1738 - 1824

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• Birth	18 Sep 1738	Westerly,Kings Co.,Rhode Island
  Gender	Male
  Died	29 Dec 1824	Westerly,Washington Co.,Rhode Island
  Person ID	I34429	Brainard (Brainerd) / Foster / Fish
  Last Modified	03 Feb 2000 00:00:00
  Father	William PENDLETON, Sr., b. 23 Mar 1704, Westerly,Kings Co.,Rhode Island
  Mother	Lydia BURROWS, b. 19 Apr 1703, Groton, New London, Connecticut
  Family ID	F3823	Group Sheet
  Family	Lois BURDICK, b. 1 Apr 1738, Westerly,Kings Co.,Rhode Island
  Married	9 Feb 1763	Westerly,Washington Co.,Ri
  Children	1. Benjamin PENDLETON, b. 7 Feb 1765, Westerly,Washington Co.,Ri   2. Lois PENDLETON, b. 8 Mar 1766, Westerly,Kings Co.,Rhode Island   3. Lydia PENDLETON, b. 7 Mar 1768, Westerly,Kings Co.,Rhode Island > 4. David PENDLETON, b. 13 May 1770, Westerly,Kings Co.,Rhode Island   5. Paul PENDLETON, b. 4 May 1772, Westerly,Kings Co.,Rhode Island   6. Lebbeus PENDLETON, b. 15 Feb 1774, Westerly,Kings Co.,Rhode Island   7. Christopher Segar PENDLETON, b. 18 Sep 1776, Westerly,Kings Co.,Rhode Island   8. Jabez Chesebrough PENDLETON, b. 21 May 1778, Westerly,Kings Co.,Rhode Island   9. Susannah PENDLETON, b. 25 Jul 1783, Westerly,Washington Co.,Rhode Island
  Family ID	F14748	Group Sheet

• Notes

  BRIAN PENDLETON AND HIS DESCENDANTS, 1599-1910, Compiled by Everett HallPendleton, Privatley Printed MCMX, found in the DAR Library, Washington,DC. Pages 96, 97 & 98. 53. Benjamin-5 Pendleton, was born at Westerly, RI, 18 Sept 1738,and died there 29 Dec 1824. Like many of the early Pendletons atWesterly, he went to sea as a young man, and in time became a mastermariner. There are few references to him upon the town records, and wesujppose he led the quite life of the average citizen, participating inthe town meetings but not seeking office for himself. In one item thatdoes mention him, however, in 1764, we have a glimpse of one of the galaoccasions of the olden time, when it was "Voted that Benjamin Pendletonhave liberty to sell Strong Liquor on the Day Mr. George SheffieldLaunches his vessel that is now on the Stocks" (West. C & P Rec. iv.) The Westerly tax List of 1757 shows that he was assessed twoshillings in that year, although he was under age. Benjamin Pendletonplayed an active part in the Revolutionary War, as shown by the followingrecords: "On the 30th of Aug., 1775, the tender of the British ship of War"Rose" Capt. Wallace, pursued a small American craft to the warf atStonington. Capt. Benjamin Pendleton was there and with other brave mendrove the tender off. The "Rose" then cannonaded Stonington, wounding oneman but killing none" (Westerly and Its Witnesses:). The "HIstory ofStonington" (p. 39) gives a slightly different version of this affair.Wheeler's account says the British had demanded the surrender of a vesselload of cattle which had just been landed there, and upon the refusal ofthis demand the tender of the warship sent to seize the cattle, but wasfired upon and driven off, after which the bombardment took place. Thismay have been the basis of the tradition related by Hadlai F. Pendletonof Norwich, NY, to the effect that the British vessel once pursuedBenjamin Pendleton's sloop, and when he took refuge in a small creek, twoboat loads of sailors were sent to effect his capture. His crew made offhastily, but Benjamin and his son David, then age 12 (which would putthis incident seven years after the other one), remained aboard,concealing themselves. Benjamin loaded his two muskets nearly to themuzzle, and when the boats were close by, he fired twice upon them,killing and wounding a large munber of the assailants, a bloody repulseto the attempted cutting out expedition. In 1776, Benjamin Pendleton was enrolled as a private in Capt.Joseph Pendleton's Company of Westerly Militia (RI Rec.) On the 18th ofSeptember in that year, he was the 68th loyal citizen of Westerly to signthe "Test Act," pledging allegiance to the new State government (Westerly"Town Meetings," iii, 155). In April 1779 his sloop "Louis," laden with corn, was scezed by theauthorities at Hartford, Conn., through fear that it was destined for theBritish, but was released upon evidence being shown that the cargo wasfor the people of Stonington (Conn. Col. Rec.). On the 14th of October,1781, he was enlisted as a private in Capt. Allin's Company, Col.Christopher Smith's Regiment, and was discharged the next day (RI Rev.Rec.). In 1779 he subscribed 14 pounds to the Continental Loan Office tohelp make up the deficiency of the amount to be raised at Westerly underAct of the General Assembly, September 1779 (Westerly "Town Meetings,"iv, 5). Benjamin's most notable achievement in the Revolution was thecapture of a British privateer, the following account of which is fromDenison's "Westerly and Its Witnesses"; "During the Revolution, Capt.Joseph Dodge of Westerly owned and commanded a vessel named the"Lucretia" In his patriotic zeal, he transformed her into a privateer.Securing a suitable armament and accepting Benjamin Pendleton as Lieut.and Smith Murphy as gunner, he was ready to put to sea, but was takensick. No time could be lost. Lieut. Pendleton accepted the command andthe "lucretia" turned her prow to the ocean. Near Block Island she fellin with an English privateer, the "Huffa" and brought her intoStonington." Another undertaking in which Benjamin was engaged appears in the"New York Calendar of Historical Mss." {Vol. I, p. 615}, and is asfollows: "State of New York to Dann Collins, Dr." {1777}. "To go from Say Harbour to East Hampton with John Minor and BenjaminPendleton of Connecticut & Abraham Loper, a Soldier in Captain Davis'Company and taking from Coll. Gardner's House 130 Fire Arms BayonetsCatneh Boxes & 3 Silver Headed Swords, and taking from Coll Mulford's 3Casks of Power & 2 Boxes of Lead all which we brought to Sag Harbour puton Board a Vessel Loaded at Sea Brook & Delivered to Coll Livingston. Also my taking another Time 3 Casks of Powder from the House ofMalthy Gilston Esqr Soughampton & bringing the same to Guilford whichPowder is now in my possession ----- The Account as Follows------- To the hire of 4 Horses from Sag Harbour to East Hampton 0-16-0 To myTime, Extraodinary trouble, Expenses taking sd arms & 4.00 To John Minorfor the same 4.00 To Benja. Pembleton for the same 4.0 To Carting the Arms Powder & Ball from East Hampton to Sag Harbour 0.16.0To Carting the Powder from Mr. Gelstons taking and transporting toGuilford 1.4.0 York Money 14 pounds 16 shillings 0 Dan Collins" The descendants of Benjamin Pendleton are quite numerous and arescattered all over the United States. His sons -- except the youngest --were master mariners, as were many of his grandsons also. The latergenerations have followed very diverse occupations. Benjamin Pendleton married at Westerly, RI, 9 Feb 1763, LoisBurdick, daughter of David and Mary (Thompson) Burdick. She was born atWesterly, 1 April 1738. Issue is recorded from Westerly Town Meeting Records, 1743-1778, p.177.