Joseph P. Bennett (abt. 1809 - bef. 1860)

Born about 1809 in York county, South Carolina, United States

Husband of Elizabeth (Niven) Bennett — married 1834 in York County, South Carolina, United States

Descendants

Died before 1860 before about age 51 in Louisiana [uncertain]

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Biography

Joseph P. Bennett was born about 1809, in South Carolina, in York District. Joseph was the son of John Bennett. The name of Joseph's mother is currently unknown.

Joseph married Elizabeth Niven sometime before 1834, in South Carolina. This marriage possibly took place in York District, South Carolina as Elizabeth's family lived in York District, South Carolina at the time. No marriage record has been located.

Joseph obtained two land patents in Benton County (now Calhoun County) Alabama. The first patent was obtained on the 22nd of November, 1838 for 38.75 acres of land legally described as the North East quarter of the South West quarter of Section 35, Township 14 South, and Range 6 East. The second land patent was obtained on the 15th of December, 1838, for 38.75 acres of land legally described as the South West quarter of the North West quarter of Section 35, Township 14 South and Range 6 East.^[1] This land adjoined his brother-in-law Jesse Britton Niven, in Benton County (now Calhoun County) Alabama.

Joseph is named in the 1846 will of his father, John Bennett. John's will reads as follows: "In the name of God Amen I John Bennett of So Car York District being weak in body but of sound & perfect mind and memory blessed be Almighty God for the same do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say First I do give and bequeath my south & body to God who gave it. 2. I do leave and bequeath that all my just debts shall be paid out of my property. 3. I do leave and bequeath that all my lands and property whether moveable or immoveable may be sold and equally divided among my seven legatees viz. Jos. P. Bennett, Rebecca Kimbrell, Lucretia Meritt, Margaret Glover, Mary Fields, Alsey F. Bennett and Terza M. Bennett hereby revoking all former wills by me made In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the 12th day of March 1846 [signed] John Bennett Signed sealed published & declared by the above named John Bennett to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the testator Nath. Harris, John S. Alderson, M. Shurley South Carolina York District} Personally appeared Nathl Harris before me and made oath that he was present and saw John Bennett sign and seal and heard him acknowledge the within as his last will and testament and that he with John S. Alderson & M. Shurley witnessed the due execution thereof and they they as testators request in his presence and in presence of each other subscribed their names as witnesses thereto and that testator was of sound & disposing mind and memory [signed] Nathl Harris Sworn to before me April 9th 1846 JM Ross OYD"^[2]

Joseph appears in the 1850 Federal census in St. Clair County, Alabama.^[3] Joseph's household appears as follows: Joseph age 41, born South Carolina, occupation, farmer; Elizabeth, age 38, born South Carolina; John N. age 16, born South Carolina; Jesse N. age 14, born South Carolina; James L. age 12, born South Carolina; Thomas R. age 10, born Alabama; Sarah age 8, born Alabama; William age 6, born Alabama; Richard age 4, born Alabama; Margaret B. age 1, born Alabama.

Joseph's date and place of death are unknown. Joseph is believed to have died before 1860 as Joseph does not appear in the 1860 Federal census in Caldwell Parish, Louisiana with his family. Joseph's wife Elizabeth appears as head of household in the 1860 Federal census in Caldwell Parish, Louisiana.^[4]

No estate records have been located for Joseph.

Disputed Parents

John Bennett Sr and Mary C. Lassiter have been removed as parents of Joseph P. Bennett. John Bennett Sr was born in North Carolina and died in 1862 in Sequatchie county, Tennessee. This John Bennett Sr. did have a son Joseph Easterly Bennett who was born about 1837 and died in 1867 in Arkansas.

Sources

1. ↑ U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records; Patents No.'s 5251 & 5316.
2. ↑ Will of John Bennett, York District South Carolina Will Book 3, pages 140 & 141; "South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-V9SQ-S8?cc=1919417&wc=M6N4-438%3A210905701%2C211264801 : 21 May 2014), York > Wills book, 1840-1862, Vol. 03 > image 110 of 275; citing Department of Archives and History, Columbia.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1850", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MH5W-LM7 : Thu Oct 05 13:37:28 UTC 2023), Entry for Joseph P Bennett and Elizabeth Bennett, 1850.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFPQ-XCM : 18 February 2021), Elizabeth Bennet, 1860.

Research Note

It is possible that he died Dec. 8, 1862 in Caldwell Parish, Louisiana, but I ( Guy Parker) don't have a source to prove it. Just leaving this here as a research note.