Benjamin Armitage Jr. (1698 - 1781)

Born Feb 1698 in West Yorkshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Thomas) Armitage — married [date unknown] in Bristol Twp., Philadelphia Co., PA

Husband of Jane (Pope) Armitage — married 23 Aug 1729 in First Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., PA

Descendants

Died 23 Dec 1781 at age 83 in Bristol Township, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Melinda Pitts [send private message]

Biography

Religion

It was not clear if Benjamin Sr. or Benjamin Jr. signed the Covenant of 1714 for the Abbington Presy. Church of Phila. Co., PA but it was Benjamin Jr. who executed the Deed on Oct 17, 1752. It is clear that Benjamin Jr. remained a faithful member of the Church throughout his lifetime. Most of his children were baptized there and he had two wives buried in the Church graveyard; along with some of his children.

Children Baptism

First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., PA, Register of Baptisms, pg. 105

April 10, 1744, Child: Caleb born 28 March 1743, son of Benjamin Armitage.

First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., PA, Register of Baptisms, pg. 106

June 6, 1745, Child: Sarah, daughter of Benjamin Armitage.

Property

Benjamin Armitage spent his entire life in Bristol Township, Philadelphia Co., PA. During his lifetime he was seized with two large tracts of land. The first was from his father:

Philadelphia Co., PA Deeds, Deed Book G S, Vol. 7, p. 6

2 - 2 mo., April 1728

Benjamin Armitage, the Elder, Bristol Twp., Smith, wife Mary, to Benjamin Armitage, their son, a stone message and 200 acres in Bristol Twp., Phila. Co., PA (being the 200 acres from Ellis Jones, miller., Dec 1, 1702, recorded in E 5, Vol. 7, p. 107, in consideration of love and affection and L 100 (lbs.) Recorded July 18, 1737

It is interesting that the Deed for the sale of this property is dated April 2, 1728. Later, Benjamin Armitage, Sr. bequeathed the property to his son, Benjamin Armitage, Jr., in his Will, which was executed January 2, 1735. Notice that the Deed for the property was not recorded by Benjamin Armitage, Jr. until after the death of his father.

The second tract of land, containing 157 acres, was a tract of land on Old York Road which Margaret Luken, executor of John Luken, conveyed to Benjamin Armitage, Jr., on October 19, 1737 (Deed Book E, Vol. 10, p. 389, Phila Co., PA Court House).

In 1784, Benjamin Armitage, Jr. enlarged the old homestead. It is still standing in Northwood Cemetery, having been used by the Superintendent for many years.

Benjamin Armitage, Jr. was also the owner of two other smaller tracts of land. He owned a tract of 20 acres, 33 perches, being the same that Bridges Miles and Griffith Miles, executors of Griffith Miles, conveyed to Benjamin Armitage on April 22, 1723. (See Deed book H, Vol. 9, p. 514). The second smaller tract consisted to about 14 acres, which has been purchased from James Morgan.

The existing tax records as found in PA Archives show Benjamin Jr. to have been assessed for 299 acres in 1769, and 300 acres in 1774. All of the property eventually came into the hands of his children - some retained the land and some sold out.

Since Benjamin Jr. had along with his brother, James, inherited his father's blacksmith tools, iron, bellows, vise, and anvil, one would assume that he would be a blacksmith. However, in the Deed to the Abington Presbyterian Church. Benjamin Armitage, Jr. is referred to as a Joyner. According to Webster's Dictionary, a joyner (joiner) is "one whose occupation is to contruct articles by joining pieces of wood; a mechanic who does the woodwork (i.e., doors, stairs, etc.) necessary for the finishing of buildings." Some time ago there was a record located that stated Benjamin Armitage, Jr. made cartridge boxes for our Army during the Revolutionary War.

On April 27, 1773, Benjamin Jr. applied for a Warrant of Land containing 300 acres in Westmoreland Co., PA. Benjamin Armitage, III also applied for a Land Warrant. Taxes were levied against the two in 1786, although at this time Benjamin Jr. was deceased at this time. This land, which was then in Armstrong Twp., Westmoreland Co., PA now embraces the City of New Kensington, PA. The Armitages nostalgicly called their grant "The Hermitage", but it was eventually claimed and settled by other pioneers.

PA Archives, 3rd Series Vol. 14:

p. 66, Proprietary Tax Bristol Twp. Co. of Phila. 1769

Benjamin Armitage 299 acres 31.6.8

p. 313, Provincial Tax Bristol Twp. Co. of Phila. 1774

Benjamin Armitage 300 acres 1 horse 33.6.8

p. 574, Effective Supply Tax Bristol Twp. Co of Phila. 1779

Benjamin Armitage 30.

PA Archives, 3rd Series, Vol. 15:

p. 12, State Tax Bristol Twp. Co. of Phila. 1779

Benjamin Armitage Valuation $4,500 121.10.0

PA Archives, 3rd Series, Vol. 16:

p. 126, Effective Supply Tax Bristol Twp. Co. of Phila. 1782

Caleb Armitage

For Benjamin Armitage est. Valuation $811 62.0

Newspaper articles

American Weekly Mercury, Dec 2-9, 1736: Thomas Lawrence, Irish Servant, age c. 28 - runaway from Benjamin Armitage, of Bristol Twp., Phila. Co.

Abstracts from Ben Franklin's PA Gazette - List of letters brought to the Post Office at Phila. that remain unclaimed on 15 Jan 1741. Benjamin Armitage, Bristol Twp., Phila. Co., PA

Abstracts from Ben Franklin's PA Gazette - Ann Strawbridge, Irish servant, age abt 20, runaway from Benjamin Armitage of Phila. Co., PA on 14 April 1743.

Abstracts from Ben Franklin's PA Gazette - Horse stolen from pasture of Widow Richardson; reward if returned to Benjamin Armitage on York Road or to Ralph Sarver (27 Sept 1750).

Abstracts from Ben Franklin's PA Gazette - Real estate in Bristol Twp., Phila. Co., opposite John Ristine, tanner, and near Benjamin Armitage, to be sold by William Wilson (15 Nov 1753).

Court records

Benjamin ARMITAGE, Jr. also witnessed the following wills:

Abstracts of Philadelphia Co. Wills, 1726-1747, Wills Abstracts

Pennsylvania Wills, 1682-1834

Will of Jacob Stanninger, City of Phila., Mariner, probated Jan 24, 1744, Phila Co., PA Wills, Will Book G, page 157 Note: " He leaves "all my shares of all captures or prizes which shall or do belong to me" to Friends/Exec: Barrach Wright and Mary Ann, his wife of Germantown. Witnesses: Benj. Armitage, Thos. Pope (his mark), Richard Hayes and William Wright. (Nothing in the Will concerns the Armitages. )

MILES, JOHN. Bristol, Philadelphia County. Cordwainer., April 2, 1747. June 15, 1747. H.257.

Wife and Exec: Ann. Children: Margaret, John Cart, Goodson Cart and Samuel Miles. Nephews: Joseph Miles and Joshua Cart. Brother: Samuel. Sister: Margaret (wife of John Cart). Guardians: Cousin John Hughes and Thomas Rose. Father-in-law: Merick Davis. Witnesses: Benjamin ARMITAGE, Patrick Kelley (his mark) and M. Davis.

Abstracts of Philadelphia Co. Wills, 1748-1763, Wills Abstracts

Pennsylvania Wills, 1682-1834

SHOEMAKER, ABRAHAM. Bristol, Co. of Philadelphia. Yeoman. 9 mo. 21, 1753. October 11, 1753. K.109. Children: Abraham, William, Benjamin, George, Catherine and Sarah, wife of Daniel Pastorius. Brother: Arnold. Overseers: Brother-in-law Anthony Williams, Thomas Rose. Cousin: Sarah Harris. Exec: Wife Amely and son William. Witnesses: Benjamin ARMITAGE, William White, Thomas Rose.

Will

Bristol Township, Philadelphia Co., PA, Will No. 181, 1781, Will of Benjamin Armitage of Bristol Twp., Phila. Co., PA, executed Oct 25, 1773 - probated Dec 31, 1781, Will Book 5, page 52:

Will of Benjamin Armitage of Bristol Twp. yeoman, being aged and infirm in body.

To oldest son Benjamin Armitage Jr. 5 shillings in full of his share, having been security for him to amount of Near L 500 (lbs.) which I am obliged to pay.

To daughter Hannah Reser mess. & lot in Milestone, Bristol Twp. in fork of York road about one acre.

Execs. to sell all residue of real estate.

To oldest daughter Mary Reed L 50 (lbs.)

To each of grandchildren, whose names if I recollect are, Benjamin, James, Enoch, Rachel, Elizabeth & Hannah children of son Enoch des. & Martha, daughter of my daughter Martha Jones deceased L 10 (lbs.) each.

Residue to four sons James, Jacob, Caleb & Joseph Armitage, Joseph to have L 100 (lbs.) more than the rest.

Execs. son Caleb & my neighbors William Willson & Joseph North of Bristol Twp.

The Will of Benjamin Jr. was written on October 25, 1773, and filed for probate on December 31, 1781. Special bequeaths were made to his son Benjamin III; daughters Hannah Reser; Mary Reed; and to the grandchildren of son Enoch, who was deceased; and to the daughter of Martha, who was deceased. After the bequeaths were made, the residue of his estate was to be divided among sons James, Jacob, Caleb, and Joseph; with Joseph getting L 100 (lbs.) more than the other three sons.

Pennsylvania Wills, 1682-1834

ARMITAGE, BENJAMIN. Bristol, Co. of Phila. Yeoman. October 25, 1773. December 31, 1781. S.52.

Children: Benjamin, James, Caleb, Hannah Reser, Joseph, Mary Reed, Jacob. Grandchildren: Benjamin, James, Enoch, Rachel, Elizabeth and Hannah Armitage [Children of Son Enoch, decd.], Martha [Daughter of Daughter Martha Jones [decd.]. Exec: Caleb Armitage, William Willson, Joseph North. Wit: Thomas Rose, Joseph Spencer, Samuel Adams.

Burial

Abington Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Abington, Montgomery Co., PA

According to Benjamin Armitage's tombstone inscription, he was born about 1698, so he was a small child when he made the ocean crossing to the American Colonies.

Photo of stone by findagrave contributor, Todd Guinther

Sources

Acknowledgements

This person was created through the import of PittsPenn_2010-09-21.ged on 22 September 2010 by MG Pitts