Obadiah Romney Van Benthuysen (1787 - 1845)

Born 13 Jul 1787 in Albany, Albany, New York

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Wood) Van Benthuysen — married 26 Nov 1808 in Albany, Albany, New York

Husband of Elizabeth (Seymour) Van Benthuysen — married 16 Jun 1838 in Connecticut

Descendants

Died 15 Aug 1845 at age 58 in Albany, Albany, New York

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Biography

Obadiah Romney Van Benthuysen was born 13 July 1787 at Albany and baptized on 19 August 1797 at the Reformed Dutch Church in Albany. He was the son of Obadiah Van Benthuysen and Johanna (Annatje) (Hannah) Romney.^[1][2]

Obadiah married Sarah Wood on 26 November 1808. The family Bible states he was 21 years, 4 mos. and 13 days of the time of his marriage, and that the duration of the marriage was 28 years, 11 mos., 14 days.^[3] They had three children who were Emily, Charles, and Packard.

In 1801 he had become an apprentice to Daniel Steele as a printer with a contract for five years and nine months. After Daniel Steele died, he took over the printing business. In 1813 he partnered with Robert Packard. In 1828 they were the first to use steam power for casting print type. He had many branches of paper making firms. In 1824 he became a partner with the Argus Albany newspaper. In 1836 he bought the Stafford House. In 1838 his sons became silent partners with him in the printing business.^[4]

He married Elizabeth Seymour on 16 June 1838 In Connecticut.^[5] At that time Obadiah was 50 years, 11 months, 0 days. The duration of that marriage was 4 years, 2 months, 2 days. They had a daughter, Elizabeth Seymour Benthuysen born on October 18, 1839. ^[6]

Obadiah Rumney Van Benthuysen was a wealthy man. His will was signed in the library of the home of General Benjamin F. Butler at 17 Washington Place, New York City. His will was left with Gen. Butler as Obadiah R. Van Benthuysen was about to sail for Europe. The will specifies that the first payments to be made were "the amount due to my present wife Elizabeth under our ante-nuptial contract, together with all my other just debts." Obadiah R. Van Benthuysen later delivered the will to his son Charles, about 3 weeks before his death. After his father's death the son Charles personally handed the will to the Hon. John L. V. Pruyn, of Albany who acted as Charles' attorney in the distribution of the estate. Obadiah's "children of present wife Elizabeth" whose names were not given in the will were each to receive $5,000 when they became of full age. Obadiah's daughter Emily "wife of Thomas W. Harmon of Albany" was mentioned in the will. His son Charles was named sole executor of the estate and left "all the residue of my estate, real and personal," His son Packard received the "mansion house and farm" located in the Town of Bethlehem, Albany Co., all horses, carriages, cattle, and other movable property there, also all house furnishings, books, etc., and $10,000 to be paid when he became of age. The will was dated 16 June 1838 and probated at Albany 25 Sep 1845.^[7]

Obadiah died on 15 August 1845, at "1/4 to 3 p.m." He was 58 years, 1 month and 2 days^[8]He was buried at the Albany Rural Cemetery.^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ Records of the Reformed Dutch Church of Albany, New York, 1683-1809, Part 6. 1780-1789. p. 64.
2. ↑ Bible with entries concerning the Obadiah Van Benthuysen family in Bible published in 1817 in Philadelphia
3. ↑ Bible with entries of Obadiah Van Benthuysen family.
4. ↑ "The Van Benthuysens"
5. ↑ "Connecticut Marriages, 1630-1997.
6. ↑ Bible with entries of Obadiah Van Benthuysen family
7. ↑ "Obadiah Cooper,Tailor at Albany, N. Y. from 1713-1742, & His Wife, Cornelia (Gardenier) Cooper, and their Descendants" P. 102.
8. ↑ Bible of entries concerning the Obadiah Van Benthuysen family
9. ↑ "Find A Grave Index,"

• Records of the Reformed Dutch Church of Albany, New York, 1683-1809, Part 6. 1780-1789. p. 64. 1787, Aug. 19. bo. July 13. Obadia of Obadia Benthuisen and Hanna Crumney http://aleph0.clarku.edu/~djoyce/gen/albany/part7.html#baptismal.

• M. Grace Wilmarth, "Obadiah Cooper,Tailor at Albany, N. Y. from 1713-1742, & His Wife, Cornelia (Gardenier) Cooper, and their Descendants" P. 102.

• Bible with entries concerning the Obadiah Van Benthuysen family in Bible published in 1817 in Philadelphia and probably first owned by Obadiah and Sarah Van Benthuysen since they are the first mentioned under marriages. There are birth, marriage, and death sections. (Bible was for sale in 2012 on ebay) (Photo of the marriage page on this page)

• "Connecticut Marriages, 1630-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F7PQ-R5X : accessed 18 December 2015), Obadiah Van Benthusen and Elizabeth Seymour, 14 Jun 1838; citing Connecticut, United States, reference ; FHL microfilm 3,308.

• "The Van Benthuysens" http://dougsinclairsarchives.com/archhistory/staffordhouse/vanbenthuysen.htm (Dead link.)

• "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/QVVW-48GB : accessed 18 December 2015), Obadiah R. Van Benthuysen, ; Burial, Menands, Albany, New York, United States of America, Albany Rural Cemetery; citing record ID 5788465, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.