Benjamin Schoonover
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: 14 Dec 1745 - , , NJ
Christening: 18 Mar 1750 - Deer Park, Suffolk, NY
Death: 5 Oct 1838 - , Randolph, VA
Burial: in Elkins, Randolph, WV
Cause of Death:
Parents
Father: Thomas Schoonover (1714- ) 5
Mother: Marie Westfall (1719-Bef 1784) 5
Spouses and Children
1. *Mary Hand (1755 - 1841) 5
Marriage:
Children:
1. Henry Schoonover (1775- ) 5
2. Amy Schoonover ( - ) 5
3. Daniel David Schoonover (Abt 1780-1872) 5
4. Benjamin Schoonover Jr (1781- ) 5
5. Margaret Schoonover ( - ) 5
6. Joseph Schoonover (1796-1864) 5
7. Nancy Schoonover (1799-1880) 5
Notes
General:
BIRTH-DEATH-CEMETERY: Rev. War marker inscription; Mt. Zion Church Cemetery, on lower Cheat River, near Elkins, Randolph Co., WV; Brenda Ericsson viewed 1992.
CHR: MINISINK VALLEY REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH RECORDS 1716-1830, RECORDS OF BAPTISMS OF THE REFORMED CHURCH AT MACHACKEMECK (DEERPARK); Collection of New York Genealogical and Biographical Society; Vol V; 1913; Bowie MD, Heritage Books, 1992; p. 119; Minisink Valley Historical Society, Port Jervis, NY.
WITNESSES: (at baptism) Benjamin Van Vliet, Lisabeth Van Vliet.
MINISTER: (at baptism) J.C. Freyenmuth.
CONFLICT: Benjamin's birthplace being listed in NJ instead of NY, where he was baptized, may be due to the NY-NJ line dispute of the 1700's in which the actual state boundaries changed several times.
MILITARY: Revolutionary War. PA, Capt. Northampton Co. Mil. According to Ollie Lunsford in book about Van Schoonhoven and Schoonover families, found in the DAR Library, Benjamin was commissioned a Captain of the 4th Co., 5th Battalion of the Northampton County Militia, according to the evidence of a Battalion return, dated 1 Jun, 1780. Proof is found in the Military Returns (Militia) Records of the Supreme Executive Council at the Division of Public Records. Also from Lunsford: Found in the PA Archives, 5th series, Vol. 8, p. 560: Capt. Benjamin Schoonover pay rolls 1778, 1779, 1780, 1781 (time of entry), Capt. B. Schoonover pay roll, 16 Apr 1782 (time of entry). Then, on 26 May, 1782, time of discharge. In Northampton County, returns of Officer of the 6th Battalion of Militia of Northampton with rank, June 18, 1777, Benjamin Schoonover was a Lieutenent, serving under Colonel Jacob Stroud.
CENSUS: Also according to Lunsford, the Census of 1790 in Northampton County, Lower Smithfield Twonship, p. 174, there is a Benjamin Schoonover listed with 1 male over 16, 1 male under 16, 1 female over 16. (Note: this would not fit with the children as we have them listed of "our" Benjamin. He had at least three sons by that time.)
LAND: The Sims Index to Land Grants in WV, by Edgar B. Sims, RR333.16 S614, WV Archives, Charleston WV, lists the following land for Benjamin Schoonover in Randolph County VA: 257 acres on Cherry Tree Run, 1802, book 2, p. 312; 20 1/2 acres on the Wts.[waters of] Cheat, 1801, book 2, p. 293; and 18 acres on Wts. Cheat River, 1801, book 2, p. 191.
COMMENT: According to Hu Maxwell in the HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY WV, p. 473, Benjamin first settled in now WV in Tucker Co., at the mouth of Horse Shoe Run. Then, he moved to Shaver's Fork, Randolph Co.
AGE AT DEATH: 92.