Elisha Benson 1731-1813 of Middleborough, Mass. and Woodstock, Vermont and His Wife Sarah Stewart

Elisha Benson was born 5 March 1731 at Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, the son of Ebenezer and Joanna (Andrews) Benson. [Middleborough VR 1:70] I wrote about Ebenezer and Joanna here.I believe he is my sixth great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family. My research regarding Elisha always raises additional questions, so this sketch is a work in progress. 

On 16 October 1753, the Wareham Church Records show that Elisha Benson testified against his uncle, Joseph Benson, regarding the latter’s relations with Abigail Muxom. “Elisha Benson Testifyeth & saith that he was at Edmund Muxom’s house some time since, & saw sd. Muxom’s wife very familiar with Joseph Benson, by talking of balderdash stuff, & kissing & hugging one another in the absence of her husband. At another time I saw them coming out of the sled house together, & discovering none but they two.” Testifying against family must have been a difficult thing for 22-year-old Elisha to do; perhaps he was a very moral person. I’m hoping Elisha used  the word “balderdash” rather than a transcriber paraphrasing! [Wareham Church Records, 22]

Although Elisha lived at Middleborough, it seems he attended church at nearby Wareham. He married, first, Mariah Bump/Bumpus on 14 February 1754 at Middleborough. [Records of the First Church of Wareham, p 73] Evidently Mariah died soon after their marriage.

On 23 January 1755 Elisha married, second, Sarah Stewart at Rochester in Plymouth County. Their intentions were posted 28 December 1754. [Middleborough VR 2:49; Rochester VR 2:295] Sarah’s sister Hannah married Elisha’s brother Benjamin Benson. 

Sarah was born, as Sary Steward, on 24 Oct 1732 at Rochester, the daughter of James and Hannah Steward. [Rochester VR 286] Her mother’s maiden name is Dexter.

Elisha is referred to as a blacksmith [Woodstock Deeds 4:326] and his inventory included tools of the trade.

Sarah and Elisha’s children are not known with certainty due to lack of records but, based on circumstantial evidence, likely included:

1. Isaac born about 1758 (lived at Middleborough and Vermont; listed next to Elisha in the 1790 census)

2. Elisha born about 1763; married Sophia Nye (lived at Middleborough and Vermont; the same man, at the same time, was administrator of Elisha Sr’s estate and guardian to some of Elisha Jr’s children)

3. Moses born 16 Oct 1774; married Experience Gibbs (moved from Middleborough to Woodstock; he and Elisha were joint mortgagees in an 1808 deed [Woodstock Deeds 5:204])

I descend from both Elisha and Moses. I wrote about Moses here.

Some researchers give them additional children: Charity, Levi and Joanna. In the 1790 census Elisha's Middleborough household included eight people, so they likely had more children, especially given the gaps in the three sons’ estimated births. It is also possible they had grandchildren living with them.

On 15 December 1755, Elisha Benson paid £24 for 45 acres of land in the Fourth Purchase of Middleborough from Thomas Tomson of Halifax.  [Plymouth County Deeds 50:227]

Elisha is mentioned in his father Ebenezer Benson of Wareham’s will dated 11 September 1758, receiving 10 acres of land adjoining that land which he already owned. [PCPR 19:529; Plymouth County Deeds 70:239]

In the 1790 census, he is listed as head of household in Middleborough, between Stephen Gibbs and Isaac Benson, with two males ages 16 or over, 3 males under age 16 and three females. [1790 federal census, page 172] 

In 1798 he is also living in Middleborough: Elisha Benson, property is described as a farm, the Ebenr Gibbs Farm part of what he bought of the Leonards; dwelling house 27 by 20 feet; total tax 1 pound 50 shillings. [Massachusetts & Maine Direct Tax list, 12:202]

At the Court of Common Pleas that began 22 November 1791, John Putnam (Sutton Physician) attached Elisha Benson (Middleborough Yeoman), on 16-month note dated 4 May 1790 for 5 pounds 2 shillings 2 pence “lawful Silver Money…six months without interest then interest till paid.” Pltf said the deft’s failure to pay was to his damage of 12 pounds. Default by deft. Judgment for 5 pounds 9 shillings and 2 pound 3 shilling costs. Appealed by deft. [No further record] [PCR 10:190] This is interesting because Sutton is in Worcester County, Massachusetts, quite a distance from Middleborough. Perhaps Elisha lived there briefly? Or stayed with a family member who lived there? Something to investigate.

Elisha was about 69 when in 1800 he moved to Woodstock in Windsor County Vermont. “Elisha Benson of Middleboro, blacksmith,” purchased 84 acres of land in Woodstock, Windsor County, Vermont, on 5 May 1800. [Woodstock Deeds 4:326] At least 50 Middleborough families moved to Woodstock from 1782 to 1787.  [Weston] The fertile land was likely a draw and with the settlement growing, there would have been a need for a blacksmith. But I do wonder if there was an additional reason, perhaps religious differences, since Elisha would have been an advanced age at that time. 

Woodstock is still an incredibly beautiful town (source: Wikipedia)

On 28 April 1804 Elisha Benson purchased additional land and was called “of Woodstock.” [Woodstock Deeds 5:19]

In 1810, Elisha Benson’s Woodstock household consisted of 1 male under 10, 1 male 10-15, 2 males 16-25, 1 male 26-44, 1 female under 10, 1 female 26-44, 1 female 45 and over, 8 total members of household. [1810 FC Woodstock VT enumerated 6 August 1810] This is another puzzle to solve as no male 45 and over is listed. But it seems unlikely that Elisha would have died three years before his estate was probated. If it is his son Elisha’s household why isn’t Elisha Sr also enumerated?

Elisha evidently died early in 1813; he was about 82 years old. On 7 April 1813, Ebenezer Holmes was appointed administrator of the estate of Elisha Benson Sr of Woodstock, at the request of widow Sarah Benson. At the same time Ebenezer was appointed administrator of the estate of Elisha’s son, Elisha Benson Jr of Pomfret, Vermont. [Hartford Probate District, Windsor Co. VT, 4:427, 428] 

Ebenezer Holmes was appointed guardian of Stephen Benson, a minor over age 14, Leonard Benson and Amelia Benson, minors under age 14, all heirs of Elisha Benson of Woodstock. Joel English was appointed guardian of Luther Benson, a minor over age of 14 and heir of Elisha Benson of Woodstock. (Hartford Probate District, Windsor Co., VT, 4:446; 5:74, 6:78.) These children were likely Elisha’s grandchildren, children of his son Elisha Benson Jr. 

Jabez Bennett, Joel English and John Thomas of Woodstock were appointed to conduct an inventory of Elisha’s estate, and later were tasked with setting off Sarah’s one-third dower interest in Elisha’s real estate. The inventory is dated 9 April 1813 and totaled $1,403. The largest amount being $1,000 value of his homestead farm. The next most valuable item was two yokes of oxen for $143. The inventory also included a cow, a horse, two sheep, four swine, hay, corn, 36 bushels of potatoes in the ground, household furniture, a wooden clock, a looking glass, two beds, two great spinning wheels, kitchen utensils, farm equipment, “old blacksmith tools and bellows,” a gun, one large Bible, two hymnals, and clothing. [Probate District, Windsor County, Vermont 4:458, 5:116] The looking glass, wooden clock, a Bible, and hymnals indicate Elisha was a man of some means as they were luxury items due to their cost. It is also clear that Elisha was literate. 

I have not found Sarah’s death record.

Sources:

Richard H. Benson, The Benson Family of Colonial Massachusetts, Newbury Street Press, 2003

Thomas Weston, History of the Town of Middleboro Massachusetts, 1906