Benjamin Harrington, of Providence

AKA Hearnden

Benjamin Harrington

• Birth:  1618 Somerset, England
• Death:  Apr. 18, 1694 Providence Providence County Rhode Island, USA
• Married: Elizabeth White Also known as Hearnden, Heerenden

Origins

• Parents unknown. See http://www.pcez.com/~bigshoe/dt/Blan/edmunds.html for discussion, also attached document
• Benjamin's DNA is I2b1 (tested for subclades), of the "continental" variety common among the invaders of England from Lower Saxony. "The DNA of a presumed descendant of Robert Harrington (1616-) of Somersetshire, though also of Hg 12b1 (untested for subclades) and likely also "continental", does not match Benjamin's haplotype. In 1891, the Harrington name was found mainly in Essex, Hearnden in Kent and Errington in Durham. The only IGI birth records of possible fathers for Benjamin are from Bedfordshire (Erringtons, Eryngton and Irrington); but this merely reflects the scarcity of good data from that period. If I had to guess where Benjamin was born, I would say "Essex"."
• Marriage source: Austin, John O., Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island, Joel Munsell's Sons, 1887, p. 95.

a story

From the Harrington Family Gazetteer (1941):

"(2122) Benjamin Harrington went to live with his uncle, when about 15 years of age. [Benjamin] embraced the Baptist faith, then under ban in Massachusetts. The uncle remonstrated with him, but without effect and as a final resort his uncle tied him to a post and administered a most unmerciful flogging, and then threatened to turn him over to the authorities if he persisted in his heretical opinions.

"Soon after, the lad arranged to escape, stealing away from his uncle's house, penniless and alone. With his Bible, a fishing line, a few articles done up in a handkerchief, and a scant supply of food for a few days, he started for Roger William's settlement in Rhode Island.

"When hungry, footsore and weak from exertion, Benjamin fell in with a family of Quakers traveling towards the same goal. They welcomed him to their midst, gave of their simple fare, and cared for him in his enfeebled condition. In a short time he was strong and vigorous as before and was able to repay his benefactors in labor, caring for the team which was always overburdened and helping to load and unload the wagon, and carrying household chattles over logs and steep banks. At times a more pleasing task befell him, that of carrying (2123) Elizabeth, the oldest daughter, across streams and bog holes. On account of the excessive load on the wagon, the family was required to travel mostly on foot. The acquaintance, thus begun, with Elizabeth White ripened into love and not long after their arrival in Providence, Rhode Island in about 1642, they married."

-- Bobbie Coray bcoray@aol.com c/o http://genforum.genealogy.com/cgi-bin/pageload.cgi?

Other records cast doubt on the above story

Benjamin was probably living in Essex County, Massachusetts in Dec. 1647 -- when he was presented in Lynn for beating his wife, as witnessed by Ezekiel Gilbert and Henry Collins. Apparently, Elizabeth was not free from scandal herself. She was presented for stealing clothes from (2123[2][1]) Mary Pray (probably the wife of her future husband) and was ordered to make double restitution. (Essex Court Files, 1:133,137)

Benjamin first appears in Providence, Rhode Island in 1651 when he had a privilege of 25 acres for which he paid and received quittance in March. On 17 Feb. 1659, Benjamin was brought into court by a œ10 bond to answer to "the breach of peace and fright comitted on the family of (4244) William White (his father-in-law), of this Towne." William White was also bonded œ10 to appear at the next town court in Providence to prosecute Benjamin. (EPR, 15:75-76)

-- Perry Streeter streeter@acccorp.com http://genforum.genealogy.com/cgi-bin/pageload.cgi?

more mythology

From Re: Husband of Ann Fiennes (or Clinton) Date: Tue, 7 Jan 1997

From: "William L. \"Toby\" Dills" <WDILLS@UMASSD.EDU> Subject: Re: Husband of Ann Fiennes (or Clinton) Date: Tue, 7 Jan 1997 16:03:00 -0500

I am descended from Benjamin Herendeen of Providence, who has been stated to be a son of John Harrington who drowneded in Boston harbor about 1631 and Ann Clinton otherwise Fiennes (e.g. 1,2,3,4). There are several variations, the most frequent is outlined as follows:

"Benjamin Herendeen arrived with his siblings Abraham and Rebecca,
and his father John Harrington, son of John Harington of Kelston
(e.g.2,3,4) and Ann [or Elizabeth or Susannah in other versions]
Clinton, otherwise Fiennes, daughter of Thomas Clinton, otherwise
Fiennes, 3rd Earl of Lincoln (2,3,4), in 1631. Another brother,
Robert [of Watertown], arrived later. John drowned in Boston harbor
shortly after their arrival, leaving his wife who was known as
"Widow Errington". Benjamin became a Baptist and went to live with
an uncle, Charles Fines, from whom he removed to Providence for
religious reasons."

I know of no evidence to support this story and several aspects of it are incorrect. Firstly, the connection to Sir John Harington of Kelston is not sound. Sir John and his wife Mary Rogers did have a son John but he married Dionysse Ley and stayed in England (e.g.4). Furthermore the immigration of someone so prominent as a son of the Godson of Queen Elizabeth (5) would have been noted by contemporary sources. The immigration of this family was not (6). More recently I have heard of a claim that this John Harington was a member of the Witham-on-the-Hill Haringtons. While this may be more plausible there is no proof to support it that I am aware of. Secondly, whoever Benjamin Herendeen's mother was, she was NOT the daughter of Thomas Clinton (otherwise Fiennes), 3rd Earl of Lincoln. Again the immigration of someone so prominent would have been noted (6) as were the immigrations of two other daughters, Susan (7,8,9,10) and Arbella (7,8,10,11), and a son, Charles (8,10,12). Furthermore, Ann Clinton, dau. of Earl Thomas, is noted to have died young (13) as she is not mentioned in his will (7). He died in 1618 (7,13), well before Ann Clinton Harrington's reported arrival at Charlestown in 1631. The other daughters sometimes named as John Harrington's wife are Elizabeth, who married John Beresford (7,13), and Susan, who married John Humphrey (7,8,9,13). Most of what is claimed for "Widow Ann" is due to Ann Liddell Errington, who came with her two surviving children to New England after the death of her husband William (14) and is the "widow Errington" of Charlestown, MA. Lastly it should be noted that there is NO evidence connecting Benjamin Herendeen to Robert Harrington of Watertown or Abraham and Rebecca Errington of Charlestown. These persons have been shown to be children in other families with no siblings named Benjamin (6,14).

Sources: 1. Harrington Family Research Bulletin, Vol. 1, #4, p.41. 2. Ancestral File Program (LDS). 3. Harrington, G.H. "The Harrington Family". 4. Herrington, B.M. "The Ancestory and Descendants of William Harrington or Herrington" LDS FHS Microfilm 1033751#3. 5. Webster's Biographical Dictionary. (for Sir John Harington of Kelston). 6. Weis, F.L. "Early Generations of the Family of Robert Harrington of Watertown Massachusetts, 1634, and Some of His Descendants" pp.10-11. 7. Cokayne, G.E. "The Complete Peerage" "Lincoln" Vol. VII, pp.695-696. 8. Anderson, R.C. "The Great Migration Begins" pp.1104-1105. 9. Farmer, J. "Genealogical Register of the First Settlers of New England..." pp.154. 10. Banks, C.E. "The Winthrop Fleet of 1630" 11. Farmer, J. "Genealogical Register of the First Settlers of New England..." pp.162-163. 12. Farmer, J. "Genealogical Register of the First Settlers of New England..." pp.104. 13. Brydges, E. "Collins's Peerage of England" Vol. II, p209. 14. Bate, K.W. (1978) English Origins of the Errington Family" New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 132, pp44-50.

If anyone is aware of any source for this story, I would like to know. Thanks Toby Dills

___________________________

Alternate birth year: c. 1618

Alternate birth place: Bath, Somerset, England

Alternate last name: Harrington (if so, then 1518 and Bath)

_____________________

Benjamin Harrington/Hearnden/Herrington/Hearndale

this grandson of the highly educated John of Somerset was illiterate. He spelled his name in whatever manner came to mind, using all four spellings shown above. He was a wife beater and his wife was a thief. He followed Roger Williams to Rhode Island in 1651 and became a substantial citizen of Providence. In 1670, he became a surveyor, using the name Harrington.

information about children partially from W F T Vol 4, # 0468; Vol6, #3415; Vol 1, # 1551 & Vol 1, #3226

Source Name: Colket, Meredith B., Jr Founders of Early American Families: Emigrants from Europe, 1607-1657. Cleveland: General Court of the Order of Founders and Patriots of America, 1975. 366 p. Shown as arriving in Providence, RI, in 1645, on p 136.

• From genforum.genealogy.com a message posted by Bobbie Coray on March 26, 2002

From the Harrington Family Gazetteer (1941): "Benjamin Harrington went to live with his uncle, when Benjamin was about 15 years of age, he embraced the Baptist faith, then under ban in Massachusetts. the uncle remonstrated with him, but without effect and as a final resort his uncle tied him to a post and administered a most unmerciful floggin, and then threatened to turn him over to the authorities if he persisted in his heretical opinions. Soon after, the lad arranged to escape, stealing away from his uncle's house, penniless and alone, and with his Bible, a fishing line, a few articles done up in a handkerchief, and a scant supply of food for a few days, he started for Roger William's settlement in Rhode Island.

When hungry, footsore and weak from exertion, Benjamin fell in with a family of Quakers traveling towards the same goal. They welcomed him to their midst, gave of their simple fare, and cared for him in his enfeebled condition. In a short time he was strong and vigorous as before and was able to repay his benefactors in labor, caring for the team which was always overburdened and helping to load and unload the wagon, and carrying household chattles over logs and steep banks. At times a more pleasing task befell him that of carrying Elizabeth, the oldest daughter, across streams and bog holes. On account of the excessive load on the wagon, the family was required to travel mostly on foot. the acquaintance, thus begun, with Elizabeth White ripened into love and not long after their arrival to Providence, Rhode Island in about 1642, they married."

______________________

• Benjamin Harrington
• Birth: 1618 Somerset, England
• Death: Apr. 18, 1687 Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island, USA
• Benjamin HEARNDEN/HARRINGTON Married Elizabeth WHITE on 09 JUL 1647 in Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island, USA.
• Family links:
• Parents:
• James Or John Harrington (1592 - 1630)
• Ann Clinton Fiennes Harrington (1596 - 1632)
• Spouse:
• Elizabeth White Pray (1630 - 1701)
• Sibling:
• Robert Harrington (1616 - 1707)*
• Benjamin Harrington (1618 - 1687)
• Burial: North Burial Ground, Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island, USA
• Find A Grave Memorial# 7703752
• From: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7703752 _______________
• WHITE, Elizabeth
• b. ABT 1620
• d. Providence Co., RI.
• Family:
• Spouse: HARRINGTON, Benjamin
• b. ABT 1618 England
• d. 18 APR 1694 Providence, Providence, RI.
• Children:
  • HARRINGTON, Benjamin
  • HARRINGTON, William
  • HARRINGTON, Isaac
• From: http://www.genealogyofnewengland.com/f_c79.htm#8 ________________
• Sarah Harrington Whipple
• Birth: 1654 Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island, USA
• Death: Apr. 2, 1677 Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island, USA
• A daughter of Benjamin & Elizabeth (White) Harrington. She married David Whipple on May 15, 1675 at Providence, RI.
• Family links:
• Parents:
• Benjamin Harrington (1618 - 1687)
• Elizabeth White Pray (1630 - 1701)
• Spouse:
• David Whipple (1656 - 1710)*
• Siblings:
• Elizabeth Hearnden Northup (1642 - ____)*
• Benjamin Harrington (1650 - 1694)*
• Joseph Harrington (1652 - 1694)*
• Alice Hearnden Brown (1652 - 1727)*
• Sarah Harrington Whipple (1654 - 1677)
• William Harrington (1660 - 1727)*
• Thomas Harrington (1665 - 1722)*
• Isaac Harrington (1668 - 1728)*
• Burial: North Burial Ground, Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island, USA
• Find A Grave Memorial# 36360864
• From: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=36360864 ___________________
• Genealogical notes of the Whipple-Hill families, together with fragmentary records of other families by Hill, John Whipple
• https://archive.org/details/genealogicalnote00hill
• https://archive.org/stream/genealogicalnote00hill#page/32/mode/1up
• + 9. VIII. DAVID, born at Dorchester, 1655; was baptized September 28, 1656. He died in Attleborough, Mass., December 18, 1710. May 15, 1675, he married Sarah, daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (White) Hearnden, who died April 2, 1677. November 11, 1677, he married Hannah, daughter of John and Margaret Tower of Hingham, Mass. He was married by Capt. Joshua Hubbard, Justice.
• .... etc.
• https://archive.org/stream/genealogicalnote00hill#page/33/mode/1up
• He lived in Providence until 1692, on the estate left him by his father, when he bought land in the ancient limits of Rehoboth, now Cumberland, R. I. Rev. William Blackstone, one of the earliest settlers of Rhode Island, erected his study on a hill, and called the place "Study Hill," which name it still bears. This "Hill" at his death fell to his only son John, who deeded it to David Whipple, This deed is now in possession of the Historical Society at Providence. David Whipple, at the time of his death, was an ensign. His will is dated March 24, 1709, and proved January 8, 171 1; his wife Hannah being the executrix. .... etc.

___________________________

• The Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island: Comprising Three Generations of ... By John Osborne Austin
• https://books.google.com/books?id=LA7ntaS11ocC&pg=PA329&lpg=PA329&d...
• Pg.222
• VIII. DAVID, b. 1656. Providence, R. I., Rehoboth, Mass. d. 1710. Dec. m. (1) 1675, May 15. SARAH HEARNDEN d. 1677, Apr. 2. of Benjamin & Elizabeth (White) Hearnden. ch: 1. David, m.(2) 1677, Nov. 11. HANNAH TOWER d. 1722, Nov. of John & Margaret ( ) Tower. ch: 2. Israel 1678, Aug. 16., 3. Deborah, 1681, Sep. 12., 4. Jeremiah, 1683, June. 26., 5. William, 1685, May 27., 6. Sarah, 1687, Nov. 18., 7. Hannah, 1690, Jan. 9., 8. Abigail, 1692, Oct. 20. ___________________________

  ---

WHO WERE BENJAMIN HARRINGTON’S PARENTS? Benjamin Harrington/Herrington (1618–1694) ( aka ‘Benjamin of Rhode Island’) has probably been the most written about, vilified and controversial Harrington since the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. Because he provides a vital connection within my own family lineage I have focused my attention on Benjamin’s English background.After all about the only issue not in dispute about the man is that he had to have been of British descent.

English family records show that Benjamin was the second son of James Harrington. James was the seventh son of Sir John Harrington of Kelston,Somerset, England. Pedigree documentation reveals that the second daughter of the Earl of Lincoln, Anne Clinton-Fiennes, married James Harrington of England and they produced four children named respectively; Robert (b 1616) Benjamin (b 1618) Abraham (b 1622) & Rebecca (b 1625).Both Clinton and Harrington records confirm the same children of the marriage. Anne Clinton-Fiennes was born at Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England about 1595/96. She was the second daughter of Thomas Clinton-Fiennes, (3rd Earl of Lincoln) and Elizabeth Knyvett. (The Earl was a prominent Puritan involved in the formation of the ‘The Massachusetts Bay Company’). Her family record shows she married James Harrington in 1615 and that she died at Charlestown, Middlesex, MA on 25th December 1632. She was later buried at the Burying Ground, Cambridge, and Middlesex MA. James Harrington (b.abt. 1592) was the ninth child of Sir John Harrington (1561 - 1612) and Lady Mary Harrington (nee Rogers d. 1634) of Kelston, Somerset, England. Harrington family records show that James died at Watertown, Middlesex, MA in January 1630. Sir Johns wife, Lady Mary was also a person with long standing Puritan leanings. Their first born son was named James but it seems he died at an early age. As was often the case in those days they named a subsequent son with the same Christian name.Their first surviving son, (and by convention their heir) was called John.Some American family historians insist John Harrington was the father of Robert Harrington (of Watertown) and was the one who drowned in 1630.English historian Ian Grimble (‘The Harington Family’ – Jonathan Cape – London) clearly shows that Sir John Harrington of Kelston’s eldest son John married the daughter of the Ist Earl of Marlborough and they both remained in England. This John Harrington (III) actually became a Member of the English Parliament.. Benjamin Harrington is believed to have accompanied his father, mother and the two younger siblings (Abraham and Rebecca) to Massachusetts sometime during 1630. They travelled not with ‘Winthrops Great Fleet’ but aboard an accompanyingcattle ship named ‘Prosperous’. (James was probably a farmer – hence their mode of travel). Thus, though family legend would have it that the first Harrington to arrive in Boston Bay was named John Harrington the evidence now clearly shows it was more likely to have been James, husband of Anne and father of Benjamin, Robert Abraham and Rebecca.

Eldest sibling Robert didn’t arrive in America until after his mother died. During those crucial years Robert enjoyed an education and the home comforts of his English grandmother.Benjamin was only 12 years old when he lost his father, Abraham was eight and Rebecca five. The loneliness, privation and sheer terror imposed upon widowed Anne and her three young children isolated on the shores of a barren unfamiliar land is something critics of Benjamin perhaps fail to understand. The family were without a male leader, adequate food, shelter or proper protection. They were almost certainly without basic education. Following his mother’s death Benjamin lived briefly with an uncle, Charles Clinton-Fiennes of Lynn MA.That man was said to be a strict uncompromising Puritan. Benjamin finally escaped to Rhode Island with a family of Quakers, named White. They too had some major personality hang-ups. In spite of all this he later married their youngest daughter Elizabeth. Life could never have been easy for Benjamin.

The evidence clearly indicates that Benjamin Harrington/Herrington/Errington/Herndell/Harnden/Herinqton et al were all colonial descriptions of the same man. Given the circumstances of the times there can be nothing sinister read into this list of perceived ‘aliases’. If, as seems likely, Ben couldn’t spell he would hardly be in a position to correct someone else. His ancestral name probably meant little to him anyway. His link was broken the day his mother died. The ancestors of Robert, Benjamin, Abraham and Rebecca were, none the less, prominent people in medieval and Tudor England. The Clintons are of Norman origin. The family settled in England at about the time of the conquest by William I.Harrington’s are believed to be of even earlier origin. They arrived with the Vikings.Harrington is one of the oldest family names in the English language. It derives from the name of an ancient Celtic coastal village in the north of England called Haefertun – ‘The Place of The Cattle People’. (It is nowadays the Cumbrian village of ‘Harrington’) Our earliest known ancestor was a local chief called Osulf of Fleminby. Osulf settled one of his sons, Robertus, at nearby Haefertun. Thereby Robertus became known as Robertus de (of) Haefertun. Over the years the name of Haefertun corrupted to Hafrinctuna (Romans), de Hafrinctuna and de Haveringham (Normans), de Haverington (Anglo Saxon) and finally to its present form of Harrington (English Middle Ages). Since those early times there have been numerous variations to the surname. One branch of the English family spells its name with only one r. i.e. ‘Harington’.Consider also the different interpretations of Benjamin’s family name. Rhode Island records report that in 1665 his father in law, William White, was “granted a house lot adjoining his son-in-law Benjamine Herndell”. White’s will, made 13th October 1673, described his daughter Elizabeth as “Elyzabeth Harnden”. Benjamin and Elizabeth Harrington’s son, Isaac made his last will on 3rd September 1727. It was filed in the name of Isaac Herinqton.It must be realised that very few of those earlygenerationNew England settlers couldspell their own name. The early records were usually compiled by simple scribes, who themselves transcribed largely on the basis of hand-me-down phonetic interpretation. (There were no dictionaries or phone books to check the spelling!) The first Harrington to adopt the name as we know it today was Lord John Harrington of Aldingham. (1281 – 1347). He was the eldest son of Sir Robert de Haverington (1262 – 1298).John deleted the Norman prefix and thus became the namesake of our modern clan of Harrington’s.John was created a Baron, by his peers, in 1324. He then became known as John First Lord Harrington of Aldingham, thereby securing the family name within English nobility. It was his son (Sir John Harrington) who introduced the family name to Ireland around 1350 AD. The Harrington families of the period became riddled with eldest sons called John. (A genealogists nightmare!)Benjamins grandfather, Sir John Harrington of Kelston (b. 1561 – d. 1612) was the son of a John Harrington (b. – d.1582) and, as previously indicated, Sir Johns eldest surviving son and heir was also called John.It is little wonder Harrington folklore assumed the first New England settler’s name could be anything but John. (Thank God for the Puritans!) Sir John Harrington of Kelston was, among other things, godson to Queen Elizabeth I and confidant of Sir Walter Raleigh. He was a renowned wit and became one of the more prominent writers of his age. He was at one time an English spy and at another a prisoner of the English crown. But he is probably best known for his invention of the water closet (appropriately referred to in America as ‘The John”).. Sir John’s father [John] was a poet to the Court of King Henry VIII. To avoid confusion Sir John of Kelston was known as ‘John the Writer’ and his father, ‘John the Poet’. The Poet got as close as any Harrington to introducing royal blood into our line.‘John the Poet’ was married briefly to Audrey Tudor, (also known as ‘Ethelreda Malte’) one of King Henry VIII’s illegitimate children. Audrey died at childbirth having born him a daughter called Hester.His second wife, Sir John the Writers mother, was Isabella Markham, ‘Gentlewoman companion’ to Queen Elizabeth I The years 1300 AD to 1600 AD cover an important period of English history. During that time Sir John’s forebears actively participated in a number of notable events including ‘The Wars of the Roses’, ‘The Battle of Agincourt’ and ‘The Battle of Bannockburn’. The Harrington’s were among the senior knights and barons of the Middle Ages. During Tudor times they were variously parliamentarians, prosecutors, pirates and priests. There is even to be found a family ‘curse’, occasional villain and an alleged traitor. My family history is work in progress. Discussion, criticism and correction are welcome.June 2011

References

1. Per Winifred (Lovering) Holman, FASG [Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists (fasg.org)], “The Hearnden Line” (Mss A 5305, R. Stanton Avery Special Collections Department, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1944), the origins of Benjamin Hearnden (whose descendants were also known by the surname of Harrington), are unknown. Benjamin was not the son of John-1 and Anne (Clinton) Harrington of Charlestown, Massachusetts.
2. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7703752/benjamin-hearnden
3. “Benjamin Harrington of Providence, Rhode Island.” Copyright 1999 Perry Streeter (Content updated 8 January 2001) < PDF >. Does not list a daughter of Benjamin Harrington & Elizabeth White called Elizabeth, nor any daughter who married a Northup.
4. http://dgmweb.net/FGS/H/HarringtonBenjamin-ElizabethWhite.html