Benjamin Benham (1818 - 1899)

Born Dec 1818 in Montgomery, Ohio, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Gillespie — married 1 Feb 1844 in Green, Adams, Ohio, United States

Descendants

Died 27 May 1899 at age 80 in Beaver Creek, Greene, Ohio, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Edward Askins [send private message]

Biography

Benjamin Benham was born in December 1818 in Beaver Creek, Greene, Ohio, the son of Peter Benham and his first wife, Catherine Beck. Catherine was the daughter of Samuel Beck and his wife, who was a Galyard [McGallard]. On 1 Feb 1844, in Greene Co., Benjamin married Mary Gillespie.^[1]

There is a possibility Benjamin was married previously, although he would have been very young. In 1840, there is a Benjamin in Mongtomery County, OH between the age of 20-29 [birth bet. 1811-1820], wife is between the same ages, and two children, one son and one daughter, both under five.^[2] Then in the 1850 census, same county, there were a Benjamin (c. 1817) and Mary (c. 1820), with two children: Henry, age 15 (c. 1835) and Louisa, age 11 (c. 1839). There was also a 25-year-old Catherine White recorded in the household.^[3]

Benjamin and Mary had three children:^[3]

1. Catherine Benham; b. Jul 1846, Alpha, Greene, OH; d. 14 Mar 1929; m. 1 Dec 1864, Henry Clay Glotfelter^[4]
2. William Franklin Benham; b. 24 Nov 1849, Alpha; d. 1932 (probate 31 Mar 1932); m. 2 Dec 1872, Mary Ellen Coy.^[5]
3. Eliza Jane Benham; b. 14 May 1852, Alpha; d. 6 Mar 1892, Beavercreek, Greene Co., OH ; m. 20 Dec 1869, James "William" Masters, in Kenton, Kentucky.^[6]

Benjamin and Mary would prove to be generous in opening their home to others. In 1860, the family was living in Beaver Creek, and Benjamin's 21-year-old brother, Peter Benham was living with them.^[7] In 1870, only William remains at home, and living next door were daughter Eliza and her husband William Masters.^[8] In 1880, 14-year-old Mary Rockwell whom Benjamin and Mary "took to raise" was living with them, as well as a "hired hand", John Masters [possibly younger brother of William Masters]. Eliza and William were still living next door with their three children, and living next to them was her brother, William Benham and his wife and children.^[9]

According to FAG, Benjamin's wife, Mary died in Alpha on 23 Feb 1896.^[10] Benjamin died on 27 May 1899 leaving a will in which he named his three children, as well, as Mary Rockwell. He and Mary were buried at Mount Zion Park Cemetery.^[11]

Will of Benjamin Benham^[12]

In the name of God Amen:

I Benjamin Benham of Beavercreek Township Greene County Ohio do make and declare this to be my last Will and Testament.

Item 1st. I hereby give and bequeath unto my daughter Catherine Clodfelter her heirs or assigns the full amount of Fifty acres (50) acers of land off of the North side of a certain tract of land I purchased of John W. and Catharine Haynes March 1 1864 and recorded in Book #42 Pages 24 & 25 Deed records of Greene Co. Ohio, and it shall be bounded and described as follows-- on the west by the land of George Brant on the North by the heirs of Jacob Hanes deceased- on the East by the center of Beavercreek and Sugarcreek Turnpike - on the south by a line running from east to west and parallel to the North line of said tract and to contain Fifty acres.

Item 2nd. I give and bequeath unto my son William Franklin Benham all the remainder of the aforesaid tract of Sixty nine acres, I purchased of J. W. Catharine Haynes and which remainder contains Nineteen acres being all that lies east of the center of Beavercreek and Sugarcreek Turnpike and bounded on the east by the heirs of William Cline deceased and all sought of and adjoining the fifty acres tract bequeathed in Item #1 to my daughter Catharine Clotfelter- I also further give and bequeath unto my son William Franklin Benham all of a certain tract or parcel of land adjoining the last named tract of land that I purchased of Jacob Bustenbarder and Catharine Bustenbarder his wife by deed dated November 14"1859. and recorded in Vol. No. 38 Page Ninety two (92) of Deed Records of Greene Co.Ohio, said tract is bounded on the East by the heirs of William Cline dec'd on the south by the Beavertown and Indian Riffle Turnpike and on the west by the land of George Brant and containing 71 acres more or less excepting therefrom one acre sold to the board of Education of Beavercreek Tp. Greene Co. Ohio for School Lot.

Item 3rd. I hereby give and bequeath unto the surviving children of my daughter Eliza Jane Masters deceased the following described real estate situate in and being part of a tract of the south east quarter of Sec.35 Town 3 Range 6 Between the Miami Rivers-Beginning at the stone in the west line of said quarter section and one rod north of Joseph Brown corner- Thence South 89 degrees east 131.oo poles to a stake-Thence South 1 deg.15 min. west 46 poles to a stone- Thence South 89 deg.East 32. 60 poles to a stone- Thence south 1 deg. west 12.29 poles to a stone. Thence North 89 deg. west 164.25 poles to a stone in the west line of said Quarter section Thence North 1 deg. 15 min. East 58.09 poles to the place of beginning and containing Fifty (50) Acres more or less.

Item 4th. I hereby give and bequeath unto Mary Rockwell- A lady that has made her home with me and my deceased wife since she was a little child the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) to be paid to her within one year after my death or as soon thereafter as practical.

Item 5th. I desire all my just debts to be paid including funeral expenses Dr. bills expense of last sickness & to be paid out of my personal estate not heretofore bequeathed to Legatees-and what is remaining if any I desire to have equally divided between my Legal heirs of my body Catharine Glotfelter William Franklin Benham-and the children of Eliza Jane Masters deceased- That is to say that the said Masters children are to have a one third part that would be coming to said Eliza Jane Masters if she would be living.

Item 6th. Any or all of my heirs and Legatees who become dissatisfied with the bequests made and shall go into Litigation shall forfeit all bequests made to them for the benefit of those of my heirs and legatees who are satisfied with this will.

Item 7th. I nominate and appoint my son William Franklin Benham as sole executor of this my last will and Testament. In testimony hereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 14"day of December in the year 1897.

(seal) Benjamin Benham.

Signed and acknowledged by said Benjamin Benham, as his last Will and Testament in our presence and signed by us in his presence at his request as witnesses.

John T. Hawker

Benjamin F. Darst.

CODICIL.

Whereas I Benjamin Benham did on the 14"day of December A.D.1897 make execute and declare this to be a Codicil to my last Will and Testament.

Item 1st. In Item 4th of my last Will and Testament I bequeathed unto Miss Mary Rockwell the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.oo) to be paid to her one year after my death. Now therefore I do make the following change as to the payment of the same- That in one year after my death my executors shall pay to said Mary Rockwell the sum of One Hundred Dollars ($100) and they shall pay her the sum of one Hundred Dollars ($100) annually thereafter until the $500.oo shall all be paid and without any interest thereon. And that the said money is for the sole benefit of said Mary Rockwell, and that no other person shall be entitled there to and that no other person shall draw the same nor receive any benefits therefrom. And further if the said Mary Rockwell should die before any or all or any part of said money shall be paid to her then the remainder shall be paid to my Legal children of their heirs of them to-wit; Catharine Glotfelter, William Franklin Benham and the children of Eliza Jane Masters deceased.

Item 2nd. I hereby nominate and appoint my son-in-law Henry Clay Glotfelter as an assistant executor so co operate with my son William Franklin Benham in the settlement of my estate according to the provisions of my will and Codicil. In testimony hereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 25"day of July A.D. 1898.

(seal) Benjamin Benham.

Signed and acknowledged by said Benjamin Benham as a Codicil to his last Will and Testament in our presence and signed by us in his presence and at his request as witnesses.

Valentine Coy.

B. F. Darst.

Research Notes

The children Henry and Louisa Benham who were living with Benjamin and Mary in the 1850 Census are not mentioned in his will, suggesting they were not his children. It is unclear how they were related to him.

It is unclear if the Benjamin Benham in the 1840 and 1850 census of Montgomery County, OH is the same as Benjamin Benham, son of Peter and Catherine (Beck) Benham. No record of Benjamin, son of Peter has been found in the Greene County census for those years.

The FAG bio for Benjamin includes a daughter Lydia Ann (Benham) Huston. Lydia was Benjamin's sister NOT his daughter. Lydia is mention in her father Peter Benham's will as daughter "Lydia Huston".^[13]

In searching for records on Mary Gillespie, the following Gillespies were found in Greene County:^[14]

• Gillespie, James, Sr., Sugar Creek, 1817; wife Esther; he d. 1824.
• Gillespie, Thomas, Xenia, 1816; s/o James, 1814, he kept a tavern.
• Gillespie, Robert, Xenia, 1816.
• Gillespie, Joseph, Sugar Creek, 1816.
• Gillespie, Henry T., Sugar Creek, 1817; s/o James and Esther; m. 11 Nov 1817, Eleanor Laughead.
• Gillespie, Allen, Silver Creek, 1840; m. 21 May 1840, Ann Robertson.
• Gillespie, James, Xenia, 1829; s/o James and Esther.
• Gillespie, John, Beaver Creek, 1817; s/o James and Esther.

When scouring the 1850 census records for Beaver Creek and Sugar Creek townships, the only Gillespies found were: 12-year-old Mary Gillespie, and 28-year-old A. J. Gillespie (both born in Kentucky), in the household of George Hardsook. It is an interesting coincidence that Benjamin and Mary's daughter Eliza, married in Kenton, Kentucky. Could she have been visiting Gillespie relatives when she met William Masters?

Sources

1. ↑ Ancestry.com. Ohio, County Marriage Records, 1774-1993 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. FHL film no.: 000534106. Original data: Marriage Records. Ohio Marriages. Various Ohio County Courthouses.
2. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1840 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Year: 1840; Census Place: Montgomery, Ohio; Roll: 414; Page: 194; Family History Library Film: 0020172. Original data: Sixth Census of the United States, 1840. (NARA microfilm publication M704, 580 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} 1850 United States Federal Census. Year: 1850; Census Place: Dayton Ward 5, Montgomery, Ohio; Roll: M432_713; Page: 247A; Image: 499.
4. ↑ Ancestry.com. Ohio, County Marriage Records, 1774-1993 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. FHL film no.: 000535125. Original data: Marriage Records. Ohio Marriages. Various Ohio County Courthouses.
5. ↑ Ancestry.com. Ohio, County Marriage Records, 1774-1993 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. FHL film no.: 000535126. Original data: Marriage Records. Ohio Marriages. Various Ohio County Courthouses.
6. ↑ Ancestry.com. Kentucky, County Marriage Records, 1783-1965 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. FHL film no.: 001943299. Original data: Marriage Records. Kentucky Marriages. Madison County Courthouse, Richmond, Kentucky.
7. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Year: 1860; Census Place: Beaver Creek, Greene, Ohio; Page: 49; Family History Library Film: 803968. Original data: 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.
8. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Year: 1870; Census Place: Beaver Creek, Greene, Ohio; Roll: M593_1205; Page: 54A; Family History Library Film: 552704. Original data: 1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.
9. ↑ Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Year: 1880; Census Place: Beaver Creek, Greene, Ohio; Roll: 1019; Page: 194B; Enumeration District: 078. Original data: Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
10. ↑ Ancestry.com. U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Find A Grave: Memorial #22406685.
11. ↑ Ancestry.com. U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Find A Grave: Memorial #22406697.
12. ↑ Ancestry.com. Ohio, Wills and Probate Records, 1786-1998 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Ohio County, District and Probate Courts.
13. ↑ Ohio, Wills and Probate Records. Will Record, Vol. M, 1879-1886. Greene County Probate Court.
14. ↑ Robinson, George, F. History of Greene County, Ohio, Chicago, IL: S. J. Clarke Publishing Company (1902). p. 308.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Edward Askins for creating WikiTree profile Benham-429 through the import of Askins Family (1).ged on Oct 17, 2013. Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by Edward and others.