Dear Mrs. Rossey:
From the information you gave me during your visit last summer
have been able to put a few more pieces together. To begin with
I have tried to follow a direct path or my line of the family
back first and add to it the other information I run into - so
far it goes like this:
Father: Russell Benn
Grandfather: James Benn
Great Grandfather: Samuel Benn
Great Great Grandfather: George L. Benn
Great Great Great Grandfather: Henry Benn Jr.
Great Great Great Great Grandfather: Henry Benn Sr.
The first source of information came about
quite by accident. A Mrs. Grace Larson of DuBois Pa. saw my
brother's name in the telephone directory and he referred her to
me. Seems her grandmother was Rose Ann Benn Randolph and her
Great Grandfather was George L. Benn. She did prove a story that
has been in the family - that Samuel Benn had a half brother -
She has information that Geo. Benn was married twice - First to
Sarah Lyons and they had 8 children one being my great
grandfather Sam - then he married Mary Jane Ray on Nov 20, 1851
and they had 3 children one was Rose Ann Mrs. Larson's
grandmother and Cyrus who is the half brother of Sam's that I
had heard about.
The second source I came across was found at the Belefonte
Historical Society - in the information you gave me several
reference's were made by Caroline Monks - well she had prepared
a complete genealogical report on Henry Benn Sr. of which I am
including a copy for you. As I said, as I study it, it proves
that he was the father of the Henry that came to Curlsville but
it poses some of the following questions.
Why she could not establish who <were> Henry Sr. parents
or who his wife was?
The relationship of the Henry, John and Thomas listed on the
1777 tax list?
Why she noted Henry Sr. and two sons moved to Westmoreland
County then to Crawford County but made no reference to Henry
Jr. coming to Curlsville?
It would seem that for now the search should shift to Delaware -
should there not be a history of Delaware that might not have
further information on the Benn's of the Appoquinimink Hundred?
Would appreciate hearing from you with any advice you might have
on what to do next or should I quit while I'm ahead?
Sincerely,
Bill Benn