Thomas Benedict1,2,3,4

M, b. before 30 November 1617, d. before 18 March 1690
FatherWilliam Benedict III b. c 1579
MotherElizabeth Stephin b. b 14 Sep 1578
     Thomas was born before 30 November 1617 in County Norfolk, England.5 On 30 November 1617, he was christened in Long Stratton, County Norfolk, England, at St. Midhael's Church.6 When he was aged 21 years [1638], he left England & cimmigrated to New England. At the same time, his step sister, Mary Bridgum, also came.5 Thomas married Mary Bridgham, daughter of John Bridgham and Grace (?), circa 1640 in Massachusetts. Thomas first settled in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. By the early 1640's, he & his wife are in the Town of Southold on Long Island.7 By 13 June of 1657, the family is residing in Huntington. On 12 December of 1662, he is given a home lot in Jamaica and is seen in the records of Jamiaca over the next several years, active in the affairs of the town. In 1665, the family has removdto Norwalk, Connecticut where he is made a freeman in 1669. Thomas made his will on 28 February 1690 at Norwalk, Fairfield County, Connecticut.

I, Thomas Bennidick of Norwalk, in ye County of Fairfield, in ye Colony of Conecticut, aged aboute 73 years, being weak of body, yet of perfect mind and memory, do make and declare this as my last Will and Testament.
Imprimis. I do commend my Soule into ye hands of my gracious God yt hath made it, and do give my body to ye Earth from whence it was, to be decently buried, in hope of a happy and gracious Resurrection at ye last day; As for my temporall Estate, I do despose of as followeth:
I do will and bequeath to my loueing wife Mary Bennidick my whole Estate, house and households, Lands, Cattle--to use and despose according to ye controll and advice she, with my overseers afterwards mentioned, shall judg[e] most [ ] during ye Time of her naturall Life, and after ye decease of ye said Mary, my wife, I do will and bequeath to my Sonn, Daniell Bennidick, my dwelling house barne and houseing, orchard and four ewes--ye whole of my homested--to be to him and his heirs, to have and to howld, forever.
I do will and bequeath my Sonn, John Bennedick, my calve pasture Lot--he [to] pay to my grandchild Thomas Slauson, ye Son of my daughter, Elizabeth Slasson, ye sum of ten pounds--which I give him as a legacy in time convenient.
I do also give to my said Son, John Bennedick one third part of my Sticky plaine Lott, which is half broken up. I also bequeath to him yt part of salt meadow lying be ye bridge at ye Indian Feild. Also, unto him, I bequeath eight acres of upland laid out above ye Long Swamp beyond ye New feild--All these lands to be to him and his heirs forever.
I do will and bequeath to my son, James Benedick, my Long Lot of Salt Medow--over ye River--lying between Keloge and Bets--I do also bequeath to ye said James, my son, half my fruitefull Spring Lot--yt Lyeth sideing by ye medow, provided ye said James shall pay to my Grandchild Elizabeth Slausson, ye sum of five pounds, in time convenient, the afforesaid Land to be James and his heirs forever.
I do will and bequeath to my grand child Thomas Benedick, one 3d part of my Sticky plaine Lot which he hath in part improued and is in part unbroken. I also, bequeath to ye sd Thomas, my second division of medow called Mamathemans--the lands to be to him and his heirs forever.
I do will and bequeath to my Grandchild Samuell Benedict, ye other half of my fruitfull Spring Lot lying next to Nathaniel [ ] I do also bequeath to ye sd Samuell, a small parcel of medow which is salt--[ ] Kelloggs Swamp rung through --also one 3d part of my sticky plaine Lot on ye [side] I have broken up. I do also bequeath to my sd grand child Samuel, half my comonage which is 50 pounds; and the other half I do give to my grandchild John Bennedick ye eldest son of my son John Bennedick. I also will and bequeath to my Grandchild Samuell Bennedick my ould Horse and one yearling Calf. I do also bequeath to ye sd Samuell, my Carts and Iron plows and chains and irons belonging to plow and cart. Also ye bed and bedsted--yt in ye chamber with what belongs to it--leauving it to his Grandmother and ye overseers to give him of ye moveables what they can spare, provided he carry and behauve himself dutefully and louvingly towards his Grandmother--so doing, I do, also, will and bequeath to ye sd Samuell half of my sheep.
I do will and bequeath to Joanna Bennedick, One Cow, one half of my sheep--the trukle bedstead wth ye bed thereupon and the furniture of it, and what else of household her Grandmother shall bestow on her, provided she liue with her and be tender of her while she shall continue in this world.
As for my Out Lands, undesposed of, it is my will that my Son James and Daniell diuide ye Upland between them equally except ye peace of boggy medow which I will to be equally divided between my son James and grandchild Samuell Benedick.
I do will and bequeath to my daughter Rebecka Wood [the] mare yt is now running in ye wood; and I leauve it to my wife to give to my Daughter Sarah and Rebecka what of ye moveables she shall see meet and can spare.
I do will and bequeath to my Grand child Mary Olmsted, a legacy of twenty shillings; I also give to Hannah Benedick, my grand child, ten shillings the [same] to be paid out of ye estate after my decease.
Finally it is my will and I do hereby appoint my Son John and my Son Samll Bennedick to be joynt overseers of this my last will and testiment--willing these my loueing sons to be carefull of their Mothers comfortable liueing and to councell her in ye ordering her affairs and desposall of goods; and to see carefully to ye payment of all lawfull debts.
In confirmation of ye premises of this my will and Testiment, I do set my hand and seal this eight and twentieth febt Ano dominy 1689-90.
[Signed] THOS BENEDICK, Senr.
Signed and Sealed in presents of us,
Thomas Hanford
John Platt, Jr.8

Thomas departed this life before 18 March 1690 in Norwalk, Fairfield County, Connecticut. The inventory of Thomas's estate was taken on Saturday, 18 March 1690. His estate was valued at £ 285, 9s. It was taken by Thomas Seamer & James Olmsted.9

Family

Mary Bridgham b. b 15 Nov 1618
Children

Citations

  1. [S1471] Henry Marvin Benedict, Genealogy of the Benedicts in Amereica, pages 1-24.
  2. [S1474] Epher Whitaker, The Founders of Southold, Long Island, page 89 - Thomas Benedict from Nottingham, England, came to New England 1638, and not long afterwards to Southold, Long Island, where to him & his wife, Mary Bridgum, 5 sons & 4 daughters were born. . . . They removed to Huntington, Long Island & then to Jamaica. He crossed the Sound & acquired citizenship in Norwalk, Connecticut . . .
  3. [S264] Whitaker, History of Southold, 1640-1740, page 45,47 - List of the Early Settlers of Southold - Thomas Benedict, Arthur Smyth, Nathaniel Smyth, Robert Symth, Henry Whitney.
  4. [S1483] William A. Robbins, Descendants of Edward Tredwell, page 183 - 8 October 1649 - Thomas Benedict, Henry Whitney & Edward Treadwell purchased a large tract of land from William Salmon in Hashamamuck [part of Southold Town].
  5. [S1471] Henry Marvin Benedict, Genealogy of the Benedicts in Amereica, page 2.
  6. [S1481] LaRue Olsen, The English Origins of the First Thomas Benedict of Long Island and Norwalk, jConncticut, page 359.
  7. [S1471] Henry Marvin Benedict, Genealogy of the Benedicts in Amereica, page 4.
  8. [S1471] Henry Marvin Benedict, Genealogy of the Benedicts in Amereica, pages 19-20 - Will of Thomas Benedict dated 28 February 1690.
  9. [S1471] Henry Marvin Benedict, Genealogy of the Benedicts in Amereica, page 18.