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Benson and Nichols Family Papers
Collection, Ms B134
1800 – 1966
Abraham Benson moved from New York to Fairfield after becoming enamored with the town; as a young boy he would work on the ships bringing goods to the town. His first wife was the daughter of General Jarvis; she lived about one year after marriage. His second wife was Grissel Burr, with whom he had 11 children. After her death, he married Finette Edwards of New Milford, 30 years his junior, with whom he had a daughter, Finette.
He owned several ships and regularly went to the West Indies. During the War of 1812 he managed a store out of his home, known as Benson House, and was Commissary to General Ford and the fort at Grover's Hill.
During the 1830's, the home was turned into an inn or tavern, a popular stop for Daniel Webster and Washington Irving. One of the largest inns in the area, it was a stagecoach stop from New York to Boston.
The Benson Home has seen several remodels since then, including the removal of the inn section. The home remained in the Benson family, passing down to Abraham and Finette's daughter, Finette Edwards Benson Nichols, and her two daughters, Finette Benson Nichols and Emma Starr Nichols. After the death of Finette Benson Nichols, the house passed to Gertrude Haynes Johnson Peden, and then to her daughter, Marcia Peden Miner.
He owned several ships and regularly went to the West Indies. During the War of 1812 he managed a store out of his home, known as Benson House, and was Commissary to General Ford and the fort at Grover's Hill.
During the 1830's, the home was turned into an inn or tavern, a popular stop for Daniel Webster and Washington Irving. One of the largest inns in the area, it was a stagecoach stop from New York to Boston.
The Benson Home has seen several remodels since then, including the removal of the inn section. The home remained in the Benson family, passing down to Abraham and Finette's daughter, Finette Edwards Benson Nichols, and her two daughters, Finette Benson Nichols and Emma Starr Nichols. After the death of Finette Benson Nichols, the house passed to Gertrude Haynes Johnson Peden, and then to her daughter, Marcia Peden Miner.
Deeds, financial papers, shipping papers, and papers related to Abraham Benson's service as postmaster, as well as items relating to the Benson House inn.Items marked with an asterisk (*) are believed to relate to the fort at Black Rock.
Family and probate papers for Abraham and Finette Benson, information about the house itself, as well as papers and photographs of Finette and John Nichols.
Family and probate papers for Abraham and Finette Benson, information about the house itself, as well as papers and photographs of Finette and John Nichols.
The collection is arranged into series on the Benson family, the Nichols family, and the Benson house.
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