Benjamin Wood Larkin is my 3X Great Grandfather and is the father of my beloved 2X Great Grandmother, Sarah Larkin Beardsley, MD.

What I believe is true about Benjamin Larkin

1. He is the son of John Larkin (1790-1865) and Sarah Wood (1789-1865).
2. He married Ruth (possibly Morgan) I have a couple of theories and DNA matches that support the hypothesis.
3. Daughters Sarah (1847-1886) and Julia (1849 – ??) were born in NY. In 1860 Sarah is with her Grandparents in NY.
4. In 1850 – Benjamin, Ruth, Sarah and Julia appear on the Federal Census in Morristown, St Lawrence County, NY. Their is a Rueben Morgan in the next dwelling. I believe Rueben married Benjamin’s sister later on.
5. In 1852, Benjamin and Ruth have a daughter Clare in Illinois. (This was derived from a Minnesota Territorial Census in 1857).
6. IN 1853, Benjamin and Ruth had their daughter Lucy in Joliet Illinois. This was found by reviewing Lucy’s DAR application. Lucy married James Thompson. She died in NY in 1934.
7. In 1855 a daughter Ruth was born in 1855 I think in Minnesota and died in 1864. She is buried in NY.
8. !n 1857, Benjamin appears in a Minnesota Territorial Census with all the daughters. No Ruth. A new Wife Margaret, who is 18 and born in Norway and there is a son George Henry Larkin (1857 – 1936).
9. Edward Jay Larkin was born to Margaret and Benjamin in 1859. Edward lists his birthplace as Wisconsin.

I have an 1859 Land Grant application in Fillmore County Minnesota in Benjamin’s Name. I do not find him on any subsequent census.

In the 1900 Census Margaret Larkin, lists herself as a widow and she is living with her son Edward and this is the last record I have of Margaret.

Today, I spent some time building down the descendents of Benjamin Larkin and his son George had no biological children. He did have a Stepson. His son Edward Jay Larkin had 3 children who had children. Also one of his descendants came up as a DNA match to my Mom so maybe that will yield some fruit.

I did find some Land Grants in Florida with the name Benjamin W. Larkin in the Gainesville area, so I need to see if I can find something there. I also found a newspaper in Clinton County mentioning Sarah and her husband going to Florida so maybe it is possible Benjamin went there.

I really would like to tie up the loose ends and delve further into my tree and maybe see if I can prove that his wife Ruth was indeed a Morgan, it would open up several more Revolutionary War Patriots. Seems like most of my DAR lines come through females and the records can be spotty.

So what do we think happened to Benjamin?

Here are a couple of my theories.

1. I think Benjamin after Ruth died married Margaret to have some one to take care of all these daughters.
2. Benjamin suffered from Wanderlust and started traveling and cashing in on his father’s War of 1812 Land Grant.
3. He abandoned his Children with relatives and in his Son’s case left them with his mother.
4. I think it is entirely possible his daughter Sarah did travel to Florida when she had consumption to see him and he did possibly die there.

If you have suggestions of resources for me to look at let me know.