The ancient historical records of Norwalk, Conn ... - Hay genealogy

GENEALOGICAL REGISTER. 315
James Benedict was born at Norwalk, January 15th, 1685.
He married Sarah Hyatt, daughter of Thomas Hyatt of Norwalk,
in 1709. He settled in Ridgefield. He was one of the
original settlers who purchased of the Indians and settled the
township of Ridgefield. In 1715 he was chosen one of the
fence-viewers of that town. In 1719 he is called Ensign, afterwards
Captain, and in 1737, Esquire. He was a justice of
the peace and for many years he represented that town in the
Connecticut Legislature. He died November 25, J762. His
wife survived him four years. Their children* were Sarah,
born 1709; Ruth, born 1711; Peter, born 1714; Hannah,
born 1716; Phebe, born 1718; James, born 1720; Martha,
born 1722 ; John and Thomas, twins, born 1726.
He was the first to write the genealogy of the Benedict family.
In his youth he lived with his grandmother, Mary
Bridgum, wife of the first Thomas Benedict, and she delivered
to him, from her own mouth, the genealogy down to
his own memory, and he reduced it to writing. His " Genealogy
of the family of the Benedict's," dated March 14, 1755,
has been the foundation of all the subsequent ones. His
.grandson, Abner Benedict, a member of the Junior Class in
Yale College, made an exact copy of it June 23d, 1768. He
was the second deacon of the church in Ridgefield, till old
age and its attendants rendered him unable to serve. He susained
the character of a pious and exemplary Christian.
The following inscription is on his grave-stone in Ridgefield
:
here lies interred
the body of
JA]>IES BENEDICT, Esq.,
Deacon of the first Church of Christ in this town ;
together with
SARAH, mS WIFE,
who, after having served their generation
according to the will of God,
fell asleep and were gathered to their fathers,
the first on Nov. 25, 1762,
m the 77th j^ear of his age ; the other February
ye 9th, 1767, in the 81st year of her age.
* See Appendix C.