Holbrook line: Benjamin Perrin 1726-1807

 Who did Benjamin Perrin marry?  Did he serve in the French and Indian war?  Why did he move at least twice as an adult?  And was he, at heart a Baptist? As you can see, there is still much to learn about Benjamin.  But there are clues that at least can give us reason to ask questions, and we can be grateful for that much.  

Benjamin was born April 17, 1726, in Woodstock, Connecticut, the son of John and Abigail Morris Perrin.  He grew up in Woodstock and it is thought that he married there, to Mary whose last name is frequently given as Osborn, but I've not found documentation for that.  The supposed place of marriage is Woodstock, but again, these records are not documented in the vital records of Woodstock that I've reviewed on-line.  

Still, we can believe that Benjamin married someone named Mary in about 1752, because the children started arriving in 1753.  Also in 1752 Benjamin bought land in Holland, Massachusetts, (actually Brimfield, at the time) which was about 18 miles from Woodstock.  He purchased 133 acres from Ebenezer Moulton, and paid almost 67 pounds for it.  (The only Ebenezer Moulton I located was born in 1746, so possibly the name should be John, Ebenezer's father, rather than Ebenezer.)  The land was located "south of Mud Pond."

John and Mary had eleven or possibly twelve children together, born from 1753 to 1776.  Sadly, six of them died at an early age, from infancy to age 16.  Even in those days, this was outside of the norm so one has to wonder if there was something either genetic or environmental that was causing so many sad days for the parents.  

The first mention I found in the history of Holland regarded a vote in 1756 that was challenged.  Apparently Benjamin should not have been allowed to participate in that action, as he was a Baptist.  But four years later, Benjamin's signature was on a petition asking for a second church to be located in the south part of Brimfield, the part that later became Holland.  We don't know whether Benjamin had changed churches or not, but his name is definitely there.  

Although Benjamin was of the right age and in the right location to have fought in the French and Indian War (possibly going to Quebec), I have not yet found his name in any military records.  His children came regularly during that time period, so perhaps he didn't go, or possibly was one of the many who suffered illness and returned home early.  I'd love to find the answer to that question!

At least one of Benjamin and Mary's sons served in the Revolutionary War, and there were several Perrins from both Woodstock and Brimfield who served, so this seems to have been a patriotic family.  We don't know of any service that Benjamin provided during that war, either, but we can't rule out the possibility.   

There is a long silence about Benjamin, until his death in Holland on June 9, 1807.  We can, however, judge what his family thought of him by the verse on his headstone:  

"A husband kind & good a parent dear

To all obliging and sincere

True to his God the orphans friend and guide

He liv'd beloved and lamented di'd."

In his will, he left specific amounts to his wife, Mary, and to daughter Mary, Henry, John, Amasa, Hallowell (he got more than the others) and Asrael, who apparently got less but who may have owned the family farm.  Any additional amounts were to be divided equally among all the the children.  His inventory of personal property included an eight day clock, which was valued at $34.50, by far the most valuable item.  We don't know whether he still owned land, or whether he may have distributed it earlier.  

I would have liked to have known this man, who lived beloved and died lamented.

The line of descent is

Benjamin Perrin-Mary possibly Osborn

Mary Perrin-David Fay

Luceba Fay-Libbeus Stanard

Hiram Stanard-Susan Eddy

Louis Stanard-Mary Alice Hetrick

Etta Stanard-Loren Holbrook

Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen