Benjamin Fessenden

In his 55th year. Born 1729 - pg. 131 Sandwich Vital Records.

• ***** From page 683-84 of The Fessenden Family in America by Edwin Allan Fessenden 1971: BENJAMIN FESSENDEN (b. July 9, 1729, prob. Sandwich,Mass.) graduated from Harvard College in 1746. Although he had been educated for the ministry, after the death of his father he established an inn in the old parsonage in Sandwich. He married (1) DEBORAH PERRY July 22, 1750. She was born Mar. 27, 1733/4, daughter of Ebenezer and Abigail (Presbury) Perry. She died Aug. 27, 1754.

He married (2) SARAH NEWCOMB Oct. 19,1760. [pg. 204 Sandwich Vital Records.] She was born about 1728. [Sarah was the daughter of William Newcomb and Bathsheba Bourn. (Her lineage to John Howland of the Mayflower is: Bathsheba Bourn, Desire Chipman, Hope Howland, John Howland)] In 1768 Benjamin Fessenden was one of a committee to consider a petition from the Quakers upon the question as to whether they had any rights to a proportional share of the ministerial lands, and was also a member of a committee appointed to answer a petition from the inhabitants of Plymouth asking certain fishing rights. Benjamin Fessenden died Oct. 25,1783. His epitaph in the Sandwich cemetery reads in part: "Read mortal and be wise: Here is interred the body of Mr. Benj Fessenden, who died Oct. 24,1783, in the 55th year of his age. The many amiable virtues which adorned his character embalm his memory, and leave the comforting assurance to his friends, that he participates in the joys of a happy immortality."

CHILDREN (prob. all born Sandwich, Mass.) by first wife, Deborah (Perry) Fessenden: -1. Stephen b. Oct. 27,1750; d. July 3,1774. -2. Samuel b. Sept. 2, 1752; m. June 14, 1774, to Patience Tobey; d. Feb. 3,1834. -3. Deborah (Abigail) b. June 10, 1754; m. May 4, 1775, to Nathaniel Haskell; d. —.

CHILDREN by second wife, Sarah (Newcomb) Fessenden: -4. Sarah b. July 5, 1761; m. (1) Moses Allen; (2) Nathan Nye; d. Apr. 10,1845. -5. Rebecca b. Sept. 11, 1762; m. — 1783, to Nathan Dillingham; d. —. -6. Abigail b. Feb. 26, 1764; m. Apr. 14, 1794, to William Bodfish; d. —. -7. Bathsheba b. Mar. 27, 1767; m. May 26, 1793, to Samuel Freeman; d. —. -8. William b. Jan. 4, 1769; m. Aug. 7, 1794, to Martha Freeman; d. Oct. 24,1846. -9. Lucy b. Nov. 16, 1770; m. Apr. 25, 1793, to Rev. Alvan Hyde; d. Aug. 27,1852. -10. Thomas b. July 22, 1772; m. — 1802, to Ruth Wilcox; d. Dec. 29,1849, Sandwich, Mass. -11. Hannah b. Oct. 22, 1774; m. — 1795, to Thomas Eldred of Falmouth, d. —. -12. Benjamin b. Aug. 7,1776; d. July 12,1788.

Died at half past three per the Massachusetts vital records page 139.