Captain Robert Benham
Encyclopedia
Captain Robert Benham was a frontier pioneer, served in local government and was a member of the first elected legislature for the State in Ohio, 1799 & 1800.
Benham was born in Monmouth County, New Jersey
. His service in connection with the military made him well-known to Colonel David Rogers
, General Harmar
, General Arthur St. Clair
and Mad Anthony Wayne
.
After leaving the military, he continued to be addressed as Captain. People who knew him included Simon Kenton
, William Henry Harrison
, James O'Hara
, Judge Jacob Burnet
and William McMillen. His constant companion once he moved to Ohio was his nephew Benjamin Van Cleve
who established the first library in Dayton, Ohio
, was Dayton's first postmaster
and a member of the Board of Trustees for Miami University
in Oxford, Ohio
. He died in Warren County, Ohio
.
His adventures were written about by many, including Henry Howe
, President Teddy Roosevelt and the Boy Scouts of America
. His son, Joseph Benham
, continued to serve in the tradition of his father.
Theodore Roosevelt
wrote in The Winning of the West, Volume Two – From the Alleghanies to the Mississippi, 1777-1783; Page 54; “A still more remarkable event had occurred a couple summers previously (October 4, 1779). Some keel boats, manned by a hundred men under (Colonel) Lieutenant(David) Rogers, and carrying arms and provisions procured from the Spaniards at New Orleans (from Governor Galvez and American Agent Oliver Pollock
), were set upon by an Indian war party under (Simon) Girty and Elliot while drawn upon a sand beach of the Ohio (later known as Manhattan Beach, Dayton, Kentucky.) The boats were captured and plundered, most of the men were killed; several escaped, two under very extraordinary circumstances. One had both his arms, the other both legs, broken. For weeks the two crippled beings lived in the lonely spot where the battle had been fought, unable to leave it, each supplementing what the other could do. The man who could walk (Basil Brown) kicked wood to him who could not (Captain Benham), that he might make a fire, making long circuits, chase the game toward him to shoot it. At last they were taken off a passing flat boat (and returned to the fort opposite the Falls of the Ohio
. Among those captured by the war party and carried away was Colonel John Campbell
who had joined the Americans only a few days before.)
Benham was born in Monmouth County, New Jersey
Monmouth County, New Jersey
Monmouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, within the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 630,380, up from 615,301 at the 2000 census. Its county seat is Freehold Borough. The most populous municipality is Middletown Township with...
. His service in connection with the military made him well-known to Colonel David Rogers
David Rogers
David Rogers is an American racing driver who won the NASCAR Weekly Series national championship in 1994.Driving a Late Model that he owned, Rogers won all 22 races at a paved half-mile track in Barberville, Florida, making him the first NASCAR Weekly Series national champion to complete a season...
, General Harmar
Josiah Harmar
Josiah Harmar was an officer in the United States Army during the American Revolution and the Northwest Indian War. He was the senior officer in the Army for seven years....
, General Arthur St. Clair
Arthur St. Clair
Arthur St. Clair was an American soldier and politician. Born in Scotland, he served in the British Army during the French and Indian War before settling in Pennsylvania, where he held local office...
and Mad Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne was a United States Army general and statesman. Wayne adopted a military career at the outset of the American Revolutionary War, where his military exploits and fiery personality quickly earned him a promotion to the rank of brigadier general and the sobriquet of Mad Anthony.-Early...
.
After leaving the military, he continued to be addressed as Captain. People who knew him included Simon Kenton
Simon Kenton
Simon Kenton was a famous United States frontiersman and friend of Daniel Boone, Simon Girty, Spencer Records and Isaac Shelby.-Family and early life:Simon Kenton was alive even before Ohio was a state...
, William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison was the ninth President of the United States , an American military officer and politician, and the first president to die in office. He was 68 years, 23 days old when elected, the oldest president elected until Ronald Reagan in 1980, and last President to be born before the...
, James O'Hara
James O'Hara
James O'Hara is the name of:* James O'Hara, 2nd Baron Tyrawley , British Army officer* James E. O'Hara , U.S. Representative from North Carolina* James G. O'Hara , U.S. Representative from Michigan...
, Judge Jacob Burnet
Jacob Burnet
Jacob Burnet was an American jurist and statesman from Ohio.He was born in Newark, New Jersey on February 22, 1770, the son of Dr. William Burnet. He studied law, moved to the Northwest Territory and settled in Cincinnati in 1796. His half-brother David G...
and William McMillen. His constant companion once he moved to Ohio was his nephew Benjamin Van Cleve
Benjamin Van Cleve
Benjamin Van Cleve was a pioneer settler of Dayton, Ohio in the United States. He held several offices in the town....
who established the first library in Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
, was Dayton's first postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
and a member of the Board of Trustees for Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
in Oxford, Ohio
Oxford, Ohio
Oxford is a city in northwestern Butler County, Ohio, United States, in the southwestern portion of the state. It lies in Oxford Township, originally called the College Township. The population was 21,943 at the 2000 census. This college town was founded as a home for Miami University. Oxford...
. He died in Warren County, Ohio
Warren County, Ohio
Warren County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. The population was 212,693 at the 2010 census. Its county seat is Lebanon. Warren County was erected May 1, 1803, from Hamilton County, and named for Dr...
.
His adventures were written about by many, including Henry Howe
Henry Howe
Henry Howe was an author who wrote histories of several states in the United States. His most celebrated work is the three volume Historical Collections of Ohio....
, President Teddy Roosevelt and the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
. His son, Joseph Benham
Joseph Benham
Joseph Benham, son of Captain Robert Benham, was born in Kentucky.In 1815, Joseph graduated from the Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, its first graduation class....
, continued to serve in the tradition of his father.
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
wrote in The Winning of the West, Volume Two – From the Alleghanies to the Mississippi, 1777-1783; Page 54; “A still more remarkable event had occurred a couple summers previously (October 4, 1779). Some keel boats, manned by a hundred men under (Colonel) Lieutenant(David) Rogers, and carrying arms and provisions procured from the Spaniards at New Orleans (from Governor Galvez and American Agent Oliver Pollock
Oliver Pollock
Oliver Pollock was a merchant and financier of the American Revolutionary War, of which he has long been considered a historically undervalued figure...
), were set upon by an Indian war party under (Simon) Girty and Elliot while drawn upon a sand beach of the Ohio (later known as Manhattan Beach, Dayton, Kentucky.) The boats were captured and plundered, most of the men were killed; several escaped, two under very extraordinary circumstances. One had both his arms, the other both legs, broken. For weeks the two crippled beings lived in the lonely spot where the battle had been fought, unable to leave it, each supplementing what the other could do. The man who could walk (Basil Brown) kicked wood to him who could not (Captain Benham), that he might make a fire, making long circuits, chase the game toward him to shoot it. At last they were taken off a passing flat boat (and returned to the fort opposite the Falls of the Ohio
Falls of the Ohio National Wildlife Conservation Area
The Falls of the Ohio National Wildlife Conservation Area is a national, bi-state area on the Ohio River near Louisville, Kentucky in the United States, administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Federal status was awarded in 1981.- Overview :...
. Among those captured by the war party and carried away was Colonel John Campbell
John Campbell
- British political figures :* John Campbell, 1st Earl of Loudoun , Lord Chancellor of Scotland, President of the Privy Council* John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll , Scottish soldier, Lord Steward, Lord Lieutenant of Surrey...
who had joined the Americans only a few days before.)