|
||||||||||||
| Spouses: | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Notes for Antoine BENIN | ||||||||||||
| Benning - Benin There are several undocumented legends of the emigrant ancestor in America within the branches of the family. Among some of the Georgia branches is the following legend: "Jonah Tong Prong" came to America in 1686, married Elizabeth Joanis, daughter of Jean Joanis, and wife, who was a daughter of Daytoi who was a daughter of LaFete". By comparison with the documented facts one will find the basis, or a part of this. "Jonah Tong Prong" and the date remain unexplained. A granddaughter of Lucy Benning Gordon quoted from Lucy the following, "The original name of the family was Thomsen or Thomson and when they came to this country the first member of the family was given the title "Le Benin", the Good or Blessed one, because of his service in aiding others to escape from France during a Revolution there. The first one came to this country in his own ship, he hid refugees in barrels and did not open them until out to sea. This first ancestor dropped his original name and used the name "Benin" or "Benning" because the French "Bene" was more difficult to pronounce." Research over the years reveals the tradition is persistent in all most all branches of the family, basically the same as follows. Of the four ships known to have been used to transport the Huguenots from England to Virginia, three ships and their passenger lists are a matter of record and can be found in numerous publications. The name and passenger list of the third of the four cannot be found. The Benning family does not know the name of the ship. Maintaining that their ancestor owned the ship and that he did indeed, transport his fellow -Frenchmen. Hidden among the cargo in barrels until well out to sea, and that the voyage to Virginia was only one of many, therefore, he did not leave a record of his passenger list nor the name of his ship. He was helpful but secretive about his work and his records. There are records among family memorabilia of some of the passengers or Benning's ship with whom they were associated. Isaac La Fuitte (La Fite, LaFete) was born in France. He was one of the French Huguenots who emigrated from France to safety in other European countries, then joined other Huguenots in England to immigrate to the English colony of Virginia. Immigrating with him were his son, Francois LaFuitte and wife, Joanne, their two children, Esther and Tobias, with their families. The name of Tobias' wife was not found. His daughter, Esther, named for his sister, died on the 27th day of November, 1738 in Virginia, leaving a will in which Antoine Benning was an heir. Esther LaFuitte, sister of Tobias and daughter of Francois, (b.ca 1645) and wife Joanne LaFuitte, (born 1655) married Jean Jouany (Joannis) before immigrating to Virginia. Joanne LaFuitte, wife of Francois, mother of Esther and Tobias, died 26 February, 1724, aged 69 years, in Virginia. It was not found where Jean Jouany (Joannis) came from, other than France. He, too, was a French Huguenot. This group arrived in Virginia on August 12, 1700 aboard the " Mary and Ann" of London with George Haws in command, the first of the four ships bringing Huguenot colonists. Jean Jouany was one of the first Manakintown French to acquire land of their own. Jean changed his name to John Jones and early records pertaining to him are found showing both names or one or the other. Jean and Esther (LaFuitte) Jounay (Jones) had two infants shown on the passenger list, "sa femme, deux enfants" ( his wife and two infants), who appear not to have survived. Records found show two daughters, Hester or Esther, born about 1705 in Virginia, and Elizabeth, born about 1710 in Virginia. These dates are estimates ("about"). It must be realized they could, possibly be the same two shown on the passenger lists. Jean and his wife, with no children shown, were on the " List of Refugees who are to receive of ye Miller of Falling Creek Mill one bushel a head of Indian Meal, monthly, as settled at or about King William Town to begin in effect 1700/01." This tends to indicate that the two child- On 25 day of April, 1702 in Henrico County, John Jouany patented 77 acres in one tract, "beginning at ye mouth of ye upper Manakin Creek, by and for the transportation of two persons into this colony." The two persons were not identified in this record. It may have been that the two were himself and his wife. From " The Statutes at Large", Vol. 3, Chap. 4, of the General Assembly, which was begun on the 19 day of March, 1702, is this; " An Act for the Naturalization of Claud Philip de Richbourg, Francois Ribot, Peter Faurr, John Jouany, James Champaine,...." (The remainder of this document is no longer in existence.) On the 1 day of November, 1709, Jean Jouany purchased from Anthony Promiseall ( Antoine Promisal) and his wife, Mary, widow and relect (sic) of Abraham Minot, deceased, a tract of 48 acres in the Monacantown and situated between the lands of James Bilbo and Peter Detua. On the 23 day of March, 1715, John Jones patented 133 acres in one tract, adjoining Stephen Renno and Capoon. On 31 of October, 1716, John Jones patented 53 acres bounding on James Bilbaud. On 11 of July, 1719, Jean Jouany received a patent for 650 acres on Manakintown Creek for the importation of one person to "dwell in this colony of Virginia, whose name is John Jones." From this record it appears that he claimed additional land for himself under the name he changed to. A will was witnessed by Jean Jounay in April, 1712 and proved as John Jones The will of Pennina Chambon was witnessed on 29 May, 1726 by Jean Jounay and proved on 3 October 1726 by oath of John Jones. Jean Jounay (John Jones) died before 3 of Oct., 1728 for the will of his wife, Esther's, brother, Tobias LaFuitte (LaFuite), made on that date and probated on 19 Nov., 1728 in Goochland County, Virginia, refers to land lying between Stephen Mallet and my sister, Esther Joany." He named Stephen Chastine and "my sister, Esther Joany " to serve as executors, Hester Jouany (Jones), born about 1705 in Virginia, married William Lansdon. They lived in the Parish of St. James, County of Goochland, in the state of Virginia. William was a planter. Elizabeth Jouany (Jones), born about 1710 in Virginia, married about 1726-28 to Antoine Benin (Anthony Benning), born about 1705, in King William Parish, Albemarle County, Virginia. State of Virginia, May 20, 1729 William Lansdon and Hester, his wife, of the Parish of St. James, County of Goochland, planter. Hester being the daughter and co-heir of John Jones, late of King William Parish, deceased, released and quit-claimed two tracts of land to Anthony Benning and Elizabeth, his wife, daughter and co-heir of John Jones, aforesaid, deceased... The name of the third ship, of the four ships bringing Huguenot refugees to Virginia has not been found, nor a complete list of passengers aboard the ship. Among the passengers of this ship, one of two that arrived in October of 1700, were Francois Benin, his wife, Ann, her sister Barbara and her husband Pierre Dutois (Peter Dutoit, Detoit, Dutoi, Detoy) Daniel de Bonnette and his wife, Elizabeth. Ann Benin and Barbara Dutois were sisters, daughters of Daniel and Elizabeth de Bonnette. The De Bonnette families were from the Parish or District of Tarrigny in France. They fled from southern France disguised as a Bourgeoise market man and his wife, with the two children hidden among the vegetables in the large panniers (baskets) swung on each side of a donkey. Along the way, near the border, a French guard, on the lookout for fleeing Huguenots, thrust his sword into one of the panniers, inflicting a flesh wound to a leg of one of the heroic children who made no move nor sound until the danger was past. The family made their way to Holland for a time, later to Bristol. User Fact 1: 0130 | ||||||||||||
| Last Modified 8 May 2000 | Created 3 Sep 2001 by EasyTree for Windows |