Notes for: Benjamin MARVIN Sr.
At the age of 11 years, Benjamin moved with his parents to Sharon, Litchfield County, Connecticut.
Benjamin was a soldier in the French and Indian War (1755-1762) serving during 3 campaigns in Companies commanded by Captain Samuel Elmore of Sharon. On May 31, 1758, Benjamin entered, as a Private, Captain Elmore's Ninth Company, Colonel David Wooster's Fourth Connecticut Regiment and served until discharged, November 12, 1758. Colonel Wooster's Regiment was one of four Regiments raised in Connecticut for the campaign against the French in 1758 to act in conjunction with those of the other New England Colonies under Major General James Abercromby, Commander-in-Chief of the Kings forces in North America. On April 5, 1759, Sergeant Benjamin Marvin entered Captain Elmore's Seventh Company, Colonel David Wooster's Third Connecticut Regiment and served as that Company's Clerk until discharged, November 29, 1759. During the campaign of 1759, the Connecticut Regiments served under the overall command of Major General (Sir) Jeffrey Amherst. On April 7, 1761, Benjamin entered Captain Elmore's Tenth Company, Colonel Nathan Whitting's Second Connecticut Regiment and again serve as the Company's Clerk until discharged, December 2, 1761.
After moving to the south side of Long Island, about 1772, Benjamin commanded a militia company there before the American Revolution. Soon after the breakout of the Revolution, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant, June 28, 1775, in Captain Daniel Griffin's First Suffolk County Company, Colonel James Clinton's Third Regiment of the New York Line on the Continental Establishment for the campaign of 1775 in General George Montgomery's Brigade which served in the Northern Department (Canada). For the campaign of 1776, Benjamin was commissioned, February 19, 1776, First Lieutenant in Captain Griffin's First Suffolk County Company, Colonel James Clinton's Second New York Regiment of the Continental Line. In the later part of 1776, after the Continental Congress directed the raising of Regiments for three years or the duration of the war, Benjamin was commissioned First Lieutenant, November 21, 1776, in Captain William Jackson's Fourth Company, Colonel Henry B. Livingston's Fourth New York Regiment of the Continental Line. Following Captain Jackson's resignation, August 21, 1777, Benjamin commanded the Company during the Battle of Saratoga in both the actions of September 19 and October 7, 1777 against the British forces led by General John Burgoyne. Benjamin was commissioned Captain of his Company, January 9, 1778, while wintering at Camp Valley Forge. Due to fatigues and wounds received on October 7, 1777, Benjamin resigned his commission, April 23, 1778.
Benjamin married in 1758, Mehitable Marvin (1737-1810) by whom he had 9 children (2 sons and 7 daughters): Mehitable (b. 1759), Benjamin (1762-1857), Esther (b. 1764), Lois (b. 1766), Clarinda (1769-1857), Anna (1771-1808), Thomas (1774-1869), Sylvia (1776-1830), and Mary (1779-1856). The first 6 children were born in Sharon, Connecticut, the next 2 children on Long Island, and Mary was born in Norwalk, Fairfield County, Connecticut.
Benjamin moved to Alburgh, Franklin (now Grand Isle) County, Vermont in June 1787. There he was a Justice of the Peace (Magistrate) and the Town's first Treasurer in 1792. He was the Town's Representative to the Vermont General Assembly, 1794-1797.