612.1 BENJAMIN THOMAS

He was born about 1719 in Enfield in the British Colony of Connecticut, now Enfield, Hartford County, Connecticut.

On 14 May 1740 in Somers, Tolland County, Connecticut Benjamin Thomas married Elisabeth King, his step-sister. Elizabeth was born 15 May 1720 in Enfield, Hartford County, Connectic is best ut, daughter of Benjamin King and Rememberance Hall. Benjamin and Elizabeth had at least 7 children, all born in Somers:

.1 LEVI 1741-?
.2 DANIEL 1744-1763
.3 AZUBAH 1746-?
.4 RHODA (THOMAS) WHEELER RHODES 1756-before 1815
.5 MARY (THOMAS) TALLCOTT 1758-1837
.6 ABIAH 1767-?
.7 CYRUS 1772-?

The family lived in Somers, Tolland County, Connecticut.

Per "A HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, 1670-1850", by Edward Church Smith, Menasha, Wisconsin, private printing 1924:
"Benjamin Thomas, of Stafford, Conn., who came to Middlefield about 1783 was probably the Benjamin Thomas Jr. who married in Enfield, Conn. May 14, 1740, Elizabeth KING of Somers, Conn. She died in Middlefield. Nov.15, 1790 and he married his 2nd wife (int.) July 1, 1791, Joanna RHOADS. He lived near Glendale Falls and was the senior partner of the firm of "Benjamin Thomas & Co." which operated the grist mill at the head of the Falls in 1783. In 1787 the firm was called "Major Thomas, Rider and Talcott." He signed the Baptist petition in 1790. He had moved away by 1800."

The "Major Thomas" may indicate military service, although old for service in Revolutionary War.

Per "A HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, 1670-1850", by Edward Church Smith, Menasha, Wisconsin, private printing 1924
Joseph Talcott (Elizur, Samuel, Samuel, Samuel, John), son of Elizur and Mary (King) Talcott, was b. prob. Enfield, Conn. 1752, d. 1826, m. Mary THOMAS, b. 1764, d. N. Madison, Ohio, 10-17-1837. After living in Dalton he came to Mid. where he was living in 1790. He was on the school committee for the East District in 1789, and was among the signers of the Baptist petition in 1790. He was for a time a partner in the firm of "Maj. Thomas, Rider and Talcott," which operated the grist mill at the head of Glendale Falls. He owned one-third of lot No. 131, Worthington, which he sold with one-third share in the mill to James Nooney in 1793, and moved to Dalton where he was living in 1800. He lived for a time at Housatonic Falls, before going to Conneaut, Ohio in 1816. From there he went to Bristol, Ohio, where he died.
Per "A HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, 1670-1850", by Edward Church Smith, Menasha, Wisconsin, private printing 1924
Jeremiah Rider, m. (int.) 10-10-1784, Mary RHOADS. He m. 2nd (int.) 3-29-1792, Mehitable LUCAS of Becket. A Jeremiah Rider of Stafford, Conn., answered the Lexington Alarm in 1775 and served 2 days. He appears to have come to Mid. about 1783. He had some dealings in connection with the Rhoads Mill property that year and later was one of the partners for the mill of Major Thomas, Rider and Talcott, mentioned in a road survey in 1789-90.
Rider lived in the Den and was one of the signers of the Baptist petition in 1790. He was assigned Pew 16 in the meetinghouse 1792 and 1794. Rider had moved away from Mid. by 1800. A widow Rider, d. Mid. 1-7-1794 aged "more than 90."
Massachusetts Town Marriage Records http://www.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4079&enc=1
Name: Joanna Rhods (See Rhoads, Roads)
Spouse: Benjamin Thomas
Marriage Date: 1 Jul 1791
Marriage Place: Middlefield
Source: Vital Records of Middlefield

In 1763 Benjamin was the executor of son Daniel's estate.(7:230,231)

Or did Benjamin die 3 August 1769 in Tolland County, Connecticut?

MORE RESEARCH NEEDED.

• Married: 14 MAY 1740 in Somers, Tolland, Connecticut, USA

1. Levi Thomas b: 20 MAR 1741 in Somers, Tolland, Connecticut, USA
2. Daniel Thomas b: 07 OCT 1744 in Somers, Tolland, Connecticut, USA
3. Azubah Thomas b: 19 OCT 1746 in Somers, Tolland, Connecticut, USA
4. Rhoda Thomas b: 1756 in Somers, Tolland, Connecticut, USA
5. Mary Thomas b: 1758 in Somers, Tolland, Connecticut, USA
6. Abiah Thomas b: ABT 1767 in of Somers, Tolland, Connecticut, USA
7. Cyrus Thomas b: ABT 1772 in Somers, Tolland, Connecticut, USA

1. Title: The Leonards and Related Families; 1993 (revised 2012)