William Van Benschoten
(6/5/1800-5/28/1838)
William was born
and raised on the family farm in New Kingston, Delaware Co, NY.
In the Van Benschoten Book it is written: "William V.B.
inherited his father's farm and passed his life on it. In the
spring of 1823 he m. Charlottes Sanford b. in 1803, dau. of
William Sanford and Hulda Hull. The conditions were still wild;
elk were plentiful, though these were fast killed off owing to
their fight in the bush and dense woods being retarded by their
spreading horns; and deer were frequently met with. An ingenious
way William and his neighbors had of dividing their large
game-for they usually hunted for it in parties-was this; whenever
a deer or elk was shot the carcass would be cut up inot as many
pieces as there were hunters, and then one of teh party would
turn his back and apportion the meet in response to teh question
"Whose piece is this?"
William was cheery, mirthful man and found of practical joking;
one great concern he had, however, which was the name might die
out-for he was an only son and the only grandson bearing the
name. Actuated probably by this fear a family of seven children
resulted before his death
William d. May 28, 1838 and Charlotte on May 30, 1857"
William is shown in the 1820 census for the town of Middletown. Although names of family members are not shown is one white male between the ages 19 and 25 which would be himself, one white male over 45 which would be his father Jacob Van Benschoten, one white female between 16 and 25 which is probably his only sister, Jannetje Van Benschoten who later married Sam Acklery, one white female over 45 which would be his mother Jannetjen Elting. In addition it show one person ingaged in agriculter which is probably himself.
William's and Charoltte's childeren were
William shows up again in the 1830 census for the town of Middletown. Again family member names are not given. The census shows William listed as head of household. 1 male under age 5 (his son John VB), 1 male between 5 and 10 (his son Jacob VB), 1 male between 15 & 20 (unknown), 1 male between 30-40 (himself), 1 female between 5 & 10 (his daughter Hulda VB), 2 female between 20-30 (one is Charlotee his wife the other is unknown), 1 female between 60 and 70 ( his mother).
William is buried in the Van Benschoten cemetery located outside of New Kingston, Delaware Co., NY. A map is shown here.
Other writings found which mention William are in "Evolution of Delaware County, New York" by Shirley Houck 1999 which can be found posted on Delaware Co. Web. It says "Until March 10, 1797, land transfers and other related legal transactions are recorded in the Ulster County Clerk's Office, in Kingston. After that date, these records are recorded in the Delaware County Clerk's Office, in Delhi. The following information, abstracted from two Deeds will serve to show the continuation of the record. First: The Deed, dated March 6, 1823, recorded on March 1, 1827 in Liger H of Deeds, at Pages 105 and 106 transfers ownership of Lot No. 2, in the 4th Class of the five thousand acre tract granted by Robert R. Livingston to the Trustees of the Town of Kingston. The Lot was sold by Cornelius Person and Elizabeth, his wife, of the Town of Saugerties, and Tunis Swart, Jr., of the Town of Kingston, Ulster County, to William VanBenschoten, of the Town of Middletown, Delaware County, for $75.00. The Deed recites "it being the lot which fell to Matthew Person."
In The History of Delaware County, W.W. MUNSELL 1797-1880 is writen: "The first justice in the town (Middletown) was Thomas Crosby, who was appointed at the organization of the town and served thirty years. His contemporaries and successors were: Philip Yaple, Richard M. Goodrich, Asa Grant, Boaz Searle, Solomon Osterhoudt, Noah Dimmick, John D. Swart, Israel Chapman, Augustus R. Knapp, Thomas Landon, Horace Ellis, Avery Grant, Benjamin L Crosby, Ezekiel Reed, John Beadle, William Van Benschoten, Ezra Waterbury, Gritman Elwood, John Dickson, Warren Dimmick, Samuel Gunn, Matthew Halcott, George H. Sands, Timothy Corbin, Matthew Griffin, Asa Griffin, Edmond Kelly, Obed Hendrix, John Kelly, Chauncey P. Wolcott, Elias J. Osterhoudt, Silas H Mason, William A. TenBroeck, Jonathan H. Dean, Hiram B. Kelly, Adam R. Henderson, John M. Corbin, Perez Dimmick, William D. Doolittle, John D. Hubbell, Talman Banker, Daniel Banker, G. Chauncey Grant, Noah Vermilya, William H. Dickson, Edwin A. More."