'James ([son of] John, [son of] Thomas), b. Jan. 5, 1685; m. 1709, Sarah, dau. Thomas and Mary Hyatt of Norwalk, b. Dec., 1686, and d. Feb. 9, 1767. ... He was the first to write the genealogy of the Benedict family. In his youth he lived with his grandmother, Mary Bridgum, wife of Thomas, and she delivered to him, from her own mouth, the genealogy down to his own memory, and he reduced it to writing. His Genealogy of the Family of the Benedicts, dated March 14, 1755, has been the foundation of all the subsequent ones. ... His death occurred Nov. 25, 1762 [in Ridgefield - JB].'