Benjamin Pollard

Male 1752 - 1779  (27 years)


Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Benjamin Pollard 
    Born 8 Feb 1751/52  Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    FamilySearch ID LCR8-9DF 
    Died 4 Oct 1779  Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Book Article 1969  Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    The Loyalists of Massachusetts, by E. Alfred Jones, pp. 236-237 
    • BENJAMIN POLLARD (Plate XLIII) was a flourishing merchant and native of Boston, born about 1749, who declines considerable appointments in the American military forces in the Revolution, in which his brother, Jonathan, was apoointed Quartermaster-General to the American army at Boston and aide-de-camp to General Heath from October 2, 1776, to September, 1778.  But he preferred a commision in the army of the King to the first place gift of the rebels. His younger brother was an officer [in 1780] in the Royal Navy, in Rodney's fleet. [This brother was doubtless George Pollard, Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, May 7, 1762, and again in 1780] (Audit Office [A. O.] 13/49; A. O. 13/75.)

      Benjamin Pollard became an ensign in the 2nd battalion of De Lancey's Brigade, which he accompanied to Georgia in November, 1778, and participated in the capture of Savannah in December. He was killed in the defence of Savannah on October 4, 1779.

      In a schedule of Benjamin Pollard's property, the names of his parents, Benjamin and Margaret Pollard, are mentioned, and in a copy of evidence mention is made of his brothers and sisters: Jonathan, mentioned above; Margaret; Joshua, a loyalist, who died in 1783 or 1784; and Peter, who commanded an American privateer in the Revolution. (A.O. 13/49.) He left a widow, Hannah, a native of Boston, who went to live at Carmarthen in South Wales. (A.O. 12/81, f.46; A.O. 12/105, f. 108.) She claimed compensation, £1,572, and was allowed £200. (A.O. 12/109.) and was granted a pension of £30 until 1818, when she is presumed to have died. (T.50/8; T.50/25.)

      A portrait of Benjamin Pollard is in the possession of the Massachusetts Historical Society.
    Book Article 2000  Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    American (Loyalist) Migrations, 1765-1799 by Peter Wilson Coldham, p. 33 
    • Pollard, Benjamin of Boston. Memorials: by the claimant NY 1781; by his widow Hannah Pollard, London 1786. Both she and her husband were natives of Boston whoestablished a profitable grocery in the town in 1775. He served as an Ens. in Delancey's Provincial Corps and was made Deputy Narrack Master before being killed at the siege of Savannah in October 1779 when he was aged about 26. She was left with two children to support and unable to return to her native town. Claim for the estate of Benjamin Pollard  in New Boston inherited from his father. Extract of the will of Benjamin Pollard Sr. dated 25 December 1756 with bequests to his wife Margaret and children Jonathan, Benjamin, Margaret, Josha and Peter Pollard. Abstract of a letter dated Boston 1783 from Jonathan Pollard [elder brother of Benjamin and an active patriot] to Hannah Pollard: my late father's estate has been appraised... The British hurt us as much as lay in their power by pulling down our houses... Now if you conceive that you are to receive a fortune from that estate you are greatly mistaken... You may do as you please by employing a lawyer on this side of the water to pursue a phantom. (12/81/46, 105/108, 109/244; 13/49/156-158, 75/239-249).
    Person ID I22939  New England Hall Families Master Tree
    Last Modified 20 Nov 2023 

    Father Benjamin Pollard,   b. 6 Jun 1696, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 25 Dec 1756, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 60 years) 
    Mother Margaret Winslow,   b. 28 Apr 1724, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 25 Mar 1814, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 89 years) 
    Married 14 Aug 1746  Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F10901  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Hannah Johnson,   b. 1749, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1818, Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, Wales Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 69 years) 
    Married 23 May 1777  New York, New York County, New York Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Ancestry.com. New York City, Compiled Marriage Index, 1600s-1800s
      Name       Benjamin Pollard
      Spouse Name       Hannah Johnson
      Marriage Date       1775
      Marriage Place       New York
      Marriage ID       2220289676
      Other Comments       On microfilm at Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.
      Source       The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record (quarterly), 1916, selected extracts
      Publisher       New York Genealogical and Biographical Society
      Publication Place       New York, NY
      Page       184
      ________

      Ancestry.com. New York, U.S., Marriage Index, 1600-1784
      Name       Benjamin Pollard
      Marriage Date       23 May 1777
      Spouse       Hannah Johnson
      Record Number       M. B.
      Volume       XXIV
      OSPage       92
    Last Modified 19 Nov 2023 
    Family ID F10904  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 8 Feb 1751/52 - Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 23 May 1777 - New York, New York County, New York Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 4 Oct 1779 - Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBook Article - The Loyalists of Massachusetts, by E. Alfred Jones, pp. 236-237 - 1969 - Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBook Article - American (Loyalist) Migrations, 1765-1799 by Peter Wilson Coldham, p. 33 - 2000 - Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Notes 
    • He was an Ensign in the British Army during the Revolution.