Benedikt Hannesson was born on July 13, 1818 in Rangárvallasýsla. He died in 1860 in Omaha, Nebraska.
Spouse: October 6, 1846 Ragnhildur Stefánsdóttir b. October 24, 1817 in E. Skaftafellssýsla. She died on May 22, 1875.
Children: 1. Efraim b. November 6, 1853 in Denmark; d. September 21, 1878. 2. María b. July 1, 1859 in Omaha, Nebraska; d. November 23, 1945.
Benedikt and Ragnhildur traveled from the Westmann Islands (Vestmannaeyjar) to Copenhagen in 1952, as they had taken up the Mormon faith a year earlier. They lived in Denmark until 1859 when they sailed west to the United States. They traveled to Omaha, Nebraska and prepared to move to Utah. But, Benedikt died there, and Ragnhildur moved with the two children to Salt Lake City, Utah, arriving there in 1862.