_Richard GAWKROGER _+
_Richard Gawkroger (PLATTS) _|
| |______ FIELD _______+
|
|--John Gawkroger (PLATTS)
|
| ____________________
|_Isabella _____ _____________|
|____________________
[914] Will dated Sept 20 1608. Lived in Sowerby; inherited 1/2 lands in Shipley; 1570 - Of Southerhouse & Ragwellshawes. Married twice, with Isabella as his second wife.
__
_Thomas ATKINSON _|
| |__
|
|--Rebecca ATKINSON
|
| __
|_Susanna _____ ___|
|__
__
__|
| |__
|
|--John BENJAMIN
|
| __
|__|
|__
[211]
John and Abigail Benjamin sailed from England on June 22, 1632, on the ship "Lion", Captian Mason. They landed in Boston Harbor on Sunday, September 16, 1632. They Brought with them thei
(Cambridge) later moving to Watertown which is adjacent to Cambridge. Here, it is reported he was a man of wealth having a large house (even a mansion) at the location that the Perkins In
is believed to have been a close friend of Governor Winthrop as the Governor referred to him as "Mr. Benjamin", a title of respect. Lillian Benjamin Chauvin notes that his will is witness
[212] John's brother, Richard, came over with him on the ship Lion and apparently lived around Boston until about 1663 when he moved to Long Island.
[213] John was made a freeman on November 6, 1632, and was appointed Constable by the General Court on May 20, 1633.
[214] John's will is recorded in the Genealogical Register III, page 176-7. (Probably in the Boston Public Library). This information was passed down to Evelyn Benjamin Putnam by her Grandfather, William H. Benjamin, Sr.
[215]
"John Benjamin with his wife and four children sailed for America on the ship "Lion" (Lyon). They left England on June 22, 1632 and at that time John took the oath of allegiance to the King and government of England before he embarked. After
being at sea for 12 weeks, they arrived at Boston Harbor on Sunday Evening, September 16, 1632.
[216]
Supposedly John Benjamin and John Winthrop were friends in England. John Winthrop arrived in America in 1630 and later became Governor of Massachusetts. It is thought that John Benjamins friendship for John Winthrop played a great part in his
decision to leave England and come to America. Also, two of Abigail's brothers had already come and settled in New England, and that may also have played a part in their decision.
[217] This was the last voyage of the Lion. On the following November, while returning to England, it was wrecked on a shoal a few miles from the mouth of the Chesapeake River.
[218] The names of John and Richard Benjamin appear in the "Original Names of Quality" in Emigrants from Great Britain to American Plantations, 1600-1700 by John Hotten.
[219]
The relationship between John and Richard Benjamin has not been established. Some Genealogists call them father and son (though John Benjamin names son John and seven other children in his will that number could exclude Richard as being a son)
while others have called them brothers (though there is about a generation between their ages). Chalvington Parish Records tend to substanciate the brother theory if the John Benjamin named as father is the same person. Also, on two of the
ship's passenger lists Richard Benjamin has been named as a seperate individual-almost as a head of a family- even though he must have been very close to the same age as John's eldest son, while the known children of John that must have been
with him were not named. Obviously, there must have been a close relationship for them to have made this dangerous voyage together, to have come from the same parish in England, and to have lived in the same areas here in America for many
years. Even though their relationship is not established, your compiler feels safe in including the Richard line within the scope of this Benjamin Genealogy.
[220]
John Benjamin settled in Newtowne (noe Cambridge), Massachussetts. On November 6, 1632 he became a Freeman. A Freeman had the right of sufferage, enjoyed advantages in the division of land and, before the representative system started Freemen
were members of the General Court. The principal qualifications of this priviledge seem to have been Church membership. John Benjamin was one of the original proprieters of the Freeman of Boston. It is worthy to note that he became a Freeman
within two months of his arrival, an unusual honor, and perhaps a record of the high regard the community placed on him.
[221]
John was a member of the Church of Christ in Cambridge, and later of the First Church of Watertown. The church in Watertown was the second oldest church in the Colony of Massachusetts and adopted "strict independency" of Congregationalism.
John Knowles was the pastor at this time.
[222]
John was also one of the prorieters of Cambridge. On six acres of land in Newtowne he built what Governor Winthrop described as a "Mansion...unsurpassed in elegance and comfort by all in the vicinity. It was also a mansion of religion and
hospitality; visited by the clergy of all denominations and by the literate at home and abroad". It would certainly seem that John Benjamin was both wealthy and well educated.
[223]
John was man of consequence. He was addressed as 'Mister', a title of respect afforded to few at that time. He was appointed Constable by the General Court on May 20 1633. The Constable in England and in the Colonies was the Chief Executive
Officer of the parish or town, hence an office of honor and importance.
[224]
On April 7, 1636 the Benjamin Home in Newtowne was damaged badly by fire and records show a one hundred pounds loss. Tradition says he had a large, fine library, but details of the inventory of his will don't support this claim. Undoubtedly
many of his books were lost in the fire.
[225]
In 1637 John moved his family to Watertown, Massachusetts. Watertown records of 1642 say that John Benjamin owned the largest homestall in the town at that time. The records do not show that he assumed an active part in the civil affairs of
Watertown. Apparently he led a very quiet life there. His homestead in Watertown was 60 acres and was situated east of Dorchester Field and bounded on the south by the Charles River, on the west by John Loveran and Ephriam Child, and on the
north and east by Thomas Rogers. He had 18 acres of upland in the second division and 24 acres of plowland."
[226]
"There are several traditions about the origin of the Benjamin Family. In "A Genealogy of the Family of Lieut. Samuel Benajmin" by Mary Louise Benjamin, 1900, states one tradition that gives descent from a German Count of Jewish lineage. Of
course, he lost his "Jewishness" in movement through Europe to England. Another branch claims a Norman-French descent through the Barons de Lacey. Still others claim no nobility, but state rather flatly that they are of Welsh extraction.
None are proved!
[227] The most widely accepted account of descent seems to be the one concerning the de Lacey family, which follows:
[228] The pedigree of the ancient house of Benjamin, originally Berington, runs back to Walter de Lacey (1074), great Baron under William the Conquerer at the time of the Norman invasion of England.
[229]
The line seems to be the above Walter de Lacey; Roget de Lacey born 1095 under William Rufas; Ilbert de Lacey born 1137; John de Lacey born 1222 under Henry the III's reign. In the time of Henry III the confederacy of Barons was dissolved and
from them emerged a caste known as a"landed gentry" which became the leaders in politics and society.
[230] The Laceys appear under the name Beryton of Stoke-Lacey, later as Berington of Stoke-Lacey and Windesley Mote Hall of Sallop, Hereford, England.
[231]
In Edward III's reign, Beryton of Stoke-Lacey married the daughter and heiress of Roland de Windesey and had from her the ancient seat of Windesley, which has continued in the family ever since. In later years the family name was changed to
Berington. The ancient seat of Windesley, which came into possession of the Beringtons by the above marriage lies in the Parish of Hope-Under-Dinmore.
[232] John Berington II, Esq., of Stoke-Lacey (the second John from John de Lacey of 1222), was heir of Rowland de Wyndesey of Windesley. John Berington II is supposed to have been the ancestor of the American Benjamin family.
[233] Tradition says that in 1494, owing probably to some religious dispute, a younger branch of the family moved to Lower Hereford and changed their surname to Benjamin.
[234] The Coat of Arms is one used conjointly by the Berrington and Benjamins, and is supposed to have been granted at the knighting of a Berington on July 21, 1403 on the field of Shrewsbury, which is just north of Hereford.
[235]
The Benjamin Coat of Arms (Burkes General Armory) has a crest which is a Duke's hat of crimson velvet, faces with ermine on the rim, and with a flame of fire on the top. The flame is an emblem of ardent courage and perserverance. The motto
below it is: "Poussez en Avent" which means "press on". The ermine hat is associated with the robes of royal or noble personages, an emblem of dignity and position near royalty. The capeau or hat is the "Cap of Estate" and was anciently worn
by all peers in Parliament.
[236]
The Coat of Arms also has a golden shield on a Saltire (or cross) quatering, pierced with a sable (black). Five amulets or rings counter changed (i.e. gold on black and black on gold). Andrew's cross is a symbol of resolution and reward of
such heros as have scaled walls of towns, etc. The finger ring or amulet is the emblem of fidelety. The square figure on the center of the saltire represents honesty and betokens noble birth. Amulets designate the fifth son and his
descendents used as marks of cadency about the time of Henry VII.@18
_William BRACKETT _
_William BRACKETT _|
| |___________________
|
|--Susan BRACKETT
|
| ___________________
|_Alice ____________|
|___________________
[931] 50 Great Migration Colonists, Threlfall, J.B., ? Publishing, Madison, WI. 1990
_John BULLER _+
_Henry BULLARD _|
| |_Margaret ____
|
|--William BULLARD
|
| ______________
|_Margaret ______|
|______________
[382] William was churchwarden 1599 at St. Martin, Barnham, Suffolk, England.
_Simon CROSBY _____+
_Simon CROSBY ____|
| |_Ann BRIGHAM ______+
|
|--Hannah CROSBY
|
| _Richard BRACKETT _+
|_Rachel BRACKETT _|
|_Alice BLOWER _____+
_Anthony CROSBY ____+
_Thomas CROSBY _|
| |_Allison BLANCHARD _+
|
|--William CROSBY
|
| _William SOTHERON __+
|_Jane SOTHERON _|
|_Constance LAMBERT _+
_Henry DE STANDISH __+
_Ralph DE STANDISH ____|
| |_Joan _______________
|
|--Gilbert DE STANDISH
|
| _Roger DE BRADSHAGH _
|_Cecilia DE BRADSHAGH _|
|_____________________
_Robert FLETCHER _______
_William FLETCHER __________|
| |________________________
|
|--Esther FLETCHER
|
| _Richard FAIRBANKS _____
|_Lydia (Fairbanks ?) BATES _|
|_Elizabeth (Daulton ?) _
_Jonas HEYWOOD _+
_William HEYWOOD _|
| |_Ann PRESCOTT __+
|
|--Reuben Brown HEYWOOD
|
| ________________
|_Hepzibah BROWN __|
|________________
__
__|
| |__
|
|--Waltheof, Earl of HUNTINGDON
|
| __
|__|
|__
__
_Joseph JEWETT __|
| |__
|
|--Sarah JEWETT
|
| __
|_Mary MALLINSON _|
|__
_John JOHNSON _______+
_John JOHNSON __|
| |_Elizabeth MAVERICK _+
|
|--Nathaniel JOHNSON
|
| _____________________
|_Lydia CLEMENT _|
|_____________________
__
_Thomas KING _|
| |__
|
|--Anna KING
|
| __
|_Ann TICE ____|
|__
__
_________________________|
| |__
|
|--Robert Patrick Henry OWENS
|
| __
|_Mother of Robert OWENS _|
|__
________________
_Charles C. PARSONS _|
| |________________
|
|--Antoinette (Nettie) Adele PARSONS
|
| _Levi WHITNEY __
|_Lucy A. WHITNEY ____|
|_Rebecca _____ _
_Nathan Pollard PRESCOTT _+
_Ebenezer PRESCOTT ________|
| |_Bethia SARGENT __________+
|
|--Frank PRESCOTT
|
| _Benjamin Howard WEBSTER _+
|_Josephine Amelia WEBSTER _|
|_Sarah Ameila ADAMS ______+
________________
_Thomas RIGGS _|
| |________________
|
|--Ann RIGGS
|
| _Henry WHEELER _+
|_Ann WHEELER __|
|_Abigail ALLEN _+
__
__|
| |__
|
|--Thankful _____ SANDERS
|
| __
|__|
|__
[768] A widow.