Benjamin (Pettengill) Pettingell (1761 - 1844)

Born 10 Dec 1761 in North Yarmouth, Cumberland, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Mercy (Briggs) Pettengill — married 17 Jul 1785 in North Yarmouth, Cumberland, Massachusetts, United States

Husband of Phebe (Barker) Pettengill — married 2 Nov 1795 in Turner, Cumberland, Massachusetts, United States

Descendants

Died 4 Oct 1844 at age 82 in Clarendon, Orleans, New York, United States

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Biography

• Fact: Christening (23 May 1762) North Yarmouth, Cumberland, Maine, United States
• Fact: Marriage Notice (16 April 1785) New Gloucester, Cumberland, Maine, United States
• Fact: Burial (October 1844) Pettingill Cemetery, Clarendon, Orleans, New York, United States

Military

On 8 May 1818, Benjamin Pettingill aged 56 years and resident of Genessee County, New York applied for a pension based on his service in the Revolution. H enlisted on 8 February 1781 in the District of Maine in the company commanded by Capt. Amos Cogswell under Col. Jackson of the 3rd Massachusetts regiment. He served until 23 December 1783 when he was discharged at West Point. He was at the Battle of Kingsbridge (3 July 1781). The file includes Benjamin’s certificate of honorable discharge dated 23 December 1783 signed by Maj. Gen. Knox.^[1]

Additional Information from Pension File

On 20 January 1829, Benjamin provided a lengthy statement related to his delayed response to the 1820 requirement that additional information be provided by pension holders related to their financial status. At that time, Benjamin was living in Clarendon, New York and was 67 years of age. He reported he exhibited his property in May 1820, but it was returned to him without explanation, and he did not know what was necessary for him to do. He declared he made the following changes to his property since 18 March 1818. He sold a lot of land in Wheatland, New York on 3 May 1826 for which he received eight hundred dollars. At the time of the sale, he was much in debt. In October (year not given but likely 1823) at the Court of Common Pleas at Batavia, Genessee County, a warrant was issued for the arrest of his son Amaziah for grand larceny. Amaziah protested his innocence and Benjamin believed him. Benjamin along with Benjamin G. Pettengill (likely Benjamin’s nephew who was also his son-in-law) entered into a five hundred-dollar recognizance (posted bond) that Amaziah would appear for trial. By the time of the trial, Amaziah had fled the county. As Amaziah could not be found, Benjamin and Benjamin G. were sued for the five hundred dollars along with the costs of the suit and a judgment of $540 was made against them. Benjamin provided information on the value of his current possessions which were a cow and household items. His household was his wife aged fifty-eight who was infirm, and a daughter aged twenty-five who nurses and cares for her mother. Benjamin was a farmer by profession and had no child to assist him other than his daughter.

Probate

In his will written 11 May 1840 (probate 16 December 1844), Benjamin Pettengill of Clarendon bequeathed to beloved wife Phebe all his property in Clarendon and his personal estate to be hers, forever. Phebe was named executrix.^[2]

Children

Benjamin had seven children, two with his first wife Mercy Briggs and five with his second wife Phebe Barker.^[3]

1. Mary "Polly"
2. Mercy
3. Hannah B.
4. Amaziah
5. Benjamin
6. Edward
7. Lucinda

Sources

1. ↑ U. S. Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, Case S43844
2. ↑ New York Probate, Orleans County, Wills Book 2, p 184
3. ↑ Elder and Young, A History of Lewiston, Maine, pp 284-285

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 31 December 2022, 02:47), entry for Benjamin Pettengill (PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:LZJJ-X65 ); contributed by various users.