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Benjamin Rush Jr. (1718 - 1801)

Benjamin Rush Jr.
Born in Westmoreland County, Colony of Virginiamap
Ancestors ancestors
Son of and
Brother of , , , , , and
Husband of — married 1 Apr 1744 in Overwharton Parish, Stafford County, Colony of Virginiamap
Husband of — married 26 May 1773 in Bute, North Carolinamap
Descendants descendants
Father of , , , , , , , , , and
Died at age 83 in Cape Fear River, Franklin County, North Carolina, USAmap
Problems/Questions Profile managers: Liz Shifflett private message [send private message], Alan Condit private message [send private message], Hulett Durrough private message [send private message], and Paul Rush private message [send private message]
Profile last modified | Created 28 Oct 2011
This page has been accessed 4,007 times.

Contents

Biography

1776 Project
Benjamin Rush Jr. performed Patriotic Service in North Carolina in the American Revolution.
Betsy Ross Flag
Benjamin Rush is an American Patriot (see sources below)
Daughters of the American Revolution
Benjamin Rush Jr. is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A100013.

Benjamin Rush was born February 3, 1717 (Old Style; New Style: February 17, 1718)[1]

Benjamin Rush married Alice Grigsby on 1 April 1744 (recorded in the Overwharton Parish Register, Stafford Co., Virginia)[2]

Birth year note: Previous birth information was "1715 in Westmoreland County, Virginia." Location needs verification. By 1722, Benjamin Rush Sr. was living with his wife Amy on James Elkins' land in Brunswick Parish, King George County, Virginia. James (Amy's first husband) died March 1716/17.[3]

This Benjamin Rush (Jr.) was the father of Anne Rush and guardian of Robert Peyton, Captain Valentine Peyton's son.[4] Benjamin's wife was Alice[5] - believed by descendants to be Alice Grigsby. In January 1784, he made a deed of gift to his "daughter, Ann Peyton, of same [Franklin County, North Carolina]." William Rush was a witness. Robert and Ann (Rush) Peyton may have moved to North Carolina as early as 1765 or 66. In 1765, they sold or transferred a lot of Virginia land left to Robert by his father; a 1767 deed, concerning land left to him and his brothers, did not include his signature.[6]

Will Abstract for Benjamin Rush

April 28, 1801, Chatham County, North Carolina Wills and Inventories[7]

  • wife, Elizabeth Rush[8][9]
  • son, William Rush[8][10]
  • daughter, Ann Peyton[8]
  • daughter, Elizabeth Terrell[8]
  • children of Susana Brooks[8]
  • daughter, Alice Devaney[8]
  • Francis Waddell[8]
  • Mary Williams[8]
  • Amy Stringfellow[8]
  • son, Benjamin Rush[8]
  • three daughters, Ruth, Judie and Elizabeth[8]

In an old Bible record, according to his son, William Rush: "Benjamin Rush Junior, my father, died upon Cape Fear River on the 23rd of May 1801, age 86."[11][12]

Research Notes

One WikiTree profile (Rush-557) had that Benjamin died in Franklin County, North Carolina. Another (Rush-4339) had Cape Fear, Craven, Franklin County.

DAR records for Benjamin Rush[13] have his birth in Virginia in 1715 and his death:

5-23-1801 CAPE FEAR RIVER CHATHAM CO NORTH CAROLINA

Also included in the records are 2 wives, first Alice Grigsby and second Elizabeth x, as well as a daughter Mary (1763-1800), m Benjamin Williams in 1783.[14]

Family with Elizabeth: Some researchers note that Benjamin who married Alice Grigsby had two daughters named Elizabeth and two sons named Benjamin - the second of both by his wife Elizabeth, named in his 1801 will (which names both daughter Elizabeth Terrell and another daughter Elizabeth).

This is supported by the land record from the November 1842 session of Chatham County Court, which details the division of land that was the dower of Elizabeth Rush and land willed by Benjamin to Benjamin Jr. Elizabeth died 15 April 1841 and "the aforesaid lands became the property of Joseph Avent and Micajah T. Hawkins jr, alias Joseph Hawkins heir at law of Col Joseph Hawkins dec’d in the following manner..." The heir at law was under age, as the division document, dated 23 September 1842, was signed by his guardian Micajah T. Hawkins Senr. The record notes that Benjamin Jr. "died before he arrived at lawfull age" and "his three sisters Ruth, Judith and Elizabeth became the heirs to the said land, and by legal conveyance from time to time the said Joseph Avent is entitled to two-thirds of the same, and Micajah T. Hawkins jun alias Joseph Hawkins is entitled to the other third of said lands...." The record shows that "the parties have this day employed the said Nathaniel Clegg to run off and survey said lands with a view to such division, they having first agreed upon the corners and quantities each party should have...."[15]

Wife Elizabeth and siblings Benjamin, Ruth, Judith and Elizabeth:
  • Elizabeth (Perry?) Ruth, wife named in Benjamin Rush's1801 will,[8] living in 1821,[16] died "about the 15th day of April 1841"[17]
  • Benjamin Rush, born after 1780 (named in his father's 1801 will),[8] died before 1821[16]
  • Ruth Rush, born after 1780 (named in his father's 1801 will),[8] "Ruthy" Christian in 1821 (wife of Hardy Christian)[16]
  • Judie Rush, born after 1780 (named in his father's 1801 will),[8] "Judith Avent" in 1821[16] (wife of Joseph Avent, mother of Glover Avent)[18]
  • Elizabeth Rush, born after 1780 (named in his father's 1801 will),[8] "Elizabeth Perkins" in 1821[16] (wife of James Perkins)[18]

Locations

  • 1715 birth in Westmoreland County, Virginia
    • Prince William County (sometimes given as birth location), was not formed until 1730/31 (from King George and Stafford counties); Westmoreland County was formed from Northumberland County in 1653 and Stafford County was formed from Westmoreland County in 1664[19]
  • 1744 marriage to Alice Grigsby in Overwharton Parish, Stafford County, Virginia
    • Overwharton Parish, formed about 1702, served Stafford County from 1702 to after 1785. In 1776, the boundary between King George and Stafford Counties was altered, Overwharton began serving both counties.[20]
    • Overwharton Parish and Prince William County: When Prince William County was formed from Stafford County in 1731, all of Hamilton Parish went to Prince William County. Hamilton Parish was formed in 1730 and served Stafford County from 1730 until the formation of Prince William County, which it served until 1769. When Fauquier County was formed from Prince William County in 1759, Hamilton Parish served both counties. In 1769, Hamilton Parish was divided and all of the parish in Prince William County and part of the parish in Fauquier County was used to form Leeds Parish.[20]
    • Stafford County was formed from Westmoreland County in 1664.[19]
  • 1790 Franklin County, North Carolina census[21] includes children named in his 1801 will as well as two Benjamin Rushes[22]
    • Franklin County was created in 1779 from Bute County (formed from Granville County in 1764 and which ceased to exist when it was split into Warren County and Franklin County)[23]
  • 1801 death in Chatham County, North Carolina
    • Chatham County was formed from Orange County in 1771[23]
    • Orange County was formed in 1752 from Bladen, Granville, & Johnston Counties[23]
    • Granville County was formed from Edgecombe County in 1746[23]

Family

Children: I just noticed that Benjamin has profiles attached for more children than are accounted for in his biography. This section is to help sort that out.
Benjamin's known children:
  • William (mentioned in biography & will), married Abigail Terrill[13][24]
  • Ann Peyton (mentioned in biography & will)
  • Elizabeth Terrell (in will), married Joel Terrell[13]
  • Alice Devaney (in will), married Thomas Jenkins Devaney[13]
  • Amy Stringfellow (in will), married Enoch Stringfellow[13]
  • Benjamin Rush (in will)
  • Ruth (in will)
  • Judie (in will)
  • Elizabeth (also in will)
  • Mary, married Benjamin Williams[13]
Profiles for children attached - dates are from their profiles:
  • Judie Rush (born c1731) Benjamin, born 1718, would have been 13 in 1731 <- will has Judie as underage (so born after 1780)
  • Ruth Christian (born c1731) <- will has Ruth as underage (so born after 1780)
  • Susannah Brooks (born c1731) - named in will, but not prefaced by "daughter"
  • Amy Stringfellow (born c1746) - named in will, but not prefaced by "daughter"
  • Ann Peyton (born c1746) - named in will
  • Alice DeVaney (born c1748) - named in will
  • Spencer Rush (born 1748)
  • Elizabeth Terrell (born c1751) - named in will
  • Frances Waddle (born c1755) - named in will, but not prefaced by "daughter"
  • William Rush (born 1755) - named in will
  • Mary Williams (born c1768) - named in DAR records as daughter; named in will, but not prefaced by "daughter"
  • John Rush (born c1776) - not named in will, detached from profile 1 March 2024
Profiles missing:
  • son Ben, underage at time of will (so, born after 1780)
  • daughter Elizabeth - not Elizabeth Terrell - underage at time of will (so, born
Wives
His son says that his father (this Benjamin) died in 1801 & his mother (Alice) died at age 90 in 1815.[25] Yet the will names wife Elizabeth. And Sarah White married a Benjamin Rush in Bute, NC in 1773.[24] She wrote her will in 1790 (Olds N. C. Wills, 1790. Sarah Rush; husband Benjamin, brother Moses, etc. Recorded Franklin Co., N.C., 1791),[26] so he could have married an Elizabeth before he died in 1801.
  1. 1 April 1744:[27] Alice (Grigsby) Rush (abt.1726-1815) death date correct? did they divorce?
  2. May 1773:[28][29] Sarah (Bledsoe) Rush (abt.1726-aft.1790), previously married to Jonathon White. Names sister-in-law Jane Bledsoe [sister of this Benjamin Rush[30]] in her will - in an online tree, Jane Rush married Sarah's brother George Bledsoe, who died in Bute; it has Sarah's information as "Sarah Bledso b: Abt. 1726 in Spotsyvania, Va. d: 1790 in Franklin County, No. Carolina" and Benjamin ("Benjamin III Rush") died 1790, which should probably be after 1790, as it's probably based on her will.[31][32]
  3. Elizabeth (living 1801 - named in his will)[33]

Occupation

Either this Benjamin's occupation, or his son's, was probably "cart wheel making", considering the following record concerning the children of Henry White, said to be a son of Jonathan White, first husband of this Benjamin's second wife, Sarah Bledsoe: "Franklin Co., N. C. Minutes, May 1774-Feb. 1778. Nov. 1777. Ordered that Stephen White and Bledsoe White, orphans of Henry White, Dec'd, by and with the consent of Jemima White, the mother, be bound to Benjamin Rush to learn the art and mistery of cart wheel making, to read, write, etc."[26]

Sources

  1. ↑ Rush Family Bible, as described in the Genealogy post, Feb. 12, 1999, by David Asprey:
    The Rush Family says: "The children were named in a now lost bible, but recorded by Ayers and Kelly. Dates were in Old Style and both are given. Children Per Bible: Benjamin Rush, Jr. 3 February 1717 [OS] [Actual 14 Feb 1718]..." I have not checked to see if the Actual date is a correct adjustment of the Old Style.
    I think that the Bible might be son William's, and the children named in it his (not Benjamin's). Either way, they are not named in GenForum discussion. ~ Noland-165, 20 Jan. 2020.
  2. ↑ page 148, Virginia. Overwharton parish register, 1720 to 1760.
  3. ↑ See Chronology of Benjamin Rush, by Dr. Milam: 1732 sale of land by James & Amy's son Joseph Elkins. Bond for James Elkins estate was recorded 3 April 1717, Richmond County Deed and Wills Book (he died intestate; his widow was made administratrix; bond was signed by Amee Elkins, George Allsup, Benjamin Rush)
  4. ↑ Anne was born in 1746; Benjamin became guardian of Robert in November 1762.
  5. ↑ "Benjamin Rush of Parish of Dettingen in the County of Prince William Planter & Alice his Wife" (Deed Abstract, December 1762).
  6. ↑ Entered by Liz Shifflett, June 16, 2012
  7. ↑ From "Milams in Virginia" website; transcription in Terrell book has 29th April 1801 as the date he wrote his will.
  8. ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 8.12 8.13 8.14 8.15 From transcription in Genealogy of the Rush family of Virginia and the Terrell genealogy (Nellie F. Ayres, compiler), pages 68-70 (page 69 has bulk of will).
  9. ↑ A merged profile (Rushe-4339) had an end date/location for Benjamin's marriage to Alice: 26 May 1773, Bute, North Carolina; it also had another marriage for him - to Sarah (Bledsoe) Rush. Sarah's previous husband was White.
  10. ↑ William Rush married Abigail Terrill in Bute County, North Carolina, 6 February 1775. ~ http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/bute/vitals/marriages/bute.txt (accessed 4 December 2021)
  11. ↑ biography based on information from Milams in Virginia, including this statement and will abstract (see Rush Chronology)
  12. ↑ See also information from family Bibles relayed to the compiler of Genealogy of the Rush Family, beginning on page 19 (accessed 21 January 2020).
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed May 4, 2015), "Record of Benjamin Rush", Ancestor # A100013.
  14. ↑ DAR record, descendant of Mary Rush (daughter of Benjamin and Alice).
  15. ↑ Rush - Roots & Branches, 1842 Deed: Division of Rush land, posted by Joy on 29 August 2015 (accessed 31 December 2021). See also:
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 From the following passage posted 5 November 2020 by George Thomas ("RUSH-HAWKINS-THOMAS-AVENT-PUGH in CHATHAM"):

    In 1821, Ruthy and husband Hardy Christian sold their one-third inheritance of the Benjamin Rush estate to Thomas Springfield. The deed mentions the land as being "one third part of all that tract of land formerly owned by Benjamin Rush Sen Dec'd and from him descended to his son Benjamin Rush who is since deceased and has now descended to his three sisters, Ruthy Christian, Elizabeth Perkins, and Judith Avent, which land is at present occupied by the wife of the said Benjamin Rush Senr, dec'd." This passage indicates that the three girls' brother named Benjamin Rush had died by 1821.

  17. ↑ "From the 1842 division of the Elizabeth Rush lands (widow of Benjamin Rush) as seen more completely on Roots & Branches – my nc family archives, Micajah Thomas Hawkins is shown owning 165 acres

    "whereas Elizabeth Rush dec'd late of said county died about the 15th day of April 1841 being possessed of at the time of her death in dower right a tract of land in the southwest side of Cape Fear River containing by estimation and survey this day made by Nathaniel Clegg County Surveyor 665 acres and whereas by the death of the said Elizabeth Rush the aforesaid lands became the property of Joseph Avent and Micajah T. Hawkins jr, alias Joseph Hawkins heir at law of Col Joseph Hawkins dec'd ."

    above from George Thomas's 5 November 2020 blogpost
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 George Thomas, "RUSH-HAWKINS-THOMAS-AVENT-PUGH in CHATHAM," posted 5 November 2020 (accessed 12 December 2023).
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 History of County Formations in Virginia 1617-1995)
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Parishes of Virginia
  21. ↑ "United States Census, 1790," database with images, FamilySearch. North Carolina > Franklin > Not Stated > image 10 of 14; citing NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
  22. ↑ See links to those census pages in the Comment posted to this profile on 6 December 2023.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 North Carolina County Development
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Bute County marriages, accessed 30 December 2021.
  25. ↑ From Alice's profile, citing Genealogy of the Rush Family, beginning on page 19 (accessed 21 January 2020). https://archive.org/details/genealogyofrushf00sl__/page/25/mode/1up - does not include 1815 death of Alce at age 90!!!! [couldn't find such a reference on pages 19+ either]
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Genealogy of the Rush family of Virginia and the Terrell genealogy, Nellie F. Ayres, compiler (1946), page 64 (archive.org image 133 of 492), accessed 7 December 2023.
  27. ↑ Overwharton Parish Records, page 148 (accessed 7 December 2023).
  28. ↑ Benjamin Rush married Sarah White in Bute County, NC, 23 May 1773. ~ http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/bute/vitals/marriages/bute.txt (accessed 4 December 2021)
  29. ↑ Genealogy of the Rush family of Virginia and the Terrell genealogy, Nellie F. Ayres, compiler (1946), page 12 (archive.org image 31 of 492), accessed 7 December 2023.
    • "Bute Co. Records in Raleigh. Robert Peyton surety on marriage bond 26 May 1773, Benjamin Rush to Sarah White."
  30. ↑ Genealogy of the Rush Family, page 20 (accessed 30 December 2021).
  31. ↑ https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/bledsoe/717/
  32. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20211023232753/http://jimserver.net/jonathan-white-of-granville-county/ - has details of her will, and the following information about slaves belonging to Benjamin and Sarah:
    • "...a bill in the General Assembly session of December 1791 to January 1792 to liberate Abislom and Rachel Spicer, slaves, the property of Benjamin and Sarah Rush. It is possible that Rachel Spicer was the same Negro Rachael that Sarah White received from the will of Jonathan White. Abraham Bledsoe made a will in Granville County, dated 15 March 1753, which named sons Isaac, Abraham, Thomas, Jacob, Moses, and Aaron and wife Sarah. The similarity of names in this will and the will of Sarah (Bledsoe) (White) Rush indicate that she was probably a daughter of Abraham Bledsoe. Abraham Bledsoe and Sarah his wife sold 400 acres in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, to Thomas Watts on 5 June 1732. Sometime after he sold his land in Spotsylvania County he moved to North Carolina, where on 10 Feb. 1742 he purchased 200 acres in Edgecombe County from William Person. Since the family of Abraham Bledsoe moved to North Carolina between 1732 and 1742, and some of the children of Jonathan White, especially Mary, were probably born before 1732, then these dates support the fact that Sarah White was the second wife of Jonathan White."
  33. ↑ Chronology of Benjamin Rush, by Dr. Milam.
  • Milams in Virginia (website by William F. Milam, M.D. of Richmond, Virginia):
  • Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed May 4, 2015), "Record of Benjamin Rush (born 1715)", Ancestor # A100013. Patriotic Service:
    Service Source: NC REV ARMY ACCTS, VOL #XI, P 52, FOLIO 1, ROLL # S.115.57.5; BUTE CO COMMITTEE OF SAFETY MINS, 1775-1776, P 57
    Service Description: 1) TOOK OATH OF ALLEGIANCE 1778; 2) PAID FOR SERVICES RENDERED
    • DAR record, descendant of Mary Rush (daughter of Benjamin and Alice).
      SAR insignia
      Benjamin Rush Jr. is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
      NSSAR Ancestor #: 282997
      Rank: Patriotic Service
  • Sons of the American Revolution (SAR database search July 6, 2015): Benjamin Rush, Ancestor #P-282997
    • born 1715
    • died 1801
Citation: SAR Patriot Index Edition III (CD: PP2210, Progeny Publ., 2002) plus data to 2004






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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Benjamin by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Benjamin:

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Comments: 11

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Noland-165 Liz (Noland) Shifflett
US Census, 1790 Franklin -

1790 US Census, Franklin NC

Didn't find an Ann Peyton - maybe she and the children who were not of age in 1784 are living with one (or more) of her other children. I also didn't find Stringfellow, but looking at her profile, the profile attached for her youngest has birth in Georgia before 1790.

edit note - sorry, I get my generations mixed up sometimes. Benjamin's daughter Ann married Robert Peyton, who died in 1785... so she/younger children are either living with a sibling or with George Noland (Nowland) who married her daughter Alice/Alcy.

posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
edited by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
Noland-165 Liz (Noland) Shifflett
His DAR record says he took the Oath of Allegiance in 1778. This transcription, from "Miscellaneous County Records 1774-1804" of men signing the Oath in Bute County, NC includes the following Rush men:
  • Absolem Rush
  • Benj. Rush
  • Benj. Rush, Junr.
  • Churchwell Rush
  • Spencer Rush
posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
Noland-165 Liz (Noland) Shifflett
14 Feb 1718 seems correct conversion from OS 3 Feb 1717:

see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates and http://www.genealogytoday.com/columns/recipes/tip14.html and http://www.familytreemagazine.com/article/ConvertingJulian-Genealogy-Dates

posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
Noland-165 Liz (Noland) Shifflett
I'm at a loss to explain how Benjamin Rush had a second wife named Elizabeth according to his 1801 will. Alice is his wife as late as 1766 (deed transfers). If that Alice is Alice Grigsby, as many descendants believe (this one included), then she would have died before 1801, not 1815 (DAR records show both Alice Grigsby & Elizabeth X).
posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
Noland-165 Liz (Noland) Shifflett
Page 23 of Genealogy of the Rush family says that Alice Grigsby died at age 90 in 1815, but I wonder if that is an accurate copy from Rev. Harris Rush's Bible, or perhaps the information in Harris Rush's bible was inaccurate? The information in Harris's Bible appears to reflect the information from Grigsby Rush's Bible (see page 21), which does not include a death date for Alice (nor any information about other wives for Benjamin, or a Harris Rush).

edit - see https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9PXZ-211?i=234&wc=MD1J-GTL%3A229206901%2C231468801&cc=1932510

posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
edited by Liz (Noland) Shifflett

Rejected matches › Benjamin Rush Cowen (1831-1908) › Benjamin Rush Roberts (1810-1880) › Benjamin Rush (1745-1813)

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Categories: NSSAR Patriot Ancestors | NSDAR Patriot Ancestors | Westmoreland County, Virginia Colony | Prince William County, Virginia Colony | Franklin County, North Carolina | Chatham County, North Carolina | Patriotic Service, North Carolina, American Revolution