FAMILY HISTORY: BENEDICT
This genealogy of Platt Benedict and his descendants is an excerpt from the transcription of a handwritten notebook entitled: Family History: Wickham, Benedict, Preston & Deaver, that I discovered in my grandmother’s papers. The family history in this notebook was the work of two women, Agnes Caroline Wickham and her daughter, Harriott Benedict Wickham Barton (my grandmother), who separately researched and made entries in it over a period of seventy years. Agnes Wickham wrote roughly half of the entries in the notebook from 1909 to 1915. In 1915, she gave handwritten copies of her work to each of her five children: Eleanor, William, Lucy, David and Harriott. Harriott continued her mother’s work off and on for the next sixty years, adding entries as late as 1977.
Dave Barton
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE BENEDICTS IN NORWALK, OHIO, PLEASE SEE THE “BENEDICT BIOGRAPHIES” LINKS IN THE LEFT COLUMN OF THIS WEBSITE OR CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW FOR INDIVIDUAL BIOGRAPHIES.
Benedict Genealogy
1. William I, born in 15th Century
2. William II, only son of above.
3. William III, only son of William Benedict, born at Nottinghamshire, England.
Thomas, born 1617; died March 1690. (1)
Thomas, born in Nottinghamshire, England, 1617; married Mary Brigdum; settled in New England in 1638; died March 1690.
Thomas’ wife Mary Brigdum was the daughter of his step mother & sailed on the same ship which brought him to New England. Afterwards they were joined in marriage.
After living sometime in the Bay parts, they moved to Southold, Long Island where 5 sons & 4 daughters were born. (2) From thence they moved to Huntingtown, then to Jamaica on said Island and finally to Norwalk, Fairfield County, Connecticut; Thomas died in his 73rd year and Mary Brigdum, his wife, lived to the age of 100 years.
1. Thomas
2. John
3. Samuel
4. James
5. Daniel, 165?
6. Betty
7. Mary
8. Sarah
9. Rebecca.
Lieutenant Daniel, born at Southold Long Island 165-; moved to Norwalk, Connecticut and married Mary, daughter of Matthew Marvin. He was a soldier in the Direful Swamp Fight, December 19, 1675, a fight which has scarcely a parallel in the annals of ancient or modern warfare. (3) Accordingly, there was granted as a gratuity unto Daniel Benedict:: “being a soldier in the Indian Warr twelfe acres of land and lyeth in three parcels.” (4) He sold his property in Norwalk, Connecticut, March 25, 1690 & moved to Danbury, Connecticut. Date of his death unknown but was living February 15, 1722-3.
1. Mary
2. Daniel
3. Mercy
4. Hannah
Daniel (3); married Rebecca, daughter of Thomas Taylor, one of the original settlers of Danbury, Connecticut. His will was made March 26, 1762, & proved August 5, 1776.
1. Daniel, born 1705; died 1773.
2. Mathew, born 1781. Something wrong here!
3. Theophilus, born 1711; died December 4, 1786.
(5) 4. David
5. Nathan
6. Rebecca, married Jonathan Hoyt.
7. Mary, married John Hoyt; died May 21, 1804.
8. Deborah, married Josiah Starr, Jr.
Captain Daniel, born 1705; married October, 1728 Sarah Hickok, born 1709, died May 6, 1784. Her tombstone bears this inscription: “Here lies buried the body of Mrs. Sarah Benedict, the meek, benevolent and virtuous consort of Capt. Daniel Benedict.” He died November 9, 1773, and his tombstone reads: “He was for many years Deacon of this town (Danbury) and by an exemplary life and conversation endorsed the sincerity of his Christian profession. The memory of the righteous is blessed.” (6)
1. Daniel, born December 27, 1731; died April 6, 1766.
2. Samuel, born August 10, 1734; died March 28, 1804.
3. Noah, born May 25, 1737; died April 30, 1813.
4. Sarah, born June 16, 1740; died November 22, 1759.
5. Jonas, born September 21, 1742; died October 31, 1820.
6. Aaron, born June 6, 1744; died December 18, 1841.
7. Ruth, born June 14, 1748; died August 16, 1752.
8. Mary, born May 30, 1751.
9. Amos, born March 17, 1754. Served through the campaign of 1776 being aide-de-camp of General Washington in the Continental Army; received the smallpox by inoculation of which he died February 18, 1777. There is inscribed on his tombstone: “In this warfare there is no difference.” (7)
Jonas, born September 21, 1742; married January 14, 1767 (1) Mercy Boughton who was born 1745 & died October 27, 1814. (2) Sarah Hubbard, February 4, 1816. He was member of General Assembly of Connecticut from Danbury, October 1809; died October 30, 1820.
1. Elizabeth, born January 18, 1771; married Samuel Darling; (8) died 1832.
2. Jonas, born March 18, 1773; died May 31, 1776.
3. Platt, born March 18, 1775; died October 25, 1866.
4. Sarah, born November 23, 1780; married Amos Benedict.
5. Daniel, born January 3, 1783; died October 27, 1853.
6. Mary, born October 20, 1785; married Nathan Barton; died May 23, 1824.
7. Eli, born January 9, 1789.
Platt, born March 18, 1775 at Danbury, Connecticut; married (1) Sarah, daughter of David DeForest of Wilton, Connecticut November 12, 1795. (2) Lavinia Benton of Republic, Ohio, June 17, 1866. He was collector of the town of Danbury 1812-18. Left his native town in January 1817 with a one-horse wagon and reached Ohio in March in company with his brother-in-law, Samuel Darling of New York. Built a log house and, leaving a man to clear a few acres of his land, returned to Connecticut for his family. (9) In July, 1817, he again left Danbury with his wife, 3 sons and 2 daughters, their means of transportation being a larger wagon drawn by oxen – a one-horse wagon & one saddle horse and reached Norwalk, Ohio in September 1817. He found his house had been burned down and immediately put up another of unhewn logs. In 1818 he built a frame barn, the first frame building in the township, and in 1819 a brick house in which he lived until his death (stood where Gallup Building now stands (1913)). (10) Gallup Building torn down to make way for Citizens Bank in 1922. Was Postmaster from 1818-28 – Justice of the Peace 1828-1831 – Mayor 1835, 1840-1845, 1856. Upon organization of Firelands Historical Society was chosen President and held the office till his death. Was a prominent and active Mason, and a leading member of the Episcopal Church. Died October 25, 1866, aged 91 years, 7 months and 7 days.
1. Clarissa, born September 4, 1796; married Hallett Gallup; died January 11, 1878.
2. David Mead, born August 17, 1801; married Mary Starr; died June 16, 1843. (1975) The uncle from whom Grandpa David B. of Norwalk, Ohio inherited much of the furniture at 80 E. Seminary, including the round back chair in my dining room and Eleanor’s dining table. As he died in 1843, these items are real “antiques”! at least 140 or 150 year old. Treat with respect and gently. H.B.W.B.
3. Daniel Brigdum, born June 1, 1803; died September 9, 1827.
4. Jonas Boughton, born March 23, 1806 at Harlem.
5. Eliza Ann, born October 27, 1812; married William Brewster; died August 17, 1840.
Jonas Boughton, born March 23, 1806; married (1) Fanny Buckingham October 8, 1829. (2) Caroline Chapman, May 26, 1842. Died at Norwalk, Ohio, July 29, 1851.
1. Platt, born May 24, 1830; died August 29, 1833 (burned to death).
(11) 2. David, born August 1, 1833; died January 5, 1901.
3. Mary Starr, born September 29, 1836; died 1844.
4. Fanny, born August 14, 1839; married L.H. Severance.
David DeForrest, born August 1, 1833; married October 14, 1856 Harriott Melvina Deaver. Graduated at Kenyon College 1856 & Cleveland Medical College March 2, 1861. Entered army January 14, 1862. Commissioned Assistant Surgeon of 17th Ohio Volunteers February 5, 1863. Surgeon, June 8, 1865. Served under Buell and Rosecrans, taken prisoner at Battle of Chickamauga, confined in Libby Prison, exchanged November 1863. Returned to regiment and marched with Sherman to the sea. Vestryman & Senior Warden of Episcopal Church.
1. Mary Deaver, born July 26, 1857; died December 12, 1931.
2. Harriott Melvina, born January 6, 1859; married (1) Henry W. Owen, October 14, 1881, (2) William B. Benhaue, September 28, 1897; died June 6, 1952.(12)
3. Agnes Caroline, born February 11, 1861; married D. E. Wickham, October 14, 1886; died March 8, 1934. A registered pharmacist, worked in her father’s drug store.
4. Fanny Buckingham, born January 14, 1863; married Andrew J. Hollet, October 14, 1889. Lived in Lamar Colorado until her husband’s death in 1899, then back to Norwalk.
5. Frederick Platt, born April 7, 1866; died March 11, 1885.
6. Ellen Eliza; born June 21, 1868; married Louis Wildman Wickham, nephew of Frank Wickham, August 9, 1892; died June 1, 1942.
7. Suzan Rose, born November 29, 1873; died March 8, 1942. Ph.D. in Mathematics at University of Michigan. Full professor for years at Smith College, her alma mater.
Agnes Caroline, born February 11, 1861 at New Haven, Ohio; married Frank D. Wickham October 14, 1886 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Norwalk, Ohio (see Wickham Genealogy page); died 1934.
Footnotes
(1) Benedict Genealogy, Page 24
(2) Ibid, page 2
(3) Ibid, page 365
(4) Hall, page 63
(5) Benedict Genealogy, page 366
(6) Ibid, page 366
(7) Ibid, page 367
(8) Ibid, page 373
(9) Ibid, page 380
(10) Ibid, page 381
(11) Ibid, page 396
(12) History of the Western Reserve, p. 1690.
NOTE: Agnes and Harriott cited their sources in the margins of original notebook. I included these citations as footnotes, attempting to keep them as close as possible to where they appear in the original notebook.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE BENEDICTS IN NORWALK, OHIO, PLEASE SEE THE “BENEDICT BIOGRAPHIES” LINKS IN THE LEFT COLUMN OF THIS WEBSITE.
I would appreciate critiques and corrections of this genealogy. Please comment below. Thank you.
© 2006, 2009 by David W. Barton. All rights reserved
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