Benjamin Garfield (abt. 1643 - 1717)

Born about 1643 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Mehitable (Hawkins) Garfield — married 1 Apr 1673 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Husband of Elizabeth (Bridge) Harrington — married about 17 Jan 1677 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Descendants

Died 28 Nov 1717 at about age 74 in Watertown, Middlesex, Province of Massachusetts Bay

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Biography

Benjamin Garfield was given a commission of Captain in the Colonial Militia by the Governor of Massachusetts. He was also elected 9 times between 1689 and 1717 to the Colonial Legislature as a Rep. of Watertown and held numerous municipal appointments. On Apr 1, 1673 Benjamin Garfield received of Elliz BARRON(step-father of his 1st. wife) 20 pounds, his wife's share of the estate of her deceased father, T. Hawkins. Benjamin was admitted freeman Apr 18, 1690. He served as constable and for many years as both selectman and town clerk and was chosen representative to the General Court several times as well as a special delegate to carry petitions from Watertown to Boston.

Benjamin's house and barn were burned the night of Mar 29, 1682, the blame being laid to his Negro servant Joshua. On Apr 24, 1682, Joshua was found with his throat cut and with a knife in his hand. In 1704, Garfield's fence was burned by Christopher Thompson, who was then ordered to be sold into a neighboring colony.

Children of Benjamin and Mehitabel

1. Benjamin, b. May 8, 1674; m) Bethia Howe.
2. Benoni. b. Dec. 4. 1675; m) Abigail Stearns.

Children of Capt. Benjamin and Elizabeth

1. Elizabeth, b. June 30, 1679.
2. Thomas, b. Dec. 12, 1680; d. in Weston, Feb. 4, 1752.
3. Anna, b. June 2, 1683 m) Dea. Benjamin Brown, of Weston
4. Abigail, b. July 13, 1685.
5. Mehitadel, b. Dec. 7, 1687; m.) John Jones
6. Samuel, b. Sept. 3, 1690. 9. Mart, b. Oct. 2, 1695
7. Mary b. Oct. 2, 1695

He writes his Will on 1 May 1714, Probate on 3 Dec 1717. He mentions son Benomi, son Thomas, daughters Anna Brown, Abigail Allen, Mehitabel Jones, Mary, wife Elizabeth, son Samuel

He was about 74 when he passed away and is buried at Grove Hill Cemetery located in Waltham, Middlesex County, Massachusetts Find A Grave: Memorial #11011827

Sources

• Genealogies of the families and descendants of the early settlers of Watertown, Massachusetts, including Waltham and Weston : to which is appended the early history of the town., by Bond, Henry, 1790-1859; Jones, Horatio Gates, 1822-1893 Page 232 Captain Benjamin Garfield and Family

• Massachusetts, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991, Middlesex Probate Papers, No 8841-8953

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11011827/benjamin-garfield: accessed April 6, 2024), memorial page for Capt Benjamin Garfield (1643–28 Nov 1717), Find a Grave Memorial ID 11011827, citing Grove Hill Cemetery, Waltham, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA; Maintained by Kevin Avery (contributor 47024642).

• Vital Records of Waltham, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850 (New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Mass., 1904) Page 266. Death record.

• Genealogies of the families and descendants of the early settlers of Watertown, Massachusetts, including Waltham and Weston : to which is appended the early history of the town. by Bond, Henry, 1790-1859; Jones, Horatio Gates, 1822-1893 Page 232

• Roberts, Gary Boyd; Ancestors of American Presidents. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009.

• "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F465-KJK : 5 November 2017), Benjamin Gearfield in entry for Mary Gearfield, 02 Oct 1695; citing Birth, Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 745,869. Shows Elizabeth as his wife for Mary Garfield, their daughter. I think the name shown here is incorrect, since he is shown as Benjamin Garfield in town records.

• Bailey, Frederic. Early Massachusetts Marriages Prior to 1800 (1968) Book 3, Page 109.

• http://garfield5489.homestead.com/biography.html

Birth 1643

Military Service: Capt. Massachusetts Militia

Marriage 19 JAN 1678 Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts

Wife: Elizabeth Bridge

Death 18 NOV 1717

Burial Grove Hill Cemetery, Waltham, Middlesex, Massachusetts