Benjamin CRANE

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Benjamin Crane, was in Wethersfield, Conn., as early as 1655, and may have been there a few years earlier. According to the Records of the Particular Court, held at Hartford, March, 1655, he is defendant in a civil suit with John Sadler, pltf.; also in June 1656, he is defendant in another suit with Richard Montague. He was born about 1630; was made freeman May 12, 1658, at Wethersfield, It is not positively known from whence he came to Wethersfield, but Hinman in his "History of Connecticut Settlers" seems to think that he came from Massachusetts, which statement all investigations thus far seem to warrant. February 24, 1656, the town gave him a home lot of 2 1/2 acres, more or less, bounded by the Common N.W., a brook and the home lot of John Graves N.E., the Common S.E., the highway S.W. He also bought John Dixon's or Dickenson's land in the West Field, Sept. 14, 1664. The latter is said to have removed to Hadley 1659 or 1660. It appears that this last mentioned tract of land was that on which the late home of Sam'l Coleman, deceased, stands, on Mud Lane. It was there when Mr. Crane built his dwelling-house and tanneries. The house was one of the six houses fortified by vote of the town in 1704. The town also gave him three acres of land on Beaver, now Tando's, Brook, 1660; served as juror 1664; drew land in the allotment of 1670, and purchased land of Daniel Rose, Dec. 8,1671. January 15, 1673, he is rated among inhabitants of Wethersfield to pay the town 0-4-5 1/2; acquires more land next south of Job Whitcomb's, February 22, 1680, March 25, 1680, July 13, 1680; under latter date the land is located on the Connecticut River on road to Middletown and road to Rocky Hill.

May, 1682, Benjamin Crane wit others petitioned the General Court for liberty to "erect a plantation in the Wabaynassit country" (Windham County). It was proposed to have a "Town Grant" ten miles square.

He married Mary Backus, daughter of William and Sarah (Charles) Backus, April 23, 1655, and carried on the tanning business about a mile below the village on the Middletown road. The spot for many years has been known as "Old Crane's Tannery Place." At his death, May 31, 1691, his son John succeeded to the business.

Benjamin married Mary BACKUS on 23 Apr 1655. Mary died on 8 Jul 1717. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Jonathan married Deborah GRISWOLD on 19 Dec 1678. Deborah (daughter of Lieut. Francis GRISWOLD and Mary TRACY) was born in May 1661 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut; died about 1704. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Israel married Lydia WRIGHT on 13 Sep 1695. Lydia (daughter of Thomas WRIGHT, Jr. and Elizabeth CHITTENDEN) was born on 12 Mar 1672/3; died after 1720. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]