Hello everyone. I hope you had a very good celebration for Independence Day.It seems I have been fighting thunderstorms here most of the summer and I've been having to work on the newsletters *between* them. Here is a variety of information I've received during the past few months. I hope you find a cousin!
I have added a subscriber to the newsletter list but I'm not sure her surnames are connected to ours. They do, however, fit into the general spelling variants we have all found in our research of the Benefield surname, so be sure to contact her when and if you find something which might link in! Welcome, La Ree! La Ree sends this information: "Our Battenfield's came over to America from the Rhineland, out of one of the ports in Holland. They made a long, arduous trip overland to get to the ocean. Hans Adam Battenfield married Maria Elizabeth Pauster in PA. He is the start of our line in America. I believe his father was Johannes, who came over on the same ship, and I think his brother, Phillip. (some of this is from memory, as I can't put my finger on that emigration record quickly). I also found that the BOTTOMFIELDS in the East, had our same first names, and assumed that they, since they lived in the same place and same first names, must be the same family, ....with an eastern accent!!! So, anyway, I collected a few wills of this family. Our Angelina Selina (Julina) Battenfield is the daughter of Joseph and Sarah Miller Battenfield. She married James Starr in Pope Co., Ark. where Joseph and Sarah had moved to from PA."
And from Nolan, another new subscriber, comes this information: Cynthia Benefield b.6/21/1853,AL-m. to Ennis Barto Gore was my ggrandmother. Robert Benefield (Cynthia's Father) b. 1820, GA-m to Minerva Bankston was my gggrandfather. Needham Benefield (Robert's Father) b.1779, NC- m. to Mary "Polly" Rogers was my ggggrandfather. William Hardy Bedingfield (Needham's Brother) b.1777, d.1881. William Bedingfield (Needham's and William Hardy's Father) b.1740, NC, d.1800 GA., Wife unknown. This William was supposed to have nine sons and one daughter, so far I have only been able to identify Needham And William Hardy.(OK, you guys: you've seen this info before!! Who connects with Nolan?)
Here is some census data that might be of help to some researchers, courtesy of James and Mary:
1830 GREENVILLE COUNTY, SC
BEDINGFIELD, HAMILTON
Males 40/50 = 1
Females 40/50 = 1
BENNYFIELD, MIDDLETON
Males
15/20 = 1
20/30 = 1
15/20 = 0
10/15 = 0
Females
15/20 = 1
20/30 = 1
15/20 = 2
10/15 = 1
1840 BUNCOMBE, COUNTY, NC
BENEFIELD, NATHANIEL
Males
30/40 = 1
05/10 = 2
<5 =3
Females
30/40 = 1
05/10 = 2
<5 = 1
1830 BUNCOMBE, COUNTY, NC
BENEFIELD, HAMILTON
Males
50/60 = 1
15/20 = 1
Females
50/60 = 1
1850 HENDERSON, COUNTY, NC
BENEFIELD, NATHANIEL
Males
30/40 = 1
05/10 = 2
<5 =3
Females
30/40 = 1
05/10 = 2
<5 = 1
1850 HENDERSON, COUNTY, NC
BENEFIELD, NATHAN 50
BENEFIELD, Minerva 47
BENEFIELD, James 22
And from Ann, this note: I went to the Archives and found these Bedingfeild's in the 1860 census from Alabama, Lauderdale County, Rogersville:
(1) Charles Beningfield---farmer,40 years old
wife---Cynthia 33yrs old
children
James W. 12 yrs.
Charles F. 10 yrs.
John A. 7 yrs.
Tabitha A.E. 4 yrs.
Martha E.R. 1yr.
(2) Charles Beningfield 50yrs. old ; born in Tenn.
wife----Frances 50 yrs. born in NC.
children
William H. 25yrs.
Stephen H. 23yrs.
James M. 19 yrs
John D. 17yrs
Andrew J. 12yrs
Mary S.F. 10yrs.
(3) Thomas Bettanford farmer, born in Ala., 40yrs. old
wife----Sarah 19yrs
children
William F. 12yrs
John H., 6 months.
RANDOLPH COUNTY, ALABAMA
(1) William Bennefield 49yrs. farmer, born in NC
WIFE-----Deorah 45yrs. born SC
Children
Hardy 18yrs., born Ala.
John S. 16yrs., born GA.
William H., 12yrs., born Ala.
From a correspondent in England, I have learned the following:
Bedingfield is a small village south of Mitcham in Surrey. There is a small church, with records back to 1600. Also a Manor with some records. I know of literature and some records at: The Society of Genealogists in London. Surrey Record Office.
And Jeannie says: "look at this=> http://members.tripod.com/~RuthH/jeffrev.html fourth name down.
Dor sends: "My Beddingfield family is from Green River in North Carolina; also Zirconia, NC; my grandmother was Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beddingfield married to Thomas Burton Russell of Waynesville, NC. I don't know a lot more."
Russell, another new subscriber, writes: I have a Clyde F. Benningfield, b. 3/24/1910, d. 7/14/1984. Married Alma Skaggs on 10/21/1939. She born 10/28/1914. Some of my families were related to Alma and a Cousin of mine married their daughter. I knew Clyde. He lived at Mount Sherman, KY and I have been told his grandfather was a HOOVER (or HUBER). If so, he would also be related to me. I have never been able to find out for sure if his grandfather was really a HUBER/HOOVER.
Enjoy! Thressa.