John Bennett (1718 - abt. 1791)

Born 2 Feb 1718 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Colony of Virginia

Husband of Elisabeth (Dodson) Bennett — married 1749 in Colony of Virginia

Descendants

Died about 18 Jul 1791 at about age 73 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, United States

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Biography

John Bennett was born the 2nd of February 1718/19 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond county, Virginia. ^[1]

John's parents listed in the North Farnham Parish records were William and Elizabeth Bennett. Richard Bennett Sr and Elizabeth Rice are listed in some on-line genealogies as the parents of John Bennett. There are at present no documents to show they are the parents of John Bennett. No parents will be connected to John until further documentation can be located to prove the correct parents.

John married Elizabeth Dodson about 1749. No marriage record has been located.

John was added as a member by baptism to Broad Run Baptist Church in Fauquier County, Virginia on the 4th of December 1762. The notation next to John's name in the members records say's "dismis'd to Halifax". No date for the dismission to Halifax is given.^[2]

John left for Halifax County, Virginia sometime after 1765, as John's son John Bennett is listed as being an infant received into the care of the church on the 24th of April 1763; and John's daughter whose first name is not given in the records and simply listed as "[blank space] Bennett daughter of Jon. Bennett" is listed as being an infant received into the care of the church on the 11th of August 1765.^[3]

John appears in the 1782 land tax list for Pittsylvania County, Virginia with 180 acres. The two entries on the list after John are Thomas Bennett and Alexander Lee, both with 100 acres. Thomas Bennett is the son of John Bennett and Alexander Lee is the son-in-law who married John's daughter Sarah Bennett. James Watson, who married John's daughter Milly, appears on the list two lines before John Bennett.^[4] John Bennett (Sr. and Jr.) also appear in the personal tax list of 1782 for Pittsylvania County.^[5]

John made his last will and testament on the 11th of November 1782 in Pittsylvania county, Virginia. John's will reads as follows: "In the name of God Amen I John Bennett of the county of Pittsylvania and State of Virginia Planter being very sick and weak in body, but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God calling to mind the mortality of my body, and knowing that is appointed for all men once to die Do make & ordain this my last will and testament. That is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul unto the hand of almighty God who gave it, and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my Executor nothing doubting but of the general resurrection I shall receive the same by the mighty power of God and as to touching such worldly Estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form, first I lend to my well beloved wife Elisabeth Bennett all and singular my whole estate both movable and immovable during her life. Item I give & bequeath seventy acres of land joining Alexander Lee to my son John Bennett which I have separated from my estate for his use. Item I give and bequeath to my son Jesse Bennett one hundred acres of land with my plantation to be possessed by him after his mothers death. Item I give and bequeath to my son William Bennett the half of Negro Peters value Item I give and bequeath the other half the said negroes value to be equally divided between my four children, John Bennett, Elisabeth Bennett, Jesse Bennett and Ruth Bennett & I desire the said William Bennett to possess the said negroe upon paying the other said children their part. Item I give and bequeath all the rest of my effects to be equally divided between my nine children William Bennett, Thomas Bennett, John Bennett, Jesse Bennett, Sarah Lee, Winifred McDaniel, Milley Watson, Elisabeth Bennett & Ruth Bennett. I do likewise constitute make and ordain William Bennett and Thomas Bennett my sons Executors of this my last will and testament, and I do hereby uttlerly disallow and disannual all and every former testaments wills & legacies, bequests & Executors by me in any ways before named willed and bequeathed satisfying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal this Eleventh day of November ano Dom one thousand seven hundred and eighty two. [signed] John his + mark Bennett

Signed sealed & published pronounced and declared by the within named John Bennett this then to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence and the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed out names, George Dodson, Rotherick McDaniel, John Bennett

At a Court held for Pittsylvania county the 18th day of July 1791 the within last will and testament of John Bennett deceased was exhibited into court by William Bennett one of the Executors herein named and proved by the oath of one of the witnesses hereto, and ordered to be certified and on the motion of the said William Bennett as Eldest son and heir at law of the said Testator being first sworn, Certificate is granted him for obtaining Letters of Administration of all and singular the goods & chattels rights and credits of the said testator which was of the said testator at the time of his death with this will annexed on his giving security, whereupon he together with John Wilson and William Madding his securities entered into bond as the law directs and acknowledged the same and afterwards to wit at a court held for the said county the 20th day of February 1797 the said will was further proved agreeable to law and ordered to be recorded by the court."^[6]

John's exact date of death is unknown, but likely occurred in June or early July 1791, based on when John's will was presented to the court for probate. John's place of burial in Pittsylvania county, Virginia is unknown.

The Inventory of John's estate was made on the 5th day of March 1792; and "At a court of quarter sessions held for Pittsylvania county the 19th day of March 1792 the within Inventory of the estate of John Bennett deceased was returned & ordered to be recorded by the Court."^[7]

Children of John Bennett and Elisabeth Dodson based on the Will of John Bennett:

1. William Bennett
2. Thomas Bennett
3. John Bennett
4. Jesse Bennett
5. Sarah Bennett Lee
6. Winifred Bennett McDaniel
7. Milley Bennett Watson
8. Elisabeth Bennett
9. Ruth Bennett

Sources

1. ↑ Page 15; The Registers of North Farnham Parish 1663-1814 and Lunenburg Parish 1783-1800 Richmond County Virginia; Compiled and Published by George Harrison Sanford King, 1966; Southern Historical Press, Inc., Easley, South Carolina.
2. ↑ Page286 Magazine of Virginia Genealogy Vol. 26 No. 4, November 1988; Citing: The Early Records of Broad Run Baptist Church, Fauquier County, Virginia 1762-1783, transcribed by Richard Slatten; original record book in Archives Reading Room of the Virginia State Library, Richmond, VA document No. 21226, also available on miscellaneous microfilm Reel No. 472, Virginia State Library.
3. ↑ Page286 and page 289; Magazine of Virginia Genealogy Vol. 26 No. 4, November 1988; Citing: The Early Records of Broad Run Baptist Church, Fauquier County, Virginia 1762-1783, transcribed by Richard Slatten; original record book in Archives Reading Room of the Virginia State Library, Richmond, VA document No. 21226, also available on miscellaneous microfilm Reel No. 472, Virginia State Library.
4. ↑ Page 4: Gayle Austin, The Land Tax Lists of Pittsylvania County, Virginia, 1782-1802 (Greenville South Carolina: Southern Historical Press, 2006).
5. ↑ Personal Property Tax Lists 1782-1800 (from CDR-000415); Quote: John Bennett: Whites above 21: 1; Slaves: --; Horses: 3; Cattle: 10 ... John Bennett Junior: Whites above 21: 1; Slaves: --; Horses: 3; Cattle: 3 ...<next page>... Benjamin Bennett: Whites above 21: 1; Slaves: --; Horses: 2; Cattle: 3 ...<next page>... Richard ?Bennett?: Whites above 21: 1; Slaves: --; Horses: 6; Cattle: 10 ...<next page>... Micajah Bennett: Whites above 21: 1; Slaves: --; Horses: 1; Cattle: -- ... Reuben Bennett: Whites above 21: 1; Slaves: --; Horses: 3; Cattle: 9 ... William Bennett: Whites above 21: 1; Slaves: 1; Horses: 3; Cattle: 14. ...<page 8>... Richard Bennett: Whites above 21: 1; Slaves: --; Horses: 4; Cattle: 26. ...<page 13>... Thomas Bennett: Whites above 21: 1; Slaves: --; Horses: 1; Cattle: 6 ...<page 15>... William Bennett: Whites above 21: 0; Slaves: --; Horses: 2; Cattle: 3. Note there are other similar names to Bennett, not included, that appear to be Burnett, Binnett, etc.
6. ↑ Will of John Bennett, Pittsylvania county, Virginia Deeds, Wills 1791-1794, No. 9, pages 28, 29, & 30.
7. ↑ Bennetts Inventory: Pittsylvania County, Virginia Accounts, Inventories 1788-1797, No. 2; pages 116 & 117.

See Also

• BJ'S GENEALOGY SITE — The Bennett Lineage
• Source: S31 Author: Ancestry.com Title: Public Member Trees Publication: Name: The Generations Network, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2006; Repository: Ancestry.com