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Benjamin SEVERENCE

Male 1654 - 1717  (63 years)


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  • Name Benjamin SEVERENCE 
    Birth 13 Jan 1654  Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Reference Number 5359092 
    Reference Number 5504308 
    Reference Number 60 
    WWW https://www.WikiTree.com/wiki/Severence-21  
    Death 22 May 1717  Newtown, Queens, New York Colony Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I352  Gummer
    Last Modified 1 Aug 2024 

    Father John SEVERANCE,   b. Abt 1612, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 9 Apr 1682, Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 70 years) 
    Mother Abigail KIMBALL,   b. 5 Nov 1617, Rattlesden, Suffolk, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 17 Jun 1658, Salisbury, Norfolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 40 years) 
    Marriage 1635  England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F73  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Elizabeth LYNCH,   b. Abt 1657 
    Marriage 1680  Long Island, New York Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F321  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 1 Aug 2024 

  • Photos
    1927 Severance Genealogy
    1927 Severance Genealogy

    1717---John's father, Benjamin Severns died and will was probated on 22 May 1717; in which Benjamin left his entire estate to this son John. Benjamin's wife Mary (John's step-mother) was the sole executrix.

  • Notes 
    • == Biography ==
      BENJAMIN SEVERANCE SEVERNS (1654-1717) SON OF IMMIGRANT JOHN
      1654-- Benjamin Severance of Salisbury, MA born 13 January 1654. Jacobus Vol. 1 stated that indications are that the Severance family was from Gill, MA.

      1665--Benjamin Severance listed in his brother's will of 1665.

      Some of the Inhabitants of New Towne on Long Island
      New Towne Patent, November 25, 1666

      Benjamin Sufferns

      Apr. 1673 at the Salisbury quarterly court.Robert Downer, Henry Ambross, Joseph True and Joseph Severans, for taking cider to the house of Ben. Collins of Dec. 25 last in the evening, causing much disorder, were fined.Robert Downer, Joseph True, Benjamin Severans, Ruth Whittier, Tho. Eaton, Jno, Eaton, Eliza and Jabez Bradbury Clem. Jerman, Henry Ambross and Susan, his wife, Joseph Severans and Elizabeth Eaton were fined for disturbance at Ben Collins', Jno. Bradbury being freed on account of giving the evidence.
      1674--From quarterly Courts of Essex County, MA, Vol. 5, October 1674, page 403 or 408: "Benjamin Severns forfeited his bond for appearance to answer to fornication with Martha Lamson." (Benjamin would have been age 20 at the time)
      1675 -- Benjamin does not appear on the 1675 rateables (tax list?) of Newtown, Long Island, NY.
      November 26, 1678 Court record in Newtown NY on Long Island, Benamine Severns was a defendant in an acction with John Write being the plaintiff.
      per Transcriptions of early town records of New York
      Minutes of the Town Courts of Newtown 1656-1690
      Printed August 1940 by the Historical Records SurveyWhich was a WPA project. Found in the Genealogical Library in Salt Lake City.

      Did not get date of court but is between Nov. 26 1678 and May 4th 1681Beniamin Severns being Eximined & sworne saith that: this deponent being att work att Goodman bourroughs house: that Caleb Carman of Jemecoe (Jamaica?) Cam. thether soe Calebe had some decors with (struckthrough and replaced with)there with dockter John Greenefelid about a boy of the said Caleb; and in concluesen the sd dockter did In Jade to Cure the boy for the vallue of ten pounds: but only he would have forty shilling In hand and If he did not Cure him he would Returne the sd Carman shis Mony a Gayne And he did alsoe Indage to Cure him In a month time If he did not then he doe as is a fore saide to Returne the Mony and further saith not
      Minutes of the Town Courts of Newtown 1656-1690
      Printed August 1940 by the Historical Records SurveyWhich was a WPA project. Found in the Genealogical Library in Salt Lake City.
      Abt 1680--"The research, although incomplete, tend to indicate that his Benjamin was a son of John and Abigail Severans. Benjamin Severns probably married (first) to Elizabeth Lynch who was born February 24, 1661/62 at Branford, CT. Benjamin Severns signed the will of Jonathan Strickland at Long Island, NY. (Jonathan Strickland would be his wife's grandfather) (Jacobus Vol. 1)

      Court Held November the 7th 1682 Thomas Wandall counstableJohn woollston Craft pll: Enters an acction of debt against benimine Severns def:
      Was referred to the next court
      Minutes of the Town Courts of Newtown 1656-1690
      Printed August 1940 by the Historical Records SurveyWhich was a WPA project. Found in the Genealogical Library in Salt Lake City. 1683 -- Benjamin does not appear on the 1683 tax list of Newtown, Long Island, NY. However Benjamin Severns is included in the 1686 Dongan patent for Newtown.
      26 March 1686: Thomas Pettit and Hannah his wife sold land to Benjamin Severns which had belonged to John Moore "on behalf of John Moor our son, she being the wife and relict of John Moor." (from Town Minutes of Newtown, NY)

      In old documents, Benjamin is most often spelled Benimine.Jonathan Strickland sold to Benimine (Benjamin) Severns land called by the name of Hempstead swamp about 10 acres bounded by the land of Gershom Moor and Thomas Robason; dated 25 March and witnessed by Theophilus Phillips, John Reeder; signed by Jonathan Strickland with his mark with the consent of Margrett (Margaret) Strickland his wife.
      26 March 1686: Benimine Severns and Elizabeth his wife sign over to Thomas Pettit in behalf of his son-in-law John Moore, land on 26 March 1686; witnessed by Gershom Moore and Theophilus Phillips. (from Town Minutes of Newtown, NY)

      December 1, 1686Evidenc ghe Given In by benimine severns Concen ......A deferanc be twen Luck depaw and Thimothy plom saith that when the Marshall went to arest the Coles the sd Timothy did say that ...... had to small Kills of Cole a burning and fu..... saith notJohn woollstone Craft doth testify to th bove sd Evedenc and to the truth ther of .... further saith not
      26 March 1686: "Know all men by these present that we, Benjamin Severns and Elizabeth his wife being the daughter of Gabriel Lynch, deceased, do fully and absolutely acknowledge to have really and fully received full satisfaction of our father-in-law Jonathan Strickland's part in land and part in other things in or concerning our father Lynch's estate; therefore we do freely acquit and discharge the said Jonathan his heirs and/or assigns from us our heirs or assigns forever and do owns to be fully satisfied for the same as witness our hands and seals this 26th day of March 1686. Signed, sealed, delivered in the presence of Theophilus Phillips and John Reeder, Benimine Severns, and Elizabeth Severns.
      6 April 1687: Benimin (Benjamin) Severns was a witness to a statement by Johannis Lorisone.
      1689 -- From David Blackwell 8/31/98: "He (Benjamin Severns) held his two offices in 1689, under the Leisler administration: that of Newtown's Constable and Queens County deputy sheriff. Later as a pounds keeper he would have earned fees for keeping stray animals for his neighbors."
      1689 -- Benjamin Severens retained his place as constable being at this time deputy sheriff of Queens County.
      13 April, 1692 John Firman and Benjamin Severns, both of Newtown sold 40 acres that bounded land of on the west side of William Alburtis to Mr. William Creed of Jamaica, (LI). One of the witnesses was Richard Betts.
      1698--the 1698 NY census shows Benjamin Seavernes as head of a four member family. (Ogorman)
      Before 1704--Evidently Benjamin's first wife Elizabeth Lynch died and Benjamin, age 50, remarried someone named Mary.
      1704--Benjamin Severns, Tailor, of Newtown, NY 22 April 1704. Whole estate to his son John and my wife Mary and she was his sole executrix. Witnesses: Benjamin Cornish, Ralph Hait, and William Gleane. Probated 22 May 1717.
      1711---From The Severance Genealogy: "Benjamin is listed on an imperfect list of "pound-keepers" in Newtown, NY village. The records kept from that date up to the Revolution, show Benjamin Severens, dated 2-4-1711. His widow kept the pound after his death.
      15 January 1715/16---Page 143 mentions the will of Edward Hunt of Newtown, Hunterdon County, that the property be divided in the presence of Benjamin Severns...."to son Edward Hunt the land he now lives on in Hunterdon County...to son Richard the land he now lives on in Hunterdon County, as divided between him and his brother Edward; to son Thomas the house and land I now live on, as divided between him and his brother Jonathan in the presence of James Renne and Nathanial Hazard, with a piece of salt meadow as already divided in the presence of BENJAMIN SEVERNS, James Burroughs, and Benjamin Comforth...."
      22 May 1717--Benjamin has died (age 63); his will was probated 22 May 1717. Long Island source records. His entire estate went to his son John, and Benjamin's wife Mary was the sole executrix.

      NEWTOWN, LONG ISLAND,
      NEW YORKThis original community made its contribution to New Jersey settlers, and several familiar names are to be found in the early records there, which later graced the activities of Piscataway and Woodbridge, most notable of which is that certain RICHARD SMITH in Newtown, 1682, when he removed to Woodbridge and Piscataway. It has been most difficult to trace his ancestry, because of the many Richard and other Smith families on Long Island, particularly at Smithtown.
      Newtown embraces the north-western part of Queens County.The eastern portion of the town was known to natives by the name of WANDOWENOCK, DOWENOCK, while the western was called MISPAT, or MESPETH, the latter being probably the appelation applied to a family of Indians residing about the head of a creek called the "English Kills."
      The settlement was begun about 1656.
      Freeholders of NEWTOWN in 1686
      Thomas Stephenson
      Gershom Moore
      Jonathan Hazard
      Daniel Bloomfield
      Caleb Leverich
      Joseph Sackett
      Robert Field
      Thomas Petit
      John Gray
      Robert Field, jun.
      John Smith
      Josiah Furman
      George Wood
      Nathan Fish
      Edward Hunt
      Jeremiah Burroughs
      Richard Betts
      William Hallett
      Samuel Hallett
      Hendrick Martensen
      Robert Blackwell
      John Pearsall
      Joris Stevenson
      Thomas Skillman
      John Johnson
      Richard Alsop
      John Denman
      Henry Mayle
      John Reed
      Joseph Phillips
      Francis Way
      John Wilson
      Moses Petit
      John Furman
      Content Titus
      Lambert Woodward
      Joseph Reeder
      Jeremiah Reeder
      Nathaniel Woodward
      John Bull
      John Wood


      Thomas Morrell
      Theophilus Phillips
      Roeloff Peterson
      Benjamin Severance
      Jacob Leonardson
      Luke Depaw
      Nathaniel Petit
      James Hayes
      Richard Owen
      Peter Bockout
      Thomas Betts
      John Alburtis
      James Way
      Cornelis Jansen
      Jacob Reeder
      John Morrell
      Elias Doughty
      Thomas Lawrence
      William Lawrence
      William Hallett, jun.
      Samuel Ketcharm
      John Ramsden
      Rynier Willemsen
      John Harrison
      John Coe
      Joseph Burroughs
      William Osborne
      Thomas Robertson
      Benjamin Cornish
      Francis Combs
      John Allen
      John Rosell
      Engeltie Burger
      Stephen Jorissen
      John Lawrence
      Thomas Wandell
      John Kirtshaw
      Jonathan Strickland
      Gershom Hazzard
      Henry Sawtell.
      Richard Kimball had a servant John Laverick who came with him in the Elizabeth. There was a Laverick in New Town that could have been asso with Benjamin Severns, grandson of Richard Kimball.
      Calendar of state papers: colonial series, America and West Indies, 1574- By Great Britain. Public Record Office, Sir John William Fortescue740. n. Copy of the will of Thomas Wandall, Jan. 12, 1688. 2 pp. Endorsed, Reed. Nov. 22, 1699.740. in. Copy of the declaration of Theophilus Phillips, who drew Wandall's will upon his deathbed, as to the intention of the deceased. The words " goods and chatties " were intended to devise all his estate real and personal to his wife. 1 p. Same endorsement. 740. iv. Copy of an affidavit of Jonathan Hazard about Wandall's will, f 7). Same endorsement. 740. v. Copy of an affidavit of Benjamin Seavern about Wandall's will, f p. Same endorsement. 740. vi. Copy of an affidavit of John Lawrence, about Wandall's will, f p. Same endorsement. 740. vn. Copy of an affidavit of Thomas Codrington, about Wandall's will, f p. Same endorsement. 740. vni. Copy of an affidavit of Johannes Lowerson, about Wandall's will. 1 p. Same endorsement. 740. ix. Copy of an affidavit of Johannes Lowerson, about Wandall's will. J p. Same endorsement. 740. x. Copy of an affidavit of Susannah Elliot about Wandall's will. J p. Same endorsement.

      == Sources ==

      * Personal research with credit to Alice Severns* Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts. Volumes 1--9, Published 1911--1921. These volumes are indexed and I have been through each one looking for Severans/Severence etc. They can be found on archive.org and Family Search, although most of my original works was done in various genealogy libraries* The annals of Newtown, in Queens County, New York : containing its history from its first settlement, together with many interesting facts concerning the adjacent towns; also, a particular account of numerous Long Island families … By James Riker * Town Minutes of Newtown Vol 1 and Vol 2 Can be found on Google Books