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"When William H. R. Benton [#58241416] was born on February 16, 1821, in Hebron, Connecticut, his father, Luther [Benton (1794-1864) #102869504], was 27 and his mother, Jemima [Fuller (1776-1858) #?][QV], was 45 (sic). With Lydia Ann W. Smith [(1831-1905) #58241468] he had five sons including in 1859 [Alonzo E. Benton (1859-1904) #58834665]. He died on January 5, 1899, in Brockton, Massachusetts, having lived a long life of 77 years, and was buried in Plymouth, Massachusetts."
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District Court. Saturday morning was a busy one in the District Court. The principal cases were from Lakeville, relative to the final disposition of the children of Alonzo Benton and Eli Young of the Beechwoods locality. It will be remembered that last June the agents of the State Board of charity were called in on the cases, and found the Young family living in a state of almost barbarism. The family occupied a shack made of two small buildings, said to be hen houses, and in these the only furniture was a stove and one bed for the whole family. The house was alleged to be the rendezvous for intoxicated persons in East Freetown and Lakeville. This was five months ago, and at a hearing before the District court at that time, the Young case was continued to allow the man to improve the conditions.

One day last week the officers in charge of the case, agents Loring and Davis of the S. P. C. T. C., went to the place to make the final inspection and see whether the state would be obliged to take the children or not. When they arrived, they found the conditions to be practically the same. The family were in the same hovel, having made no attempt to move. One bed had been installed since the last visit of the officers, but this did not accommodate the family, so one boy had to crawl up near the roof of one of the hen houses and sleep there, it was said. The building was not plastered nor sheathed, and was very cold. There was little to eat.

For the defence, Young said he was in a position to provide food for his children, since he had a job at $1.50 a day. He intended to move soon, and would have a warm place for his children to live. He told of having reformed, and stopped drinking. His elder daughter, who is living with Mary Williams in Lakeville has not been home to stay since she was ordered away by the officers. Mr. Young considered he was getting along all right, and wanted the children.

Rev. Joseph Jenks of North Middleboro argued in favor of the parents being allowed to keep the children, since they were doing well. He stated that the church people in Middleboro were to help the family. His argument was of little avail, however, as it was considered that the opportunity has been open for five months for people to help them, but the help was not forthcoming, apparently. The court considered it best for the children to go to a State home, and then if there was an improvement in home conditions they would be taken back.

In the Benton case, the conditions varied but little from what they were when the officers first visited the place. The large family lived in an old house, which had been larger once, but from year to year as it decayed rooms were dropped off till but three remain. These three were in a horrible state of repair. There were cracks in the walls, and windows were knocked out and stuffed with rags. The children were as dirty and half naked as ever, the state officer alleged, and he thought they would suffer if they were left this winter in the house. Mrs. Benton averred that she was doing what she could to get along, but as there were many children and her husband was an invalid, she had a hard time of it. They intended to move to another house, she said, but had not done so in the past five months as they wanted to stay in the present habitation till the garden stuff was harvested. They had six barrels of flour and a quantity of other commodities for the winter.

The court considered it would be better for the children to go to some state institution than suffer in the shacks their parents occupied, and accordingly it was decided that the children be committed to the keeping of the State board of charity. In the event that the parents show positive evidence of their ability to better their condition, the children will be returned. Four of the Youngs were taken away, Saturday, and the six Benton children went Wednesday.

[Page 4 of The Middleboro Gazette, published in Middleboro, Massachusetts on Friday, November 6th, 1903]
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BENTON, Alonzo E. - Lakeville (1859) [124-324] Birth
============================================
Name: Alonzo E. Benton
Event: Birth
Event Date: 31 Jul 1859
Event Place: Lakeville, Massachusetts
Gender:
Race:
Registration Date:
Registration Place:
Christening Date:
Christening Place:
Christening Age:
Death Date:
Death Age:
Father: Wm. H. Benton
Father's Birthplace: [Hebron,CT]
Father's Age:
Father's Occupation: [Farmer]
Mother: Lydia A. BENTON
Mother's Birthplace: [Fairhaven,MA]
Mother's Age:
Paternal Grandfather:
Paternal Grandmother:
Maternal Grandfather:
Maternal Grandmother:
Additional Relatives:
Volume/Page/Certificate #: 324
Film Number: 1428238
Digital Folder Number: 4212536
Image Number: 85
============================================
MILLARD,Alphonso A.-Taunton(1867)[198-144]Marriage
WESTGATE,Angenette-Taunton(1867)[199-144]Marriage
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BROWN,Mary E.-?(1867?)[???-???]Birth
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BENTON,Alonzo E.-Taunton(1885)[361-167]Marriage
BROWN,Mary E.-Taunton(1885)[361-167]Marriage
============================================
MA Marriages, 1841-1915 for
Name: Alonzo E. BENTON[(1859-1904)]
Event: Marriage
Event Date: 26 Mar 1885
Event Place: Taunton,MA
Gender: Male
Age: 25
Marital Status: Single
Birth Date: [1859]
Birthplace: Lakeville,MA
Marriage Registration Year: [1885]
Marriage Registration Place: [Taunton,MA]
Estimated Birth Year: 1860
Father: William H.[BENTON(1821-1899)]
Mother: Lydia A.[(SMITH)BENTON(1831-1905)]

Spouse: Mary E. BROWN[(1867-1931)]
Spouse's Marital Status: Single
Spouse's Father: Unknown[Alphonso A.MILLARD()]
Spouse's Mother: Angenette[(WESTGATE)]MILLARD[()]
Record Number: 72
Film Number: 1432998
Digital Folder Number: 4279775
Image Number: 00993
============================================
U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: Alonzo E. Benton [(1859-1904)]
Residence Year: 1899
Street Address: do, P. O. Myricks
Residence Place: Middleborough, MA
Occupation: Cigars, Tonics, etc., County St.
Publication Title: Middleborough, MA, City Directory, 1899
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BENTON,Alonzo E.-Brockton(1904)[026-147]Death
BENTON,Alonzo E.-Lakeville(1904)[052-034]Death
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MA Deaths, 1841-1915 for Alonzo E. Benton
Name: Alonzo E. Benton
Event: Death
Event Date: 23 Apr 1904
Event Place: Brockton, Massachusetts
Residence:
Street Address: Linwood St.
Gender: Male
Age: 44
Marital Status: Married
Occupation: Farmer
Birth Date:
Birthplace: Lakeville
Estimated Birth Year: 1860
Burial Date: 25 Apr 1904
Burial Place: Lakeville
Cemetery:
Father: William H. Benton
Father's Birthplace: Hebron, Conn.
Mother: Lydia A. Smith
Mother's Birthplace: Fairhaven,MA
Additional Relatives:
Spouse:
Volume/Page/Certificate #: v.26 cn 147
Film Number: 2069443
Digital Folder Number: 4292324
Image Number: 1646
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MA Deaths, 1841-1915 for
Name: Alonzo E. Benton
Event: Death
Event Date: 23 Apr 1904
Event Place: Brockton, MA
Residence: Brocton, MA
Street Address:
Gender: Male
Age: 44
Marital Status: Married
Occupation: Farmer
Birth Date: [1859]
Birthplace: Lakeville
Estimated Birth Year: 1860
Burial Date: 25 Apr 1904
Burial Place: Lakeville
Cemetery: Pond Cem.
Father: William H. Benton
Father's Birthplace: Hebron, Conn
Mother: Lydia A. Smith
Mother's Birthplace: Fairhaven
Additional Relatives:
Spouse:
Volume/Page/Certificate #: v.52,p.34
Film Number: 2069632
Digital Folder Number: 4292426
Image Number: 1091
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1930-MA-PLYMOUTH CO.-BROCKTON-WARD 2[12-20]Sh 2b
WESTON,Arthur G.(1899*)[(1897-1977)]
WESTON,Laura T.(1908*)[(1909-1989)]
BENTON,Mary E.(1867*)[(1867-1931)][(BROWN)]
============================================
[WIDOW/ALONZO E.BENTON(1859-1904)][58834665]
============================================
WESTON,Arthur George-Taunton(1897)[466-366]Birth
============================================
WESTON, ARTHUR
(30 Oct 1897-?? Apr 1977)(79)
02072(Stoughton,Norfolk,MA)02401(Brockton,Plymouth,MA)
013-09-9281(MA)
============================================
WESTON, LAURA G.
(25 Jun 1909-06 Jul 1989)(80)
(not specified)(none specified)
017-05-2325(MA)
============================================
1900-MA-PLYMOUTH CO.-LAKEVILLE-"BENTON":
BENTON,Alonzo E.(40)JUL 1859
BENTON,Mary E.(33)MAY 1867
BENTON,Grace E.(16)JUN 1883
BENTON,George H.(15)APR 1885
BENTON,Edgar A.(13)OCT 1886
BENTON,Hattie M.(11)AUG 1888
BENTON,Lydia A.(10)APR 1890
BENTON,Earl C.(07)JUL 1892
BENTON,Ralph L.(06)APR 1894
BENTON,Blanch B.(03)AUG 1896
BENTON, Newell A. (01) NOV 1898
============================================
US Census, 1900 for Alonzo E Benton
Name: Alonzo E. Benton
Residence: Lakeville Town, Plymouth, Massachusetts
Birth Date: Jul 1859
Birthplace: Massachusetts
Relationship to Head-of-Household: Self
Spouse Name: Mary E. Benton
Spouse Birthplace: Massachusetts
Father Name:
Father Birthplace: Massachusetts
Mother Name:
Mother Birthplace: Massachusetts
Race or Color (expanded): White
Head-of-household Name:
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married
Years Married: 15
Estimated Marriage Year: 1885
Mother How Many Children:
Number Living Children:
Immigration Year:
Enumeration District: 1130
Sheet Number and Letter: 2A
Household ID: 34
Reference Number: 28
GSU Film Number: 1240674
Image Number: 00642

Household-Gender-Age:
Alonzo E.Benton-M
Spouse: Mary E.Benton-F
Child:Grace E.Benton-F
Child:George H.Benton-M
Child:Edgar A.Benton-M
Child:Hattie M.Benton-F
Child:Lydia A.Benton-F
Child:Earl C.Benton-M
Child:Ralph L.Benton-M
Child:Blanch B.Benton-F
Child:Newell A.Benton-M
============================================
1899 U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: Alonzo E. Benton [(1859-1904)]
Residence Year: 1899
Street Address: "County, h. do., P. O. Myricks"
Residence Place: Middleborough, MA
Occupation: "Cigars, Tonics, etc."
Publication Title: Middleborough, MA, City Directory, 1899
============================================
BENTON, Alonzo E.-Lakeville (1859) [124-324] Birth
BROWN, Mary E.-?(1867?)[???-???]Birth
BENTON,Grace Etta-Taunton(1883)[340-181]Birth
BENTON,George H.-?(1885?)[???-???]Birth
BENTON,Edgar Augustus-Taunton(1886)[367-192]Birth
BENTON,Hattie May-Taunton(1888)[385-204]Birth
BENTON,Lydia Ann-Taunton(1890)[403-207]Birth
BENTON,Earl Carlton-Taunton(1892)[421-281]Birth
BENTON,Ralph Leonard-Taunton(1894)[439-301]Birth
BENTON,Blanche Beatrice-Brockton(1896)[458-636]Birth
BENTON,Newell Alonzo-Lakeville(1898)[* 2-491]Birth
BENTON,Sadie Doris-Lakeville(1900)[498-177]Birth
BENTON,Clara Agnes-Lakeville(1903)[534-165]Birth
============================================
Last Name,First-Location(Year)[Volume-Page]BMD/Type:
BENTON,Alonzo E.-Lakeville(1859)[124-324]Birth
BENTON,Henry P.-Lakeville(1866)[187-275]Birth
BENTON,Franklin L.-Lakeville(1866)[187-375]Birth
BENTON,(Male)-Lakeville(1868)[206-368]Birth[=? QV]
BENTON,(Female)-Lakeville(1869)[215-373]Birth[=? QV]
BENTON,Sarah A.-Lakeville(1870)[224-387]Birth
BENTON,Olive Strobridge-Lakeville(1890)[404-466]Birth
BENTON,Olive Strobridge-Lakeville(1891)[413-571]Birth
BENTON,Edith Mabel-Lakeville(1892)[422-579]Birth
BENTON,Agnes Roswell-Lakeville(1894)[440-625]Birth
BENTON,Newell Alonzo-Lakeville(1898)[*2-491]Birth
BENTON,Sadie Doris-Lakeville(1900)[498-177]Birth
BENTON,Sadie Dorris-Lakeville(1900)[498-177]Birth
BENTON,(Male)-Lakeville(1902)[522-169]Birth[=? QV]
BENTON,Alfred Francis-Lakeville(1903)[534-165]Birth
BENTON,Clara Agnes-Lakeville(1903)[534-165]Birth
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BENTON,George H.-?(1885?)[???-???]Birth
============================================
BENTON, GEORGE
(05 Apr 1885-?? Jan 1963)(77)
(Massachusetts)(none specified)
020-07-7741(MA)
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BENTON,Edgar Augustus-Taunton(1886)[367-192]Birth
============================================
BENTON, EDGAR
(27 Oct 1886-?? Jun 1973)(86)
02341(Hanson,Plymouth,MA)(none specified)
020-07-7749(MA)
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BENTON,Earl Carlton-Taunton(1892)[421-281]Birth
============================================
BENTON, EARL
(02 Jul 1892-?? Dec 1970)(78)
02050(Marshfield,Plymouth,MA)(none specified)
013-09-6228(MA)
============================================
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BENTON,Ralph Leonard-Taunton(1894)[439-301]Birth
============================================
BENTON, RALPH
(21 Apr 1894-?? Jan 1969)(74)
02402(Brockton,Plymouth,MA)(none specified)
013-10-8998(MA)
============================================
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BENTON,Newell Alonzo-Lakeville(1898)[* 2-491]Birth
============================================
BENTON, NEWELL
(09 Nov 1898-?? Nov 1967)(68-69)
02401(Brockton,Plymouth,MA)(none specified)
013-10-8862(MA)
============================================
BENTON,Sadie Doris-Lakeville(1900)[498-177]Birth
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POWERS, SADIE
(20 Sep 1900-?? Jan 1967)(66)
02401(Brockton,Plymouth,MA)(none specified)
020-07-6084(MA)
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1880-MA-BRISTOL CO.-TAUNTON-WARD 5-"BENTON":
William H.BENTON-Slf-M(65)CT-Laborer(CT-CT)
[(1821-1899)]
Lydia BENTON-Wif-M(55)MA-Kpng.H.(MA-MA)
[(1831-1905)]
Alonzo E.BENTON-Son-S(22)MA-Laborer(CT-MA)
[(1859-1904)]
Frank BENTON-Son-S(14)MA-At Home(CT-MA)
[(1866-1934)]
Rosa BENTON-Dau-S(11)MA-/School(CT-MA)
[(1869-1933)]
Caroline R. MANN-Dau-D(33)MA-/School(CT-MA)
[(1847-1906)]
==================
Source Information:
Census Place: Ward 5, Taunton, Bristol, Massachusetts
Family History Library Film 1254526
NA Film Number T9-0526
Page Number 424A
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1870 United States Federal Census
Name: Wm. H. [R.] Benton [(1821-1899)]
Age in 1870: 43? (sic) [48?]
Birth Date: abt 1827 [16 Feb 1821]
Birthplace: [Hebron] Connecticut
Dwelling Number: 128
Home in 1870: Lakeville, Plymouth Co., MA
Race: White
Gender: Male
Post Office: Lakeville
Occupation: Farm Laborer
Male Citizen Over 21: Yes
Household Members (Age):
Wm. H. [R.] Benton (48?) CT [(1821-1899)]
Lydia A. [Ann (Smith)] Benton (39) MA [(1831-1905)]
Alonzo E. [?] Benton (10) MA [(1859-1904)]
Franklin Benton (04) MA [(1866-1934)]
============================================
1860-MA-Plymouth Co.-Lakeville-Page 129 [m.1844]
BENTON,William H.(1822*)[(1821-1899)]
BENTON,Lydia A.(1831*)[(1831-1905)]
BENTON,Charles H.(1845*)[(1845-1887)]
BENTON,Caroline R.(1847*)[(1847-1906)]
BENTON,John J.L.(1851*)[(1851-1927)]
BENTON,Alonzo E.(1859*)[(1859-1904)]
============================================
============================================
BENTON,William H.(1822*)[(1821-1899)]
m.1844:
BENTON,Lydia A.(1831*)[(1831-1905)]
ch.
BENTON,Charles H.(1845*)[(1845-1887)]
BENTON,Caroline R.(1847*)[(1847-1906)]
BENTON,William F. [(1849-1932)]
BENTON,John J.L.(1851*)[(1851-1927)]
BENTON,Alonzo E.(1859*)[(1859-1904)]
BENTON,Franklin L. [(1866-1934)]
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