Thomas Benedict

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Thomas BENEDICT, born 1617; died 1689; was the first arrival of the Benedict Family in the New World. Almost all the North America Benedicts derived from Thomas and Mary, who helped colonize Long Island (now New York State) and in Norwalk, Connecticut.

	Born	17 Nov 1617		St. Michael, Long Stratton, Norfolk, England%CITE{1012}%
^	Christened	30 Nov 1617		St. Michael, Long Stratton, Norfolk, England%CITE{1030}%
	Married	abt 1639	Mary Bridgham	likely at Salem, Massachusetts Bay Colony
	Died	about Mar 1689/90		Norwalk, Fairfield co., Connecticut

Parents:

• Father: William Benedict%CITE{1030}%; 1579 - 1628/29
• Mother: Elizabeth Stephin%CITE{1030}%

Children:

1. Thomas Benedict; b. abt. 1640; d. Nov. 1688.
2. John Benedict; b. 1648; d. after 1727.
3. Samuel Benedict; b. about 1649; d. April 1719.
4. James Benedict; b. Feb. 1649/50; d. August 1717.
5. Daniel Benedict; b. about 1652; d. after Feb. 1723.
6. Mary Benedict; b. 1652/3; d. 1687 or 1688.^A
7. Elizabeth Benedict; b. 1653; d. 1688.^B
8. Sarah Benedict; b. 1653.^C
9. Rebecca Benedict; b. about 1660.^D

The Early Years for Thomas

Thomas was born in the fall of 1617 in Norfolk, England, in Stratton St. Michael, a small community just 8 miles south of Norwich and some 120 miles northeast of London. At that time, the British were becoming more aware of the value of the new colonies across the ocean, as in that year, Virginia tobacco was being promoted in London by the first visitor to England from the colonies: Pocahontas.

He was the son of William Benedict and Elizabeth Stephin, she being the daughter of John Stephin and Ann Tovye%CITE{1030}%. Presumably the father William died before Thomas reached the age of 12, as Elizabeth married a second time on September 8, 1629 to John Bridgham, he a widower of Grace (__). From his first marriage, John had a daughter, Mary Bridgham, who was about a year younger than Thomas, and became his step-sister.

Mary Bridgham was christened November 15, 1618 in Morningthorpe, Norfolk%CITE{1030}%.

All the families are found in a region of close proximity: the Benedict family of Saxlingham Nethergate, the Stephin family of Long Stratton, the Bridgham family of Morning Thorpe, all in the county of Norfolk and within 2 miles of each other. This region is predominantly agricultural in industry and the nearest urban settlement is Norwich, 8 miles to the north.

Emmigration to America

Thomas sailed from Great Yarmouth, England in late May or June of 1637 onboard the "Mary and Anne" along with his step-sister, Mary Bridgham. They landed safely at Salem in the Massachusetts Bay Colony by early August of that year. Within three years, either 1639 or 1640, the couple were married by the Reverand John Youngs, likely at the Salem settlement.

Within a year of their marriage, the couple left Salem along with the Rev. Youngs and other colonists to re-settle further south and west, at Southold on Long Island.

The Final Years for Thomas

Footnotes

References:

• Family reference: A
• Family Tree: Benedict Generations
• Lineage: Thomas Benedict¹
• Books:
  • GBA-I p. 1%CITE{1001}%

• Note A: per Passengers on the Lion from England to Boston 1632; by Sandra Sutphin Olney; published 2008 by Heritage Books, Inc., ISBN 978-0-7884-4656-6. See Part Two (volume II), pp. 448-454.
• Note B: Elizabeth married 1676 to John Slawson at Stamford, Fairfield co., Connecticut. She died 1688 at Stamford, Fairfield co., Connecticut.
• Note C: Sarah was born in Southhold, New York and died in Danbury, Connecticut. She married Dec. 19, 1679 James Beebe at Norwalk, Fairfield co., Connecticut. He was born about 1641 at Broughton, Northamptonshire, England; died April 22, 1728 at Danbury, at age of 87 as recorded on his tombstone. Sarah likely died by 1704 as James remarried after 1704 to Rebecca [Beardsley] Curtis. See Our Family Ancestors.
• Note D: Rebecca married 1689 to Dr. Samuel Wood of Norwalk, Connecticut. He was born about 1655 in England; died 1714 at Danbury. They had two children; Samuel Wood Jr. and a daughter. Young Samuel was born Feb. 28, 1690 at Danbury; married Sarah Cornell; died 1763 at Danbury. This information per William Platt Wood Family website.

Go to the history page for further details on Thomas Benedict's life.

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Family Outline

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-- JimBenedict - 13 Nov 2007
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