Legislator Details
Judge Benjamin Franklin Hawkins Witherell
Number of sessions served 3
Gender: Male
Age at election: 42
Vital Records Information:
Birth
Date: 8/4/1797
City: Fairhaven, VT
County: Rutland County, VT
Country: US
Death
Date: 6/26/1867
City: Detroit, MI
County: Wayne County, MI
Country: US
Type of Burial:
Burial
Date: 6/28/1867
City: Detroit, MI
County: Wayne County, MI
Country: US
Cemetery:
Marital Information:
married Mary A. Sprague of Poultney, VT, in 1824; children: Martha E., James B., Harriet C.M. (Palmer) and Julia A. (Lacey); Mary died of cholera in August 1834;
married Delia A. Ingersoll, 1837; children: Charles I.; Delia died in 1847;
married Cassandra S. Brady, 1948; she died in March 1863.
Number of Children: 5
Background
Religion: Methodist
Military Service:
Occupation: lawyer, judge
Race: Caucasian or White
Education:
Biographical Sketch:
Son of Judge James Witherell, who came to Detroit as a Territorial judge in 1807. The Witherell family later followed and settled in Springwells, MI in 1810 only to return to Fair Haven at the outbreak of the War of 1812. They returned to Detroit in 1817 and Benjamin began studying law; admitted to the bar in 1819. He served as probate judge and prosecuting attorney of Wayne Co. for much of the 1830's. From 1843-50, he became judge of the District Criminal Court for Wayne, Washtenaw and Jackson Cos. He later became a circuit court judge. He was involved with the reorganization of the State Historical Society in 1857 and served as its president for several years. He was Detroit's historigrapher from 1855-67. From 1862-64 he was on the Recorder's Court bench in Detroit.
Notable Facts:
Sessions Served:
Committees Served On: Judiciary , Revision
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District Description: Wayne County
Reason for Leaving Office: Unknown
End of Term Status: Departed
Notes: In 1843 he became District Judge of the Criminal Court, the district consisting of the counties of Wayne, Washtenaw and Jackson, and held the office until it was abolished by the adoption of the new Constitution of 1850.
1923 Manual says he did not take his seat.
Committees Served On: Judiciary , Militia, Elections
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
Reason for Leaving Office: See Notes
End of Term Status: Departed
Notes: He was elected to the state house for the 7th session.
Committees Served On: Expiring Laws, Judiciary , Militia
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Bibliography:
DFP 6/27/1867 p.1 & 2; DFP 6/28/1867 p.1; DFP 11/27/1894 p.9;
MIBiog 2:463
