Benjamin Severence (1654 - 1717)

Born 13 Jan 1654 in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Lynch) Severence — married 1680 in Long Island, New York

Descendants

Died 22 May 1717 at age 63 in Newtown, Queens, New York Colony

Biography

BENJAMIN SEVERANCE SEVERNS (1654-1717) SON OF IMMIGRANT JOHN

1654-- Benjamin Severance of Salisbury, MA born 13 January 1654. Jacobus Vol. 1 stated that indications are that the Severance family was from Gill, MA.

1665--Benjamin Severance listed in his brother's will of 1665.

Some of the Inhabitants of New Towne on Long Island New Towne Patent, November 25, 1666

Benjamin Sufferns

Apr. 1673 at the Salisbury quarterly court. Robert Downer, Henry Ambross, Joseph True and Joseph Severans, for taking cider to the house of Ben. Collins of Dec. 25 last in the evening, causing much disorder, were fined. Robert Downer, Joseph True, Benjamin Severans, Ruth Whittier, Tho. Eaton, Jno, Eaton, Eliza and Jabez Bradbury Clem. Jerman, Henry Ambross and Susan, his wife, Joseph Severans and Elizabeth Eaton were fined for disturbance at Ben Collins', Jno. Bradbury being freed on account of giving the evidence.

1674--From quarterly Courts of Essex County, MA, Vol. 5, October 1674, page 403 or 408: "Benjamin Severns forfeited his bond for appearance to answer to fornication with Martha Lamson." (Benjamin would have been age 20 at the time)

1675 -- Benjamin does not appear on the 1675 rateables (tax list?) of Newtown, Long Island, NY.

November 26, 1678 Court record in Newtown NY on Long Island, Benamine Severns was a defendant in an acction with John Write being the plaintiff. per Transcriptions of early town records of New York Minutes of the Town Courts of Newtown 1656-1690 Printed August 1940 by the Historical Records Survey Which was a WPA project. Found in the Genealogical Library in Salt Lake City.

Did not get date of court but is between Nov. 26 1678 and May 4th 1681 Beniamin Severns being Eximined & sworne saith that: this deponent being att work att Goodman bourroughs house: that Caleb Carman of Jemecoe (Jamaica?) Cam. thether soe Calebe had some decors with (struckthrough and replaced with)there with dockter John Greenefelid about a boy of the said Caleb; and in concluesen the sd dockter did In Jade to Cure the boy for the vallue of ten pounds: but only he would have forty shilling In hand and If he did not Cure him he would Returne the sd Carman shis Mony a Gayne And he did alsoe Indage to Cure him In a month time If he did not then he doe as is a fore saide to Returne the Mony and further saith not Minutes of the Town Courts of Newtown 1656-1690 Printed August 1940 by the Historical Records Survey Which was a WPA project. Found in the Genealogical Library in Salt Lake City.

Abt 1680--"The research, although incomplete, tend to indicate that his Benjamin was a son of John and Abigail Severans. Benjamin Severns probably married (first) to Elizabeth Lynch who was born February 24, 1661/62 at Branford, CT. Benjamin Severns signed the will of Jonathan Strickland at Long Island, NY. (Jonathan Strickland would be his wife's grandfather) (Jacobus Vol. 1)

Court Held November the 7th 1682 Thomas Wandall counstable John woollston Craft pll: Enters an acction of debt against benimine Severns def: Was referred to the next court Minutes of the Town Courts of Newtown 1656-1690 Printed August 1940 by the Historical Records Survey Which was a WPA project. Found in the Genealogical Library in Salt Lake City.�� 1683 -- Benjamin does not appear on the 1683 tax list of Newtown, Long Island, NY. However Benjamin Severns is included in the 1686 Dongan patent for Newtown.

26 March 1686: Thomas Pettit and Hannah his wife sold land to Benjamin Severns which had belonged to John Moore "on behalf of John Moor our son, she being the wife and relict of John Moor." (from Town Minutes of Newtown, NY)

In old documents, Benjamin is most often spelled Benimine. Jonathan Strickland sold to Benimine (Benjamin) Severns land called by the name of Hempstead swamp about 10 acres bounded by the land of Gershom Moor and Thomas Robason; dated 25 March and witnessed by Theophilus Phillips, John Reeder; signed by Jonathan Strickland with his mark with the consent of Margrett (Margaret) Strickland his wife.

26 March 1686: Benimine Severns and Elizabeth his wife sign over to Thomas Pettit in behalf of his son-in-law John Moore, land on 26 March 1686; witnessed by Gershom Moore and Theophilus Phillips. (from Town Minutes of Newtown, NY)

December 1, 1686 Evidenc ghe Given In by benimine severns Concen ......A deferanc be twen Luck depaw and Thimothy plom saith that when the Marshall went to arest the Coles the sd Timothy did say that ...... had to small Kills of Cole a burning and fu..... saith not John woollstone Craft doth testify to th bove sd Evedenc and to the truth ther of .... further saith not

26 March 1686: "Know all men by these present that we, Benjamin Severns and Elizabeth his wife being the daughter of Gabriel Lynch, deceased, do fully and absolutely acknowledge to have really and fully received full satisfaction of our father-in-law Jonathan Strickland's part in land and part in other things in or concerning our father Lynch's estate; therefore we do freely acquit and discharge the said Jonathan his heirs and/or assigns from us our heirs or assigns forever and do owns to be fully satisfied for the same as witness our hands and seals this 26th day of March 1686. Signed, sealed, delivered in the presence of Theophilus Phillips and John Reeder, Benimine Severns, and Elizabeth Severns.

6 April 1687: Benimin (Benjamin) Severns was a witness to a statement by Johannis Lorisone.

1689 -- From David Blackwell 8/31/98: "He (Benjamin Severns) held his two offices in 1689, under the Leisler administration: that of Newtown's Constable and Queens County deputy sheriff. Later as a pounds keeper he would have earned fees for keeping stray animals for his neighbors."

1689 -- Benjamin Severens retained his place as constable being at this time deputy sheriff of Queens County.

13 April, 1692 John Firman and Benjamin Severns, both of Newtown sold 40 acres that bounded land of on the west side of William Alburtis to Mr. William Creed of Jamaica, (LI). One of the witnesses was Richard Betts.

1698--the 1698 NY census shows Benjamin Seavernes as head of a four member family. (Ogorman)

Before 1704--Evidently Benjamin's first wife Elizabeth Lynch died and Benjamin, age 50, remarried someone named Mary.

1704--Benjamin Severns, Tailor, of Newtown, NY 22 April 1704. Whole estate to his son John and my wife Mary and she was his sole executrix. Witnesses: Benjamin Cornish, Ralph Hait, and William Gleane. Probated 22 May 1717.

1711---From The Severance Genealogy: "Benjamin is listed on an imperfect list of "pound-keepers" in Newtown, NY village. The records kept from that date up to the Revolution, show Benjamin Severens, dated 2-4-1711. His widow kept the pound after his death.

15 January 1715/16---Page 143 mentions the will of Edward Hunt of Newtown, Hunterdon County, that the property be divided in the presence of Benjamin Severns...."to son Edward Hunt the land he now lives on in Hunterdon County...to son Richard the land he now lives on in Hunterdon County, as divided between him and his brother Edward; to son Thomas the house and land I now live on, as divided between him and his brother Jonathan in the presence of James Renne and Nathanial Hazard, with a piece of salt meadow as already divided in the presence of BENJAMIN SEVERNS, James Burroughs, and Benjamin Comforth...."

22 May 1717--Benjamin has died (age 63); his will was probated 22 May 1717. Long Island source records. His entire estate went to his son John, and Benjamin's wife Mary was the sole executrix.

NEWTOWN, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK This original community made its contribution to New Jersey settlers, and several familiar names are to be found in the early records there, which later graced the activities of Piscataway and Woodbridge, most notable of which is that certain RICHARD SMITH in Newtown, 1682, when he removed to Woodbridge and Piscataway. It has been most difficult to trace his ancestry, because of the many Richard and other Smith families on Long Island, particularly at Smithtown. Newtown embraces the north-western part of Queens County. The eastern portion of the town was known to natives by the name of WANDOWENOCK, DOWENOCK, while the western was called MISPAT, or MESPETH, the latter being probably the appelation applied to a family of Indians residing about the head of a creek called the "English Kills." The settlement was begun about 1656. Freeholders of NEWTOWN in 1686 Thomas Stephenson Gershom Moore Jonathan Hazard Daniel Bloomfield Caleb Leverich Joseph Sackett Robert Field Thomas Petit John Gray Robert Field, jun. John Smith Josiah Furman George Wood Nathan Fish Edward Hunt Jeremiah Burroughs Richard Betts William Hallett Samuel Hallett Hendrick Martensen Robert Blackwell John Pearsall Joris Stevenson Thomas Skillman John Johnson Richard Alsop John Denman Henry Mayle John Reed Joseph Phillips Francis Way John Wilson Moses Petit John Furman Content Titus Lambert Woodward Joseph Reeder Jeremiah Reeder Nathaniel Woodward John Bull John Wood

Thomas Morrell Theophilus Phillips Roeloff Peterson Benjamin Severance Jacob Leonardson Luke Depaw Nathaniel Petit James Hayes Richard Owen Peter Bockout Thomas Betts John Alburtis James Way Cornelis Jansen Jacob Reeder John Morrell Elias Doughty Thomas Lawrence William Lawrence William Hallett, jun. Samuel Ketcharm John Ramsden Rynier Willemsen John Harrison John Coe Joseph Burroughs William Osborne Thomas Robertson Benjamin Cornish Francis Combs John Allen John Rosell Engeltie Burger Stephen Jorissen John Lawrence Thomas Wandell John Kirtshaw Jonathan Strickland Gershom Hazzard Henry Sawtell.

Richard Kimball had a servant John Laverick who came with him in the Elizabeth. There was a Laverick in New Town that could have been asso with Benjamin Severns, grandson of Richard Kimball.

Calendar of state papers: colonial series, America and West Indies, 1574- By Great Britain. Public Record Office, Sir John William Fortescue 740. n. Copy of the will of Thomas Wandall, Jan. 12, 1688. 2 pp. Endorsed, Reed. Nov. 22, 1699. 740. in. Copy of the declaration of Theophilus Phillips, who drew Wandall's will upon his deathbed, as to the intention of the deceased. The words " goods and chatties " were intended to devise all his estate real and personal to his wife. 1 p. Same endorsement. 740. iv. Copy of an affidavit of Jonathan Hazard about Wandall's will, f 7). Same endorsement. 740. v. Copy of an affidavit of Benjamin Seavern about Wandall's will, f p. Same endorsement. 740. vi. Copy of an affidavit of John Lawrence, about Wandall's will, f p. Same endorsement. 740. vn. Copy of an affidavit of Thomas Codrington, about Wandall's will, f p. Same endorsement. 740. vni. Copy of an affidavit of Johannes Lowerson, about Wandall's will. 1 p. Same endorsement. 740. ix. Copy of an affidavit of Johannes Lowerson, about Wandall's will. J p. Same endorsement. 740. x. Copy of an affidavit of Susannah Elliot about Wandall's will. J p. Same endorsement.

Sources

• Personal research with credit to Alice Severns
• Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts. Volumes 1--9, Published 1911--1921. These volumes are indexed and I have been through each one looking for Severans/Severence etc. They can be found on archive.org and Family Search, although most of my original works was done in various genealogy libraries
• The annals of Newtown, in Queens County, New York : containing its history from its first settlement, together with many interesting facts concerning the adjacent towns; also, a particular account of numerous Long Island families … By James Riker
• Town Minutes of Newtown Vol 1 and Vol 2 Can be found on Google Books