Person:William Benson (50)

About William Benson

William Benson was of English descent, according to Morton's History of Preston County. He came to the county prior to 1795 probably 1793,, and settled on the farm cleared by John Kelly, owned in 1882 by William M. Smith, in the Beaver Creek Valley of Pleasant District, near present Big Bear Lake. He had previously lived near Winchester, VA. He was apparently the ancestor of all the Bensons in Preston County. Tradition has it that William walked from Winchester, VA, toting his gun and ax, to the area now known as Preston County. (Dorothy Bonafield Snyder)

Morton has him listed as buying land from Robert Ervin in 1793, located near Zar: 98 acres for 20 pounds Colonial (or $66.67 Federal equivalent).

William Benson's name was listed among the signatures found on the petition to form Preston County from Monongalia County on June 25, 1792. He was listed in the 1810 Census of Monongalia County, VA. He had 1 son between 10 and 16 years, 1 son between 16 and 26 years, 1 son between 26 and 45 years, 2 daughters under 10 years, 2 daughters between 10 and 16 years, 2 daughters between 16 and 26 years, and he and his wife were listed as over 45 years of age.

He, and two sons, George and James, are buried in a small graveyard on the farm previously mentioned, owned by William M. Smith. (Morton, page 323) He was a weaver and farmer by trade. (Wiley's History of Preston County, page 390.)

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Ancestry.com. Public Member Trees. (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2006;)
   Database online.

   Record for WILLIAM BENSON

2. ↑ Ancestry.com. Public Member Trees: (Note: not considered a reliable primary source)
   Ancestry Family Trees.
3. ↑ History of Preston County, West Virginia, (Morton).

   _FOOT: History of Preston County, West Virginia, (Morton). page 323.

4.   Graves, William T. Southern Campaign Revolutionary War Pension Statements & Rosters.

   Petition of William Benson VAS2001
   Transcribed by Will Graves 5/17/15
   
   [From Digital Library of Virginia ] Frederick County Legislative Petitions
   [Note: The document linked to this file does not correspond with the description as posted on the
   index cover sheet relating to it. Consequently, unless and until I can find the correct document, I
   must be content with the summary of it appearing on the index cover sheet. That information
   reads in relevant part as follows:
   Record number: 000155993
   Title: Benson, William: Petition
   Date: 1802 – 12 – 17
   Description Soldier in the Regiment of Cavalry under Colonel Theodoric Bland from
   1776 to 1778 asked for a certificate for his pay. Includes note from
   Auditor's Offic
   
   https://revwarapps.org/VAS2001.pdf