M., at Princeton, in 1765, from whence he received his degree of D. D., and was settled in the ministry at Lisbon, Conn., eleven years ; and afterwards, leaving North Salem, was settled at Plainfield, Conn., where he died February, 13, 1816.

The incorporation of this church took place on the 1st of February, 1786, under the style of the " Congregationalist Society in Upper Salem ; " John Piatt, Benjamin Wood, Abraham Lockwood, David Smith, Bonage Starr, and Moses Richard, trustees.*

In 1832, this church was placed under the jurisdiction of the Bedford

a Rec. of North Salem Presb. Soc, L. 3.

6 The first ancestor of this family, of whom any tracp has been fonnd, was William Benedict, who, tradition says, was bom in Nottinghamshire, England, about the year 1500, and that he was the only son of his father. This only son was William, of Nottinghamshire ; whose son was also William, of the same county. Thomas, son of the latter, was born in England 1617 : he came to New England, and first settled in the Massachusetts Bay, then removed to Southhold, L. I., from thence to Huntington, and finally to Norwalk, in 1665. He died In 1690. John, his second son, was the fatherof James, horn January 5, 1685, married Sarah, daughter of Thos Hyatt, of Norwalk, in 1709, and settled in RUlgefleld. He was one of the original settlers of that place, and bought of the Indians. He died Nov. 25, 1762 ; he was the deacon above alluded to-- the father of Peter.