Pioneers of St. Clair County, Michigan - Person Sheet
Pioneers of St. Clair County, Michigan - Person Sheet
NameBenjamin CONGDON 
Birthabt 1634, St. David’s, Pembrokeshire, Wales2555, p 15
Birthabt 1642, St. David’s, Pembrokeshire, Wales2562, p 147
Freeman6 Jun 1670, Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island2555, p 17 & p 130 Age: 36
Settlement20 Sep 1671, Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island2555, p 18 Age: 37
Settlement20 Oct 1683, Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island2555, p 19 Age: 49
Will2 Jul 17152375, p 2,2555, p 28 Age: 81
Death19 Jun 1718, North Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island2375, p 2,2555, p 26,2560, p 85; date only Age: 84
Probate10 Dec 1718, Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island2375, p 2; date only,2555, p 19 & p 29 Age: 84
BurialCongdon Hill, North Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island2375, p 2,2555, p 21
FatherJohn CONGDON (~1604-~1645)
MotherMary HERBERT (~1610-~1645)
Individual Notes
• It is a family tradition he was born in Pembrokeshire, Wales, near St David’s, and that his mother was a daughter of the Earl of Pembroke. The coat of arms claimed by this family bears the inscription: “The ancient family of Congdon of Willerby, in Yorkshire, descended out of Wales, now of Rhode Island, anno, 1811.”2375, p 124
• From this record Benjamin Congdon was left an orphan in Virginia at a very early age and was brought up by the Wormeley family of Virginia. This Wormeley family was a very prominent family in early Virginia. The Ralph Wormeley mentioned above, was no doubt, the brother of Capt. Christopher Wormeley who brought John Congdon to Virginia.2555, p 27
• Benjamin Congdon the ancestor of the Congdon family - the first we knew of him is from records of Portsmouth, R. I. under date of June 16-1670 when he stood propounded to become a freeman. He married Elizabeth daughter of John and Dorothy Albro.2375, p 162
• Benjamin Congdon was born about 1650 in England, and early came to R. I.2560, p 85
• There is a tradition with some of Benjamin Congdon’s descendants, that he came to this country with a brother John who settled in New Jersey; and that their father’s name was John, and that he married a daughter of the Earl of Pembroke. In support of this, it is claimed that Benjamin’s birthplace was in Pembrokeshire, Wales, near St. David’s. There seems, however, nothing clear nor definite in this tradition; and coat of arms claimed for the family bears the following inscription: “The ancient family of Congdon of Willerby in Yorkshire, descended out of Wales, now of Rhode Island, Anno Domini 1811,” thus implying a departure from Wales into Yorkshire of a branch of the family.2560, p 86
• On September 20th, 1671, he bought land of William Brenton, Benedict Arnold, etc., receiving a deed for same, of 230 acres of land in Narragansett, near Pettacomscott, R. I., but lived some years at Portsmouth, R. I., before moving to the other side of the bay, where ultimately he made his home, between Wickford and Slocum, Rhode Island, now known as Congdon Hill.2555, p 18
• From this record Benjamin Congdon was left an orphan in Virginia at a very early age and was brought up by the Wormeley family of Virginia. This Wormeley family was a very prominent family in early Virginia. The Ralph Wormeley mentioned above, was no doubt, the brother of Capt. Christopher Wormeley who brought John Congdon to Virginia.2555, p 27
• Benjamin Congdon the ancestor of the Congdon family - the first we knew of him is from records of Portsmouth, R. I. under date of June 16-1670 when he stood propounded to become a freeman. He married Elizabeth daughter of John and Dorothy Albro.2375, p 162
• Benjamin Congdon was born about 1650 in England, and early came to R. I.2560, p 85
• There is a tradition with some of Benjamin Congdon’s descendants, that he came to this country with a brother John who settled in New Jersey; and that their father’s name was John, and that he married a daughter of the Earl of Pembroke. In support of this, it is claimed that Benjamin’s birthplace was in Pembrokeshire, Wales, near St. David’s. There seems, however, nothing clear nor definite in this tradition; and coat of arms claimed for the family bears the following inscription: “The ancient family of Congdon of Willerby in Yorkshire, descended out of Wales, now of Rhode Island, Anno Domini 1811,” thus implying a departure from Wales into Yorkshire of a branch of the family.2560, p 86
• On September 20th, 1671, he bought land of William Brenton, Benedict Arnold, etc., receiving a deed for same, of 230 acres of land in Narragansett, near Pettacomscott, R. I., but lived some years at Portsmouth, R. I., before moving to the other side of the bay, where ultimately he made his home, between Wickford and Slocum, Rhode Island, now known as Congdon Hill.2555, p 18
General
• Austin in his 160 Allied Families was skeptical of the Congdon family tradition, and even questioned that Benjamin was born in Pembrokeshire. He points out that the coat of arms claimed by the descendants of Benjamin Congdon was in fact the arms assigned to “the ancient family of Condon of Willerby in Yorkshire, descended out of Wales, now of Rhode Island, Anno 1811.”2573, p 2
Spouses
Birthabt 1647, Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island2562, p 147
Death15 Nov 1720, North Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island2375, p 2 & p 163,2560, p 90 Age: 73
BurialCongdon Hill, North Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island2375, p 2,2555, p 21
FatherMajor John ALBRO (1617-1712)
MotherDorothy WILBUR (1617-1696)
Individual Notes
• On June 15th, 1714, his wife, Elizabeth (Albro) Congdon, signed receipt with him for a legacy from her father, Maj. John Albro’s Estate, which legacy amounted to 50 shillings, for 1 bolster case, 2 pewter platters, 1 pair of sheets.2555, p 19
Marriageabt 1671, Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island2447, p 176,2562, p 147