Prominent natural bonesetter and farmer who resided primarily in Lebanon, Connecticut.
| When Burke met | 1807 |
| Where Burke met | New London, CT |
| Occupation | Professional |
| Interaction with Burke | Treated Burke’s broken leg |
| Identity Status | Confirmed |
| Genealogy | WikiTree |
| Memoir Pages | 21 |
Notes
Benoni Sweet (ca. 1760–1840) was a prominent natural bonesetter and farmer who resided primarily in Lebanon, Connecticut. Born around October 7, 1760, in Kingston, Rhode Island, he descended from a notable family of natural bonesetters, though sources conflict on whether his father was named Job or John Sweet. He married Sarah Champlin in 1791. In 1793, Sweet relocated his family to Lebanon with the intention of retiring from his medical practice to focus entirely on farming. However, when a local dislocated shoulder case baffled trained physicians, public demand forced him to resume his ancestral calling. He operated as a widely recognized local surgeon for the remainder of his life, dying in Lebanon on August 26, 1840. His legacy as a medical practitioner was continued by several of his children, including Benoni Jr., Stephen, Sarah, and Charles.
Sources
Burke, William. Memoir of William Burke: A Soldier of the Revolution, Reformed from Intemperance, and for Many Years a Consistent and Devoted Christian; Carefully Prepared from a Journal Kept by Himself; to Which Is Added, an Extract from a Sermon Preached at His Funeral, by Rev. Nathaniel Miner. Hartford, CT: Case, Tiffany, 1837.