Benjamin Shreve

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Caleb Shreve was born in 1787 in Springfield, Burlington County, New Jersey, United States; died on 1 Oct 1848 in Medford, Burlington County, New Jersey, United States.

Notes:

Birth:
8th mo. 25th, 1734

Caleb married Grace Pancoast on 19 Nov 1755. Grace and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

...The Shreve family were among the earliest settlers of New England, Caleb, the progenitor, being recorded as a resident of Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1641. Two of his sons, Caleb and John, located in Rhode Island, the former, in 1680, marring Sarah, daughter of Dirick Areson, of Flushing, L. I.. Soon after he removed to Shrewsbury, East Jersey, in the vicinity of which he remained from 1685 until 1699, when he purchased a large tract of over 300 acres from Richard French, Mt. Pleasant, Mansfield Township, Burlington County, West Jersey. This notable homestead has remained in the possession of successive generations of the family until this day.
...Caleb Shreve had seven sons and three daughters. At his death in 1740, sixty years after his marriage, his wife was still living. His will bequeathed to her one third of his personal property and a life interest in his real estate. In a note "inferted before signing of ye same,' he requested that his wife, at her death, leave her personal property to Benjamin, the youngest son to whom was left the entire estate, after his mother's death, except certain small legacies to his brothers, Thomas, Joshua, Joseph, Caleb, Jonathan and David five shillings each; the same to his daughters, Mary (Shreve) Gibbs and Sarah (Shreve) Ogburn; five shillings to his son-in-law, Benj. Scattergood and some personal property to Sarah Shreve, daughter of his son Joshua. It is supposed that the older sons were provided for in his life time. The daughter who was the wife of Benj. Scattergood evidently was deceased.
...Benjamin Shreve added to his valuable patrimony by various land purchases some 450 acres. Tradition says he died prematurely in consequence of a fall from his horse. He was not yet fifty years of age. His will shows his solicitude for his minor children and their careful bringing up. Several of his sons and one grandson distinguished themselves in the war for national independence. Although the Shreve family were honored and esteemed Friends, meeting and government records show that the various branches of the family were possessed of a martial spirit to an eminent degree. A portion of the old house was built by Caleb Shreve in 1725, and another part by Benjamin in 1742, these figures being conspicuous on the eastern end. it stands upon high ground commanding a fine view, and within has many colonial features, in old Dutch tiling, fireplaces, cupboards, etc. From Caleb the property passed to his son, Benjamin, who died in 1844. In 1902 it descended to the present owner, B. F. Haywood Shreve, of Philadelphia. (Source: Compiled and Published by Howard Barclay French, Genealogy of the Descendants of Thomas French - Volume I: With some account of Colonial Manners and Doings(Philadelphia: Privately Printed, 1909), pg. 223)

WILL
Benjamin Shreve
...In the Name of God Amen The Fourteenth Day of March in the Year of our Lord 1750.51 One Thousand Seven Hundred & Fifty, Fifty One, I Benjamin Shreve of Mansfield in the County of Burlington in the Province of West new jersey Yeoman being weak and Sick in bodey but in perfect Mind and Memory thanks be given to God for the Same, therefore calling to mind the Mortality of my Body and knowing that it is Appointed for all Men once to die, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament. And as touching Such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this Life, I give devise and dispose of the Same in the following manner and Form. Imprimis it is my Will and I do order, That in the first place, all my just Debts and Funeral Charges be paid and Satisfied by my Executors hereafter mentioned.
...ITEM I give to my well beloved Wife Rebecca Shreve One Third part of all my personal Estate, to her Heirs and Assigns forever, And also the Benefit of my Real Estate if She continue my Widow till my Children come of Age each in their Order it being to enable her to bring them up, but if she happen to Marry again She Shall have no power any longer in my Real Estate or the bringing up of my Children, Saving at the Discression of my Exrs. as they Shall Appoint or order. ITEM I give to my Two Daughters (Viz) Kezia Shreve and Sarah Shreve Share and Share alike of the remainder of my Personal Estate to be paid them as they attain to the Age of Eighteen Years. Now it is my Will tat Kezia she Shall have her Portion within a Year after my Decease Seeing She is of Age and Sarah as above said now if either of my Daughters Die within a Year after my decease She that Surviveth Shall have the Portion of the Deceased. ITEM I give to my Son Caleb Shreve all and Singular the Estate of Lands and Tenements I now live on to him his Heirs and Assigns forever. ITEM I give to my Son William Shreve all and Singular the Lands Farm or Plantation I lately purchased of Preserve Brown lying and being in Mansfield and part in Chesterfield in ye Said County of Burlington to be enjoyed by him when he Attaineth to the Age of Twenty One Years, his Heirs and Assigns forever. ITEM I give to my Son Israel Shreve all that Farm or Plantation I lately Purchased of Jacob Ong of Hanover and also the One Hundred Acres of Land I had by Virtue of my Fathers last Will & Testament which Land my Father Purchased of Daniel Smith, to him his Heirs and Assigns forever. And also a right for One Hundred Acres of Land which I Purchased of Preserve Brown all which to be enjoyed by him when he attaineth to the Age of Twenty One Years his Heirs and Assigns for ever. ITEM I give to my Three Sons (Viz) Caleb, William and Israel all & Singular my Cedar Swamp to be equally Divided amongst them by North and South Lines, Caleb to have the West Side, William the middle part and Israel the residue to be enjoyed by them their Heirs and Assigns forever. Further it is my Will that if my Son Caleb Should Die before he come of Age that William Shall have the Portion that was given to Caleb, and Israels Portion shall be that is given to William and if either of ye younger Ones die before they come of Age the Survivor to enjoy both their Portions his Heirs and Assigns forever. ITEM I give to my Two Youngest Sons Benjamin and Samuel each of them Five Hundred Pounds to be paid them as they attain to the Age of Twenty One Years, and if either of them die before they come of Age the Survivor to have the whole and to be paid as followeth Caleb to pay to Benjamin Four Pounds and William to pay to Benjamin One Hundred Pounds lawful Money of the Same Place. And William to pay unto Samuel Four Hundred Pounds & Caleb One hundred Pounds to compleat their Portions to be paid them out of their Estates given them as abovesaid. Also it is my Will that my Nigro Man Jack be immediately Set free he paying to them that enjoyeth the Homestead forty Shillings per Year for Five Years after my Decease and the Money to be kept in order to keep him in his Old Age, and the rest they that enjoyeth the Homestead Shall make up in Maintaining him. I likewise order that no Timber be cut to waste or destroyed Saving for the necessary use of ye places, nor no more upland to be cleared neither any of ye Meadows & Swamp land to be plowed. Lastly I Constitute and appoint Daniel Doughty and Michael Newbold my trusty and well beloved Friends, my only & Executors of this my last Will and Testament. And I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke & disanul all and every other former Testaments, Wills, Legacies, & Executors, by me in any ways before this Time Named, Willed and Bequeathed, Ratifying & Confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my Hand and Seal the Day and Year above written.
Benjaman Shreve (seal)

Signed, Sealed, Published and Declared by the Said Benjamin Shreve as his last Will & Testament in ye Presence of us ye Subscribers
Barzillai Newbold
Levi Nutt
Robt. Bland
Daniel Doughty & Michael Newbold Executors in the within Testament named being duly affirmed according to Law did declare that the within Instrument contains the true last Will and Testament of Benjamin Shreve. (Source: Compiled and Published by Howard Barclay French, Genealogy of the Descendants of Thomas French - Volume I: With some account of Colonial Manners and Doings(Philadelphia: Privately Printed, 1909) pg. 227, 228)

Benjamin married Rebecca French on 23 Apr 1729 in Springfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, British Colonial Ameirca. Rebecca (daughter of Richard French and Mary King) was born in 1709 in Burlington, New Jersey, British Colonial America; died after 1750 in Burlington, New Jersey, British Colonial America. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
23da 2mo 1729

Other Events:

• Name: Caleb Sheriff
• Occupation: Blacksmith

Notes:

...Caleb Sheriff permanently located in New Jersey on his marriage about 1680. He lived after 1699 in Burlington county, seven miles east of the present site of Mount Holly. At that date his children numbered seven. The eldest, Martha was twelve years of age; the five next older were boys, with probably the youngest, Mary, an infant; a daughter and two sons were subsequently born. Previous to the birth of the youngest in 1706. the oldest daughter, Martha, married in 1704.
...The family remained unbroken by marriages until 1711-1713, during which period Thomas, Joshua, Joseph, and Caleb married. The marriages of the remaining children occurred; Jonathan in 1720, Mary in 1721, Sarah in 1724, Benjamin the youngest in 1729. After marriage the father gave each child a fine farm, the precise locations of which are not known. They were probably all living in Burlington County in 1739, as the poll book of an election held in that county that year has in it the names of every son and son-in-law, excepting John Ogborne. The four elder children had sons old enough to vote, but they may have moved to other places. In the list of voters is an Amos Shreve and Caleb, Jonathan, Samuel and Thomas Scattergood, who were probably sons of Martha Shreve and Benjamin Scattergood. The descendants of Benjamin, the youngest child, have preserved the best history of the family. He acquired from his father by will the old homestead and became by contract with his mother sole heir to her property, to cover her interest in the rumored Amsterdam estate. This instrument was executed February 28, 1740-41, while she was living with Benjamin and after the marriages of her other children.
...Caleb and Sarah Areson Shreve were members of the Society of Friends in Burlington County. Caleb's will was dated April 5, 1735. Caleb changed the family name from Sheriff to Shreve after moving to New Jersey. (Source: L. P. Allen, The Genealogy and History of the Shreve Family from 1641 (Greenfield, Illinois: Privately Printed, 1901), pg. 19)

Caleb married Sarah Areson about 1680 in Long Island, New York. Sarah (daughter of Diedrich Areson and Sarah Orrest) was born in 1660; died after 1699 in Burlington, New Jersey, British Colonial America. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Sarah Aaronson

Notes:

...Benjamin's mother Sarah Areson Shreve lived with Benjamin at the Homestead in Burlington County until her death.
...Benjamin had a son William, who had a son (1757) married to Sarah Beck in 1775 who had a daughter Sarah Shreve (married to David Ingersoll of Lee, Massachusetts. (first families v.3, pg. 310)

Other Events:

• Baptism: 15 Dec 1666, Nether Heyford, Northamptonshire, England; Church St. Peter and St. Paul

Notes:

...A memorandum in the family Bible of Thomas ffrench, then residing at Nether Heyford, England, and in his own handwriting, says: "December the first about ten at night my son Richard was borne, 1665. The Lord give him grace that hee may continually walk before him." A long and useful life shows how fully this characteristic prayer of a devout and loving father was answered. Richard was a lad of fifteen when he came to America with the family, in 1680. So far as known, his youth and early manhood were spent on the Rancocas homestead plantation. That he was devoted to farm life is shown in the fact that upon his marriage, in 1693, he purchased an extensive tract of land, 460 acres, in Mansfield township, Burlington county, where he seems to have resided during the remainder of his life. A deed of release of all claim to the home farm, after his father's death, to his younger brother, Charles, shows the kindly relationship that existed and his contentment with his own lot.
...That Richard French was a faithful and zealous Friend is evident from meeting records of the period, wherein his name appears many times. His nearest meeting was the one early established at Crosswicks. In 1715 he is frequent representative at Quarterly and Yearly meeting. He was now past middle age, but for a quarter of a century continued active in the work of preaching and visitation, journeying through the wilderness to New England and the South. The original certificate of 1733, is wonderfully well preserved, showing many notable names of that pioneer period. In the promotion of religious life in the colonies Richard French was conspicuous and influential. In business affairs he was active and prosperous, as his many deeds and other papers show, particularly his will and the accompanying inventory of personal property. In 1701 he served as tax collector for Mansfield township. He raised a large family, all of his ten children reaching marriageable age. The peculiar phraseology of his recorded papers shows a mind exceedingly careful of details, with a just and kindly spirit, a continuing answer to the fervent prayer of his father at his birth. His monthly meeting fittingly testified, after his death, that in the exercise of his gift in the ministry, "he labored faithfully in his declingin age, and travelled much in North America." (Source: L. P. Allen, The Genealogy and History of the Shreve Family from 1641 (Greenfield, Illinois: Privately Printed, 1901), pg. 93.)

Burlington Monthly Meeting Minutes
At our men's Monthly Meeting held at the house of Thomas Gardiners 6 Jul 1693; Richard French and Sarah Scattergood came before this Meeting and Declared their Intention of Marriage it being the First Time.

At our men's Monthly Meeting held at the house of Thomas Gardeners Adjorned to this 11 Jul 1693; Richard French and Sarah Scattergood came this second time and declared their intentions of Marriage and the Meeting upon Enquire finding them clear they are permitted to Solemnize the same as in the fear of God they see meete.

Chesterfield Monthly Meeting Minutes
4 Oct 1701, Richard French and Mary King signifyed their intentions of taking each other in marriage and according to the good order used amongst us, William Wood and Thomas Scholey are appoynted to enquire concerning the clearness on their account and make report to our next Monthly Meeting.

1 Nov 1701, Richard French and Mary King signified their intentions of marriage with each other the 2nd time, and enquiry having been made on both parts concerning their clearness from others on their account and nothing appearing but that they are cleare, they are left to proceed according to that good order used amongst us. (Source: Chesterfield Monthly Meeting Marriage Certificate)

Richard married Mary King on 13 Jan 1702 in Burlington, New Jersey, British Colonial America. Mary (daughter of Harmanus King and Mary Greijn) was born about 1669 in Nottingham County, New Jersey; died on 5 Jan 1728 in Burlington, New Jersey, British Colonial America. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE
Chesterfield Monthly Meeting Record, Book1, Marriages, Births and Deaths.
Whereas Richard French of the Township of Mansfield & County of Burlington is the province of West Jersey yeoman, & Mary King daughter of Harmanus King of the Township of Nottingham & County & province aforesd having intentions of taking each other in marriage did publish the same before Several Monthly Meetings of the people called Quakers & had the consent of the said Meetings & parents & Relations concerned. And for the full determination of their said Intentions They the said Richard French & Mary King aforesaid appeared in a Solemn Afsembly of the aforesaid people met together for that end & purpose at the House of Harmanus King in the Township of Nottingham & County & province aforesaid upon the thirteenth day of the Eleventh month One Thousand Seven hundred & one Where he the said Richard French, taking the said Mary King by the hand did openly declare Friends in the fear of the Lord & in the presence of this Afsembly I take this my friend Mary King to be my Wife promifsing to be loving & faithful & loving Wife till death Separate us. And as a further confirmation thereof the said Richd French & the said Mary Afsuming her husband's name upon her did then & there Set their hands to thefe presents & we whose names are hereunto Subscrived were Witnefses to the said Solemnization & Subscription.
Richard French
Mary (m her mark) French
Francis Davenport...................Hannah Woodward.................Harmanis King
Josiah Gratton.........................Rose Fowler.............................Mary King
Antho. Woodward...................Mary Quicksall.........................John King
Saml. Overton.........................Katherine Thorne.....................Charles French
Jno. Bunting............................Sarah Davenport.....................Joseph King
Jno. Leeson............................Anne Davenport......................Jno. French
Geo. Nicholson.......................Susanna Decow.....................Tho. Scattergood
Tho. Folkes Senr.....................Bridget Davenport...................Tho. Brian
Tho. Folkes Junr.....................Sarah Bunting Junr..................Joseph Pancoaft
Gervas hall..............................Esther Overton........................Wm. Pancoaft
Francis Davenport Junr...........Martha Shreeve......................Thomasin Pancoaft
................................................Hanna Overton........................Wm. Quicksall
................................................Eliza. Folkes............................Jos. Scattergood
...................................................................... ..........................Hannah Pancoaft
...................................................................... ..........................Lydia French

Married:
[13da 11mo 1701]