Geertje Carelse Benham

From the book "Romeyn Romaine Family 1654" by Herbert S. Ackerman, 1953; Pg. 2.

"The Memoirs of Benjamin Van Cleve:

... I had determined last evening to visit my friends in New Jersey and place of my nativity and I traveled this day forty seven miles by 3 o'clock P.M. I arrived first at my Great Grandmother Benham's (Catherine Van Dyck Romine Benham). I found her sitting churning butter at a small churn, the staff of which was almost worn off. She was ninety one years of age. One of her daughters was present (Mrs.Van Horne), and a negro woman who was left to attend to her and to receive freedom at her death. I remonstrated against the impropriety of her laboring and was told that this was rather a favorite amusement to her, that she was very childish and had been refused it and would cry about it when prevented. I went after another of her daughters, my mothers aunt (Betty Conover) to one of the neighbors in a light wagon with her son John - at my Uncle Thomas Wests whose wife (Anna) was my father's sister and called on several old acquaintances and lodged at night at my Uncle Benjamin Van Cleves."

• Updated from MyHeritage Family Trees via son Peter Benham by SmartCopy: Nov 7 2014, 22:18:36 UTC