| Notes |
Benjamin3 Stafford was born 28 May 1810 in Highland County, Ohio to Robert and Sarah Stafford nee Bullock.1,2 Blanchard's History of Morgan, Monroe & Brown Counties in Indiana contains a biographical sketch indicating Benjamin was the third of the seven children born to Robert and Sarah (Bullick [sic]) Stafford, natives of North Carolina and of English ancestry.1 This reference does not cite facts presented in this biography, so further evidence is needed to determine the accuracy of the information in the sketch. The records filed for settlement of Robert Stafford's estate, however, do confirm that Benjamin Stafford of Morgan County, Indiana was Robert's son.2 Blanchard's account also states that Robert and Sarah Stafford went from Ohio to Monroe County, Indiana in 1818 and remained there until March 1820 when they moved to Morgan County.1 Research has not been conducted by this researcher in Monroe County to determine if they did indeed live there for a short time prior to their migration to Morgan County.
Benjamin Stafford married Miss Ruthie Gifford, daughter of Jesse Gifford and Sarah Marshall on 15 February 1830 in Morgan County, Indiana.1 Their household was not listed under Benjamin Stafford's name in Morgan or Johnson Counties in Indiana in 1830. The only Benjamin Stafford household enumerated in Indiana, was in Greene County and he had several children living in the household. While it is possible that this could be their household, it seems unlikely since they married four months prior to official census day for the 1830 census.
Benjamin and Ruth Stafford were the parents of a single daughter they named Sarah. She was born about 1832 in Indiana1,3 and married Martin Wall when she was in her mid to late twenties.4 There is a tombstone in Freeman Cemetery in Johnson County, Indiana that in inscribed with the name Ruth Stafford.5 The stone is very old and in poor condition. It has been broken or is sunken and only the words "Ruth Stafford Died November" are legible. Her stone is not far from Robert Stafford's stone and appears to be similar in shape and age. [See photograph of tombstone below.] By the time the 25-year old, Benjamin Stafford, purchased the 40-acre parcel of land in Section 11 of Township 12 North of Range 1 East,2 he had married his second wife, .3
Not long after Ruth Stafford's death, Benjamin married a second time to Margaret A. E. Price. They were married in Johnson County, Indiana on 17 March 1835.6 Margaret and Ben Stafford were the parents of eight children, who are named below. Research is not completed for each of their children and records are needed to document their lives. Benjamin and his family lived in Morgan County and are enumerated on the census records there in 1840,7 1850,8 1860,9 187010and 1880.11 Benjamin and Margaret were married about 17 years and had eight children when she died 06 March 185212 leaving him with a house full of children to raise.
Information in another biography written by Noah Majors indicates Benjamin married a Miss Sloan after Margaret's death.4 However, no documentation has been found for this marriage record and they did not have any children. It is possible that Mr. Majors was mistaken about her name since there is a marriage record for Benjamin Stafford and Elizabeth Porter, who were married on 01 November 1852.13 Apparently, this marriage did not last long as there is a marriage record for Benjamin Stafford and Susan Fry, who were married on 15 July 1854.14 Evidence is needed to determine what Susan Fry's maiden name was. Tradition from one researcher descending from this line is that her surname was Wall before she married Mr. Fry, but no marriage record has been found to document this. Research is needed to determine if this is correct.
Benjamin and Susan Stafford nee Fry had seven children together.1 Benjamin Stafford was the father of 16 children with three of his wives. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and his political affiliation was with the Republican party.4 Benjamin did not leave Indiana, but remained in the Morgan and Johnson County area his entire adult life. He died at the age of 80 on 25 March 1891 and is buried in Morgan County.15
Census:
1860 United States Federal Census
Name: Benjamin B Stafford
Age in 1860: 13
Birth Year: abt 1847
Birthplace: Indiana
Home in 1860: Clay, Morgan, Indiana
Gender: Male
Post Office: Centerton
Value of real estate: View image
Household Members: Name Age
Benjamin Stafford 51
Susana Stafford 38
William H H Stafford 19
Benjamin B Stafford 13
Grant Stafford 11
Mary Stafford 5
James Stafford 3
Garret Stafford 9/12
Priscilla Stafford 9/12- Listed as Benjamin Stafford, a farmer, with wife Susan and children Mary, James, Persilla, Martha, Emaline and Oliver O..
- Listed as a farmer with wife Susan, 2 daughters Martha & Emaline and a son Oliver. Parents born in NC.
Obituary:
- 80 y 10 m 2 d. Spouses: 1) Ruthie Gifford; 2) Margaret Price; 3)Miss Sloan; 4) Mrs. Susan Fry. Listed as a legal voter in Clay Twp., Morgan Co., Ind. in 1833. "Ben B. Stafford, age about 80 and of Centerton, died Thursday from grippe." "Benjamin Stafford...was born in Ohio and came to this county in 1820. His first marriage, in 1830, was to Miss Ruth Gifford, who died young, leaving him with one child, a daughter, who in time became the wife of Martin Wall and died several years ago, leaving two sons, Charles and Noah. His next marriage was to Margaret Price, by whom he had eight children. Margaret A Price Stafford was born 2 Sept 1819 in Kentucky. She died on 6 March 1852. Married 17 March 1835. After her death he married a Miss Sloan. No children were born to them. His fourth wife was Mrs. Susan Fry, a young widow with five sons. She added seven more to his family, making in all sixteen children and five stepchildren. These all lived to adult age." (Source: Noah J. Major's "Pioneers of Morgan County.")
Obituary Source: Martinsville Republican, April 2, 1891
Source: Mooresville Library Legacy Link
Family links:
Parents:
Robert Stafford (____ - 1833)
Children:
James Stafford (1857 - 1928)*
Spouses:
Margaret Stafford (____ - 1852)*
Susan E. Wall Stafford (____ - 1888)*
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1810 - 1891 (80 years)
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