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Person Info

• Name: Benjamin HENDRICKS
• Sex: M
• Birth: 15 Mar 1796 ^b
• Death: 12 Sep 1839 in Albany Twp, Berks Co, Pennsylvania ^d


Parents:

Family:
Marriage:

• Rebecca MOLL on May 1818 at Greenwich Twp, Berks Co, Pennsylvania .^m1
  
• Rebecca MOLL Birth: 15 Mar 1800 in Albany Twp, Berks Co, Pennsylvania Death: 1 Nov 1888 in Tamaqua, Schuylkill Co, Pennsylvania

Children:

1. Michael HENDRICKS Birth: 29 Mar 1819 in Albany Twp, Berks Co, Pennsylvania Death: 7 Oct 1896 in Albany Twp, Berks Co, Pennsylvania
2. Jeremiah HENDRICKS Birth: 27 Jan 1821 in Albany Twp, Berks Co, Pennsylvania Death: 26 Apr 1879 in Tamaqua, Schuylkill Co, Pennsylvania
3. George HENDRICKS Birth: 23 Aug 1823 in Albany Twp, Berks Co, Pennsylvania Death: 26 Aug 1903 in Danville, Montour Co, Pennsylvania
4. Mary "Molly" HENDRICKS Birth: 1827 in Albany Township, Berks Co, Pennsylvania
5. Daniel HENDRICKS Birth: 1829 in Albany Township, Berks Co, Pennsylvania
6. Hannah HENDRICKS Birth: 1832 in Albany Township, Berks Co, Pennsylvania
7. Sarah HENDRICKS Birth: 1836 in Albany Township, Berks Co, Pennsylvania
8. Cordelia HENDRICKS Birth: 1838 in Albany Twp, Berks Co, Pennsylvania Death: Walker Township, Schulykill Co, Pennsylvania

Bibliography

Sources for birth and parent Information

date:

[Ref: John Hendricks 12/14/1995]

Sources for death Information

date:

[Ref: John Hendricks 12/14/1995],

place:

[Ref: John Hendricks 12/14/1995]

Sources with Information about marriage to Rebecca MOLL

date:

[Ref: John Hendricks 3/2/2005],

place:

[Ref: John Hendricks 3/2/2005],

child:

[Ref: John Hendricks 12/14/1995]

Research Notes:
It is believed that Benjamin moved to Berks County about 1815 and married about 1818. (Their first child, Michael, was born 29 Mar 1819). It is further believed that Benjamin could have been born and raised in Towamencin Township, Montgomery County, PA. or Hilltown Township, Bucks County and then moved to Towamencin Township before moving to Berks County. Benjamin's name appears for the first time in Albany Township in the 1830 U S Census. [Ref: John Hendricks 12/14/1995]

apparently took up residence and established a close relationship with John George Gerhart; in his will dated 13 Mar 1827, pro 16 Apr 1827, left his entire estate to Benjamin's children after wife Christina's death [Ref: John Hendricks 3/2/2005]

1830 Census: His household includes the following: 1 male age under 5 years, 2 males age 5 - 10 years, 1 female age 5 - 10 years, 1 male age 10 - 15 years, 1 male age 20 - 30 years, 1 male age 30 - 40 years, 2 females age 30 - 40 years, 1 female age 50 - 60 years [Ref: John Hendricks 12/14/1995]

Benjamin and his mother-in-law, Christina Gearhart, had been appointed co-executors of the will of George Gearhart (Benjamin's father-in-law), who had acquired the land in 1793 from his father, Jacob Gearhart. In his will, George bequeathed the property to the children of Benjamin & Rebecca Gearhart Hendricks (his grandchildren) but only after the death of Christina, his wife. Following the death of John George Gearhart in 1826, his widow, Christina, lived with Benjamin and family (see Census above: 1 female age 50 - 60 years) until the death of Benjamin in 1839 at age 43. At or subsequent to that time, Benjamin's #2 son, Jeremiah became Head of Household at age 27 (the 1850 Census shows Christianna Gerhart, age 79, living in this household). [Ref: John Hendricks 12/14/1995]

All indications are that John George Gearhart died in 1826, however, his Last Will & Testament was recorded in the Register's Office, Reading, Berks County, PA, on April 16, 1827 (Wills, Vol 6, p R3). The death of Benjamin in 1839 resulted in the Court appointing Michael, first born son of Benjamin, as Executor of the original George Gearhart Will. As a result, several actions were filed before the Orphans Court in Reading, PA. Translation of the proceedings and the subsequent sale of the property by Michael to George Bolick are included in this Compilation as part of the NOTES on father-in-law John George Gearhart. [Ref: John Hendricks 12/14/1995]

The Reading Adler (Newspaper) carried the obituary of Benjamin Henrixks on Oct 1, 1839 reporting his death on September 12, 1839 at age 43 years, 5 months and 27 days. The burial site has not been confirmed, however it is probable that he was buried on the above discussed property which is located near the foot of Hawk Mountain where the 7 February 1756 Indian Massacre occurred. The farm is presently (1994) owned by Mark and Mary Bailey. Mark is supposedly a descendant of George Bolich who acquired the farm from Michael Hendricks. [Ref: John Hendricks 12/14/1995]

In July 1994, in the company of Sarah Ann Schroeder Burns (great-great grand-daughter of Michael Hendricks, 1st son of Benjamin) and Leroy Berkheiser, another great-great grandson of of Michael, the Compiler visited the wooded area on the side of a hill adjacent to a cultivated cornfield where the burials supposedly occurred. At present there is only one marker still remaining. The inscription appears to be: "A H R H A R I G". It is doubtful if any proofs will ever be found as to the final resting place of Benjamin and Rebecca. [Ref: John Hendricks 12/14/1995]

Regarding Benjamin's possible ancestors: Consider the following possibilities: On Aug 27, 1739, the Ship Samuel (Hugh Percy Commander), from Rotterdam, last from Deal, made port in Philadelphia, PA with 340 Palatine passengers on board. Among the passengers were the following individuals: Frederick Gerhard(t), William Gerhard(t), Paul Samsel (probable ancestor of Paul Sampsel Boger, grandfather of Compiler), Abraham Hendrick(s), and John Nicolas Hendrick(s). Also, on August 17, 1731, the very same ship, The Samuel, Hugh Percy Commanding, made port in Philadelphia and one of the passengers was a George Henderich. (Our Benjamin named his second son "George"). [Ref: John Hendricks 12/14/1995]

It should also be noted that in the Census for the year 1800, in Hilltown Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, there was a Benjamin Hendricks and wife, both listed as age 45 plus with the following children: 3 males between 1 & 10 years of age, 1 male between 10 & 16 years of age, 1 female between 10 & 16 years of age, 1 female betweem 16 & 26 years of age [Ref: John Hendricks 12/14/1995]

This Benjamin Hendricks was born April 9, 1761 and died August 8, 1831. It is possible that our Benjamin, born March 15, 1796 was one of the three male children listed as between 1 and 10 years of age. In the same 1800 Census, in Towamincin Township, Montgomery County, there was an Abraham Hendricks and wife, both 45 plus, with 2 male children between 1 & 10 years of age. A John Hendricks and wife, also 45 plus, also had children (3 males), under age 10 in Towamincin Township. One final possiblility comes from RUPP's "Thirty Thousand Names of Immigrants in Pennsylvania", p472 which lists a Michael Hendricks who owned land and paid quit-rents prior to 1734 in Frederick Township, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. The number of acres was not given. [Ref: John Hendricks 12/14/1995]



Pedigree of Benjamin HENDRICKS
Benjamin HENDRICKS



Descendants of Benjamin HENDRICKS

2nd generation