AMERICA THE GREAT MELTING POT
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Direct descendant is highlighted in red
Joseph Benham | see FAMILY TREE | |
Born: There are conflicting dates of 1634 and 1621
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He may have been born in 1621 in Plymouth, Devonshire, England or he may have been born in 1630 or 1634 in Boston. His father, John Benham, immigrated in 1630 showing up first in Wallingford, CT. Since the first settlers of Wallingford came from Devonshire, England, it has been assumed the father was from Devonshire. | |
Married: 15 Jan 1656/57 New Haven, CT | JOSEPH BENHAM of Newhaven & WINIFRED KING were married 15th
- 11th month by Richard Bellingham Dept. Govr. --A Report of the Record Commissioners Containg Boston Births, Baptisms, Marriages, and Deaths, 1630-1699 (Boston: Rockwell and Churchill, 1883), 58. |
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Died: Abt 1703 Wallingford, New Haven, CT | ||
Buried: Wallingford, New Haven, CT | The Center Street Cemetery in Wallingford, CT is a 6 acre cemetery dating from 1670. On the north end of Center Street lies the grave of Joseph Benham. |
FATHER
WIFE
CHILDREN
Dec. 27, 1687, "town gave JOSEPH BENHAM, Jr., 5 acres of land for his
service in the war [The Indian War of 1675-1676, commonly called King
Philip's] joining to his 20 acres on the east side."
The roll of honor of Wallingford men engaged in King Philip's War is made
up of the following names: [includes] JOSEPH BENHAM, Jr. --C. Bancroft
Joseph seemed to have even worse luck with the town council than his dad,
including being publicly whipped.
From "Witchcraft Trials of Connecticut" by R. G. Thomlinson, pub. 1978:
"In the summer of 1692, Winifred (King) Benham, the wife of Joseph Benham of
Wallingford came under suspicion of witchcraft. When Hammah Parker began to come
to the Benham home and make accusations, Joseph took direct action to protect
his wife. He told Hannah that he was loading his gun with two bulets and if she
came again to make such conversations he would shoot her with them. A hearing
before Deputy William Jones, Capt. Moses Mansfield, and Mr. Thomas Trowbridge
was held in New Haven on July 25, 1692. Hannah and her husband Joseph Parker,
Sarah How and Abigail Atwater appeared as witnesses against the Benhams. Joseph
Benham admitted that he threatened to shoot Hannah Parker and the Benhams were
warned to appear before the Nov. Meeting of the New Haven County Court."