“A family meeting of seven brothers was held at our late Thanksgiving, and the occurrence was so peculiar and uncommon in the history of the town, that some of the citizens have expressed desire that it should be made public”.

“The ancestors of these men, both on the father and the mother’s side, immigrated from England. Joseph Bingham, their grand-sire, was born at Norwich, Connecticut where he lived to raise a family of sons and daughters: and he remained there until his children arrived to years of maturity.”

“He was a Capt. Lieutenant in a company of Provincials, as they were then called, during the French War, about the year 1756. He was a firm friend of liberty, and a determined opposer to all tyranny and oppression.”

“Soon after the close of the French from Norwich, Conn. to Charlemont, Jeremiah and Calvin came with him. Here they resided until a short time before the commencement of the Revolution.”

“About this time a few families had located themselves in this town and Jeremiah and Calvin Bingham came across the mountain and selected a farm. They soon removed with their agent father and mother, and settled upon their farm in North Bennington, and the frame of their dwelling house is the same which is now occupied by Dea. Graves.”

“When the Battle of Bunker Hill was fought, they and many of their neighbors, and others in this town, heard the roar of cannon from that battlefield.”

“When Gen. Burgoyne in August, 1777 sent Col. Baum to Bennington with a strong force of Hessians and Indians to procur provisions etc., Jeremiah and Calvin Bingham united with their fellow townsmen and others to oppose the progress of Col. Baum.”

“This officer was effectively routed and overwhelmed with the Green Mountain Boys met him ‘upon the high places of the field’, August 16, 1777.”

He went, with many others, who were aged and infirm, to Bennington Center, and while they were collected there, he proposed that while the Battle was raging they should lift up their voices and their hearts in fervent prayer to the God of Battle …”

“… that He would bless their sons, brothers and friends, who were in the Battle, fighting for their homes and for liberty; and that He would permit them to return again, and peacefully enjoy their homes.”

“After the close of the War, Jeremiah, the elder of the two brothers, removed to Cornwall, Addison County, Vermont where he trained a family of sons and daughters; and was loved and honored by his fellow citizens, to the end of his days, for his piety and every manly virtue. He lived to be almost 100 years old.”

“Calvin, the younger, remained on the farm at North Bennington, and nourished and comforted his aged father and mother while they lived. There, on that farm, was born to him 7 sons and 5 daughters, who lived to arrive to years of maturity.”

“Asa, the first born son and child, was born in Sept. 1778. He is consequently 77 yrs. old. He lived with his father until he was of lawful age, and worked on the farm as he was able. He was married, and after a few months removed to Camillua, Onondaga County, New York.”

“In process of time, his farm was subdued, and he has been greatly prospered in pecuniary things. He has been honored many years also as an officer in a Christian Church.”

“Amos, the second son, lived and worked with his father on the farm several years. His health was not very good, and he thought he would make an effort to fit himself with some other calling. He taught school some, and fitted for college.”

“He entered Middlebury College and passed through the course of studies … He studied divinity with Rev. Dr. Burton of Thetford, Vt. and was licensed and ordained as Minister of the Gospel.”

“The oppresive system of slavery in Virginia he could no longer endure. He retired to the city of Philadelphia, where he has been employed to preach to prisoners, to alms houses, by the city authorities and by benevolent societies and individuals.”

“Calvin, the third son, lived and labored chiefly on the farm with his father until he was by law permitted to act for himself. He then left his native place, and took up a piece of wild land adjoining the farm of his eldest brother, about 9 miles from Syracuse.”

“While living on and subduing this land, he had some marvelous escapes from sudden death. Several of his children are living in Michigan, one of whom is now Governor of that State.”

“Luther, the fourth son, when he had lived nearly to mature years, commenced the study of medicine. He studied a part of the time, and practiced some with Dr. N. Swift of this town. He commenced medical practice for himself near Burlington , Otsego County, N.Y.”

“He afterwards located in Oaondaga County, near his older brothers; and followed his profession in connection with farming. He spent a few years there, and sold out and removed to Genesee County.”

“He purchased a farm near Batavia, where he still resides. He has for many years been distinguished for his opposition to the
system of American slavery.”

“Hiram, the fifth son, before he arrived to manhood was selected by his parents to remain with them to be their protector and
comforter during their reclining years.”

“About this time, however, he experienced a great change in his feelings, and notwithstanding his parents were depending on him, yet he felt it to be his duty to prepare for the work of the Gospel Ministry.”

“He soon commenced to fit himself for college. He entered and passed through a course of college studies at Middlebury where he graduated with honor to himself and to his instructors.”

“He soon entered the Theological Seminary at Andover, Massachusetts. He passed through a three-year course of study. He offered himself to the Board of Missions at Boston as a Missionary to the Sandwich Islands.”

“H. Bingham lived and preached on these Islands about 20 years when he found it necessary to return to his native land in consequence in illness of his wife. His wife and faithful helper did not remain very long in her native land, but wasted away by disease and soon rested from all her labors, cares and sorrows.”

“Her husband still lives, and at the present time is connected with a second wife and with her is engaged in teaching a boarding school for young ladies in New Haven, Connecticut. He also preaches occasionally as he has opportunity.”

“Stephen, the sixth son, lived and labored on the farm with his father until he was 21. He was requested by his parents to stay with them and take charge of the farm during their declining years. “

“This service he endeavored to perform; and probably he was instrumental in relieving them from many anxious cares, and in making them more happy and comfortable while they lived, though perhaps in their pecuniary point of view, at the expense of a rising family.”

“He has always lived and labored among his fellow citizens of this goodly town. At present he is entrusted with the superintendence of the common schools as he has been for several years past.”

“David, the seventh son, remained with his parents until by the statutes he was permitted to act for himself. Soon after this he went to Camillus, and commenced clearing a piece of land adjoining the farms of his older brothers.”

“He thought his health was not sufficient for that business, and he sold his land to his oldest brother, and commenced the study of medicine. He completed his medical studies at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Fairfield, Herkimer County, New York and soon after entered into practice at Norway, in the same county.”

“(The) history of these seven brothers has it has been extended over a period of more than 50 years. During this long period they had not been permitted to meet all together at one time. Their lives had been mercifully and wonderfully preserved, by sea and land, through dangers and death on every side, until their united ages amounted to 484 years and 9 months. Average age, 69 years one month and 13 days.”

“And here, perhaps, the inquiry may be made, ‘can any reason be given why the lives of these men have been protracted through this long period? … They are all men of temporate and industrious habits, and no one of them ever contracted the habit of using tobacco in any of its forms, or indulged in the use of intoxicating liquors as a beverage.”

“Some of the older sons felt very anxious that a meeting should be held; and by correspondence, it was finally arranged that each one would make strenuous exertions to be in his native town on the 6th of December – Thanksgiving Day.”

“On that day, those who lived out of town, enjoyed the privilege of meeting with some of their old fellow townsmen, and others, in the Center Church, and with them were permitted to render Thanksgiving and praise to Him who rules upon the sea and land; who watches the fall of the sparrows, and who had sustained them through all their wonderings.”

“In the afternoon the seven were all at the house of their sister … and with her and another sister and some young friends, they sat down to a bountiful supper, prepared for the occasion while many of the transactions of their youthful days were vividly brought to their recollection.”

“The next day they rambled over the old farm where their youthful days had been spent. They tranversed the fields, the pastures, the meadows. They observed the trees, the rocks, the fence, the orchard, the locus and other trees around the house and then they came around the old well, which is 60 ft. deep.”

“The proprietor (Dea. Graves) observing them, came out, when one of them observed to him ‘a swarm of B’s has come.’”

“They were invited and welcomed into the old house where they first saw the light. This they had opportunity critically to examine and here, for a short time … the scenes of their youth were lived over afresh.”

“What feelings crowded in rapid succession upon the mind! The father and mother who taught their infant feet to walk and who guided their wayward youth! That aged grandfather and grandmother, who sat in the ‘the old arm chairs.’” (Vermont State Banner, Bennington, December 28, 1855)

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