THE BENEDICT FAMILY NEWS
Volume 1 Number 3 Fall 1993
Editor: Sheila Benedict CGRS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Queries: BENEDICT/ CRONKITE/ WATERS/ BOSTWICK/ HUBBELL/ BORDERS/ TAYLOR/ STARR/ BARNUM/ RHODES/ DRINKWATER
* * * IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE * * *
THE FOLLOWING WAS SENT TO ROBERTA PIERSON - OUR QUERIES EDITOR - BY ELWYN ELLSWORTH BENEDICT. SHE THEN FORWARDED THE DATA TO YOUR EDITOR. IT IS IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. ..
FAY-BRIDGUM CONNECTION: CORRECTION ON THE ANCESTRY OF MARY BRIDGUM
By Elwyn Benedict
LDS Ancestral File Records on the parentage of Mary BRIDGUM (BRIGHAM) born about 1621 or before, state she is the daughter of Thomas BRIDGUM and Mercy HURD.
Just check. the dates and you can easily see this is absolutely impossible. See page 14 of the "Fay Genealogy", by Orline P. Fay, Cleveland, Ohio, Oct. 10 1898.
John FAY's first wife Mary, was the first BRIGHAM girl born in New England. Her father Thomas BRIGHAM was the ancestor of the BRIGHAM family. He was born in England in 1603. Embarked for America at London April 18,1635 at the age of 32, in the ship Susan and Ellen, Edward PAYNE, master. Thomas settled in Watertown, MA, set off as Cambridge. He married 1637 Mercy HURD. Mercy was born in England. They had five children, their first child Mary BRIGHAM was born 1641-1648. She married John FAY, not Thomas BENEDICT. In fact Thomas BENEDICT's wife was born about 1621 and she already had children by 1641.
NOTE: Elwyn E. Benedict is the author of Genealogy of the Benedicts in America Volume II. He edited and published (both in 1969) the first volume, originally written by Henry Marvin Benedict in 1870. And, he is currently compiling data for a future Volume III. It is our understanding Elwyn has submitted this correction to the LDS Ancestral File & it should be in the next update.
To date, we have about 66 subscribers to our newsletter. A breakdown by states: California 12 followed by Michigan and New York 9, Ohio and Florida 5 each, Iowa 4, Louisiana 3, New Jersey, Oregon and Washington 2 each, then 1 each from Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia. Making us an international publication, 2 are from Canada!
In case you are wondering, subscriptions are ample to cover this first year's BFN. Although as other groups do, we send out quite a few "complimentary" copies (select genealogical societies and magazines), we are still Okay. As editor, I only take expenses (phone, invoicing, paper, labels, some photocopying, FAX's, etc.) to produce the newsletter and that certainly holds down the cost. The largest expense, obviously, is to Larry to cover the printing and postage.
A list of subscribers, along with their ancestral line back to Thomas1, will be published in the next issue. [This will not be included in the electronic version for privacy purposes.] In this way, some of you may find family by checking the names. So, if you would jot down your line on a postcard before the next issue, it will be published beside your name; e.g. Paul Dewey Benedict SR.10, Henry Dewey9, Henry Bigelow8, Nicholas7, Cyrus6, Aaron5, Gideon4, Joseph3, John2, Thomas1. HELP!: One of our subscribers, Jeffrey Propper, is in the military. His newsletter came back stating his "APO" has been replaced. If anyone can help locate a new address, please let us know. Jeffrey was one of the first to subscribe and surely is wondering what has happened.
Jeanne Benedict Weber, Scarsdale, NY has sent some nice maps showing old ancestral locations in Connecticut. Included are articles from one of two publications of the Historical Society of Bethel, CT. Both books have been ordered and I plan to use quotes from them starting, hopefully, in the next issue.
Edith Cole, Calgary, Alberta has offered to send some history of Benedicts in Alberta and British Columbia. Yes Yes Yes, we look forward to that data and will happily print it. [See Vol. 2 no. 2 issue of this newsletter.]
Herman Weiland, Bossier City, LA informed us he is a descendant of Aaron5 (see above) and mentions The History of Peru Township - Morrow County, OH (see full citation) as his source. Coincidentally, excerpts from that book, a diary kept by Cyrus's wife, Hannah (Barker) - are quoted in this issue.
Condolences to Marjorie Tezak, MI, who writes that her mother, Lois C. Courtney, passed away on 25 June 1993 at the age of 98 ½ years! Lois’ mother was Thirza Benedict, daughter of Ezra Benedict.
On page 703, is listed the twentythird Regiment Infantry, Connecticut Volunteers; Infantry, Company G:
"...mustered into service November 14th, 1862 Corporal Edwin Benedict, Newton [sic] Enlisted Sept 7th 1862 Honorably discharged August 31, 1863."
She also sent copies of "Company Muster Roll" sheets, one of which shows his age as 28 years in 1862. Edwin was Nancy’s Great-Grandfather. Good validation of Civil War service AND, if needed, a way to determine his age.
COLORADO BENEDICTS OF ARCHITECTURAL FAME
Bonita Hutcheson, CO has sent some really interesting information on some Colorado Benedicts. Thought we should pass this along as written:
"Quite a number of buildings in the Denver, Colorado Springs area were designed and built by Jules Jacques Benois Benedict. I do not know where in the family he fits. The major article I have from the Denver Post refers to him as Jacques Benedict:...'A native Chicagoan, the flamboyant Benedict in 1909 set up practice in Denver where he built homes, schools and other public buildings through the 1 930's...' (Home '88, The Sunday Denver Post/Contemporary/April 17, 1988). I would be glad to send copies of this article to anyone interested. There is a great deal of information about him, as well as the different structures he designed.
There is (or was, he recently passed away) another prominent designer named Frederic "Fritz" Benedict who came to Colorado in the early 1940's as a member of the Army's 10th Mountain Division. He is well known for not only buildings, but ski slopes. I have a small newspaper article on him also.
As far as I know neither of these fine gentlemen are related to me. But we do have other Architects. My mother's brother Dale Benedict, now of London, England is an architect. My daughter, Marnie Louise Hutcheson is a Civil Engineer. . . "
All of Bonita's missive is very interesting. She speaks of the Benedict COAT OF ARMS, stating her Aunt, Velma Benedict, drew one up similar to the one on our heading but hers includes a lantern! And, she is trying to find out where her aunt got the information. Like Jeanne Weber, Bonita also mentions the value of Bethel, CT research. YES, I would like copies of those newspaper articles, Bonita. And, on behalf of all of us, may I thank you for your interesting contribution to our fledgling newsletter.
As noted in the last newsletter, one of our subscribers, Dr. James Benedict, San Pedro, CA, is an artist and poet. I have learned he is quite talented and it was suggested our newsletter might benefit from his work. If you are interested in assisting this publication, Dr. Benedict, please contact me. I am sure your Benedict "relatives" would be delighted and honored to have something of yours printed in this new publication. (See Vol. 4, no. 1)
Nancy Greist responds re Benedicts who served in the Civil War. Her son, Darton E. Greist III, found the Catalog of Connecticut Volunteer Organizations, compiled from Records in the Adjutant-General's Office and Published by Order of the Legislature, Horace J. Morse, Adjutant-General. Hartford: Press of Case, Lockwood & Co., 1864.
Delores Messerly, MT is new to researching Benedict genealogy. Her line: Myra Catherine Benedict Agard (m George E. Agard), dau William R. Benedict. Myra was Delores' great grandmother. Welcome, Delores and good luck with your research. Hopefully, this newsletter will assist in your search.
Finally, mention need to be made of requests from researchers of German Benedict ancestry. One, David Benedict, of Metairie, LA has subscribed to BFN. His answer to our questionnaire states that his family is from Syracuse, NY. He recently completed law school, has one son, Blake, and another child due this December.
In addition, I have had two telephone calls from Caroline Fine, who is also a German Benedict Descendant. Her concern is that BFN might not assist her research. My answer - our focus is descendants and ancestors of Thomas1 but who knows? The German Benedict Line may intersect with the English somewhere back in history. And, maybe not. However, the only way to find out is to let other researchers know. And, let us not forget EEB and Volume III (wow, I just realized it rhymes!). In this editor's opinion, he should have ALL data Benedict researchers have to offer. [Later issues of this newsletter focus of all American Benedict, regardless on their ancestral origins.]
NOTE: Generation superscript numbering are NOT used in queries. Abbreviations: s/o,son of; d/o,daughter (dau) of; w -wife; b, bpt, m, d - born, baptized, married, died.
Need parentage of Jane CRONKITE, b abt 1800 poss Dutchess Co. NY, d 13 Jan 1875 Lockport, Niagara Co. NY, m Hiram BENEDICT b 31 Oct 1800 prob. NY, d 21 Sep 1836 Niagara Co. NY, s/o Amos BENEDICT and Mary MUNN.
Verne L. Benedict, 1236 Lucia Lane, Sacramento, CA 95822
Looking for information on the siblings, parents & any other antecedents of Ellen VARNER who m near Paulding Co. OH, Richard Waters BENEDICT (1840-1934). Also interested in info on Richard's mother Hannah WATERS b 1815, m Martin BENEDICT as his 2nd wife in 1840 in Morrow or Delaware Co. OH. Laurie Lightfoot, 263 Hanging Moss Trail Shreveport, LA 71106
Searching for the "Welsh wife" of Obadiah BENEDICT. Obadiah was bpt. 25 Sep 1765, Bethel, CT. I would like to correspond with anyone who has BENEDICT relatives in Franklin Co. OH and Washington Co., IN. Janie Weaver, 9709 Admiral Emerson NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111
Looking for wife of John BENEDICT, s/o Benjamin & Hannah BOSTWICK BENEDICT. John b. 1740 CT, d 1808 NY. His dau. Elizabeth b 1791 NY m. 1809 Asa HUBBELL in Amenia, NY.
Barbara Boell, 15704 Pinecroft Lane, Bowie, ND 20716
Need parents & siblings of Elizabeth J. BENEDICT b ca 1827 OH, m. Henry B. BORDERS, 19 Mar 1848, Pike Co. IN, prob d there 1869-75.
Sarah L. Rowe (address not given)
Searching for Rial BENEDICT b. 21 Mar 1821, Genesee, NY m 30 Dec 1844 Kane Co. IL, d in Oregon. His father thought to be a Thomas BENEDICT.
June Cougle, 224 Western Ave., Grants Pass, OR 97526
Need information on Elizabeth BENEDICT, d/o James BENEDICT, w/o Daniel TAYLOR of Danbury, CT.
William E. Dennis, 221 Race St., Edgewood, PA 15218
Need parents of Achsah BENEDICT, w/o Thomas Barnum whose mother Jerusha STARR BARNUM, m 2nd Capt. Elisha BENEDICT (no. 17, pg 289) in "Benedicts in America".
Karen F. Miller, 5682 Whispering Pines, 8tevensville, MI 49127
Seeking info on Jacob RHODES b. 1815 m. Ann, b 1825. Children: Isaac, Alanzo, Sarah, Jesse, Simson, Enice, & Phebe. Phebe m. John McGORDY BENEDICT 11 Dec 1879 Liking Co. OH. They moved to
Grimes, IA ca 1884.
Larry Benedict, 613 20th St., West Des Moines IA 50265-0335
Looking for information on descendants (and ancestry) of Elizabeth BENEDICT, b. 17 Jan 1728, Norwalk, CT; d bef 1773; d/o Benjamin (b. 1678, Norwalk, CT; d 3 Jul 1773, Stamford, CT) & Mary BENEDICT. Elizabeth married 18 Dec 1728, Farifield Co., CT, to William DRINKWATER.
Gary Smith, 25400 Country Club Blvd., #2, North Olmstead, OH
Seeking descendants of Henry Lawton BENEDICT, b 5 Dec 1849 in NY, d 25 Apr 1927 in Los Angeles Co. CA. Wife Anna.
Ivan Benedict, 1023 Ontario at., Port Huron, MI 48060
The following is extracted (in two parts) from:
History of Peru Township, Morrow Countv. Ohio, Senteniel Printing House, Mt. Gilead, Ohio, 1897 - From a recopy by Larry R. Benedict, (1st Cousin, 4 generations removed of Aaron E. Benedict and Great-Great-Great Grandson of Hannah Barker Benedict, November 1992)
(Editor's note - it is hard for us today to imagine the hardships early settlers had - this diary is just one example of a young family in a young land and their struggle to survive. It is especially true of Hannah herself as she works as wife & mother AND does man's work as well because of Cyrus' poor health.)
PART ONE:
A brief history of our settling of Alum Creek, in Peru Township, Morrow County (then Delaware) Ohio. Written in 1858, by request of her children, by Hannah Gidley, formerly Benedict - Whose maiden name was Barker.
"Cyrus Benedict and Hannah Barker were married in Peru township, Clinton County, N.Y., in the year 1798, and on the 4th of September 1809, we left Peru, N.Y., with our then three children, Anna, Sylvester and Clarinda, for the far off State of Ohio, a distance of nearly one thousand miles. Our journey was over the Allegheny Mountains, no nearer route having been opened. To obtain company on the way and in the new settlement we expected to make we loaned Abraham Vanduser $40 and agreed to take out pay of him in labor and grain in Ohio.
We had a long and tedious journey arriving in Sunbury, Delaware County, Ohio on the 15th of November 1809. We moved in with another family.
Our second son was born the 15th of January 1810; when he was two weeks old we moved on to a farm which we had rented in Sunbury for one year. Soon after this Cyrus was taken sick; his recovery was doubtful for a long time. He had gained strength slowly, enough by planting time to walk a little. The neighbors were very kind to us in his sickness; they provided wood, shaved him, and otherwise assisted me in taking care of him; they plowed three acres and planted it with corn. He was able to ride out and get help to hoe corn, though very feeble, and went over twenty miles to mill, but was not able to labor much until near winter. We sold our wagon for provision and $10 worth of apples tree.
Cyrus purchased a lot of land from Jonas Stanbury, on Alum Creek, fifteen miles north from where we then lived; most of the way to the land was through thick woods. It lies on the east side of Alum Creek, about one half mile northeast from South Woodbury, and is now owned by Reuben Gardner. Having nothing to pay down, Stanbury agreed to wait on us for pay, without interest, until we could raise stock and pay off the claim; but having poor success in raising stock on account of murrain and other causes, we could not pay for the farm until we sold it, when we paid Stanbury and bought Congress land on a branch of the Whetsone [sic] Creek (Which Cyrus names Shaw Creek) of which to make us a new farm, and some money left to make improvements.
I must return now to the subject of our first preparation to move into the woods, of Alum Creek. It brought many trails and hardships on me; Cyrus' health being poor, he could not labor much, but was however, a good hunter and found a number of trees containing wild bees, and honey and wax if which with the deer and turkeys which he killed helped us much. Late in the year 1810 he and neighbor of ours, Michael Munson, went up to Alum Creek to cut logs to build each of them a cabin on the Stanbury section. They took cooked provisions to last them until the day of the raising which was fixed upon before they left us. The neighbor's wife was to cook and send up provisions for their hands at the raising and invite the neighbors north of us to attend and help, and I was to cook and send up our hands and also to invite the neighbors south of us.
The day before the raising I rode around and invited the hands allotted to me to go up and assist in making the shingles and raising, which would take three days, including going and returning, and engaged Vanduser (who came to this state with us) to be at our house by daybreak the next morning with his team to take up the provisions for the raising and haul the house logs for them. By this time it was noon and nothing done towards cooking the victuals. Of course, I had no oven or stove; I had to use the great iron kettle to boil meat and stew pumpkins, and the large baking kettle, or dutch oven, for the baking bread, of which I had to make several loaves; we had plenty of venison, pumpkins, crab apples and honey, and I made twenty-four mince pies and I baked them in a large spider by putting in the crust without a plate; used metheglin [Ed.note: Mead - a fermented beverage made of water, malt, yeast and honey] in place of cider, and packed them to send them in a churn; the weather being cool they carried safely; the men said they were not bad to take in the woods, and were very acceptable, as was also two gallons of metheglin which I set along to be drank with the victuals.
I did not lie down that night. Our daughter, Anna, was old enough to do some chores and look after younger children in my absences. Abraham Vanduser was on hand a little after break of day, took the provisions and our neighbors, and the cabins were soon built.
Between Christmas and New Years we moved into ours; it was without door or window, chimney or floor, except the ground, but it had a good place for all of them. The weather was moderate and we had that week the heaviest thunder storm that I had ever witnessed. Our nearest neighbors, except for the Indians, were eight or nine miles distant. I stayed one night and two days alone with my children. (We learn from her friends that during that lonely night she was obligated to keep a fire to prevent the wolves from coming into the house, and in order to have some employment to keep her awake she sheared their dog, which had long hair of different colors, carded, spun and knit a pair of mittens which were, on account of the mixed colors of the hair, said to have been beautiful; and thus she passed the lonely hours of a long winter night.)
In two weeks our neighbor came on and occupied his cabin, so we had company. Before spring Cyrus hired a man to help him clear a piece of land for corn, and another to set the apple trees on. (About twenty of which are still living and bear fruit). Before we left Sunbury, Vanduser engaged us thirty bushels of corn, as he owed us for 25 cents per bushel, but he only let us have seven, and said he would let us have some wheat as he had a prospect of some after harvest. He wanted part of the corn to feed some hogs which we drove with us to Alum Creek; the large one cost us $7; the Indians shot her, cut a piece out of her side and left the balance; some of the others died and some strayed off.
When we first came we brought two cows and a calf; the wolves killed the calf, as we supposed, while at Sunbury; afterwards the cows raised each a calf; and we drove the two cows and two calves to Alum Creek. The cattle ate something poisoned there so that the calves died, and one cow got hurt and died, so we had three hides. I went to Berkshire to the man that owed us apple trees to see if I could not get corn instead of all, or part of the trees. He would not consent to let me have the corn; said it had raised 75 cents per bushel, but would give me one bushel. I stopped with an acquaintance before getting to Berkshire; he said he had turned off one man who offered him 75 cents, so I had two bushels which I took on my horse and started for the mill, which was four miles further down Alum Creek, through the woods. When about half way my horse gave out and laid down; I got off and let her rest awhile; got her up again, holding onto the sack to prevent its falling off, for if it fell off I could not get it on again nor leave it to get help, for hogs would be likely to destroy it before I could return. I walked awhile and let her, and thus made out to get to the mill. I could not get it ground; had to leave it. The man that Cyrus had engaged to help him clear the land was at the mill; he said he would move up in a few days and he would bring up the meal; I received this as a great favor.
Then having no load I went to see James Gregory, in Berkshire, having heard that he had plenty of grain and had been offered 75 cents per bushel for corn, but was waiting for it to raise higher. I went to him with a heavy heart to offer him those three hides, for I had no money. I had seen him once when Cyrus was sick, in Sunbury; he came to see him and brought him preserves. I thought they were grand folks and I felt very poor, but I ventured in; they treated me kindly and gave me dinner; I told him my errand, and he readily said he would take the hides; said he had turned away those who had offered him money at 75 cents per bushel because grain was scarce and he thought those who had money could go off and buy. He was willing to take the hides, but said we had better keep them and get them tanned for our own use; said he would let me have the corn I needed for 25 cents per bushel and would let me have some wheat; he had beans and seed corn we could have, and he would wait until we could pay him. I told him how many bushels of corn we would need, with a half bushel of seed corn and a half bushel of beans. I then left with a thankful heart, and have ever since remembered them with feelings of love and gratitude. I then went from Berkshire to Sunbury to see Vanduser to get him to take the grain to mill, get it ground and bring it up to us with the seed corn and beans, which he agreed as he still owed us; this finished the day's work. Next morning I started home with courage, thinking that we might now get along. We were afterwards favored to get the money and pay James Gregory to his full satisfaction.
The man came on the last of February to help clear the land for corn. I helped all I could, and with some of the childrens' help, piled most of the brush and burned it off. Vanduser came with this team and helped to log up the ground. I set fire to log heaps and picked the chunks, and Anna took care of the children. We then commenced to fence it; Cyrus laid the bottom logs for the fence, large ones, and then rails on them; I took our house and hauled the rails to him fastening chain around the end of them several at a time and let them drag on the ground, as I could not lift them. Cyrus was taken with a lame back before he got the fence high enough to turn the hogs and as it was the last of May he left the fence, expecting to make it higher after planting, and started the plow; I had to drive the team; his back was so lame that he gave out after plowing several times around the first land. We had rented a garden spot to the man who helped about the chopping; he had a cabin and moved into it. At Cyrus' request I went to see if he could help us plow that afternoon, thinking Cyrus might be better the next day. The man was a potter by trade and had never plowed any; he said he would come and try; he did so, but I had to drive the team; I was soon tired of that; thought I would take one horse at a time and change them, hold the plow myself and let the oldest son Sylvester, ride the horse; the ground was mellow and we got along very well; we plowed about four acres. Cyrus got better so that he finished it and got it planted to corn the 11th of June; we had a very good crop; I helped to plant it and hoe it and thought it no hardship, being quite spare in flesh and having good health.
At the time we lost our cattle by poison one cow lived, but she dried entirely up and we were without milk for a time, but our neighbors in Sunbury heard of it and bought a cow for $20, paying thirteen of it themselves and drove her and calf to us, we knew nothing of it until they came; we then paid the balance and thought it a great favor; as we were strangers in a strange land with not a relative near us. The following summer she [sic] back to Sunbury and when we found [sic] she was nearly dry. The next spring we sold one of the horses and took a cow in part pay; kept her about one year and then she strayed off or was driven off with a drive that passed through Sunbury; others were missing, one which came back…"
TO BE CONTINUED (The next and final part of this incredible diary follows the Cyrus and Hannah Benedict family for several years, their encounter with Indians (Native-Americans), the arrival of Cyrus' parents, Aaron & Elizabeth, and a brief discussion about their Quaker religious life in Ohio)
Benedict Family News Volume I, no. 3 - updated 26 October 2002
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