John Benedict

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	Born	6 Feb 1648	Southold, Long Island, New York
	Married	11 Nov 1670	Phoebe Gregory
	Died	after 1727	Norwalk, Fairfield, Conn.

Parents:

• Father: Thomas Benedict; 1617-1690
• Mother: Mary Bridgham

Children:

1. Sarah Benedict
2. Phoebe Benedict; b. 21 Sept 1673
3. John Benedict; b. 3 March 1676
4. Jonathan Benedict.
5. Benjamin Benedict; b. 1678
6. Joseph Benedict; b. 1680-1763
7. Thomas Benedict; 1682-1763
8. James Benedict; b. 5 Jan 1685
9. Mary (or Mercy) Benedict

John's Early Years

Along with his parents and all of his siblings and their families, John removed from Long Island, New York to Norwalk in the Colony of Conn. In his father's will, he was bequeathed his father's "calve pasture Lot", one-third of his "Sticky plaine Lott", " yt part of salt meadow lying by ye bridge at ye Indian Field", and "eight acres of upland laid out above ye Long Swamp beyond ye New field". He was named one of the overseers of his father's estate.

John and Phoebe Gregory

Phoebe was born in 1649, the daughter of John Gregory and Sarah Saint John of Southhold, where John was also born. She passed away in 1749 at the elderly age of one hundred.^A

The two families were likely close in friendship as well as proximity in the town. John's father Thomas Benedict was a witness to the will of Phoebe's father, made August 15, 1689. John had bequeathed his estate to his wife Sarah. Both John and his brother, James Benedict, were mentioned as sons-in-law. Sarah also, in an instrument, dated October 9, 1689, so names them.

In 1686, he drew lot #27 in Norwalk, and in 1678, he bought a 4 acre home lot on Dry Hill.

John was a freeman of Norwalk in 1680, and succeeded his father as selectman in 1689, 1692-1694 and in 1699. He was a selectman in 1692-94 and '99; and also held some minor civil appointments the town. He was appointed part of committees to recruit a minister and a schoolmaster. He was occupied, however, mainly, with church affairs, having become Deacon, probably, upon the death of his father.

Thenceforth the records show him to have been constantly on committees having charge of the religious and educational interests of the community, now "obtaining a minister," then, "hyering a schoolmaster." In 1705 the church honoured him by voting him a sitting "in ye seat before ye pulpit." He served as a representative in the General Assembly in the sessions of 1722 and 1725%CITE{1001}%.

The Final Years for John

The date of his death is not to be ascertained, nor is that of his wife. The volume of probate records, which probably covered the time within which they died, unfortunately, is missing.

He conveyed property to his sons James and Joseph of Ridgefield, in 1722 and 1723; and that he was living in 1727, is thought to be certain, because his son is then referred to as Deacon John Benedict Junior%CITE{1001}%.

Footnotes

References:

• Family reference: 2
• Family Tree: Benedict Generations
• Lineage: John Benedict², (Thomas¹)
• Books:
  • GBA-I p. 49%CITE{1001}%

Note A: Sarah's birth and death information is similar to information in David Kipp Conover's website.

Loyalist claim of Elijah Benedict, s. of Gideon, s. of Joseph, s. of John. The unconfirmed story is that he "settled in Pollitt, VT before the war. He took the King's side and lost all his property and took part of his family to Montreal." (rootsweb.com)

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-- JimBenedict - 02 Mar 2006
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