). He was the son of Thomas4 (Thomas3, John2, and Thomas1) of Southold, Long Island.

"My" Thomas B., whose parents died when he was young, has become quite the 'hero" to me (as did the legendary Benedict pioneers) and whenever things get tough (as they can living in a 200 year-old house still in need of restoration although it has been adequately "bastardized"), I am charmed to call up the spirits of all those "survivors" who preceded in this stalwart post-and-beam edifice. It is pretty country here, especially this time of year when the oaks and maples come a-blaze. While most of the farm was sold off before we bought the house in 1976, there is a fan of towering locusts that gracefully border the lot along the line of an old stone wall. They've built too many houses in the area, however, we are just ten minutes from Saratoga Springs. It's a nice little town with a thoroughbred meet in August that draws many visitors, as well as a few other amenities.

Most of my information on Thomas was drawn from Vol. 1 of The Genealogy of the Benedicts in America by Henry Marvin Benedict, which I found in our (NY) State Library here in the capital where I work. I do not know any descendants in the area though I am sure some exist. It was impressive to me that this family moved up into the wilderness here before the native peoples were totally friendly. Although when one looks at the various entrance, exit and "withdrawal" points of a very old house, there were clearly ways to both remain in and leave it inconspicuously.

Just as I would treasure someone writing to me to tell me that they lived in what was once my great-great-great grandfather's home in St. Lawrence County, New York, I thought the occasion of one dwelling under my roof for a decade or two might be of archival interest to living Benedict descendants. In any event, since I am writer, I know I will continue to find inspiration in past characters and the themes of the generations in America from the 1600s onward.

The picture above was taken in a snowstorm. Another picture [which is not shown here because it would not reproduce well] dates from the 1920s or 1930. I am interested in sharing my old house with descendants but I must confess it is not exactly in visitation order at the moment. Somehow, working for 31 years and for the last 18 commuting 41 miles one-way, has not left me an excess of housekeeping energy. Now that our two children are grown, the house is the next priority. It has not had the attention it deserves.

Expanding on the Story of Thomas and Mary (Bridgum) Benedict
Contributed by Jeanne Benedict Weber, 24 Tunstall Rd., Scarsdale NY 10583

It is now believed that Thomas was born in Woolpit, Suffolk, England, in 1617. In Thomas's early years he was apprenticed to a weaver.

When my family lived in England, I visited the Norfolk County Record Office in Norwich. There with the older records upstairs, was proof that the marriage of Thomas and Mary took place in England rather than in America. (account of Deacon James Benedict, grandson in 1755, B of A, Vol. 1, p. 2) Although the record was on microfiche, I believe it was taken of the parish register. The record was in old English script and I enlisted the help of another genealogist working nearby to decipher the following: "Marriage of Thomas Benedict and Mary Bridgum--step-children, [Long] Melford parish [Norwich], England, 1639". I believe the notation "step-children" meant that they were step-siblings, the Benedict family tradition. [see Coddington note in the introductory pages of Vol. 2 B of A.]

As far as I know, the ship on which Thomas Benedict and his bride arrived in America has not been determined. They probably landed in the Beverly, Massachusetts Bay area. Mary's step-mother who was Thomas's mother [Coddington, above] probably came with them. Beverly was in an area where fishing was the major trade. Thomas was not interested in being a fisherman, and so they moved on to New Haven, Connecticut, where they joined the Rev. John Yonges, Presbyterian minister, and his congregation. The whole group left New Haven, sailed across Long Island Sound, touching land at Founders Landing on Peconic Bay. Southold, where they settled, had a few white people living in the area, as well as Indians living in the vicinity--Yennicocks. Mary and Thomas purchased land in the eastern part of Southold, Hashamomack or Arshomomaque, with Henry Whitney and Edward Treadwell. Thomas bought a fourth of land at Hashamomack "lyinge betwixt Tom's Creeke to a fresh ponnd lying by the North Sea with a stand of trees on it, marsh ground and moweinge land lying by Tom's house." Mary and Thomas's log home had a thatched roof and oiled paper windows. Each household was required to have a ladder sufficient to reach the top of his house under penalty of five shillings fine.

Thomas built a grist mill, the first in Southold, at the tidal entrance to the pond. He also "ingaged in distillinge sperrits resin from ye trees in ye great swamp" producing turpentine. Some cows and, perhaps, other animals grazed there.

Thomas's tidal mill was situated on the east side of Tom's Mill Creek in Hashamomack. The tide came in from Peconic Bay and turned the wheel, then as the tide went out, the wheel turned the other way.

Thomas and Mary Benedict had come to settle because of religion, "a church not set with traditions--the settlers were the Lord's Free People. They left homes and families in England, endured the unknown and the inevitable hardships for the sake of their religion. They did not withhold from those who had different ideas on religion, The same liberty which they claimed for themselves." Later, in Jamaica, New York, Thomas was a founder of the Presbyterian Church of America.

In addition to the mill at Hashamomack, Thomas Benedict operated with John Cocklynge, a brick-making business located on Cocklynge's Point on Peconic Bay. Goodman Benedict, as he was called, was able to read and became a respected member of the community. So much so that when Uncas, Sachem of the Mohegan Indians, complained to the Court of New Haven that the Mohansick Sachem had killed and bewitched some of Uncas' men, Uncas asked that Thomas Benedict and Captain Mason (who by 1653 commanded Fort Saybrook) be apppointed to make an adjustment.

Southold was the birth place of Mary and Thomas's first eight children, Thomas Jr., John, Samuel, James, Daniel, Elizabeth, Mary, and Sarah. Rebecca, the ninth, was born after they moved to Huntington.

By June, 1657, Thomas had packed up his family and sold his home, mill, barn, orchard, garden, lot and fences to Thomas Rider. The Benedicts moved to Huntington, Long Island as early settlers there. At a town meeting on February 1660, Thomas was appointed Town Justice to "settle differences between naybars". His name comes up again in Huntington when he helped settle boundary lines with the Indians.

Thomas and Mary moved the whole family again, this time to Jamaica, Long Island, where in December, 1662 Thomas Benedict was asked to lay out the "south meadows". In 1663 he was on a committee "charged to making ye rate of ye menester's house and transporting ye menester, Mr. Walker." On March 20, 1663, Thomas was appointed as magistrate by the Dutch Governor, Peter Stuyvesant. On December 3, 1663, the town meeting voted and agreed that "Goodman Benedik" should be Lieutenant of the town. He was a Lt. of the "train band" (militia) and exercised on the plains of Jamaica. He was later appointed Lt. of the Foot Co. of Jamaica to fight in the Indian Wars. His commission, signed by Governor Nichols, was dated April 7, 1665.

Thomas was the member of the legislative body to create and codify the system of law on the island after the conquest from the Dutch and afterwards of the colonial legislature. Thomas sat on the Capt. John Scott's case as one of the magistrates when the following case was recorded:

"Propounded and voted this 26 of the 12 month, 1663. It was propounded that if Capt. John Scott should come and command the constable to warn a town-meeting, the said constable should not obey him with[?out] he shew just reason. (Capt. John Scott was a bold and seditious adventurer, whose name appears more or less in the records of all the towns on Long Island at this period. He pretended to have authority to adjust the boundaries of this town in its controversy respecting Lloyd's Neck. He made himself notorious by his denunciation of the King's authority and of the connecticut government, until he was finally arrested at Setauket and taken to Hartford, tried and his lands sequestrated. Huntington made short work of him.)"

On January 31, 1664, The Town voted that "Benedik shall have a ten acre lot beyond Rocky Hollow under the Hills to the East of the Jamaica lots already laid out." February 15, 1665, Thomas "Benedyck" signed his name as a witness to a bill of sale. (Extracts of the Jamaica Records).

Long Island was principally settled by the English. On August 27, 1664, the Dutch governor, Peter Stuyvesant, turned over rule to Colonel Richard Nichols. On September 26, 1664, Thomas Benedict, John Bailey and Daniel Denton petitioned Col. Nichols to settle a river called Arthur Cull Bay in New Jersey at present-day Elizabeth. However, Thomas decided not to move his family to that area since the swampy area was considered unhealthy (?malaria). Instead, the Benedict family moved to Norwalk, Connecticut.

Thomas Benedict was still being asked to make depositions in 1672 regarding borders between Huntington and Smithtown on Long Island even after he moved the whole family to Norwalk.

Arriving in Norwalk in 1665, too late to participate in the original allotments, Thomas Benedict managed, probably by buying a portion of land from each of three adjacent property owners, to squeeze out a lot in a most advantageous location next door to the minister and across the street from Matthew Marvin, Jr.

He must have been a welcome addition to people in Norwalk because the people hastened to elevate him to an official station. He was chosen as a fence viewer in 1668 and made selectman in 1688. The selectman system had just come into being the year he arrived, replacing the townsman system. He soon also was appointed Town Clerk, with his firm, clear hand. At the same time he was elected to a much less prestigious post which he apparently willingly undertook, sweeping out the meeting-house. He may have needed the twenty shillings the town paid for this work, but it is more likely that the good Puritan Thomas Benedict accepted this humble task for the Glory of God.

In 1665, at age 48, Thomas was a Lt. in the Southern Connecticut Militia from Norwalk. Thomas and Mary lived in their home on Goodrow Street, corner of Osborne Avenue, Mill Hill, Mill Pond. Their home now is totally unrecognizable.

Their sons, John and Daniel lived next to each other in the "home lott 4 acres Dry Hill". In 1671 Thomas and John Platt were selected to lay out home lots of the Town. At this time Thomas's land value was 150 pounds.

On January 31, 1678, Thomas was chosen to oversee work on building a meeting house. Thomas was appointed to make a new settlement in 1684 at Paquiage, later named Danbury. His sons, James and Daniel settled the new village and built their homes on the south end of Main Street. In 1687 land was given him of 36 lots and commonage valued at 153 pounds.

Thomas died in 1689/90 and is buried in Norwalk. Mary lived on until 1721 when she died at the age of 101 years old. She too, is buried in Norwalk.

Bibliography:

Norwich [?Parish] records, Norfolk Record Office, Central Library, Norwich NR2 1NJ, England.

Bailey, James M., History of Danbury, Conn. 1684-1896 (1896 - reprint)

Benedict, Henry Marvin, Genealogy of the Benedicts in America Vol. 1 (1870, re-published with additions 1969), Elwyn E. Benedict, Syracuse NY, pp. 1-24

Benedict, Elwyn E., Genealogy of the Benedicts in America Vol. II ( 1969), Elwyn E. Benedict, Syracuse NY, "Introduction" (unpaged).

Case, J. Wickam, History of Southold, N.Y. Town Records (1882).

Cooper, Thomas, Records of the Court Sessions of Suffolk County in the Province of NY 1670-1688 (1993-reprint).

Currie-Bell, Ann Hallock, Old Southold Town's Tercentenary (1940).

Frost, Josephine C., (ed.), Records of the Town of Jamaica, L.I., N.Y. 1656-1751, Vol. 1 (1914).

Goodsell, Lewis and Laura (ed.), History of Bethel 1759-1976 (1976).

Goodsell, Lewis E., Sr., Two Hundred Years of the First Congregational Church Bethel (1960, rev. 1976)

Hall, Edwin, The ancient Historical Records of Norwalk (1847-reprint 1987).

Hall, Warren, Pagans, Puritans, Patriots of Yesterday's Southold (1975).

Jefferson, Wayland, Southold Town 1636-1939 [Done for Tercentenary] (1939).

Ray, Deborah and Stewart, Gloria, Norwalk, Historical Account (1979).

Street, Charles (ed.), Huntington Records, Vol. I (1887).

Thompson, Benjamin, History of Long Island; From Its Discovery to Its Settlement; To the Present Time..., Vols. 1 and 2 (1843).

Whitaker, Rev. Epher, History of Southold L.I. -- Its First Century (1881).

Editorial Staff Change

It is with regret that I must resign as editor and production coordinator of our newsletter. My professional workload and personal life just take far more than the 24 hours allotted to each of us per day. Adjustments had to be made. I have enjoyed this past two years but the time has come to hand the project to someone else .

The newsletter will be in extremely capable hands, probably far more capable than "Yours Truly". With a few caveats, Mary Alice Benedict Grindol has agreed to become the new editor. Actually, we are just changing positions - she will be the editor/production coordinator and I will do the copy editing for her as she did for me. The only difference is that I will continue for now as treasurer of the newsletter. That means your subscription payments and back issue requests will continue to come to me.

Thank you all for allowing me the privilege to be a spokesperson for the Benedict family. It has a long and interesting heritage and one of which everyone can be very proud.

Sincerely, Sheila Benedict, CGRS

From Your New Editor

It will be difficult to follow in the footsteps of someone so interested and capable as Sheila Benedict. We certainly owe her a debt of gratitude for spear-heading the newsletter project in the first place, for following through with its publication, and for so capably managing its financial resources, the latter which (thank goodness!) she has agreed to continue to do.

You will notice some changes in format, partly because of this editor's preferences and partly due to a different computer program's capabilities. We hope you will like it. The most obvious change may be the absence of the Benedict Coat of Arms. It is noted in the introduction to Vol. 2, Genealogy of the Benedicts in America, that there is no indication that this decoration was worn or displayed by Thomas Benedict or his ancestors. Coats of Arms were and are awarded to individuals, not families.

We look forward to continuing the publication of historical and genealogical information relating to the large extended Benedict family.

Sincerely, Mary Alice Benedict Grindol, Editor

Benedict/ Adams Wedding

From the Grand Island Journal, 18 November 1892, page 3, column 1, Roll #18, film strips at the Nebraska Historical Society, Lincoln NE.

"Miss Effie Adams was married to Mr. Benedict of Butte, Montana last Wednesday."

Probably pertains to Lewis Platt Benedict, b. 31 July 1863, No. 209 (B of A Vol. II, p. 348), who m. Effie L. Adams, b. ca. 1861, d. 1910. He d. ca. 1943. They resided in Helena, Montana. The marriage date and place was not given in B of A.

Abstracts - California Cemeteries
Contributed by Sheila Benedict, CGRS

Whispering Pines Cemetery, Plumas Co. , CA

Benedict, Linley Ray, of Vermont

Benedict, Mark J

San Lorenzo Cemetery, Alameda Co. , CA

Plot: Benedict, Chaplain, Arnest

Benedict, B 1825-1902

Benedict, P 1815-1900

Chaplain, J 1842-1922

Sophia, wife of J. M. Arnest D 6 Nov 1878, age 50

San Jacinto Valley Cemetery, Riverside Co. , CA

Benedict, Lamont G

South of grave for Byron Benedict, OH

Husband of Mrs. L.M. Benedict

Mountain View Cemetery, Los Angeles Co., CA

Benedict, Bruce H 1902-1931

Catherine 1825-1912

Curtis Thaddeus 1837-1921

Janet M.C. Doig Benedict 1839-1918

Christine Doig 1827-1911

Hiram H 1837-1909 Co I 3rd OH Vol Inf

Lucretia E 1836-1920

Leroy M 1884-1923

Rosedale Cemetery, Los Angeles Co., CA

Benedict, Charles W 23 yrs - Buried 3 Feb 1894

Fairfield Probate Records
Transcribed by Linda Reed and posted on Prodigy® Genealogy Bulletin Board 6/19/1992.

This is a listing from Probate Records of Fairfield, Connecticut Roll 0004197 at the local Family History Center:

Benedict Saves Norwalk By Getting the Enemy Drunk!
Contributed by Barbara Boell, 15704 Pinecroft Lane, Bowie MD 20716

Excerpted from Norwalk After Two Hundred & Fifty Years; An account of the Celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the Charter of the Town (1901), Freeman, South Norwalk, Connecticut.

"The Thomas Benedict house on West Avenue made way some years ago for the residence of the Hon. E.J. Hill, at the corner of Maple Street. Many living persons recollect the old shingled house with a projecting roof, surrounded by an orchard. It was built in 1725 by Thomas Benedict, fourth of that name in Norwalk, and was occupied in 1779 by the family of his son, Deacon Thomas Benedict. On the day of terror, Mrs. Benedict and her four grown children had retreated to the woods at Belden Hill. One of the boys, aged fourteen at the time, remembered the occurrences vividly all his life and in 1847, he related the story to the Rev. Edwin Hall for his history of Norwalk. 'Uncle Tommy Benedict' as he was called, said that he and his father were working on the Benedict farm at East Norwalk, on July 11, 1779, and they were the first to see Tryon's fleet entering the harbor and to give warning of his coming. A patriot guard watched all night and Deacon Benedict set out wine and cider in his porch for their refreshment. Next day these supplies rejoiced the hearts of Gen. Garth's soldiers, some of whom partook too freely; and as the deacon who witnessed the scene used to say, when telling the story, 'a drunken person was as harmless as a corpse'. The delay of Gen. Garth's men at the Benedict house, enabled the Americans to join forces at the Rocks before the two wings of the British troops could meet which held the day a little longer for the defenders of the town. Mr. Benedict remained in his house with his servants after his family's departure, being prevented by a sudden illness from following them. Gen. Garth decided to leave his wounded men at the Benedict house, which resulted in saving it from destruction." [We wonder if anyone every join DAR on this basis -- Ed.]

Stephen S. Benedict in Court
Transcribed July 10, 1990: Greene County, New York, Bronk House Museum, Vedder Memorial Library, Greene County Historical Society by Mary Alice Benedict Grindol

From Files: Court of Common Pleas: Cases Concerning assault in 1817 on Stephen S. Benedict7 (Stephen,6 Stephen,5 Samuel,4 Thomas,3 Thomas,2 Thomas,1)

Stephen S. Benedict vs. James Ferris:

Of the term of May in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and seventeen.

Stephen S. Benedict plaintiff in this suit complains of Joseph Bullis defendant in custody [?] for that where as the said defendant on the tenth day of March in the year of our lord one thousand and eight hundred and seventeen at the town of Coxsackie in the County of Greene made his certain note in writing commonly called a promisory note his own proper hand being thereunto subscribed and then and there delivered the said note to the said plaintiff and thereby promised to pay the said plaintiff or the bearer of the said note the sum of one hundred and thirteen dollars and twenty four cents with interest for value received by the first day of May next ensuing the date of the said note - by reason whereof and by force of the statute in such case made and provided the said defendant became liable to pay the said plaintiff the said sum of money in the said note mentioned according to the tenor and effect of the said note and being so liable he the said defendant in consideration thereof afterward to wit on the day and year aforesaid at the town and in the county aforesaid undertook and then and there faithfully promised the said plaintiff to pay him the said sum of money in the said note mentioned according to the tenor and effect of the said note - and whereas also the said defendant on the day and year aforesaid at the town and in the county aforesaid was indebted to the said plaintiff in the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars for so much money by the said plaintiff before that time last and advanced to the said defendant at his special instance and request - and being so indebted he the said defendant in consideration thereof afterwards to wit on the day and year aforesaid at the town and in the county aforesaid undertook and then and there, faithfully promised the said plaintiff to pay him the last mentioned sum of money when he should be thereunto afterwards requested - Yet the said defendant hath hitherto wholly refused and still doth refuse, to the damage of the said plaintiff of two hundred dollars and thereof he bring suit.

VanDyck & Bronk

Attnys for Ptff

Stephen S. Benedict puts in his place Abraham VanDyck & John L. Bronk his Attornies against Joseph Bullis in a plea of tre[??ssofs?] in the case -----

Green Com Pleases: James Ferris acct Stephen S. Benedict

And the said James Ferris by Erastus Barney his Attorney come and defends the force & injury when [?] and says that he is not guilty of the said supposed [???] assult and Battery above laid to his charge or any part thereof in manner & form at the said Stephen S. Benedict hath above thereof complained against him. And this he puts himself upon the Country [?Court? or County?] & the said Stephen dothe the like.

Erastus Barney Attorney

for the defendant

James Ferris puts in his place Erastus Barney his Attorney at the [?] of Stephen S. Benedict in the plea aforesaid.

Gentlemen:

Please to take notice that the above named defendant will give in evidence on the trial of the above cause according to the form of the statute in which made & provided that if the said Defendants ever did in any manner lay hands on or assaults said Plaintiff in the manner stated in said plintiff declaration it was the consequence of a previous assult & Batter committed by said Plaintiff on said defendant & in his own [?] Just & legal defence & that if any injury then & there happened to said plaintiff it was in Consequence of his improper attack on said Defendant & not from any [?] or misbehavior of said Defendant.

March 19th 1817 E. Barney Attorney for Defnt

Vandyck & Bronk Esquires

Attorney for Pltff

Greene Com: Please Of the term of January one thousand eight hundred seventeen

Stephen S. Benedict complains of James Ferris in custody for that the said James on the twentieth day of October one thousand eight hundred & sixteen at the town of Greeneville in the county of Greene with force and arms & made an assult upon the said Stephen, and then & there beat, bruised, wounded and ill treated him insomuch that his life was thereby then and there greatly despaired of - And also for that the said James on the day & year aforesaid at the town & in the county aforesaid with force and arms to wit with fists, clubs, feet, whips and dogs made another assult upon him the said Stephen and then & there again beat, bruised, wounded attacked and ill treated him the said Stephen and other wrongs to have then & there did aginst the peace of the people of the State of New York and to the damage of the said Stephen of three hundred dollars & thereof he brings suit.

VanDyck & Bronk

Attornys for Plttif- Pledges

Stephen S. Benedict puts in his place Abrahm VanDyck and John L. Bronk his attornies against James Ferris in a plea of [?trespassing?] & assault.

Re: Memoirs of Bertha Bennett Benedict

We regret that we will not be able to continue excerpts from the Memoirs of Bertha Bennett Benedict which was began last issue. The good news is that the complete book will be out soon and we are promised notification of its publication. Following are excerpts from the letter received from Edith Postill Cole, the granddaughter of Bertha Bennett Benedict:

The recent Benedict Family News was of utmost interest to me. It was neat to see some of Grandma's memoirs in print.

However, I'm afraid I have a disappointment in this regard.

I am truly sorry, but my Agent for the book I am writing, was incensed that I had released the section of the memoirs on Grandma's trip North, for publication in the Benedict Family News. Because it is the "core" of my book, he feels that it is best if I revoke the permission to print it in the Benedict Family News, and request it be returned to me.

I had a check in my Spirit in this regard when I mailed it and should have obeyed the hesitance...

Again I express my regrets and can only ask that you understand and forgive.

Edith Postill Cole, 112 Woodside Close, Airdrie, Alberta. T4B 2C7, Jan. 2, 1995

The Stephen S. Benedict Family of Greene County, New York, Ottawa, Illinois, and La Port County, Indiana
Compiled by Mary Alice Benedict Grindol

Stephen S. Benedict7 (Stephen,6 Stephen,5 Samuel,4 Thomas,3 Thomas,2 Thomas,1) born 18 Dec 1781 married 27 Sep 18071 or 18082 Miriam, the daughter of Joseph and Miriam Waldron born 3 July 1787. Their children were all born in Greenville, New York3 or probably Durham4, both in Greene County in the Catskill Mountains.

Stephen purchased a soldier's claim in Illinois and went there to locate upon it in the spring of 1827. They sailed up the Hudson River to Albany, then went in a canal boat to Buffalo. From there a sail vessel took them west on Lake Erie. They went up the Detroit River to Lake St. Clair, then sailed up Lake Huron to the Straits of Mackinac. Here they had to wait four weeks. There was a camp of friendly Indians and before almost every Indian hut there was a young pet bear tied. They sailed in a vessel loaded with supplies for the soldiers at Fort Dearborn, Chicago. They arrived at Fort Dearborn late in the fall and there were only four houses outside the fort. Stephen Benedict left his family at the fort and went on horseback to see his land situated on Spooner River in Fulton County, Illinois around present-day-Galesburg in the western part of the state. As far as he could learn, there was not a house within 50 miles and he gave up the idea of taking his family there immediatelly.

At Fort Dearborn, the women in the family did washing for the soldiers. Holland Benedict (Joseph Holland, Stephen's eldest son) then only 14 years old, furnished the family with meat. Game was plentiful. He killed a sandhill crane nearly as high as his head in the bulrushes at the fork of the Chicago River. Holland could jump over the river near Lake Michigan, the stream was so narrow. The family could hear wildcats every night in the river swamps at night.

In the spring of 1828, the Benedict family moved to Ottawa in north-central Illinois where Stephen purchased land and made some improvements. He intended to make improvements on his claim on the Spooner River while his family stayed at Ottawa, one of eight families. Instead, he died 24 Dec 1828, aged 47 years. The children were all minors and the law of Illinois dictated that minor children of a widow must be bound out to various families to raise. To prevent this, Miriam (Waldron) Benedict, packed up and started in the dead of the winter for Indiana. Henry Clyburn married Sarah, their eldest daughter, and accompanied them. Blinding snow storms met them almost daily on the way. It was so intensely cold that the oxen's ears and noses froze and some family members also had frozen faces. The lead oxen's eyes filled with ice so that they could not see. Then the leaders were taken out and placed behind. This was repeated several times.

They finally reached Chicago and remained there a short time. While there, Henry Clyburn sent word to some friends living in Berrien County, Michigan to meet them near what is now Westville, Indiana. The Benedict family arrived in Westville 15 March 1829 and with the help of their friends, erected a cabin for the family and another for one of the friends.

There were fifteen inches of snow and no feed for their stock when they arrived. So that the oxen would not starve, the poor critters were allowed to browse on the twigs of small trees which the settlers cut.

The family had managed to keep some potatoes for seed by placing them in a barrel of corn and wrapping blankets around the barrel. The first season, the Benedicts, the Clyburns, and their friends raised a good crop. They traded the surplus to the Indians for furs and then sold the furs to the Indian traders for cash. Game was plentiful.

They were considered the first settlers in La Port County. At first sale of land at Logansport, Indiana, Henry Clyburn gave Mrs. Miriam Benedict's bid at $1.25 per acre. A speculator bid $1.26. John Walker asked who it was that dared to bid against a widow and the oldest settler and threatened to shoot the person. As a result, Miriam got her land at government prices while others paid $5 or more per acre. This 160 acres of land was northeast of present-day Westville. One-half heavy timber, the other half lies on Door Prairie. The woods were filled with maple trees from which the family made sugar and syrup each spring. Miriam, who was quite tall and fleshy, was independent, fearless, and self-reliant. She lived on this farm the remainder of her life.5

The children of Stephen S. and Miriam Benedict were:

i. died young

ii. died young

iii. Sarah b. 7 Jan 1812 m. 24 May 1828 Henry Clyburn. Their child Elizabeth Miriam b. July 16 1829 was the first white child born in La Porte Co., Indiana.

iv. Joseph Holland b. 29 Sep 1813 m. 2 Nov 1862, Letitia, dau. Jared M. Whittaker, b. 24 May 1819.

v. Affa M. b. 16 Feb 1815 m. 6 Nov 1834 Ben T. Bryant, d. about 1864.

vi. Levi Jones b. 29 Nov 1817 d. Aug 18806

vii John Keeler b. 23 Apr 1820 m. 1847 Susannah Morgan; went to California 1852 and d. 1853.

viii James Waldron b. 19 Sep 18227

References:

1. "Benedict Family History", no date, typescript in Family Histories Drawer at Valparaiso Public Library, Valparaiso IN. Presented by Mrs. Agnes Kessler, Union Mills IN 1981.

2. Henry Marvin Benedict, Genealogy of the Benedicts in America Vol. 1 (1870, re-published with additions 1969), Elwyn E. Benedict, Syracuse NY, p. 38.

3. ibid.

4. Note 1.

5. Jasper Packard, History of La Port County, Indiana and its Townships, Towns, and Cities (1876), S.E. Taylor & Co., pp. 413-414, 785-786. See also Note 1.

6. Probate record of Levi J. Benedict, B: 417, La Porte County Clerk, La Porte, Indiana. (abstracted by compiler 1984)

7. Note 2.

Norwalk Patent Names Thomas Benedict as Proprietor
From Norwalk (1896) by Rev. Charles M. Selleck, Norwalk, Conn., pp. 21-22
Contributed by Barbara Boell

In PURSUANCE of the above ORDER the following PATENT was taken out by the TOWN OF NORWALK

THE GOVERNOUR and COMPANY,

Etc., Etc., to

THE PROPRIETORS of the TOWNSHIP OF NORWALK

Patent Dated July 8th, 1686; Recorded Vol. 4, page 1

The patent begins as follows: --

"Whereas, the Generall Court of Connecticut have formerly granted unto ye proprietors inhabitants of Norwalk, all those lands both meadow and upland within these abutments, upon the Sea on the South and to runn from the sea twards the north full Twelve miles, and abut on the Wilderness on the North, and on Fairfield bounds on the East, and on Stamford bounds on the West, the said land having been by purchase or otherwise lawfully obtained by the Indian native proprietors;" etc.

And goes on as follows: --

"Know ye that on said Governor and Company, assembled in Generall Court, according to the commission, and by virtue of the power granted to them, by our late Sovereigne LORD KING CHARLES the Second of Blessed memory, in his late patent bearing date the three and twentieth day of Aprill in the fourteenth year of his said majesties Reigne, Have given and granted, and by these presents do give and grant, Ratifie and Confirme, unto Mr. Thomas Fitch, Mr. Thomas Hanford, Capt. Richard Olmstead, Mr. Thomas Bennedick [emphasis the editor's], Mr. Walter Hoyt, Mr. Matthew Marven, Mr. John Ruscoe, Mr. Nathaniel Hayes, Mr. Daniel Kellog, and Mr. Thomas Seamore, and the rest of the present proprietors of the Township of Norwalk, and their heirs and assigns forever, and to each of them, in such proportion as they have already agreed upon for the division of the same, all that aforesaid tract and parcell of land as it is butted and bounded; together with all the woods, upland, arable lands, meadows, pastures, ponds, havens, ports, waters, rivers, adjoining Islands, fishings, huntings, fowlings, mines, mineralls, quarries, and precious stones, upon or within the said tract of land, and all other profits and commodities thereunto belong, or in any wise appertaining; AND do also grant unto the afore named Mr. Thomas Fitch, and Mr. Thomas Hanford, · · · · · · &c., that the aforesaid tract of land shall be forever hereafter deemed, and reputed, and be, an entire township of itself."

"... IN WITNESS whereof, we have caused the seal of the Colony to be hereunto affixed, this eighth day of July, 1686..."

Norwalk Vital Records
From Connecticut Vital Records, Barbour Collection, Connecticut State Library 1925, LDS microfilm 19460
Transcribed by Mary Alice Benedict Grindol

All names are surnamed Benedict and its variations: Benydicke, Bennedick, Benedick. The Volume refers to the book in the town records of Norwalk in which the original record is found. The brackets, inserted by the original compiler, Barbour, apparently indicate questions or additional information not in the original

record. b=born or both, m=married, d=died or daughter.

Given name(s) & event Vol Page

Aaron m. Sally Mallory, June 2, 1796 [Vol & page not copied]

Abigall, d., Tho[mas], Jr. b. June 8, 1682 LR1 155

Abigail, d. Sam[ue]l [& Jemima], b. July 7, 1735 LR4 9

Abigail, d. Isaac & Jane, b. July 24, 1781 LR18 39

Abraham, s. Samuell, b. June 21, 1681 LR1 137

Alfred, s. Nathaniel & Anah, b. May 7, 1791 d. July [ ], 1791 LR18 34

Alfred, s. John & Jane, b. Dec. 27, 1793 LR18 6

Amanda, ae 29, b. Norwalk, res. Vienna. O. m. George Benedict, hatter ae 41, res.Norwalk, Dec. 16, 1847, by Rev. Henophen Betts 1 47

Amy, d. Isaac & Jane, b. May 19, 1791 LR18 39

Andrew, s. Nathaniel & Anah, b. June 21, 1772 LR18 34

Ann, m. Erastus White, Sept. 8, 1823, by William Benney, New Canaan 1 5

Ann Eliza, ae 27, b. Ridgefield, res. Norwalk, m. Henry Allen, carpenter, ae 26, b. Danbury, res. Norwalk, Jan. 5, 1848, by Rev. Thomas T. Green 1 46

Anner, d. Nathaniel & Mary, b. Aug. 6, 1739 LR18 26

Annah, m. Matthew Keeler, Jr., Dec. [ ], 1769 LR19 8

Anna, d. William & Nancy, b. July 31, 1783 LR18 4

Anah, d. Nathaniel & Anah, b. Dec. 24, 1785 LR18 34

Anah, w. Nathaniel, d. Feb. 26, 1792 LR18 34

Asa, s. Nathaniel & Anah, b. July 7, 1781 LR18 34

Asa, m. Ruth Hanford, b. of Norwalk, Dec. 19, 1830 by Henry Benedict 1 14

Betsey, d. Jesse & Esther, b. Oct. 27, 1786 LR18 35

Betsey, d. William & Betty, b. Jan. 12, 1811 LR18 4

Betsey, m. Hampton Betts, b. of Norwalk, Aug. 27, 1829 by Henry Benedict 1 12

Betty, d. Capt. Thomas, m. Thomas Betts, Jr. May 22, 1748 LR9 2

Betty, d. Nathaniel & Mary, b. Feb. 20, 1759 LR18 26

Betty, m. Enoch Scribner, Mar. 22, 1781 LR18 45

Billy, s. James & Thankful, b. Mar. 7, 1777 LR18 38

Caleb, s. James & Thankful, b. July 6, 1783 LR18 38

Charles, s. William & Nancy, b. Sept. 29, 1785 LR18 4

Charles, s. William & Betty, b. Feb. 17, 1802 LR18 4

Charlotte, d. William & Nancy, b. Sept. 29, 1785 LR18 4

Daniel, s. Thomas [& Rachel], b. Apr. 7 17[ ] LR4 8a

Daniel, s. Thomas [& Rachel], d. June 9, 17[ ] LR4 8a

Daniel, s. Sam[ue]ll [& Jemima], b. Mar. 8, 1729/30 LR4 9

David, s. Jesse & Esther, b. Nov. 24, 1771 LR18 35

David, s. James & Thankful, b. Sept. 22, 1772; d. Mar. 2, 1773 LR18 38

David, 2nd, s. James & Thankfull, b. Apr. 7, 1774 LR18 38

Debean(?), d. Aaron & Sally, b. June 1, 1797 LR18 37

Deborah, d. Tho[ma]s [& Deborah], b. Jan. 8, 1728 LR4 10

Deborah, d. Thomas & Hannah, b. Apr. 14, 1761 LR18 2

Deborah, m. Samuel Burrall, Jan. 1, 1782 LR18 1

Deborah Burrull, [twin with Fanny Row], d. W[illia]m & Nancy, b. Dec. 30, 1798 LR18 4

Dinah, d. Hezekiah [& Martha], b. Aug. 7, 1767 LR19 6

Elijah, s. Jesse & Esther, b. June 16, 1782 LR18 35

Eliza, d. Hezekiah & Martha, b. Feb. 24, 1776 LR19 6

Elisabeth, m. Ezra Pickett, Mar. 30, 1761 LR18 28

Ester, d. Tho[mas], Jr., b. Oct. 5, 1679 LR1 155

Esther, d. Sam[ue]l [& Jemima], b. Sept. 9, 1737 LR4 9

Esther, d. Nathaniel & Mary, b. Jan. 15, 1749 LR18 26

Esther, m. Uriah Raymond, Jan. 20, 1766 LR18 34

Esther, m. Moses Raymond, Nov. 20, 1774 LR18 30

Esther, d. Jesse & Esther, b. Dec. 26, 1776 LR18 35

Esther, d. William & Nancy, b. May 10, 1798 LR18 4

Esther, m. Edward Smith, May 22, 1811, at New York City, by Rev. Mr. How LR19 10

Esther, of Norwalk, m. William Benedict, of Hudson, N.Y., Oct. 6, 1834, by Edwin Hall 1 18

Eunice, d. Hezekiah & [Martha], b. Oct. 11, 1770 LR19 6

Eunice, 2nd. d. Hezekiah & [Martha], b. Apr. 22, 1774 LR19 6

Fanny R. m. Williston Benedict, b. of Norwalk, Nov. 8, 1822, by Sylvester Eaton 1 4

Fanny Row [twin with Deborah Burrull], d. W[illia]m & Nancy, b. Dec. 30, 1798 LR18 4

George, hatter, ae 41, res. Norwalk, m. 2nd w. Amanda Benedict, ae 29, b. Norwalk, res. Vienna, O., Dec. 16, 1847, by Rev. Henophen Betts 1 47

Goold, s. Isaac & Jane, b. Feb. 4, 1776 LR18 39

Goold, m. Julia Ann Benton, Nov. 26, 1835, by Edwin Hall 1 20

Hanniah, d. Tho[ma]s, Jr., b. Jan. 8, 1676 LR1 111

Hannah, d. Tho[mas] [& Deborah], b. Dec. 13, 1733 LR4 10

Hannah, m. John Carter, Oct. [ ], 1753 LR18 37

Hannah, d. Thomas & Hannah, b. Feb. 18, 1759 LR13 2

Hannah, d. Nehemiah & Hannah, b. Dec. 11, 1759 LR4 9

Hannah, d. Jesse & Esther, b. May 18, 1765 LR18 35

Hannah, d. Nathaniel & Hannah, b. Oct. 20, 1765 LR18 26

Hannah, m. Isaac Richards, Oct. 14, 1779 LR18 17

Hannah, m. Stephen Wood, Apr. 3, 1782 LR18 38

Hannah, w. Nehemiah, d. Dec. 6, 1783 LR4 9

Hannah, d. Nehemiah & Hannah, d. Feb. 21, 1786 LR4 9

Hannah, m. Nehemiah Benedict, 2nd, Oct. 26, 1786 LR18 41

Hannah, d. Nathaniel & Anah, b. July 4, 1789 LR18 34

Hannah, d. Nehemiah & Hannah, b. Oct. 18, 1790 LR18 41

Hannah, w. Nathaniel, d. Jan. 31, 1795 LR18 26

Harriet, m. Wolcott Downs, July 15, 1786 LR18 38

Henry, s. John & Jane, b. Jan. 22, 1796 LR18 6

Henry m. Mary B. Lockwood, b. of Norwalk, Sept. 1, 1823, by Sylvester Eaton 1 5

(To be Continued)

Queries

Abbreviations: s/o,son of; d/o,daughter (dau) of; w - wife; b,bpt,m,d - born, baptized, married, died.

Please Note: These addresses may no longer be current

Need ancestors of both Thomas BENEDICT b. ca. 1779 & wife Sophronia b. ca 1781. Lived in Blendon, OH in 1830. Child: Sophrona b. ca. 1801 & Silvia b. 1812. Sophrona mar. Moses GRANGER, Silva mar. Charles SEVERING (SEBRING).
James Lewis, 6021 Summerdale, Huntington Beach, CA 92647

Need ancestors of John BENEDICT b. 12 Feb 1825 mar. 25 Apr 1861 Esther Marie HOSPELHORN b. 1 Jan 1842, Child: Abraham Lincoln b. 9 Sep 1862, Susan Jane b. 9 Jun 1864, Laura Bell b. 21 Oct 1865, William Rush b. 20 Jan 1867, Emma May b. 25 Mar 1869, Anna Margaret b. 26 Mar 1872, Barbara Ellen b. 26 Mar 1872 (twins), Mary Elizabeth b. 25 Nov 1873, Dessa Maria b. 20 Jul 1877, John Henry b. 12 Feb 1881. Son Abraham Lincoln BENEDICT b. Franklin Co. PA., mar. Eliza Jane BEEMER of Scranton PA, 15 Dec 1891. Their dau. Bertha Francis b. 10 Nov 1895 mar. Harry JONES 4 Jun 1913. (Queries Editor Note: This may be a German line.)
Ronnie L. Jones, 541 Windsor Dr., Allen, TX 75002

Need the maiden name of Anne 1st wife of Joseph BENEDICT, son of John & Phoebe (GREGORY) BENEDICT.
Nathan Benedict, 2959 Waudman Ave., Stockton, CA 95209

Need ancestors of Thomas HYATT Sr. b. 20 Sep 1618, ENG, gfather of Sarah HYATT wife of James BENEDICT, son of John & Phoebe (GREGORY) BENEDICT.
Roberta Pierson, 8330 Allene Creek Ct., Citrus Heights, CA 95610

Has the death date of Mary BRIDGUM BENEDICT been ascertianed? I have dates of 1616-1716 to 1619-1719. Would like the latest finding.
Barbara Boell, 15704 Pinecroft Lane, Bowie, MD 20716