Last revised: July 14, 2006/ January 7, 2007 (168 pages) 312,9476, = bytes, 1005 KB + Eby’s Bible info Sept. 6, 2003 Special Note: This working outline is not meant to be a definitive statement on Benoni Moon’s family, but can be used as a tool to sort out various facts, potential relationships and family lines. Please do not forward it, as there are too many errors and much speculation, but it may be of help to you. Also, I welcome your comments, suggestions and critique. Sincerely, W. Fred Wickizer [email protected] THE BENONI MOON FAMILY Benoni Moon5 (Robert4,Ebenezer3-2, Robert1 Moon) was born April 12, 17451 probably at Exeter, Rhode Island. He appears to be the youngest son of Robert4 Moon and Ann Tripp. Benoni married first Lois Warren on May 4, 1769 at Brooklyn, Connecticut in Windham County (see Early Connecticut Marriages, As Found In Ancient Church Records Prior to 1800, edited by Fred W. Bailer, Baltimore: Gen. Pub. Co., 1968). Lois was born June 27, 1747 in Woodstock Windham Co, Connecticut (Vital Records of Woodstock, 1686-1854, Hartford, the Case, Lockwood &Brainard Co. 1914). Lois died about 1787/90, probably in North Stephentown, Rensselaer County, New York. The parents of Lois Warren were Nathaniel and Allethea (Bugbee) Warren (see Appendix A). To the union of Nathaniel and Allethea (sometimes Ellethea) Warren were five children, among them Rhoda Warren born March 10, 1764. Although Lois Warren married Benoni, there is a letter of intent at Sturbridge, Worcester, MA that raises several questions. This document entered May 21, 1787 and attested by Joshua Harding, Jr. Town Clerk (Ref.) states that “Marriage is intended between Benoni Moon of Little Hoosuck (sic) and Rhoda Warren of Sturbridge.” (see Vital Records of Sturbridge, Massachusetts, To The Year 1850, Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1906; also actual document is available through the Mormons micro film center or in the marriage records of the Worcester County Clerks Office. The initial document was originally identified by Dr. Tom Clark who died in June 1999). The document suggests that Benoni intended to marry Rhoda Warren, the sister of Lois Warren. Perhaps, this 1 Benoni’s date of birth was found on a photograph of his youngest son, Wanton Moon. It was formally in the possession of George Washington Moon and later given to his nephew, the late Victor Eby and located by Wendell Eby of Jackson, Michigan (July 1999). Additionally, in pre 1876 family memorabilia from the estate of George Washington Moon (also located by Wendell Eby) Benoni’s birth date is further established as April 12, 1745. Also, on a document in Victor Moon’s (son of George Washington Moon) estate, an application to enter George Washington Moon into the Society, Sons of The Revolution, in the State of California, reveals Benoni’s birth date as April 12, 174 . The last digit being torn off. This document was likely developed just after 1923 when Victor’s family moved to California. These documents appear to be the best sources for Benoni’s actual date of birth. Moreover, these documents further reveals Benoni’s death date as October 8, 1811; and Hannah’s birth as June 12, 1761 and her death as September 30, 1817. intention occurred shortly after the death of Lois Warren. However, whether Rhoda actually married Benoni, died before this marriage or married someone else is unknown. Benoni married secondly Hannah Reynolds. She was apparently born on June 12, 1761 likely in Exeter or North Kingstown, Rhode Island and died September 30, 1817 (see 2 footnote 1), probably in Middlesex, Yates County, NY. On October 8, 1811, Benoni died in a farm accident by falling off a hay stack at Rushville, New York (Stafford C. Cleveland, History and Directory of Yates Co…Including a Narrative of The Universal Friend, Pen Yan, NY: by Cleveland, Chronicle office, 1873, page 810) and is said to be buried on a farm off the West Swamp Road in the Town of Potter, Yates County, NY. Others claim that Benoni is buried in another nearby cemetery that has never been recorded. On June 29, 1812, “Rennels” (sic) Moon, a son of Benoni and Hannah (Reynods), files a surrogate document resulting in the Court appointing Reynolds Moon as the Administrator of Benoni’s estate (Surrogate Court Record, Book 4, 1809-1812, page279-280). This document is confusing as it refers to Reynolds Moon as being a “friend” of Benoni, perhaps suggesting a connection to the Jemima Wilkerson’s Universal Friend religious group. By 1774, Benoni continued to reside in Exeter, RI, however, there are no land records suggesting that Benoni owned property in Exeter at this time. According to the State Census for that year, Benoni had a small family consisting of: 1 male over 16, 2 males under 16, 1 female above 16 and 1 female under 16. Other Moons living in the Exeter area at this time are Benoni’s father Robert4 (b.1706 d. after 1763) and his two uncles, Ebenezer4 (b1708 d1777/8) and Peleg4 Moon (b.1725 d. 1799)3. Also, Benoni’s 2 Benoni’s date of death was also found on a photograph of his youngest son, Wanton Moon. It was formally in the possession of the late Victor Eby and located by Wendell Eby of Jackson, Michigan. It is the only surviving indication of his full date of death. 3 Over 50 years, some family historians surmised that Benoni was most likely a son of either Peleg 4 or Robert Moon. Researchers asserting the parentage as Peleg, approximated Benoni’s birth date as between 1752-1755. Consequently, since Peleg and Sarah (Baxter) Moon were married in Newport, RI on November 6, 1751, then it was thought that Benoni was likely their child. Additionally, Peleg’s daughter, Esther Moon married a John Brown, Jr. This John Brown, Jr. with Benoni Moon purchased property in North Stephentown, NY, seemingly showing a close connection between Benoni and Peleg’s family. Since Benoni owned property (Little Hoosick farms) near both Peleg and Robert’s children, it is difficult to say whether his farm locations are suggestive of any particular relationship. By about March 1779 (see Stephentown, NY tax list), Peleg moved from Exeter, RI to the Mattison Hollow area near Cherry Plaines and Berlin, NY (then known as Stephentown, NY) with several of his children. Nearby in Berlin, NY were several sons and daughters of Robert and Ann (Tripp) Moon, including Mehitable, Job (b.1739/40), John R. (b. cir 1741), and Deliverance (b. May 13,1736) all of whom attended the 7th Day Baptist Church. However, Benoni is not recorded as attending this Church or any Church in Stephentown. However, Benoni also owned property (roaring brook farm) in North Stephentown, NY near John5 Moon (not to be confused with John R. Moon) and wife Ruth. In fact, John and Ruth are buried in a small cemetery know as Moon cemetery on Benoni’s original farm. Peleg Moon is buried on the farm of his son, Thomas in the Mattison Hollow area. On May 11, 1782, Peleg with his two sons Thomas and Benajah, as well as his son in law, Jonathan Brown and other neighbors, were sworn in by local officials to defend the New York frontiers. Benoni was not included in this list, but does appear on the on the 4th and 6th Albany Militia lists. Researchers maintaining Benoni’s paternal parentage as being Robert4 Moon were frustrated by North Kingstown, R.I’s. courthouse fires that partially destroyed the name and birth dates of Robert and Ann (Tripp) Moon’s children, including Benoni’s name and birth date. From about 1990 to 1999, Dr. Tom Clark asserted that the pattern of names in Benoni’s family are closely associated with Robert4 rather than Peleg4 Moon’s family and outweigh other circumstantial factors (in favor of Peleg). For example, Benoni 2 first cousin, John5 Moon, inherited his father’s (John4 Moon, he died 1741 in North Kingstown, RI) Exeter, RI farm located near the ten rod road and the James Pond, adjacent to Ebenezer4 Moon’s farm. However, cousin John5 was working as a wheelwright in Warwick, RI and likely residing in Warwick at this time. In 1775, John5 sold his father’s farm to the Rev. Joseph James of North Kingstown, RI’s Six Principles Baptist Church. Benoni during the Revolutionary War was a member of General Stephen Van Rensselaer’s 4th and possibly 6th Albany County Militia. He appears on the payroll of Captain James Dennison’s Company under the command of Colonel Kilian Van Rensselaer Regiment. His assignment on June 4, 1777, was to apprehend disaffected persons in the southeast part of the Rensselaer Manor. Some DAR records assert that he was a sergeant during the Revolution, but no evidence supports this claim. Also, in 1788, Benoni was recommended to be a Captain of a light infantry regiment within the district of Hoosick and Stephentown (A.J. Weise, History of The Seventeen Towns of Rensselaer County, Chapter XVIII, The Town of Stephentown, 1880, page 130; also History of Rensselaer County, New York). Wyat Rose was to be Benoni’s Lieutenant and Roger Jones, the Ensign. However, the only surviving pay record shows that he received one day’s pay for service on July 27, 1777 in the amount of 4 shillings and 3 pence. Another record reveals that he entered service on July 27, 1777 and left service on July 28, 1777. This information may suggest that he either served only one day during the Revolutionary War or possibly briefly for one unit before being transferred to another unit.