Individual Notes
Note for: Frances Bennett, -
Index
Individual Note: (Unknown) daughter of Richard Jr., was mentioned in the will of Richard Bennett, Sr. A feather bed was left by Richard, Jr. to his grandaughter Frances Mangum.
Source:
Boddie, 17th Century Isle of Wight Co., Vol 1 pg 302
Individual Notes
Note for: Ann Bennett, -
Index
Individual Note: Ann Bennett md. John Bell. She is not mentioned in the will of her father, as she had already received her portion. On August 30, 1694, Richard Bennett, Sr., of Isle of Wight, made a deed of gift to Ann Bell, "the now wife of John Bell, lately Ann Bennett, daughter of Richard Bennett, Jr., Isle of Wight." (Surry W&D Bk., 1693-1707) John Bell gave testimony in a law suit, July 9, 1705, and said he was 37 years old. He died intestate in Surry in 1713, and his wife, Ann, was administratrix. As he left no will, his children cannot be ascertained, and but two of them seem to be known, A Joseph Bell made his will in Surry in 1733, and left his property to his brother, John, and "cousin (nephew) Burrell." This John Bell made his will in 1746, and mentions his son, Burrell, and other children - John, Benjamin, Balaam, James, Ann Parham, Hannah, and his wife, Hannah.
Source:
Boddie, 17th Century Isle of Wight Co., Vol 1 pg 302
Individual Notes
Note for: William Bennett, 1690 - 1765
Index
Individual Note: The first mention of Willam Bennett is found in the will of Matthew Fones, probated in Isle of Wight in 1704. Fones leaves a legacy to "Ann, daughter of William Bennett," and there does not appear to be any other contemporary William Bennett of that time and locality. Two of the witnesses to this will were Thomas and George Woods. Thomas is the same man who in 1669, deeded land to Richard Bennett "of Blackwater." Woods made his will in Isle of Wight in 1716.
On the 9th of January, 1706-1707, Robert Lawrence, "son and heir of Robert Lawrence, deceased, sells to Robert Crawford of Lawne's Creek Parish, Surry, 150 acres of land granted to my father 28 September, 1643." This land lay next to the land of the widow, Alice Bennett, and the deed of his son Robert, Jr., was endorsed thus, "This day being the 8th of April, 1706, William Bennett has given peaceable possession of these premises to Robert Lawrence of Isle of Wight in the presence of these witnesses, Carter Crawford, William Brantley." This Robert Crawford (Crayford) married Elizabeth, daughter of George Carter, John and James Carter witnessed the will of Richard Bennett, Jr., in 1720.*
* A note relative to the Crawford (Crayford) family was funished in 1895 by Solomon Buxton Williams, and is as follows: "William Carter of London, b. 1600, md. Alice Croxon of London. William died in Surry, VA in 1654. George Carter, son of William, had a daughter, Elizabeth, who md. Robert Crawford (Crayford). Carter Crawford, son of Robert, md. Sarah Swann, dau. of Matthew Swann, and had Carter Crawford, Jr., who md. Elizabeth Kearney, sister of Mary Kearney, who md. William Bennett, Jr. (son of the above). William Jr. died in Northampton in 1757, and Mary Kearney-Bennett then md. James Cary." She made her will in Surry in 1804. Mr. Williams also said that William Bennett was married twice, and that his first wife was Mary Hardy, This seems true as it is found that the Hardys were his neighbors in Isle of Wight, and that Matthew Fones, who remembered his daughter, Ann, also witnessed the will of Mary Hardy's father in 1694. Mr. Williams information was passed to him from his mother.
Although William Bennett is not mentioned in any of the early Bennett wills, this is not unusual. Richard Jr. had a dau. Ann, who md. John Bell, and was deeded land by her grandfather, Richard Sr. in 1694. Yet she is not mentioned in the will of Richard Jr., as she had already received her inheritance. Williams' eldest daughter was also named "Ann(e)" and this was the name of the wife of Richard Bennett, Sr. Naming children after parents or grandparents was quite common.
William Bennett was an early settler in what is now Northampton Co., NC. He patented 504 acres on the north side of Moratuk Swamp, Aug. 4, 1723, (Grant Bk. 3, p. 161 #52) and 520 acres on the south side of the same swamp, Aug 1, 1726. (Bk. 3, p. 228 #298) The early name for the Roanoke River was "Moratuck." He was on the Rent Roll for 1729 in Bertie (later Northampton) as owner of 675 acres of land, (NC Col. Rec. 22, p. 240) and patented 200 acres in Edgecombe (later Nash) in 1737, and 450 acres in 1744.
The Earl of Grandville, one of the Lord Proprietors, in 1753 deeded William Bennett considerable land on Peach Tree Creek in what is now Nash Co. (Halifax Deeds, 6, p. 44) The deeds were to "William Bennett, gentleman, of Northampton County." His first transaction on Peach Tree Creek was May 19th, 1742, when he bought land on both sides of the creek from Thomas Kearney. This would be willed to his granson, Nathan Boddie. where it would become part of his plantation, "Rose Hill," and is still in the possession of his descendants.
William Bennett was in active service as Captain of the Roanoke company of 101 during the Spanish Alarm of 1747-48. His son, William Jr. is shown in the same company as an Ensign. William Sr. died in 1765 leaving a large number of children and grandchildren. His will was as follows:
"To loving wife, Grace, negro fellows Dick and Quash, etc. To daughter, Grace Hill negro fellows, etc. To wife Grace, and daughters Anne Ruffin ans Grace Hill, all monies both gold and silver to be equally divided between them. To my grandson, Bennett Hill, my plantation where I now live, 345 acres, more or less. To my grandson, William Ruffin, 200 acres of land in Edgecombe county on Supponey Swamp. To my grandson Nathan Boddie, my plantation where he now lives in Edgecombe county. To my grandson William Boddie, 300 acres of land that joins land given to Nathan Boddie on a branch called Lone Branch. To my grandson Willis Boddie, 300 acres of land lying above the land that I now dwell on and joins George Pollocks, Valentine Edwards, *** Earps, and Wm. Winbornes. All the rest of my estate of whatever kind to be equally divided between my several grandchildren to whom I have not given any land. Dated 17th of July, 1758; probated Feb. 1765. Teste, John Dawson, Soloman Alston, Jr., Andrew Taylor."
Source:
Boddie, 17th Century Isle of Wight Co., Vol 1 pg 305-309