BENJAMIN DUNNING3(Benj2, Theop1), b. Mar 3, 1679 in Boston Mass; known as Sergt. Benj. and Benj. Sr; came to Stratford,Conn., about 1700, bapt. May 30, 1703, with his brother John in Stratfield, Church; was one of the party which founded Newtown, Conn., in 1711 and d. there Mar. 21, 1738. First wife is unknown, but he m. (2) 1710 Elizabeth Miner (b. 1690, dau. Capt. John Miner) who survived him and married Obadiah Wheeler. Benjamin's will was executed Mar. 23, 1737; a codicil was added 1738; and was proved Mar. 30, 1739. It willed to his wife, Elizabeth, who was required to pay 20� to his grandson Joseph Stilson when he became of age, and to his daughter Sarah (Holley) 10�. Benjamin willed further to his sons Benj., David, Abel, John, Michael and Amos; Thos. Tousey and the son Benj were executors. The inventory of the estates foots up 2499�., 16 s. Elizabeth, his eldest daughter, is not named and was probably dead, the grandson, Joseph Stilson, mentioned above, being h er son. On Jan 7, 1740, Elizabeth relict of Benjamin, was appointed guardian of Michael and Amos Dunning; Thomas Skidmore, guardian of Abel and John Dunning; and Obadiah Wheeler, guardian of Benjamin Dunning, - all sons of Benj. Sr. Of his family, given below, the first 2 children were by his first wife; the last 7 being by Elizabeth, second wife:
I. Mary, b. July 6, bapt. July 20, 1707 in Stratfield, church not named in will.
II. Benjamin, Jr., b. Aug. 9, bapt. Aug. 14, 1709; m. Sarah Burritt; d. 1782; called "Capt. Benj." had 10 sons and 3 daughters.
III. David. b. Sept. 6, 1711, bapt. May 11, 1712; m. 1736 Hannah Botsford; d. 1783; had 7 sons and 6 daughters.
IV. Sarah, b. Aug. 14, bapt. Oct. 25, 1713
V. Abel, b.....?; owned the covenant, Nov. 6, 1743 and dau. Sarah bapt same day; a son Josiah, bapt. Sept 22, 1745; Abel d. Sept. 2, 1759.
VI. John, b.......?; several deeds of land in Newton between 1747 and 1752, in one of which he names Amos his younger bro., and already dead; m. Sept. 2, 1747, Anna Kimberly; he d. 1764. Estate distributed Jan 3, 1773 to sons Abraham, Philo, Isaac and James.
VII. Elizabeth, b......?; m.....Stilson.
VIII. Michael, b. July 30, 1730; m. July 19, 1750 Abiah Kimberly; moved to Pownal, Vt, 1762, two years after the first settlement of the town; had a 2nd wife; was a leading man in Pownal where he d. Feb. 28, 1810; had sons 7 and 3 or 4 daughters.
IX. Amos, b. Jan 20, 1734; died young, before 1752.BENJAMIN DUNNING, Jr.4, (Benj3, Benj2, Theop1 ) b. Aug 9, bapt. Aug. 14, 1709; m. (1) about 1730 Sarah Burritt (d. Mar 12, 1773); m. (2) Oct. 13, 1773, a widow, Mary Bristol (her will proved April 2, 1782); call ed "Capt. Benj"; lived in Newtown and Brookfield, Ct.; he executed a will in Newtown, Oct. 9, 1782, saying he had no wife to provide for and willed to sons; will proved Nov. 5, 1782; family as follows:
1. Ezra, b. Jan. 1732, bapt. June 15, 1734; m. Ruby---(1739-1818); d. June 16, 1796, had the following children:
i. Sarah, b. Jan. 28, 1758; m. Abel Smith; d. Apr. 19, 1858, ae. 100.
2. Mary, b Sep. 9, 1734; m. Jos. Hepburn of Brookfield; was living in 1786.
ii. Lucy, b. Dec. 3, 1759
iii. Liverus, b. Feb. 2, 1763; m. Sarah-----(who d. 1793); d. July 24, 1831; issue as follows:
a. Northrop, b. Apr. 15, 1786; m. Feb 9, 1807 Sally Smith (1788-1863); d. Feb. 4, 1863; he collected the material on which was based the claim for the estate of Lord Ashburton, and his family counted themselves the true heirs; issue as follows:
iv. Edmond, b. Nov. 3, 1764; m. Hannah Hawley; d. May 24, 1856; said to have been with Washington at Valley Forge (as he was but 12, then, he may have been with his father, and there was an Ezra in the Army); later he was Capt. in the Conn. Militia; issue as follows:
(1) Sarah, b. Aug 15, 1808.
(2) Lorenzo Charles, b. Oct. 13, 1810; d. Jan 9, 1872, no male issue
(3) Laura, b. Nov. 7, 1818.
(4) Liverus, b. Sep. 11, 1827; lived in Brookfield, Ct., no issue.
a. Rufus Benjamin, b. Oct. 1, 1786; d. July 8, 1831; had a son Amos, born 1830.
v. John, b. Feb. 7, 1767; d. Sep. 11, 1772.
b. Laura, b. Sep. 26, 1788; d. May 23, 1874.
c. Esther, b. Sep. 3, 1790; d. Mar. 22, 1874
d. Betsy, b. Oct 10, 1792; d. Sep. 21, 1865
e. Lyman, b. Dec. 11, 1794; d. June 21, 1805
f. Hawley, b. Dec, 1796, m. June 10, 1821 Sarah Porter; d. Mar 28, 1872.
g. Alucia, b. Sep. 27, 1809; d. Sep. 14, 1814
vi. Parthenia, b. Feb. 25, 1770; d. Mar 6, 1773,
vii. Anner, b. Oct 19, 1772; m. Abiah Clark.
viii. Parthenia, b. July 14, 1775; m. Abiram King; d. June 18, 1828.
ix. John, b. Oct 26, 1777; d. Sept. 11---?
x. Ezra, b. Apr 20, 1780; d. Feb. 20, 1854; lived in Mass., near East Canaan, Conn; known as "Snap" Dunning.
3. Eli, b. Aug. 8, 1736; moved from Brookfield, Ct., to Hudson, NY, his son Smith Dunning went to England to see about the estate of Lord Ashburton.
4. Jared, b. July 31, 1738; m. Mercy, dau. of Joseph Smith of Brookfield; issue as follows:i. Clarinda, b. 1762; m. Andrew Northrop (1758-1825); d. Jan. 11, 1852.
ii. Wolcott, m. Matilda Pulmer; moved to Butternuts, Otsego Co., NY.
iii. Joseph, b. 1769; m. Hannah, dau of John Dunning, died in New Haven, Ct.
iv. Mary (twin of Joseph), b. 1769; m. Isaac Babbitt; d. Nov 2, 1812.
v. Asahel, m. Lucretia Judd of Watertown, Ct., moved to Indiana, on the Wabash and had 3 children, Elsie, Bevil Judd and Juliet; he went twice to the West Indies and in 1812 to Canada, whence he was forced to return by the war.