Elisha Benedict

Perhaps future Albany resident Elisha Benedict was born in Danbury, Connecticut in April 1736. We seek information on his origins and path to Albany. Several same-named contemporaries complicate our ambition of filling out the biography of this individual.

An Elisha Benedict served in the Connecticut Militia during the French & Indian War.

Perhaps his wife was one Jerusha Starr. One or both of them had been married previously. Their union produced several children perhaps between 1758 and 1767, Perhaps a namesake son (Elisha Benedict, Jr. - born 1760) also served in the militia and in the Revolutionary army.

In 1766, his house and property on the Southside were valued on the Albany assessment roll.

In March 1771, he petitioned the city council to be appointed marshall. The Council replied that he would be considered.

In December 1771, his account for £1:1 was among those paid from the city treasury.

In June 1772, he acquired/obtained "Lot 4" (200 acres) in Ballstown "township" from Albany and regional developer Gysbert Fonda.

By 1775, he had moved to Ballstown where he successfully petitioned the Albany Committee to raise a company. He later was identified as captain of an Albany County company. In June 1775, he carried the Association document from Albany to Ballstown. He appears to have been a committee member from Ballstown. However, his name rarely appeared in the minutes.

However, his wartime active military role is more fully documented. He also served as a Continental officer on the expedition against Canada. At this point, we have confined this exposition to his short term Albany city context. We have not followed his more well-documented out-of-Albany activities.

In 1779, his name appeared on an assessment roll for Ballstown.

In 1790, four heads of household named Elisha Benedict were enumerated on the census for Ballstown.

Perhaps this Elisha Benedict died in Canada in 1798.

Sources: The life of Elisha (Elijah) Benedict is CAP biography number 1468. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources. Online resources: GenealoWiki

Research notes: This individual probably was in Albany mostly during the 1760s. We seek to document his community-based experience more comprehensively.