James Benedict

James Benedict

Born 5 Jan 1685 Married 1709 Sarah Hyatt Died 25 Nov 1762

Lineage:

James Benedict3, (John2, Thomas1) Parents:

Father: John Benedict; 1641-1727 Mother: Phoebe Gregory

Children:

1. Sarah Benedict; b. 1709-10
2. Ruth Benedict; b. 1711
3. Peter Benedict; b. 1714
4. Hannah Benedict; b. 1715-16; d. 1810
5. Phoebe Benedict; b. 1717-18; d. young
6. James Benedict; b. 1718; d. 1792
7. Martha Benedict; b. 1722
8. John Benedict; b. 1726; d. 1814
9. Thomas Benedict?; b. 1726

James’s Early Years

In 1708 James and other inhabitants of Norwalk purchased a large tract of land between that town and Danbury. The purchase was made of Catoonah the chief sachem, and other Indians, who were the proprietors of that part of the country. Deed bears date Sept. 30, 1708. At the Norwalk town session, 1709, it was ordained that it should be a distinct township by the name of Ridgefield.

- per: Trumbull, p. 460 James was also one of the original settlers of this township.

James and Sarah Hyatt

Sarah was born in December of 1685, the daughter of Thomas and Mary Hyatt of Norwalk, and passed away on February 9, 1767 at the age of 81. The brother of James, Captain Thomas Benedict also married a Hyatt: Sarah's sister Millison, another daughter of Thomas and Mary Hyatt.

James was a fence-viewer in 1715, called as Ensign in 1719, afterwards Captain, and in 1737, as Esquire. He was appointed justice of the peace for Fairfield county, Connecticut on May, 1732, and was re-appointed annually until 1733. He was the representative for Ridgefield, from May, 1740-45, and 1748-1752.

He was the first to write the genealogy of the Benedict family. In his youth he lived with his grandmother, Mary Bridgum, wife of Thomas, and she delivered to him, from her own mouth, the genealogy down to his own memory, and he reduced it to writing. His Genealogy of the Family of the Benedicts, dated March 14, 1755, has been the foundation of all the subsequent ones. His grandson, Abner Benedict?, a member of the junior class in Yale College, made an exact copy of it, June 23, 17681.

The Final Years for James

James was the second Deacon of the church in Ridgefield, till old age and its attendants rendered him unable to serve. He sustained the character of a pious and exemplary Christian. His death occurred Nov. 25, 17621.

The following inscription is on his gravestone in Ridgefield.

Here lies interred the body of James Benedict Deacon of the first Church of Christ in this town; Together with Sarah, His Wife Who, after having served their generation According to the will of God, fell asleep and were gathered to their fathers, the first on Nov. 25. 1762 in the 77th year of his age; the other, February ye 9th, 1767, in the 81st year of her age.

Headstone photograph taken on 14 April 2007 at Ridgefield cemetery, courtesy Greg Benedict.

Footnotes Occupation Fence-Viewer: n.: "a local official who administers the fence laws as by inspection of new fence and settlement of disputes arising from trespass by livestock that have escaped enclosure." (Webster's Third New International Dictionary)

•Description: This historic position was first established in 1693 by a statute which was amended in 1785 and again in 1836. Upon request of any citizen, the Fence Viewer; views fences to see that they are in good repair and in case of disputes between neighbors, works to resolve their differences. Problems such as size, condition, and distance from property lines are complaints that still arise between neighbors and call for the good offices of the Fence Viewer.

The Children of James and Sarah

1. Sarah; b. May 23, 1709-10; m. Gideon Smith of Ridgefield.
2. Ruth; b. Dec. 3, 1711; m. Thomas Rockwell.
3. Peter; b. March 20, 1714; d. 1787; m. Agnes Tyler
4. Hannah; b. Jan. 25, 1715-16; m. March 12, 1737 Daniel Burt (1716-1805); d. 20 Jan 1810
5. Phoebe; b. March 14, 1717-18; d. young.
6. James; b. Feb. 19, 1718.
7. Martha; b. April 15, 1722; m. James Scott.
8. John; b. Oct. 3, 1726; d. July 9, 1814. (twin)
9. Thomas; b. Oct. 3, 1726. (twin)

Sources:

• "Genealogy of the Benedicts in America", by Henry M. Benedict; 1st pub. 1870; orig. avail. at Daughters of the American Revolution in Washington, DC.

They had 9 children: Thomas, John, Martha, James, Phebe, Hannah, Peter, Ruth, Sarah. In 1708 he was part of a group from Norwalk who purchased a large tract of land between Norwalk and Danbury from Catoonah, chief sachem, that was made a distinct township called Ridgefield. He was one of its original settlers. Justice of the peace for Fairfield County in 1732. From his grandmother he wrote first genealogy of the Benedict family.

Inscription HERE LIES INTERRED THE BODY OFJAMES BENEDICT, ESQ.DEACON OF THE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST IN THIS TOWN;TOGETHER WITHSARAH, HIS WIFE,WHO, AFTER HAVING SERVED THEIR GENERATIONACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD,FELL ASLEEP AND WERE GATHERED TO THEIR FATHERS,THE FIRST ON NOV. 25, 1762IN THE 77TH YEAR OF HIS AGE

• Reference: Find-A-Grave

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GEDCOM Note

!"Benedicts in America" FHL 929.273 B434b Deacon of the Congregational Church in Danbury. His will dated 16 Sep 1760 mentions wife Mary, children James, Benjamin, Hezekiah, Thomas, Mary, Phoebe, Abigail and Sarah; grandson, Michael, and granddaughters, Anna and Amy, children of son John, deceased. Will proved 23 Jun 1761

!First white male child born in Danbury, Connecticut

!"Ancestors and Descendants of Henry Gregory", compiled by Grant Gregory FHL 929.273 G862g

• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Oct 24 2023, 20:09:23 UTC

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• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Nov 17 2023, 21:43:22 UTC