Who is Benny Scribner?

Benny Scribner has been referred to as the adopted son of Captain David A Scribner.  There was never a formal adoption, but Benny assumed the name of Benny David Scribner, and David cared for Benny for many years of his life.  Much of what I have discovered about Benny was written in either books or news stories – and his story is an  interesting one. 

Captain Scribner discovered Benny in 1874 on a beach in a South American port.  Captain Scribner was at the time in port on the ship Abner Coburn, and invited Benny to join him as a steward on the ship preparing meals for the crew.  Benny was a Chinese boy about twelve years old at the time and was an orphan making his way on his own. Benny claimed to have never known his parents, and he believed that he was born in Singapore.

David married two years after Benny joined him aboard the ship, and for the next dozen years Benny was regarded as a part of the family by David’s wife, Virginia, and the Scribner children who all also sailed aboard ship with Captain Scribner on his voyages.

Benny sailed as a steward on voyages with Capt David Scribner for the next 26 years until David retired from the sea in 1900.  At the time that Captain Scribner retired, one news story said that he had owned an interest in a ship called the J. B. Walker.  Scribner sold his interest in the ship to a friend, Captain George Wallace of San Francisco who assumed command of the ship.  By agreement of all, Benny joined the Wallace family maritime business which grew to a successful bar pilot business in the San Francisco area.  Bar pilot ships would assist other vessels in safely navigating the waterways of the western coast.  Benny sailed not only with Captain George Wallace as a steward aboard his ships for several years, but also with his son, Captain John Wallace until Benny finally retired in 1932.

Benny served as ship’s steward, and he was also lauded for his skills preparing clam chowder and other foods for ships of the San Francisco Bar Pilots Association.  When he retired, Benny had both a pension and savings from his many years at sea. He lived his final days at the Wallace home in California, and died in 1939. 

Benny’s obituary summarizes his life in this way:

CHARACTER OF WATERFRONT DIES – “Death came yesterday to Benny Scribner, Chinese chef, who for 40 years ruled the galley of the bar pilots’ schooner, Gracie S, and who was one of the most picturesque of all of old San Francisco waterfront characters. Benny who was somewhere around 85 years of age never knew who his parents were. He was found by Capt David Scribner of the old bark Abner Coburn, a deserted orphan, on the beach in a South American port. He grew up with Captain and Mrs Scribner and took their name. When the former retired from the sea, Benny became the ward of Capt George Wallace of the J B Wallace. He served both Captain Wallace and his son, Capt John Wallace, outliving both. When he finally retired as cook in the pilot service in 1932, he went to the Wallace home down the Peninsula to end his last days."

Source:  Newspaper: Oakland Tribune; Oakland, CA; Date: Monday, March 13, 1939; Section: C; Page: 7.

*  *  *  *  *

 

Key Individuals:

     Captain David Alba Scribner  (1840 – 1911)

          Benny Scribner  (abt 1862 – 1939)

                                   

- Jane Scribner McCrary

New London & Joshua Hempstead’s Diary

It’s interesting, but not unusual, to find a cluster of families that are related living in the same geographic area for several generations.  One of those instances for my family is the area of New London, Connecticut.  And another bonus for me is the rich historical documentation that is also available for early New London.

One of my New London family lines is the Hempstead family.  Joshua Hempstead (1678-1758), my 7^th great grandfather, kept a diary for almost half a century.  And as you might expect, the diary is rich in information about his family even though the entries are typically quite brief.  The Joshua Hempstead Diary 1711-1758, first published in 1901 by the New London Historical Society, is a treasure trove of tidbits of everyday life in colonial Connecticut.

Joshua Hempstead had a wide variety of occupations and interests during his life.  He was primarily a farmer, however he was often involved in other activities that contributed to the family income including surveyor, carpenter, attorney, stone-cutter, sailor and trader.  Joshua also served the community as a justice of the peace, judge of probate, executor of various wills, overseer to widows, guardian of orphans, and a consultant and advisor to many.  As a 3^rd generation Hempstead in New London, he was related to most everyone in the area and his Diary includes entries that mention many family and friends throughout the New London community.  Joshua’s 47 years of almost daily entries filled over 700 pages with facts, remarks and commentary.

I read through The Joshua Hempstead Diary noting entries or comments about my own ancestors.  Of course, many comments were included that mentioned Joshua’s immediate family: 

28 Apr 1715, the Sorrowful News of ye Death of father Bayley [father-in-law]

30 Jul 1716, my wife delivered a Daughter about Sunset in good [health].

4 Aug 1716, my wife very ill.

5 Aug 1716, my Dear Wife Died about half an hour before Sunrise.  I was at home al day except in the Evening I went to ye burying place.

6 Aug 1716, the body of my dear wife was buried about 2 Clock in ye aftern. ... I Carryed my babe to Mary Trumans at night to Nurse.

7 Aug 1716, I was down to Capt Rogers's to get a Nurse for my Infant.

10 Aug 1716, my Dutyfull Son Joshua Died about Noon like a Lamb being 17 years & 20 days old a patren of patience.

11 Aug 1716, I was home al day Except going to ye funerall of my dear Child who was Interred by his Mother about 2 or 3 of ye Clock afternoon.

12 Aug 1716, my daughter Mary babtized.

28 Aug 1716, I was home al day physicking abigal.

29 Aug 1716, I was about home mending fence & looking after Abigal who Remained very ill.

5 Dec 1727, we buried mother att Sunset.  [Joshua’s mother, Elizabeth Larrabee Hempstead]

And, several entries referenced Joshua’s son, John Hempstead and his wife Hannah Salmon Hempstead, my 6^th great grandparents:

13 Nov 1731, ... about to go to So hold [Southold, NY] with John in order to Marry.

16 Nov 1731, I went with Mr Woolsey to Brother Salmons and then toward night with Brother to get Mr Lamb to Marry John.

17 Nov 1731, John & Hannah Salmon were married toward night a housefull of People & Stayed to play till midnight

18 Nov 1731, I was at Brother Salmons al day.

7 Dec 1731, yesterday adam Carted Abigails household Stuff & put it on bord Tit Hurlbut bound to Stonington.

5 Nov 1738,  Babtized, a Child of Jno Hempsteads Abigail.

 

I was pleasantly surprised when I found quite a few comments about another of my family lines, that of James Smith (1704-1758) “the Barber”, my 6^th great grandfather: 

25 Sep 1729,  I was at Smiths the Barbers...

21 Nov 1754,  ... after nine I maried Anthony Fraisyer & Eliza Bayley ye Daughter of  Ja. Smith Barber at the house of Ichabod Powers.

12 Nov 1756,  I went over to Jno Hempsteds & had Leave to marry their Daughter Abigail (She being pregnant) to James Smith Son of James Smith the Barber.  I married them att John Griffings in the night after 9 oe Clock &c.

3 Aug 1758,  James Smith the Barber buryed Died yesterday.  he was a Decriped man.  he had the numpalsie I Supose 20 year ago & Never had the use of his limbs Since.  a poor man in the care of the Town Eptr B.

 

Non-Hempstead ancestors were also mentioned such as John Rogers (1675-1739) & Deborah Dayton (abt 1680 - ?), my 6^th great grandparents:

7 Aug 1716, I was down to Capt Rogers's to get a Nurse for my Infant.

11 Jan 1719,  Jno Rogers & Deb Daton published.

14 Jul 1739,  John Rogers the Son of Joseph Rogers was buried Died this morning having had the measels the fevar & flux afterwards aged 60 odd.

And John Rogers (1716-1779) & Martha Colver (1717-1760) / my 5^th great grandparents:

23 Apr 1738,  Jno Rogers and Martha Colver Published.

 

Joshua Hempstead, the diarist, was the grandson of Robert Hempstead who was believed to be one of 36 grantees of original house lots in the settlement of New London in the mid-1600's.  Joshua was one of 9 children, his father’s only son, and he inherited his father’s homestead.  He married as a young man and had 9 children of his own before his wife passed away a few days after the birth of his last child.  Joshua never remarried.  He worked hard to support and raise his family with the help of relatives and hired help.  Joshua’s diary entries ended only 6 weeks before he died at 80 years of age.

*  *  *  *  * 

My early Hempstead line:

1) Robert Hempstead (1613-1655)

   2) Joshua Hempstead (1649-1688) m. Elizabeth Larrabee (1652-1727)

      3) Joshua Hempstead [Joshua’s Diary] (1678-1758) m. Abigail Bailey (1677-1716)

         4) John Hempstead (1709-1779) m. Hannah Salmon (1710-1765)

            5) Abigail Hempstead (1738-1814) m. James Smith (1732-1798)

Notes:

There are plenty of Hempstead family members and events mentioned in the 47 year span of Joshua’s Diary.  Several other of my family lines also mentioned in various diary entries include the surnames of Larrabee, Rogers, Colver, Dayton, Bailey, Salmon, Smith, Bill and Chapman – families living in New London in the 1700’s.

All of these surnames and family branches connect in later generations to my Dickinson and Hale lines on the Scribner side of my family.

 – Jane Scribner McCrary

An Early Snedeker Immigrant

Snedeker is one of the early surnames found in our family genealogy.  Mary Elizabeth Snedeker married John C Gordon, probably in Brooklyn, in the early 1850’s.  One of my first blog posts, Echoes of a Past Epidemic posted in April 2020, involved Mary Elizabeth Snedeker’s family and the loss of so many of her younger siblings in just a few weeks.  

The first Snedeker to arrive in America was Jan Snediger, my 9^th great grandfather, who emigrated from the Netherlands along with his wife Annetje Ruijs before the mid-1600’s.  Jan Snediger was born about 1608 in the Oldenberg territory in the Saxon Netherlands that is now a part of Germany and known as Amersfoort, a village 14 miles south of Amsterdam. 

Jan’s father, Gerdt Snediger was a shoemaker by trade, with two sons and a daughter, Jan being the youngest.  Jan learned the shoemaker and leatherwork trade working in his father’s shop.  However, as a young man, Jan ended up in Amsterdam as a member of the Oldenburg militia assigned to military units under the direction of local political officials and emissaries.   

Working in the militia was an uncertain career due to the shifting economic and political times, and Jan, while trained as a shoemaker, would not have been allowed to practice the trade due to local Guild control.  Thus it is believed that Jan made the decision to leave with his wife, Annetje, and possibly two small children for the New World. 

Sometime around 1640, the family arrived in New York to settle in the area of Long Island, then known as the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam. Jan was believed to have arrived as a freeman because he was a trained tradesman, and he did not arrive as an indentured servant.  The early Dutch settlers were mostly farmers and tradesmen.

By 1645, Jan was granted a double lot south of the Fort of New Amsterdam where he owned and operated a tavern and tap room.  He was also granted a lot and residence on Flatbush Avenue where he lived for several years.

Later, in 1652, nearby land known as Midwout (meaning Middle Woods) had been parceled and granted to several of the Dutch inhabitants and freeholders.  Jan Snediger was among those having been granted letters of patent for this land where he then built a homestead.  Midwout was one of several Long Island Dutch communities all referred to as New Amsterdam.  Jan was appointed Magistrate in 1654 by Governor Peter Stuyvesant, and was recognized as one of the “Original Proprietors” in the New Netherlands settlement.

It is believed that Jan married and lost his first wife in Amsterdam, possibly she died in childbirth.  Jan next married Annetje who joined him on the journey to the New World.  Jan had at least five children, one son and four daughters.  Annetje died about 1674.  Several years later in 1677, Jan married Egbertje Hendrickse, a widow.  Jan Snediger died in May of 1679 in the Flatbush area of Long Island, New York.

Anyone interested in reading more about the life of Jan Snedeker might want to read the book titled “The Cadet” by Walt C Snedeker, a descendant of Jan Snedeker, published in 2003.  In this instance, the term “cadet” was used in Europe for a younger son who typically would not inherit and would be expected to create a life of his own.  The book was written as an historical fiction novel, however many of the characters and events are true to the life of our ancestor, Jan Snediger.

 

*  *  *  *  * 

Key Individuals:

     Jan Snediger  (abt 1608 – 1679)

     Annetje Ruijs/Ruys Snediger (unknown – abt 1674)

          Gerrit Janse Snedeker  (abt 1640 – abt 1693)

 

Notes:

1)  There are many variant spellings of the name Snedeker belonging to the same family, and while the original name did change over time, spelling errors in records for this name are also quite common.

2)  The Snedeker lineage is pretty well documented and available in books and online, as well as records of the early New York Dutch Reformed Churches.  Feel free to contact me if you need help connecting our line back to Jan Snediger.

- Jane Scribner McCrary

A Stop on the Underground Railroad

My last blog post dealt with ancestors in my family tree known to have held enslaved people during the early years in America.  This blog post turns the coin and gives a story of another family branch known to actively work to provide escaped slaves a path to freedom in the mid-1800’s.  For many who escaped slavery, Maine was near the end of the road to freedom before they reached Canada, but it was also a last chance for those in pursuit to block their path to freedom.

Sympathizers throughout the country included Baptists, Quakers, Shakers and Masons, many of which became involved in aiding enslaved people running to escape their bondage.  Laws requiring the return of slaves, and rewards offered by southern owners, created a society of assistance which required navigating with secrecy and extreme caution.  

Many in Maine joined forces and developed a system of safe houses and routes to help escaped slaves heading toward freedom in Canada complete the last leg of their dangerous trip.  The Underground Railroad was a secret system of linked individuals and safehouses that assisted the travel of the people who had escaped slavery travel northwards towards safety.   

In the Brunswick and Topsham areas of Maine, however, parts of the Underground Railroad were actually underground.  Both communities had a network of tunnels that were constructed of red brick paving, side walls that were up to 5 feet wide, and arched ceilings.  The tunnels linked several of the safe houses in each community and facilitated the passage of many either on foot or by small wagon.  Many of those fleeing slavery arrived by boat and were then put into a safehouse and/or used the tunnel network until arrangements were made for the next step of the journey. 

As antislavery groups formed in communities, they often included influential residents that became deeply involved in the Underground Railroad.  The tunnels built in Topsham connected about five of the homes or properties of wealthy individuals.  Other homes were also used as safehouses in the area.  A number of homes belonging to members of the local Antislavery Society were even remodeled with hidden places and passages to allow hiding spaces and accommodations for those in need. 

One of the safehouses located in Topsham was the home of David Scribner, my 2^nd great grandfather, located at 20 Elm Street.   By 1830, David was a Deacon of the Topsham Baptist Church and later became a Vice President of the Topsham Antislavery Society formally established in 1838.

David Scribner achieved success in business as a part owner in both a grain company and a lumber mill.  David also served one term as a representative in the Maine Legislature from 1838-1841.  As a Deacon of the Topsham Baptist Church for over 60 years, David was commonly known as Deacon David or Deacon Scribner for most of his life.

David was born in 1795.  His father, Edward Scribner, died in 1804 at the age of 37 after serving in the Revolutionary War.  David was only nine years old at the time, the only son, and the eldest of 5 children.  There was no time for him to attend school but he worked hard to continue his education through books for the rest of his life.  David married Islethera Howland in 1821 with whom he had 7 children before her death.  David later married a widow, Mary Ann Quint Whittemore and they had another 2 children.  Deacon David Scribner died in Topsham, Maine in 1890 at 94 years of age.

 

*  *  *  *  *

Key individuals:

Edward Scribner  (1766 – 1804)

Deacon David Scribner  (1795 – 1890)

Islethera Howland Scribner  (1802 – 1843)

Mary Ann Quint Whittemore Scribner  (1808 – 1887)

– Jane Scribner McCrary

Legacy of Enslavement

As you can expect, having ancestors who participated in the unjust system of slavery during our history is an emotional and distressing topic.  Slavery is part of our country’s dark history, and genealogical research will find those connections in the early history of many American families.  Doing so can be an impetus to face difficult truths about some of our early ancestors.  It is difficult to infer from our current vantage point what motivated the decision to enslave people.  Geography, religious beliefs, wealth and ownership of land all clearly had some effect, but were not always clear determinants.

Naturally, we would much rather discover that our ancestors supported freedom for enslaved people than subjugation.  I have traced ancestors of mine which fall into both categories, and continue to grapple with this uncomfortable legacy in my ancestry.  In this blog post, I will share the story of one line of my family tree that held enslaved people through several generations.  And in my next blog post, I will share the story of another family among my direct ancestors that took an active role with the Underground Railroad effort to help slaves find freedom.

I begin with the Hall family who lived near Baltimore, Maryland.  According to one book “John Hall was transported from England in 1640.”  I don’t know whether he was “transported” to America willingly or by agreement.  In any case, it is known that John Hall was transported to Baltimore by Robert Paca.  And it is likely that Robert Paca paid for John’s passage in exchange for indenture, work or a settlement agreement.  In 1657, Lord Baltimore granted Robert Paca about 490 acres of land located near the Chesapeake Bay.  Several years later in 1663, Robert Paca granted a portion of that property to John Hall (1^st generation). 

Slave ownership in the Hall family began in the early years of colonial settlement in our country, as indicated by the will of John Hall’s first son, also named John Hall (2^nd gen) in 1737.   His will includes several paragraphs that detail the division of land and property among his children, including a paragraph that itemized household slaves named Rachall, Jenny, Hanah and Maria bequeathing them to different members of his family.

A son of John Hall (2^nd gen), named Aquilla Hall (3^rd gen), died young, at age 29 in 1728, at the hand of one of his slaves who had previously escaped.  The news story written at the time appeared in the Maryland Gazette newspaper.

Annapolis, Dec, 31.  There is a Report in Town, that Mr. Aquilla Hall, of Baltimore County, was unfortunately shot to Death on Christmas-Day in the Morning, as he was walking in his Orchard, by one of his Negroes, who had been run away some Time before; and lay in Ambush to execute this barbarous Murder; since which he has made his Escape.  It seems this was not the first Time this Villian had attempted his Master’s Life, having before struck at him with an Ax, which cut him over the Eye-brow, and had certainly split his Skull, if he had not suddenly mov’d his Head.

In 1768, the will of one of Aquilla’s (3^rd gen) sons, named again John Hall (4^th gen), also mentions enslaved women named Bett and Puriah, and men called Jack and Vallentine.  A little over a decade later, the first Federal Census in 1790 shows an Aquilla Hall of Baltimore, likely Aquila Hall Junr (5^th gen) the son of the John Hall (4^th gen) named above, with 35 enslaved people. 

Times were beginning to change however, because in the 1815 will of Aquila Hall Junr (5^th gen) we find a great deal of discussion about the disposition of those he enslaved, and also granting freedom to many after they reached 30 years of age:

“I give and bequeath unto my said wife during her natural life the following slaves with their Increase to Wit.  London, Luke, Frank, Dick, Abraham, Charles son of London, and Henry.  Also Esther, Fan, Dinah Ann and Bill son of Bet and after decease of my said wife my will is that any of the above slaves who may be above thirty years of age according to the schedule hereunto annexed should be immediately free except London and such as have not arrived to the age of thirty one shall serve until they arrive to the above ages.  And as the Issue of some of the above slaves may be under thirty years of age my will is that they and their issue shall serve until the age of thirty one respectively and then be free with their respective Issue. 

As for old London above devised to my wife my will is that after her decease he be allowed the House where Flora now lives and the use of as much ground about the house as he can cultivate as also the Orchard and underwood for firewood during his natural life as also two cows, four ewes, one sow and an old Horse such as my Executors shall direct and that he be allowed forty dollars per year during his life to be paid him out of my son Walter Tolly Halls part of my said Estate

and as I have devised unto my Dear wife Negro Dick who has since absconded.  I give her in lieu of Dick, Little London during her life and as I have given her Dinah, and give her Rachel during her life.”…

“It is my will and desire that Jack, Louiza, Harman should be the property of my Wife during her natural life, and Dinah should serve my son Robert L Hall during the life of my Wife & Sal untill she arrives to the age of Thirty one years and Sophia Jun’r to serve Susan Hale untill she arrives to the age of Thirty one years”

– excerpts from the Will of Aquila Hall, 1815. 

Of note, Aquila Hall Junr (5^th gen) required that upon the death of his wife, that the enslaved man named Old London would receive a home, farm and income for life, what is known as a life-estate.  There is certainly a great story there, if only we knew it.

While I haven’t looked into slaves held by the other children of the above noted Aquila Hall Junr (5^th gen), I have looked into records for his daughter, Susan Hall Hale (6^th gen) and her husband, Henry Hale, my 3^rd great grandparents.  In the 1820 Federal Census, the family of Henry Hale shows 7 enslaved people; the 1830 Census shows 4; and the 1840 Census shows 4.  And one year later, Henry Hale’s 1841 estate inventory mentions 2:

“One negro man named Ben, about 50 years of age.  Slave for life.  $100

 One negro man, Cate about 65 years old.  Slave for life.  $100”

My 3^rd great grandmother, Susan Hall Hale, lived with one of her sons after the death of her husband, Henry Hale in 1841, and until her death in 1858.  That household showed 2 enslaved people in the 1850 Census Slave Schedule:  1 female that was noted to be 113 years old, and 1 male that was noted to be 75 years old.  Due to their age, I expect that they were being taken care of by the family. 

By the 1860 Census, just prior to the beginning of the Civil War, there were no records of any enslaved people in the Hall/Hale branch of the family tree. 

And in 1861, a grandson of Susan Hall Hale (6^th gen) died fighting for the Union in one of the early battles of the Civil War, the First Battle of Bull Run.  Henry Philip Hale died at only 18 years of age.  [see June 20, 2020 blog post, ”Young Life Lost at Bull Run”, and November 6, 2020 blog post, “Letters Home in 1861”]

*  *  *  *  *

Key individuals:

John Hall (1^st gen)   (1624 – 1660)

John Hall (2^nd gen)   (1658 – 1737)

Aquilla Hall (3^rd gen)   (1699 – 1728)

John Hall (4^th gen)   (1722 – 1768)

Aquila Hall Junr (5^th gen)   (1750 – 1815)

Susan Hall Hale (6^th gen)   (1778 – 1858)

Henry Hale  (1755 or 1773 – 1841)

Notes:

I apologize for the abundance of John Hall’s and Aquilla/Aquila Hall’s in this blog post, as I know that it makes it difficult to read.  However, it was an era when families would often use and reuse the same names, as did many cousins, aunts and uncles, which can be a real challenge for a genealogist. The immigrant, and first John Hall, is my 8^th great grandfather, and so on down to Susan Hall Hale who was my 3^rd great grandmother.

John Hall (2^nd gen) (1658-1737) was the High Sherriff of Baltimore County in 1692.  He was also the Baltimore Deputy Commissioner in 1698 holding that office until around 1704; and he was a delegate to The General Assembly of Maryland from Baltimore in 1699-1702. 

And Aquila Hall Junr (5^th gen) (1750 – 1815) was a signer of the Bush Declaration, a resolution adopted on March 22, 1775 in Harford, Maryland, declaring support for the Patriot cause at the beginning of the American Revolution. [see July 3, 2020 blog post, "Path to Independence"]

My next blog post will be the story of another branch of my family that was involved in anti-slavery efforts including the Underground Railroad in Maine assisting slaves in route to Canada for their freedom in the mid-1800's.

 – Jane Scribner McCrary