Transcript:Biographical Sketches of Graduates of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts:Eliot, Benjamin, 1665

Benjamin Eliot, M. A., the sixth and youngest son of the Apostle Eliot, of Roxbury, and brother of John, H. U. 1656, of Joseph, H. U. 165S, and of Samuel, H. U. 1660, was born 29 January, 1646-7. His Commencement part on taking his second degree, in 1668, is noticed on page 163.

At a town meeting in Mendon, 24 April, 1668, it was "Ordered to send A Letter to give Mr. Benjamin Aliot A call, w^th his ffather's leave, and A Letter sent to that effect," but the application does not appear to have been successful.

Mather says, the Apostle Eliot's "Benjamin was made the Son of His Right-Hand; for the Invitation of the good People at Roxbury, placed him in the same Pulpit with his Father, where he was Assistant for many Years; there they had a Proof of him, that as a Son with his Father, he served with him in the Gospel."

Samuel Sewall writes, "May 11th, 1685 I accompanied Mr. Moodey [H. U. 1653] to Mr. Eliot's to persuade Mr. Benjamin to go to the Ordination of Mr. Cotton Mather, in which I hope we have prevailed; the mentioning of it drew Tears from the good Father so as to hinder his Speech." May 13, 1685, "Mr. Benjamin Eliot was there, who hath not been at Town these many years." August 24, 1687, "I visit Mr. Benjamin Eliot, who ismuch touch'd as to his Understanding and almost all y^e while I was there kept heaving up his Shoulders: would many times laugh & would sing with me … he read three or more staves of the Seventy first Psalm 9 verses, his Father and Jno. Eliot singing with us; Mr. Benjamin would in some notes be very extravagant. Would have sung again before I came away but's Father prevail'd with him to ye contrary, alledging ye Children would say he was distracted. Came with me to the Gate when took horse."

Mather adds: "But his Fate was like that which the great Gregory Nazianzen describes in his Discourse upon the Death of his honourable Brother, his Aged Father being now alive and present; My Father having laid up in a better World, a rich Inheritance for his Children, sent a Son of his before, to take Possession of it."

He was never ordained or married. He died on morning of 15 October, 1687, and was buried the day.

Authorities. — C. Mather, Magnalia, iii. 173, 174. New England Historical and Genealogical Register, xxix. 181. Roxbury Records. J. Savage, Genealogical Dictionary, ii. 110. S. Sewall, Manuscript Diary; and in Massachusetts Historical Society's Collections, xlv. 75, 76, 186, 192.