Benjamin Parkhurst (abt. 1647 - 1683)

Born about 1647 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Martha (Homan) Parkhurst — married 1673 in Elizabethtown, Essex, New Jersey

Descendants

Died 10 Mar 1683 at about age 36 in Union, Elizabeth Township, Essex, New Jersey [uncertain]

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Biography

Benjamin Parkhurst was born in 1647 at Boston, Suffolk Co., MA, and died in 1683 at Elizabethtown, Essex Co., NJ/NY. Benjamin, occupation joiner, married Martha Homan in 1675 at Elizabethtown, Essex Co., NJ/NY. Benjamin was the son of George Parkhurst and his second wife Susanna Unknown Simson.

It is unknown if Benjamin accompanied his mother and other siblings when they returned to London, or if he remained behind. If he returned to London with his mother, he must have returned to the Colonies as indicated in the notes below.

Notes

Notes for Benjamin Parkhurst: Benjamin was either the first or second son of George and second wife, Susanna. He was born either in Watertown, MA or more probably in Boston between 1645 and 1648. If he was taken back to England by his mother, he apparently returned as a young man to his American brothers and sisters and then migrated to New Jersey. Benjamin's half-brother, George, Jr., wrote to his "cousin Bashelder" on 25 June 1669 requesting payment to Benjamin of five pounds of the 20 pounds which would be due George, Jr. from his legacy from his Aunt Ruth Dalton. This letter shows that Benjamin was probably in New England and was in contact with at least some of his Parkhurst half-siblings, and lends further support to the identity of the Benjamin Parkhurst in New Jersey the next year.

Benjamin is on record as being in Woodbridge, NJ about 1670. He was one of the first settlers of Woodbridge. He exchanged his properties at Woodbridge on 8 Aug 1672, with Claude Vallot of Elizabethtown, and became a permanent resident of Elizabethtown. He was appointed Lieutenant of the Company of Foot on 22 March 1679/80, and was listed as Justice of the Peace on 4 February 1682/3, Judge of Small Causes on 28 March 1683, and Captain of the Company on 3 December 1683.

When he died, about February 1683/4, the inventory of his estate established a value of 188 pounds16 shillings.

On the other hand the Early New England Families Study Project, in the profile for Benjamin's father George Parkhurst, argues against the hypothesis that Benjamin, the son of George, is identical with Benjamin Parkhurst of Woodbridge.^[1] The argument is based on the discrepancy in social status between George of Massachusetts and Benjamin of New Jersey.

Sources

1. ↑ Early New England Families Study Project, George Parkhurst (ca. 1588 - 1669) $ubscription required.

See also:

• William G. Parkhurst, "The Parkhurst Family Journal," Jan. 1995; e-newsletter, archived (http://parkhurstfamily.org) : accessed 11 June 2016.

• New Jersey, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1643-1890 Benjamin* Parkhursh[Benjamin* Parkhurst] State: NJ County: Essex County Township: Elizabethtown Year: 1685 Page: 238 http://search.ancestry.com/collections/3562/records/18383688

• History of Union County, New Jersey, 1664-1923 Section: Vol. I. Chapter VII. Under the Dutch rule p 57 https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/11426

Acknowledgements

• This person was created through the import of Weaver.ged on 03 January 2011.