JOHN BENEDICT 1649-1729

[Ancestral Link: Lura Minnie Parker (Stagge), daughter of Minnie May Elmer (Parker), daughter of Mark Alfred Elmer, son of Hannah Polina Child (Elmer), daughter of Alfred Bosworth Child, son of Hannah Benedict (Child), daughter of John Benedict, son of Daniel Benedict, son of John Benedict, son of John Benedict, son of John Benedict.]

Birth: February 6, 1649, Southold, Suffolk County, New York, USA
Death: November 11, 1729, Norwalk, Fairfield County, Connecticut, USA
Deacon John Benedict was the son of Thomas and Mary (Brigham) Benedict. He married Phebe "Greggorie"/Gregory daughter of John and Sarah (St. John) Gregory on November 11, 1670 in Norwalk, Connecticut.

Along with his parents and all of his siblings and their families, John removed from Long Island, New York to Norwalk in the Colony of Connecticut. He was freeman of Norwalk in 1680, and like his father, was selectman in 1692-94 and 99. He was appointed part of committees to recruit a minister and a schoolmaster.

In 1686, he drew lot #27 in Norwalk, and in 1678, he bought a 4 acre home lot on Dry Hill.

The church honored him by voting to allow him to sit "in ye seat before ye pulpit" in 1705.

He conveyed property to his sons, James and Joseph of Ridgefield in 1722 and 1723.

In his father's will, he was bequeathed his father's "calve pasture Lot", one-third of his "Sticky plaine Lott", " yt part of salt meadow lying by ye bridge at ye Indian Field", and "eight acres of upland laid out above ye Long Swamp beyond ye New field". He was named one of the overseers of his father's estate.

The known children of Deacon John and Phebe (Gregson) Benedict: Sarah Benedict, John Benedict, Jr., Benjamin Benedict, Thomas Benedict, Mary or Mercy Benedict, James Benedict, and Joseph Benedict.

Burial: East Norwalk Historical Cemetery, Norwalk, Fairfield County, Connecticut, USA
Find A Grave Memorial# 33502497
found on findagrave.com

Biographical Notes
John and Phoebe Gregory
Phoebe was born in 1649, the daughter of John Gregory and Sarah Saint John of Southhold, where John was also born. She passed away in 1749 at the elderly age of one hundred (A). The two families were likely close in friendship as well as proximity in the town. John's father Thomas Benedict was a witness to the will of Phoebe's father, made August 15, 1689. John had bequeathed his estate to his wife Sarah. Both John and his brother, James Benedict, were mentioned as sons-in-law. Sarah also, in an instrument, dated October 9, 1689, so names them. John was a freeman of Norwalk in 1680, and succeeded his father as selectman in 1689. He was a selectman in 1692-94 and 1699; and also held some minor civil appointments the town. He was occupied, however, mainly, with church affairs, having become Deacon, probably, upon the death of his father. Thence forth the records show him to have been constantly on committees having charge of the religious and educational interests of the community, now "obtaining a minister," then, "hyering a schoolmaster." In 1705 the church honoured him by voting him a sitting "in ye seat before ye pulpit." He served as a representative in the General Assembly in the sessions of 1722 and 1725.

The Final Years for John
The date of his death is not to be ascertained, nor is that of his wife. The volume of probate records, which probably covered the time within which they died, unfortunately, is missing. He conveyed property to his sons James and Joseph of Ridgefield, in 1722 and 1723; and that he was living in 1727, is thought to be certain, because his son is then referred to as Deacon John Benedict Junior.

Footnotes
Note A: Sarah's birth and death information is similar to information in David Kipp Conover's website.
Sources " Genealogy of the Benedicts in America", by Henry M. Benedict; 1st pub. 1870; orig. avail. at Daughters of the American Revolution in Washington, DC.
found on ancestry.com