Individual Details

Databases concerning this family online suggest that Mehitabel married again after the death of Andrew Peterson - to Jonathan Austin, on 12 Nov 1795 - the groom lived in Rockinham, VT; the bride in Alstead - they were married by Samuel Mead, a clergyman. Caleb Austin who married her daughter Clarissa is said to have been the son of a Jonathan Austin.

Perhaps this is the same family.
1800 Census: Charlestown, Cheshire Co NH, is a Jona. Austin, age 26-45, with a spouse of the same age. Mehitabel would have been about 43, but there should have been several children in the family, particularly young Cynthia Austin. This Jona. Austin may be a brother to Caleb instead of Mehitabel and her husband.


Although little is known about Andrew Peterson, It would seem that his wife Mehitabel Benton has a more extensive pedigree. She was born in Tolland,the daughter of Elijah Benton, b. 1728 in Tolland, and Mehitable Chamberlain, b. 1729 in Lebanaon, CT - their births recorded in the respective town records.

Mehitabel is buried as Mehitable Austin, Vershire Center Cemetery, Orange Co, Vermont. She died 5 Jul 1814, in her 58th year. Wife of Jonathan Austin.

Father Elijah Benton's great-grandfather, Andrew, was allotted a parcel in Milford CT in November of 1639. Andrew was buried Center Church Cemetery [Old Center Burying Ground near the rear wall of the First Church of Hartford]. His gravestone reads: "Andrew Benton Aged 63 Years He dyed July 31, 1683". The Benton family seesm to have been reasonably well documented.

Mother Mehitable Chamberlain's probable great-grandfather, William Chamberlain (1619-1706) was also an early New England immigrant, known to have been in Boston by 1647 when he sold property there. He later lived in Woburn and Billerica. I have seen two possible families for Mehitable online, but the one through parents Joseph Chamberlain (1696-1765) and his wife Mary Johnson ( - 1783) would seem to be correct given that they lived in Billerica, later Tolland, and then Amenia County in New York.

Joseph and Mary Chamberlain were buried in the Amenia Union Cemetery, one of the oldest cemeteries in the town and still occasionally used. Sons Colby and William and their wives, along with other descendants are also buried there.


Burying Grounds of Sharon CT, Amenia & North East, NY
L. Van Alystyne; Heart of the Lakes Publishing 1983
Amenia Union The "Oblong" Church
Chamberlain, Abagail, wife of Capt William, d. Apr 4, 1812, age 60
Capt. William Chamberlain, d. Nov 27, 1810 age 65
Catherine Chamberlain, consort of Col. Colby, d. May 26, 1808, age 59
Col. Colbe Chamberlain, d. Sep 11, 1796 age 58 [Capt Wm's brother]
Isaac Chamberlain, s. of Capt William & Mrs. Abigail Hatch Chamberlain, d. Sept 3, 1783, age 16
Jacob Chamberlain, d. Nov 14, 1762,,, age 23 [Capt Wm's brother]
Capt. Joseph Chamberlain, d. Apr 8, 1765, age 68 [Capt Wm's father]
Mrs. Mary Chamberlain, wife of Capt. Joseph, d. May 1, 1783, age 82

Birth	14 Aug 1756	Tolland, Tolland County, Connecticut
Marriage	8 Jul 1773	Amenia Presbyterian Church, Amenia, Dutchess County, New York - ANDREW Peterson
Marriage	12 Nov 1795	Alstead, Cheshire County, New Hampshire - Jonathan Austin
Death	5 Jul 1814	Vershire, Orange County, Vermont

Spouse	ANDREW Peterson (1750 - 1792)
Child	MARY PETERSON (1774 - 1832)
Child	Matilda Peterson (1776 - )
Child	Hezekiah Peterson (1778 - )
Child	Clarrisa Peterson (1782 - 1853)
Child	Fanny Peterson (1785 - )
Child	John Peterson (1787 - )
Child	Jemima Peterson (1789 - 1865)
Child	Betsy Peterson (1791 - 1861)

Spouse	Jonathan Austin (1742 - )
Child	Cynthia Austin (1797 - )

Father	ELIJAH Benton (1728 - )
Mother	MEHITABLE Chamberlain (1729 - )
Sibling	Abijah Benton (1752 - 1823)
Sibling	Lydia Benton (1753 - )
Sibling	Lois Benton (1755 - 1840)
Sibling	Adoniram Benton (1758 - 1760)
Sibling	Elijah Benton (1760 - 1841)
Sibling	Adoniram Benton (1761 - 1842)
Sibling	Joseph Benton (1763 - )
Sibling	Mary Benton (1763 - 1825)
Sibling	Ruhamath Benton (1765 - 1766)
Sibling	Enoch Benton (1767 - 1767)
Sibling	William Benton (1770 - )