Notes for Comfort Bennett
The Family of Abraham Bennett & Jerusha Wanzer
1790 census Warwick,
Orange Co., NY
Abraham Bennet
3 Free white males 16 & older (Abraham,
age 48, Jacob, age 18 & unknown son #1, age 16-20??)
4 Free white males
under 16 yrs (Benjamin age 9-15, Abraham, age 12, Comfort, age 9 & John, age
4)
6 Free white females (Jerusha, age 40, Rhoda, age 10-20, Mary, age 6, Deborah,
age 1, and 2 unknown daughters #1&2??)
Abraham died abt 1799??
1800
census Warwick, Orange Co., NY
Jerusha Bennett
21200-2121100
2 males
16-25 (Abraham, age 22, & Comfort, age 19)
1 male 10-15 (John, age 14)
2
males under 10 (Daniel, age 7 & unknown son #2??)
1 female 45+ (Jerusha,
age 50)
1 female 26-44 (Rhoda, age 20-30)
2 females 16-25 (Mary, age 16
& unknown daughter #2, age 16-25)
1 female 10-15 (Deborah, age 11)
2
females under 10 (Nancy, age 9 & Jerusha, age 5)
Abt. 1807 - son John born
1810 census Elmira, Tioga Co., NY
Comfort Bennight
10100-00100
1
male 16-25 (Comfort, age 29)
1 male under 10 (John, age 3)
1 female 16-25
(Abigail, age 24)
On same page as John Bennight, William Rockwell
November
17, 1810 - son George born
abt 1812 - daughter Sally born
December 03, 1815
- son Daniel born
abt 1817 - son Charles born
May 20, 1818 - son Horace
born
1820 - daughter Nancy born
1820 census Elmira, Tioga Co., NY
Abraham
Bennet
211112-22111-01
2 males 45+ (???)
1 male 26-45 (Abraham, age 42)
1
male 16-26 (Dares, age 17)
1 male 16-18 (Dares, age 17)
1 male 10-16 (Telman,
age 15)
2 males under 10 (Nelson, age 6 & Atlas, age 3)
1 female 45+
(??)
1 female 26-45 (Peggy, age 39)
1 female 16-26 (??)
2 females 10-16
(Telina, age 13 & Pantha, age 11)
2 females under 10 (Lorinda, age 8 &
Sabina, age 1)
1 person engaged in agriculture
Elias Brees
220001-20020-03
2
males 45+ (Elias, age 45)
2 males 10-16 (Abram, age 14 & John, age 11)
2
males under 10 (Lewis, age 5 & Solomon, age baby)
2 females 26-45 (Deborah,
age 30)
2 females under 10 (Hannah, age 3 & unknown daughter age 0-10??)
3
persons engaged in agriculture
Comfort Bennet
210010-20010-01
1 male
26-45 (Comfort, age 39)
1 male 10-16 (John, age 13)
2 males under 10 (George,
age 10, Daniel, age 5 & Charles age 3?)
1 female 26-45 (Abigail, age 34)
2
females under 10 (Sally, age 8 & Nancy, age baby)
1 person engaged in agriculture
John
Bennet
310010-21010-01
1 male 26-45
1 male 10-16
3 males under 10
1
female 26-45
1 female 10-16
2 females under 10
1 person engaged in agriculture
1823
- son Morris born
1824 - son Chester born
abt 1829 - daughter Clarinda born
1830
census Big Flats, Tioga Co., NY
*****Comfort Bennett
1223001-1101001
1
male 40-50 (Comfort, age 49)
3 males 15-20 (George, age 20
2 males 10-15
(Daniel, age 15 & Charles, age 13)
2 males 5-10 (Morris, age 7 & Chester,
age 6)
1 male under 5
1 female 40-50 (Abigail, age 40-45)
1 female 15-20
(Sally, age 18)
1 female 5-10 (Nancy, age 10)
1 female under 5 (Clarinda,
age 1)
*****Thomas Scofield
000110001-00010001
1 male 60-70 (Thomas,
age 60-70)
1 male 20-30 (Asahel, age 25, Daniel, age 24 OR John C., age 20-26)
1
male 15-20 (Lewis, age 15)
1 female 50-60 (Rhoda, age 56-60)
1 female 15-20
(Anna or Rebecca, age 15-19)
abt 1830 - son Andrew born
June 20, 1835
- daughter Mary born
1840 census Big Flats, Chemung Co., NY page 187
1
male age 50-60 (Comfort, age 59)
2 males age 15-20 (Morris, age 17 & Chester,
age 16)
1 male age 10-15 (Andrew, age 10)
1 female age 50-60 (Abigail, age
50-55)
1 female age 15-20 (Nancy, age 20)
1 female age 10-15 (Clarinda,
age 11)
1 female age 5-10 (Mary, age 5)
1850 census Big Flats, Chemung
Co., NY
#2057/2069
Comfort Bennett, age 69, farmer, b. NY
Abagail, age
64, b. NY
1860 census Big Flats, Chemung Co., NY
321/322
Comfort Bennett,
age 78, gentleman, value of real estate $100,000, value of personal estate 15,000,
b. NY, Blind
Abba, age 74, b. NY
In household of Benjamin & Nancy Smith
Comfort died on August 12, 1864 in Big Flats, Chemung Co., NY.
1870 census Horseheads,
Chemung Co., NY
#233/239
Andrew Bennet, age 39, Retired farmer, b. NY
Sarah,
age 35, Keeping house, b. NY
Abbey Bennet, age 85, b. NY
Mary Riley, age
16, Domestic servant, b. NY
http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/d/a/g/Beatrice-A-Daggett/GENE43-0022.html
59.
COMFORT7 BENNETT (ABRAHAM6, ABRAHAM5, JAMES4, THOMAS3, JAMES2, NICHOLAS1) was
born January 18, 1781 in Warwick, Orange Co, NY, and died August 12, 1864 in Horseheads,
Chemung Co, NY. He married ABIGAIL MILLER November 3, 1806, daughter of ALEXANDER
MILLER. She was born Abt. 1789 in Orange Co, NY, and died February 27, 1872 in
Big Flats, NY.
Notes for COMFORT BENNETT:
Contacts on this line : Liz Dubois
( ddubois@sinclair.net)
Susan Austin (susanaustin@hotmail.com)
More About
COMFORT BENNETT:
Burial: Maple Grove Ceme. Horseheads, NY
Residence: Chemung
Co, NY
More About ABIGAIL MILLER:
Burial: Maple Grove Ceme, Horseheads,
NY
Children of COMFORT BENNETT and ABIGAIL MILLER are:
i. ANDREW JACKSON8
BENNETT, b. 1829; d. 1891.
Burial: Maple Grove, Horse Heads, NY
Residence:
1862, Horseheads, Chemung Co, NY
ii. CHARLES A BENNETT.
125. iii. CLARINDA
BENNETT, d. April 5, 1896, Detroit.
iv. JOHN BENNETT.
126. v. SALLY BENNETT,
d. Chemung Co, NY.
127. vi. GEORGE BENNETT, b. November 17, 1810, Big Flats
Chemung Co, NY; d. October 28, 1893, Horseheads, NY.
vii. DANIEL BENNETT,
b. December 3, 1815; d. November 18, 1844; m. ELIZABETH; b. 1816; d. November
18, 1844.
Burial: Pioneer Ceme Big Flats, NY
Found death announcement
for Elizabeth in Elmira Gazette 1844-2. Age: 28 yrs, 11 mo, & 15 days
Burial:
Maple Grove, Horse Heads, NY
128. viii. HORACE BENNETT, b. May 20, 1818, Big
Flats Chemung Co, NY; d. August 24, 1877.
129. ix. NANCY BENNETT, b. 1820;
d. 1898.
x. MORRIS BENNETT, b. 1823; d. 1874, Horseheads, Chemung Co, NY;
m. (1) MELISSA; b. Abt. 1825; d. September 19, 1849; m. (2) JANE ROSS, July 19,
1850; b. 1822; d. 1897.
Burial: on Horseheads plot with his father,and wife
(Maple Grove Ceme)
xi. CHESTER BENNETT, b. 1824; d. January 31, 1833.
Age:
at death 8yr 8months
Burial: Sing Sing Cem, Big Flats, NY
xii. MARY BENNETT,
b. June 20, 1835; d. February 22, 1841, Possibly Big Flats, NY.
Age: 6 yrs
2 days
Burial: Sing Sing Ceme.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~srgp/books/1879bio2.htm#340d
History
of Tompkins, Schuyler, Chemung, Tioga 1879
COMFORT BENNETT . Among the active
business men who gained a prominent and influential place in the affairs of this
section, may be mentioned the gentleman whose name heads this biographical notice.Comfort
Bennett was born Jan. 18,1781, in Warwick township, Orange Co., N.Y. He was the
son of Abraham Bennett, who was a farmer by occupation. When eight years of age
his father died, leaving a family of eleven children. Educational advantages in
those days were limited; but at the common school he succeeded in laying the foundation
for a successful business career. When eighteen years of age he came to Chemung
County (then Tioga), and for eight years gained an honest living by working on
a farm; and also with his brother, who was a carpenter and joiner. Nov. 3,1806,
he married Abigail, daughter of Alexander Miller, of Horseheads, formerly of Orange
Co., N.Y. His portion of his father’s estate amounted to two hundred and
fifty dollars, which was spent for farm improvements and housekeeping utensils
in partnership with his brother, John. After three years this partnership was
dissolved, and Mr. Bennett began life independently. He first located at Big Flats,
on Sing Sing Creek. Being possessed of indomitable will and industry, together
with rare good judgement, he gained a wide reputation as being the leading spirit
of the community in which he resided. He reared a family of twelve children, six
of whom are now living. The names of the children are as follows: John, George,
Daniel, Sally, Charles, Horace, Nancy, Chester, Morris, Clarinda, Mary, and Andrew
J. As the children grew up he gave each a comfortable home within a radius of
six miles of the homestead. At the time of his death he was known as the wealthiest
farmer within five adjoining counties, all having been acquired in agricultural
pursuits, never entering any field of speculation. The latter part of his life
was pleasantly passed, and yearly reunions of the family were held on his birthday
, which were very enjoyable events. Mr. Bennett was an active and progressive
farmer, harvesting in one year, when reapers were not known, five hundred acres
of winter grain. In politics he was a staunch Jacksonian Democrat, but never a
seeker after official honor. The deep interest he took in the politics of the
day marked him as a strong party man, whose judgment could be relied upon. He
died Aug.12,1864, and his wife survived him until Feb. 27,1872.
www ancestry.com
- Ancestors of Susan Rockwell Austin
Entries: 13350 Updated: Sat Sep 30 02:24:41
2000 Contact: Susan Austin
Name: Comfort BENNETT
Sex: M
Birth: 18
JAN 1781 in Warwick, Orange Co., NY
Death: 12 AUG 1864 in Horseheads, NY
Note:
Last Will and Testament & codicil thereto annexed of Comfort Bennett.
Deceased
Be
it Remembered, heretofore to with: on the 9th day of January in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and Sixty five Ariel Thurston one of the Executors
named in the Last Will and Testament of Comfort Bennett late of the town of Horseheads
the County of Chemung deceased, appeared in open Court, before the Surrogate of
the County of Chemung and made a pplication to have the said Last Will and Testament
& the codicil there to , which relates to both Real and Personal Estate, proved
and on such application the said Surrogate did ascertain by satisfactory evidence
who were the Widow, heirs at law and next of kin of the said testator, and their
respective residences, ... and said Surrogate did therefore issue a Citation in
due form o.... to the Widow, heirs at law and next of kin by their respective
names, stating their respective places of residence, requiring them to appear
before said Surrogate at his office in the City of Elmira in and said County,
on the ?? day of January A. D. 1865, to attend the Probate of said Will &
codicil thereto & said ma.. having been duly adjourned on said 16th January
to January 30th 1865. And afterwards, to wit: on the30th day of January A. D.
1865, satisfactory evidence by affidavit was produced and presented to said Surrogate,
of the due service of said Citation in the mode prescribed by law, and on that
day on one appearing to oppose the Probate of the Will & codicil such proceedings
were thereupon had in said Court afterwards, the said Surrogate took the proofs
of said Will hereinafter set forth upon this 30th day of January A. D. 1865, and
he thereupon adjudged the said Will & codicil to be a valid Will of Real and
Personal Estate and the proofs thereof to be sufficient which said Last Will and
Testiment and proofs are as follows, that is to say WILL. I Comfort Bennett of
Big flatts in the county of Chemung and State of New York aged Seventy five years
and being of sound mind and ...... ...... understanding and mindful of the uncertainty
of human life, do make, publish & .... this my last will and testament in
..... following that is to say I. I direct that any .... hereinafter named pay
all my just debts and financial. changes out of my personal property as convenient
after my deceass.?? II. I give and direct to my oldest son George Bennett, his
heirs and assigns the following parcels of real estate - 1st. The north half of
so much of my lands in Big flatts, as lie north of a line starting from the centre
of my line on the west and continued easterly parallel with the Chemung town line
to the Joseph Adams farm; and being south of the highway leading past my present
dwelling house excepting a parcel north of the highway which I bought of my brother
John, with a reservation out of that of the pond hole field which is hereafter
given to my son Morris. 2nd. The farm in Horseheads whereon my son George now
lives known as the William Carpanter farm containing one hundred & seventy
five acres of land. 3d. The equal north half of two lots of land in Big Flatt
lying together one known as lot no. Eighty Five in the south east section of township
No. one containing fifty two ??/100 acres of land conveyed to me by Ab.. Lowe
& the other known as one hundred & four acres purchased by me and my brother
John of James Carpenter and afterwards, my brother John's part deeded to me by
his heirs. III. To Daniel Bennett my second son and his heirs and assigns, I give
devise and bequeath the farm on which he resides known as the T.. Brin..ch farm
containing two hundred thirty seven 33/100 acres of land & conveyed to me
by John T.. Broech's executor- 2nd. A lot of land in the town of Catlin conveyed
to me by Jabez Bradley (now dec'd) by deed dated Nov. 24th 1838 containing one
hundred and one 6?/100 acres of land - 3d. The south half of the lands described
in my first bequest to George & the north half of which I have given to George-
IV. To my grandson Comfort? Bennett Daniel's son . his heirs & assigns I give
devise and bequeath the lot in Horseheads which I purchased of Samuel Smith known
as the Doctor Payne lot. V. To Horace Bennett my third son his heirs and assigns
give devise and bequeath Lot .... -ty seven in the S. E. Section of township No.
one in the town of Bigflatt conveyed to me by Abram? Lowe containing Eighty acres
of land. Also Six acres or thereabouts adjoining the same conveyed to me by John
Robly.. & wife- also the lot in Big flatt of Nineteen Acres conveyed to me
by Wm. Rockwell: and thirty one acres adjoining off of the Van Gorder lot f??.
co.... to the 19 acres. VI.To my grandchildren Morri.?, Melipa, & Charles
Children of Horace and to the survivors & surviveR of them that do not leave
lawful issue I give device bequeath the following parcels of land to be held by
them share and .....
1st. Lot No. 52 in the south east section of township
No. one containing forty four 69/100 acres. Also four acres off the north end
of lot No. 45, the same having been conveyed to me by Edward Bran. &wife.
Also three acres adjoining conveyed to me by Robert C. Johnson & wife being
in all Fifty one 69/100 acres. 2d. All that lot of land known as No 01 in the
south east section of Township No. one containing forty seven 15/100 acres of
land conveyed to me by Michael Smith & wife. 3d. One hundred & five acres
& one half of land in Big- Flatt conveyed to me by Elias Be..ett & wife
by deed dated Oct 29 1842. And I hereby appoint M son Horace ?? of his said children
and authorize him to receive there.. to receive thereunt profits the real estate
hereby devised to them & apply the same to their use until they severally
become 21 years of age after which time his ... is to cease! and ... of said grrandchildren
having attained that age may have full control & right of disposal of his
or her and lands not withstanding any terms. I have made use of willing To my
son Morris Bennett his heirs & assigns I give devise and bequeath the lot
.............. Big flatt known as the Quackenbush lot. 2d. The lots in Big flatt
known ........ Township No. one containing fifty three acres also lot 54 in said
township containing twenty one acres. Also three acres of land known as the "greeting
house lot." all which parcels were conveyed to me by Joseph Hartwig? &
wife 3d. The lands which my Son Morris now occupies, bounded northerly by Quackenbush
and Keating? lots Westerly by lands formerly belonging to Thomas and Elias Bennett
the west line being d stone fence and a line to be run as the Stone fence runs
across the Schofield farm to the high way Southerly by said highway as far east
as to such corner or point as Wannimakers west line if extended South would strike.
Easterly by land given to George and Wannimakers? land, be the same more or less.
4th. The undivided half of "the Winters lot" conveyed to me by James
Pumbelly known as the North half of lot No. 7 in the north survey of Bay's location
containing Sixty nine 12/100 acres of land and an equal use with Sally of the
Saw Mill & water privilege on the Davis lot. 5th. All that lot of land in
Horseheads conveyed to me by the administrators of Jacob Westlake dec'd Known
as lot No. 65 in the southeast section of township No. one containing Seventy
nine 49/100 acres of land. 6th. Another parcel of land adjoining the above on
the west supposed to be forty acres?? of William Rockwell bounded? on the west
by the ? Ethan? farm.VIII. To my youngest son, Andrew Jackson Bennett I give ..
and bequeath the following lands. 1st. One hundred & seventy acres or thereabouts
in .. Big flatt im... in deeds to me from Benjamin Atwood, Jack Fowler and ......
and b.. to . which the said Andrew Jackson now lives. 2d. All of my farm in Big
flatt Known as the Joseph Adams farm, and as much of the land in which..... -ing
a line from the west end of the line fence....... ... northwest corner of the
..... known as the ..- - lot containing Eighty ... as patented by the state of
.... containing in the aggregate One hundred ...... hundredths as contained in
a deed given to me by John Van Etten ... his wife known as the Steward farm. To
have and to hold all of said lands to my son Andrew Jackson Bennett for during
his natural life & after his decease to the heirs of his body & to be
subject & to be subject only to the control of him and such heirs. IX. To
my oldest daughter Sally wife of Joseph Lewis... heirs & assigns I give devise
& bequeath the following described parcels of land. 1st One hundred &
Eighteen Acres of land in Big flatt off the south side of the Fry? purchase 2d.
The farm in Big flatt known as "the Saw Mill farm" deeded to me by Benjamin
H. Davis & wife supposed to contain two hundred & thirty six except 1/2
of the mill & privileges given to Morris 3d. The remaining undivided half
of "the Winters lot" ... in the bequest to Morris. 4th. The farm on
the East hill in Elmira known as "the Lewis farm" containing two hundred
& thirty four acres or thereabouts purchased by me of the heirs of Ethan Lewis.
X. To my second daughter Nancy the wife of Benjamin Smith her heirs & assigns
I give devise and bequeath the follow3ing parcels of land 1st. One Hundred &
six & ... acres in Big flatt deeded to me by Thomas Bennett & wife being
the premises where my daughter now lives 2d. "The Scofield & Kinney"
lot? so called conveyed to me by Daniel B?. Westlake & wife & George Westlake...
the first given to Morris east of the line which is a continuation of the stone
fence.. 3d. .... one ....... west section of township No. one containing eight
six acres. Also the north part of lot No. two in said tract containing forty two
acres and three . the same conveyed to me by David Van Gorder & wife excepting
the thirty one acres I have given to Horace. 4th. Ten acres of land in Big flatt
conveyed to me by Jute?? Purdy? & wife ....... 5th The Nathan? Henry Wisner???
farm lying on the east lot in the town of Elmira conveyed to me by the heirs of
William H. Wisner deceased containing two hundred & forty seven acres or there
abouts. XI. To my youngest daughter Clarinda Wife of Thomas Pattinson her heirs
as hereinafter provided I give devise and bequeath the following described parcels
of land.
1st. All of my land in Big flatt bounded as follows: north by land
given to Daniel. West by Shriver land south by the Chemung town line & east
by lands given to Andrew Jackson Bennett........... five in the southeast section
of township No. one containing fifty .... acres ... half of said one hundred &
f... acres being the .... lot. .......... given to George. To have & to hold
the said lands .......... & after her decease to the heirs of her body lawfully
begotten their heirs and assigns forever. And it is my will that the estate in
remainder of said heirs shall not be sold by virtue of any guardians sale XII.I
will & direct that whenever it becomes necessary to change lines to carry
out the foregoing bequests of my landed property, the fences at or near the lines
shall be used as partition fences and further it is my will that in case there
should be any disputed title or line, any costs or expenses incident to contesting
such disputed line or title shall be borne equally by all of my children and no
suit or action do I wish prosecuted or defended by either of my children relating
to any real estate derived under the will without a concurrence of a majority
of them. XIII. All the rest residues and remainder of my real estate I hereby
authorize & impower my executors herein named to dispose of at public auction
or private sale & convey the same by proper deeds & instrument in writing.
XIV.
It is my will that my beloved wife Abigail shall have as long as she lives out
of my personal properties as much as will make her comfortable to be provided
for her by my executor . Lastly I do hereby appoint my son George, my Son in law
Benjamin Smith and my friend Ariel S H..ston executors of this my last will &
testament. In witness thereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal. .. this
is my last will & testament. In witness thereof I have hereunto set my hand
& seal., this twenty seventh day of October in the year One thousand Eight
hundred & fifty five. Signed Sealed Published & declared of the said Comfort
Bennett as and for his last will & testament to us & each of us &
in our presensence & we at his request & in his presence have affixed
our Names hereunto as subs..ing witness ..
/s/ John Rop of Horseheads Chemung
Co /s/ Sylvestor Hull of Horseheads Chemung Co.
Last Will and Testament &
codicil thereto annexed of Comfort Bennett. Deceased
Be it Remembered, heretofore
to with: on the 9th day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and Sixty five Ariel Thurston one of the Executors named in the Last Will
and Testament of Comfort Bennett late of the town of Horseheads the County of
Chemung deceased, appeared in open Court, before the Surrogate of the County of
Chemung and made a pplication to have the said Last Will and Testament & the
codicil there to, which relates to both Real and Personal Estate, proved and on
such application the said Surrogate did ascertain by satisfactory evidence who
were the Widow, heirs at law and next of kin of the said testator, and their respective
residences, ... and said Surrogate did therefore issue a Citation in due form
o.... to the Widow, heirs at law and next of kin by their respective names, stating
their respective places of residence, requiring them to appear before said Surrogate
at his office in the City of Elmira in and said County, on the ?? day of January
A. D. 1865, to attend the Probate of said Will & codicil thereto & said
ma.. having been duly adjourned on said 16th January to January ?? 1865.
And
afterwards, to wit: on the 30th day of January A. D. 1865, satisfactory evidence
by affidavit was produced and presented to said Surrogate, of the due service
of said Citation in the mode prescribed by law, and on that day on one appearing
to oppose the Probate of the Will & codicil such proceedings were thereupon
had in said Court afterwards, the said Surrogate took the proofs of said Will
& codicil hereinafter set forth upon this 30th day of January A. D. 1865,
and he thereupon adjudged the said Will & codicil to be a valid of Real and
Personal Estate and the proofs thereof to be sufficient which said Last Will and
Testiment Codicil to said last will and testament and proofs are as follows, that
is to say WILL Codicil A codicil to the last will & testament of Comfort Bennett
which last will & testa-
ment bears date Oct 27th 1855. I Comfort Bennett
of Horseheads being of sound mind & understanding, having since the making
of my will, acquired several pracels of Real Estate not therein devised, go give
devise and bequeath the same as follows. To George Bennett I give and devise the
brick house and lot in Horseheads where he now lives and the pasture lot of three
acres on the east side of the creek in Horseheads. To Daniel Bennett I give devise
and bequeath the two houses and lots in Elmira bought by me of Booth & Situate
on the corner of Gray and Columbia streets. And the "Ferris barn lot"
in Horseheads. To Horace Bennett I give the thirty acres of land in Big flatt
bought by me of Delany. To Morris Bennett I give and devise the Stores in Horseheads
situate on the corner of John & Main Sts and the house & lot corner of
John and Church Sts known as the Wm. F. Hull House. To Andrew Jackson Bennett
I give & devise the house and lot in Big flatt bought of Mc Connell &
three vacant lots in Horseheads bought of Ferris. To my daughter Sally wife of
Joseph Livesay I give & devise the house and lot in Elmira on the corner of
Water & Columbia Sts. the undivided half of the stables on Carroll St. in
Elmira which I own with A. S. Thurston and the "Bush lot" of 30 Acres.
To my daughter Nancy wife of Benjamin Smith I give the house & lot on William
Street Elmira which I bought of Small. To my daughter Clarinda wife of Thos. Pattinson
I give I devise the house & lot in Southport formerly owned by George Pattinson.
In
Witness whereof I have hereunto set my
hand & seal this 17 th day of November
1862. his
The above instrument was executed by the said Comfor C. X Bennett
(B. O)
Bennett in our presence & we at his request & in his pres- mark
ence
have hereto subscribed our names as attesting wi.. ... & the said Comfort
Bennett declared said Instrument to be a codicil to his will dated Oct 17th. 1885
H.
H. Mc Connell Horseheads.
J. H. A.. residing at Horseheads Chemung County NY
SURROGATE'S
COURT
----------------------------------------
In the Matter of Proving
the Last Will and Testament
& the codicil thereto of Comfort Bennett Deceased
Chemung
County ss.
Hiram H. Mc Connell and James H. Ormes of Horseheads being first
duly sworn, in open Court, upon their several corporal oaths, each for himself
, doth ?? and say that they are subscribing witnesses to the codicil of Last Will
and Testament of Comfort Bennett Late of the town of Horseheads in the County
of Chemung and State of New York deceased. And these deponents do further say
that the said Comfort Bennett deceased, and in the presence of each of these???
Will
and Testament of the said deceased, and which bears date on the
17th day of
November one thousand eight hundred and Sixty tow
That the said deceased
did, at the time of subscribing his name to the said instrument as a aforesaid
, declare the same to be a codicil to his Last Will and Testament: and these deponents
did thereupon subscribe their even respective names at the end of said instrument,
as attesting witnesses to the execution thereof, each at the request of the said
deceased, and in h presence and in the presence of each other: That the said deceased,
at the time of subscribing his NA his name to said instrument as aforesaid, and
publishing said instrument as aforesaid, was upwards of twenty-one years of age,
and a citizen of the United States; that he appeared to be, and deponents believe
he was of sound mind, memory and understanding, and not under any restraint, and
as despondents verify believe, in all respects competent to devise real estate;
that each of these despondents saw the other sign his name to said instrument
in the presence of the said deceased. That said depondents have now here carefully
examined said instrument & find that it has in face been changed or altered
since its execution by deceased and further say ??? ??? in said codicil were made
& noted previously to signing. Sworn & subscribed this 30th day of January
1865 before me.
\s\ H. H. McConnell \s\ J. H. Ormes
\s\ G. D. Smith
Surrogate
Chemung County ss.
It appearing upon the proofs duly taken in respect to
the Last Will and Testament & codicil thereto of Comfort Bennett late of the
town of Horseheads in the
County of Chemung and State of New York, deceased
that the said Will ^ codicil was duly executed and that the said Comfort Bennett
at the time he executed the same was in all respects competent to devise real
estate, and not under undue restraint, the said codicil to said Last Will and
Testament ............and the proofs and examinations are hereby executed, signed
and certified by me, pursuant to the Provisions of the Revised Statutes, this
30th day of January A. D. 1865
\s\ G. L. Smith Surrogate
~~~~~~~~~~~~
WHY
I'M PROUD OF BIG FLATS & Other Articles About It's History
By Marion E.
Rhodes
Abram, John, and Comfort Bennitt were some of the early pioneers inthe
town of Big Flats. They were all farmers. Abram's land was bounded onthe east
by Sing Sing Rd, on the south by Maple St., on the west by Robert Miller's land
and on the north by the Chemung Canal. Abram had eight children. Telman, his oldest
son, bought the farm that Rowland and Clara Farr now own. Miles C. Bennitt, a
cousin, bought the farm from Telman. John, one of Abram's brothers, owned the
farm where James Wells now lives. Miles was one of John Bennitt's eight children,
but he was the only one who remained in Big Flats. Abraham Bennitt, the father
of the three brothers died when Comfort was 8 years old and the boys came to Big
Flats when Comfort war 18 years old. They found work on farms doing carpentry
work.
On November 3, 1806, Comfort married Abigail Miller,-daughter of Alexander
Miller of Horseheads. For three years he farmed in partnership
with his brother
John. Then the partnership was dissolved and Comfort set out independently. He
first located in Big Flats along Sing Sing Creek where Colonial Drive crosses
the stream. The foundation of the house is still visible. He was possessed with
indomitable will and industry; together with good judgment. He gained a wide reputation
as the leading man in the community. It wasn't long before he was the owner of
considerable land. It was said he could walk from Big Flats to Horseheads and
not get off his own land. He raised a family of 12 children: John, George, Daniel,
Sally, Charles, Horace, Nancy, Chester, Morris, Clarinda, Mary and Andrew J. When
any of his children married he gave them land and built buildings for them. The
builder had to sign a contract how it was to be built and the price he was to
be
paid He had to put up his property as collateral if he didn't finish the
building. I saw one contract where two men had signed: one couldn't write and
had made his X mark. Each of the children's homes were within a radius of six
miles of the old homestead. At the time of his death, Comfort Bennitt was known
as the wealthiest farmer within the adjoining five counties. All his wealth was
acquired in the pursuit of agriculture. The latter part of his life was pleasantly
passed and yearly reunions of the family were held on his birthday; these were
very
enjoyable events. Mr. Bennitt was an active and progressive farmer, harvesting
in one year 500 acres of winter grain before reapers and threshers were known.
It seems impossible that one person could handle 500 acres of grain with the amount
of help and equipment that would be available at that time. When the land was
first cleared and the wood burned, there were not many weeds to contend with so
they would hook a team of oxen or horses to a tree or large limb that had not
been trimmed and use this as a drag to fit the land; thus it would not need to
be plowed. Plowing would have been impossible because of the stumps. The grain
was sowed by broadcast by hand and harvested with a cradle. It has been said that
if a man and wife worked well together - the man cut a large swath, tossed it
in the air, the wife caught it before it hit the ground and tied it with a band
of straw, the field would be finished when the last bundle was tied. A good reaper
could cut 2 acres a day - doubtless it was not an 8-hour day. In politics, Comfort
Bennitt was a staunch Jacksonian Democrat. He named his youngest Andrew Jackson
Bennitt. He was not only a good farmer, he was a shrewd business man and leased
out land for crop growing. The lessee had to put up his property and the crop
a collateral. At the age of 83, he died on August 12, 1864. He was married for
58 years. On an 1863 map of Big Flats bearing the names of the residents, there
are 16 Bennitts. Some were probably duplicates. Comfort owned most of the land
where the Arnot Mall is and most of the land north of the Mall and Sing Sing Rd
west Sing Sing Creek. Sally Bennitt, eldest daughter of Comfort and Abigail Bennitt,
married Joseph Livesay in 1835. His father was born in France in 1770 and came
to America in 1773, and to Big Flats in 1792. Joseph was born in 1806. In l835
he bought his first farm, 62 acres, the Goble farm just north of the present
Route
17, on Kahler Rd. Joseph was always interested in farming and everything pertaining
to agriculture. He remained in Big Flats from 1836 to 1870. Then he moved-toHorseheads
where he cultivated a small farm on the outskirts of the village. The remainder
of his land, 760 acres in Big Flats which included the former Wheaten farm, and
240 acres in the town of Elmira, were operated by tenants. Joseph Livesay was
a Frenchman, and if his name were spelled the way it is pronounced, it would be
Lousee. The youngest son of Comfort Bennitt, Andrew Jackson Bennitt owned the
farm where Anna and Howard Voorhees now live on Kahler Rd. It is notknown just
when the spelling of the Bennitt name changed to Bennett.
