Joseph Benham

 

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

 

   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.
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

John Benham

WIFE

Winifred King

CHILDREN

  1. Mary Benham b: 18 SEP 1657 in New Haven, New Haven, CT
  2. Joseph Benham b: 25 MAY 1659 in New Haven, New Haven, CT
  3. Sarah Benham b: 1660 in New Haven, New Haven, CT
  4. Joanna Benham b: 25 JUL 1662 in New Haven, New Haven, CT
  5. Elizabeth Benham b: 13 SEP 1664 in New Haven, New Haven, CT
  6. John Benham b: 28 DEC 1666 in New Haven, New Haven, CT
  7. Sarah Benham b: 3 OCT 1668 in New Haven, New Haven, CT
  8. Anna Elizabeth Benham b: 1669 in New Haven, New Haven, CT
  9. John Benham b: 3 NOV 1671 in Wallingford, New Haven, CT
  10. Mary Benham b: 18 MAY 1673 in Wallingford, New Haven, CT
  11. Samuel Benham b: 12 MAY 1674 in New Haven, New Haven, CT
  12. Sarah Benham b: 6 SEP 1676 in Wallingford, New Haven, CT
  13. James Benham b: 1679 in Wallingford, New Haven, CT
  14. Winifred Benham b: 21 AUG 1684 in Wallingford, New Haven, CT
  15. Elizabeth Benham b: 1688

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

 

Contact: Timothy Benham  "Joseph and Winifred married in Boston within days of his mother's death in Connecticut, but they moved beck to New Haven where his mother died, and settled in plot 4 of the original town layout in Wallingford, Connecticut. Joseph and Winifred had many troubles throughout their life, such as Winifred being accused of Witchcraft 3 times between 1692 and 1697. The last time her youngest daughter stood accused with her. When suspicions arose yet another time, the family fled to Staten Island New York, in fear of their lives. Winifred and her 13 yr. old daughter who was referred to in trial records as "Winifred Jr.", were the last witch trial to be held in the New England Colonies, in August of 1697.
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."