Orpha Bennett (1772 - 1856)

Born 28 Sep 1772 in Tiverton, Newport, Rhode Island

Ancestors

Wife of William Durfee — married about 1797 in Newport RI

Descendants

Died 7 Mar 1856 at age 83 in Newport, Rhode Island, United States

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Biography

Biography

[Descendants of Thomas Durfee by Charles L. Durfee - charlesldurfee.GED]

Orpha (Bennett) Durfee told her children that during the Revolutionary War, when she was about twelve years old, some British officers entered her parents house and a scuffle ensued in which she was thrown to the floor and her nose broken. Her name was also spelled Orpah.

When the U. S. 1810 census of Tiverton, Newport County, RI, was taken Captain William Durfee's family was 2 males under 10, 1 male 16-26, 1 male over 45, 1 female under 10, 1 female 10-16, and 2 females 26-45.

In his will dated April 16, 1818, and proved June 5, 1824, David Durfee, Jr. left " ... to grandsons Thomas Durfee and William Durfee sons of his son William Durfee (deceased) real estate bought of James Durfee, when they arrive at the age of 21, also $ 200.00 to be paid them, and they are to care for their widowed mother Orpha as long as she remains a widow. To son Joseph Durfee property and $ 500.00, to son David Durfee property and $ 1000.00, to son Wanton Durfee personal property and $ 1000.00, to daughter Ruth White silverware and $ 200.00, to Daughter Elizabeth Gray silverware and $ 250.00, To grandsons Thomas Cook and David Gray, son of Gideon Gray, $ 200.00 each when 21 years old. To grandsons Gideon Durfee, David Durfee, Edward Durfee, Nathaniel B. Durfee, and David Gray, son of John Gray, $ 50.00 each at 21. To granddaughters Abigail Gray and Mercy Durfee, daughter of Joseph, bedding, etc. ... ". Reed, incorrectly, says that David's will was dated April 16, 1816, and that William died January 24, 1815, but Beaman's Rhode Island Genealogical Register issue of October 1986, on page 132, states that it was dated April 16, 1818. Also in the Tiverton, Newport County, RI, Probate Book 8, page 59, dated March 1, 1819, a guardian was appointed for William's minor children. The Probate Court would not have waited from 1815, to 1819 to appoint a guardian unless his widow remarried and she did not.

When the U. S. 1820 census of Tiverton, Newport County, RI, was taken William was dead and Orpha's family was 1 male under 10, 1 male 10-16, 1 male 16-18, 1 male 16-26, 1 female 10-16, 1 female 16-26, and 1 female over 45. One person was engaged in agriculture.

When the U. S. 1830 census of Tiverton, Newport County, RI, was taken Orpah's family was 1 male 15-20, and 1 female 40-50. Her son Thomas was living nearby.

When the U. S. 1840 census of Tiverton, Newport County, RI, was taken Orpah's family was 1 male 20-30, and 1 female 60-70.

William Durfee was a mariner and the captain of a vessel engaged in the East India trade.

William and Orpha were both buried in Cemetery # 21 in Tiverton, Newport County, RI. It is located on the east side of Old Main Rd. on what was the farm of Joseph Durfee. From the research of Grace (Stafford) Durfee of Tiverton, Newport County, RI, 1950s. Reed states that Orpha died March 5, 1856, but the Newport, Newport County, RI, Deaths Book 4, page 11, says she died March 7, 1856. Her headstone is inscribed with the death date March 5, 1856. William's headstone states that he died January 24, 1815, age 55 years.

The Descendants of Thomas Durfee. William Field Reed. Washington, DC. Two Volumes. 1902 and 1905. Volume 1 Pages 219 and 363. ============================== End of Notes ==============================

Sources

• Find A Grave: Memorial #70897692

Orpah was born the 28th of September 1772 in Tiverton, Rhode Island. She was the daughter of John & Susanna Bennett..

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Sources

• "Rhode Island Births and Christenings, 1600-1914," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F8MR-W9K : 6 December 2014), Orpah Bennet, 28 Sep 1772; citing Tiverton, Newport, Rhode Island, reference 131; FHL microfilm 913,052.

• "Rhode Island Births and Christenings, 1600-1914," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F87K-HVN : 6 December 2014), Orpah Bennett, 28 Sep 1772; citing TIVERTON,NEWPORT,RHODE ISLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 908,270.