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

320 , NORWALK.
APPENDIX C.
The descendants of Dea. James Benedict, of Ridgefield,
form a distinct branch, which it does not come wilhin the design
of this work to give at length. He was the father of
Peter Benedict, of North Salem, who was Deacon of the
Church there for many years ; also of John Benedict, of
Ridgefield, the fifth Deacon of that Church.
His son Peter was the father of Rev. Abner Benedict, who
graduated at Yale College in 1769, and was settled in the
ministry at Middletown (Middlefield Parish), for fourteen
years, during which time, by his address and efforts he procured
the emancipation of all the slaves held by his people.
He died at Roxbury, November 19,1818. He was also father
of
Rev. Joel Benedict, D. D., who graduated at Princeton,
1765, and w'as settled in the ministry at Lisbon, Conn., eleven
years, and afterwards at Plainfield, Conn., where he died
February
13, 1816 : also father of Lieut. Peter Benedict, an
^officer under Gen. Washington in the Revolutionary war.
Rev. Abner Benedict (grandson of James), was the father
of Rev. Joel T. Benedict, who v.'asborn September 6, 1772,
and admitted to the bar in Fairfield Co., in 1794. After six
years practice he changed his profession, and was settled in the
ministry in Bethlehem, N. Y., and afterwards in Franklin,
from whence he removed to Philadelphia, to take charge of
the operations of the Pennsylvania Branch of the American
Tract Society, where he died in October, [1833. [He ,was
also the grandfather of Rev. Joel Tyler Headley, author of
several of our recent popular works.
Rev. Joel Tyler Benedict was the father of Prof. George
Wyllis Benedict, of the University of Vermont, and of
Erastus C. Benedict, Esq., and of Abner Benedict, Esq.,
both members of the present bar of the City of Nev/ York, and
of Adin W. Benedict, Esq., of Huntingdon, Pa.