Benjamin Smith, Sr.

Not the son of Rev. Nehemiah Smith

Son of William and Elizabeth (Stanley) Smith. Married Ruth Loomis.

Family

DESCENDANTS OF WILLIAM SMITH and ELIZABETH STANLEY < link >

Generation 2

8. BENJAMIN Sr.2 SMITH (WILLIAM1), born Apr 1656/58 in Farmington, Hartford Co., CT; christened 14 Apr 1658 in lst Congr. Ch., Farmington, CT4; died 1738 in Springfield, Hampden Co., MA.5

He married (1) abt. 1683, RUTH LOOMIS, born 14 Jun 1660 in Farmington, Hartford Co., CT6; died 18 Feb 1724/25 in W.Springfield, Hampden Co., MA7, daughter of SAMUEL LOOMIS and ELIZABETH JUDD.

He married (2) on 7 Oct 1725 in Springfield, MA, MARY BULTOLYTH.8

He married (3) on 24 Jan 1725/26 in Springfield, MA, HANNAH PHELPS. 9

Benjamin probably lived in the Farmington, CT area in his early years but soon after his first marriage Benjamin Smith Sr. removed to Westfield, MA.

On 7 Sept 1687, Benjamin purchased several tracts of land in the part of Springfield which is now the Town of West Springfield, MA from John Pnychon10. The area where his land was located was called Paucatuck, the Indian name for the place on the north bank of the Westfield River and it here about 1693 that Benjamin Sr. built a saw mill in the vicinity of the Falls.11 Due to fear of Indian attack, Benjamin Sr. traveled back and forth between his house in Westfield and his lands in Springfield. In 1700 his Westfield house was used as a garrison house as protection from Indian
raids.12 Eventually Benjamin Sr. built a house in Springfield which he made into a house of entertainment or inn.13

Among the Benjamin Smith land transactions at Hampden County Mass. Registry of Deeds are two deeds dated 1712 whereby Benjamin purchased three acres of land in Springfield on the west side of the Great River from John Miller, document witnessed by Moses Ingersole, Samuel Bliss, & Joseph Colton, recorded 14 Apr 1755.14 Benjamin purchased land in the same location consisting of four acres from Thomas Miller, witnesses John Worthington & William Pynchon.15 It is possible that it was Benjamin Jr. that purchased this land not Benjamin Sr. but is most likely that Benjamin Sr. was the grantee in these deeds.

Benjamin Sr. served in several town offices in the town of Springfield. In
1713 he was constable.16 He was surveyor of highways in 1727-1728.17 In 1722/23 he served as tithingman.18 In connection with his farming activities he was paid 40 shillings for the use of his bull on three occasions.19

Benjamin Smith Sr. wrote his will on 14 May 1735. It was proved May 1738. His sons JONATHAN & JOB SMITH were executors of the estate and his heirs were wife HANNAH SMITH; grandchildren THOMAS TAYLOR, SEPHANIAH TAYLOR, & RUTH TAYLOR, children of daughter of RUTH TAYLOR deceased; daughters ELIZABETH MILLER, RACHEL MORGAN, MARY DAY; sons WILLIAM, BENJAMIN, JONATHAN & JOB SMITH; grandson SAMUEL SMITH, son of SAMUEL SMITH, deceased. The document was witnessed by JONATHAN CHURCH & CALEB
PARSONS. The inventory was taken 23 May 1738 by THOMAS INGERSOLL & M. NOBLE and amounted to L283-01-05.20

On 20 May 1741 (recorded 26 May) BENJAMIN Sr's land was distributed to his sons WILLIAM, BENJAMIN, JONATHAN, & JOB SMITH and his grandson SAMUEL SMITH.21

Children of BENJAMIN Sr. SMITH and RUTH LOOMIS22

• 11 i WILLIAM3 SMITH, born abt. 1683 in Westfield, MA; died 6 Apr 1749 in Springfield, MA .23 He married (1) on 15 Jun 1720 in Springfield, MA24, SARAH DEWEY, daughter of SAMUEL DEWEY, died 18 Jul 1725 in Springfield, MA.25 He married (2) on 21 May 1730 in Springfield, MA, SARAH MILLER, daughter of EBENEZER & HANNAH MILLER26
• 12 ii RUTH3 SMITH, born 8 Feb 1685 in Westfield, MA; died bef. May 1735. She married SAMUEL TAYLOR, died 20 Oct 1738 in Springfield, MA son of JAMES & MARY TAYLOR27
• + 13 iii BENJAMIN JR. SMITH, born 14 Feb 1687. He married (1) MARY BEDORTHA. He married (2) SARAH COLTON. He married (3) SARAH SMITH.
• 14 iv SAMUEL3 SMITH, born 24 Aug 1689 in Westfield, MA; died 1 Jul 1724 in Springfield, MA28. He married on 11 Apr 1723 in Springfield, MA29, DESIRE BEDORTHA, born 20 Jun 1696 in Springfield, MA30, daughter of JOSEPH BEDORTHA and HANNAH MARSHFIELD.
• 15 v ELIZABETH3 SMITH, born 14 Feb 1692/93 in Westfield, MA; died 26 Apr 1780 in Westfield, MA; buried in West Springfield, ae 88.31 She married on 24 Jan 1717/18, in Springfield, MA32, EBENEZER Jr. MILLER, died 16 Mar 1783, AE 91, in W.Springfield, MA33.
• 16 vi RACHEL3 SMITH, born 5 Oct 1694 in Westfield, MA; died 11 Dec 1761 in Springfield, MA34. She married on 6 Jan 1726 in Springfield, MA, SAMUEL MORGAN35, died 12 May 1777, ae 84 in W. Springfield, MA36
• 17 vii JONATHAN3 SMITH, born 26 Oct 1697 in Westfield, MA; died 9 Feb 1772, ae 7437; buried in Tatham Cem., West Springfield, MA. He married on 9 Nov 1727 in Springfield, MA, MARGARET BALL, daughter of SAMUEL & MARGARET BALL38, died 2 Jul 1798, ae
• 86 in W. Springfield, MA39
• 18 viii JOB3 SMITH, born 29 Dec 1700 in Westfield, MA; died 23 Aug 1786, ae 85 in W. Springfield, MA.40 He married on 7 Aug 1729 in Springfield, MA41, MARTHA BEDORTHA, born 15 Jul 1703 in Springfield, MA42; died 1 Apr 174843, daughter of JOSEPH BEDORTHA and HANNAH MARSHFIELD.
• 19 ix MARY3 SMITH, born 12 Aug 1703 in Westfield, MA; died 6 Dec 1748 in 46th year in West Springfield, MA; buried in Old Cemetery, West Springfield, MA.44 She married on 23 Apr 1724 in Springfield, MA45, EBENEZER DAY, died 15 Aug 1777 ae 76 in W. Springfield, MA46

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References

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/221711583/benjamin-smith
• http://sites.rootsweb.com/~ctsmfsd/SmithInDepth.pdf
• https://catnip13.tripod.com/Smith.html