Third Generation

7. Benjamin TAFT (\) was born on 31 March 1684 in Mendon, Worcester County, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America.^3,4,6 He died in 1768 at the age of 84.^3,7

Benjamin TAFT (\) and Sarah THOMAS were married on 22 March 1707/8 in Mendon, Worcester County, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America.^4,7,8

"Benjamin settled in Mendon, and built his mansion house on the west side of the Blackstone, in that part of the town set off in 1727 to Uxbridge, and on the Providence road. Benjamin was an extensive land owner, both in Uxbridge and in Douglas, and was a partner in the Land Bank of 1740; notwithstanding which his descendants seem to have left the parental hive in larger numbers than those of any of his brothers, who, for several generations, through the forethought of their fathers (sic) in taking up land, had little reason to seek other homes.

Benjamin did not take so active a part in town affairs as his brothers. He seems to have staid (sic) at home. He was a Quaker, as were his children after him, and consequently was not taxed for support of the minister, and was also exempt from military duty, and perhaps for this reason, the records of his branch of the family are less perfect than of the others, since Quakers considered grave stones to be evidence of pride, and seemingly also were very modest about reporting their births, deaths and marriages to the recording authorities.

In the accumulation of land, however, he showed considerable enterprise; he followed the example of his father and his brothers, in settling upon his children farms, when they arrived at maturity and married, notwithstanding which he had, at his death, more than twelve hundred acres. His landed possessions were mostly in the south-western part of Uxbridge, in the vicinity of Shockalog pond.

Benjamin died in 1768. His widow, Barsheba, signed, by mark, a request to have his son, Silas, "and no other" appointed to administer the estate. This request was dated April 26, 1768. Silas, who was a Quaker, and affirmed, undertook this administratorship, and filed an inventory which totalled 1115 pounds, 11 shillings.

The family of Benjamin Taft has long been known to consist of children Samuel, Stephen, Mijamin, Tabareh, Silas and Paul. The births of the first four, to Benjamin and Sarah, were recorded at Mendon between 1708 and 1714. No birth records for Silas and Paul have been discovered, but based on their marriage dates, they may have been considerably younger. This has led to speculation regarding what may have happened after 1714 to explain the lack of birth records.

Did Sarah die? Apparently not, as Sarah relinquished her dower on a series of deeds in the 1740s between Benjamin and his sons. In Taft Family Association records, a daughter, Lucy, is attributed to Benjamin, but with no supporting documentation. Other possibilities have been mooted from time to time, but no proofs have been found. Now, clear evidence has been located that reveals a second and third daughter, Keziah and Marcy."

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Sarah THOMAS was born in 1690. She died in 1760 at the age of 70.⁵

Benjamin TAFT (\) and Sarah THOMAS had the following children:

Benjamin TAFT (\) and Barsheba DICKE were married on 14 January 1762 in Uxbridge, Worcester County, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America.⁷ Barsheba DICKE was born (date unknown).