Marshall reports that Mary Bennett was born about 1624 in London, Middlesex, England and was the daughter of Edward Bennett, born 2 Feb 1577, Wiveliscombe, Taunton Deane Borough, Somerset, England and his wife Mary Bourne, born before 1612 in England.[1]
Find-a-Grave states that she was christened 3 April 1624 at St. Bartholomew Exchange, London, England, and that "all of Edward and Mary's children were born in London as thats where they resided.[2]
Alternatively, Hoyt Day reports that Mary Bennett was born in Virginia in 1622, the daughter of Edward Bennett. [3]
Taylor estimates that she was age 36 in 1668 (born 1632) when as Mary Bland she married Luke Cropley [4] if this is true it would suggest a revision in the date of her marriage to John Day.
Find-a-Grave states that she was a sister of Sylvestra Bennett Hill (1630–1706)[2]
Find-a-Grave reports that Mary Bennett Day was born 3 April 1624 in London, England, that she was the daughter of Edward Bennett (1577-1651) and Mary Bourne (1605-1651), and wife of John Day, mother of James Day who married Mary Thompson.[2]
About 1651 Elizabeth Day was born; when at the age of 19 she married Charles Molloy in 1670, her father being dead, consent to her marriage was given by her mother, now the wife of Luke Cropley. [5] This would indicate that Mary Bennett had become Mary Day by 1650.
Hoyt has found a marriage record of Mary Day to Thomas Bland in England about 1658, [3]
The "International Genealogical Index" reports a marriage between Thomas Bland and Mary Bennett before 8 April 1663 in Isle of Wight, Virginia [6]
Marshall reports that she married Thomas Bland, born about in London, Middlesex, England and died after 1663 in London, Middlesex, England (Age ~ 41 years)[1]
1662-1666 Cavaliers and Pioneers, Patent Book No. 5; [Nell Marion Nugent]; Page 444[1]
Taylor reports that land patented by Thomas and Mary Bland in 1664 (but not recorded until 1668) was later owned by the James Day family. [7]
Taylor reports that in the marriage allegations in the Registry of the Archbishop of Cantebury (Harleian Society Publications, vol 232, p. 155) there is recorded under date of September 12, 1668, an allegation of Luke Cropley of the parish of St. Peter the Poor, London, Gent., about 35, and Mary Bland of the same, widow, about 36, at Deptford or Charlton co Kent or Newington, Surrey, or St. James Clerkenwell. [4]
On 14 September 1668 at St. Nicholas Church, Deptford, Greenwich, Kent, England, Mrs. Mary Bland married Luke Cropley.[8]
Before 1675 in London, Middlesex, England, married Luke Cropley, b. Abt 1624 d. Aft 1675, London, Middlesex, England (Age ~ 52 years)[1]
She was the widow of Luke Cropley at her death.
On 13 December 1670, Elizabeth Day, age 19, "spinster" and Charles Molloy of Lincoln's Inn, Esq, "bachelor", sought a marriage license. Elizabeth's father was dead, and she had consent of her mother, who was now the wife of Luke Cropley, of St Peter le Poor, London, Gent; at Barnet of Hadley, Herts. [5]
In a codicil to his will, James Day made a bequest of £10 to his "honored Mother Mrs. Cropley." Since he also made bequests of £20 to a number of unrelated persons, this reference does not seem totally reliable. However, if Mary Cropley, nee Bennett was his mother, then she was likely married to a Day.
It would appear that this unknown Day then acquired the name John, and facts associated with other John Days living at the right time in England became attached to him.
1640 Marriage to John Day
About 1640 "Mary Bennett, married first ......Day, secondly, Thomas Bland, and on the 12th of September, 1668, "Mary Bland, widow, aged 36, married Luke Cropley, aged 35."
Boddy states that "Mary Bennett married first, ------Day," [9]
She is mentioned in Governor Richard Bennett's will, 12th April, 1675, as "My cousin Mary, wife of Mr. Luke Cropley of London."
Find-a-Grave states that she married John Day (1627–1657)[2]
Named as mother of James Day
In James Day's will, dated August 10, 1700, a bequest of £10 is made to Mrs. Mary Cropley, his "most dear and ever honored mother" as a token of "natural affection as well as respect and duty." [10] If James Day used the word "mother" literally, then Mrs. Mary Cropley was married to James Day's father prior to her marriages to Bland and Cropley. If James Day used the word "mother" figuratively, then she could be some other honored woman.
Boddy notes that "Dr. Rupert Taylor of Clemson College, S.C., a descendant of Mrs. Mary Bennett-Day, states that she may be the wife of John Day of Fulham, Co. Middlesex, gent, whose will is shown in the printed Calendar of the Court of Hustings, London, page 771, dated Sept. 15, 1657. John Day mentions wife, Mary, sons John and James, daughters, Ann and Elizabeth. (Tyler's Mag., Vol. 16, p. 241) [9]
John Day of Fulham, co. Middlesex, Gent., (Calendar of Wills, court of Hustings, London, p. 771) by will dated September 15,1657 and proved the following January, left pecuniary bequests to children, John, James, Elizabeth, Anne, and to his wife Mary all lands and tenements held of the lord of the manor of Stepney, Middlesex, and elsewhere, for her to sell and dispose of as she should please for the better maintenance of herself and her children. [4]
"Mary, the wife of Mr. Luke Cropley "received a bequest of twenty pounds sterling in the will of Richard Bennett. [11]
She was living in 1701, as she is mentioned in the will of Captain James Day of Isle of Wight, her son, as "my ever honored mother Mrs. Mary Cropley." [9]
Find-a-Grave states that Mary Day died 1701 (aged 76-77) in Rappahannock County, Virginia, but her burial details are unknown. [2]
She was the widow of Luke Cropley at her death and is so named in the will of her son James Day, 1700. [4]
She died about 1675 in London, Middlesex, England. [1]
Hoyt states, "It is my belief that all her children were born in England and also believe James Day was the only one who went to America."
Governor Richard Bennett, as shown before, stated on February 12, 1657, that he was born in the Parish of Wiveliscombe, Somerset, and was then aged forty-nine or thereabouts. He was proven to be a nephew of Edward Bennett by Virginia records, and therefore was a son of one of Edward’s five brothers. According to the parish records previously shown, he could not have been a son of William or Richard, and Christopher is not shown to have had any children. Robert’s children are not shown in the Wiveliscombe registers, so were probably born in London. Thomas had a son Richard who was christened in Wiveliscombe August 6, 1609. Christenings often took place long after births. Phillip, a young brother of this Richard appears later in Virginia in connection with Governor Richard. However there is another theory that Governor Richard Bennett was the son of Robert Bennett who died in Virginia in 16223 inasmuch as Robert Bennett had children whose names are unknown. They may have been the Elizabeth, Jean, and Richard Bennett mentioned in Edward Brent’s will. [13]
Bibliography of Frequently Cited Works
Have you taken a DNA test? If so, login to add it. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA.
Featured National Park champion connections: Mary is 14 degrees from Theodore Roosevelt, 21 degrees from Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger, 14 degrees from George Catlin, 15 degrees from Marjory Douglas, 22 degrees from Sueko Embrey, 16 degrees from George Grinnell, 23 degrees from Anton Kröller, 16 degrees from Stephen Mather, 18 degrees from Kara McKean, 16 degrees from John Muir, 16 degrees from Victoria Hanover and 22 degrees from Charles Young on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.