The research for this section of my web site commenced with the sharing of a letter written by ‘Belle’ to a Mrs Green dated 9th December 1861 and some daguerreotype photographs. My father, Granville Green, was the custodian of these items and he shared them with his 2nd cousin Alan Green probably in the 1980’s. This letter was later shared by Alan with my 3rd Cousin Fran Holt who managed to track down Belle (Benjamin’s step daughter) and unveil the Benjamin Green story below:-
(click on images)
Benjamin Green was a half brother to William who escaped the Press Gangs. BG and his older brother John both emigrated to Illinios arriving there in 1829. Fran Holt, my 3rd cousin who has been interested in the Green family history longer than I (RP). Fran with her sister Grace has researched this line. I have been able to compliment this research with a few letters and photographs sent from the USA. These were retained by William James Green my Gt Grandfather.
Benjamin’s Life
From an ‘Atlas Map of Scott County Illinois’ the notes on Old Settlers in the County gives an excellent insight into the success of BG. He arrived there in 1829 with his wife Anna White of Church Fenton and their daughter Mary (born 14th March 1826 in Church Fenton). I have not been able to obtain satisfactory evidence of their marriage or birth of Mary – but I am working on it!
Unfortunately the notes on Old Settlers are contradictory as concerns how they entered the US and actually arrived in Illinois. Under BG’s notes they arrived via Quebec but under his daughters notes as Mrs Mary O Woodman (nee Green) they arrived via New Orleans and made their way up the Illinois river – clearly one is wrong. As his daughter would have been 3 at the time and landing at a French speaking port I favour BG’s story.
BG took a familiar economic trail to the US and gained access to much land at cheap prices and built up significant farming interests. In addition to Mary he had 4 further children, Anna died in 1851 with a fine memorial to her in Green Cemetery in Bluffs Scott County where BG is also buried.
BG married again, Margaret Moore on 1st January 1853. I have the original letter from Belle, her daughter dated 9th December 1861 written to Eleanor Green (James Green (4) widow & BG’s half brothers son’s wife). In it she refers to BG as ‘Pa’, which caused us to believe initially that Belle was Benjamin’s daughter. (2nd wife’s daughter from previous marriage). In it she shares with her some Civil War information and BG’s weight concerns at 240 pounds/17 stone!
BelleLetter1861Margaret Moore died 15th November 1872 and there is some evidence that he married a Elizabeth Thompson in 1873. On the 1880 census there was a 15 year old John Thompson ‘at school’ living with BG.
Abraham Lincoln & The Civil War
In the Old Settlers note BG was a ‘friend of Abraham Lincoln’ – perhaps confirming his political persuasion as we have no evidence of any friendship. One of his sons, (William I believe) enlisted in the 115th Regiment Illinios Volunteers and was killed at Mitchellsville, Tennessee in 1862.
Benjamin Green’s Cemetery
I have a further letter dated 20th July 1883 from BG’s son in law, Edward Woodman. He was BG’s daughter Mary’s second husband. The letter advises BG’s half grandson WJ(5) that he had died on 7th June 1882 some 14 months prior. WJ was 31 at the time and was still looking to move to the US. The letter contains many encouraging farming facts and snippets of the day.
LettertoWJGreenfromEdwardWoodmanadvisinghimofthedeathofhisUncleBenjaminWe find BG on various census records and sources tell us that he was associated with the M E Church for 50 years, was politically active and farmed over 10,000 acres – most of Scott County. He had retired from farming by 1860. BG died on 7th January 1882 and is buried in the Benjamin Green Cemetry in Bluffs, Scott County, Illinois along with his two wives who predecesed him. (Hannah(Anna?) Green (nee White) in 1851 and Margaret Green (nee Moore in 1872 ) and his Son William who was killed in the Civil War in 1862. I am told that in 1973 the grave markers still stood.
I note that Ancestry Website, under Public Member Trees, there are many references to BG and later offspring that readers may wish to refer. It is not intended to expand this section further.
