Family:Benjamin Converse and Sarah Wright (1)

None of the births of the children of Benjamin and Sarah seem to be recorded. The following order is based on how they are mentioned in the 1813 will of the father. Some insights are added from the probate of the son Benjamin.

The will of Benjamin, the father, identifies Beulah as the eldest daughter. She m. (1) Jonathan Frost, m. (2) Solomon French, and d. 1823, ae. 50. so probably born first after their marriage, 1773. She is referred to as a widow in the father's will, but the distribution in 1825 is to her heirs.

Benjamin is named as the eldest son. He apparently was presumed dead by 1831. His birth is estimated to be about 1775.

Caleb is mentioned next. He is still alive in 1831, mentioned in the probate of his brother Benjamin, but no records of him have been found. It is not known if he married or when he died. Birth estimated about 1778 just to fit nicely in the gap.

Esther is the next daughter. She was unmarried in 1831 probate of brother Benjamin, but appears to be living in Groton in 1850 census age 69, and then died in 1851 age 70, so born about 1781.

Sarah is next. Also unmarried in 1831 probate of brother Benjamin, appears to be living in Woburn in 1850 census, age 68, so born about 1782. No death found.

Hannah's husband is identified as Benjamin Hill in the distribution of her father's estate. She had two children that are known about in 1826 and 1828. Her husband had died by 1850, as she is living with her children in 1850 census, and she died 1871. Her age at death calculates to a birth about Aug 1785.

Patience is mentioned as Patience French in the distribution of her father's estate in 1825, and as Patience Mace in her brother's, in 1831. These are actually her second and third husbands. She married first 1817 Edward Gardner. She died 1875 and her age at death gives a birth about Apr 1788.

The father's 1813 will mentions last his two younger sons Joshua and Robert Converse and they are mentioned in the distribution of his estate in 1825. Neither is mentioned in the probate of their brother in 1831. As they would be expected to have been born by 1795, this is presumed to indicate they had died by that time, or perhaps befell the same fate as their brother Benjamin, whatever that was.

1. ↑ Johnson, Edward F. Woburn Records of Births, Deaths, and Marriages . (Woburn, Massachusetts: Andrews, Cutler & Co., 1890-1919)
   Vol. 3, p. 60.

   Benjamin Converse and Sarah Wright, both of Woburn, Aug. 6, 1772.