Family:Matthew Beckwith and Mary Unknown (1)

Non existent son 'Benjamin Beckwith'

"A querist asks for the identity of an alleged "Azubah Brewster of Hartford," said by the Beckwith Genealogy to have married, before 1679 a Benjamin Beckwith, alleged son of Matthew Beckwith of Hartford and Lyme, Con. This query has never been answered, for the reason that no such Azubah Brewster ever existed, no such marriage ever took place, nor was there a Benjamin Beckwith to be the alleged husband. " <S1>

"The fiction originates in the hasty sketch of the Beckwith family set out in the Caulkins History of New London. This sketch shows no depth of study, but is a mere skimming of the surface, misleading in certain suggestions, and showing a miscomprehension of the few records available." <S1>

"In light of these facts, the shallowness and unreliability of Miss Caulkin's sketch is evident. There was no will, no record of distribution of heirs, and, while the other children have abundant record, there is not the slightest suggestion in any record that there was a son Benjamin. The New London land records [4:65] contain the receipt of Benjamin Grant, the grandson, bearing date 8 June 1693, for his portion of his grandfather Matthew Beckwith's estate. He was probably "Muddled in" as a son Benjamin." <S1>

1. ↑ Matthew Beckwith, in Fox, Gen. Simeon M. Matthew Beckwith and his Family. American Genealogist (D.L. Jacobus). (Apr, Jul 1945)
   21:264.