Person Page

     Benjamin Farnham was born about 1826 in New York.² He married Mary Town, daughter of William M. Town and Maria (?).^3,4,5,6 He died between 1894, when he was listed in the Michigan state census, and 5 December 1897, when his wife Mary died as a widow.^7,8
     He and his wife Mary were living in Thornapple, Barry Co., Michigan, in August 1850, with their infant son William.² By August 1858 they had moved to Caledonia, Kent Co., Michigan.^9,10 In July 1860 they were enumerated there in the census, with their children William, Byron, Harriet, Mary, and Lura (listed as "infant," age 2/12).¹⁰ They were still there in 1870, with their children William, Byron, Harriet, Mary, Lucy Ellen, and Edgar. Living with them was Huldah Farnham, age 79, probably Benjamin's mother.¹¹ In 1880 they are found in Wayland, Allegan Co., Michigan, with Hattie, Ellen, and Edgar. Their son Byron and his family were living next door.¹² By 1894 they and Edgar were back in Caledonia.⁷
     Benjamin was a farmer from at least 1850 to 1870, and later ran a sawmill.^2,10,13,12 He (and presumably his wife Mary) were members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.⁹

     Edwin W. Town was born on 18 September 1871 in Homer, Calhoun Co., Michigan, about seven months after his father's death.^2,1 He married Ida E. Dykes, daughter of Joel Dykes and Amelia J. Morgan, on 2 June 1897 in Brighton, Livingston Co., Michigan.^3,4 He died on 29 December 1940 in Hghland Park, Wayne Co., Michigan, at age 69 from a stroke.⁵ He was buried at Fairview Cemetery in Brighton, Livingston Co., Michigan.⁵
     Based on information in the probate records of his grandfather William Town, he moved to Floyd Co., Iowa, about 1881, at about age 10, where his mother's sister Emma was then living with her husband Samuel Wetherbee.^1,6,7 He is listed there in Charles City in the 1885 Iowa state census, as Eddie Town, age 13, living in the household of Charles Klagro.⁸
     On 31 December 1886 he petitioned the court in Floyd Co., stating that he was the only child of the late Edwin W. Town, son of William Town, deceased, of Livingston Co., Michigan, and that he was entitled to his father's share of the property then belonging to William Town's estate. In his petition he also asked that (his uncle) S. P. Wetherbee be appointed as his guardian. The petition was granted on 11 January 1887.¹ When his grandfather William Town's estate was settled on 2 August 1888, he received $274.66.¹
     He was apparently back in Michigan by 21 June 1888¹, when his uncle Alfred Bartlett Town was appointed as his guardian in court in Grand Rapids, Kent Co.¹
     In 1900 he and his wife Ida were living in Brighton Twp., Livingston Co., Michigan.⁴ By 1910 they had moved to Vassar Twp., Tuscola Co., Michigan,⁹ then to Highland Park, Wayne Co., Michigan, where they are listed in the censuses from 1920 to 1940. Living with them in 1920, in addition to their daughters Lois and Zella, were boarders Earl B. Iler (who Lois would marry later that year) and George Galbraith. Zella was still living with them in 1930 and 1940, and in 1930 they also had a roomer, John Cobb.^10,11,12
     He had a varied career. In 1900 he was a member of the firm Towne and Jacobs, owners/publishers of the Brighton Argus.^4,13 He was a printing office foreman in 1910⁹, an auto factory machinist in 1920 and 1930^10,11, and was working as a church janitor at the time of his death in 1940.¹²

     John Bancroft was born on 25 June 1708 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ He married first Ruth Newhall, daughter of Elisha Newhall and Jane Breed, intentions published on 5 April 1731 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ He married second Eve Hawkes.¹ He died on 20 April 1777 at age 68.¹
     He's will was dated 16 March 1776 and proved 2 June 1777. His brother Nathaniel was the executor, and his estate was appraised at £364 2s 4d.¹

     Ruth Newhall was born on 9 December 1712.¹ She married John Bancroft, son of John Bancroft and Mary Clarke, intentions published on 5 April 1731 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ She died on 25 February 1745/46 at age 33.¹

     Elisha Newhall married Jane Breed.¹

     Jane Breed married Elisha Newhall.¹

     Eve Hawkes married John Bancroft, son of John Bancroft and Mary Clarke.¹ She died on 25 March 1797.¹

     James Bancroft was born on 21 March 1732 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ He married Esther Smith, daughter of James Smith and Abigail (?), on 25 November 1755 in Reading, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.² He died on 22 August 1814 in Lynnfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts, at age 82.² He was buried at the Old Burying Ground in Lynnfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.³
     He served as tithingman in 1757, warden in 1774, and clerk of the parish in 1779-80.² He had a slave named Essex, who was baptised on 23 August 1772.²
     He marched in response to the Lexington Alarm on 19 April 1775, as a private in Capt. Nathaniel Bancroft's company. A little over two weeks later, on 6 May, he enlisted in the 7th Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment (renamed the 19th Regiment of Foot in August 1775), and was commissioned as a lieutenant on 7 June. The regiment was commanded by Col. John Mansfield until 15 September 1775 and then by Lt. Col. Israel Hutchinson. He served initially in Capt. Gideon Foster's company, then in Capt. John Baker's company. The regiment participated in the Siege of Boston.
     On 16 February 1778 he was listed among those who enlisted from the 1st Essex Regiment into the 8th Massachusetts Regiment of the Continental Army, commanded by Col. Michael Jackson, for a period of three years, or the war's duration. He served in Capt. James Bancroft's company, and was commissioned as an ensign on 26 November 1779 and as a lieutenant on 4 July 1780. On 12 July 1782 he was listed as a lieutenant in the 8th Regiment, then led by Lt. Col. Ezra Badlam.^4,5,6

More Information / Background

• Battles of Lexington and Concord
  
• Siege of Boston
  
• Massachusetts Line.
  

     Mary Bancroft was born on 28 December 1733 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ She married John Merriam on 24 November 1752.¹

     John Merriam married Mary Bancroft, daughter of John Bancroft and Ruth Newhall, on 24 November 1752.¹
     He was of Sudbury, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.¹

     Ruth Bancroft was born on 15 January 1735/36 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ She married Joseph Newhall on 5 July 1757.¹

     Joseph Newhall married Ruth Bancroft, daughter of John Bancroft and Ruth Newhall, on 5 July 1757.¹

     Lydia Bancroft was born on 1 May 1738 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ She married Benjamin Wilson on 28 November 1759.¹

     Benjamin Wilson married Lydia Bancroft, daughter of John Bancroft and Ruth Newhall, on 28 November 1759.¹

     John Bancroft was born on 18 April 1740 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ He died young.¹

     Rachel Bancroft was born on 4 November 1744 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ She married John Berry before 1776.¹

     John Berry married Rachel Bancroft, daughter of John Bancroft and Ruth Newhall, before 1776.¹

     John Bancroft was born on 21 October 1749 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ He married Mary Walton on 24 October 1768 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts.²
     He was a housewright (an expert carpenter who worked on houses).²

     Ebenezer Bancroft was born on 25 July 1752 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ He married Sarah Ballard, daughter of William Ballard and Ann Sprague, on 9 December 1774.² He died of consumption on 26 July 1775 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts, at age 23.²

     Job Bancroft was born on 4 April 1754 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ He married Sarah Upton, daughter of Amos Upton and Sarah Bickford, on 10 January 1782 in Reading, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.² He died on 7 July 1802 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, at age 48.²
     He was a housewright (expert house carpenter).² He died intestate, and his widow Sarah was appointed administratrix of his estate.²

     Esther Smith was born about 1727.¹ She married James Bancroft, son of John Bancroft and Ruth Newhall, on 25 November 1755 in Reading, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.¹ She died on 25 March 1814 in Lynnfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ She was buried at the Old Burying Ground in Lynnfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.²