Robert Charles Benedict

	Born	about 1848
	Died	1940
	Married	31 May 1870 to Elizabeth Ellen Wilson at Windsor Forks, Nova Scotia

Parents:

• Father: James Benedict -unverified
• Mother: Katherine Benedict

Children with Elizabeth Ellen Wilson:

• Clarence Benedict1
• Isabel Agusta Benedict1; b. 1872; d. 1946; unmarried
• Ellen Elizabeth Benedict; b. 23 Sept 1874; d. 1961; unmarried
• Burton Bauckman Benedict1; b. 1876; d. 1936; m. Ida May Umlah
• Freeman Robert Benedict; b. 1878; d. abt. 1945
• Annie Benedict; b. 1880
• Bessie Mabel Benedict; b. 1882; d. 1933
• Ralph Marshall Benedict; b. 1886
• Ada Margaret Benedict; b. 1887; d. 1963
• Theodore Lawson Benedict; b. 2 July 1888; d. 1956
• Russell Henry Benedict; b. 1890
• Effie May Benedict; b. 1892
• Frank Hamilton Benedict; b. 1894

The Parents of Robert Charles

The parentage of Robert Charles is decidedly vague. Although Katherine is his mother, as determined from his marriage certificate, his father was never been positively identified except as either James or Jacob (based on Robert and his sister Sarah Jane's marriage records). This may be due to a lack of marriage records for Katherine Benedict, or the fact that his father was possibly a recent emigrant from Germany.

The family folklore is that his father was originally a Bauchman from Germany who changed his name to Benedict upon arrival in Canada. Robert Charles did list himself as German on the census in both 1871 and 1881; however, the full story may never be known. What is known is that his mother Katherine was the wife of John Millen at the time of her death in 1870/1871. Her second youngest child, Charles Millen, was listed on the census of 1881 as being a member of Robert Charles' family.

The "family folklore" was probably invented to explain the births of the three children out of wedlock. Also, the Benedict history leads directly to Germany. It is probably more than coincidence that the two stories are similar - namely that the family originally came from Germany but arrived in the New World as a result of religious persecution.

Robert Charles' Early Years

Little is known of Robert Charles as a young man.

Robert and Elizabeth Ellen Wilson

Elizabeth was the daughter of Edward H. and Ann B. [Chandler] Wilson.

The Final Years for Robert

Until his death in 1940, a Benedict reunion was held in Robert's honour every year on his birthday, with three hundred Benedict descendants attending on the last gathering.

Child out of wedlock, took name of "Benedict" according to Mrs. Margaret Redden of Windsor Forks, Hants Co., Nova Scotia. Robert's son, Russel Henry, thought his grandfather Benedict was William Burton, but Mrs. Redden was more sure of her information. The writer [Elwyn Benedict] is not sure if the two sisters of Robert went by name of Benedict or Millen1.

Footnotes

from Rootsweb:
BENEDICT, Mrs. Robert - The sudden passing of Mrs. Robert Benedict at her home, Upper Falmouth, on Tuesday, of last week was a distinct shock to her family and friends. She was 72 years of age. Besides her husband, she is survived by the following sons and daughters, Ellen, Jessie and Frank, at home; Mrs. Hurlbert and Theodore, Windsor Forks; Mrs. George Green, Freeman and Russell, Upper Falmouth; Mrs. Kenneth Rafuse and Mrs. Samuel Patterson, Windsor; Burton, in Vancouver, and Ralph, of Mapleton. The deceased was formerly Miss Elizabeth Wilson of Martock, and one brother and three sisters also survive. The funeral on Thursday was largely attended. Interment in Maplewood Cemetery, Windsor.

- The Hants Journal, October, 1922, Windsor, N. S.

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from Rootsweb:
GREENE, Bessie Mabel - The death of Mrs. Bessie Mabel Greene, wife of George Greene occurred at her home in Bishopville, on Wednesday, Apr. 26th, after a short illness at the age of 50 years. Mrs. Green who was an adherent of St. Andrew's Anglican Church, was highly respected and of a home loving nature. Besides her husband she is survived by seven children, Estelle, Mrs. Frank Newcombe, Hantsport; Ruth, Pauline Robert, Marjorie, Mabel and Walter at home. She is also survived by her father, Mr. Robert Benedict of Falmouth, five sisters and six brothers. The largely attended funeral services were held from the home on Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock, conducted by Rev. Morris Taylor, Rector of St. Andrew's Anglican Church, assisted by Rev. C. A. Britten of the Baptist Church.
- The Hants Journal, Wednesday, May 3, 1933, Windsor, N. S.

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Notes on the Children 1

• Annie; b. 1880; married to Melvin Hulburt. Resided at 7 Forest Hill Drive, St. Albens, Vermont. Later at 45 Algonquin Street, Dorchester, Mass. 02124. Children:
  • Ralph Hulburt; same address.
• Bessie Mabel; b. 30 Nov 1882; d. 26 April 1933; married George R. Green
• Ada Margaret; b. 29 May 1887; d. 21 April 1963; married to Kenneth Rafuse.
• Effie May; b. 3 May 1892; married to Samuel Patterson. Resided at Kentville, Hants Co., Nova Scotia.
• Frank Hamilton; b. 20 Nov 1894

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Sources

1. "Genealogy of the Benedicts in America", Vol. II by Elwyn E. Benedict; 1st pub. 1969; orig. avail. at Daughters of the American Revolution in Washington, DC.

-- TracyRounds - 03 Jan 2006

• ROBERTBENEDICT1901CENSUS.bmp: Part of the 1901 Census Record for Robert Benedict, showing German ethnicity.

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