Just making it easier for visitors to see and my love for my family.

Source: http://image2.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=dfl&GRid=61647696
Birth: 17 Mar 1737 in Scotland
Death: 8 Aug 1808 in Pitt, North Carolina, United States
BENJAMIN MAY

Benjamin May, the son of John and Mary (Stafford) May, is believed to have been born in Virginia March 17, 1737. Tradition says he was born in Scotland, but that claim has never been proven.

Benjamin May is first found listed in the 1762 Pitt County tax list as living with his father John May and brother, James May. In the 176,4 Pitt County tax list Benjamin is found living in the household of Mary May, his widowed mother.

From this point on Benjamin May appears to have lead a most useful life. He became a very active and influential figure in the social, political and military affairs of Pitt County.

Benjamin May settled on Black Swamp, Pitt County, on the south side of Contentnea Creek near the present town of Farmville. He was listed as a "Saddler to the County and Province" as early as 1767 and he began purchasing large amounts of land as early as 1766. Between the years 1779 to 1783, Benjamin May received land grants totaling 1200 acres from the State of North Carolina.

In 1773 Benjamin May was named as captain of the local regiment of Pitt County Militia. On July 30, 1779, he was appointed 1st. Major of the Pitt Regiment of Militia by Governor Richard Caswell. It is said that Benjamin May commanded the local militia at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse on February 15, 1781.

On October 4, 1774, Benjamin May was elected a member of the Pitt County Committee of Safety and was on the committee to build the courthouse and jail at Martinsborough, now Greenville, Pitt County, North Carolina.

On July 17, 1775, the Pitt County Safety Committee chose Benjamin May as one of the captains of the 15th Company of Pitt Patrollers.

Benjamin May was a delegate from Pitt County to the NC Provincial Congress at Halifax, North Carolina, April 12, 1776, when they passed the Halifax Declaration of Independence. He was appointed there with James Gorham (for Pitt County) to "receive, procure, and purchase firearms for the use of the troops". When the Provincial Congress met again on November 12, 1776, Benjamin May was chosen one of the five delegates from Pitt County.

Benjamin May served as a justice of the peace and resigned in 1784 after many years of service. He was named as one of the trustees of Pitt Academy, Martinsborough, Pitt County in 1786 and was a member of the NC House of Commons from 1804 until his death on August 8, 1808,

Benjamin May appears to have been married several times. He married first on November 25, 1765 to Mary Tyson (b. April 16, 1748-d. 1800) daughter of Cornelius and Mary (Sherrod) Tyson. They had the following 12 known children: Tyson, Benjamin (Jr.), Fanny, John, Patsy, Sally, Elizabeth, Delitha, Mary, Clara, James and William May.

Between 1800 and 1808 Benjamin May married Mrs. Anna Stanton Peterson, widow of Kinchen Peterson and sister of James Stanton (Benjamin May's daughter Sallie's husband). Anna is named in Benjamin May's Will as his "beloved wife", but the Will is dated 1805, and she must have died soon after. There was a marriage contract between Major Benjamin May, Sr. and Sallie Ewell, dated December 20, 1807, stipulating that each was to hold their property free from the complications of marriage. According to tradition, the lady was so mistrustful of the high-sounding document that she refused to go on with the wedding, and the Major died a widower.
Source: http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/15853291/person/329169599/mediax/3?pgnum=1&pg=0&pgpl=pid|pgNum