Benjamin Forfitt

Born [date unknown] in England

Died 2 Mar 1773 in London, England

Biography

Benjamin was probably born about 1730, based on the date of his marriage to Jane in 1753.

On 14 March 1745 he took on Edward Rutt (abt.1731-1784) as an apprentice. Benjamin was described as a citizen and turner of London. Edward was the son of George Rutt, late citizen and clothworker of London. ^[1].

In 1749, he was a member of the nonconformist congregation that met at Weighhouse where Rev W Langford was the minister. He was living in Leadenhall Street and was a dealer in canes ^[2]

On 7th January 1761, Benjamin Forfitt of Leadenhall Street, Caneman, gave evidence at the court held at the Hospital of the Bridewell, against 4 women who were loose idle and Disorderly Persons and Common Night Walkers Apprehended Shelling about the Streets and Endeavouring to Pick up Men for the Purposes of Lewdness and other Immoral Practices. ^[3]

Benjamin was listed in the Orphan Working School, Hoxton's "Plan" published in1769, and was shown as Benjamin Forfitt, as a governor for life on page 28.

Benjamin was included in the 1812 edition of the Dissenting Academy at Homerton list of contributors between Christmas 1770 and Christmas 1775, page 21, and was shown as Mr Benjamin Forfitt who donated £200 3 per Cents. and a part of the residue of his estate, after the deaths of his widow and brother, which eventually produced £966.13s.4d 3 per Cent Annuities, and Cash £15.16s.4d.

He passed away in 2nd March 1773, according toa paragraph in his brother Thomas's will ^[4]

He was buried on 9th March 1773 according to deceasedonline ^[5] but the source for this has not been found.

Formation of the Society for Promoting Religious Knowledge among the Poor

The Society was founded by a group of London based dissenters, led by Benjamin Forfitt (-1773), who had been sending Bibles to Philip Doddridge (1702-1751) in the year before. Thomas Gibbons (1720-1785) hosted their first meeting and became a keen supporter.

Although their origins were in the dissenting community, their membership was interdenominational and included many from the evangelical wing of the Church of England. ^[6]

Of interest for genealogists is the list of supporters of the Society, which were included in their annual reports, some of which still exist. These provide many hundreds of names from the dissenting and Anglican evangelical community. See Society for Promoting Religious Knowledge among the Poor for details^[7]

Will of Benjamin Forfitt

The will of Will of Benjamin Forfitt, Turner of Leadenhall Street , City of London was proved on 02 June 1773 ^[8]

The will is reproduced in full because it names so many family members, friends, ministers and charities he chose to support.

In the name of God, Amen I Benjamin Forfill Citizen and Turner of Leadenhall Street London being thro Gods goodness of sound and well disposing mind and memory do make this my last will and testament revoking all others My immortal spirit I humbly and seriously commend to God my Creator and Redeemer whom I have truly and sincerely tho (unclear) imperfectly loved and served looking with heartful hope for the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ unto life eternal my body I commit to the care of my friends to be buried in a plain and unexpensive manner and worldly effects which a kind (unclear) providence has bestowed upon me after my just debts are paid I bestow as follows (latin phrase) I give to my dearly beloved wife and faithful companion Jane Forfitt the sum of five hundred pounds with all the household furniture plate linen and wearing apparel Then I give to my beloved brother Thomas Forfitt sixty pounds and I do hereby constitute and appoint my said wife Jane and my said Brother Thomas Forfitt executrix and executor of this my last will and testament Then I give to my brother and sister in law James and Mary Brown or the survivor of them twenty five pounds and to my sister in law Catherine Stevens the wife sum of twenty five pounds for which her receipt alone shall be sufficient discharge Then I give to my faithful and diligent servant Thomas Mead fifty pounds Then I give to Mary Wilson of Camomile Street ten guineas I also give to Lydia Osbourne twenty pounds to be laid out for her use and benefit when and as my executors shall see fit to them I give to the Rev Langford to the Rev M Demor (?) his assistant to the Rev Dr Gibbons of Hoxton Square to the Rev Mr Palmer of Hackney to Mr and Mrs Dornford of Philpott Lane London rings of one guinea worth each in token of my cordial friendship and esteem as also to my wife’s beloved friends Alexander Dunran Esq. of Birchanger Essex and his wife ten guineas each And my will is that after my debts and legacies are paid all the rest of my effects of what kindsoever and wheresoever be disposed of in the best manner and the monies arising from the sale from the sale thereof be invested as soon as may be in three per cent bank annuities except so much as may be placed in the public funds during my life which with whatsoever shall be added thereto I give to my wife Jane Forfitt my brother Thomas Forfitt Alexander Duncan Esq and Mr Josiah Dornford aforesaid in trust that all the interest arising therefrom be paid to my beloved wife Jane as the same shall become due for her own proper use and benefit during the term of her natural life after whose decease I devise my said trustees or the survivor or survivors of them to sell so much as the aforesaid annuities as many be sufficient to pay the following legacies First I desire my friends Alexander Dunran Esq and Mr Josiah Dornford to accept of twenty guineas each as a further token of my esteem and friendship Then I give to my cousins Mary Forfitt Elizabeth Forfitt and Mary Bradbury (now of Stoney Stafford Bucks and my cousin William Forfitt of Uppingham Apothecary ten guineas each and to my cousin Fanny Rivers of Tottenham Court Road ten guineas Also I give to the treasurer for the time being of the Society for Promoting Religious Knowledge among the Poor usually meeting at Founders Hall Lothbury fifty pounds for the use of the said charity Also my will is that after these several legacies are paid that my Brother Thomas Forfitt do receive and enjoy all the interest from the remaining annuities for his own use and benefit during his natural life after whose decease I give to Rev Dr Langford and his successors and to the deacons of the dissenting congregation at the Kings Weighthouse East Cheap Two Hundred three p ct Annuities in trust for ever to be applied for the more comfortable maintenance of the pastor thereof for the time being Also I give to the treasurer and managers of the dissenters charity school in Bartholomew Close two hundred 3 p ct annuities for ever in trust to be applied to the use of the said charity Also I give to the president and treasurer of the Dissenters Orphan School now or late at Hoxton near Moorfields two hundred three p ct annuities for ever in trust for the use of the said charity Also I give to the treasurer and managers of the Society meeting at the Kings Head in the Poultry London for the education and maintenance of young men designed for the ministry of the Gospel of Christ the like sum of two hundred three p ct annuities in trust for their said use for ever And my will is that if there should be any deficiency… (technical paragraph about dividing any surplus or deficit) Also my will is that my brother Thomas Forfitt do enjoy whatever profits may arise after my decease from the will of Mr Oxenbridge Harwood Deceased during his natural life without being accountable for the same upon his faithful promise that something nearly equivalent thereto shall revert to my wife if she shall happen to survive him Dated Nov 8 1772 and set forth as my last will and testament

Nov 13th 1772 Then I give unto Mary Wilsonore (unclear) ten guineas.

The will and codicil was proved on 2nd June 1773 with the appearance of Edward Rutt (abt.1731-1784), of the parish of Stepney in the county of Middlesex Broker and Thomas Mead of the parish of Saint Andrew Undershaft London Gentleman (who sworn that they recognised his writing)

Research Note

This profile was originally created by the History of Nonconformists in London, England and surrounding counties topic team.

Sources

1. ↑ Edward Rutt's apprenticeship, Ancestry
2. ↑ The Christian's companion in the narrow way. (n.d.). United Kingdom: (n.p.). Accessed from Google Books https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Christian_s_companion_in_the_narrow/RNgEAAAAQAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=benjamin+forfitt+leadenhall+street&pg=RA2-PA77&printsec=frontcover accessed by Trevor Pickup on 30 Sept 2022]]
3. ↑ Bridewell Royal Hospital: Minutes of the Court of Governors BR | MG 7th January 1762 - 15th March 1781 London Lives website https://www.londonlives.org/browse.jsp?div=BBBRMG20208MG202080033 accessed by Trevor Pickup on 28th Sept 2022]]
4. ↑ Will of Thomas Forfitt, Stationer of Saint Luke , Middlesex Page 4 of 6 National Archives PROB-11-1098-339.pdf https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D435874 accessed by Trevor Pickup on 3rd October 2022]]
5. ↑ https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/5854966:70845?tid=&pid=&queryId=5576626893ee90e1c3bf3204afbbea06&_phsrc=iCL427&_phstart=successSource
6. ↑ Isabel Rivers (2007) THE FIRST EVANGELICAL TRACT SOCIETY. The Historical Journal, 50, pp1-22 doi: 10.1017/S0018246X06005899 accessed by Trevor Pickup on 27th Sept 2022]]
7. ↑ Society for Promoting Religious Knowledge among the Poor
8. ↑ National Archives https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D451856 PROB 11/988/258 accessed and transcribed by Trevor Pickup on 30th Sept 2022]]