Benjamin Biles1

M, #3352, b. say 1719
  • Birth*: say 1719; Pure guess, based on assumption followed siblings.
Last Edited: 12 Jul 2015
Charts:
Descendants of Alexander & Dorothy Biles

Parents:

Father: John Biles1 b. 31 Mar 1678
Mother: Mary Lambert1 b. 2 Apr 1681

Notes

  • Note*: The name Benjamin Biles occurs in numerous documents as cited below from 1732 to 1786 in the area of Hunterdon County, Trenton and Burlington County, New Jersey. It is not certain whether these refer to one or more persons.

    The relationship of Benjamin Biles to other persons is uncertain. He is named as a nephew in the will of Thomas Lambert, cited below, along with two other nephews known to be the sons of John Biles and his wife Mary Lambert; Thomas Lambert was known to have only one other daughter, Elizabeth, of whom nothing more is known. So on those weak pieces of evidence alone, Benjamin is assigned in this database as a son of John and Mary Biles. Also a 1763 deed, abstracted below, concerns a property purchased by Samuel Biles, deceased, which devolved to Benjamin Biles; the deed does not explain why; perhaps this was the same Samuel the son of John and Mary Biles. But the case is weak, as John and Mary Biles' other children are listed in the Falls Monthly Meeting records, and Benjamin is not. John Biles' probate was not located.

    The indices to the West Jersey Deeds list at least six more deeds for a Benjamin Biles, not examined by this researcher.

    The probate of Benjamin Biles was not found.
  • Note: 1732. The will of Thomas Lambert of Nottingham Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, written 1732, names among many others "nephews - Samuel, Thomas and Benjamin Biles". NJA 30:2892
  • Note: 1742. John Sober of Philadelphia on 22 April 1742 granted by deeds of lease and release to Benjamin Biles of the City of Trenton tanner, in consideration of £95, a lot on King Street. Abstracted by Jeff Moore; viewed on Trenton Historical Society website, url: http://www.trentonhistory.org/Documents/Manuscript/MS23.html.3
  • Note: 1744. Elizabeth Biles of Trenton on 16 July 1744, in consideration of £5, quit claimed and released unto the Benjamin Biles of Trenton two parcels of land in Trenton. These lots were part of three lots purchased in 1729 by John Bambridge, and sold to his son John Bambridge in 1732, and sold by the son and his wife Mary in 1737 to Samuel Biles and Elizabeth Biles. Samuel Biles died and his share went to Benjamin Biles "heir apparent to the Said Samuel Biles". Benjamin Biles and Elizabeth Biles had the land resurveyed (35 1/4 acres) and partitioned. This indenture described Benjamin's portion, two parcels, and Elizabeth Biles quit claimed it. Abstracted by Jeff Moore; viewed on Trenton Historical Society website, url: http://www.trentonhistory.org/Documents/Manuscript/MS24.html. [A related deed, 1773 below, refers to Elizabeth Biles' will, by which she can be identified as the widow of Thomas Biles and the daughter of Thomas Lambert.]3
  • Note: 1745. David Martin, High Sheriff of Hunterdon County on 14 Nov 1745 granted to Benjamin Biles of the Borough of Trenton, tanner, in consideration of £128 proclamation money, a house and lot on the west side of King Street in Trenton. The sheriff had been ordered by the court to sell the property formerly of William Atlee deceased in order to pay a debt to Achsah Lambert. Recorded West Jersey Deeds, Vol. Y, p. 427. Abstracted by Jeff Moore; viewed on FHL microfilm 460061.4
  • Note: The 1746 Hunterdon County will of Margaret Lambert was witnessed by Benjamin Biles (NJA 30:289). [Margaret Lambert was the daughter of Thomas Lambert, brother of Mary Lambert the candidate mother of Benjamin Biles.]2
  • Note: 1746 Sept. 6, Charter for the incorporation of Trenton as a free Borough Town. Benjamin Biles, Jasper Smith, John Hunt, Daniel Lanning et. Al. to be present Common Council men.5
  • Note: 1748. Benjamin Biles witnessed the surety on the 10 January 1748/9 intestate estate of Nathaniel Rossell (Rezell) of Maidenhead Township, Hunterdon County. (NJA 30:407).2
  • Note: 1748. Benjamin Biles, of Trenton, surety, on the bond 21 November 1748 of the estate of Amous Jenney (Janney) (NJA 30:264).2
  • Note: 1749 April 6. The inventory of the estate of William Taylor, carpenter, listed debts from about fifty persons including Benja. Biles; the inventory totaled £121.18 1/2.2
  • Note: Benjamin Biles at Trenton advertised for sale a tanyard on 2 1/3 acres, and a dwelling house on a half acre lot, adjoining the tanyard, on the west side of King street; he living on the premises. (Pennsylvania Gazette, 7 June 1750)6
  • Note: 1754 & 1765. Benjamin Biles Esq. High Sheriff of Hunterdon Co., under authority of Supreme Court writs, granted on 4 Dec 1754 to Elizabeth Biles of Hunterdon Co. widow, the highest bidder, in consideration of £123, a lot of 27 3/4 perches in Trenton on the east side of Queen Street, formerly the property of Thomas Biles deceased. [Thomas Biles of Middletown, Bucks Co. had purchased the lot 26 April 1753 from Joseph Cleayton, Hunterdon County Deeds 1:76.] The Supreme Court had ordered the sale to pay Daniel Biles & Margaret his wife a judgment they won against the executors of the will of Thomas Biles for debts of £166.13.4 and also £5.0.1 damages & costs. The executors were Sarah Biles & Langhorn Biles. The deed was validated before Benjamin Biles Esq. 12 Sept 1765, then one of Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas. Recorded 11 July 1786 Hunterdon Co. Deeds, Vol. 1, p. 92-95. Abstracted by Jeff Moore; viewed on FHL microfilm 806605. [Regarding this judgment, see also West Jersey Deeds, Vol. R, p. 264, FHL microfilm 460057.] [See also on Trenton Historical Society website, http://www.trentonhistory.org/Documents/Manuscript/MS34.html]7,3
  • Note: 1754. William Ely purchased two tracts of land from Benjamin Biles in 1754.8,9
  • Note: 1755. Benjamin Biles of Nottingham in Burlington Co. on 29 April 1755 mortgaged to Thomas Riche Esqr. of Bucks Co. Pennsylvania a tract in Nottingham Township Burlington County. Recorded West Jersey Deeds, Vol. AH, p. 408-410; viewed on FHL microfilm 450065.4
  • Note: Benjamin Biles was sheriff in Hunterdon Co., N.J. in 1755 and 1756.10,11
  • Note: 1759, 2nd of 8th mo, Chesterfield Monthly Meeting Minutes: "Benjamin Biles reported for being guilty of fornication."12
  • Note: 1763. Benjamin Biles of Trenton Esq. on 28 March 1763 granted to Joseph Salter, John Salter, and Lawrance Salter all of Nottingham Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, in consideration of £20.3 money of New Jersey, a tract in Nottingham Township containing 10 acres and 15 perches. The land had been surveyed to Samuel Biles deceased and devolved unto Benjamin Biles. Recorded 13 Aug 1770, West Jersey Deeds, Vol. Y, p. 378. Abstracted by Jeff Moore; viewed on FHL microfilm 460061.4
  • Note: 1763. George Biles died intestate. Benjamin Biles and William Cleaton, both of Hunterdon County, made the inventory 13 Sept 1763, and both were fellowbondsmen. (NJA 33:42) [Possibly this was George Biles son of George Biles and his wife Martha Blackshaw.]2
  • Note: 1765. Benjamin Biles, living at Hermitage near Trenton, advertised for sale a tanyard, then in the tenure of Stacy Potts, on 2 1/3 acres fronting King Street in Trenton. Also for sale, an adjoining half acre lot with a dwelling house. (Pennsylvania Gazette, 26 September 1765)6
  • Note: 1766. Benjamin Biles Esq. of Trenton on 28 July 1766 granted to Stacy Potts, in consideration of £650 current proclamation money, all that lot of land whereon the tan yard is situated, which John Sober of Philadelphia granted to Benjamin Biles. 22 April 1742 Lib. IK fol. 373. Also granted were house and other lot of land where Stacy Potts then dwelled, which David Martin Esq. High Sheriff of County of Hunterdon granted on 14 Nov 1745 to Benjamin Biles. West Jersey Deeds, Vol. Y, p. 435-439. Abstracted by Jeff Moore; viewed on FHL microfilm 460061. [See transcription on Trenton Historical Society website http://www.trentonhistory.org/Documents/Manuscript/MS52.html]4,3
  • Note: 1770. Prior to 1770 Benjamin Biles purchased from William Ely (1709-1770) the 1/2 plantation which Ely had inherited from his father Joshua Ely.8
  • Note: 1770. Benjamin Biles advertised for sale the farm on which he lived called "Hermitage", one mile from Trenton on the Delaware River containing 220 acres (Pennsylvania Chronicle, Philadelphia, 14 May 1770).6
  • Note: 1770 Nov 12. Benjamin Biles of Trenton was administrator of the intestate estate of Pontius Stiile 1770 Nottingham Township, Burlington County. (NJA 33:410)2
  • Note: 1772. Benjamin Biles again advertised his 220 acre farm "Hermitage' He also had to sell four negro slaves, a 24 year old woman with a 2 1/2 year old child, a 7 year old girl, and a 5 year old boy. (Pennsylvania Journal, Philadelphia, 23 Sept 1772).6
  • Note: 1773. Benjamin Biles of Trenton on 12 August 1773, in consideration of five shillings, quit claimed and released to Robert Lettis Hooper Junior and his wife Margaret a 15 acre tract of land which had been bequeathed in a codicil of the will of Elizabeth Biles. This lot was part of three lots purchased in 1729 by John Bambridge, and sold to his son John Bambridge in 1732, and sold by the son and his wife Mary in 1737 to Samuel Biles and Elizabeth Biles. Benjamin Biles, heir of Samuel Biles and Elizabeth Biles surveyed and partitioned the property, and quit claimed and released each other 16 July 1744. The original release from Benjamin Biles was lost or destroyed, this document replaced that lost release. [Abstracted by Jeff Moore; viewed at http://www.trentonhistory.org/Documents/Manuscript/MS64.html]3
  • Note: 1775 Feb 9. Daniel Abet of Hunterdon Co, son of James Abbitt decd., makes choice as his guardian Benjamin Biles of Burlington Co. with John Burrows of Hunterdon Co. (NJA 34:9) [See Gen of NJ Families, Vol. 2, p. 31]2
  • Note: 1775 Jan 17. Will of Thomas Langhorne Biles bequests £250 to kinsman Benjamin Biles. (NJA 34:43)2
  • Note: by 1782. Will of John Watson of Burlington, Burlington County bequeaths to daughter Naomi "50 acres which I bought of Benjamin Biles, where Abraham Lobb lives, except a part given by deed to my son, John" (NJA35:430-1)2
  • Note: 1778. Ben. Biles offers $20 reward for return of horse stolen at David Gordon's shed, and $30 more if the thief is brought to justice. (New-Jersey Gazette, Trenton, 5 Aug 1778)6
  • Note: 1779. Benjamin Biles was listed in the tax list for Maidenhead Township, September 1779, as a householder with no land and one cow.13
  • Note: 1782. Benjamin Biles list for sale the plantation on which he then lived of 350 acres in Nottingham Township, Burlington County on the road leading from Princeton to Bordertown. (New-Jersey Gazette, Trenton, 3 July 1782)6
  • Note: 1782. The sheriff of Burlington County announced a forthcoming auction of a 743 acre plantation in Nottingham Township, "late the property of Benjamin Biles, seized and taken in execution at the suit of Thomas Riche". (New-Jersey Gazette, Trenton, 27 Nov 1782)6
  • Note: 1782, Benjamin Biles appointed administrator of intestate estate of Alexander Biles of Maidenhead Township, Hunterdon County, 4 March 1782. (NJA 35:44)2
  • Note: 1785. Thomas Richi advertises for sale a 300 acre plantation in Nottingham Township, Burlington County, "where Mr. B. Biles lately lived". (New-Jersey Gazette, Trenton, 7 Mar 1785)

    1785. Thomas Riche advertised for sale "a plantation on which Benjamin Biles lately lived, in Nottingham township, Burlington county, containing six hundred and forty acres, or 300 hundred acres..." (New-Jersey Gazette, Trenton, 14 Nov 1785)6
  • Note: 1786. Joseph Clayton of Trenton, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, on 26 April 1753 granted to Thomas Biles of Middletown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in consideration of £300 current money of province of New Jersey, a lot in Trenton containing 27 3/4 perches of land. Signature of deed of Joseph Cleayton deceased affirmed by Benjamin Biles Esquire sworn 19 April 1786. Recorded 1 June 1786, Hunterdon County Deeds, Vol. 1, p. 76-79. Abstracted by Jeff Moore; viewed on FHL microfilm 806605.7

Citations

  1. [S127] Documents relating to the colonial, revolutionary and post-revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey. aka New Jersey Archives. 30:289 Will of Thomas Lambert.
  2. [S127] New Jersey Archives.
  3. [S508] "Trenton Manuscripts from the 1700s & earlier", website of the Trenton Historical Society., online http://www.trentonhistory.org/Documents/Manuscript1700.html
  4. [S536] West Jersey Deeds, 1677-1854. FHL microfilm series. Book B film # 460046, Book AAA film # 460047, Book W film # 460059, and other books. [Also see on web New Jersey Archives, Collection Guides, Department of State, Deeds SSTSE023. GSU reel numbers are FHL film numbers.]
  5. [S89] Cook, Lewis D., "Biles of N.J.", a section in the "Family Records, by L. D. Cook", in the Lewis D. Cook papers, 17 typed pages (Historical Society of Pennsylvania, call number "Gen 3.4", ), p. 7, citing Penna. Mag. Of Hist. & Biogr. V. 9:227..   Cook--Biles-of-NJ.pdf
  6. [S168] GenealogyBank, online GenealogyBank.com.
  7. [S315] New Jersey, Hunterdon Co., Deeds, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. County Clerk. FHL microfilm series.
  8. [S89] Cook, Lewis D., Biles of N.J., p. 12: citing Ely, Revell, Stacye Families, 1910, p. 170.
  9. [S127] New Jersey Archives, NJA 33:131, Will of William Ely.
  10. [S89] Cook, Lewis D., Biles of N.J., p. 6, citing NJA 1st series 19:568, 27:107.
  11. [S552] Wilson, Thomas B., "New Jersey Supreme Court Cases, 1704-1760", The Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey Vol. 86 (Jan 2011) No. 1: Vol 86 No. 1 (Jan 2011) p. 44, Coxe vs. Furman, 1756-57.   Wilson--NJ-Supreme-Court.pdf
  12. [S288] Meldrum, Charlotte D., Early Church Records of Burlington County, New Jersey; Vol. 1: Burlington & Mt Holly Monthly Meetings; Vol. 2: Chesterfield, Evesham & Little Egg Harbor Monthly Meetings; Vol. 3: Many sources. (Westminster, Maryland: Heritage Books, 2007), Vol. 2, p. 73.
  13. [S503] Tax Ratables, Hunterdon Co., 1778-1822. FHL Microfilm 865475.    Hunterdon-Tax-Lists--Anthony-Biles-Cook--865475.pdf   Hunterdon-Tax-Lists--Anthony-Biles-Cook--865475--Abstract.pdf