Benoni Buck

Benoni Buck (1616–1639) was a second-generation colonist in Jamestown, James City, Virginia, and is notable as the first documented case of a person with an intellectual disability in the Colonial United States.^[1] His life and legal battles over his guardianship provide significant insight into the early American legal and social treatment of individuals with disabilities.^[2]

Benoni Buck
Born	1616 Jamestown, Virginia
Died	1639 (age 23) Jamestown, Virginia
Nationality	English
Known for	First person with a intellectual disability in British America

Early life

Buck was born as the sixth child to Richard Buck (chaplain) and Elizabeth Langley (Brown) Buck.^{[citation needed]} His siblings were Elizabeth, Bridget, Mara, Gercian, and Peleg. Named Benoni, which translates to "child of sorrow,"^{[citation needed]} he lived during a time when disabilities were poorly understood and often stigmatized.^{[citation needed]}

Guardianship and legal disputes

From 1624 to 1626, Thomas Alnutt held the guardianship of Buck, during which time Buck was likely under the care of Peter and Mary Langman, indentured servants to Alnutt.^{[3][full citation needed]} His exact whereabouts often remained ambiguous, with records suggesting he might have lived in Neck-of-Land with the Kingsmills, Langmans, Harmers, Porters, or Burrows.^[4]

In 1637, Ambrose Harmer controversially obtained guardianship by petitioning King Charles and the Court of Wards and Liveries, sidestepping local legal procedures. Despite lacking solid evidence or thorough examinations of Buck's condition, the petition was granted. Harmer stated Buck was "an Idiot, ^{[Footnote 1]} and in no way able to govern himself, or to manage that small estate left him".^[5] This act was criticized, with later revelations of Harmar's mismanagement and exploitation of Buck's estate. In 1639, Virginia governor John Harvey noted that Harmar and his wife had long coveted the land, underlining the manipulative intent behind obtaining the guardianship.

Death and legacy

Buck died in 1639 at the age of 23. His death was undocumented, and Harmar retained control over his portion of the Buck estate.^[6] The guardianship battles surrounding Buck highlighted the colonial desire to accumulate wealth through the manipulation of legal and custodial systems, often at the expense of the vulnerable.^{[7][verification needed]}

The legal and cultural handling of Buck’s case set a precedent for guardianship laws, showcasing how legal systems could both protect and exploit individuals with disabilities.^[2] His story, primarily known through third-party reports and lacking personal testimonies, remains a critical example of early American legal practices concerning individuals with intellectual disabilities.

References

1. Grizzard, Frank E.; Smith, D. Boyd (2007). Jamestown Colony: a political, social, and cultural history. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-85109-637-4.
2. Neugebauer, Richard (1987-05-01). "Exploitation of the Insane in the New World: Benoni Buck, the First Reported Case of Mental Retardation in the American Colonies". Archives of General Psychiatry. 44 (5): 481–483. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.1987.01800170105013. ISSN 0003-990X. PMID 3555384.
3. Bruce, P. A., & Stanard, W. G. (1893). Virginia Magazine of History and Biography (Online). Richmond: Virginia Historical Society. Newberry Library, LC: 2008236261.
4. Mallios, S (1999). "Archaeological Excavations at 44JC568, The Reverend Richard Buck Site". Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities.
5. Hole, W. (Engraver). (1624). John Smith map [Engraving]. In J. Smith, The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles. Library of Virginia.
6. "Virginia in 1639. Harvey's Second Administration (Continued)". The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography. 12 (4): 385–396. 1905. ISSN 0042-6636. JSTOR 4242705.
7. Tyler, Lyon Gardiner (1915). Encyclopedia of Virginia biography. University of Virginia. New York, Lewis historical publishing company.

Footnote

1. Note that the term "idiot" is now considered ableist, historically it was used both clinically and colloquially to refer to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.