Brief Life History of Benjamin Smith
When Benjamin Smith Hamlin was born on 7 September 1820, in New York, United States, his father, Benjamin Henry Hamlin, was 36 and his mother, Betsey Ann Briggs, was 26. He married Sarah Clarissa Hatch on 13 March 1845, in Sharon, Litchfield, Connecticut, United States. They were the parents of at least 5 sons and 4 daughters. He died on 15 February 1859, in Sharon, Litchfield, Connecticut, United States, at the age of 38, and was buried in Sharon, Litchfield, Connecticut, United States.
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Family Time Line
Sources (16)
- Benjamin L Hamlin, "United States Census, 1850"
- Benjamin Hamlin, "Connecticut Deaths and Burials, 1772-1934"
- Benjamin in entry for Sarah Studley Hamlin, "Connecticut Deaths and Burials, 1772-1934"
Spouse and Children
Children (9)
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Parents and Siblings
World Events (6)
1827 · Slavery Becomes Illegal in New York State
During the years 1799 to 1827, New York went through a period of gradual emancipation. A Gradual Emancipation Law was passed in 1799 which freed slave children born after July 4, 1799. However, they were indentured until 25 years old for women and 28 years old for men. A law passed 1817 which freed slaves born before 1799, yet delayed their emancipation for ten years. All remaining slaves were freed in New York State on July 4, 1827.
1829 · Farmington Canal Opened
Farmington Canal spans 2,476 acres, starting from New Haven, Connecticut, and on to Northampton, Massachusetts. The groundbreaking for the canal was in 1825 and opened in 1829.
1832 · The Black Hawk War
Convinced that a group of Native American tribes were hostile, The United States formed a frontier militia to stop them in their tracks. Even though Black Hawk was hoping to avoid bloodshed while trying to resettle on tribal land, U.S. officials opened fire on the Native Americans. Black Hawk then responded to this confrontation by successfully attacking the militia at the Battle of Stillman's Run and then left northward. After a few months the militia caught up with Black Hawk and his men and defeated them at the Battle of Wisconsin Heights. While being weakened by hunger, injuries and desertion, Black Hawk and the rest of the many native survivors retreated towards the Mississippi. Unfortunately, Black Hawk and other leaders were later captured when they surrendered to the US forces and were then imprisoned for a year.
Name Meaning
English and Irish: of Norman origin, from the Norman French and Middle English personal name Hamelin, a double diminutive of Hamo (see Hammond ).
French: variant of Hamelin and, in North America, (also) an altered form of this.
Americanized form of Finnish Hämäläinen (see Hamalainen ).
Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.
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