John BENTON  (c.1585 - 1653)

He arrived at the Virginia Colony in 1635, sponsored by John Leonard of
Warrosquyoake County; which county was renamed Isle of Wight County in 1637.
On 13 October 1642, he received patent to 1,250 acres situated "about 15 mi.
up the Southward side of Rappahannock River, &c., running to the mouth of a
navigable cr. or branch". Also, "400 acres by assignment from Samuell Davis,
& the residue for trans. of himself, wife, and 15 persons: Saml. Davis, Sr.,
& Eliza. his wife, Saml. Davis, Junr., Jon. Davis, David Ellis, David Rice,
Jon. Dreaton, Jon. Cox, Jon. Benton, Joane his wife, Jon. Benton, Isabell 
Benton, Alice Benton, Rich. Grey, Robt. Thomas, Wm. Barnard, Abraham Coate,
Abigail Benton, Geo. Hargas, Tho. Craven, Jon. Gerey, Ralph Tatum, Tho. 
Hughes, Georg Gumer, Jon. Wells."

The land described in the patent was located in an area originally called
Charles River County, until about 1642 when the name of the area was changed
to York County. The region then became a part of Lancaster County when it 
was created in 1651, and eventually it became a part of present-day Middle-
sex County when it was formed in 1669. The original grant document which 
contains the signature of Virginia Governor Sir William Berkeley, is pre-
served at the Huntington Library in San Marino, California.

In a patent dated 14 Nov 1653, for Col. Richard Lee, the property involved 
is described: "Upon the S. side of Rappa. Riv., bounded from a marked oak 
wch. standeth upon the head of a southerne branch of a Cr. commonly called
Matchepungo Cr. which divides this land & land of Dame Elizabeth Lunsford
formerly Mr. Samuel Abbot & extending along the land of John Benton, dec'd.
&c. W. by S. upon a branch of Pyanketanck &c."

Sources:
"Early Virginia Immigrants, 1623-1666", p.31, George Cabell Greer, Richmond, 
VA., 1912.
"Cavaliers and Pioneers", Volume 1, pp.137, 235, 288, Nell Marion Nugent, 
1979.
"Virginia Colonial Abstracts", Volume 3, p.513, Beverley Fleet, 1988.