Person:Benjamin Baldwin (13)

PROOF THAT THE BENJAMIN BALDWIN OF CANTERBURY, CT IS THE BENJAMIN BALDWIN MENTIONED IN THE WILL OF HENRY BALDWIN OF WOBURN

Corrobative evidence of the connection of Benjamin of Conn to Benjamin of Woburn is that the names of two sons of the Benjamin of Canterbury, CT correspond with two births recorded in Woburn, Mass in 1697 and 1701 to a Benjamin and Hanna Baldwin. (John and Benjamin II). We see a bunch of the kids are baptized in Canterbury Church records, including Benjamin II, but not John. However, we have a deed to "beloved son John" in the 1720's, where Benjamin gave John his "starter" farm.

This link has been carried for years, at least since Candee Baldwin, in 1881, although he doesn't cite his reasoning or proof. The Middlesex Homes book reported his death in 1736 (as opposed to 1759, which we have found in Canterbury records) and that authority said something to the effect that there had been a rumor that Benjamin had removed to Canterbury, CT. This researcher has found no evidence of wife Hannah being in Canterbury, CT, except that the children after the first two were born there, but don't see her name on any record. I can't tie a specific Hannah Baldwin death in the Barbour Collection to her, although there are a few Hannah's there, but none say "wife of Benjamin". Even the baptism record showed the kids as kids of Benjamin, with no mention of Hannah. For that matter, I haven't found a birth record for Hannah yet. She is not listed in Ipswich Vital Records where she should have been. (The couple are tied together from a real estate transaction where Thomas Knowlton, Sr refers to "his son, Benjamin Baldwin.")

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DATE OF BIRTH: Genealogy of Ezra Baldwin has birthday as Jan 20, 1673. This was during the period of double dating during the changeover to the Gregorian calendar, and dates in Jan-Mar during this period are expressed 1672/73. One year for one Old Style, another year for the New Style. Candee Baldwin has 01/20/1672/3, indicating the above date was the New Style.

BIOGRAPHY: Baldwin Genealogy, Charles Candee Baldwin, Pg 618: "Born 01/20/1672/73, in Woburn, Mass; settled in Canterbury, Conn, about 1700, and died there in 1759."

BIOGRAPHY: Per Heritage of the Hallock / Baldwin Family by Doug Geist, 1986. Chapter by Florence Baldwin, Pg I-15-16:

"Benjamin was born at Woburn, MA. January or February 20, 1672/73, and died at Canterbury, Conn., December 11, 1759. He settled at Canterbury, Conn about 1700. His wife's name was Hannah. She died September 28, 1736. They had six sons and three daughters. Their names: John, Benjamin, Daniel (1705), Ebenezer, Timothy, Patience, Henry, Hannah. This is all we know of this family. Daniel, the third son, is next in (our) line with three daughters and two sons. Their names: Daniel, Jr. (born November 14, 1731), Hannah, Ebenezer, Deborah, Phoebie."

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION IN WOBURN: Abstracts of Early Woburn Deeds, Recorded at Middlesex County Registry, 1649-1700, by Edward F. Johnson, 1895, Pg 76.

B. 24, P. 514

Benjamin Baldwin of Woburn, in consideration of 40 pounds, convey to John Reed, Sr, weaver, first, Henry Baldwin's Great Lot of 44 acres, bounded northwest by Billerica Line. Also 5 acres laid out by Wm. Johnson to the southward of above. Also 2 1/2 acres at Settle Meadow. Also 7 acres at Timber Field. Also 4 acres more at Timber Field, bought of John Cragin, Senr. Dower of Hannah Baldwin, released. Jan. 1, 1700.

Benjamin Baldwin and seal Hannah Baldwin and seal Ack. Jan 4, 1700. Rec Dec 4, 1725."

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WHERE IS CANTERBURY, CONNECTICUT? Canterbury, Connecticut is about 60 miles southwest of Woburn, Massachusetts, where Benjamin was born. It is approximately 30 miles inland (north) from Long Island Sound and directly west of Providence, Rhode Island by about 30 miles. It is almost midway between Hartford, CT and Providence, Rhode Island.

WHERE ARE CANTERBURY, NORWICH AND WINDHAM, CONN? Florence Baldwin said the family moved from Massachusetts to Canterbury, Conn about 1700. Evelyn has Daniel, Jr., born Norwich, Conn in 1731, Elijah born Windham, CT in 1756. All three of these towns are in relatively proximity to each other. They form a small triangle in the eastern side of Conn, close to the border with Rhode Island. Windham is about 10 miles west of Canterbury, Norwich is about 20 miles south of Canterbury. Norwich is in New London County. Canterbury and Windham are in Windham County. I haven't pinpointed where Mansfield, CT is at this point. I think there has been a name change in regards to Mansfield. However, it was in Windham Co, as that is how it is reported in Elijah Baldwin's Revolutionary War records, as transcribed below.

FIRST PROPERTY PURCHASED IN CANTERBURY

Benjamin purchased his first property in Canterbury in 1704. I have a copy of the deed. It is mostly unreadable, but the index entry clearly shows it is he, and you can make out his name in the document.

CEMETERY: CANTERBURY DEATH RECORDS: From the Barbour Collection at the CT State Library

http://w3.nai.net/~lmerrell/cantdeaths.html

Benjamin, d 11 Dec 1759

This corresponds with the date of death that we have had for him all these years. It sure would have helped if he were buried with Hannah, or if it had shown an age, to confirm it is really him. An age would have been additional evidence that he is the son of Henry of Woburn, if it agreed with the Woburn birth records. But, alas, that info isn't there... so we forge on ahead looking for more clues.

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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH RECORDS, Canterbury CT 1711-1844:

Pg 49, 1713: Kids baptized. Does not list John, who would have been 17 at the time. Does not list the two youngest, born after 1713. The others are shown.

Pg 59, April 11, 1713. Son Henry baptized. Note both of these entries make reference to "sons/dau of Benjamin" and make no reference to a wife/mother.

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REAL ESTATE: Benjamin purchased his first property in Canterbury, Connecticut on February 25, 1704/5 in the 18th deed recorded at that venue (Canterbury annex of the Windham Co courts. In CT, apparently deeds are recorded at the town level. There are many real estate transactions involving the Baldwins in the deed books of Windham County, CT.

In the 1720's, he deeds over property to his "beloved sons" John and Daniel (maybe others, too, there are a quite a few deeds for them). Apparently their starter farms.

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ABOUT WINDHAM COUNTY, CT, From Windham Co Genweb site:

EARLY HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

In the early commerce between the colonies of Massachusetts and Connecticut a popular route over the land was through the region now covered by Windham county. Remote from the sea shore, and possessing no navigable lakes or rivers, it was perfectly reasonable that this territory should be for a time overlooked, or rather that it should be passed by as a goodly land for the home-seekers in a new world to locate upon. Accessibility by water was to the first settlers an almost absolutely essential feature in any site chosen by them for the planting of a little colony. But we may well imagine that the fertile valleys and hills of this beautiful region, and the picturesque attractions of the future Windham did not long remain unnoticed. The land became known to the English about the year 1635. When, about that time, the early colonists began to traverse the hideous and trackless wilderness, on the way from Massachusetts to the Connecticut river, tradition tells us their encampment for the night was on Pine hill in Ashford. A rude track, called the Connecticut Path, obliquely crossing the Wabbaquasset country, became the main thoroughfare of travel between the two colonies. Hundreds of families toiled over it to new homes in the wilderness. The fathers of Hartford and New Haven, ministers and governors, captains and commissioners, government officials and land speculators, crossed and recrossed over it. Civilization passed to regions beyond but made no abiding place here for more than half a century.

On of the most indefatigable land speculators of that period was Mr. John Winthrop. In Massachusetts, in Rhode Island, in Connecticut and upon Long Island his tracks may be seen, as, first in one locality and then in another, he obtained title more or less perfect to the wild lands occupied by the Indians. Here in the territory now occupied by Windham county he was the first Englishman to receive from the natives a deed for an indefinite quantity of land. This conveyance beats date November 2d, 1653, and purports to have been given by James, sachem of Quinebaug, and confirmed by Massashowitt, his brother, and also to have been made with the consent, full and free ; of Aguntus, Pumquanon, Massitiarno, his brother, and Moas, and all the rest of the chief men of these parts; The confirmation by other than James was made on the 25th of the same month, the writings being witnessed by Richard Smith, Samuel Smith, John Gallop, James Avery and William Weloma.

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY, CT, Richard M. Bayles, W. W. Preston & Co, 1889. Downtown LA Library, on the shelf: Gen R 974.61 W76 Ba

Pg 485: Canterbury Chapter: "... Benjamin Baldwin.... appear(s) among the inhabitants in 1705."

Pg 488: Canterbury Chapter: " In the distribution of common land made under this arrangement, on April 30th, 1723, the following twenty seven persons received each one and a half shares as being first settlers and planters (of Canterbury): .... Benjamin Baldwin...."

"The following eighteen persons received one-half share each as later settlers: .... John Baldwin... Many of the later proprietors (presumably in the eighteen listed) were sons of the first planters."

"By the middle of the century the land of the town was so well taken up that but few settlers were coming in. The lands and homesteads were mostly occupied by the descendants of the first settlers."

Pg 505: Canterbury Chapter; "Reviewing the progress of the town after the revolutionary period we find..... David Baldwin and Benjamin Baldwin (** presumably Bennie, Jr. **) .... and other older men were active in town affairs.."

1.   Records of the Congregational Church in Cantebury, Connecticut 1711-1844
   49-50, 1932.

   Oct 25, 1713 - Benjamin, Daniel, Ebenezer, Timothy, Hannah, Patience Bauldwin; the Children of Benjamin Baldwin senr were Bap;
   Apr 18, 1714 - Henery Baldwin the Son of Benjamin Baldwin was Bap.

2. ↑ Johnson, Edward F. Woburn Records of Births, Deaths, and Marriages . (Woburn, Massachusetts: Andrews, Cutler & Co., 1890-1919)
   1:14.

   Baldwin, Benjamin, s. of Henry, Jan. 20, 1673.
   [Page 1:7 says years are given as modern equivalents, so this 20 Jan1672/73.]

3. ↑ Canterbury, in Connecticut, United States. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records.

   Baldwin, Benjamin, d. Dec. 11, 1759. [1; 96]

4. ↑ Per Source:Stocking, Charles H. W. History and Genealogy of the Knowltons of England and America, Benjamin was of Osborn, Mass, [presumably Woburn, Mass] when he bought land in CT, in 1702. The birth of son Benjamin was recorded in Woburn in 1701, and son Daniel is recorded in Canterbury in 1705.