John Benson (ca 1660/65 to after 1725) of Hull and Rochester, Massachusetts and His Wife Elizabeth Briggs

John Benson was born about 1660-65 (estimated by approximate age at birth of first child) probably at Hull in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, the eldest son of John Benson and his wife whose name is unknown (although there is a great deal of unsubstantiated information about her identity out there). I wrote about his father John here. John is my 8th great grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family.

John’s birth was unrecorded and his father did not leave a will, but he is shown to be the son of John Benson through deeds. In 1708 and 1710 John Benson Sr of Middleborough conveyed lands including his homestead in Rochester to his son John. It seems John Benson Senior lived in a part of Rochester that became Middleborough when town boundaries were adjusted.

John Benson married Elizabeth Briggs by 1687. I have not found a record of their marriage, but a land transaction supports the relationship. John Benson, Jr., of Rochester, 21 March 1704/05, sold for 10 pounds to “to my honored father, Samuel Briggs,” his sea lot number 7 at Rochester consisting of 40 acres.  John signed the deed, rather than using a mark, so he was literate. (Plymouth County Land Records, vol 14, p 42)

Elizabeth Briggs was born Sandwich 3 April 1665, the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Ellis) Briggs. (The Mayflower Descendant, “Sandwich, Mass., Vital Records,” 14:174)

Elizabeth and John had 11 children in 18 years, including two sets of twins (Rochester Vital Records, p. 34): 

Mary born 10 March 1688

Sarah born 15 July 1690

Ebenezer born Rochester 16 March 1693

John born 10 June 1696
Benjamin 16 Much 1697 (twin)

Joseph born 16 March 1697 (twin)

Bennett born 10 September 1698

Martha born 5 March 1703

Caleb born 29 Jan 1704 (twin)

Joshua born 29 Jan 1704 (twin)

Samuel born 22 March 1706

I descend from Ebenezer who married Joanne Andrews.

I have not found death records for John and Elizabeth, but John died after 1 May 1724 when John Benson of Rochester was surety concerning the estate of Thomas Hatch. 

I have maddeningly sketchy information on John! I just ordered a copy of The Benson Family of Colonial Massachusetts by Richard Benson, but it’s print on demand so will take a few months. Fingers crossed it offers more details on John and Elizabeth! 

Sources Not Included Above:

David Hamblen (communicated by) NEHGS Register, “First Settlers of Rochester,” vol 5, p. 85 (1851)

William Richard Cutter (editor) New England Families Genealogical and Memorial, 1914

Ethel Farrington Smith, NEHGS Register, “17th Century Hull, Massachusetts and Her People,” July 1988

RA Lovell Jr, Sandwich A Cape Cod Town, 1984

Edna Anne Hannibal (compiler) John Briggs of Sandwich, Massachusetts and His Descendants, 1962

George Bowman (editor) The Mayflower Descendant, “Estate of Josiah Hatch3 of Rochester, Mass.,” 27:99