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Major Benjamin Ledyard


Original Member, admitted 1783

Represented in the New York Society

Major Benjamin Ledyard

Represented Original Member 1783. He first joined the NY Society and transferred to the NJ Society 4 Jul 1788. His descendants joined the NY Society. Began his service in the Revolutionary War as Captain in the 1st Regiment NY Line 28 Jun 1775. Major in the 4th Regiment New York Line 21 Nov 1776. Served at the Battle of Fort Washington and fought in the Battle of White Plains in 1776. Transferred to the 1st Regiment NY Line 29 Apr 1778. Fought in the Battle of Monmouth, where his horse was shot under him. Resigned from service 26 Mar 1779. Born in Groton, CT on 15 Mar 1753 and died in Aurora, NY on 9 Nov 1803. Brigadier General of the New York Militia 1783-1803. After the war had a mercantile business in New York City for a while. Clerk of Onandaga County, NY in 1794 and Clerk of Cayuga County, NY in 1799. Donated the land for Cayuga Academy and was a charter Trustee. Ledyard, NY is named for him. Freemason in Aurora, NY. Married Catherine Foreman on 22 Jan 1775. [Sources: M; H; (66); (98); (C); “Institution of the Society of the Cincinnati … 1783… of the New York State Society”, by John Schuyler, 1886; “New York State Society of the Cincinnati, Biographies of Original Members and Other Continental Officers:, by Francis Sypher, Jr., 2004; Rootsweb’s World Connect project; “Our County and Its People- Madison County, NY”.Pic: Painting owned by the New York State Office of Parks, recreation and Historic Preservation.]