Betsey Benton

Betsey Benton was born 6 September 1788 and died unmarried on 24 June 1847. She was the daughter of Samuel Benton (1749-1803) and Prudence Seymour (b. 1755) of Hartford. She became a member of the Second Church of Hartford in 1808. After her father died, she lived with her mother and then with her mother and sister Martha Benton Lathrop. According to Josiah Benton's Samuel Slade Benton, His Ancestors and Descendants (p. 77), Betsey had "a fine voice, and was the leading singer in Hartford during the early part of the century".

Betsey's mother founded a private school to support herself and her children after her husband died. It was subsequently kept by Miss Thatcher then by Prudence Benton Lathrop, the founder's granddaughter. The school closed about 1850.