Benjamin Maple Sr (abt. 1663 - bef. 1727)

Born about 1663 in Ipswich, Suffolk, England [uncertain]

Husband of Elizabeth (Unknown) Maple — married 4 Jun 1695 in Town of Burlington, Burlington County, Province of West Jersey

Descendants

Died before 23 Jun 1727 before about age 64 in New Brunswick Township, Middlesex County, Province of New Jersey

Problems/Questions Profile managers: John Peters [send private message] and Elizabeth Joslin [send private message]

This profile is part of the Maple Name Study.

For a discussion of Benjamin Maple's origins, see Maple Origins

The Maple Surname Study is looking for males with the MAPLE surname (and similar surnames such as Mable, Mabley, and Mabile) who are willing to participate in a Y-DNA project. All descendants of Benjamin Maple Sr (i.e. males in the Maple paternal line) share the Y-DNA mutation BY109788 (and 20 additional novel Y-DNA mutations that occurred downstream of R1b-BY109788). All but 4 of these variants are also found in descendants of Mapley families that lived in Buckinghamshire, England in the 18th century. We are looking for distant relatives who can help us to learn more about the origins of the Maple surname in the British Isles. We also need more American Maple testers to help us resolve uncertainties in the American Maple family tree. For more information, see MAPLE/MAPLEY Y-DNA Haplogroups .

Biography

Benjamin Maple Sr, the Progenitor

Most Maple families in the United States are thought to be descended from a Benjamin Maple who died in 1727 in New Jersey.^[1]

Benjamin wrote his will on 13 May 1727 in New Brunswick Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey.^[2]

The will, probated on 8 September 1727, mentions:

Benjamin's wife, Elizabeth,

his son Benjamin Maple Jr,

his stepson David Lee,

his daughter, Ruth (Maple) Atchley,

and his youngest daughter, Catherine (Maple) Mellott.

The will also states that Benjamin was a weaver.

An inventory of Benjamin's estate was made on 23 June 1727.

Note that the City of New Brunswick was not incorporated until 30 December 1730, and at that time it encompassed a huge area, extending far beyond the limits of the modern City of New Brunswick.^[3] When Jan Van Dyke purchased land near Benjamin Maple's farm on 10 February 1727, the area was called the Township of New Brunswick.^[4] When the City of New Brunswick was rechartered in 1763, the site of Benjamin's farm became part of the South Ward of the City of New Brunswick, and later, in 1798, it became part of South Brunswick Township.

The Marriage of Benjamin Maple Sr

Benjamin married the widow Elizabeth Lee on 4 June 1695 at the house of Thomas Revell in Burlington, West Jersey.^[5]

"Benjamin Maplin & Elizabeth Lee Solempnized their marriage at ye House of Thomas Revell in ye County of Burlington the fourth day of June 1695 : before Tho: Revell Justice : And these witnesses

Tho: Tindall, Math: Champion, Robert Chapman, Robert Pearson,

Hugh Hutchin, Willm Wardell, Willm Spenser, John Dickson

Rebecca Chapman, Eliz: Bingham & Alice Bingham."

Robert Pearson (son in law of Thomas Tindall) and Robert & Rebecca Chapman lived on Crosswicks Creek.

On 28 December 1690, Robert Chapman sold 300 acres on Crosswicks Creek to William Quicksall, a linen weaver. This was about 2 years before Benjamin Maple first appears in West Jersey Records.

John Dixson purchased 200 acres adjacent to the Maidenhead Town Lot on 3 March 1696-7 -- he sold this to Johannes Lawrenson Up Dyke on 3 November 1697.

It is not clear why Benjamin's surname was written as Maplin in this record. Thomas Revell may have believed that Benjamin's surname was originally Maplisden, for which Maplin would have been an abbreviation.

The maiden name of Elizabeth is unknown. In recent years, it has been claimed that she was Elizabeth Sayre, based on a fanciful set of speculations. These have been disproven, and they do not deserve mention.

Additional Records of Benjamin Maple Sr in New Jersey

The earliest record of Benjamin Maple in New Jersey is in the minutes of a Nottingham Township meeting on February 7, 1692-3.^[6]

Nottingham Township was in the 1st Xth (Yorkshire Xth) of West Jersey, in the area around the "Falls of the Delaware", which later became part of Trenton, New Jersey.^[7] The 1st Xth, which was purchased by 5 Friends of Yorkshire in 1677, extended along the Delaware River from Rancocas Creek to Assunpink Creek. The town of Burlington was established at the border between the 1st Xth and 2nd Xth (or London Xth), which lied to the south. Nottingham Township became part of Burlington County when the county was formed by consolidation of the 1st and 2nd tenths of West Jersey in 1694. At the time of the 1693 Nottingham Township meeting, residents lived almost entirely below Assunpink Creek, but settlement above The Falls occurred in subsequent years. Maidenhead Township (named after a Thames River village later incorporated into the City of London) was created In 1697 from the part of Nottingham Township north of Assunpink Creek.

Benjamin also appeared in a list of residents taken at a Nottingham Township meeting on March 25, 1695. This list included resident John Lees. ^[8]

By 1698-9, Benjamin was living in Maidenhead Township. In that year the West Jersey Society deeded a town lot to a group of Maidenhead residents that included Benjamin Maple: ^[9]

The town lot lied within a 15,000 acre tract that today roughly comprises Lawrence Township.^[10]

The year of this deed coincides with the year in which the Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville is said to have been founded.^[11] Plans for a meeting house and burying ground on this lot were never carried out. In 1730, the residents of Maidenhead agreed to the sell the town lot to the highest bidder and use the proceeds to purchase a parsonage for a Presbyterian Society, but the subsequent deal was declared void because "the buyer expected a good title to the land which the town would not give."^[12] The lot was sold by the Presbyterian Congregation of Maidenhead Township in 1804. The Maidenhead Presbyterian Church was built on a different lot donated by Ralph Hunt and Benjamin Harding in 1710. By 1713, Reverend Jedediah Andrews of the First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia was performing baptisms at the Maidenhead church. The first pastor of the Maidenhead church, Robert Orr, was installed in 1715.^[13]

Benjamin Maple was present at a 1703 Maidenhead Township meeting regarding disputed lands.^[14]

The West Jersey Society had sold lands within the 15,000 acre tract, without ever obtaining clear title from Daniel Coxe. The resulting disputes eventually resulted in the ejection of some settlers. (At least some of these sold their improved lands to others who could afford to pay Coxe for clear title.) Benjamin Maple was among the residents who agreed to pay Coxe for title to their lands.

Benjamin Maple's land in Maidenhead lied along the partition line between East and West Jersey.

650 acres in Maidenhead Township, Burlington County were resurveyed for John Bainbridge on April 27, 1711 by William Emley.^[15] This survey bordered the lands of James Price, Benjamin Maple, Joseph Sackle, and "Hickson's line". The survey described a corner stone shared with Benjamin Maple on the partition line. Benjamin Maple's land was north of John Bainbridge's.

Benjamin Maple was one of a group of Maidenhead residents who petitioned for the formation of a new county north of Assunpink Creek in 1712.^[16]

Maidenhead Township became part of Hunterdon County when it was formed in 1714. In 1816, Maidenhead Township was renamed Lawrence Township after Captain James Lawrence, commander of the frigate Chesapeake and one of the naval heroes of the War of 1812. Lawrence Township was transferred from Hunterdon County to Mercer County when it was organized in 1838.

The will of Henry Mershon, written in 1738, states that part of his 111 acre plantation in Maidenhead was deeded from Benjamin Maple. ^[17] This suggests that Benjamin Maple's land in Maidenhead was located along the Princeton - Maidenhead Road, on the north side of the road.

The 1711 survey for John Bainbridge mentions a highway allowance, so we know that his land contacted the Princeton - Maidenhead Highway -- and that Benjamin Maple's land must have been north of the highway. An early map (c. 1745) of the Trenton - Amboy Road^[18] shows a "Mashan" residence on the north side of the road, across from a Bainbridge residence on the south side. Both of these were just west of the Keith-Kitchin line that divided East and West Jersey. See the map of the King's Highway above.

Benjamin's land was apparently just south of land owned by Hezekiah Bonham.^[19]

It appears that Benjamin Maple moved to Middlesex County by 1717. On 1 February 1717 Benjamin's stepson, David Lee, purchased land adjacent to land owned by Benjamin Maple. David's land was described as 200 acres bounded on the north by Benjamin Maple, on the west by Millstone River, on the south by Daniel Bayley, and on the east by land of John Harrison.^[20] Benjamin Maple's farm appears to have lied in the vicinity of land later owned by William J. Van Dyke, son of Mathew Van Dyke.

Benjamin did not appear in an 1722 tax list for Hunterdon County (including Maidenhead Township), and that is consistent with the notion that he had moved to Middlesex County by that time.^[21]

The Origins of Benjamin Maple Sr

On 8 May 1684, a Benjamin Maple of Ipswich, England signed a contract to be transported to Barbados in exchange for 4 years of indentured servitude there. His contract stated that Benjamin was 21 years of age at that time, but he may have actually been younger.^[22]

Benjamin was one of at least 20 men who signed similar contracts to sail on the "Friendshipp" to Barbados. These contracts were signed over the period of April 26 - June 7, so the Friendshipp (which departed from Middlesex) likely sailed some time in June. Benjamin was one of two men in this group indentured to agent John Smith of London: Benjamin's occupation was listed as husbandman, and Hugh Sneath's occupation was listed as vintner.

In his extensive Maple genealogy, T. Grant Maple stated that this Benjamin was the same Benjamin Maple Sr who later appeared in West Jersey. Grant claimed that the 1684 indenture was signed with a mark that is "practically identical" with the mark that Benjamin Maple Sr used to sign his will in 1727. Based on the name of the "Friendshipp", he suggested that John Smith was a member of the Society of Friends (or Quakers), and noted that Burlington, West Jersey was founded by a group of Quakers from London and Yorkshire. He also noted that Ipswich, England was an important center for sailcloth manufacture at that time, and that Benjamin Maple Sr may have learned weaving skills in his youth there.

Grant's conclusions are questionable. It was misleading for him to claim that the marks on 1684 indenture and 1727 will are "practically identical". Although both marks were a sort of vertical cross, they were not that similar. It was very common for illiterate people to sign documents with an X or a vertical cross sign.

Grant's view of John Smith was clearly mistaken. Over the period 1683-1684 at least 10 men signed contracts with "John Smith, merchant of London" to sail to Virginia, Jamaica, Barbados, or Carolina (on 5 different ships).^[23] It is unlikely that John Smith, himself, traveled to the Americas, or that he had any association with the Society of Friends. Almost certainly, he was one of a group of "merchants" who specialized in ensnaring young men into signing indentures of servitude. The contracts were then sold to a ship's captain, who, in turn, sold the contracts at the ship's destination (to the highest bidder).

10 of the indentured servants who sailed on the Friendshipp^[24] with Benjamin were signed by William Haveland, who went to prison in 1685 for procuring indentured servants against their will. In 1700, a John Smith of London was indicted for similar activity. Benjamin Maple's contract was signed by Trading Justice Abraham Bayly, who was imprisoned along with William Haveland in 1685.^[25]

Upon arrival in Barbados, Benjamin would have faced a harsh environment. According to a 1684 Barbados census the island was then populated by 20,000 whites and 46,000 slaves. In this slave economy, where the white indentured servants were looked down upon by even the slaves, there would have been little opportunity for advancement, if Benjamin even survived his 4 years of servitude. To paraphrase historian Alan Taylor, "By 1680 over half of the arable land on Barbados belonged to the richest 7 percent of the free colonists, the 175 big planters who possessed at least 60 slaves... After 1680, the most successful grandees sought to escape from the profitable but troubling world they had made... Most planters, however, died before they could get away."^[26]

The Quakers did have a strong presence in Barbados, so it is conceivable that Benjamin had an employer who helped him get to Quaker-dominated West Jersey. Note that George Hutcheson's son in law, James Stanfield, was apparently involved in the sugar and rum trade with Barbados. Also, in 1701, John Watson, a son of William Watson, died on a voyage to Antigua. Perhaps further research will yield evidence to support the notion that this Benjamin eventually made his way to New Jersey.

In summary, it is conceivable that the Benjamin Maple who sailed from Middlesex in 1684 was the same Benjamin Maple Sr who appeared in West Jersey in 1692, but it is hard to say that he definitely was.

Y-DNA studies suggest that Benjamin Maple was not related to the Maple families of Kent, England.^[27] They have also shown that the Maple families of America share common paternal ancestry with Mapley families that lived in Buckinghamshire, England in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Mapley surname is thought to be derived from Mabley, which is thought to be related to the Norman surname Mabile. Benjamin Maple probably had paternal ancestors whose surname sounded something like Mable.

Proliferation of the Maple surname in America

A survey of Maple/Mapel/Maples males enumerated in the 1940 US Census has identified 1028 males thought to be patrilineal descendants of Benjamin Maple Sr (also another 145 who may be descendants of Benjamin, but whose ancestry is uncertain.) For more information, see Maple surname in the 1940 US Census.

Sources

1. ↑ Telford Grant Maple, "Genealogical History of the Maple/Mapel Family in America", Pennobscot Press, 1993.
2. ↑ The will of Benjamin Maple (probated 8 September 1727):
   
   

   IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN this thirteenth day of May in the year of our Lord one Thousand Seven hundred twenty Seven I Benjamin Maple of New Brunswi­ck in the County of Middx: and Prov­ince of New Jersey Weaver being very sick and weak in body but of Sound and Perfect mind and memory Thanks be given to God Therefor but calling unto mind the Mortality of my body and knowing that it is Appointed for all men once to die do make this my Last Will and Testament Principally and first of all I give and Recommend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God my Creator and as for my body I recommend it to the Earth to be Buried in a Christian Like and Decent manner at the Discretion of my Executors and as Touching such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath Pleased God to bless me withal I give devise and dispose of the Same in the following manner and form.

   
   

   IMPRIMIS I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife ELIZABETH MAPLE after all debts and Legacys are fully Satisfied and Paid all the remaining part of my Movable Estate also the use of the Plantation during her Natural Life,

   
   

   Item I give and bequeath to my well beloved Son Benjamin Maple and to his heirs forever after the decease of my Said Wife Elizabeth Maple all my Plantation Containing one hundred Acres of Land and Meadow with the house Barn and all other Improvements thereunto belonging also five pounds to be levyed out of my Stock after my Decease

   
   

   Item I give to my Eldest Daughter Ruth Ashley the Sum of ten pounds to be levyed out of my Stock Either in Cattle or horses as shall be adjudged by two Neigh­bors or Apraysors

   
   

   Item I give and bequeath to my Youngest Daughter Catherine Mellot the Sum of ten pounds to be levyed out of my Stock Either in Cattle or horses as shall be Adjudged by two Neighbors or Apraysors

   
   

   Item I give to my Son in Law David Lee the Sum of five pounds to be Levyed out of my Stock Either in Cattle or horseflesh as Shall be Adjudged by two Neighbors or Apraysors

   
   

   Lastly I make ordain Constitute and App­oint my Said Wife Elizabeth Maple and my Son Benjamin Maple my whole and sole Executrix and Executor of this my Last Will & Testament and I do hereby Utterly disallow Revoke and Disannul all and every other former Wills Testaments and Legacys Requests and Executors by me in any ways before this time Named Willed and bequeathed Ratifying and Confirm­ing this and no Other to be my Last Will and Testament In Witness wher­eof I have hereunto put my hand and Seal the Day and Year Above Written

   
   

   SIGNED SEALED PUBLISHED PRO­NOUNCED ) his

   AND DECLARED BY THE SAID BEN­JAMIN ) Benjamin Maple

   MAPLE AS His Last Will and Test­ament ) mark

   in the presence of us the Subscribers )

   Daniel Bayly?

   Rague Ronnion

   Tho: Broderwick

   
   

   [Different transcriptions have been given for the name of the first witness. The "Calendar of Wills" gives the name Daniel Bayles. T. Grant Maple gave the name Daniel Cayles.

   The signature on the original will (on file in the New Jersey Archives) has an initial letter that looks more like a "C" than a "B" to modern English users. This is followed by what could be interpreted as "ay" or "ais" (with a sweeping long "s" that displaced the last name on the following signature). The final letters could be interpreted as either "les" or "ly". Thus, one could read the signature as Bayles, Bayly, Cayles, or Caisly.

   The recorded version of the will clearly says Daniel Bayly (by comparison with the recorder's handwriting, the final letter is definitely a "y", not "es"). Although less clear, the probate record (made on 8 September in Perth Amboy) also appears to refer to testimony by Daniel Bayly. A Daniel Bayles did live near Benjamin Maple:

   
   

   1 January 1727 - Benjamin Harrison sold 317 acres in Middlesex County to Daniel Bayles.

   
   

   The distinction between Bayles and Bayly is probably not significant, as the names appear to have been used interchangeably.

   
   

   Benjamin Maple's great-great granddaughter, Abigail Maple, married Daniel Bayles' grandson, William Bayles.]

3. ↑ page 8 - The City of New Brunswick was chartered as:

   All that Tract of Land beginning at the mouth of South river upon the bounds of the City and Precincts of Perth Amboy and from thence following the said bounds up the said River unto the post Road that leads from Perth Amboy to Burlington and along the said road to Milston Brook or River from thence down the same brook or river as it runs unto the Country road that leads from Trenton to Ininan's ferry thence easterly along the said road unto a brook called the Mile run about a Mile Distant from the said ferry thence down the said Brook as it runs (Including the same) unto the mouth thereof where it emptys its self into Raritan River thence on a Line to the north side of the said river thence down the said river as it runs (Including the same to high water mark on the northeasterly Side thereof) unto the bounds of Perth Amboy aforesaid and from thence along the said bounds to the beginning to be from henceforth Called known and distinguished by the name of the CITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK.

4. ↑ New Jersey Early Land Records, Volume E-3, pages 143-145:

   Jan Van Dyck of New Brunswick Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey purchased 200 acres in New Brunswick Township (on the east side of Millstone River) from Benjamin Pridmore on 10 February 1727.

5. ↑ Transcribed from Burlington Records (1680) (Unit no. 53): 46. Also transcribed by John E. Stillwell (editor), "Court Records, Burlington, New Jersey", in "Historical and Genealogical Miscellany - Data Relating to the Settlement and Settlers of New York and New Jersey", New York (1903), page 42.
6. ↑ "A Copy of the Minute Book of Nottingham Township, from its Formation in 1692 to 1710", reprinted from the Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical Society January-April-July, 1940, page 1:

   Att a Towne Meeting holden at the House of William (Blanch) for the townshipp of Nottingham, the seaventh day of the twelfth month, Anno1692.

   Whearas complaint hath been made by the Constable of Nottingham, that by reason of the neglect of some and the backwardness of others the said Constable is exposed to great trouble and charge, and expence of time, and at last a disappointment and hinderance of Busines-Therefore wee whose names are hereunto subscribed, being sensible of the same, and to prevent the like trouble charge and disapointment for the time to come, do agree by mutual consent that whosoever shall for the time to come absent themselves after timely notice given by the said Constable, shall be lyable to be fined at the discretion of the said Towne Meeting, excepting the absenting person or persons shall give such sufficient reasons as shall seem valid to the said Townes Meeting.

   William Watson . Mahlon Stacy

   Thomas Tindall . Thomas Lambert

   Thomas Gilberthorp . Anthony Woodward

   Samuel Overton . William Quicksall

   Robert Pearson . John Lambert

   John Milborne . John Wilsford, Junior

   Robert Murfin . Joshua Ely

   Hugh Hutchin . John Rogers

   James Pharo . William Emley

   Isaac Watson . Benjamin Maple

   John Abbat

   Signed by me, Mahlon Stacy, Commisr

   The meeting was held at the house of William Blanch, who lived in the area that was later to become known as White Horse. William Blanch had arrived in West Jersey as a servant indentured to William Watson.

7. ↑ Francis Bazley Lee (editor)," History of Trenton, New Jersey" (1895), page 19 states:

   "In 1688, Jno. Wilsford was appointed Constable for Nottingham, which town was “presented” by the Grand Jury “ for not making a sufficient Bridge over the River Darion” (Assanpink). The court imposed £20 fine upon the inhabitants if the same was not speedily completed. William Emley, Tho: Lambert, Robt Murfin and William Watson were appointed Assessors. In this year Hugh Staniland was “lycenced” as an Ordinary keeper in Nottingham. “The Falls,” at the November term of court, 1688, are defined by implication to be in Nottingham township. The Constabularies being returned by the Grand Jury, Nottingham was approved by the court “to lye between Crosswicks Creek and Delaware River & northwards up the River soe far as at p’esent Inhabited.” Here begins the story of the establishment of old Nottingham township."

8. ↑ "A Copy of the Minute Book of Nottingham Township, from its Formation in 1692 to 1710", reprinted from the Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical Society January-April-July, 1940, page 3.
9. ↑ William Nelson (ed), New Jersey Archives: Volume 21, pages 517-518

   1698-9 March 18. "Do. The West Jersey Society, by their agents, Jeremiah Basse and Thomas Revell, to Ralph Hunt, Jno Bainbridge, Johannes Lawrenson (up Dyck), Wm. Hixson, Jno Bryerley, Saml Hunt, Theophilus Philipps, Jonathan Davis, Tho: Smith, Jasper Smith, Tho: Coleman, Benjamin Hardin, Wm. Akers, Robert Lannen, Phillip Phillips, Joshua Andris, Samuel Davis, Elnathan Davis, Enoch Andris, Cornelius Andris, James Bice, John Runion, Tho: Runion, Hezekiah Benham, Benja: Maple, Lawrence Updike, Joseph Sackett and Edward Hunt, all of Maidenhead, Burlington Co., for 100 acres there, of the Society's 15,000 a. tract above the Falls of Delaware, to be used for a meeting house, burying ground and schoolhouse.".

10. ↑ Joseph J. Felcone, "Ewing Township - a History to the Year 1700" (1985), pages 24-25:

    "Sometime prior to June 1689 Daniel Coxe had acquired from Thomas Budd the tract Budd had purchased from the Indians. This tract was also conveyed in June 1689: Surveyed to Daniel Coxe Esqr. one Tract of Land purchased from ye Indians by Thomas Budd, Begins at a white oak, Corner to ye lndian purchase made by Adlord Bowde abovesd. in a Line called ye Scotch Line on ye north side & near Stony brook & runs thence along the said Line near South & by East to Assinpink River, then bounded by the same to ye mouth of a brook called litle Shabbaconck or five mile brook, then up by ye same to ye head spring thereof at the sd. lndian purchase of ye sd. Adlord Bowde, then along by ye same North East & by East & North East to ye Corner first named. In margin: "8600 Acres.'"'

    This is the land that today roughly comprises the township of Lawrence. Although surveyed here for 8600 acres, later it would generally be referred to as "the 15000." "

11. ↑ Helen A. Titus, "Maidenhead, the Early Days", a publication of the Lawrence Tercentenary Committee.
12. ↑ The Minutes of Lawrence (Maidenhead) Township, Volume 1: pages 22 and 24.
13. ↑ Rev. George Hale, A History of the Old Presbyterian Congregation of "The People of Maidenhead and Hopewell", 1876, page 48.
14. ↑ West Jersey Deed Book AAA (1680-1719), page 8.

    “ ‘The 26th August, 1703. We underwritten having the day of the date above att the house of Ralph Hunt in Maiden Townshipp heard read the agreement made the 20th April, 1703 betweene Doctor Daniell Coxe, Esq. and Thomas Revell on the behalfe of the Purchasers of the land within Maiden and Hopewell do hereby declare & signifie our full & free assent & Consent to the same & in testimony thereof have hereto sett our hands The day & year above written.’

    “This was signed by:

    John Bainbridge. Ralph Hunt.

    Theophilos Philips. Samuel Hunt.

    Joshua Anderson. Benjamin Harder.

    Jonas Lawrence. Jasper Smith.

    Hezekiah Bonham. Thomas Rognion.

    Henery Mershon. Jonathan Davis.

    Philip Philips. Benjamin Maple.

    William Akers. Richard Rounsevall.

    Henry (H) Bell. Peter Hoff.

    George Ely. Robert Lanning.

    John Lanning. Lamb (A) Allen.

    John (V.) Hofton. Powell (H) Hof.

    Derick (E) Hoff. John (7) Borries

    William Green. Isack Reeder.

    Edward Hunt. Joell Jones.

    Joseph Reeder. John Hart.

    James (I) Price. Elnathan (E) Davis.

    Samuell Davis. Thomas Winder.

    Robert Lanning. Joseph Sackett.

    “The agreement between Daniel Coxe and Thomas Revell in behalf of himself and the several purchasers of land in Maidenhead and Hopewell provided that the latter should pay at the rate of twelve pounds per hundred acres in the fifteen-thousand-acre tract, and ten pounds per hundred in the thirty-thousand-acre tract, with interest from the time of their bargains. The purchasers having failed to comply with the terms, Coxe, On September 14, 1703, appointed Revell his attorney to execute deeds to those who should pay for their lands. The titles of many property-holders were disputed by Colonel Coxe; those in possession were in many cases ejected by force suits were brought, the long and bitter dissensions extending through many years.

15. ↑ Basse B (Surveys, 207-290) : Folio 210 (SSTSE023).
16. ↑ Ora Eugene Monette, "First Settlers of Ye Old Plantations of Piscataway and Woodbridge", 1930, Volume 1, page 113.

    "At a Town meeting held in Maidenhead January 1st, 1712 the inhabitants of the said Towne have unanimously agreed among themselves to endeavor for the promoting of a County in the upper parts of the province above Assunpinke and in order thereunto have obliged themselves seaverally and respectively to pay their seaveral and respective sums of money at or before the second day of February next ensuing the date hereof unto Phillip Ringo or his assignees which said Phillip Ringo of Maidenhead at the same towne meeting above mentioned was chosen and appointed by the towne to be the Treasurer or Receiver of the said money for the promoting of the business aforesaid and also at the said meeting John Brearly, John Bainbridge and Joshua Anderson are men that were chosen and appointed to call the said Treasurer to an account concerning the said respective sums of money and the said John Bainbridge at the same Towne meeting is chosen by the towne to appear before the Governaur for them on their behalf in order for the accomplishment of the aforesaid business.

    The inhabitants above mentioned haveing at the said meeting subscribed themselves to pay the aforesaid respective sum of mony as followeth

    John Bainbridge subscribed 2 pounds 0 shillings

    Ralph Hunt senier 1 pound 5 shillings

    William Hickson 1 pound 10 shillings

    John Bearley 1 pound 10 shillings

    Phillip Phillips 1 pound 0 shillings

    Joshua Anderson 1 pound 5 shillings

    Enoch Anderson 1 pound 0 shillings

    James Price 0 pounds 15 shillings

    Alburtus Ringo 1 pound 0 shillings

    Hezekiah Bonham senier 0 pounds 15 shillings

    Henry Mershon 0 pounds 15 shillings

    Stephen Chalmas, Thomas Coleman, Samuel Hunt, William Bings, Garret Cook, Jacobus Nagel, Derick Huff, Laurence Opdyke, Johanus Lourenson, Edward Hunt, Joseph Reader, Benjamin Harden, and John Hart Junier, each subscribed 15 shillings;

    Timothy Baker subscribed 12 shillings;

    Thomas Evans and Benjamin Maple each subscribed 10 shillings;

    William Akers, Ebenezar Petty, Thomas Huff, Andrew Foster and Richard Hart, each subscribed 6 shillings;

    Jasper Smith, William Lees and Joseph Hill, each subscribed 1 shilling."

17. ↑ Abraham Van Doren Honeyman (ed), New Jersey Archives - First Series (alt. title Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Adminstrations, Etc. Vol. II: 1730-1750): Volume 30, pages 332-333.

    Jul. 19, 1738. "Mershon, Henry, of Maidenhead, Hunterdon Co., weaver; will of. Wife, Ann. Son, Houghton, plantation of 111 acres held by several deeds from (Thomas?) Revel, Benjamin Maple, Susannah Stockton and Daniel Cox, being a second purchase. Wife, Ann, five acres of meadow bought of said Revil, in town of Maidenhead, adjoining five acres which belonged to Hezekiah Bonham. Sons---Henry, Andrew, Peter and Thomas. Daughters---Mary, Ann, Rebeckah, Elizabeth and Sarah. Wife executrix. Witnesses---Stephen Minor, Philip Chapman, John Job. Proved Oct 27, 1738."

18. ↑ Helen A. Titus, "Maidenhead, the Early Days", a publication of the Lawrence Tercentenary Committee.
19. ↑ http://web.pdx.edu/~davide/gene/Bonham_Hezekiah_2.htm

    "Therefore, all things considered it seems more probable that Hezekiah and Mary settled in West Jersey shortly after their marriage, perhaps, about 1702 or 1703. Furthermore, in his well documented book on Bonham family history, H. E. Bonham included a detailed map locating the original property of Hezekiah Bonham, Sr., which indicates that to the east it adjoined the original province line separating East and West Jersey and, hence, lay just inside Maidenhead (now Lawrence) Township about one mile and half north of the Princeton Pike (Mercer Road). At present, this corresponds to a location along Province Line Road in close proximity to the entrance of the recently developed Jasna Polana Golf Club and a few hundred yards north of Carson Road. Much of this area has been recently purchased by Lawrence Township as Carson Road Woods to be put aside as a "passive recreation park" and provide permanent undeveloped green space for the local community."

20. ↑ East Jersey Deeds, Volume C-2, Folio 478:

    "Beginning on the East Side of Milston River at the upper corner of Benjamin Maples Land on the said River thence running East South east one hundred twenty two chains along the Said Maples Line to a Stake marked on four Sides thence South and by west Sixteen chains and a half to Daniel Baylys land thence west north west along the said Baylys Line to Milston River thence down the said River to the place where it First began."

21. ↑ Rev. George Hale, "A History of the Old Presbyterian Congregation of 'The People of Maidenhead and Hopewell' ", Press of Henry B. Ashmead, Philadelphia (1876), pages 13-15.
22. ↑ Under British law, anyone younger than 21 would have been required to show parental consent. Also, they would have been expected to serve for more than the 4 years customarily served by adults.
23. ↑ www.virtualjamestown.org
24. ↑ New World Immigrants: A Consolidation of Ship Passenger Lists and Associated Data from Periodical Literature (1979).
25. ↑ John Wareing, "Indentured Migration and the Servant Trade from London to America, 1618-1718."
26. ↑ Alan Taylor, "American Colonies", Penguin Putnam Inc., New York, 2001, pages 215-217.
27. ↑ Maple Surname Y-DNA Project at Family Tree DNA: https://www.familytreedna.com/groups/maple-surname-dna-project/about

Acknowledgments

Much of what we know about the descendants of Benjamin Maple Sr comes from the work of T. Grant Maple, who spent many years compiling information about the Maple Family in America. Grant, in turn, acknowledged the work of John Jameson Mapel, who interviewed many Maple families in the 19th century, and whose notes laid the foundation for Grant's book, "Genealogical History of the Maple/Mapel family in America".

DNA Connections

Descendants of Benjamin Maple Sr share the R1b-BY109788 Y-DNA haplogroup block, which is also shared by descendants of Mapley families that lived in Buckinghamshire, England in the 18th and 19th centuries. The descendants of Benjamin Maple Sr have 4 additional mutations (BY135865, BY141141, BY151378, and Y168385), which formed sometime after the birth of the nearest common ancestor of the MAPLEYs and the American MAPLEs. For more information, see MAPLE/MAPLEY Y-DNA Haplogroups.

Several of Benjamin Maple Sr's descendants share matching autosomal chromosome segments. For details, see Maple DNA.