Litchfield enquirer., 1860-04-26
Sketches of the Early Lights of the
 Litchfield Bar.
NOAH BENNETT BENEDICT.
No. TX.


 70 tie Editor of Me Litcz5iezd Enquirer:
 Sir In further compliance with your late re- quest now place at your disposal some account of the life, character and standing of another highly esteemed member of the Etchfeld Coun- ty Bar.
 The Hon. Noah Bonnet Benedict was a na- tive of Woodbury, in which he resided during his whole life. He was the son of the Rev. Noah Benedict, long the pastor of the First Congregational Church in that town. Mir. Bene- diets early school education must have been cor rect and good, as it's fruits invariably showed it. self in after life. Ho graduated at Yale College in September, 17sS, when little short or eight cen years of age. His legal studies commenced soon after his graduation, which were, believe pursued principally, if not wholly, in the office of his brother-in-law, Nathaniel Smith, afterwards 50 highly distinguished as jurist, which was near the residence of Mr. Benedict's father. AS soon as he arrived to lawful age Mir. Benedict came to the Bar and for the remainder of his life, to wit about thrtynine years it is believed he never failed to attend every regular session of the Courts holden at Litchfeld and though he never habitually attended Courts in other coun- ties, he occasionally did for the purpose of argu- ing particular case. During the long course of his practice Mir. Benedict had an ample share of business and for the latter half of that perod he was, especially in the Superior Court, the lead ing advocate, on one side or the other, in most of the trials either to the court or to the jury. His management of trial was discreet, his ar- guments sound, sensible and being aided by the well known and generally esteemed integrity of his character, had their due effect He never at- tempted to play the orator or to attract atten- tion by fine turned periods, but contented him. self with plain reasoning, of which he was no in- different master
 At a very early period Mir. Benedict was 8 member of the legislature. But the political ma jority of the voters in w Woodbury becoming about this time and for long afterwards decidedly demo- cratic, proved an efectual bar to his political pro- motion, as far as depended upon that town, but by the vote of the State at large he was elected in 1913 one of the twelve assistants las they were then styled, who composed the Upper House of the assembly, and was reelected the two follow ing years but in the year 1918 an entire politi- cal revolution took place in Connecticut, and MT. Benedict shared the fate of almost every one who held any post of dignity or profit depending upon public suffrage at large in the State. He was subsequently, many years later elected once or more to the Lower House. He was also for several years Judge of Probate for the District of Woodbury an appointment then depending upon the legislature. Mir. Benedict was twice married, but left no living issue. He died in June or July, 1851, at the age of sixty or in his sixtieth year.
 In private life Mir. Benedict was entirely unas- 'amlng' and very pleasing companion to all who could relish purity of moral character and conduct, which his whole life was an eminent ex- ample his feelings were peculiarly sensitive and aellcate loose or profane expression never es- capped his lips, and indeed so fastdious was he in respect to the former that it used to be matter o1 amusement with his less scrupulous associates Tn Jocose conversation to tease his feminine deli cscy upon such subjects. Though when alone and unoccupied he had propensity to indulge ID some what gloomy reflections, yet he was not averse to participate in facetious conversation when due delicacy was observed. He had pro- found respect for religion and was in all respects agood, e ve'.y good man.
 Mr. Benedict was of somewhat less than mid- hing size, of a medium complexion, but his eyes
 AN -A'A A"'nei oark. D. s. B.