Title: Notes
Text:
The following is what I have on Benjamin & Abigail (Sugg) Marks:
Benjamin Marks, son of John Marks, Jr. & Rachel (----) Marks, was born ca. 1776 in
Loudoun Co., VA. He married Abigail Sugg, who was born ca. 1777 in VA. Benjamin
was raised in Loudoun Co., VA and probably 3 of his children were born there.
However, he was in Harrison Co., VA (now WV) in 1807 and a son was born there.
He was in Henderson Co., KY by 1812 and 2 sons and 2 daughters were born there.
When his father died in 1821, Benjamin inherited 155 acres of land in Henderson
Co., KY, but he & Abigail sold this land in 1823 to Thomas Boothe.
A court record shows Benjamin went back to Loudoun Co. to settle his father's
estate in VA. In December 1823, he and his family left KY and started east. He
stopped in Harrison Co., VA, settled in his family and then traveled on to Loudoun
Co. and was there by March 1824. After taking care of the estate, he returned to
Harrison Co. 2 daughters were born there. A record was found where Benjamin
bought 100 acres of land on Brushy ! ! Fork, in Harrison Co., VA, on 15 April 1827.
Benjamin & Abigail sold the land in Harrison Co. on 8 July 1828 and moved to
Champaign Co., OH. They had another son born while there. They sold the land in
Champaign Co. and moved to Grant Co., IN. After settling the estate of his father, it
appears Benjamin took the inheritance for his own use and did not give his brothers
and sisters their shares.
The court records in Loudoun Co. show that in 1833 a decree was obtained against
Benjamin and, in 1835, the heirs of John Marks, Jr. were attempting to recover
money from Benjamin. The plaintiffs were Rachel Marks, Samuel Marks, Margery
Crews & George & Garland Marks, the sons of Jesse Marks. The plaintiffs won their
case but, since Benjamin had left VA, were not able to collect the entire amount.
Benjamin may have been in Grant Co., IN as early as 1833. In a history of Grant
Co., it states, "there may have been an election held at the house of Benjamin Marks
in 1833." It al! ! so states, "about 1834 Benjamin Marks engaged in blacksmithing on
the Casper Bradford Farm" and that "Benjamin Marks settled on Henry Bradford's
farm in 1837; he was a blacksmith." Benjamin was also mentioned in this same
history as one of the men in Washington Twp., Grant Co., who was most actively
engaged in the memorable campaign of 1840. Benjamin and 9 other men
represented the Democracy side, while 15 men represented the Whig side.
Benjamin & Abigail acquired 160 acres in Grant Co., IN on 20 July 1837. They were
on the census records in Grant Co. in 1840 & 1850. The 1850 Federal Census
shows Benjamin & Abigail living in Washington Twp., Grant Co., IN, beside their son
and daughter-in-law, Elisha & Minerva Marks. Benjamin's occupation was a farmer
and the value of his real estate was $2000. They continued living there until 5
August 1853, when they sold the 160 acres.
They then moved to Mt. Etna, Huntington Co., IN and bought a farm.
Benjamin & Abigail had 11 known children: 1. Samuel Marks, born 1795 in VA,
probably Loudoun Co. 2. William Marks, born in VA, probably Loudoun Co. 3.
Abigail Marks, born in VA, probably Loudoun Co. 4. John Marks, born 1807,
Harrison Co., VA (now WV). 5. Mary Marks, born 6 March 1812, Henderson Co.,
KY 6. Benjamin J. Marks, born ca. 1813, Henderson Co., KY 7. Thomas J. Marks,
born 12 January 1817, Henderson Co., KY 8. Rachel Marks, born 1820, Henderson
Co., KY 9. Eliza Marks, born 1825, Harrison Co., VA (now WV). 10. Margaret
Marks, born 1827, Harrison Co., VA (now WV). 11. Elisha Marks, born ca. 1830,
Champaign Co., OH
All of Benjamin & Abigail's children eventually settled in IN except Benjamin J., who
settled in VA (now WV). Abigail died in 1864 and is buried in the Hildebrand
Cemetary, which is one mile west of Mt. Etna, IN, on the Pulley farm. The marker
states she was 87 yrs., 10 months & 9 days old when she died. In May 1866,
Benjamin sold his farm in Huntington Co., IN and moved to Barbour Co., WV to live
with his son, Benjamin J. Marks. His grandson, Lemuel Marks, son of Benjamin J.,
made the trip from Barbour Co., WV to Huntington Co., IN to take his grandfather
back to WV. Records in the Barbour Co. courthouse show that Benjamin Marks,
born in Loudoun Co., VA and residing in Barbour Co., WV, age 90 years and a
widower, and Sarah Brohard, age 63 years and a widow, were married 28 July 1866.
Sarah was born in 1803, the daughter of Thomas & Susan ---- (last name unknown
at this time), and she was the widow of Christian Brohard. Christian & Sarah had a
daughter, als! ! o named Sarah (Sarah Ann Brohard born in 1842), who married
Benjamin J. Marks, Jr. Keeping the records straight on the two Sarah Brohards and
the two Benjamin Marks has been tricky, to say the least! Benjamin died 8 March
1869, without a will, and is probably buried in Barbour or Harrison Co., WV. His son,
Benjamin J., became executor of his estate. As Benjamin did not have smooth
sailing in settling his father's estate (John Marks, Jr.) neither was it smooth for
Benjamin J. in settling his father's estate! According to the statement of the widow,
Sarah "Sally" (Brohard) Marks, Benjamin J. ejected her from her home, which her
husband, Benjamin, had provided for her on 45 acres of land, on the waters of
Brushy Fork of Elk Creek, in Harrison Co., WV, and he initiated a suit against her
claiming she had taken money which belonged to Benjamin's estate. Benjamin's
property was appraised 5 March 1869 and was valued at $1031.75. As executor of
the estate, Benjamin J. claimed a total ! ! of $862.83 against the estate and
outstanding notes to other people amounted to $171.28. Benjamin's other children in
IN, objected to the value of the estate and hired an attorney. Part of the estate was
settled with each of the children receiving $140. In the best interest of Benjamin
Marks' heirs, the court ruled that the 45 acres of land be sold. Therefore, in
November 1872, this property was sold in front of the Harrison Co. courthouse door
for $1035. to George W. Morris, and the proceeds were evenly distributed among
the heirs. No record was found of what happened to Benjamin's 2nd wife, Sally.
Hope some of this info is new to you. Jean
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Sources
1. Title: GenCircles: Randal Ritter
URL: http://www.familytreelegends.com/trees/randyritter
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