Family/Spouse: Gideon SMITH. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Note: 30 Sep 1708

Notes:

Note:
In 1708 James and other inhabitants of Norwalk purchased a large tract of land between that town and Danbury. The purchase was made of Catoonah the chief sachem, and other Indians, whowere the proprietors of that part of the country. At a Norwalk town session, 1709, it was ordained that is should be a distinct township by the name of Ridgefield. James was also one of the original settlers of this township. Fence-viewer in 1715, called Ensign, 1719, afterwards Captain, and 1737, Esquire. He was appointed justice of the peace for Fairfield County, CT, May 1732 and was reappointed annually until 1733. He was representative from Ridgefield, from May 1740-45 and 1748-1752. He was the first to write the genealogy of the Benedict family. In his youth he lived with his grandmother, Mary Bridgum, wife of Thomas, and she delivered to him, from her own mouth, the genealogy down to his own memory, and he reduced it to writing. His "Genealogy of the Family of the Benedicts," dated March 14, 1755 has been the foundation of all the subsequent ones. His grandson, Abner Benedict, a member of the junior class in Yale College made an exact copy of it June 23, 1768. James was the second Deacon of the church in Ridgefield, till old age and its attendants rendered him unable to serve.

James married Sarah HYATT in 1709. Sarah (daughter of Thomas HYATT and Mary UNKNOWN) was born in Dec 1686; died on 9 Feb 1767 in Ridgefield, Fairfield, CT. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: James Benedict
• Note: 1689, Norwalk, Fairfield, CT

Notes:

Note:
John succeeded his father as a selectman in 1689. He was a selectman in 1692-94 and 1699 and also held some minor civil appointments in the town. He was occupied, however, mainly with church affairs, having become a Deacon, probably, upon the death of his father. Thenceforth the records show him to have been constantly on committees having charge of the religious and educational interests of the community, now "obtaining a ministr," then "hyering a schoolmaster." In 1705 the church honored him by voting him a sitting "in ye seat before ye pulpit." He served as representative in the General Assembly in the sessions of 1722 and 1725. The date of his death cannot 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 referred to as Deacon John Benedict, Junior.

John married Phoebe GREGORY on 11 Nov 1670. Phoebe (daughter of John GREGORY and Sarah SAINT JOHN) was born in 1649 in New Haven, New Haven, CT; died about 1748 in Norwalk, Fairfield, CT. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Thomas married Mary UNKNOWN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Mary Hyatt

Thomas married Mary BRIDGUM in 1640 in Southhold, Long Island, NY. Mary was born about 1620; died in 1719 in Norwalk, Fairfield, CT. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Mary Benedict

Other Events and Attributes:

• Will: 15 Aug 1689

Notes:

Will:
John bequeathed his estate to his wife, Sarah. John and James Benedict (sons of Thomas) are mentioned as sons-in-law. Sarah also, in an instrument, dated 10/9/1689, so names them.

John married Sarah SAINT JOHN. Sarah was born in 1614 in Nottinghamshire, ENGLAND; died on 9 Oct 1689 in Norwalk, Fairfield, CT. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]