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Note: Richard Benjamin 1 - came to America on the ship Lyon (Lion) on September 16, 1632 and entered at the Port of Boston. On this same ship were John Benjamin 1 and his wife Abigail (Eddye) Benjamin, and four small children. Richard, though about the same age as John's eldest son, was entered on the passenger list as a separate individual and was listed as having come from Heathfield, Sussex County, England. John Benjamin was listed from that same area, also Richard took the oath of allegiance to King Charles on June 2, 1632 before leaving England.
It would be well to note that John's children were not listed separately in the passenger list nor is there any indication that they took the Oath of Allegiance. Richard, though a minor, was treated on all the listings as a "head of household".
The relationship between Richard and John has not been established. Some genealogists have called them Father and son, while others have called them brothers. Nether seems very correct if the usual birth dates are correct! Richard was not included in John's will, nor has the name of Richard been used by the John line during the early generations. The only names that seem to be used in common by both lines were the names John and Joesph -- both very common names at that time.
Nearly a generation separates them in age, which tends to disqualify the brother relationship, although John could have been the eldest son of a large family, with Richard the youngest, which might explain a generation span between their ages. Recently discovered Chalvinton Parish records give baptism records for both a John and Richard Benjamin and John Benjamin is named father of both. However, there are no indications as to whether this John Benjamin is the same individual in both cases. However, these baptism records do indicate that Richard was baptized in 1602, nearly 20 years earlier than most records have him born. This record would have him only 17 years younger than John and hence not a minor at the time of his departure from England, which tends to be a better explanation of existing facts than a birth in 1621!
Needless to say, there must have been some relationship. They made a dangerous voyage together and John seems to have taken Richard under his wing, for Richard seems to have spent his early years in the same areas that John lived in, namely Newtowne (now Cambridge) and Watertown, MA.
Richard was named a proprietor of Watertown, MA. in 1642. This is about three years before John Benjamin died in Watertown and about the time Richard came into his majority. (Note: If the Chalvington Parish records are correct, then he would be about 40 years of age).
There is very little recorded about Richard Benjamin in the Watertown records. Apparently he married while still there, as the birth of a daughter is recorded there.
About 1645 he and his family moved to Southold, Long Island, New York, where he resided until his death. In 1662 he signed the appointment of Capt. Youngs for the Hartford Colony under the Charter. At that time, Southold, L.I. was a part of the Hartford , CT. colony and was included in it's charter.
Anne Eddye, a sister of John Benjamin's wife, Abigail Eddye, married Barnabas Wines. Barnabas was a freeman in 1635 at Watertown, MA. and moved to Southold about 1642 and was admitted a freeman there in 1662. Ann (Eddye) Wines is the "Aunt Wines" mentioned in the will of John Benjamin's daughter, Mary Benjamin. The move of the Wines family to Southold may have been one of the reasons that prompted Richard to move to Long Island.
In 1656 Mr. Benjamin of Southold hired 2 cows from Mr. Frost, who lived in the town and had died. Frost gave his estate to John Conklin Sr. of Southold, who now required the 2 cows from Mr. Benjamin, who refused to give them without an order from the New Haven court. The court in New Haven ordered Mr. Benjamin to deliver the animals to Mr. Frost, who was also required to present affidavits showing and proving his ownership of the animals. This account is taken from The Records of the Colony and Plantation of New Haven 1638-48 by Hoadley. (It seems the court required the impossible of Mr. Frost, but perhaps the records were confused!).
Richard applied to the General Court of CT., along with Jeffery Jones and others, to be made a Freeman under CT. in May of 1664, and he was accepted that same month.
In 1666 he was united in deed to J. Youngs for Plumb Island, off the coast of Long Island. In May 1966 "Richard Benjamin makes over all meadows lying and being at Weading Creek, called by the Indians Pauquaconsick, to John Youngs". In 1673 there was a deed by him and his son, Simeon Benjamin, to Thomas Trusten for meadow land in Cutchoque.
In 1676 Richard was assessed for 2 men, 39 acres, 26 cattle, and 7 horses. In 1675 Richard had 44 lots at Cutchoque (about 120 acres) and was among the taxpayers listed and was assessed at the amount of 247 pounds.
From the Southold Town records..."Dec. 1652: Richard Benjamin his house lot containing four acres more or less: the now inhabitation of Mr. John Herbert on the east and Annimias Conkelyn on the West". His house stood nearly opposite the house of Barnabas Horton and that site has been occupied by Richard Carpenter, Richard Sturges and Nathaniel Hubbard Cleveland in more recent days. Benjamin Lane formed his western boundary. He lived on the south side of the street, immediately west of the church lot and burying ground.
On June 9, 1674 Deacon Barnabas Wines and Richard Benjamin are freed from military training..."Watching and warding". Both of these persons may have been freed on account of their office, as well as age, for in the same year that the second pastor was settled, the people in the Town Meeting appointed a grave digger and church sexton. They elected Richard Benjamin, who's home was immediately west of the church and cemetery. He was authorized to receive 18 pence for the grave of each adult and 12 pence for each child. He was called 'general factotum' of the first settlement of Southold, Long Island. (Note: If the earlier birth date of Richard is correct, this record could well apply to his son.)
Very little material has been written or collected about the Richard Benjamin line. The only genealogy published on this line is one on the Simeon Benjamin family, who was the founder of Elmira College. Your compiler has attempted to place the people in the correct families. In several instances, this has been done, seemingly against past tradition. In those instances, reasons will be given for placement. It would seem that some mistakes have been made, and then perpetuated. Much, much more work needs to be done on this line, but hopefully this is a start for for future genealogists.
Resources: Savage's Gen. Dictionary of N.E. Settlers: Simeon Benjamin, Founder of Elmira College, McDowell; Gen. of the Puritans of Conn.,Hinman, 1852; p. 171 Topographical Dict. of England and N.E. 1620-1650, Charles Banks; Grafton Magazine of Hist. and Gen., Vol. II, 1900-10; N.E. Gen. and Hist. Register Vol. 7 p. 283; Whiteaker's Hist. of Southold p. 131and p. 167, Case; Personal Index prior to 1698 of Town of Southold, Charles Moore; Wilson papers found in the rare book room of the Library of Congress in Washington D.C.; Salmon records; Records of Charles Benjamin of Elmira, N.Y.; Chalvington Parish records courtesy of Mr. Burnell E. Stafflin of Buffalo N.Y.
From the Book -- THE BENJAMIN FAMILY IN AMERICA, Compiled by Gloria Wall Bicha and Helen Benjamin Brown.
Copyright 1977, Library of Congress Catalog card number :76-56023
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