Profile Text
Birth Name: Benson James Boone
Place of Birth: Monroe, Washington, U.S.
Date of Birth: June 25, 2002
Ethnicity: English, Irish, Scottish, Manx, German, Danish, Norwegian, distant Dutch, French, and Swiss
Benson Boone is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He became known through TikTok. His songs include “Ghost Town,” “In the Stars,” and “Beautiful Things.”
He was raised LDS (Mormon).
Benson’s paternal grandfather was Lewis Leland Boone, Jr. (the son of Lewis Leland Madison and Geneva Katherine Smith). Benson’s grandfather Lewis was born in Smiths Grove, Kentucky, and took the surname of his stepfather Lawrence Herbert Boone. Benson’s great-grandfather Leland was the son of Fount Green Madison and Jewell Meredith. Geneva was the daughter of Charles Webster “Charlie” Smith and Minnie Ann McGuire.
Benson’s paternal grandmother is the daughter of Lloyd Leslie Karren and Hazel Lorraine Stewart. Lloyd’s father was Leslie James Karren, whose paternal grandparents were born on Douglas, Isle of Man, and Ayr, South Ayrshire, Scotland, respectively, and whose mother was born in Copenhagen, Kobenhavns Kommune, Hovedstaden, Denmark. Lloyd’s mother was Algie Ellen Perry, whose adoptive parents were English, her father from Staffordshire and her mother from City of Norwich, Norfolk. Benson’s great-grandmother Hazel is the daughter of Joshua Beynon Stewart, Jr. and Hazel Lareen MacKay.
Benson’s maternal grandfather is the son of Scott Haskell Smith and Lova LaRae Kinghorn. Scott was the son of Silas Thales Smith and Elvena Sessions. Lova was the daughter of Eldon Wilford Kinghorn, whose paternal grandparents were Scottish; and of Mary Lova Dansie.
Benson’s maternal grandmother is the daughter of William Carroll Whalen and Ruth Ilene Jensen. William was born in Ashland, Ashland County, Wisconsin, the son of John W. Whalen, whose parents were Irish, with roots in Waterford; and of Wilhelmina “Mina” Carroll, who was born in Blackville, Northumberland County, New Brunswick, Canada, and was also of Irish descent, including an Irish-born maternal grandmother. Benson’s great-grandmother Ruth was born in Lovell, Big Horn County, Wyoming, the daughter of Oluf Christen/Christian Henrick Jensen, who was born in Hvorup, Aalborg Kommune, Nordjylland, Denmark; and of Martha Estella Gordon, whose maternal grandparents were English, with roots in Shaw, Oldham, Greater Manchester. Oluf took his stepfather’s surname.
He is a first cousin, six times removed, of LDS founder Joseph Smith . Benson’s maternal great-great-great-great-great-great-grandparents, Asael Smith and Mary Elizabeth Duty, were also Joseph’s paternal grandparents.
Benson is also a fifth cousin, once removed, of television personality Kevin Franke . Benson’s great-great-great-great-great-grandparents, Samuel Gates and Lydia Downer, were also Kevin’s maternal great-great-great-great-grandparents.
Sources: https://www.npr.org https://www.songfacts.com
Genealogy of Benson’s paternal grandfather, Lewis Leland Boone, Jr. – https://www.findagrave.com
Genealogies of Benson’s paternal great-grandparents, Lloyd Leslie Karren and Hazel Lorraine (Stewart) Karren – https://www.findagrave.com
Genealogies of Benson’s maternal great-grandparents, Scott Haskell Smith and Lova LaRae (Kinghorn) Smith – https://www.findagrave.com
Genealogies of Benson’s maternal great-grandparents, William Carroll Whalen and Ruth Ilene (Jensen) Whalen Deardeuff – https://www.findagrave.com