Walter Gilbert Genealogy: Benedict Royce & Esther Bunnell

200–201. Benedict Royce was born in Wallingford, Connecticut, on Wednesday, February 19, 1734/5, baptized at the First Congregational Society of Meriden, Connecticut, on Friday, February 28, 1734/5, and died in Claremont, Sullivan County, New Hampshire, on July 19, 1769. Esther Bunnell was born in Wallingford on Wednesday, November 30, 1737, and died in 1808. He is the son of Abel and Joanna (Beach) Royce. She is the daughter of Hezekiah and Esther (Bristol) Bunnell. They had six children:

i.	Silas Royce [#100]: He was born in Bristol, Connecticut, on July 9, 1758.
ii.	Esther Royce was baptized in Bristol on March 9, 1760.
iii.	Amy Royce was baptized in Bristol on March 5, 1765.
iv.	Dimon Royce was baptized in Bristol on January 25, 1767.
v.	Benedict Royce was born in Claremont, Sullivan County, Connecticut, in 1768. The existence of this child comes from Al Braley, Aug. 2002.
vi.	John Royce was born in Claremont in 1770.

Benedict and Esther moved to Claremont, New Hampshire, after their children were born. He died there. Benedict's siblings, Mehitabel (m. Bunnell) and Hezekiah also moved to Claremont and lived out their lives there.

Claremont township is approximately six miles square, its land was granted on October 26, 1764. The name comes from the county seat of Lord Clive, an English General who has been called the founder of the British Empire in India. In February, 1767, settlement of the town began in earnest. By 1775 the population was 523 with fewer than 100 families.

Per History of Claremont New Hampshire 1764–1894, Benedict was very involved in town meetings and surveying projects. He had the first framed house in Claremont.

This entry is conditional pending the proof that George Washington Augustus Royse [#50] is, indeed, the same as the George Royse who is the son of Silas Royse [#100].

In an effort to find the parents of George Washington Augustus Royce, the children of Benedict's brother, Hezekiah, are given here. Some of his sons lived in Claremont and were the right age to have a son, George, of the right age. The child of Hezekiah Royce and Lois Damon are (from Al Braley, Aug. 2002):

Thankful Royce 1764 - 1844

Joanna Royce 1766 -

Shebel Royce 1768 - 1833

Lois Royce 1770 - 1847

Chloe Royce 1772 -

Hezekiah Royce 1774 - 1867 (possible)

Keturah Royce 1776 -

Abigail Royce 1778 -

Olive Royce 1780 -

Jesse Diamond Royce 1782 - (possible)

Abel Mehelah Royce 1784 -

Jonathan Royce 1786 -

Sources:

Jacobus, Donald Lines, Families of Ancient New Haven, vol. VII, pp. 1549–1559 (details on descendants of Robert Royce (p. 1549), his son Samuel, his son Deacon Samuel (p. 1558), his son Abel, his son Benedict, and his son Silas) (See also p. 1791, Additions and Corrections.)
History of Claremont New Hampshire 1764–1894 on the Claremont, New Hampshire web site.
The International Genealogical Index (data on Esther Bunnell)
Gillespie, Bancroft The First Congregational Church, Meridan, New Haven, Connecticut, Baptisms Extracted from Historic Record of the town of Meriden, Connecticut. Conducted by Rev. Theophilus Hall. (This reference provided by Nancy Jacobsen, May, 2003.)