Mary Benham

Mary Benham

Female 1809 - 1888  (79 years)

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Generation: 1

  1. 1.  Mary Benham was born in 1809 in Greene County, Ohio, United States (daughter of John Benham and Abigail Nutt); died on 17 May 1888 in Warsaw, Kosciusko County, Indiana, United States.

    Other Events:

    • Census: 1860, Van Buren Township, Kosciusko County, Indiana, United States; as Mary Silver, in the household of Peter W. Silver
    • Beneficiary: 21 Jun 1862; in the will of her father, John Benham, as Mary Silver
    • Census: 1870, Cassopolis, Cass County, Michigan, United States; as Mary Silver, in the household of Peter W. Silver
    • Census: 1880, Hoopeston, Vermilion County, Illinois, United States; as Mary Silver, wife, in the household of Peter W. Silver

    Notes:


    Mentioned in the will of John Benham as Mary Silver.

    Mary married Peter Wilson Silver on 9 Dec 1830 in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States. Peter was born on 16 Sep 1809 in Frankfort, Fanklin County, Kentucky, United States; died on 12 Apr 1883 in Hoopeston, Vermilion County, Illinois, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


Generation: 2

  1. 2.  John Benham was born on 11 Aug 1782 in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States (son of Richard Benham and Lydia Robbins); died on 23 Apr 1870 in Centerville, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; was buried in Apr 1870 in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States.

    Other Events:

    • Military: War of 1812
    • Birth: Jul 1785
    • Property: 12 Oct 1813; purchased 49 acres for $200 from Aaron Nutt
    • Census: 1820, Washington Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; as John Benham, farmer
    • Census: 1830, Washington Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; as John Benham, farmer
    • Census: 1840, Washington Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; as John Benham, farmer
    • Census: 1850, Washington Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; as John Benham, farmer, head of household
    • Census: 1860, Washington Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; as John Benham, farmer, head of household
    • Will: 21 Jun 1862, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States
    • Probate: 7 May 1870, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States

    Notes:

    Property:

    Signed: Aaron Nutt and Mary (her mark) Nutt
    Witness: John Price and I. George Reeder
    vC, p273

    Will:


    Last Will and Testament of John Benham
    —In the name of the Benevolent Father of All:
    I, John Benham Senior, of the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio do make and publish this my last will & testament.
    —Item 1st - I give and devise to my beloved wife Abigail Benham , in lieu of her dower, the farm on which we now reside, situate in Washington Township Montgomery County, Ohio, containing about fifty acres, during her natural lifetime.
    —Also, all the good and chattles belonging to me at the time of my decease, she however selling so much thereof as may be sufficient to pay just debts.
    —Item 2nd - I will and devise my grandchildren, being the children of Sarah Hatfield, deceased; Richard Benham, deceased; John Benham, deceased, ten dollars each, to be paid to them by my Executors after the decease of my said wife.
    —Item 3rd - After the decease of my said wife, I direct that my said farm be sold by my Executors hereinafter named and the proceeds thereof, together with the proceeds of chattle property that may be unconsumed by my said wife be equally divided amongst my children as follows: Mary Silver, Aaron Benham, Ivens Benham, Samuel Benham, Charlotte Blair, Lydia Meterd, Tildia June Surface, William P. Benham, and Levi Benham, provided any of the above named children should decease before they should receive their shares, then I direct that their share be divided between those that may be living, and that their children be paid ten dollars each as the grandchildren before mentioned.
    —I do hereby nominate and appoint David Thatcher and Sydney D. Maxwell, Executors of this my last will and testament hereby authorizing them to sell, and deeds to make and to purchasers for the Real Estate before mention in such manner either private of public sale at any time after the decease of my said wife. I further authorize and impower them to adjust and settle all business of any nature whatsoever. In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal this twenty first day of June A.D. 1862.
    John Benham (seal)
    —Signed sealed and acknowledged by said John Benham as his last will and testament, in our presence, and signed by us at his request in his presence.
    W. G. Ewing, Jr.
    S. L. Clutch

    Died:

    OBITUARY
    Dayton Daily Journal
    26 April 1870 - Pg 3, Col 5
    Another of our Pioneer Fathers Gone
    —John Benham, son of Richard and Lydia, (maiden name Robins) was born in Monmouth county, New Jersey, August 11th, 1784, and died at his late residence, three-fourths of a mile north of Centreville, Montgomery county, April 23d, 1870, after a long and lingering illness, aged 85 years, 8 months and 12 days. Whilst a child, his parents moved to Pennsylvania - from there to the West, landing on the banks of the Ohio river where Cincinnati now stands, on New Year's day, 1790.
    —He said the place at that time contained only one log cabin. Fort Washington was occupied by the army, and in a small fort, or stock-house, lived three or four famiies. His father tore up their boat and built a shanty against a large elm tree, in which the family spent the remainder of the winter. This was on the bank of the river at the foot of Main street. His father then bought one acre of land on the second bottom fronting on Main street for ten shillings - built a log house on it, and moved there in the spring of 1791; some time afterward, one half of the lot was sold for ten dollars to Jas. Kemper. His uncle, Robert Benham had the first shingle roofed house in Cincinnati.
    —The first brick house there was built by James Gruniman, also the first mill on Millcreek. The building of both he distinctly remembered. He saw the armies of Harman, St. Clair and Wayne leave Cincinnati for the Indian counrty. Fort Washington was a four-square building with a block-house at each corner, making it then an eight-square fort.
    —He lived in Cincinnati seven years, and saw the three first burials. The first was a soldier from the fort; the other two died at his father's house. Their names were Sullivans and Samuel Dugood. He moved from Cincinnati to a creek near Montgomery, now in Hamilton county, his father's object being to open a farm. But they had neither horses or plows. The first corn crop was put in entirely with hoes - corn-hills being made here and there, where an opening could be found. The crop was tended by himself and two sisters. One day he and one of his sisters were hunting rushes, when their dog was attacked by a bear, and was about to prove too much for the dog, when he fell to work on the bear with a club, killing him! He came to this county in 1804, and was married to Abigal Nutt, July 11, 1805, and they were the parents of 15 children, 9 of whom are still living. At the time of his coming into this county, hunting parties were very common, in whch he took a liberal part, with the follwing remembered persons: The Becks, Irwins, Dunkins and Baileys. On his first visit to Dayton, he found a few log cabins surrounded by hazel bushes and quite a pond of water on Main street. The most prominent men in Dayton at that time were Compton, merchant, and Cooper, who owned a Tub Mill, which stood about where the Patterson Saw-mill now stands. The millers name was Holt. In the war of 1812 he served two terms, one in Captain McClellan's company in 1812, in 1814 he served in Captain Joseph Ewing's company. In politics he was a Democrat, in religion a Universalist, and by profession and practice an honest man.

    John married Abigail Nutt on 12 Jul 1805 in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States. Abigail (daughter of Aaron Nutt and Mary Archer) was born on 24 Sep 1790 in Versailles, Woodford County, Kentucky, United States; died on 6 Jul 1868 in Washington Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; was buried in Jul 1868 in Centerville, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  2. 3.  Abigail Nutt was born on 24 Sep 1790 in Versailles, Woodford County, Kentucky, United States (daughter of Aaron Nutt and Mary Archer); died on 6 Jul 1868 in Washington Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; was buried in Jul 1868 in Centerville, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States.

    Other Events:

    • Obituary: unknown
    • Birth: 24 Sep 1790, Dry Ridge, Bourbon County, Virginia, United States
    • Census: 1850, Washington Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; as Abigail Benham, in the household of John Benham
    • Census: 1860, Washington Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; as Abigail Benham, wife, in the household of John Benham
    • Beneficiary: 21 Jun 1862; in the will of her husband, John Benham
    • Death: 30 Jul 1868, Washington Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States

    Notes:


    Bourbon County was formed on October 17, 1785 from sections of Fayette County, Virgina. Bourbon became part of the new state of Kentucky when it was created in 1792. Dry Ridge is now in Grant County, Kentucky.

    Obituary:

    OBITUARY
    Death of a Pioneer -- One by one, and rapidly, the pioneers are passing away. On the 6th of July Mrs. Abigail Benham, wife of Mr. John Benham, of Centerville, in this county, closed her mortal career, at the ripe age of seventy-eight years. About eleven years ago she was struck with the palsy, and during that long period she was confined to her room--an almost helpless invalid. The maiden name of Mrs. Benham was Abigail Nutt. She was born in New Jersey, October 24, 1790. Her parents emigrated to Kentucky, then a wilderness, in 1796, and kept a public house at Dry Ridge.
    —In 1800 they removed to Centerville, Ohio, and there, at the age of fourteen years, Abigail married John Benham. Her wedded life thus continued during a period of sixty-four years. She was the mother of fifteen children, now living. Her grand children number seventy-two; great grand-children, forty-one; great great grand, one. Her funeral took place on the 7th of July. The sermon on the occasion was preached by a member of the Society of Friends, her parents having been members of that denomination. (Dayton Journal) Note: Some dates and locations seem to be incorrect-pbh

    Children:
    1. Sarah Benham was born on 6 Jan 1807 in Greene County, Ohio, United States; died on 4 Jan 1850 in Washington Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; was buried in Jan 1850 in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States.
    2. 1. Mary Benham was born in 1809 in Greene County, Ohio, United States; died on 17 May 1888 in Warsaw, Kosciusko County, Indiana, United States.
    3. Richard Benham was born about 1810 in Greene County, Ohio, United States; died before 21 Jun 1862.
    4. John Benham was born on 17 Oct 1811 in Greene County, Ohio, United States; died on 28 Apr 1862 in Centerville, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; was buried in Apr 1862 in Centerville, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States.
    5. Lydia Benham was born about 1813; died after 23 Apr 1870.
    6. Aaron Benham was born on 3 Sep 1814 in Centerville, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; died on 13 Dec 1872 in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States.
    7. Ivens Benham was born about 1816 in Washington Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; died on 28 Mar 1887 in Daviess County, Missouri, United States.
    8. Samuel Benham was born about 1817 in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; died on 1 Apr 1905 in Lebanon, Warren County, Ohio, United States; was buried in Apr 1905 in Centerville, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States.
    9. Matilda Jane Benham was born in 1820 in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; died after 23 Apr 1870.
    10. Charlotte Benham was born in 1822 in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; died on 20 Dec 1891 in New Burlington, Chester Township, Clinton County, Ohio, United States.
    11. William P. Benham was born on 14 Nov 1825 in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; died on 13 Feb 1917 in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; was buried on 15 Feb 1917 in Richmond, Wayne County, Indiana, United States.
    12. Levi Benham was born on 21 Apr 1831 in Centerville, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; died on 29 Nov 1921 in Leavenworth County, Kansas, United States; was buried in Dec 1921 in Basehor, Leavenworth County, Kansas, United States.
    13. Nathaniel Benham was born about 1834 in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; and died.
    14. John Benham was born about 1839 in Ohio, United States; and died.


Generation: 3

  1. 4.  Richard Benham was born on 24 Feb 1755 in Monmouth County, New Jersey, British Colonial America (son of Peter Benham and Anne James); died about 1819 in Symmes Township, Hamilton County, Ohio, United States.

    Other Events:

    • Name: James Benham
    • Name: Richard James Benham
    • Religion: First Presbyterian Church
    • Baptism: 31 May 1759, Monmouth County, New Jersey, British Colonial America; Address:
      Old Tennent Church
    • Military: 14 May 1779; Revolutionary War - Private

    Notes:


    ...Baptized on May 31, 1759, with his brothers and sisters, in the Scotch Covenanter Church, the Old Tennent Church of Freehold, New Jersey. His first or middle name may have been James. Probably in 3rd Virginia Regiment of the continental Line during the Revolutionary War. (Source: Information from John Hartsock)
    ...According to Benjamin Van Cleve, nephew of Richard Benham, in about 1784/5 "Captain Robert Benham, my mothers brother, paid us a visit. He strongly solicited my father to remove to that county (the land west of the Monongehelah in Pennsylvania), gave him a list of the different places on the road and every necessary advice relative to his preparations and journey. The object to be surmounted. He was, however, all summer getting ready and did not commence the journey until the second day of November. It seemed hard to leave the country of our nativity, our near relatives, and almost all that was dear to us. My father's mother was living and had lived with us for many years. My mother's grandmother who had brought her up from two years old, lived within a quarter of a mile; she had never lived further off. There was a numerous connection of both sides. We were now to separate from forever. But the prospects of being better enabled in a new country of providing for a growing family preponderated. We commenced our journey on the second of November, 1785, with two wagons of my father's one carrying a set of smith's tools and the other the household goods, in the company with Cornelius Shourd and family, whose wife is my mother's sister. They were in anot
    her wagon. My father and uncle and each an apprentice and a young man by the name of Tunis Voorheis, and neighbor, came with us to see the country, and my Uncle had with him likewise my Uncle Richard Benham's wife and son. We made this day near thirty miles and put up at the ferry on the Delaware River about two miles below Trenton."
    ..."Skipping some entries, we continued: - Dec, 6 came to James Crawford's Ferry on the Monongehela. Here we were met by Uncles, Robert and Peter Benham, with fresh horses and before night we arrived at the end of our journey on the north fork of Ten Mile Creek in Washington County Pennsylvania."
    ..."We lived on the Plantation of my uncle, Robert Benham, nearly opposite Wises (afterwards Wallaces) Mills during the years 1786 - 87. My father cultivated a small field and worked at his trade. In 1788 my father rented a farm."
    ..."On the 25th of November 1789 we sailed from Crawford's Ferry, one boat carrying the families of my father, uncle Richard Benham and some passengers, one of who was Jacob Tappan of New Jersey." The family of Amey Benham and Cornelius Shroud (her husband) remained in western Pa. The journey was made safely and the company landed at Losantiville, opposite the Licking River, on January 3, 1790. The new arrival quickly made preparations for living quarters and the care of their families. John Van Cleave, a blacksmith by trade, who had brought his tools with him, all the way from his home in New Jersey, set up a shop.
    ...Richard Benham's brother, Robert, followed shortly after with his family while their brother, Peter, and his family came several years later. Richard and Robert Benham soon bought property in Hamilton county, property which now is of great value, being in downtown section of Cincinnati. Their names appear on the record of distribution and sale of lots in the town of Losantiville, 1789-90. Deeds in the Hamilton county Court House attest to early ownership of land by both of them.
    ...Richard Benham's land became his as a "volunteer settler" on property offreed by John Cleves Symmes. A "volunteer settler" was required to improve the land and represent his section whenever required for seven years before he was granted ownership. This was called the "Rule of Sale and Settlement of Miami Lands." Should the volunteer settler not live up to his part of the contract he lost the right to claim property and someone else was allowed to apply for it. Richard Benham, according to court house records, never seems to have left Hamilton County although he lived several places in it including the old settlement of Columbia, where from deeds we know he lived in 1802. It was at this time that he became tired of clearing lots Nos. 243 and 244, at the north west corner of fifth and Race Streets in Cincinnati, and paying taxes on them, so he decided to sell them deeming them valueless. On January 4, 1802, he sold the two lots for $40.00.
    ...Richard Benham did not leave a will but from other sources I learned that his wife was Lydia (Last name unknown). He died intestate but the names of his children and heirs appear in a series of deeds of land recorded in Hamilton County court House, in which deeds they sold the land left them by their father. This property was located in the north west corner of Symmes township. Lydia appears as the head of the family in Symmes township in the 1820 census records of Hamilton County, as do her widowed daughter, Betsy Luther, and her sons-in-law, Henry A. Balser, Robert Hughes, and Amos Harris. The last known record of Lydia is in a deed dated November 14, 1823 in Warren County, Oh. Richard Benham built the third cabin on the present site of Cincinnati. He had ten acres there at one time. He died near Todd's Forks and at the time of his death he owned 114 acres.

    Researchers Note: Cincinnati was founded in 1788 and named "Losantiville" meaning "the city opposite the mouth of the Licking River".

    Richard married Lydia Robbins about 1774. Lydia was born about 1759 in New Jersey, British Colonial America; died after 1850. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  2. 5.  Lydia Robbins was born about 1759 in New Jersey, British Colonial America; died after 1850.

    Other Events:

    • Census: 1850, Washington Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; as Lydia Benham, in the household of John Benham

    Notes:

    Married:
    prob. New Jersey

    Children:
    1. Lydia Benham was born about 1779; and died.
    2. Abigail Benham was born about 1780 in Pennsylvania, United States; and died.
    3. 2. John Benham was born on 11 Aug 1782 in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States; died on 23 Apr 1870 in Centerville, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; was buried in Apr 1870 in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States.
    4. Benjamin Benham was born about 1784; and died.
    5. Elizabeth Benham was born on 10 Nov 1786 in Northwest Territory, United States; and died.
    6. Sarah Benham was born about 1788 in Hamilton County, Northwest Territory, United States; and died.
    7. Richard Benham was born on 15 Mar 1789 in Hamilton County, Northwest Territory, United States; died on 23 Mar 1870 in Brown Township, Miami County, Ohio, United States; was buried on 26 Mar 1870 in Miami County, Ohio, United States.
    8. Catherine Benham was born in 1795 in Hamilton County, Northwest Territory, United States; and died.
    9. Mary Benham was born on 9 Feb 1796 in Hamilton County, Northwest Territory, United States; died after 1860 in Shelby County, Ohio, United States.
    10. Peter Benham was born on 18 Aug 1797 in Hamilton County, Northwest Territory, United States; died on 19 Dec 1883 in Greene County, Ohio, United States; was buried in Dec 1883 in Beavercreek, Greene County, Ohio, United States.
    11. Amy Benham was born on 15 Dec 1803; died on 18 Mar 1837; was buried in Mar 1837 in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States.

  3. 6.  Aaron NuttAaron Nutt was born on 17 Jul 1758 in Monmouth County, New Jersey, British Colonial America (son of Levi Nutt and Ann Ivins); died on 2 Jun 1842 in Centerville, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; was buried on 5 Jun 1842 in Centerville, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States.

    Other Events:

    • Military: was in the Revolutionary War - Soldier, teamster and scout under Captain Shreve
    • Occupation: Auctioneer, tailor
    • Occupation: Tavernkeeper in Kentucky and Centerville, Ohio
    • Occupation: Centerville, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; was the firt Clerk and Treasurer
    • Tax Record: 1786, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States
    • Tax Record: 1788, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States
    • Residence: 1798; in Ohio
    • Occupation: 20 May 1811, Centerville, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; a shopkeeper; Address:
      opened the first store
    • Land Patent: 20 Jul 1812, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; purchased 324.51 acres (Land Patent CV-0074-276); Address:
      East half of Section 25, Township 2, Range 6
    • Property: 27 Jul 1813, Centerville, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; sold 1/2 acre for $25.00 to Daniel McNeal; Address:
      Lot #6 (a part of the E½ of Section 25, Township 2, Range 6)
    • Property: 27 Jul 1813, Centerville, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; sold 1/2 acre for $250.00 to Isaac Woodward; Address:
      (Lot #5, the east half of Section 25, Township 2, Range 6)
    • Property: 2 Aug 1813, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; sold 63 acres for $620 to John Beck; Address:
      (a part of the east half of Section 25, Township 2, Range 6)
    • Property: 12 Oct 1813, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; sold 49 acres for $200.00 to John Benham; Address:
      (part of the E½, Section 25, Township 2, Range 6)
    • Property: 12 Oct 1813, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; sold 52.28 acres for $200.00 to Levi Nutt Jr.; Address:
      (part of the east half of Section 25, Township 2, Range 6)
    • Property: 25 Oct 1813, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; sold 100 acres for $1000 to Peter Crager; Address:
      (beginning at the northwest corner of the east half, Section 25,
    • Property: 31 Dec 1813, Centerville, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; sold 50 acres for $700.00 to Aaron Nutt, Jr.; Address:
      Lot #6 (part of the East half of Section 25, Township 2, Range 6
    • Property: 26 Aug 1814, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; ****sold for $200.00 to John Gottiddagh
    • Property: 7 Feb 1815, Centerville, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; sold 1/2 acre for $75.00 to James Buchels, Jr.; Address:
      (north part of the half acre lot of land numbered three on the e
    • Property: 16 Aug 1816, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; sold 100 acres for $150.00 to Ashael Wright; Address:
      (the south part of the lot lying and being in the town of Center
    • Property: 23 Jun 1817, Centerville, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; sold 1/2 acre for $240.00 to John Norcross; Address:
      (lot numbered six on the east side of Main Street including stre
    • Property: 28 Apr 1818, Centerville, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; purchased 1/2 acre for $300.00 from William Blair; Address:
      (Cross street Lot number fourteen, including 1/2 of said street
    • Property: 13 Jun 1818, Centerville, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; sold 33 square rods and 462 square links for $200.00 to John Archer, Sr.
    • Property: 2 Jun 1819, Centerville, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; purchased 2 acres for $75 from David Creamer; Address:
      (lot Numbered ten on the plat of said town of Centerville)
    • Census: 1820, Washington Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; as Aaron Nutt, Sr.
    • Census: 1830, Washington Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; as Aaron Nutt
    • Census: 1840, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; as Aaron Nutt
    • Will: 9 Oct 1841, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States
    • Probate: 23 Aug 1842, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States
    • History / Bio: 1882; The History of Montgomery County, Ohio (Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1882), p362
    • Newspaper: 22 Sep 2010; Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio), 16 September 2020, p111

    Notes:


    Record of the Nutt Family
    by Joseph Nutt
    June 24, 1894
    ...Your grandfather, Aaron Nutt, was a native of New Jersey. He was about six months old when the family moved to a point in Pennsylvania. From hearsay, it was Red Stone. After living there a while, his family, left for Kentucky. There they lived several years at different places. Your great grandparents kept tavern most of the time. Among their patrons they could claim such persons as General William Henry Harrison and wife. This incident I have frequently heard spoken of by different members of the family. My father used to tell it in this way: "One evening a lady with her servant rode up to the door and asked if they could have entertainment for the night. She was told they could. She alighted and the horses were unloaded of their baggage and cared for. After supper and an evening spent in social chat your great grandfather said his wife left the room to prepare bed for the lady who soon followed her and stood looking on for a while as the bed was being made. Then she spoke and said: 'I carry my bed clothing with me, but it will not be unpacked tonight for your clothing suits me.' Then she told me who she was. Some time after that," your great grandfather said, "one evening a gentleman rode up and wanted to know if he could have entertainment for the night. He was told he could. Then he wanted to know if he could have the same bed to sleep in that his wife had occupied some time ago. He told me who was. He was told he could have the same bed, which satisfíed him." In 1840 , when the General passed through Centerville, father asked him if he remembered the circumstance; "I do, and you too," was the reply.
    ...The family lived some years in Kentucky, but were not altogether satisfied with it on account of slavery and imperfect land titles. Hearing good reports from the Northwest from Judge Symmes coming into the neighborhood, a number of neighbors concluded to call on the Judge, who had made a large purchase of land from the government in the Miami Valley, and obtained from him a description of his land with terms and prices. Your great grandfather, Benjamin Robbins, and I think David and Benjamin Archer, who were also brothers-in-law of your great grandfather, were members the company calling on the Judge. When talking with the Judge the rule was one at a time. After your great grandfather had his say and stepped back for the next man this man said, as he pointed at your great grandfather, "Judge, you will not take that man, will you?" pointing to father. "Why not?" said the Judge. "Why," said the man, "he is a Quaker and will not fight the Injuns." "Well," said the Judge, "he is just the kind of a man I want, peacable colonists, not fighting ones."
    ...Returning home the company was soon made up and started with the surveyors for the Northwest. They landed on what now is the southeast farm adjoining Centerville. Camp was made, but Indian signs were soon discovered which caused a removal about a mile northeast, where a new camp was erected in a ravine. Here the company remained undisturbed, finishing up their work in the month of February, 1797. The wild rye was then up to the horses sides at a place just east of where the Methodist church now stands. After the surveying was finished and the platting done cuts were drawn for choice. Benjamin Robbins got first choice; he chose the west half of section 25; your great grandfather got last choice and took east of the above section. He always said he thought "Benny made a poor choice." The above section is now divided by the Dayton and Lebanon turnpike.
    ...After all had made their selections of land they started on the return to Kentucky. In the following spring Benjamin Robbins moved onto his wilderness land, being about the second family settling in what is now Washington township, Montgomery County, Ohio. He was ten days coming from Cincinnati, reaching here about April 6th, 1797. Your great grandfather came two years later, April 1st, 1799. His brother-in-law Robbins generously offered room in his cabin for his household goods but he said he would not unload until he had a cabin of his own. He started out for assistance in the erection of one and went as far as where Franklin now is to secure sufficient help. Every man that was invited came on the day appointed for the building of the cabin. They cut the logs, made the clap-boards and covered it and the family occupied it that night. Bedsteads were made by driving forked sticks into the ground and laying poles across, with one end between the house logs. He often said it looked very discouraging but they had good health and he had the help of two good boys. Your Uncle Levi and your grandfather must have done well in the way of clearing land for I find that he had a tan yard running as early as 1802. I copy a few entries from the tan yard book just as I find them, Orthography and all:

    Aug. 11, 1802, Jonathan Munger brot a cow hide marked J.M.
    Aug. 13, 1802, Jameds Snowden brot a horse hid marked J.S.
    March 23, 1803, Justice Luce brought a steer hid marked J.L..
    March 23, 1803, Peter Borders brot a bull hid marked P.B.
    Arpil 11, 1803, John Cotrel brough a deer skin marked J.C.
    April 13, 1803, Andrew Boyl brought a hid and a peace and a bear skin.
    June 4, 1803, Conrad Carter brought a cow, a calf, four hogs, a dog and a bear skin.
    Many other entries like these, heifer, sheep, and groundhog skins.

    ...In addition to the farm and the tan yard he opened the first tavern in the township. Its sign was a pair of bucks horns. He also opened the first store in Centerville, in May, 1811. The stock he brought from Baltimore, Maryland, in a cart. His visit to Baltimore and the purchasing of a stock of goods was brought about in this way. In the year 1811 he had to make payment for the land he had entered, or lose it. So in 1810 he went to work and raised all the corn he could and fattened hogs and also raised a lot of poultry. In company with some of his neighbors the produce was hauled to Cincinnati in wagons. Here they loaded two flat boats and set sail for New Orleans on December 13th, 1810, reaching that point in 67 days. The trip was prolonged by their stopping and coasting at different points on the river, selling his produce at good prices. Sausage sold at 37-1/2 cents per pound; cheese was sold at wholesale to traders met on the river; landing at New Orleans the remainder of the stock was soon sold. Then from information obtained from the captain of a vessel just in from Baltimore that prices were far better there than at New Orleans he bought a boat load of stuff from a man he found to be homesick. He bought these at reduced prices and shipped for Baltimore, where he made good sales and was soon clear of the stock. Then he thought he must do more trading. Accordingly he purchased a horse and cart, loaded same with goods, and brought them to Centerville where he opened the first store. It was on the present site of Mrs. N. V. Maxwell's residence. His license, or permit for selling, bears the date May 20th, 1811, signed B. VanCleve, clerk- C.P.P.
    ...Among the wholesale prices for 1815 I find: Lead pencils 31-1/4 cents; British Oil 37-1/2 cents per bottle; peppermint 28 cents per bottle; Godfrey's Cordial 37-1/2 cents per bottle; Bateman's drops 37-1/2 cents per bottle; camphor 30 cents per bottle; nutmegs 18 cents; needles 6-1/4 cents; allspice 75 cents per pound; apron check 50 cents per yard; lonsy $1 per yard; pink cambric 75 cents per yard; canbric $2.25 per yard; jaconett $1.62 per yard; pewter dishes $2.25 each. Retail prices: tea $2.50 a pound; 8 penny nails 21 cents; coffee 50 cents per pound; calico 87-1/2 cents per yard. This store was continued to near the close of 1817.
    ...To give the tan yard a good start he sold one hundred acres off the north end at $4 per acre. Then your grandfather was placed in the tan yard to learn the trade of a tanner. He operated there until about the year 1827, when he sold to Benjamin Hatfield, his son-in-law.
    ...Mary Nutt, the first wife of your great grandfather, died Sept. 22, 1817. He was again married Jan. 11th, 1818, to Martha Craig, whose maiden name was Pedrich. From this union were two children: Joseph, born Dec. 11th, 1818, and John born March 3rd, 1823. John married Annie Evans, the daughter of David and Rachel Evans. They were the parents of ten children, only four of whom are now living, namely, Robert, Edward, John Joseph and Howard.
    ...I will now give lengthy quotations from my brother's biography, published in the county history. In speaking of our father, Aaron Nutt, he says: "He was left fatherless at an early age, his mother marrying again. The boy was apprenticed to John Lippencott, a tailor, in 1776, for a term of seven years. Serving his employer nearly that time on the tailor board. At about this time the armies of the Revolution, under command of General Washington, were very active in the state of New Jersey, and as these were indeed trying times for our country and soldiers were much needed, both old and young were earnestly solicited to join the American forces. It was at this juncture that Lippencott was drafted into the military service, and as Aaron Nutt's apprenticeship was about to expire, Lippencott made this proposition to him; that if he would enter the army and serve Lippincott's time out he would in tum set him free. The proposition was accepted and Aaron Nutt joined a military company commanded by his cousin, Captain Israel Shreve. While in the ranks he was in one little skirmish with British light Horse and came off victorious. After that his services were principally that of teamster and riding spy. He never asked for or received any pension, but assisted others in procuring theirs."
    ...As his children married off he gave them each a farm located as follows: To John and Abigail Benham on the south side of the 100 acres he had sold. To Levi next south of them. To Aaron, your grandfather, the next tract south. To John and Sarah Beck the next south. He retained the remainder of the land for himself. To Richard and Moriah Benham he offered a farm on Hole's Creek, or a house and land in Centerville. They chose the latter. Samuel Harlan had a farm of in Centerville of his own. there he and Bathsheba lived until about 1830, when they moved to Park county, Indiana. I have now shown how the children were located.
    ...Quoting again from the Biography: "The father used to take pleasure in standing on his own premises and looking at the smoke as it came out of the chimneys of fíve of his children's homes. Here he was settled and remained during the balance of his life. Surrounded by a large circle of friends and relatives, who were always interested in his presence, he often gladdened the hours with recitals of events in which he had frequently been an active participant.
    ...He was a man of eminently correct habits of life, possessing a very superior constitution, temperate, industrious, and of a cheerful disposition, even marked to the end. When warned of approaching dissolution he seemed ready and willing to meet the change. The disease of which he died, though not of frequent occurrence, was incident to old age, and in this case, according to his skillful physician, Dr. A. B. Price, one of the most extraordinary cases of the kind ever known to the profession. The pain was very severe. It was first manifested in the left eye, after a while completely destroying the organ. The pain then passed to the heel and great toe of the right foot, then successively untill all the toes were in a like manner involved, then the foot was drawn up and dried until it seemed as hard and lifeless as stone. Earnest hopes were strongly entertained the disease could be arrested, but at the close of about the ninth month the powers of the constitution could stand the pressure no longer and death kindly terminated his struggle, June 2nd, 1842. Thus passed the life of a man, aged 83 years, 10 months and 16 days, who had never known what a real sickness was, and even used his tobacco up to within a few days of the last. His remains were buried in the old cemetery, one-half mile of Centerville, between the graves of his two wives. Peace to their remains.
    Joseph Nutt, June 24th, 1894

    ...From 1785 to 1789 they lived in Redstone Fort, Pennsylvania. From 1790 to 1796 they lived at Dry Ridge, Kentucky which was in then Bourbon County but is now (1977) in Grant County. It is between Cincinnati, Ohio and Lexington, Kentucky on highway 75. They also lived in Versailles in Woodford County, Kentucky. In 1796 they moved to Centerville, Ohio. Three of their young children died of smallpox within a three week period in May of 1794. (Compiled by Irene L. Shrope, Nutt Family of Ohio and New Jersey, Revised and Up-Dated 1993 (Vandalia, Ohio: Authorized Distributor Donald A. Nutt, 1992), pg. 32.)

    ...In the spring of 1798, Mr. Nutt moved up with his family from Kentucky, stopping at his brother-in-law's (Robbins) cabin, he having moved up the year previous. Robbins wanted Nutt to unload his plunder and live with him until his cabin was built, but Nutt declined, saying, "No, I will unload my stuff into my own cabin."
    ...He went nine miles over to Franklin, the little settlement on the Miami at the mouth of Clear Creek, for help at the "raising", which, with the aid of six gallons of whisky, was done in a day, and the family occupied the cabin at night. He afterward put up a tavern sign of the "buck horns", of which he was landlord for many years.
    ...The Indian alarm in 1799 was an emergency that the settlers knew well how to meet; stockades were to be put up in all the neighborhoods large enough in which to quarter all of the families and strong enough to protect against savage attack. The horrors of Indian warfare were known too well to all.
    ...The settlers down in Mr. Nutt's neighborhood rallied at once and built a strong block-house, with stockage to enclose a spring on Peter Sunderland's land the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 26, east of and near to the road, and about a mile north of Centerville. Arrangements were complete for the dozen or more families down there to assemble, but scouts from the more exposed settlements reported that the Indians were not preparing for war against the whites; and it is probable that the block-house was not occupied.
    ...The Government had been lenient with the settlers in collection of money for land, but the time coming for settlement, Mr. Nutt went to Kentucky, hoping to collect what had long been due him there; failing to get it he determined to make a trip with produce to the New Orleans market.
    ...He, with others, built two flat-boats at Cincinnati, and, loading with horses, pork and poultry, started in December, 1810, upon a trading and coasting trip down the river, and sold out at New Orleans. Mr. Nutt within a few days bought a cargo of produce and shipped it around by sea to Baltimore, making a good profit on the venture.
    ...With part of his money he bought in Baltimore a horse and cart which he loaded with dry goods and brought overland to his home, arriving at Centerville after an absence of five months; in his own language, "as fat as a house pig", and besides his stock of goods, with money enough to pay his debts.
    ...With this stock of goods he opened the first store in Centerville. His license to sell the goods, dated May 20, 1811, was signed by Benjamin Van Cleve, Clerk, M. O.
    ...The children of Aaron and Mary Nutt were born before the family moved from Kentucky--Levi, February 5, 1780; Sarah, July 7, 1781; Mary, April 28, 1783; Aaron, May 31, 1787; Abigail, September 24, 1790; Ann, October 24, 1792; Bathsheba, February 2, 1795; Moriah, August 22, 1797.
    ...Mary his wife died at their home in Centerville September 22, 1817.
    ...January 11, 1818, Aaron Nutt married Widow Martha Craig, daughter of Isaac and Hannah Pedrick, born in Salem County, N. J., and came West with her parents to Warren County, Ohio, in 1805 or 1806.
    ...Their son Joseph Nutt was born at Centerville December 11, 1818; John was born March 3, 1823.
    ...Aaron Nutt died June 2, 1842; Martha, his widow, died March 20, 1856, aged nearly seventy-six years; they, with his first wife Mary, are buried in the old cemetery a half mile north of Centerville. (Referemce: "The History of Montgomery County Ohio", a reproduction by Unigraphic, Inc., Evansville, Indiana. Original by W. H. Beers & County, Chicago, Part I) pg. 362 - 364)

    ...In 1804, Aaron Nutt, paid on the 100 acres of the north end of his half-section of land, a tax of .50 cents. A few years later he sold the land for $4.00 per acre. (Referemce: W. H. Beers, History of Montgomery County, Ohio (1882; Reproduction, Evansville, Indiana: Unigraphic, Inc., 1973) Part II, Washington Township, pg. 22)

    ...The first store in Centerville was kept by Aaron Nutt, Sr., on the same lot on which the only dry goods store in the town now stands. His first stock of goods Mr. Nutt hauled in a cart from Baltimore. This was in the spring of 1811. Previous to this, Mr. Nutt had lost the money with which he expected to pay for his Ohio property by lending it to an irresponsible man in Kentucky. In 1810, seeing he must make some extra exertion in order to discharge his obligation, Mr. Nutt raised all the produce he was able to and purchased as much more as his means would permit. In company with John Price, Peter Sunderland and others, he loaded this on two flat-boats at Cincinnati, on the 13th of December, 1810, and started to "coast" down to New Orleans. They had many queer experiences with the Southern "aristocracy." At one point, when enumerating his commodities to a Southern lady, Mr. Nutt mentioned lard. "Have you lard?" quickly asked this daughter of the South. Upon his assuring her that he had it both in quantity and quality, she responded: "If you have lard, I'll take a barrel; so many of those dirty flat-boatmen come along here and want to sell me hog's fat, and I won't have that dirty stuff." He assured her that he had genuine lard, and she said she would send the "nigger" down to bring it up. This she did, and Mr. Nutt received his pay, congratulating himself that he had learned to call things by their right names, while the lady was not a little pleased to find one boatman who did not sell hog's fat.
    ...Arriving at New Orleans, these gentlemen sold their remaining stock at very advantageous prices. Peter Sunderland found that he had sold so much of his goods on credit that he had scarcely money enough to bring him home. But Mr. Price and Mr. Nutt had fared better, and, happening to meet with a sea Captain from Baltimore, who told them of fabulous prices paid for produce in that city, Mr. Nutt determined to invest in a flat-boat load which had just come in and take it there. The Captain who gave them information as to prices carried them both and Mr. Nutt 's merchandise to Baltimore, where he found prices even better than had been represented. Having again sold out his produce, Mr. Nutt invested in a horse and cart and a cart load of dry goods. These he hauled overland to Centerville, in the spring of 1811, fat and hearty from his sea voyage, and with enough money in his pocket to pay all his debts.
    ...We give below a copy of the "permit" which gave him the authority to start a store in Centerville:

    The State of Ohio
    Montgomery County SS. To All Who Shale See These Presents:
    Be it known that by virture of the power in me vested by a law of this state entitled "An act for granting license and regulating ferries taverns and stores." Permission is hereby granted to Aaron Nutt Sr of Washington Township in this county to keep a store and vend merchandise at his house in said township from the date hereof until the next term of our court of Common Pleas to be holden at Dayton on the second Monday of September next according to the statute in such case made and provided. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of our said Court of Common Pleas at Dayton the twentieth day of May one thousand eight hundred and eleven.

    ...Van Cleve, clk., M. C. P. p. t....Mr. Nutt was still in the business in 1815, and we find this list of wholesale prices for that year; Lead pencils, 31 cents; Britich oil, 37-1/2 cents per bottle; peppermint, 28 cents per bottle; Godfrey's cordial, 37-1/2 cents per bottle; Bateman's drops, 37-1/2 cents per bottle; camphor, 5- cents per bottle; nutmegs, 18 cents; darning-needles, 6-1/2 cents; allspice, 75 cents per pound; apron check, 50 cents per yard; linsey, 81 per yard; pink cambric, 75 cents per yard; cambric, $2.25 per yard; Jackanett, $1.62 per yard; pewter dish, $2.25.
    ...Among other things we notice that the retail price of tea, in 1813, was $2.50 per pound; of 8-penny nails, 21 cents per pound; coffee, 30 cents per pound; calico, 87-1/2 cents per yard.
    ...But probably the most expensive article which the early settlers had to buy was salt. Benjamin Maltbie paid $26.87-1/2 for a barrel of salt in Cincinnati.
    ...The first tavern kept in the township was by Aaron Nutt, Sr. This house, or, more properly, log cabin, was opened up about 1800, just north of the town plat, where Frank Harris now resides. Its sign was a pair of buck's horns, and it enjoyed a moderate share of patronage, but was only continued a short time.
    ...Washington Township has not had much experience with slaves, but there are one or two incidents worthy of mention which occurred in the earlier days. There was a law in Ohio in the forepart of this century under which indigent persons were sold to the lowest bidder, not as slaves, but as paupers, kept at publci expense. We take the following entry from Aaron Nutt, Sr's, journal, relative to one of these public sales:

    "June 20, 1819.--Seel was advertise July 3: was sold to the Loest Bidder, which was Levy Nutt; sold for $50 by Aaron Nutt. Sener. & Isack woodward, oversers
    of the Poor for washington township."

    ...This could in no case be called a sale for the personal liberty of the above mentioned person, who, by the way, was a colored woman, but the Overseers of the Poor merely let out the contract of keeping her to the person who was willing to do it for the least money. (Referemce: W. H. Beers, History of Montgomery County, Ohio (1882; Reproduction, Evansville, Indiana: Unigraphic, Inc., 1973) Part II, Washington Township, pg. 11, 12.)

    ...December 15, 1816, Montgomery County, Ohio: Isaac Middleton an orphan age 14 chose Aaron Nutt as his guardian. Case 257 - Doc C-1, page 116.
    ...Moses Nutt Branson, son of Samuel Branson and Charlotte Nutt was orphaned and he ran away and went to live with Aaron Nutt, Sr. in about 1817. Aaron Nutt, Sr. was a brother of Moses Nutt, grandfather of Moses Nutt Branson.

    By Sandra Baer, Contributing Writer
    3:22 PM Friday, September 17, 2010 Dayton Daily News
    ...Aaron Nutt called a man of ‘correct habits’
    Having a neighbor like Aaron Nutt would be a dream come true for most people. A multitalented man, he was just as much at home in the woods with a gun as he was in young Centerville where he surveyed land, operated a tannery where leather was made and constructed his house and sidewalks in town. He also was known for being a fine tailor, a skill he learned from the ages of 14 to 21 when he apprenticed with a local tailor in Mount Holly, N.J.
    ...Born into a Quaker family on July 17, 1758, Nutt retained his Quaker values and didn’t actively fight the British during the Revolutionary War, but instead served in the New Jersey Militia as a scout and a teamster.
    ..“He was a man of eminently correct habits of life, possessing superior constitution, temperate, industrious and of a cheerful disposition even marked to the end,” wrote, Nutt’s son, Joseph, of his father.
    ...On April 1, 1799, Nutt arrived in Centerville, spelled Centreville at the time, from Kentucky where he had lived since 1788. He traveled through thick wilderness to survey and claim 320 acres of land in what is now the center of town.
    ...Although, he was offered a place to store his belongings until a cabin could be built, Nutt, who was planning to build quickly, refused saying, “I am not going to unpack until I enter my own cabin.”
    ...Traveling with Nutt was his wife Mary Archer Nutt, whom he had wed in 1779, and their six children. Prior to the move, the couple had buried three children, who were victims of smallpox in Kentucky.
    ...Mary Nutt died at the age of 61 in 1817.
    ...Nutt married a Warren County woman, Martha Pedrick Craig, in 1818 and they went on to start their own family, which included two sons, Joseph and John. The Nutt land became fragmented as Nutt gave each of his children a portion of his land.
    ...Although he was a busy man, Nutt also owned a tavern, The Sign of the Bucks Horn, and ran for office in Washington Twp., where he served as supervisor of roads and overseer of the poor.
    ...In 1842, Nutt died and was buried in the old Centerville Cemetery next to his two wives.

    Property:

    Signed: Aaron Nutt and Mary Nutt
    Witness: Aaron Nutt, Jr and David NcNeal
    vC, p168

    Property:

    Signed: Aaron Nutt and Mary Nutt
    Witness: James C. Anderson and Richard (his mark) Benham
    vC, p167

    Property:

    Signed: Aaron Nutt and Mary (her mark) Nutt
    Witness: John Benham and Levi Nutt
    vC, p228

    Property:

    Signed: Aaron Nutt and Mary (her mark) Nutt
    Witness: John Price and I. George Reeder
    vC, p273

    Property:

    Signed: Aaron Nutt, Sen and Mary (her mark) Nutt
    Witness: Isaac Woodard and Wm. McCain
    vC, p299

    Property:

    Signed: Aaron Nutt and Mary Nutt
    Witness: Isaac Woodward and George Reeder
    vC, p270

    Property:

    Signed: Aaron Nutt and Mary (her mark) Nutt
    Witness: Josiah Clawson and Isaac Wordward
    vC, p321

    Property:

    Signed: Aaron Nutt and Mary (her mark) Nutt
    Witness: John Price and William Codington
    vD, p14

    Property:

    Aaron Nutt, Sr. and Mary his Wife of Montgomery County, Ohio
    Sold 1/2 acre including street and alley for $75.00
    to James Buchels, Jr. of Montgomery County, Ohio
    The north part of the half acre lot of land numbered three on the east side of Main Street in the Town of Centerville
    Signed: Aaron Nutt and Mary (her mark) Nutt
    Witness: John Price and Isaac Woodard
    Recorded: 26 July 1815, Deed Records vol. D, page 302-303

    Property:

    Signed: Aaron Nutt and Mary Nutt
    Witness: John Price and William Dill
    vE, p292

    Property:

    Signed: Aaron Nutt and Mary Nutt
    Witness: William Buckles and James Russell
    vF, p147

    Property:

    Signed: William (his mark) Blair, Sen and Elizabeth (her mark) Blair
    Witness: George Reeder and Brin Blair
    vG, p25

    Property:

    Signed: Aaron Nutt senr and Martha Nutt
    Witness: W. J. Lodge and John Edwards
    vG, p418

    Property:

    Signed: David Creamer
    Witness: Peter Creamer and H. T. Hatson
    vG, p395

    History / Bio:

    Aaron Nutt
    Who came to this county from Kentucky, was a soldier of the Revolution. After that war he came west with his little family, seeking a home and land that were due him under the bounty laws of the Government.
    His parents, Levi and Ann, lived in Monmouth County N. J., where, July 17, 1758, their son Aaron was born. The father died when his boy was but two years old, who, when he became old enough, was apprenticed by his mother to a tailor. During his last year of apprenticeship, the war of the Revolution being then in progress, his boss was pressed into the army, but induced Aaron to go in his stead by giving him the rest of his time, and setting him free. Inspired with the patriotism of the times, and although not yet twenty years of age, he gladly accepted the opportunity of entering the country's service, and at once enlisted.
    After the expiration of his term of enlistment, he, on the 4th of May 1779, married Mary, daughter of Joseph and Sarah Archer, born November 28, 1756. About the close of the war, when so many soldiers were attracted by the glowing accounts of the rich lands west of the mountains Aaron Nutt moved with his family as far west as Redstone Old Fort, Pennsylvania, where they lived for a time, and when by reason of the aggressive movements against the Indians in the Northwest, it became safe, he moved to Central Kentucky, where near one of the block-houses on the "Dry ridge," the divide between the Kentucky and Licking Rivers, he kept tavern for several years. With the opening of traffic along the Ohio River, and the tide of emigration setting in so strongly to the lands northwest of the Ohio, his business was greatly reduced. He determined to again change location.
    After a visit to the Miami Valley, he, in 1796, came with a party of surveyors from Cincinnati as far as where Centerville now is, and selected 320 acres of land, the east half of Section 25, Town 3, Range 6, between the Miami Rivers, his brother-in-law Benjamin Robbins taking the west half. These two tracts were separated by the Dayton & Lebanon pike; the north half of the town of Centerville platted upon parts of them. Joseph Nutt, son of Aaron, owns and lives upon part of the land entered by his father nearly one hundred years ago.
    In the spring of 1798, Mr. Nutt moved up with his family from Kentucky, stopping at his brother-in-law's (Robbins) cabin, he having moved up the year previous. Robbins wanted Nutt to unload his plunder and live with him until his cabin was built, but Nutt declined, saying, "No, I will unload my stuff into my own cabin."
    He went nine miles over to Franklin, the little settlement on the the Miami at the mouth of Clear Creek, for help at the "raising," which, with the aid of six gallons of whisky, was done in a day, and the family occupied the cabin at night. He afterward put up a tavern, sign of the "buck horns," of which he was landlord for many years.
    The Indian alarm in 1799 was an emergency that the settlers knew well now to meet; stockades were to be put up in all the neighborhoods large enough in which to quarter all of the families and strong enough to protect against savage attack. The horrors of Indian warfare were known too well to all.
    The settlers down in Mr. Nutt's neighborhood rallied at once and built a strong block-house, with stockage to inclose a spring on Peter Sunderland's land the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 26, east of and near to the road, and about a mile north of Centerville. Arrangements were complete for the dozen or more families down there to assemble, but scouts from the more exposed settlements reported that the Indians were not preparing for war against the whites; and it is probable that the block-house was not occupied.
    The Government had been lenient with the settlers in collection of money or land, but the time coming for settlement, Mr. Nutt went to Kentucky, hoping to collect what had long been due him there; failing to get it he determined to make a trip with produce to the New Orleans market.
    He, with others, built two flat-boats at Cincinnati, and, loading with horses, pork and poultry, started in December, 1810, upon a trading and coasting trip down the river, and sold out at New Orleans. Mr Nutt within a few days brought a cargo of produce and shipped it around by sea to Baltimore, making a good profit on the venture.
    With part of his money he bought in Baltimore a horse and cart which he loaded with dry goods and brought overland to his home, arriving at Centerville after an absence of five months; in his own language, "as fat as a house pig," and besides his stock of goods, with money enough to pay his debts.
    With this stock of goods he opened the first store in Centerville. His license to sell the goods, dated May 20, 1811, was signed by Benjamin Van Cleve, Clerk, M. C.
    The children of Aaron and Mary Nutt were born before the family moved from Kentucky—Levi, February 5, 1780; Sarah, July 7, 1781; Mary, April 28, 1783; Aaron, May 31, 1787; Abigail, September 24, 1790; Ann, October 24, 1792; Bathsheba, February 2, 1795; Moriah, August 22, 1797.
    Mary his wife died at their home in Centerville September 22, 1817.
    January 11, 1818, Aaron Nutt married Widow Martha Craig, daughter of Isaac and Hannah Pedrick, born in Salem County, N. J., and came West with her parents to Warren County, Ohio, in 1805 or 1806.
    Their son Joseph Nutt was born at Centerville December 11, 1818; John was born March 3, 1823.
    Aaron Nutt died June 2, 1842; Martha, his widow, died March 20, 1856, aged nearly seventy-six years; they, with his first wife Mary, are buried in the old cemetery a half mile north of Centerville.

    Newspaper:

    Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio) 16 September 2020, p111
    Aaron Nutt called a man of "correct habits"
    Having a neighbor like Aaron Nutt would be a dream come true for most people. A multitalented man, he was just as much at home in the woods with a gun as he was in young Centerville where he surveyed land, operated a tannery where leather was made and constructed his house and sidewalks in town. He also was known for being a fine tailor, a skill he learned from the ages of 14 to 21 when he apprenticed with a local tailor in Mount Holly, N.J.
    Born in a Quaker family on July 17, 1758, Nutt retained his Quaker values and didn't actively fight the British during the Revolutionary War, but instead served in the New Jersey Militia as a scout and a teamster.
    "He was a man of eminently correct habits of life, possessing superior constitution, temperate, industrious and a cheerful disposition even marked to the end," wrote Nutt's son, Joesph of his father.
    On April 1, 1799, Nutt arrived in Centerville, spelled Centreville at the time, from Kentucky where he had lived since 1788. He traveled through thick wilderness to survey and claim 320 acres of land in what is now the center of town.
    Although, he was offered a place to store his belongings until a cabin could be built, Nutt, who was planning to build quickly, refused saying "I am not going to unpack until I enter my own cabin."
    Traveling with Nutt was his wife Mary Archer Nutt, whom he had wed in 1779, and their six children. Prior to the move, the couple had buried three children, who were victims of smallpox in Kentucky.
    Mary Nutt did at the age of 61 in 1817.
    Nutt married a Warren County woman, Martha Pedrick Craig, in 1818 and they went on to start their own family, which included two sons, Joseph and John. The Nutt land became fragmented as Nutt gave each of his children a portion of his land.
    Although he was a busy man, Nutt also owned a tavern The Sign of the Bucks Horn, and ran for office in Washington Twp., where he served as supervisor of roads and overseer of the poor.
    In 1842, Nutt died and was buried in the old Centerville Cemetery next to his two wives. by Columist Sandra Baer

    Aaron married Mary Archer on 4 May 1779 in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. Mary (daughter of Joseph Archer and Sarah Shreve) was born on 28 Nov 1756 in Mansfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, British Colonial America; died on 22 Sep 1817 in Centerville, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; was buried in Sep 1817 in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  4. 7.  Mary ArcherMary Archer was born on 28 Nov 1756 in Mansfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, British Colonial America (daughter of Joseph Archer and Sarah Shreve); died on 22 Sep 1817 in Centerville, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; was buried in Sep 1817 in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States.

    Other Events:

    • Religion: 10 Sep 1807; received by request to Society of Friends (Quaker)

    Notes:


    ...Mary Archer, daughter of Joseph and Sarah Archer, was born Nov. 28th, 1756. She was married to Aaron Nutt, Tuesday, May 4th, 1779. Nine children were born to them. Mary, Joseph and Ann died in May, 1794. Their deaths were one week apart. I have heard my father say that three fifth days (Thursdays) he buried a child. The remaining six lived to be heads of families. Levi married Sarah Moon and they were the parents of six children. (Reference: Joseph Nutt, Record of the Nutt Family: Joseph Nutt, 1824)

    Children:
    1. Levi Nutt was born on 5 Feb 1780 in Mount Holly, Burlington County, New Jersey, United States; died on 27 Aug 1835 in Union Township, Union County, Indiana, United States; was buried in Aug 1835 in Union Township, Union County, Indiana, United States.
    2. Sarah Nutt was born on 7 Jul 1781 in Mount Holly, Burlington County, New Jersey, United States; died on 13 Feb 1859; was buried in Feb 1859 in Centerville, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States.
    3. Mary Nutt was born on 28 Apr 1783 in Mount Holly, Burlington County, New Jersey, United States; died in May 1794.
    4. Aaron Nutt, Jr. was born on 25 Dec 1785 in Monmouth County, New Jersey, British Colonial America; died on 22 Oct 1842 in Centerville, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; was buried in Oct 1842 in Centerville, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States.
    5. Joseph Nutt was born on 31 May 1787 in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States; died on 24 May 1794 in Woodford County, Kentucky, United States.
    6. 3. Abigail Nutt was born on 24 Sep 1790 in Versailles, Woodford County, Kentucky, United States; died on 6 Jul 1868 in Washington Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; was buried in Jul 1868 in Centerville, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States.
    7. Ann Nutt was born on 24 Oct 1792 in Dry Ridge, Bourbon County, Kentucky, United States; died in May 1794.
    8. Bathsheba Nutt was born on 2 Feb 1795 in Dry Ridge, Bourbon County, Kentucky, United States; died on 19 Nov 1866 in Parke County, Indiana, United States; was buried in Nov 1866 in Parkeville, Parke County, Indiana, United States.
    9. Moriah Nutt was born on 22 Jul 1797 in Dry Ridge, Bourbon County, Kentucky, United States; died on 8 May 1849 in Miami County, Ohio, United States.


Generation: 4

  1. 8.  Peter Benham was born on 1 Jan 1725 in Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey, British Colonial America (son of John Benham and Geertje Van Dyke); died on 12 Jun 1780 in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States.

    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 Anne James on 2 Apr 1747 in Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey, British Colonial America. Anne (daughter of Robert James, Sr. and Amey _____) was born on 29 Jan 1727 in Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey, British Colonial America; died in 1758 in Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey, British Colonial America. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  2. 9.  Anne James was born on 29 Jan 1727 in Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey, British Colonial America (daughter of Robert James, Sr. and Amey _____); died in 1758 in Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey, British Colonial America.
    Children:
    1. John Benham was born on 16 May 1748 in Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey, British Colonial America; died in 1782 in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States.
    2. Robert Benham was born on 7 Nov 1750 in Monmouth County, New Jersey, British Colonial America; died on 6 Feb 1809 in Lebanon, Warren County, Ohio, United States; was buried in Feb 1809 in Lebanon, Warren County, Ohio, United States.
    3. Amey Benham was born on 7 Dec 1751.
    4. Peter Benham was born on 12 Oct 1753 in Monmouth County, New Jersey, British Colonial America; died about 27 Oct 1795 in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States.
    5. 4. Richard Benham was born on 24 Feb 1755 in Monmouth County, New Jersey, British Colonial America; died about 1819 in Symmes Township, Hamilton County, Ohio, United States.
    6. Catherine Benham was born on 11 Oct 1756 in Huntington, Monmouth County, New Jersey, British Colonial America; died on 6 Aug 1837 in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States.

  3. 12.  Levi Nutt was born on 1 Jan 1726/7 in Springfield, Union County, New Jersey, British Colonial America; died on 22 May 1763 in Springfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, British Colonial Ameirca.

    Other Events:

    • History / Bio: 24 Jun 1894; Record of the Nutt Family (Joseph Nutt; Date: 1894), p1

    Notes:

    History / Bio:

    Adam Nutt was a native of Wales, and must have come to America in the early part of the last century. the records show that he had a son, Levi, born January 1st, 1727, and that Levi was married to Ann Ivens Sept. 19th, 1748. She was the daughter of Isaac, or as some say Barzilla, and Lydia Ivens; her birth July 7th, 1732. To them were born the following children: Amy Nutt, July 23rd, 1749; Moses Nutt, August 28 1751; Abigail Nutt, March 29th, 1754; Aaron Nutt, July 17th, 1758; Bathesheba Nutt, Nov. 28th, 1760; Levi Nutt, Nov. 8th, 1763. Their father died May 22nd, 1763, and their mother married Hugh Hutchins January 26th, 1769.

    Levi married Ann Ivins on 19 Sep 1748 in Burlington, New Jersey, British Colonial America. Ann (daughter of Isaac Ivins and Lydia Brown) was born on 7 Jul 1732 in Mansfield, Burlington County, New Jersey, Brithsh Colonial America; died in 1788 in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  4. 13.  Ann Ivins was born on 7 Jul 1732 in Mansfield, Burlington County, New Jersey, Brithsh Colonial America (daughter of Isaac Ivins and Lydia Brown); died in 1788 in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States.

    Other Events:

    • History / Bio: 1894; Record of the Nutt Family (Joseph Nutt; Date: 1894), p1

    Notes:

    History / Bio:

    Adam Nutt was a native of Wales, and must have come to America in the early part of the last century. the records show that he had a son, Levi, born January 1st, 1727, and that Levi was married to Ann Ivens Sept. 19th, 1748. She was the daughter of Isaac, or as some say Barzilla, and Lydia Ivens; her birth July 7th, 1732. To them were born the following children: Amy Nutt, July 23rd, 1749; Moses Nutt, August 28 1751; Abigail Nutt, March 29th, 1754; Aaron Nutt, July 17th, 1758; Bathesheba Nutt, Nov. 28th, 1760; Levi Nutt, Nov. 8th, 1763. Their father died May 22nd, 1763, and their mother married Hugh Hutchins January 26th, 1769.

    Children:
    1. Amy Nutt was born on 25 Jul 1749 in New Jersey, British Colonial America; died on 15 Feb 1784 in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States.
    2. Moses Nutt was born on 28 Aug 1751 in Monmouth County, New Jersey, British Colonial America; died on 5 Sep 1805.
    3. Abigail Nutt was born on 29 Mar 1754 in Burlington County, New Jersey, British Colonial America; died on 26 Oct 1823 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.
    4. 6. Aaron Nutt was born on 17 Jul 1758 in Monmouth County, New Jersey, British Colonial America; died on 2 Jun 1842 in Centerville, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; was buried on 5 Jun 1842 in Centerville, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States.
    5. Bathsheba Nutt was born on 28 Nov 1760 in Monmouth County, New Jersey, British Colonial America; died on 5 Nov 1848 in Centerville, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; was buried in Nov 1848 in Centerville, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States.
    6. Levi Nutt, Jr. was born on 8 Nov 1763 in Burlington, New Jersey, British Colonial America; died before 1791 in Mansfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, United States.

  5. 14.  Joseph Archer was born about 1730 in Mansfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, British Colonial America; died on 23 Oct 1783 in Mansfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, United States.

    Other Events:

    • Will: 27 Feb 1781, Mansfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, United States

    Notes:


    WILL
    Published in New Jersey Colonial Documents, Vol 33, pg. 20.
    ...1781, Feb 27. Archer, Joseph of Mansfield, Burlington County, will of Wife, Martha, use of land where I live for the term of 10 years, for her support and the children. Sons, Benjamin, David, John and Joseph Archer, and my sons-in-law, Abraham Tuley and Jonathan tuley, sons of jonathan Tuley, deceased, 1/3 the money, and sons, Samuel and Isaac, and my daughters, Sarah and Rebecca Archer, 2/3. Daughter Mary Nutt, wife of Aaron Nutt, a bed. Daughter, Elizabeth, 5 pounds and a bed. Wife, Martha, 10 pounds yearly. Daughter Sarah Archer, 6 silver tea spoons. Daughter Rebecca, a silver table spoon. son, Benjamin, my great coat. As my son, David, is absent, and may not return in 10 years, I will his share to his brothers and sisters by my first wife. Executors - Wife, Martha and my friend, Samuel Quicksall. Witnesses - Joseph English, Jr. Benjamin Aaronson, John Ope, Proved Oct. 22, 1783.

    Joseph married Sarah Shreve on 12 Nov 1755 in Mansfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, British Colonial America. Sarah was born about 1730 in Springfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, British Colonial Ameirca; died on 13 Jul 1821. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  6. 15.  Sarah Shreve was born about 1730 in Springfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, British Colonial Ameirca; died on 13 Jul 1821.
    Children:
    1. Joseph Archer, Jr. was born in in Mansfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, British Colonial America; and died.
    2. 7. Mary Archer was born on 28 Nov 1756 in Mansfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, British Colonial America; died on 22 Sep 1817 in Centerville, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States; was buried in Sep 1817 in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States.
    3. Benjamin Archer was born about 1760 in Mansfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, British Colonial America; died in 1833 in Washington Township, Allen County, Indiana, United States.
    4. Elizabeth Archer was born about 1762 in Mansfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, British Colonial America; and died.
    5. John Archer was born on 13 Jul 1764 in Mansfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, British Colonial America; died in 1824 in Centerville, Montgomery County, Ohio, United States.
    6. David Archer was born about 1768 in Mansfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, British Colonial America; died about 1825 in Lostcreek Township, Miami County, Ohio, United States.