Benjamin Franklin Oviatt

Benjamin Franklin, along with his brother William, were circuit riding Preachers for the Baptist Church. Benjamin’s route has been ascertained as Northeastern Ohio, southwestern New York and Northwest Pennsylvania. Records of the marriages he performed have been found recorded in these areas.

In 1819, the Rev Benjamin Oviatt came to Columbia which was part of Smithfield until 1814 (later the settlement became known as Sylvania), and preached three years in the neighborhood, holding meetings in the school-house near Mr. Corey’s, which was soon called “Baptist Hill”, and in Samuel Edsall’s barn. Benjamin Oviatt was pastor from 1819 to 1821 of the Columbia Baptist Church (Bradford County, Pennsylvania). They had no house of worship, but met usually at “Columbia Flats”, now known as Sylvania. Benjamin performed 90 baptisms there. Joseph Beaman was an Old School preacher there. (Likely the man Benjamin named his son after.) The Columbia and Wells church was recognized at the house of James Seely in 1821 of which Benjamin Oviatt was pastor in 1823 and Joseph Beaman in 1824. Benjamin and his wife Frances left 12 June 1823. Their son Joseph Beaman Oviatt was born 26 June 1823.

https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/922959...