Joseph Benham

Other Events:

• Military: Revolutionary War
• Occupation: Brickmaker, agriculture

Notes:

...John Benham was to take the oath of fidelity in 1654. He was a registered proprietor of New Haven in 1685 and his children are registered in the New Haven vital records.
...On July 11, 1683 there was confirmed to John by the town of New Haven 8-3/4 acre which he had bought of Thomas Manson (part of Mansfield lot) also one piece of upland (part of Mr. Hitchcodes second division, 8-3/4 acre). Probably the 16 acre out lot was on Main St. near the public square, as records show they owned land there and later moved to Benham Hill, two miles west of West Haven. The holdings were extensive. The first John followed to some extent his trade of brickmaker as well as agricultural pursuits, which pursuits his sons and succeeding generations also followed, likewise fulfilling prominent and influential places in the community. Many of them filled town offices, a distinction which in those early days was highly prized and carried deep significance. The family united with the Congregational Church, and were among its earliest and most liberal contributors.
...The inventory of his estate was dated March 1690; house, barn, and orchard (70 pounds), 3 acres in the old field that was his fathers, 5 acres commonly called Hog's lot, 6 bought of Nathan Smith, 42 acres third division. Value of estate: 180 pounds. (Source: The Benham Family in America, by Georgianna H. Randall.)

John married Mercy Smith on 3 Mar 1669 in New Haven, Connecticut Colony, British Colonial America. Mercy was born on 22 Feb 1645 in New Haven County, Connecticut Colony, British Colonial America; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Notes
AT A GENERALL COURT FOR NEWHAVEN THE 4TH OF AUGUST 1651
John Benham Informed the Court that when this plantation first began, he was by the Authority then setled here, sent forth to looke for Claye to make brickes, wherein he spent as much time as was worth twenty shillings, wch he thinkes the towne should allow him: diuers that were then here present, said he was so sent forth, and thereupon the towne were now willing hee should have Allowance, and therefore wished him to bring his Account to the Gouernour, who is to order the Treasurer to paye him what he findes just. [Source: Edited by Franklin Bowditch Dexter, New Haven Colony Historical Society, Ancient Town Records Volume I (New Haven: The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Company, 1917). pg. 79]

AT A COURT HELD AT NEWHAVEN THE 7TH OF SEPTEMR, 1652
John Benham was complained of for a defective gunn; he said he could not gett it mended, though it had bine long at the gunsmithes for a new touchhole, but was told if he would haue worked for the gunsmith, hee would haue mended it, but the next Court by Corporall Nash hee poued that he then had two gunns in good order, beside that defective one, wch two was for him and his sonn; so it past wthout a fine. [Source: Edited by Franklin Bowditch Dexter, New Haven Colony Historical Society, Ancient Town Records Volume I (New Haven: The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Company, 1917). pg. 137]

AT A COURT HELD AT NEWHAVEN THE FIRST OF FEBRUARY, 1652
John Benham was complained of for absence at Trayning one day; he said hee had a kill of brickes to burne, and by the wettnes of the weather he was put of; that he was forced to burne them that weeke, and if he had not begun it vpon ye second day, he could not finish beforeye Saboth, vpon wch ground the Court past it without a fine. [Source: Edited by Franklin Bowditch Dexter, New Haven Colony Historical Society, Ancient Town Records Volume I (New Haven: The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Company, 1917). pg. 160

AT A GENERALL COURT FOR NEWHAVEN, JUNE 14TH, 1654
Concerning horses, according to ye Generall Courts Order, it was now agreed that what horses are in ye Towne, fitt for service, shall be looked vp speedily: and Edward Camp, James Bishopp, John Benham, and John Thomas, are appointed to that service: and ye Townsmen are appointed to consider of a place for a pasture for them: a place neere Peter Mallaries was named, and also some part of Mr Hawkins his out lott, and a place neere William Dauis his house: and those that haue sadles were desired to see yt they are in readines for publique service. [Source: Edited by Franklin Bowditch Dexter, New Haven Colony Historical Society, Ancient Town Records Volume I (New Haven: The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Company, 1917. pg. 216]

AT A GENRALL COURT FOR NEWHAUEN, 12TH OF MARCH, 1654/55
It is refferred to the Military officers to chuse and agree wth a new drummer for the Towne, in ye roome of John Benham, who desires to released. [Source: Edited by Franklin Bowditch Dexter, New Haven Colony Historical Society, Ancient Town Records Volume I (New Haven: The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Company, 1917. pg. 234]

AT A COURT HELD AT NEW HAUEN YE 5TH OF FEBRUARY, 1655
John Benham, Senior, passeth ouer to his sonn Joseph Benham all the accommodations wch belonged to that lott wch was at first giuen him by the Towne, next ye lot of Thomas Nash wch he lately sold to Robert Talmage. [Source: Edited by Franklin Bowditch Dexter, New Haven Colony Historical Society, Ancient Town Records Volume I (New Haven: The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Company, 1917). pg. 267]

AT A GEN. COURT HELD FOR NEWHAUEN 18TH OF MAY 1656
...John Benham, Senior, and Henry Bristown are chosen packers for flesh, and tooke oath to attend righteousnes therin, according to ye order in ye case, so farr as they haue light.
...John Benham is appointed to beate ye drumm for all publique meetings vpon Lords days and other occasions till ye next Towne meeting, either vpon ye topp of the meeting-house on ye Saboth, or to obserue ye winde & beat so that ye whole Towne may heare. [Source: Edited by Franklin Bowditch Dexter, New Haven Colony Historical Society, Ancient Town Records Volume I (New Haven: The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Company, 1917). pg. 277

AT A GEN. COURT FOR NEWHAUEN THE 29TH OF JULY 1656
John Benham, Senior, being lame in his arme and hauing lost one of his thumbs, was vpon his desire freed from trayning. [Source: Edited by Franklin Bowditch Dexter, New Haven Colony Historical Society, Ancient Town Records Volume I (New Haven: The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Company, 1917). pg. 282]

AT A COURT HELD AT NEWHAUEN, 5TH, 3D MO, 1657
The Marshall had order to speake wth Jhn Benham, as from ye Court, tat a woman he brought into the Towne from west Chester (as it said, wife to on Knap in Vergenia) who hath given offenc here, that she be caried away by him againe, else he will be lyable to answer what damage doth come thereby. [Source: Edited by Franklin Bowditch Dexter, New Haven Colony Historical Society, Ancient Town Records Volume I (New Haven: The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Company, 1917 pg. 312]

AT A COURT HELD AT NEWHAUEN, YE 7TH 5TH MO 1657
John Benham appeared and desired of ye Court that they would release him from ye bargaine he tooke of ym in cattell, wch is ye estate of ye children of John Walker deceased: for he is weake & lame and vnable to provide for them. The Court told him they would take time to consider of it, and fiue him an anwser. [Source: Edited by Franklin Bowditch Dexter, New Haven Colony Historical Society, Ancient Town Records Volume I (New Haven: The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Company, 1917 pg. 317]

AT A COURT HELD AT NEWHAUEN YE 4TH, 6TH MO, 1657
What was last Court propounded by John Benham, concerning the cattell he hath taken of the chilldren of John Walker, was againe spoken to, and Jno Benham was told that in respect of his bodily weakeness the Court inclines to fauour him, and shall release him for his part of the bargaine, but for the other halfe wch his sonn Joseph hath, he must still keepe them, and both must still stand securitie till the bargaine be fully performed, or they by the Court released; he was further told that an equall deuission cannot be made of the cattell vnless they bee seene, and therfore he is speedily to get them together (wch he said he hoped to doe in a weekes time, and then some appointed by the Court shall view them, and so it may be agreed, wch Joseph shall keepe still, and wch shall be otherwise disposed of. [Source: Edited by Franklin Bowditch Dexter, New Haven Colony Historical Society, Ancient Town Records Volume I (New Haven: The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Company, 1917) pg. 319, 320]

AT A MEETING OF THE COURT PRIUATELY AT THE GOUERNORS, 22TH, 6TH MO, 57
It was agreen (Jno Benham, Senior, Joseph Benham, and Edwa. Watson being present) that Edward Watson should haue all the Cattell wch are now to be deliuered, that was put to Jno Benham and his sonn, and they should be free in October next when the time comes vp, payeing in proportion for alowanc according to their ingagemt, and that they be helpfull to Edwa. Watson in provideing fodder for them this next winter, wch they promised they would; and Edward Watson was now asked [222] what securitie he can put in, wth himselfe, if he have the cattell: he named Richard Hulol, and had libertie to speake wth him; he was further told he may haue them this winter if some whom the Court appoints shall see that hee hath sufficiently provided for them, and that he dispose of none of them wthout the Courts consent, and that at the Spring there shall be a new consideration, and what the Court sees fitt to haue killed now this next slauter time shall be killed and disposed of as the Court shall see cause, for the chilldren advantage as well as may be. [Source: Edited by Franklin Bowditch Dexter, New Haven Colony Historical Society, Ancient Town Records Volume I (New Haven: The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Company, 1917) pg. 321. 322]

AT A COURT HELD AT NEWHAUEN YE 6TH 2D MO 1658
John Benham, Senior, and Joseph Benham his sonn, who had a stocke of cattell in their hand three yeare, of ye estate of ye children of John Walker deceased, wch they parted wth last October, vpon wch accot, things being reckoned in a due proportion, ther appeares due to ye said chilldren from ye said Jno & Joseph Benham for profit ariseing out of ye said cattell, beside what was deliuered in ye stock, 4, 18th, 6d, and twenty fiue shillings in part of a steere of ye said stocke sould them, wch is in all six pounds, three shillings, six pence, wch the said John and Joseph Benham ingage themselues to paye in October newxt, in such paye as shall be to ye Courts satisfaction, things beeing duely considered wth refferrence to them and the chilldren also. [Source: Edited by Franklin Bowditch Dexter, New Haven Colony Historical Society, Ancient Town Records Volume I (New Haven: The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Company, 1917) pg. 348]

AT A GENERALL COURT HELD AT NEWHAVEN, YE 1. OF JULY, 1658
Mr Tuttle made complaint of vnruly doggs, wch hunt cattell in ye night, wch was occasioned by biches going to ye dogg. John Benhams bich was nominated, & he warned to take care of her. [Source: Edited by Franklin Bowditch Dexter, New Haven Colony Historical Society, Ancient Town Records Volume I (New Haven: The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Company, 1917 pg. 358]

AT A GENERAL COURT HELD AT NEWHAVEN, FEBR. 20, 1659
John Benham Senior was chosen Cryer. [Source: Edited by Franklin Bowditch Dexter, New Haven Colony Historical Society, Ancient Town Records Volume I (New Haven: The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Company, 1917) pg. 439]

AT A COURT HELD AT NEWHAVEN JANUARY 7TH 1661
An Inventory of the estate of John Benham late of New Haven deceased was by the widdow of the deceased prsented & by her vpon oath Attested to be a full Inventory of ye estate to the best of her knowledg, (an old bason afterwards found excepted). Tho. Munson & john Hariman vpon oath attested to the vallew yt it was just according to their best light, but it being found that part of a house & land was not entered, it was returned to be perfected. [Source: Edited by Franklin Bowditch Dexter, New Haven Colony Historical Society, Ancient Town Records Volume I (New Haven: The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Company, 1917) pg. 502]

AT A COURT HELD AT NEWHAVEN THE 4TH OF FEBR. 1661
Francis Browne Guardian to Hannnah Walker Informed that ye estate of John Benham deceased or Joseph Benham his sonne was debtor to the estate of John Walker, concerning which he desired the help of the Court, wherevpon the Records of Febr. 4th, 1659, were read, & thereby it appeared that John Benham & Joseph his sonne had engaged ioyntly & seuerally for the paymt of 6£, 3s, 6d, to the sd estate at or before October then next ensuing. Joseph was told that his father being dead he must answere the debt, to wch he replied that part of it was for an Ox bought by his Father, wch is Inventoried as part of that extate. Joseph Benham prsented an account of 3£, 15s, 6d, paid vpon that account, but his booke being sent for & brought, thereby it appeared in ye same page, that 26s was then received back, wch being taken out of 3£, 15s, 6d, there remaind to be deducted out of the debt of 6£, 3s, 6d, but 2£, 09s, 6d, so that the estate of John Walker is Creditour 3£, 14s, 0d, wch Joseph Benham was Ordered to pay to Francis Browne, guardian to Hannah Walker; What joseph Benham hath to say why the estate of his deceased Father should be liable to answere any part of this debt was left to further consideration & heareing. In behalf of Joseph Benham, Francis Browne testified that in March last he demanded this debt of John Benham, who denyed it not, but promised paymt as soone as he could. [Source: Edited by Franklin Bowditch Dexter, New Haven Colony Historical Society, Ancient Town Records Volume I (New Haven: The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Company, 1917) pg. 508]

...In the troubled reign of Charles I (the king who would later by beheaded), a little company of Puritans from the West Counties of England, in 1629-30, sailed for New England on the "Mary and John." The rest of the Winthrop Fleet that would be the main party of the Massachusetts Bay Colony followed two months later.
...John Benham, brickmaker, is generally credited as being on that ship. Quite possibly his wife and two sons, John, Jr. and Joseph, were with him, though we don't know that for sure....What we know about the journey and about the first weeks of getting settled comes from the account of one Captain Roger Clapp, later collected and printed in "Annals of the Town of Dorchester".

"In the year of our Lord 1629, Divers Godly Persons in Devonshire,
Somersetshire, Dorsetshire, & other places, Proposed a Remove to
New England...These good People met together at Plymouth, a
Sea-port Town in ye Sd County of Devon..."

Later in his narrative, Captain Clapp tells about the journey itself and what happened when they first arrived in the New World:

"The people being too many in Number to come in one vessel, they hired one
Captain Squeb to bring them in a large ship of 444 Tons; they set Sail from
Plymoouth ye 20th of March, 1629-30 and arrived at Nantasket...ye 30th of May,
1629-30, having a Comfortable tho long passage, and having Preachint or
Expounding of the Scripture every day of their Passage, performed by their Ministers."

"They had agreed with Capt. Squeb to bring them into Charles River, but he was
false to his bargain & would not come any further than Nantasket, where he
turned them and their Goods ashore on ye point, leaving them in a forlorn
Wilderness distitute of any habitation & most other comforts of life. But it pleased
God, they got a Boat of some that had staied in ye Country...for trade with ye
Natives before these adventurers came over... and put their goods in ye Boat,
and... went up ye River until it grew narrow and Shallow, & then put ashore &
Built a hut to shelter their Goods."

...They were met by about 300 Indians, accompanied by a planter, who had stayed in the country and could speak something of the Natives' language. They exchanged biscuits for fish and shellfish.
...The first months were not easy for the settlers. Even in this temporary camp, they would have had to build crude shelters. Again, we turn to Captain Clapp for an account of their early hardships:

'Oh ye Hunger that many suffered, and saw no hope in an eye of Reason
to be supplyed, only by Clams, & Muscles, and Fish, and Bread was so very
Scarce, that sometimes ye very Crusts of my Fathers Table would have been
very sweet unto me: And when I could have Meal & Water & Salt, boiled together,
it was so good, who could wish better. And it would have been a strange thing
to see a piece of Roast Beef, Mutton, or Veal; tho it was not long before there was Roast Goat.

"...ye Indians were very friendly to them, which our people ascribed to God's
watchful Providence over them in their weak beginnings;... about Ten men
[went up the river] to seek out ye way for ye Rest. They were now landed upon ye Main Continent in a wild and unknown Wilderness, and they had brought Cattle with them which if they put them ashore they would likely wander & be lost & themselves likewise in seeking them."

Dorchester Plantation
...The new settlement, which was named Dorchester Plantation, began about the beginning of June. The colonists were settled here a month or two before Governor Winthrop and the ships that came with him arrived at Charlestown.
...Freedom to pursue their Puritan beliefs without persecution was the principal colonists to endure a long arduous journey an unknown land. [Source: written and edited by Lela (Shepherd) Wilkins, with added research and writing by Gladys (Benham) Hall, June (Benham) Stricklin and Loretta (Lee) Chapman, The American Ancestors of William R. Benham (1823-1907) and his Wife, Helen Maria Bingham (1827-1900)(: Cousins Etc., 1994)].

John Benham came to New England with the Winthrop Fleet in 1630. We do not know the name of his ship, but it was one of the eleven. His origin in England is unknown. (WINTHROP FLEET, Banks, rep. ed., 1976: pg. 60) He was made freeman 18 May 1631 at Boston (LIST OF FREEMAN OF MASS., Paige, rep. 1978; p. 11) Savage places him at Dorchester before his removal to New Haven in 1639.

On the 4th day of the 4th month of 1639 at the Founding of New Haven, John Benham is there with William Preston, Henry Peck, Nath: Merriman, Thomas Munson and "Old" Benjamin Wilmot. In 1643, in a tabulated account of the Planters of New Haven, John Benham has "5 persons in his family"; received 70 acres in the land divisions in various parcels and was taxed 5s 11d. We can count four persons: John, two sons and his wife. Either there was another child by 1643 about whom we know nothing, or he had someone living with him. We have found no census as yet that might help clear this one point. He was one of the early members of First Church: joining about 1639-40 as No. 14. His wife, whose name has not been found anywhere, joined the church in 1646 as No. 126 and according to that record, died before 1654. He was made freeman on 5 Aug 1644 with Roger Betts, William Bradley and others. His two sons of record: john and Joseph took the oath of freeman on 4 Apr 1654. In the 10 Mar 1646 seating list at Meeting House, Bro. Benham sits in the seventh row in the mens middle seats and Mrs. Benham is a seat-neighbor of Sister Preston and Sister Mansfield in the cross seats at the end, 4th row.
...John, too, we find among those with a defective gun and was fined 2s. If we made a survey of the early records, we would probably find that most of the men in these early plantations had been fined for defective weapons. On 16 Jun 1645, we have an entry in the early record that describes John Benham's trade: he was a brickmaker. He had to cross Mr. Eaton's land to get to the clay, and Mr. Eaton apparently objected to this. In that day, too, man had his "easement" problems. And the court had to admonish him for being absent on "trayning" days, for which he paid fines of 2s:6d.
...To describe John Benham's feelings about contemporary affairs, the following entry is somewhat edited: "22 Mar 1653 - John Benham. . . now testifys he spake contemptuously of the commisioners saying they satt long, but what did they, he could have three or four plow-men. . doe as much in three or foure dayes; and when the magistrates were informed . . that the generality of Stamford . . desire(d) they might have liberty in bots, but they would be confined to chuse within the church, but if that would not bee granted they should rest satisfyed in ye course setled."
...John Benham died in 1661; the inventory of his estate returned 25 May 1663. the amount has been lost from the record. why it would take from 3 Jan 1661 to present the inventory on 6 May 1662 and have it returned in 1663 we don't know, except there must have been some involvement not recorded. the Inventory was taken by Thomas Munson and John Merriman. [Source: Marjorie Barnes Thompson, Barnes and allied Families of Long Island and Connecticut(Self published, 1978)., pg. 100.]

John Benham died in 1661; the inventory of his estate returned 25 May 1663. The amount has been lost from the record. Why it would take from 3 Jan 1661 to present the inventory on 6 May 1662 and have it returned in 1663 we don't know, except there must have been some involvement not recorded. The Inventory was taken by Thomas Munson and John Merriman. [Source: Marjorie Barnes Thompson, Barnes and allied Families of Long Island and Connecticut(Self published, 1978)., pg. 107.]

John married _____ _____ about 1618 in New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut Colony, British Colonial America. _____ was born about 1600 in England; died before 1660 in New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut Colony, British Colonial America. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Benahm