Benjamin Stetson (1641 - 1711)

Born Aug 1641 in Scituate, Plymouth, Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Husband of Bethia (Hawke) Stetson — married 15 Aug 1665 in Hingham, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay

Descendants

Died 4 May 1711 at age 69 in Scituate, Plymouth, Massachusetts Bay

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Biography

Birth

Benjamin Stetson ^[A] was born in August 1641 at Scituate ^[1] He was the 2nd child and son of Cornet Robert Stetson (Stitson) and Honor (Tucker) Stetson ^[2],

Batized 5 Oct 1645 at Scituate, Massachusetts ^[3]

"The Descendants of Cornet Robert Stetson" ^[4] has a fairly long description of his life in the Scituate area, beginning on Page 23. His life is also sketched by John Stetson Barry ^[5]

Marriage

Married Bethia Hawke on 15 Aug 1665 at Hingham, Massachusetts ^[6] (as Bethia Lincoln ^[7]

10 Children Recorded ^[8][6]:

1. Benjamin Stetson, b. 16 Feb 1666 ^[9] or 1668 ^[10], bap May 19 in Scituate ^[11]
2. Matthew Stetson, b. 12 Jun 1668/9 ^[10]
3. James Stetson, b. 1 Mar 1670/1.^[10]
4. Samuel Stetson, b. Oct 1673 ^[10], bap. 11 May
5. Bethia (Stetson) Andrews, b. 14 May 1675 ^[10]; m. Stephen Andrews (son of Capt Thomas Andrews ^[12]), Jun 1697
6. Mary (Stetson) Partridge, b. 21 Apr 1678 ^[10];
7. Hannah (Stetson) Tileston/Tileston, b. 1 Jun 1679 ^[10];
8. Deborah (Stetson) Fisher, b 3 Dec 1682 ^[10]
9. Eunice (Stetson) James, b. Mar 1683 ^[10]; Bap., 27 May
10. Margaret Stetson, b. Sept 1685 ^[10]; d. 1686,

Resided at "Bald Hill" (farm) in Scituate.

In 1674, Benjamin received a gift of land from his father, Robert Stetson.^[13]

Military Service

Was member of his father's (Cornet Robert Stetson) Troop of Horse based in Scituate, Massachussets.

• In the Canada Expedition in 1690 he served in the Hingham company with Capt Thomas Andrews. Both Capt Andrews and another friend Capt Sylvester, died in the expedition, along with his younger brother, Ensign John Stetson, and his 2nd son Matthew.
• Eventually commanded the southern Company of Scituate which included the towns of Hanover, Norwell and parts of Marshfield. ^[14]

Civic Activities

• The records of the 2nd Church show Capt. Benjamin to have been active in the affairs of the church. He was also prominent in town affairs.
• He represented Scituate at the Colony Court at Plymouth in 1691, and after the union of the colonies, he was representative to the General Court at Boston in 1693, 1694 and 1700^[15].

Death

Died 4 May 1711,

Probate

On 18 June 1711, his widow Bethia was granted the letter of administration for his estate. His inventory was taken on 1 June 1711 in Scituate and recorded in Plymouth.^[16]

In 1711, his real estate was appraised.^[17]

In 1715, the estate account and settlement mentions his widow Bethia, and children, Benjamin, Samuel, James, decd., (his two children not named here), Bethia Andrews, Hannah Tilesson, Deborah Fisher, Eunice James, and Mary Partridge.^[18]

Research Notes

• Stetson Kindred Genealogical Index: 1-2

A. Benjamin's Father, Cornet Robert Stetson's name at baptism in England was recorded as "Robert Sitson" but the surname has been universally recorded as "Stetson" in the colonies. Variants are "Studson," & "Stitson." (rsl)

Sources

1. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-8979-7ND2?cc=2061550&wc=Q4D4-449%3A353350201%2C353448301%2C353448302 : 13 July 2016), Plymouth > Scituate > Births, marriages, deaths 1640-1801 > image 39 of 264; citing Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston.
2. ↑ Stetson: Vol. 1, no. 1, Page 22
3. ↑ "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V5N7-J3R : 14 January 2020), Benjamin Studson, 1645.
4. ↑ Stetson
5. ↑ Barry page 49
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Stetson: Vol. 1, no. 1, Page 23
7. ↑ "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V5N7-J3R : 14 January 2020), Benjamin Studson, 1645. [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99CG-M28S?i=144 Image 145 of 263
8. ↑ Scituate Record of family: "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L979-7F87?cc=2061550&wc=Q4D4-449%3A353350201%2C353448301%2C353448302 : 13 July 2016), Plymouth > Scituate > Births, marriages, deaths 1640-1801 > image 60 of 264; citing Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston.
9. ↑ "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V5N7-J3B : 14 January 2020), Benjamin Stetson in entry for Benjamin Stetson, 1666.
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 10.8 10.9} "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L979-7F87?cc=2061550&wc=Q4D4-449%3A353350201%2C353448301%2C353448302 : 13 July 2016), Plymouth > Scituate > Births, marriages, deaths 1640-1801 > image 60 of 264; citing Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston.
11. ↑ referred to as "Benjamin (2nd)" in some publications see Note A
12. ↑ See Military Service below
13. ↑ "Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9Z7-5SZ : 22 May 2014), Plymouth > Deeds 1664-1711 vol 1-5 > image 22-24 of 652; county courthouses and offices, Massachusetts.
14. ↑ Stetson: Vol 1 No. 1 Pg 23-24
15. ↑ Colony Records quoted by Stetson: 1, No 1., Pg. 24
16. ↑ "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-997D-ZFWR : 20 May 2014), Probate records 1708-1717 and 1817-1861 vol 3-3P > image 41 of 710; State Archives, Boston.
17. ↑ "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L97D-ZFHV : 20 May 2014), Probate records 1708-1717 and 1817-1861 vol 3-3P > image 56 of 710; State Archives, Boston.
18. ↑ "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-897D-ZFM6?cc=2018320&wc=M6BX-WWL%3A337883501 : 20 May 2014), Probate records 1708-1717 and 1817-1861 vol 3-3P > image 202-203 of 710; State Archives, Boston.

See Also:

• Barry, John Stetson. A Genealogical and Biographical Sketch of the Name and Family of Stetson (William A. Hall & Co., Boston, 1847)
• FamilySearch.org entry for Captain Benjamin Stetson; accessed 30 Aug 2020; © 2020 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. A service provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .
• Stetson, O.F., Ed.; Descendants of Cornet Robert Stetson of Scituate, Massachusetts (Stetson Kindred of America, Inc., 1933,