Benoni (Mecrist) Mackcrest (abt. 1656 - 1690)

Born about 1656 in Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Husband of Lydia (Fifield) Mackrest — married 12 Sep 1681 in Salisbury, New Hampshire

Descendants

Died 7 Aug 1690 at about age 34 in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

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Biography

Benoni Mecrist /Mackrest was born about 1656 in Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony. His parents were Daniel Mecrist and Sarah Dawes.^[1][2]

The given name Benoni means "son of my sorrow" and at the time was often used for illegitimate male births. Daniel and Sarah were unmarried indentured servants to John Wyman of Woburn, and they were twice brought into court and convicted of fornication, with Sarah likely pregnant each time. In court Daniel finally admitted that he was already married, having been separated from his wife and children in Scotland seven years ago (about 1649). Sarah married John Craggen in 1661, and John and Sarah probably raised Benoni and his sister Mary. John was a Scottish prisoner of war, and arrived on the "John and Sara" in 1651. Daniel and Sarah are thought to have arrived in New England on the same ship that John was on, but this has not been proven.

Benoni married Lydia Fifield, daughter of William, on 12 July 1681, in Woburn.^[3][4]

Benoni and Lydia had children, all born in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony:^[5]

1. Samuel (1682-1682) ^[6]
2. Joseph (1683) ^[7]
3. Benjamin (1685) ^[8], married Sarah Dole
4. Lydia (1687) ^[9], married Benjamin Perkins
5. Mary (1690) ^[10], married Stephen Greenleaf

Benoni died on 7 August 1690, in Salisbury.^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L979-SLN?cc=2061550&wc=Q4DW-N36%3A353350601%2C353362601%2C1006229001 : 20 May 2014), Middlesex > County records > County court records 1649-1663 vol 1 > image 68 of 169; town clerk offices, Massachusetts. Vol. 1:113-114.
2. ↑ Barbara J. Mathews, "Francis(2) and Sarah (Craggen) Nurse of Reading, Mass.", The American Genealogist Vol. 69(1994):81-85) citing David W. Hoyt, Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury, Mass., 3 vols. [Providence RI, 1897-1919] 1:235-36) (Link by $ubscription to AmericanAncestors.org.)
3. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHVV-SZF : 20 May 2022), Lidiah Fyfield in entry for Benony Maerest or Macrest, 12 Jul 1681; citing Marriage, Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 007011120.
4. ↑ New England Marriages to 1700. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015. TEXT: MACKREST/MACREST, Benoni (-1690) & Lydia FIFIELD; 12 Sep 1681; Woburn/Salisbury (GDMNH has Macrease) {Salisbury Fam. 239; TAG 15:220; Snow-Estes 1:83; Evans (1940) 104; Reg. 8:159}; [1]
5. ↑ Vital Records from the New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (Compiled from articles originally published in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register.) https://www.americanancestors.org/DB522/i/21072/159/1427109242
6. ↑ "Massachusetts Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FH11-HTP : 17 January 2020), Benony Macrest in entry for Samuel Macrest, 1682.
7. ↑ "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FC3V-YBK : 15 January 2020), Benony Macrest in entry for Joseph Macrest, .
8. ↑ "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FC3K-WYB : 15 January 2020), Benony Mackrest in entry for Benjamin Mackrest, .
9. ↑ "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHL1-83Y : 15 January 2020), Benony Mackrest in entry for Lidia Mackrest, 1687.
10. ↑ "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHL1-DMH : 15 January 2020), Benony Mackrest in entry for Mary Mackrest, 1690.
11. ↑ "Massachusetts Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:2:MDRP-11Q : 17 January 2020), Entry for Benony Mackrest, 1690.

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