Benjamin Witt

The ancestry of Benjamin is involved with considerable debate.

- Some researchers have claimed that he is the original immigrant to the United States from perhaps France or Holland.

- Some researchers are claiming that he is a descendant from the Massachusetts Witt family.

What IS known about him is:

Revolutionary War Veteran

"Benjamin DeWitt, served in the Revolutionary War as a private, Capt Elias Hasbrouck's Company, 3rd New York Regiment, C. L., commanded by Col. James Clinton. The company muster roll covering the period from June 28 to September 28, 1775, dated at Camp Ticonderoga, September 28, 1775, shows that he enlisted August 1, and was sick at Albany. He later enlisted May 5, 1778, for a term of 9 months, as a subsitute for George Sampson, and was discharged February 16, 1779 as a private in the Cols. Company, 2nd New York Regiment, C. L., commanded by Col. Philip Cortlandt."

After the War he married Molly Larkin and had his children. He died in Fairfield, Herkimer, NY in 1802.

Ref: [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kelliesconnections/Descend..." target="_blank Benjamin History] (Scroll down to person 11.)

NEW RESEARCH:

DNA Connections:

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Over the last five years modern technology has offered a new way to connect families via DNA Y-chromosome analysis. The DeWitt author of this memorial has found that his DNA matches extremely closely to a descendant of this Benjamin DeWitt through his son Larkin. The analysis suggests that the two DeWitt clans are related via a common ancestor within 300 years but most likely in the 1750s.

One can explore the other DeWitt clan by visiting the memorial for John DeWitt (1758-1820) at: [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=35203368" target="_blank John DeWitt (1758-1820) History. ]

2012 - 2013 update:

We are trying to find a definite connection with this Benjamin DeWitt clan and the John Witt (1612-1675) family. So far, the only support we have discovered is that a descendant of Benjamin has Y chromosome DNA markers that closely match another DeWitt who has strong evidence that he is descendant from the John Witt family in Massachusetts. We have contacted two other DNA donors who have strong proof of Witt descendancy and their DNA is under analysis as of September 2013. Results are due by about December.

October report:

Some of the analysis has arrived earlier than expected. We are confident now in saying that this Benjamin (1754-1802) and John DeWitt (1758-1820) families are closely connected and these two men could have been brothers.

Comparison to another Witt/DeWitt family's DNA shows slightly less strong connection but does indicate that all three families are John Witt descendants. A more formal report will be created and made available by the end of the year.

We are still looking for proof that this Benjamin Witt was the son of Isaiah Witt which many have claimed but without written proof. Link to Isaiah's FAG memorial:

[http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=117946450" target="_blank Isaiah Witt]

Please contact this memorial owner for more information. Check back around the beginning of 2014 for a new report.

January 2014 UPDATE:

As mentioned before, we have confirmed via Y chromosome analysis that this DeWitt descendant clan of Benjamin DeWitt is descendant of John Witt (1612-1675).

FAG MEMORIAL:
[http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=114614031" target="_blank JOHN WITT]

We have tried to find other living male John Witt/DeWitt descendants. We have found that many Witt families changed their last name to DeWitt from the late 1700s thru the 1870s so this idea was prevalent in the family. I suspect that it was due to envy of the more famous Dutch DeWitt families of nearby New York and an attempt to improve impressions made on others. There is also some evidence that the Witts believed that their family actually descended from the DeWitts back in Europe before John Witt immigrated to Massachusetts from England sometime during the 1630s. No documentation has been found that confirms this claim.

What we now know via Y chromosome DNA analysis is that our Witt/DeWitt clan is NOT genetically linked to the Dutch DeWitts of the Kingston NY or Long Island NY regions whose ancestors also immigrated in the 1600s. There may be a link between clans if one goes back 700 or 800 years ago however. So the claim that we Witts were actually 1500-1600s era DeWitts is not supported. Another fact that supports this nonDutch ancestry is that none of John Witt's family had Dutch names. The NY DeWitts used Dutch names for many of their children.

How do we know we DeWitts are Witts?

A documented descendant of this Benjamin DeWitt via son Larkin, six other John Witt descendants and the author of this biography have Y chromosome DNA that matches very closely. One of those John Witt descendants still uses the Witt last name while all of the others are DeWitts.

What remains to be done?

Unfortunately, we have not been able to determine who the father of this Benjamin DeWitt was. We are trying to find a Benjamin Witt born at the same time who might have changed his name and headed west to NY from Massachusetts. So please keep visiting this memorial for further updates.

BENJAMIN's WIFE:

Regarding the wife of Benjamin DeWitt...
See additional commentary on wife Molly's memorial.

CHILDREN:

Their children were:

Loren DeWitt * 1778 –

Allura Lura DeWitt [Rockwood] 1781 – 1856 (See link below.)

Arathusa DeWitt [Sanderson] 1784 – 1860

Luseba DeWitt [Farmer] 1786 – 1866 (See link below.)

Larkin DeWitt 1794 – 1873 (See link below.)

Delucius Lucius DeWitt 1796 – 1871 (See link below.)

Luke DeWitt* 1797-18??

• Notes:

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Some researchers have suggested that Loren and Luke DeWitt were also sons. The evidence is weak regarding these claims, but it is worth mentioning.

Luke's FAG memorial may be found at: at: 67282730" target="_blank REV. LUKE DEWITT.

If anyone has any information regarding Loren's or Luke DeWitt's connection, please contact this memorial's owner.

Finally we are seeking a living male DeWitt descendant of Benjamin's son Delucius DeWitt for DNA analysis. Also any male descendant of Luke and Loren. Please contact this memorial's author.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Aug 15 2018, 3:07:56 UTC