Henry Benn, Sr.

Fact and Fancy

(This is a typewritten translation of a document prepared by Caroline MONKS more than 30 years ago. As far as I know, it was never published and is not covered by copyright. If it is, please send information to Linnie Howell, linnie@gbronline.com and the information will be removed.)

"The facts are records; the fancy is my interpretation of them. It is true that genealogists must search for facts, but an active imagination is invaluable in suggesting where to look.

The Public Archives Commission for the state of Delaware is located in Dover, the state capital. Dover is also the county seat of Kent County; Wilmington, the county seat of New Castle County.

Henry Benn, Sr.'s oldest known child, Rebecca, was born April 16, 1756, in Appoquinimink Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware. (Memorial to her in the Methodist Magazine for 1826 - Vol. 9 - Page 116.) This fact provided a starting point for my search, but the results were disappointing.

Only a few old tax lists for Appoquinimink Hundred may be found in the Hall of Records in Dover; the earliest one is for the year 1777.

These lists show the following:

1777:
Henry Benn

John Benn

Thomas Benn

1778:
Henry Benn

Jn. Benn

Thomas Benn

1778:
Henry Benn

John Benn

Thomas Benn

Benj. Benn

Aug 1779 Henry Benn

John Benn

Thomas Benn

Benjamin Benn

Nov 1779 Henry Benn

John Benn

Thomas Benn

Benjamin Benn

Feb 1880 Henry Ben

John Benn

Thomas Benn

Benjamin Benn

Nov 1780 John Benn

Henry Benn

Thomas Benn

Benjamin Benn

For the years 1781 - 1784 I obtained my information in a letter from the Delaware State Archivist. I had asked only about Henry and John, and therefore he did not include data concerning the others.

1781John Benn

Henry Benn

1782No List

1783John Benn

Henry Benn

1784John Benn

In 1785, I had found Thomas Benn and Benjamin Benn.

There is a record in the Archives which shows that a Thomas Benn secured a warrant survey for land in Appoquinimink Hundred in 1740.

Two deeds are recorded in the courthouse at Wilmington by which a Thomas Benn sold land.

Book N Vol. I Page 284 - 1741

Thomas Benn and wife sold to Robert McMurphy

Book W. Vol. I Page 429 - 1768

Thomas Benn and wife sold to Joseph Harris.

Since Henry Benn's daughter, Rebecca, was born in 1756, he must have been born prior to 1740. He may have been the son of this Thomas.

Perhaps the John, Thomas, and Benjamin who were taxed in Appoquinimink Hundred with Henry were his brothers. It seems that before 1785 Henry and John left Delaware, whereas Benjamin and Thomas remained.

The 1790 census for Pennsylvania shows that at that time a John Benn lived in Northumberland County.

1790 - Northumberland County, Pennsylvania

John Benn

1 male over 16

2 males under 16

2 females

He was not there in 1800 and I know nothing more of him.

Estates for Thomas Benn (October 27, 1806), Benjamin Benn (February 20, 1809)Benjamin's wife Hannah (June 12, 1811), and a Richard Benn (December 22, 1809) were probated. These records are in the courthouse in Wilmington.

Henry Benn's daughter Rebecca married Robert Pennington about 1774. Their only child, Henry, was born February 19, 1775.

Both Henry Benn and Robert Pennington signed the oath of allegiance in Delaware August 8, 1778. A copy of this paper with their actual signatures was sent to me by a descendant of Robert and Rebecca (Benn) Pennington, Mrs. Mary Trickel, 2010 Third Street, Baker, Oregon, 97814. She obtained it from the Hall of Records, Public Archives Commission, General Reference #160, Dover, Delaware.

I regard this as one of my most valuable papers.

I have never discovered Henry Benn's immigrant ancestor, but according to tradition in my family he came from London. I am convinced that the Benns were English.

I do not know when Henry Benn, Sr., was born, nor who his parents were. He was probably married in New Castle County, Delaware, about 1755. I do not know his wife's maiden name.

He was last taxed in Delaware in 1783. In 1785 he was a resident of Potter's Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. (P.A. - Series III - Vol. 19 - Page 631)

I do not know why the Benns and Penningtons decided to move to Northumberland County, but if they had planned to live there someday they probably would not have left Delaware before 1784 because of the unsettled condition of the country. The Treaty of Paris ending the Revolutionary War was signed on September 3, 1783. While the war was in progress, there was much fighting in southeastern Pennsylvania and Delaware. Traveling would have been difficult.

The last treaty with the Indians, signed at Fort Stanwix, New York, conveyed to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania all the residue of the Indian Lands within the limits of the state. The deed was signed October 23, 1784.

Thus Pennsylvania acquired the northwestern third of its territory, and, except for the Erie triangle, its boundaries became much as they are today.

Prior to this treaty, Northumberland County had been adjacent to Indian lands and had suffered terribly from frequent Indian raids and massacres. In fact, William Monks, who served in the Pennsylvania militia under General James Potter, in the battles around Philadelphia in the fall of 1777and in an outpost of Valley Forge during the winter, returned to Potter's township in the spring of 1778, when General Potter and his men were sent home to protect the inhabitants from Indian attacks. For the duration of the war, William was a member of Robinson's Rangers - a band of Indian fighters.

However, by 1784 the countryside had become quiet, and the Benns and Penningtons did move to Potter's township in Penn Valley. At that time this was in Northumberland County. Subsequently it was in Mifflin County, and finally in Centre County. It was a sparsely settled wilderness.

About 1775 this family had been converted to Methodism, and Mr. Pennington had become a Methodist minister. In addition to developing "plantations" as farms were called in those days, they planned to establish a Methodist church were Rev. Pennington would preach the gospel according to the tenets of their faith.

The notes entered at the * below are quoted from the origianl transcription of this document.

*Much evidence exists to substantiate the fact that the first five named above were brothers and sisters and children of Henry BENN, Sr. I am equally convinced that Samuel was another son. Although I have little proof, I do believe that these daughters (the last two) did exist, and I shall give my reasons later.

What members of Henry Benn's family moved to Northumberland County about 1784?

There were Henry Benn, Sr.,, his wife, Robert and Rebecca (Benn) PENNINGTON and their son Henry, born in 1775, Rachel, a younger daughter (later Mrs. Job COLBERT,) Jonathan, and probably a newly born child - either Samuel or a daughter. The family may have delayed their departure until after the birth of this child.

Henry Benn, Jr., did not go to Pennsylvania at this time. He first appeared on a tax list for Potter's Township, Mifflin County, as an additional resident in 1790.

Northumberland County Tax Lists

Potter's Township:

1785 - Henry Benn 100 acres

2 horses

2 cattle - tax 7.6

1786 - April 26

Henry Benn 100 acres

1 horse - 2 cattle

Valuation 38 pounds

State Tax 6s 9d County Tax 2s 6d

1787 - February 15

Henry Ben - 100 acres - 2 horses - 2 cows

1788

Henry Benn - 100 acres - 2 horses - 2 cows

Valuation 54 L State Tax 9s

County Tax 4s 6d

Mifflin County Tax Lists

1789 - Henry Benn

150 acres, 2 horses, 2 cattle

Valuation: 72 L State Tax 10s 8d

County Tax 5s 4d

1790 - Additional Residents:

Henry Benn, Jr. - 150 acres, 2 horses, 2 cattle

1792 - Henry Benn - 300 acres, 2 horses, 2 cows

Henry Benn - 200 acres, 2 horses, 2 cows

1790 Census Record:

1790 - Mifflin County - not south of the Juniata

Henry Benn, Sr.:

2 males over 16

2 males under 16

5 females

It is obvious that the 1790 census provides very little information. Although it tells how many people lived in the household of Henry Benn, we cannot assume that all of them were members of one family unit. In this case, I am convinced that William and Rachel (Benn) Monks, their daughter Elizabeth, and perhaps a second daughter Mary lived with Henry Benn.

Why do I believe this?

Except for the months in late 1777 and early 1778 which William spent fighting near Philadelphia with General Potter, he had lived in Potter's township since 1775. In 1786 he married Rachel Benn and a daughter Elizabeth was born to them in December 1786. In 1790 he should have been listed as head of a family, but he was not. He had no relatives of his own in Mifflin County. Where could he have been? There is only one logical place - with his father-in-law.

By 1798 he was established in a home of his own and he was listed as the head of a family in the 1800 census.

It is my firm belief that in the above record the two males over 16 were Henry Benn, Sr., and William Monks, and the two males under 16 were Jonathan and Samuel Benn.

The problem is to determine who the five females were. I can suggest two solutions, the first of which I personally reject.

The five females could have been:

Rachel Monks

Elizabeth Monks - 3 years old

Mary Monks - under 1 year

Female Benn - who later married Job Colbert

Mrs. Henry Benn, Sr.

My reason for rejecting this theory is that the 1800 census shows 4 females between the ages of 10 and 16 in the family of William Monks. These girls were born between 1784 and 1790. Only 2 of them, Elizabeth and Mary, belonged to William and Rachel. Who were the other two? I believe that they were younger sisters of Rachel. If this is true, the five females in Henry Benn's family in 1790 may have ben:

Rachel Monks

Elizabeth Monks

Female Benn - who later married Job Colbert

2 younger sisters born between 1784 and 1790

This would mean that Mrs. Henry Benn, Sr., was no longer living, and would explain why Rachel, as the oldest daughter except Mrs. Rebecca Pennington, who was established in her own home, was needed in her father's home as housekeeper and substitute mother for the younger children. It also means that Rachel was probably pregnant at the time and that her daughter Mary was born after the census was taken in 1790.

A special direct tax recorded October 1, 1798, for Potter's township, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania shows both Henry Benn, Sr., and Henry Benn, Jr., as residents of the township.

Occupant - Henry Benn; reputed owner - Thomas Hastings

1 house - $30

100 acres - 650

Occupant - Henry Benn, Jr.

Reputed owner - James Potter

1 house - $15

200 acres $1831

Sometime between this date and 1800, Henry left Mifflin county, taking his two young sons with him. By this time one daughter had married Job Colbert; William and Rachel had a home of their own. Henry apparently left his two youngest daughters with them, at least until he was settled elsewhere.

I have searched the 1800 census records for Centre, Armstrong, Allegheny, and Westmoreland Counties, Pennsylvania, but did not find him.

However, on June 20, 1801, he witnessed the will of Thomas Wilkins in Derry Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Henry's son Jonathan had recently married Elizabeth Wilkins, Thomas' daughter. (Note: the actual signature of Henry Benn as a witness to this will is the same as the signature on the Oath of Allegiance paper signed in Delaware 23 years earlier.)

Westmoreland County Tax Lists

I could not find tax lists for Derry Township in 1802 or 1803, but I did find one for 1804.

1804 - Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Derry Township

Henry Benn - 1 horse "gone"1 cow

Jonathan Benn - ?

When the Benns left Westmoreland County, they went to Crawford County, Pennsylvania, where they joined Mr. and Mrs. Job Colbert. Both Henry and Jonathan are listed as heads of families in Wayne Township, Crawford County, in 1810. A young man 16-28, living with Jonathan's family was almost certainly Samuel.

1810 Census Record:

Crawford County, Pennsylvania, Wayne Township:

Henry Benn

1 male 19 - 16

1 male over 45

1 female 16 - 26

1 female over 45

I do not know who the 10-16 year old male could have been, but the 16-26 year old female may have been one of the daughters who in 1800 was living with William and Rachel in Centre County. The other daughter was no doubt married.

The female over 45 may have been the first Mrs. Henry Benn, Sr., but it is my belief that when Henry left Centre County he was a widower, and therefore, must have married again. If so, the young male may have been his son by a former marriage.

Henry Benn's name appears on Crawford County Tax lists until 1813, at which time he would have been in his middle 70's. He probably died in Wayne Township about that time."

Crawford County Tax Lists:

Mead Township

1808 - Henry Benn - 2 cows - $18 - Tax .11

1809 - Henry Benn - 2 cows - $18.- Tax .09

Wayne Township:

1810 - Henry Benn - 1 horse $35; 2 cows $18 - Tax .21

1811 - Henry Benn - 1 horse $30; 1 cow $10 - Tax .21

1812 - Henry Benn - 1 horse $30; 1 cow $10 - Tax .20

1813 - Henery Benn - 1 horse $30; 1 cow $10 - Tax .14

PENN'S VALLEY

In an article entitled "Centennial of the Introduction of Methodism into Centre County, Pa." held in Bellefonte M.E. Church July 10 1867, there is a brief description of the view from the Pennington cemetery. This gives a good picture of Penn's Valley, the home of the Penningtons, and for a while, also of the Benn and Monks families.

Page 28:

The graveyard lies on the base of Nittany mountain, and beyond it west and east extend the valley, one of the finest rural landscapes the eye need rest upon. To the east in the distance is the graceful contour of woods that marks the end of Brush Mountain, dividing Penn's from Brush Valley. To the south is the grand amphitheatre formed by Egg hill, the Seven mountains, and Tussey; and to the west as far as the eye can reach Penn's Valley wends away toward the Juniata."