Samuel Bennett (abt. 1628 - abt. 1684)

Born about 1628 in England

Descendants

Died about 4 Sep 1684 at about age 56 in Providence, Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

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Disputed Parents

A previous version of this profile was connected as a son to Edward Bennett and Alice Edgington. There is no evidence to substantiate the relationships and they have been disconnected.

It was also connected at one time to Edward Bennett of Rehoboth They are not related according to the latest research by Robert Charles Anderson in the Great Migration. There is no evidence Edward of Rehoboth ever married or had children. Edward was born c 1615 died after 4 Jun 1646. Savage conflated him with the man of the same name of *Providence.* They are not identical. James Elston erroneously stated that Edward was father to Priscilla. Neither is true. His origins and parents are unknown according to Robert Charles Anderson in the Great Migration Series.^[1]

Biography

Samuel Bennett's origins and parents are unknown and his birth is estimated. His first appearance in public records is at the Providence Plantation. In exchange for 25 acres of free land he was one of the signers to a January 19, 1645/6 agreement promising active or passive obedience to the authority of the King and Parliament of England. The signatories also gave up the right to purchase land and the "privilige of Vote, in Towne affaires" until they achieved the status of Freeman.^[2] The signatories have since been referred to as the "25 acre men."

Austin's “Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island” shows that he was a Cooper and that he lived at Providence and at East Greenwich, R.I. It also lists the offices he held from 1652 to 1678.^[3]

Chronology

• 1646 Signed the Agreement which made him a "25 acre man"^[2]
• 1651/2 Mar 7: One of twelve signers to the Oath of Allegiance in Providence^[4]
• 1652 May 12: Bought a house and house lot from Stukely Westcott at Providence^[5]
• 1657 May 27: Chosen surveyor, a position he continued to hold for many years^[6]
• 1652 Sep 7: "Samuel Benet is chosen in his fathers stead" to serve as one of the six jurors named on March 1(they were; Fenner, Ashton, Waterman, Suckling, Wickenden, Harris.).^[7]
• 1655, Became a Freeman ^{[citation needed]}
• 1655 Jul 4: The Town Meeting Records indicate that Roger Williams and Samuel Bennett searched the Town and found wine and liquor at three residences that had not been reported. They were required to forfeit half to the Town.^[8]
• 1656 May 7: At a court "to end small differences," Samuel was awarded compensation for a calf killed by "Mr. Foote's dogs."^[9]
• 1656 Oct 27: The Town ordered payment to him as seargent of the militia^[10]
• 1657/8 Jan: Sold a house lot at Providence to Richard Pray^[11]
• 1657 May 19: The first time chosen as a representative for Providence at the General Court^[12]
• 1659 Oct 27: The first of many appointments as one of the "jury men or Triers of cases"^[13]
• 1665 Feb 19: Drew lot number 71 in the distribution of land on East Side of the Seven Mile Line in Providence.^[14]
• 1666 May 31: His name is on the list titled "The Names of those who have Engaged Alegance to his Majestye King Charles II."^[15]
• 1674 Jan 27: Was the subject of a complaint regarding land he layed out to Joshua Veerin.^[16]
• 1675 Apr 12: Drew lot number 26 in the distribution of land on the West Side of the Seven Mile Line in Providence.^[17]
• 1683/4 Mar 17: Drew lot number 33 in the distribution of land on the West Side of the Seven Mile Line in Providence.^[18]

Family

Samuel married Anna UNKNOWN. After his death, Anna married as her 2nd to Moses Forman,^[3] (who had deserted his wife, Hannah Crooker, and removed to Rhode Island).

Children of Samuel and Anna Unknown:^[3]

• Edward; stayed in Providence
• Elizabeth; m Edward Inman
• Samuel; m (1) Sarah Forman (his step-sister) (2) Desire Henry (3) Rachel ___
• William; m Rachel Weaver
• Benjamin
• Priscilla; m Stukely Westcott

Death and Legacy

Samuel made a will on August 25, 1684. He made bequests to wife Anna, his sons, and daughter Priscilla, when she turns 21 or at marriage. He died at Providence on September 4, 1684.^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ Anderson, Robert Charles; George F. Sanborn; and Melinde Lutz Sanborn. The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635. (NEHGS, 1999-2011), 1:253-54. link "Origin unknown. Not the same man as Edward Bennett of Providence, Rhode Island. He was not the father to Priscilla Bennett."
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} The Early Records of the Town of Providence, Vol II. Providence, RI: City of Providence, 1893. Pages 29-30
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} Austin, John Osborne. The Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island Comprising Three Generations of Settlers Who Came before 1690. Albany, NY: 1887 Page 18.
4. ↑ Bartlett, John R. Records of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England, Vol 1. Providence, RI: Self-Published, 1863. Link.
5. ↑ PrTR 2, 1893 Page 12.
6. ↑ PrTR 2, 1893. Page 65.
7. ↑ PrTR 2, 1893. Page 65.
8. ↑ PrTR 2, 1893. Page 84.
9. ↑ PrTR 1, 1892. Page 114
10. ↑ PrTR 2, 1893. Page 99
11. ↑ PrTR2, 1893.Page 16.
12. ↑ Bartlett, John R. Records of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England, Vol 1. 1636-1663 Providence, RI: Self-Published, 1856. Page 354.
13. ↑ PrTR 2, 1893. Page 120.
14. ↑ The Early Records of the Town of Providence, Vol III. Providence, RI: Providence Record Commissioners, 1893. Page 73.
15. ↑ PrTR 3, 1893: Page 101.
16. ↑ The Early Records of the Town of Providence, Vol 15. Providence, RI: Providence Record Commissioners, 1899. Page 145.
17. ↑ The Early Records of the Town of Providence, Vol IV. Providence, RI: Providence Record Commissioners, 1893. Page 46
18. ↑ PrTR 4, 1893. Page 66