Ann Benham

Other Events:

• Baptism: 1 Jan 1725, Monmouth County, New Jersey, British Colonial America; Address:
  Dutch Reformed Church
• Military: Between 1776 and 1778; American Revolutionary War - Sergeant/Ensign

Notes:

...The New Jersey Colonial Documents, marriage records, list the three marriages of this Peter Benham. He first married in 1747 to Anne (or Anna) James, daughter of Robert and Amey James. She died in 1758
...Peter married the second time on Apr 2, 1759 in New Jersey as Peter Benham of Middlesex to Hannah Clayton of Monmouth, New Jersey.
...Peter married the third time on Feb 24, 1761 as Peter Benham of Freehold, New Jersey to Catharine Wessel of Freehold, New Jersey. She outlived him and was granted letters of administration on his estate in Loudon County, Virginia. These letters were obtained Jun 12, 1780 and the bond posted was for 1000 pounds. From the amount of the bond, Peter left behind a small estate. He left no will and consequently Peter's eldest son, John, under the English law succeeded to the estate.
...Feb 12, 1781 James and his brother Nathaniel, orphans of Peter were bound to Samuel Cox by the Loudon County Court through the Wardens of Shelbourne Parish. I have spoken to the Rector of Shelbourne Parish and he advises that at the time this took place the Parish had almost as much jurisidiction over the welfare of the citizens of Virginia as the state courts. Shelbourne Parish is the Episcopal Church.
...Upon visiting the Daughters of American Revolution Headquarters in Washington, D.C. I found that numerous persons had established their ties with Peter Benham.
...These DAR records show that Peter served as a sergeant in Captain West's Company and also designated as Captain's Reuben Briscoe 3rd Virginia Regiment (1776 - 1778). Documentation for this is found in Colonel Thomas Marshal and Colonel William Heth's report of AGO Court records, Loudon County Virginia.
...I also found in the accounts of the United States for the Militia of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, Book A, page 282 where Peter furnished sundries for the Militia of the just mentioned states and was paid 30 pounds.
...Peter was a military sergeant of Carters Company, 10th Regiment which is recorded in the Colonial and State records of North Carolina Volume 1 - 16, page 1120 and Polio, North Carolina Revolutionary Army Accounts, Volume 2, page 8.
...While living in Loudon County Virginia Peter was appointed an Ensign on May 1778 in the Virginia militia. His appointment appears in "Legends of Loudon" by Harrison Williams, page 126 and also in the book "Virginia Militia in the Revolutionary War" by McAllister, pages 210 and 213.
...Page 205 of the HISTORY OF THE OLD TENNENT CHURCH, by the Reverend Frank R. Symmes, 1904, under Early Baptismal Records, is the following: "Peter Benham had baptised: John, Robert, Peter, Richard, Amey, and Catharine, all baptized at once, presented by their father and their mother-in-law Hannah which had been (illegible) Clayton, May 31, 1759."
...It appears that Peter Benham after his marriage to Catharine Wessell in 1761 moved to Loudon County Virginia. His six older children were left behind in the care of their grandmother Catharine (Van Dyke) Benham. (Source: Compiled by James Lee Wignall, Following the Footprints on the Sands of Time, 1986)

Peter married Catherine Wessel on 24 Feb 1761 in New Jersey, British Colonial America. Catherine was born in 1728 in Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey, British Colonial America; died before 12 Feb 1781 in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Will: 7 Aug 1784, Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States
• Probate: 20 May 1785, Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States

Notes:

...JOHN BENHAM: The exact date of birth is unknown. In the BENHAM FAMILY OF AMERICA, by Randall it states he was born August 15, 1702/04, and according to Mr. Milford Benhams chart and the Wright papers he was born August 15, 1692.
...In a letter written November 12, 1946 by Mr. Fred R. Benham of Indianapolis, Indiana, to his Uncle Silas Benham, a copy of which was loaned to Mrs. Georgianna Randall, to aid her in writing THE BENHAM FAMILY IN AMERICA, it said: "John Benham (1702-1785) was a man of some importance. His name consistently appears in the records of his country along with his dutch son-in-laws. He left a sizable estate, including slaves and real estate. There are records where he purchased and paid 6.18.5 pounds for a French Psalm book, Alsops Demus, Tutamen, Porthsmouth Dispute, Basarush, and others. The personal inventory of his estate suggest household furnishings of a cultivated and gentle family. His household was furnished with iron and plated cooking utensils, eight books listed by his executors at 15 shillings, and good evidence of his station in life was " 1 bed with curtains." In all his personal property for administrative purposes was valued at 68 pounds. He freed old slave " the old Wench Rose." He gave a slave to each of his daughters, probably for their domestic use. He left nothing in his will to his second son, Peter, our lineal ancestor, who was dead at the time the will was made, but left Peter's eldest son John 5 shillings.
...The books mentioned above were purchased by John Benham in an estate sale in 1729. In NEW JERSEY ARCHIVES 1st SERIES ABSTRACTS OF WILLS, Vol. 16-70 1730, page 440 appears "1729 April 12. Stelle, Ambrose of Monmouth County, Trader. Inventory of the personal Estate of 6.18.5, Incl. A French Psalm book, Alsops Decus and Tutamen, the portsmough Dispute and Basaruah zb.; made by Henry Leonard and Daniel Tillton, sworn to by Jonathan Forman, the Administrator. 1729 November 8 account of the sale at public auction, which has brought for the goods as inventoried 9.3.2, the buyers being Aaron Forman, Samuel Forman, Samuel Barton, Thos. Redford, Benjamin Van Cleaf, William Creag, Lawrence Van Cleaf, Joseph Froman, Steven Aumock, John Forman, and John Benham.
1732 November 1 account by the administrator, who" desireth allowance of a certain debt due by bond to Walter Thong of New York, Merchant and paid by the Administrator 20"
...John Benhams will of August 17, 1784 was probated May 20, 1785 and appears in Monmouth County New Jersey Archives, Vol. VI: 41 of Abstracts of wills of 5401-5408 M. Book 27:133. It says he was sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory. It names;
...Grandson John, son of Peter, 5 shillings
...Son Joseph 10 pounds
...Daughter Ann Taylor (negro girl Nan)
...Daughter Handerrickye (same as Hendrics) Van Dike (negro girl named Bett)
...Daughter Catharine Van Horn (negro girl named Rose)
...Daughter Elizabeth Covenhoven (negro boy named Yafe)
...Wife Catharine Benham full use of lands and all remaining goods for her lifetime. After her death it was to be sold and divided among his daughters: the four named above, and his grandchildren who were the children of his deceased daughter, Mary Clayton. He named these children: Robert Clayton, John Clayton, William Van Cleave and said they were to have one share
...He freed old wench Rose, after the death of his wife.

Executors named: Hendricke Smock and Garret Canderveer. Signed by mark in presence of John Van Cleave, Joseph Hilzee, and Hendricke Smock. The inventory amounted to 68.11.3: taken by John Clayton and David Covenhoven, Appraisers and dated May 3, 1785.

Probate:

Extract from the Will of John Benham
Item I give an bequeath unto my well beloved wife Catharine Benham the full use and Benefit of all my Lands and Tenemants, and all the remaining Part of my goods and Chattels movable or immoveable during her natural Life, and after my Wifes Decease It is my Will and desire that all and every part of real and Personal Estate be sold by my Executors and equally divided betwixt my Daughters __?__. I do likewise make & ordain Hendrick Smock & Garret Vanderveer my sole Executors of this my last will and Testament __?__.

John married Geertje Van Dyke about 1717 in Monmouth County, New Jersey, British Colonial America. Geertje (daughter of Charles Van Dyke) was born about 1700; died after 1792. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Catherine Van Dyke
• Name: Giertie Van Diick

Notes:

John Benham was born November 3, 1671 in Wallingford, Connecticut. He married Neeltye, a dutch girl. Her name translated is Eleanor or Nellie. This John Benham is sometimes referred to as John Benham of Long Island or John Benham, Englishman. He settled at Bergen, New Jersey in 1693 at which time he was between 21 and 22 years old. There is much contradiction on his children, but without doubt one of his children was son John, born August 15, 1692.

John married Anna Neeltje Kymber about 1691. Anna was born about 1672 in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York, British Colonial America; died about 1720. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Neeltye Lymber
• Name: Nellie Kymber

Notes:

Neeltje" is Eleanor in English, and is often written "Nellie.