Benjamin Becraft
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: Cir 1758 - New York province 1
Christening:
Death: 1800 - Gore District, Ancaster Township, Ontario, Canada 2
Burial:
Cause of Death:
AFN :
Events
• Biography
Reid's Sons of Daughters of American Loyalists reads:• Biography, Biographical Sketches of Loyalists of the American Revolution
Bycroft, Benjamin or Bigcraft, was born about 1762 in New York Province, a
farmer, settled on Lot 11, Con. 2 of Ancaster; married Elizabeth Westbrook,
sister of Andrew Westbrook; d. prior to 1801. OC 24 Feb 1801.
Anne, m. Benjamin Hunt of Ancaster OC 23 Nov 1816
James of GrandRiver, OC 23 Nov 1816
Sara OC 25 Feb 1819
Anthony of Farichild's Creed, OC Oc 2 1822
by Lorenzo Sabine• Event in NY
Page 223
Becraft, ---. A Tory leader, cruel, and noted for deeds of blood. He boasted to his associates of having assisted to massacre the family of a Mr. Vrooman, in Schoharie, New York. The family, he said, were soon dispatched, except a boy of fourteen, who ran from the house, when he started in pursuit, overtook him, and cut his throat, took his scalp, and hung his body across the fence. After the peace, he had the hardihood to return to Schoharie. He was seized, stripped naked and bound to a tree, and whipped nearly to death by ten men, some of whom had been his prisoners, and had heard him recount his exploit. Thus beaten, he was dismissed with a charge never to show himself in that country again; an injunction which he carefully kept.
Quote from the book; The Mark of Honour• Event, The Mark of Honour
by Hazel C. Mathews
"Benjamin Beacraft, who had been with Joseph Brant when Alexander Harper was taken prisoner, returned to his home in the Schoharie Valley. One day upon hearing a knock at his door he bade the caller to enter whereupon three men with whom he was acquainted filed into the room. Beacraft arose, respectifully inquiring after their health, and offering his hand; the compliment was returned by a hearty and determined clench of his shoulder. He was taken outside to a hickory grove before a self-appointed "jury" of ten men. He was stripped, tied to a staddle strapping, to save him the trouble of running away, and after cutting hickory switches each man joined a circle and gave Beacraft fifty lashes on his back. They then warned him, "to flee the country and never more return to blast, with his presences, so pure an atmosphere as that where liberty and independence breaths and trumiph." Compared with the experiences of others, Beacraft would seem to have got off lightly. He returned to Niagara and with his wife Elizabeth Westbrook eventully settled on Lot 11, concession 2, Ancaster Township."
Quote from the book; The Mark of Honour• Land, Lot 11, Concession 2, in Ancaster, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada
by Hazel C. Mathews
"Benjamin Beacraft, who had been with Joseph Brant when Alexander Harper was taken prisoner, returned to his home in the Schoharie Valley. One day upon hearing a knock at his door he bade the caller to enter whereupon three men with whom he was acquainted filed into the room. Beacraft arose, respectifully inquiring after their health, and offering his hand; the compliment was returned by a hearty and determined clench of his shoulder. He was taken outside to a hickory grove before a self-appointed "jury" of ten men. He was stripped, tied to a staddle strapping, to save him the trouble of running away, and after cutting hickory switches each man joined a circle and gave Beacraft fifty lashes on his back. They then warned him, "to flee the country and never more return to blast, with his presences, so pure an atmosphere as that where liberty and independence breaths and trumiph." Compared with the experiences of others, Beacraft would seem to have got off lightly. He returned to Niagara and with his wife Elizabeth Westbrook eventully settled on Lot 11, concession 2, Ancaster Township."
• Military
This is what the Old United Empire Loyalist List has written about Benjamin BEECRAFT:• Military
Benjamin Begraft (Beacraft) of the Home District - S.G. Corpl. Becraft,
Indian Dept. single, PLAN, 1786, Niagara stamped book.
Reid's Sons of Daughters of American Loyalists reads:• Occupation, Farmer
Bycroft, Benjamin or Bigcraft, was born about 1762 in New York Province, a
farmer, settled on Lot 11, Con. 2 of Ancaster; married Elizabeth Westbrook,
sister of Andrew Westbrook; d. prior to 1801. OC 24 Feb 1801.
Anne, m. Benjamin Hunt of Ancaster OC 23 Nov 1816
James of GrandRiver, OC 23 Nov 1816
Sara OC 25 Feb 1819
Anthony of Farichild's Creed, OC Oc 2 1822
Parents
Father: Thomas Beecroft
Mother: Elizabeth Hurst
Spouses and Children
1. *Elizabeth Westbrook 1
Marriage: 1777
Status:
Children:
1. Anne Becraft
2. Sarah Becraft
3. Anthony Becraft 3
4. James Becraft 1
Sources
1. Dorothy Hufft, Hufft (rootsweb.com).
2. http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Styx/1260/Beecraft.html.
3. LDS - IGI Index (familysearch.org).