John Benham was born on 15. Aug. 1692 at Bergen County, New Jersey. John Benham was born on 16. May. 1702 at New Utrecht, Kings County, New York. He married
Catherine Van Dyke, daughter of
Charles Van Dyke and
Lysbeth Ardis Vander Hard, c 1717. John Benham left a will on 17. Aug. 1784 at Monmouth County, New Jersey.
Will of John Benham
John Benham (III) is one of my Great-Great-Great-Great-Great Grandfathers on my father's side. He died in 1784.
In the name of God, Amen, August the seventeenth day, One-thousand, Seven- hundred and Eighty-four.
I, John Benham of the County of Monmouth in the Province of New Jersey, being sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given unto God, therefore calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that in appreciation of my final days, do make and ordain this my final Will and Testament, that is to say, principally and first of all, I give and recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it and my body to the Earth to be buried in a decent and Christian burial at the discretion of my executor. Nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the Lord again by the mighty power of God, and as touching such worldly estate wherein it has pleased God to bless me in this life, I give, devise and dispose of the same in manner and form following:
Imprimis, I give and bequeath to my grandson, John Benham, son of Peter Benham, the sum of five shillings.
Item. I give and bequeath to my son Joseph Benham the sum of ten pounds to be paid six months after the death of his mother by my executor.
Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter, Anna Taylor after my decease one Negro girl named Nan.
Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter, Hendrica Van Dyke after my decease one Negro named Bett.
Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter, Elizabeth Couvenhoven after my decease one Negro girl named Yafe.
Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter, Catherine Van Horn after my decease one Negro named Rofe.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife, Catherine Benham the full use and benefit of all land and tenements and the remaining part of all my goods and chattels, moveable or immovable, during her natural life, and after my wife's decease it is my will and desire that all and every part of real and personal estate be sold by my executor and equally divided between my daughters, Anne Taylor, Hendrica Van Dyke, Elizabeth Couvenhoven, Catherine Van Horn, and my grandchildren of my daughter Mary Clayton named Robert Clayton and John Clayton and Sally, wife of Ammoriah Morris, and Hannah, wife of William Van Horn, they having one share except the old wench, Rofe. My will is that she is free after my wife's death. I do likewise make and ordain Hendrica, Sarah and Garret Vandiveer my sole executors of this, my Last Will and Testament, and I hereby utterly disallow, revoke and disclaim all and every other former testaments, wills, legacies, bequeaths and executors by me in any ways before named wills and bequeaths, ratifying and confirming this, and no other to be my last will and testament. In Witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal this day and year above written.
John Benham (Mark)
Signed and Sealed in the presence of:
John Van Cleve
Hendrick Smock
Joseph Hilyer
Hendrick Smock, Jonathan and Joseph Hilyer, the witnesses to the written Will, being duly sworn, did personally declare that they saw John Benham, the testator therein named sign and seal the same and heard him publicly pronounce and declare the written writing to be his Last Will and Testament, and that at the doing thereof the said testator was of sound and disposing mind and memory as far as the deponents know and as they believe.
Sworn at Monmouth County this 20th Day of May 1785
William Tho. Hendisson, Surrogate.
He died on 17. Aug. 1784 at Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey, at age 92. The Inventory of John Benham was taken by Joseph Clayton and David Covenhoven on 3. May. 1785. His estate was proved on 20. May. 1785.