Individual Details

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF TOLLAND & WINDHAM COUNTIES, CT: BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT & REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS AND OF MANY OF THE EARLY SETTLED FAMILY. Published J. H. Beers & Co, Chicago, 1903
"Edward Joel Benton"
Samuel Benton Sr lived in Milford and Hartford and was one of the original grantees in the deed of the committee to the first propiertors of Tolland, Connecticut. Four Bentons were among the grantees of this deed: Samuel, Samuel Jr., Joseph Sr and Joseph Jr.

Samuel married about 1679 to Sarah, daughter of William & Sarah Catterton of New Haven CT. Sarah was born New Haven, 19 Jul 1661. Their children's births and baptisms were recorded in the Second Church of Hartford and can be found in the Hartford Town Records, Book I.

28 Dec 1682 Samuel Benton was granted a small piece of land to set a house upon, near Jonathan Webster's house, in Hartford.

In the distribution of the estate of his father in 1683 he received 4 acres of land, a personal estate including a gun, a chair, a Bible, barrels, nails, etc. and a small share of the debts.

11 Mar 1686, Samuel Benton was recorded in the Hartford Book of Distributions as owning one parcel near the road leading to Farmington, 4 acres, abutts on Mr. Richards, Joseph Benton [his brother], Mr. Willys & Mr. Wells, the part of his father's estate distributed to him. Another parcel given him by his grandfather, George Stocking, lying near the wolf pound about 4 acres, abutts on the highway, Thomas Bunce, John Stocking, and Joseph Bull.

30 Mar 1701 Samuel bought the four-acre lot next to his own that his brother Joseph Benton had inherited from their father.

28 Apr 1709 Samuel bought the four-acre lot of Nathaniel Cole which lay next to that formerly belonging to his brother Joseph.

9 Mar 1703/4 At Court, Samuel presented an inventory of the estate of his deceased brother, Andrew, who had died intestate and was granted administration on the estate. Samuel received authority from the General Court in May of 1705 to sell Andrew's house and lot but did not make the transfer until 5 Feb 1708/9 when the sale was made to Samuel Benton, Jr.

12 Apr 1704 Samuel was appointed guardian of John and Mary, children of Andrew.

5 Sep 1709 Samuel was appointed guardian of Ebenezer, another son of his brother Andrew.

8 Aug 1711 He was allowed 1£ 19s for services in aid of the expedition against Canada.

Samuel was Surveyor of highways in Hartford 1713 and 1714 and was a selectman in 1715. On 23 Sep. 1716, he was admitted to the Second Church of Hartford, as Samuel Benton, Sr.


On 20 Feb 1719, Samuel Benton Sr. made deed to his son Daniel for 40 acres and described himself as "of Hartford". The tract was in Tolland, bounded by Joshua Lomes, a highway, Barnebus Hinsdel and Ephraem Hickox. Witnesses were Edward Dodd and Johnathan Hinckley. On the 17th of Mary Samuel acknowledged the deed.

19 Feb 1720, Samuel was given by the Court responsibility for his half-brother, Ebenezer, impotent in body and in mind. He also apparently acquired the four acres alotted to Ebenezer by their father's will. This now gave Samuel a total of 16 acres in his home lot which he gave to his son Moses by his will.

13 May 1721 Joshua Hotchkis and Susanna his wife of New Haven, Samll. Benton & Sarah his wife of Hartford, Marcy Francis of Wethersfield of Hartford, widow, to our brother John Hotchkis of Wallingford in New Haven for the tender love and affection he has shown to our aged mother Mary Chatterton whom he has supported for more than four years past. Quit claim to the said John Hotchkis a parcel of land of three acres in Coopers quarter in New Haven, bounded by James Heaton, Theophilus Munson, Bradly, and John Blackly. Signed: Samll. Benton, Sarah (x) Benton, Mercy (x) Frances, Joshua Hotchkiis, Susanna (x) Hotchkis. Wit: Thos. Richards, Stephen Brace, Samll Benton, Jacob Benton, Caleb Tuttle, Caleb Hotchkiss.
Samll Benton & Sarah acknowledged in Hartford on 6 Dec 1722. Marcy Frances acknowledged in Wethersfield 8 Dec 1722.
John Hotchkiss was married to Mary Chatterton;Mary, Susanna, Sarah, and Marcy, or Mercy, all daughters of William and Mary Chatterton.


Harwinton, CT, was incorporated in May 1732 and May of 1733 from shared land between Hartford and Windsor, called the Western Land. Apparently Hartford granted its portion to proprietors according to their tax valuation and Samuel Benton was one of those proprietors. In Aug 1732, he gave a deed to his son Jacob for his right and title in his part of this new town. Signed by Samll. Benton; witnessed by Ichabod Welles and Elizabeth Wyllys. Samuel acknowledged the deed before the Justice of the Peace on 5 Sep 1732.

Samuel died testate in Hartford, making ample provisions for beloved wife Sarah. Moses & Lydia, the two youngest children were executors - they still lived at home.
The will was dated 4 Apr 1744 and allowed at Probate Court, 3 Jun 1746.
Wife Sarah received one third of both personal and real estate
Son Samuel, 8 acres in Hartford in the West Division, bounded by Jonathan Easton,Samuel Benton, and the highway and the Common, besides what he had already been given.
Son Caleb besides that already given, 120£ I paid towards the purchase of his house, barn, and homelott, and 40 acres of land in my Western right at Harwinton.
Son Daniel - the land in Tolland already given by deed shall be all his portion
Son Jacob - besides what already given, the remainder of my Western right in Harwinton
Son Moses, all the lands belonging to me in Hartford except what has already been disposed of. Also oxen, horses, cart, plow, chain & tackling, a cow, weavers loom & tackling,etc.
Daughter Sarah, 20sh old tennor to be paid three months after my decease
Daughter Lidia, feather bed & furniture, cow, six sheep, a room in my house to live in as long as lives unmarried
My moveable estate not already given to be equally divided among my daughters Hannah, Abigail and Lydia at inventory price. If my wife should died before me, then her third to be equally divided among these three daughters.
Son Moses and daughter Lydia to be Executors. Signed: Samuell Benton
Wit: Joseph Buckingham, Thos Richards, Jonathan Ensign.

Hartford Co Court Record, Page 13--3 June, 1746: The last will and testament of Samuel Benton, late of Hartford, was now exhibited in Court by Moses Benton, one of the executors named in sd. will. Approved and ordered to be recorded and kept on file.

Samuel died 10 Apr 1746 and was buried in the cemetery at Hartford the next day. In the diary of the Rev. Daniel Wadsworth, pastor of First Church, there is an entry for that day "This day Samuel Benton Interred". There is no marker.

Birth	15 Aug 1658	Milford, New Haven County, Connecticut
Marriage	Abt 1679	SARAH Chatterton
Death	10 Apr 1746	Hartford, Hartford/Middlesex County, Connecticut

Spouse	SARAH Chatterton (1661 - 1746)
Child	Samuel Benton (1680 - 1763)
Child	Sarah Benton (1685 - 1756)
Child	Hannah Benton (1688 - )
Child	Abigail Benton (1691 - 1753)
Child	Caleb Benton (1693 - 1755)
Child	DANIEL Benton (1696 - 1776)
Child	Jacob Benton (1698 - 1761)
Child	Moses Benton (1702 - 1755)
Child	Lydia Benton (1705 - )

Father	ANDREW Benton (1620 - 1683)
Mother	HANNAH Stocking ( - 1672)
Sibling	John Benton (1650 - 1650)
Sibling	Hannah Benton ( - 1675)
Sibling	Andrew Benton Jr. ( - 1704)
Sibling	Mary Benton (1655 - 1752)
Sibling	John Benton (1656 - 1680)
Sibling	Joseph Benton (1660 - 1753)
Sibling	Dorothy Benton (1662 - )