Benjamin Tower (1744 - 1804)

Born 22 Sep 1744 in Cumberland, Providence, Rhode Island

Ancestors

Husband of Ann (Finney) Tower — married 1 May 1766 in Sackville, Westmorland, New Brunswick

Descendants

Died 7 Jul 1804 at age 59 in Sackville, Westmorland, New Brunswick

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Biography

Benjamin Tower was born on September 22, 1744 in Cumberland Hill, Providence, Rhode Island ^[1] son of Joseph Tower and Judith Briggs.

Benjamin married Ann Finney on May 1, 1766 in Sackville, New Brunswick.^[2]

Together they had 10 known children:^[3]

1. Joshua Tower
2. Benjamin Tower
3. George Tower
4. Nathaniel Tower
5. Ruth Tower
6. Phebe Tower
7. Joseph Tower
8. Gideon Tower
9. William Tower
10. Ann Tower

Benjamin is enumerated in the 1770 Sackville, Nova Scotia census. Sackville 1770 Census Page. His household included 1 man, 2 boys, 1 woman, and 1 girl. ^[4]

Benjamin died about July 7, 1804 in Sackville, Westmorland, New Brunswick.

Will and other probates

The will of Benjamin Tower, dated Jul 7, 1804, and proved July 14 that same year, states:^[3]

Parish of Sackville, Westmorland County, Yeoman. Will dated 7 July 1804, proved 14 July 1804. Wife Ann one third of real estate while widow, with a comfortable privilege in my dwelling and the use of my household furniture. Two youngest sons Joseph and Gideon my homestead farm with the dwelling house and buildings. The rest of my sons and daughters, Joshua Tower, Benjamin Tower, George Tower, William Tower, Phebe Buck, Ann Tower and Ruth Tower, the residue of my real and personal estate. Gideon Palmer Esq. of Dorchester and James Rogers of Sackville executors and to each 5 shillings. Witnesses: Catharine Palmer, Samuel Ballaou, Timothy Lockhart. Inventory, filed 24 May 1805, valued at £522 by the executors, James Rogers and Gideon Palmer.

In 1807, Benjamin's youngest son Gideon was given a guardian, because of his minor age status,^[5] presumably following the death of Benjamin's wife Ann.

Sources

1. ↑ "Rhode Island Births and Christenings, 1600-1914", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F87F-YVJ : 17 December 2019), Benjamin Tower, 1744.
2. ↑ Scan of Sackville Township Record Page - Tower
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, Wallace Hale's Early New Brunswick Probate, 1785-1835. Will of Benjamin Tower, Jul 14 1804. Sackville, Westmoreland. Reference 9397. Accessed 2021.
4. ↑ "Daniel F Johnson's New Brunswick Newspaper Vital Statistics" Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, Daniel F. Johnson : Volume 66 Number 1463, Date January 21 1886, County Westmorland, Place Sackville, Newspaper Chignecto Post [1]
5. ↑ Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, Wallace Hale's Early New Brunswick Probate, 1785-1835. Probate for Benjamin Tower, Sackville, Westmoreland, 13 May 1807. Reference 9398. Accessed 2021.

See also:

• New Brunswick Genealogy Society, First Families - Tower
• Tower Talk Newsletter
• Tower, Charlemagne Tower Genealogy (John Wilson & Son, Cambridge,Mass, 1891), p.102