Benjamin Kendrick

Ancestors

Husband of Anna (Funk) Kendrick — married 18 Oct 1785 in Frederick County, Virginia

Husband of Elizabeth (Hockman) Kendrick — married 21 Mar 1822 in Shenandoah County, Virignia

Descendants

Died 1829 in Frederick County, Virginia

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Biography

Notes

According to the will of Abraham Kendrick recorded in 1782 (see below), Benjamin Kendrick was the son of Abraham Kendrick.

No known contemporary records indicate Benjamin's mother. However, the contents of a chancery court case (see below) show that his father Abraham Kendrick had been married to Mary Weaver for probably at least ten years before 1763. Abraham Kendrick lived in Strasburg township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, through 1763. Records beginning in 1764 show Abraham Kendrick in Frederick County, Virginia. A deed dated 1769 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, shows Abraham Kendig of Frederick County, Virginia, selling land to Henry Weaver, and the document makes it clear that Abraham's wife at that time was Mary.

Given all evidence, Benjamin Kendrick's mother was likely Mary Weaver. Because Benjamin's birth year in unknown, the location of his birth is uncertain. He was likely born in either Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, before 1763 or Frederick County, Virginia, after 1764.

Probate Records of Father

Probate records from Shenandoah County, Virginia, include the will of Abraham Kendrick, written in November 1779 and recorded in December 1782. ^[1]

In the Name of God Amen I Abm Kendrick of Frederick County in the Commonwealth of Virginia being in perfect Health of body and of a sound mind & memory do make this my last Will & Testament as follows, In the first place I recommend my soul to God who gave it, and my body to the Earth to be buried in a decent Christian like manner at the discretion of my Executors, As to my worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with I do dispose thereof as follows in the first place I desire & direct that all my just debts & funeral Expenses be paid & discharged. Item. I give & bequeath to my well beloved wife Barbary all that plantation that I purchased of Saml Vance and all the appurtenances thereunto belonging to hold to her during her natural life and after he decease to be equally divided amongst all my children their Heirs & Assigns also one Feather Bed & Furniture, one Horse & two Cows of her own choice, Item. I give & bequeath to my well beloved son Jacob Kendrick that plantation whereon he now lives as I have laid it off for him according to a plat thereof made to hold to him his heirs & assigns forever also the Sum of Forty pounds Current money of Virginia, Item I give & bequeath to my well beloved son Abraham Kendrick the plantation whereon he now lives according to a Survey & Platt there off made for him to hold to him his Heirs & Assigns for ever also Forty pounds current money of Virginia, Item, I give & bequeath to my well beloved son Benjn Kendrick that Lott or plantation that I now live on being the middle Lott between my aforesaid sons Abraham & Jacobs Land to hold to him his Heirs & AssIgns forever also Forty pounds Current money of Virginia Item I give & bequeath unto my well beloved son Christopher Kendrick, the lower Lott at the point between the two Rivers, and also a Lott of Wood Land as I have laid them off for him according to plots thereof made to hold to him his Heirs & assigns for ever Also Forty pounds Current money of Virginia, Item, I give & bequeath to my well beloved daughter Catharine Six Hundred & Forty acres of Land the Tract which I purchased of Delingers Executors to hold to her, her heirs & assigns for ever but if I should have another child by my present Wife it is my Will that the above mentioned tract of Six-Hundred & Forty acres of Land should be equally divided between my said daughter Catharine & such Child & their heirs Item I do give & bequeath all the rest & residue of my personal Estate to be Equally divided between my wife and all my Children that is to say my wife to have a childs part. It is my Will & I do hereby direct that if any of my Children above named should die under age & without Lawful Issue his or her parts of the land shall be evenly divided among my surviving Sons and his or her part of the personal Estate among all my Surviving Children and if any of my Children shall die in my life time leaving Lawful Issue it is my will that the real & personal Estate hereby bequeathed to such Child shall go to his or her Issue in the same manner as if the same had [?] by my death in the life time of such child And I do Constitute & appoint my Friends Alex Hite & Philip Hufman Executors of this my last Will & Testament, and I do revoke all former & other Wills by me heretofore made In Witness where I have hereunto set my hand & seal this fifteenth day of November in the Year of our Lord One Thousand and Seven Hundred & Seventy Nine

Probate records from Shenandoah County, Virginia, include an inventory of the estate of Abraham Kendrick. ^[2]

Deed

A 1785 deed in Frederick County, Virginia, shows a sale by Benjamin Kendrick of Frederick County of 431 acres of land. The deed indicates that the land was bequeathed to Benjamin Kendrick in the will of his father Abraham Kendrick, deceased. The deed is dated 10 August 1785 and was recorded 6 December 1785. ^[3]

Record of First Marriage

A marriage record in Frederick County, Virginia, shows the marriage on 18 October 1785 of Benjamin Kendrick and Ann Funk. The marriage was reported by Simon Harr and recorded at Stovertown (Strasburg) on 9 October 1786.

The book The Backcountry Towns of Colonial Virginia, published in 2006, indicates that Simon Harr was a teacher hired by the Lutheran church in Strasburg. ^[4]

Petition and State Act

A petition dated 18 December 1800 shows the citizens of Frederick County and Shenandoah County requesting a ferry across the Shenandoah River from the land of Benjamin Kendrick to the land of Christian Stover. The petition includes the signature of Benjamin Kendrick. ^[5]

An act appearing in the Laws of Virginia, December 1800, and passed 5 January 1801, regards several ferries in Virginia, including Kendrick's ferry. ^[6]

Be it enacted by the general assembly, That ferries be constantly kept at the places hereafter mentioned, and at the rates annexed to each ferry … from the land of Benjamin Kendrick, across the south branch of Shenandoah river, to the lands of Christopher Stover, on the opposite shore, the price for a man five cents, and for a horse the same …

Tax Lists

Benjamin Kendrick is entered in an 1807 tax list for Frederick County, Virginia. He is listed next to Abraham Kendrick. The entry indicates 3 white males, 5 enslaved persons, and 12 horses.

Benjamin Kendrick is entered in an 1809 tax list for Frederick County, Virginia. The entry indicates 3 white males, 5 enslaved persons, and 15 horses.

Benjamin Kendrick is entered in an 1810 tax list for Frederick County, Virginia. The entry indicates 4 white males, 5 enslaved persons, and 17 horses.

Benjamin Kendrick is entered in an 1811 tax list for Frederick County, Virginia. The entry indicates 4 white males, 4 enslaved persons, and 17 horses.

Benjamin Kendrick is entered in an 1812 tax list for Frederick County, Virginia. The entry indicates 4 white males, 5 enslaved persons, and 18 horses.

Benjamin Kendrick is entered in an 1813 tax list for Frederick County, Virginia. The entry indicates 4 white males, 5 enslaved persons, and 17 horses.

Marriage Records of Daughter

A marriage bond in Frederick County, Virginia, dated 7 January 1813 shows Baylor Jacobs and John Kendrick bound for $150. The bond states "there is a Marriage shortly intended to be solemnized between the above bound Baylor Jacobs & Mary Kendrick, daughter of Benjamin Kendrick, of Frederick County. ^[7]

The newspaper Winchester Gazette included a report of the marriage. ^[8]

MARRIED … On Thursday the 14th inst. Mr. Baylor Jacobs, of Front Royal to Miss Mary Kendrick, daughter of Mr. Benjamin Kendrick, of this county.

1820 Census

The 1820 census shows the household of Benjamin Kendrick listed in Frederick County, Virginia. ^[9]

Record of Second Marriage

A compilation of marriage records from Shenandoah County, Virginia, shows the marriage on 21 March 1822 of Benj Kendrick and Eliz Artz, widow of John. ^[10]

Further research finds that his wife was born Elizabeth Hockman and was previously married to John Artz. Her father had died when she was young and thereafter her guardian had been Benjamin's father Abraham Kendrick.

Will

Probate records from Frederick County, Virginia, include the will of Benjamin Kinderick, written in October 1825 and proved on 6 October 1829. His widow was Elizabeth. Heirs also included his daughter Elizabeth, wife of Geroge Brinker; son Jacob; son Christopher; son John; son-in-law Baler Jacob; son-in-law John Stephenson; son Samuell. ^[11]

In the name of God Amen I Benjamin Kinderick of the County of Frederick and State of Virginia considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being sound & perfect mind and memory blessed by Almighty God for the same do make & publish this my last will & testament in manner and form following that is to say first I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Elizabeth one third part of all my real & personall estate for and during her natural life in manner the same as provided by Law in case no will was made I do also give & bequeath to her over & above said third part the choice of one negro among my slaves also the choice among my stock one horse & two cows. I have given to George Brinker & my daughter Elizabeth his wife in land & other property valued at two thousand & seven hundred dollars which is to be part of their legacee. I have also given to my three sons Jacob, Christopher & John each of their land valued at two thousand seven hundred dollars, for which I have made of them a deed, which is intended to be part of their legacee excepting John, which share & portion given to him is to be his full portion & legacee. I gave & paid to & for my son in law Baler Jacob three thousand dollars in part of which I received one hundred & fifty dollars which leaves a balance of two thousand eight hundred & fifty dollars which is to be part of their legacee. I gave to my son in law John Stephenson one negro slave valued at three hundred dollars. also I gave him [?] valued at fifty dollars which is to be part of their legacee. It is my will that my son Samuell is to have the plantation (or two thirds thereof) whereon I now live on the river, for and during the life of my wife Elizabeth, & after her decease him the said Samuell to have the whole plantation, which is to be valued, & if valued over and above an equal share & portion said Samuell to pay to all the other legatees (excepting John) to make them all equall; the land which I [purched?] of the widow [?] adjoining the River, [?] my interest therein I wish to be sold (with the personall property) after my decease & the money equally divided among all my children to make them all equall share & share (except before excepted). I hereby appoint my son Samuell & George Brinker executors of this my last will & testament, hereby revoking all former wills & testaments by me made In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the 25th day of October A D 1825

Sources

1. ↑ Probate record. Shenandoah County, Virginia. Will Book A, pages 467–69. Film # 007646185, images 266–67 of 594. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9PF-HX2P
2. ↑ Probate records. Shenandoah County, Virginia. Will Book A, pages 492–94. Film # 007646185, image 281 of 594. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9PF-HX5H
3. ↑ Deed. Frederick County, Virginia. Deed Book 21, pages 149–51. Film # 008190166, images 84–85 of 592. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSLD-19C8-X
4. ↑ The Backcountry Towns of Colonial Virginia. Christopher E. Hendricks. Published in 2006. Page 106. https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Backcountry_Towns_of_Colonial_Virgin/9af3Sm3hUpAC
5. ↑ Petition. Library of Virginia.Accession Number 36121, Box 81, Folder 61. http://rosetta.virginiamemory.com:1801/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE2641461
6. ↑ Laws of Virginia, December 1800. Chapter 24. Page 267. https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Statutes_at_Large_of_Virginia/OyhLsXkrztIC
7. ↑ Marriage bond. Frederick County, Virginia. Marriage Bonds, no. 10. Film #007578966, image 75 of 1021. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99XF-2BF8
8. ↑ Winchester Gazette. Winchester, Virginia. January 23, 1813. Page 3, column 4. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84025997/1813-01-23
9. ↑ 1820 United States Census. Frederick County, Virginia. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYYD-Z7L
10. ↑ Marriage record. Shenandoah County, Virginia. Film # 007579056, image 269 of 382. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9XF-CN7D
11. ↑ Probate record. Frederick County, Virginia. Will Book 15, pages 399–400. Film #007675998, images 481–82 of 538. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9TC-HS6L-6