Mabel (Unknown) Benson (abt. 1610 - bef. 1692)

Born about 1610 in Westmorland, England

Wife of John Camm — married before 1641 in Westmorland, England

Wife of Gervase Benson — married 8 Apr 1660 in Preston, Westmorland, England

Descendants

Died before 12 Feb 1692 before about age 82 in Burton in Kendal, Westmorland, England

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Biography

Mabel was a Friend (Quaker)

The origins of Mabel (Mabell), counted among the early Quaker missionaries known as the Valiant Sixty and married to two of them, John Camm and Gervase Benson, are unknown. It is probable that she was from Westmorland, England and born say between 1605 and 1610.

She married first John Camm by 1641 although no record of the marriage has ever been found. The names of only two children are known, Thomas born 1641 and Ruth, the latter passing away before age two in 1656. The Camms built a new home in 1647 which still stands in 2020. John Camm sufered from health issues much of his life often requiring the assistance of son Thomas.^[1]

John and Mabel were 'convinced' by George Fox during Fox's visit to Westmorland in 1652, presumably at the same meetings attended by their son Thomas and future daughter-in-law, Anne, which resulted in their conversion. During these meetings Fox spent time at the Camm home.^[2]

In 1654/55, Mabel travelled with Anne (Newby) Audland, later to be her daughter-in-law, through Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and into Oxfordshire where Mabel spoke to the priest and the people of the Banbury steeple-house. The people turned on them and Anne said to the priest, 'Man, behold the fruits of thy ministry.' The next day they were brought before the mayor and Anne was committed to prison for blasphemy. Mabel was dismissed and traveled on to Bristol where her husband John was at that time.^[3]

John had become ill in March 1655 and Mabel attended him in Bristol after being in Banbury, Oxfordshire. John returned to Camsgill in early 1656 but succumbed to consumption and was buried 10 Feb 1657 at Birkrigg Park Quaker burial ground, Westmorland.^[4]

In 1660 Mabel was imprisoned for her refusal to pay tithes.^[5]

Mabel married second Gervase Benson 8 Apr 1660 at Preston, Westmorland.^[4] She was almost certainly the mother of Gervase's daughter Mary, who appears to have been still a child when her father died in 1679.^[6]

Mabel passed away in February 1692 and was buried 12 Feb 1692 at Burton, Westmorland, England.^[4]

Known Children

• Thomas b 1641
• Ruth - b 2 Mar 1653,^[4] d 1656

Written Works

The Testimony of Mabell [sic] Benson concerning her late husband John Camm, Deceased in The memory of the righteous revived : being a brief collection of the books and written epistles of John Camm and John Audland, those two faithful and honourable servants of the Lord... / published for the service of truth and Friends, by Thomas Camm, & Charles Marshal. London, Sowle, 1689, pp 61-62

Sources

1. ↑ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Entry for John Camm
2. ↑ John Tomkins, Piety promoted, in a collection of dying sayings of many of the people called Quakers : with a brief account of some of their labours in the Gospel, and sufferings for the same (ed. Evans, William, 1787-1867., Evans, Thomas, 1798-1868., Townsend, William P, Townsend, Anna Mary), Philadelphia, 1721, Vol I:55-57
3. ↑ Evans and Evans, Eds., Piety promoted,in a collection of dying sayings of many of the people called Quakers: with a brief account of some of their labours in the gospel, and sufferings for the same. I:319
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3} General Register Office: Society of Friends' Registers, Notes and Certificates of Births, Marriages and Burials. Records of the General Register Office, Government Social Survey Department, and Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, RG 6. The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, England. Piece 1568: Monthly Meeting of Kendal: Register Book for Preston: Marriages (1660-1809)
5. ↑ Besse, Joseph, A collection of the sufferings of the people called Quakers, London, 1753, II:8
6. ↑ Christine Trevett. Women in Quakerism in the 17th Century, William Sessions, 1991, p. 120