Benjamin Giles (1717 - abt. 1787)

Born 1717 in Groton, Connecticut [uncertain]

Descendants

Died about Nov 1787 at about age 70 in Newport, New Hampshire

Profile manager: Hollis Bartlett [send private message]

Biography

The first record we found for Benjamin Giles is in Groton, Connecticut. Here he married Martha Geer. Three births are recorded in the Groton records to Benjamin and Martha. In 1750, he was involved with a group including Isaac Tracy, the probable father of his second wife Ruth. In January, 1768, he married Ruth Tracy in Norwich, Connecticut. Ruth Giles was born in December 1768. Ruth Tracy Giles died soon afterwards. Benjamin was an early settler of Newport, New Hampshire. More about Benjamin Giles can be found in the History of Newport New Hampshire by Wheeler:

"Benjamin Giles, one of the early settlers, said to have been an Irishman by birth, came from Groton, Conn., and was during his life the leading man, not only of the town, but of this section of the state. He was a man of wealth and education beyond most of the early settlers. He was a devoted patriot. During the Revolution he was an important member of the provincial councils of the state; and during almost the entire Revolutionary struggle he was a delegate to the various conventions or, as they were then called, "provincial congresses," which met to devise means for carrying on the war, and forming plans of government. He was a member of the convention which formed the first constitution of the state; was a member of the commission to settle the difficulties in regard to the boundary between Massachusetts and New Hampshire. It is said that he was imprisoned, by authority of His Majesty, for seditious acts, but when it was evening he was rescued by a band of patriots dressed in female attire. He was a representative, in 1775 and 1776, of six then classes towns in this vicinity; he was also a member of the state senate, and was elected to the council. When this town seceded from New Hampshire, in March, 1782, he was elected a delegate to the general assembly of Vermont, which was to meet at Windsor. He erected the first grist- and saw-mill in town. He died Nov., 1787, aged 70 years. His sister (daughter?) Mary married Christopher Newton. Mr. Giles had a family, an account of which we have been unable to obtain. One of his daughters, Hannah, married Isaac Newton; and another, Ruth, married Rev. Abijah Wines; both r. in town."

We have been unable to determine with any certainty the parents of Benjamin. There were Giles families in Boston, Maine (Kennybunkport) and Long Island. Further research may find a connection to this Benjamin.

Sources

• Research by Becky Syphers.

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