Benjamin Worthington was born in 1742, one of the younger children of John Worthington and Mary Walmsley. Benjamin grew up in Byberry, where his father was a weaver and his parents were members of Byberry Meeting. When Benjamin was about twelve, his mother died, leaving John with many children to raise. By then Benjamin was the youngest surviving child. By 1769 he was on the tax list in Byberry, along with his father John, and in 4^th month 1774 Benjamin was given a certificate from Abington Meeting to marry a Friend of Buckingham. This was Hannah Malone, daughter of Patrick Malone and Hannah Beal.

After their marriage Benjamin and Hannah stayed in Byberry and raised their family. By 1800 they had 11 people in the house.1 In 5^th month 1811, Benjamin wrote a will, providing for Hannah’s care after his death and  leaving legacies to the living children. But in 1811 Hannah died, and Benjamin rewrote his will. He never signed the second will before his death in April 1813, but it was admitted to probate.2

The earlier one provided for wife Hannah to have two rooms in the house, with firewood and an annuity paid by son Enos. Son Joshua was to have the plantation and provide for Hannah’s needs…”he must keep in good order winter and summer for his mother one horse one cow fit for her use, shall harness her horse, put him to her chair when as often as she may order it to be done, on her return shall take the necessary care of the chair and harness by cleaning and oiling them carefully when wanted. He my said son shall have liberty to use the horse moderately when his mother do not want to use him.” The other children received cash legacies, to be paid by Asa and Enos. The second will omitted those provisions, but Joshua still received the home plantation. The inventory was taken on April 20, 1813. It was divided by rooms: a bedchamber and three other chambers on the first floor, a parlor and a kitchen, a garret and a loft above, a cellar below. Outside there was a barn and a wagon house. The estate was valued about $750.

Children of Benjamin Worthington and Hannah Malone: 3

Mary, b. 1775, d. after one month, buried at Byberry

Asa, b. 1776, d. 1846, m. Rebecca Subers, disowned by Byberry Meeting in 1799.4 In 1^st month 1799, Byberry Meeting complained that Asa was under suspicion of attending “places of divertion and dancing”, which was referred to the monthly meeting for discussion.5 They moved to Wrightstown; buried at Middletown Mtg. In 1^st month 1819 Rebecca, wife of Asa Worthington, requested membership in Byberry Meeting.6 In 3^rd month 1831 Middletown Meeting received a certificate from Wrightstown Meeting for Asa, Rebecca and their three minor children (Rebecca, Chalkley and Asa Curtis).7 They also had older children Amos and Adin.

John, b. 1777, d. 1852, m. 1805 Sarah Walton, disowned then by Byberry Meeting 8, daughter of Joseph and Deborah.9  In 1850 they were living in Byberry.10 He was 72; she was 68. In his will he left $90 yearly to Sarah out of the rent of his farm. She was to have as much house room as she wanted. The farm was to be rented out during her life, kept in fence and 120 bushels of lime to be put on it every year. An annuity was provided for his son Edward. The other sons named in the will were George, Benjamin, and Walton.

James, b. 1779, d. 1852. He was a butcher and lived in Southampton on a small lot. He married two or three times.11 His first known wife was Ann Maclay.12 They had two children before her death in 5^th month 1815, reported by Byberry Meeting.13 He then married Elizabeth Groome between 1820 and 1824. Elizabeth was twenty years younger than James.14 She was part of the Groom family of Byberry and Southampton, possibly an undocumented daughter of John and Phebe of Upper Makefield. James and Elizabeth had five known children before his death in 1852.15 He did not leave a will, but the Orphan’s Court record listed his six living children. Elizabeth died in 1856 and left a will, leaving all her estate to her son Warren G, and naming her son-in-law Charles B. Terry (married to her daughter Margaret) as executor.16 Children with Ann: Franklin, probably Margaret. Children with Elizabeth: Evan G., William, John, Emily, and Warren G.17

Benjamin, b. 1780, m. 1809 Ann Walton, born 1792, a daughter of Joseph and Deborah; this was out of unity and they were disowned by Horsham Meeting in 8^th month 1809.18 They had five children. Benjamin died in August 1849 in Byberry.19 Children: Amanda, Rebecca, Alfred, Abner, Mary.

Mahlon, b. 1782, m. Matilda Edwards, had a large family.20 He died in 1842 and was buried at Byberry.21

Hannah, b. 1784, d. 1823, m. Jonathan Walton in 1803 at Byberry meeting.22 He was one of three children of Isaac Walton and Susanna Kirk.23 Jonathan died in 1825 in Warminster, Bucks County.24 Hannah died two years before him. Children: Martha, Agnes, Emily, Hannah, Isaac, Benjamin, Josiah.

Joshua, b.  1786, d. 1866, m. 1814 Mary Tomlinson, daughter of John and Phebe. in 1850 a farmer in Byberry, by 1860 still there and calling himself a gentleman. He “lived on the homestead in Byberry”.25 He left a will, naming wife Mary and children Spencer, Comly and Adaline.26

Elizabeth, b. 1789, died 1797, buried at Byberry

Enos, b. 1791, m. Sarah Heaton, died in 1850 in Moreland of cholera. Left no will in Phila Co. Children: Thomas, Benjamin, Joshua and a daughter.27

Martha, b. 1794, m. John Tomlinson, son of Thomas Tomlinson and Phoebe Carver.28 John died in 1846; they had children Ezra, Stephen and others.