Benjamin Newton
Benjamin Newton was baptized in Worcester, MA on April 6, 1755. He had likely been born a week or so before to Phineas and Abigail (Drury)Newton. Benjamin had two older brothers, one older sister, three younger brothers (one of whom died as an infant), and 5 younger sisters. Having twelve children was not uncommon for the time.
During the Revolutionary War he served as a Private in Captain Hodge’s Company while they were stationed in Rhode Island from May through July of 1777. His two older brothers, Phineas and Obediah, served as well, though in different units.
On February 25, 1778 Benjamin married Molly Holbrook in Wrentham, MA. Their intentions had been filed in Worcester on October 10, 1777. The Newtons had eleven children: Abigail "Nabby", Mary "Molly", Esther, Benjamin, Thankful, Susanna, twins Anna and Roxy, Sarah "Sally", Harriet, and Daniel. All of them outlived their parents except Roxy who died a few weeks after she was born. Like most Worcesterites of the time, the Newtons were farmers.
Benjamin died in Worcester on July 3, 1811, and gave bequeathments to his wife, all of his children, and a widowed aunt. His "wearable clothing" was left to Benjamin and Daniel. To his daughters he gave one dollar each and then one hundred dollars each when his estate was settled. The house he left to Anna for as long as she remained single and unmarried. His real estate was left to his wife Molly, and then do Daniel after her death. He directed Benjamin and Daniel to continue to support his aunt, Thankful Stearns, widow of Bezaleel Stearns.
He was originally buried in the Mechanic Street Burial Ground but was moved to Hope Cemetery in 1878 when the burying ground was closed. Unfortunately there is not much left of his marble gravestone.
From Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolution Volume 11, page 386:
Newton, Benjamin, Worcester. Private, Capt. Edmund Hodges's co., Col. Josiah
Whitney's regt.; enlisted May5, 1777 ; discharged July 6, 1777 ; service, 2mos.
5 days, at Rhode Island.
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