M. 27 Oct 1698 in Northampton, Massachusetts2
Wife: Thankful Pomeroy
D. 14 Oct 1723 in Northampton, Massachusetts3
Benjamin Lyman was an example of what was possible in colonial America — a man could work hard and perhaps rise a few rungs up the economic ladder.
Benjamin was a third generation member of one of the founding families in the Connecticut River valley. He was born in Northampton, Massachusetts on August 10, 1674 to John Lyman and Dorcas Plumb,1 one of 10 children. Benjamin’s father served as a captain in King Philip’s War.4 His father died in 1690, and at some point, Benjamin inherited his house in Northampton. It was considered the family homestead; the house passed down in the family for several generations.
On October 27, 1698, Benjamin married Thankful Pomeroy,2 the daughter of church deacon Medad Pomeroy in Northampton. Between 1699 and 1722, they had 12 children, only one of whom died young.
Benjamin was a lieutenant and he served in Queen Anne’s War; his name was in a list of 25 soldiers from Northampton who served from 1704 to 1713.5 Queen Anne’s War was a conflict between France and England that affected their colonies during the years 1704 to 1723. Northampton was brought into the fighting by virtue of being on the western frontier of Massachusetts. The French operating out of Quebec allied with Indian tribes to perform raids on communities in the vicinity. With such a threat, the men of Northampton enlisted in fighting the French and their Indian allies. It isn’t known exactly what fighting Benjamin was involved in; some sources claim he was in a scouting party that fought Indians on May 20, 1709, but his name isn’t on the list of the men who were there.6
On October 27, 1698, Benjamin married Thankful Pomeroy,2 the daughter of church deacon Medad Pomeroy in Northampton. Between 1699 and 1722, they had 12 children, only one of whom died young.
Benjamin was a lieutenant and he served in Queen Anne’s War; his name was in a list of 25 soldiers from Northampton who served from 1704 to 1713.5 Queen Anne’s War was a conflict between France and England that affected their colonies during the years 1704 to 1723. Northampton was brought into the fighting by virtue of being on the western frontier of Massachusetts. The French operating out of Quebec allied with Indian tribes to perform raids on communities in the vicinity. With such a threat, the men of Northampton enlisted in fighting the French and their Indian allies. It isn’t known exactly what fighting Benjamin was involved in; some sources claim he was in a scouting party that fought Indians on May 20, 1709, but his name isn’t on the list of the men who were there.6
Fighting in Queen Anne’s War. (AI-generated image)
After the war was over, Benjamin was said to be “an enterprising and thriving man.”6 Along with the house in Northampton, he acquired many other tracts of land, including 500 acres in what was described in his probate record as "Bedford."6 He also owned an African-American slave named Nancy;6 during the early 18th century, there was a substantial slave population in Massachusetts. In 1721, Benjamin was one of three men appointed to lend government money to individuals.5 The “public bank” was a system of dealing in paper currency in colonial New England. On the local level, trustees were authorized to distribute currency as loans to individuals in the community as they saw fit, so Benjamin's position was one of some authority.
Benjamin died on October 14, 1723 at the age of 49,3 leaving behind his wife and large family. His estate was valued at £1,147, which was a decent amount of wealth.6 His widow Thankful remarried a man named Nathaniel Lewis, and she died in 1773 at the age of 94.6 Considering his financial success in life, it seems appropriate that among Benjamin’s descendants are Franklin Delano Roosevelt, J.P. Morgan, Gloria Vanderbilt and Anderson Cooper.7
The third page of the inventory of Benjamin's estate.
Children:
1. Joseph Lyman — B. 22 Aug 1699, Northampton, Massachusetts;8 D. 30 Mar 1763, Northampton, Massachusetts;6 M. Abigail Lewis (1701-1776), before 30 May 1728, (probably) Northampton, Massachusetts6
2. Benjamin Lyman — B. 19 Dec 1701, Northampton, Massachusetts;9 D. before 4 Jan 1703, Northampton, Massachusetts10
3. Benjamin Lyman — B. 4 Jan 1703, Northampton, Massachusetts;10 D. 1 May 1792, Easthampton, Massachusetts;6 M. Mary Mosley (1707-1782)6
4. Aaron Lyman — B. 1 Apr 1705, Northampton, Massachusetts;11 D. 12 Jun 1780, Belchertown, Massachusetts;12 M. Eunice Dwight (~1708-?), 12 Dec 17336
5. Eunice Lyman — B. May 1707, Northampton, Massachusetts;13 D. Jun 1720, Northampton, Massachusetts14
6. Hannah Lyman — B. 14 Jul 1709, Northampton, Massachusetts;15 D. 25 Dec 1792, Belchertown, Massachusetts;16 M. Nathaniel Dwight (1712-1784), 2 Jan 1735, Northampton, Massachusetts17
7. Caleb Lyman — B. 8 Aug 1711, Northampton, Massachusetts18
8. Susannah Lyman — B. 18 Jul 1713, Northampton, Massachusetts19
9. William Lyman — B. 12 Dec 1715, Northampton, Massachusetts;20 D. 13 Mar 1774, Northampton, Massachusetts;21 M. Jemima Sheldon (1721-1785), about 1751, Northampton, Massachusetts6
10. Daniel Lyman — B. 18 Apr 1718, Northampton, Massachusetts;22 D. 16 Oct 1788, New Haven, Connecticut;23 M. (1) Sarah Whiting (1725-1751), 6 Jun 1748, New Haven, Connecticut;24 (2) Sarah Miles (1731-1768), 25 Jun 1752, New Haven, Connecticut;25 (3) Eleanor Fairchild (1730-1825), 17686
11. Elihu Lyman — B. 10 Jul 1720, Northampton, Massachusetts;26 D. 17586
12. Medad Lyman — B. 20 Mar 1722, Northampton, Massachusetts;27 M. Mary Bassett (1732-?), 8 Jan 1751, New Haven, Connecticut28
Sources:
1 Birth record of Benjamin Lyman, Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, FamilySearch.org
2 Marriage record of Benjamin Lyman and Thankful Pomeroy, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
3 Death record of Benjamin Lyman, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
4 Find-a-Grave listing of John Lyman
5 History of Northampton, Massachusetts: From its Settlement in 1654, V. 1, James Russel Trumbull, Seth Pomeroy, 1898
6 Genealogy of the Lyman Family in America and Great Britain, Lyman Coleman, 1871
7 FamousKin.com listing of Benjamin Lyman
8 Birth record of Joseph Lyman, Massachusetts, Births and Christenings, 1639-1915, FamilySearch.org
9 Birth record of Benjamin Lyman (older son), M., B. & C.
10 Birth record of Benjamin Lyman (younger son), M., B. & C.
11 Birth record of Aaron Lyman, M., B. & C.
12 Death record of Aaron Lyman, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
13 Birth record of Eunice Lyman, M., B. & C.
14 Death record of Eunice Lyman, Massachusetts, Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910, FamilySearch.org
15 Birth record of Hannah Lyman, M., B. & C.
16 Death record of Hannah Dwight, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
17 Marriage record of Nathaniel Dwight and Hannah Lyman, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
18 Birth record of Caleb Lyman, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
19 Birth record of Susannah Lyman, M., B. & C.
20 Birth record of William Lyman, M., B. & C.
21 Death record of William Lyman, M., D. & B.
22 Birth record of Daniel Lyman, M., B. & C.
23 Find-a-Grave listing of Daniel Lyman
24 Marriage record of Daniel Lyman and Sarah Whiting, Connecticut, Marriages, 1630-1997, FamilySearch.org
25 Marriage record of Daniel Lyman and Sarah Miles, C., M.
26 Birth record of Elihu Lyman, M., B. & C.
27 Birth record of Medad Lyman, M., B. & C.
28 Marriage record of Medad Lyman and Mary Bassett, C., M.
