Aquilla Bennett Sr. (abt. 1786 - abt. 1869)

Born about 1786 in Virginia, United States [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Susannah (Cober) Bennett — married about Mar 1800 in Brothers Valley, Somerset County, PA, USA [uncertain]

Descendants

Died about 1869 at about age 83 in Ontario, Canada

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Aquilla Bennett Sr. served in the War of 1812
Service started:
Unit(s): 1st Regiment of York Militia, Canada
Service ended:

Biography

Aquilla Bennett Sr. was born circa 1786 believed to be in Virginia. He was the son of Isaac Bennett (1745–1800) and Hannah Ellsworth (1753–1790). ^{[1] [2]}

He arrived in Upper Canada circa 1804.

On Oct. 31, 1810, Aquillah Bennett, a yeoman of Vaughan Twp., made a land petition for a lease on Lot 24, Con. 4, Vaughan Twp. Henry Line, a yeoman of Vaughan Twp., would provide surety. The petition was recommended. ^[3]

During the War of 1812, Aquilla Bennett served as a private in the 1st York Militia. From Sept. 25 to Oct. 3, 1813, he served in Captain John Arnold’s Company. ^[4]

From June 25 to July 24, 1814, he served in Capt. Thomas Selby’s Co. ^[5]

From July 25 to Sept. 10, 1814, he was on command from Capt. Selby’s Co. He was serving somewhere away from the company. ^[6]

Marriage

Aquilla married Susanna 'Susan' Cober, believed to be before May 1804 in Pennsylvania.

Children

Known children of Aquilla & Susan:

1. Margaret Bennett - 1809 – unknown
2. Aquilla Bennett Jr. 1810–1851
3. Elizabeth (Bennett) Kreider - 1815–1857
4. Susan Bennett - 1817–1905
5. Nicholas Bennett - 1819–1850
6. Peter Bennett - 1823–1913
7. Hannah Bennett Draper - 1823–1917
8. John Bennett - 1828–1849
9. Sarah Bennett - 1835 – unknown

On Feb. 22, 1819, Aquilla Bennett, a yeoman of Markham Twp., made a land petition. He was a Tunker, born in Virginia, was over 44 years old, had lived in the province for 15 years, and had a wife and 8 children. ^[7]

Appeared in the 1851 Canada Census in North Gwillimbury, York, Canada West. The household included: Aquilla age 66, occupation yeoman; Susan age 60; John age 23, occupation yeoman; Sarah J. age 16; Jesse age 15.

Appeared in the 1861 Canada Census in North Gwillimbury, York, Canada West. The household included: Aquilla Bennett age 81, occupation labourer.

Death

Aquilla passed away 1869 (aged 82–83) in Vaughan, York Regional Municipality, Ontario and is buried in the Baker Cober Cemetery, Vaughan, York Regional Municipality, Ontario. ^[2]

Notes

More research is needed to narrow down Aquilla's approximate date and place of birth. There are 3 records that record his age:

1. 1819 Land petition states "that your petitioner was born in Virginia, is upwards of 44 years of age" (born 1775)
   
2. 1851 Census shows he is 66 years old, place of birth, U.S. (born 1785)
   
3. 1861 Census shows he is 81 years old, place of birth, U.S. (born 1780)
   

The earliest record found with Aquilla's name is a Probate Record for the estate of Peter "Kover" (Cober is the actual surname, this would be his father-in-law) dated 1804.

The next record found is a Deed of Release dated 30 October, 1804 in which Aquilla Bennet and Susanna, receive $80 from Susanna's older brother Peter 'Kover' Jr. This would be "One Ninth" of Peter Kover Sr.'s Estate (Susanna's father) This document states that Aquilla lives in Somerset County as of that date.

Two years later we find record of a land petition in Vaughan township, York County, Ontario Canada in 1806. This land record shows Aquilla's "mark" and his brother Jesse as a counter signature. It is clear that Jesse actually lived in Canada in 1806, however there are no documents proving that Aquilla did, therefore until some other evidence comes to light, we have concluded that Jesse was acting on his brother's behalf in the land record. Our reasoning: Aquilla is in a Tax Assessment in 1808.

There is a 1808 Tax Assessment for Somerset township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania listing his name as "Equilla Bennett".

In the year 1810 another land petition in Vaughan township, Ontario Canada is found, this time with a signature

On the land petition in 1819, he states he is "of the people called Tunkers" and "has been in this province for 3 years with a wife and 8 children"

The 1819 land petition would have him actually settling in Ontario in 1816, it is unclear at this point whether he resided there earlier (1810), our theory is that he may have traveled from Pennsylvania to Canada to acquire more land before he moved his family.

Aquilla was visiting the home of Willard & Susan (Bennett) Mann, his son-in-law and daughter, in 1861.

Sources

1. ↑ 1851 Census of Canada East, Canada West, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia; Year: 1851; Census Place: North Gwillimbury, York County, Canada West (Ontario); Schedule: A; Roll: C_11761; Page: 41; Line: 46
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 27 December 2021), memorial page for Aquilla Bennett Sr. (1786–1869), Find A Grave: Memorial #127450768, citing Baker Cober Cemetery, Vaughan, York Regional Municipality, Ontario, Canada ; Maintained by Dee (contributor 47925131).
3. ↑ Collections Canada, Upper Canada Land Petitions (1763-1865), at http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-110.02-e.php?&q2=29&interval=50&sk=0&&PHPSESSID=npfo6qij0n1rpue06msk2mqnj1, Microfilm c-1645, pages 130-131
4. ↑ Collections Canada, War of 1812: Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls and Paylists, Microfilm t-10384, pages 680-681
5. ↑ Collections Canada, War of 1812: Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls and Paylists, Microfilm t-10384, page 282-284
6. ↑ Collections Canada, War of 1812: Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls and Paylists, Microfilm t-10384, pages 297-299 & 313-316
7. ↑ Collections Canada, Upper Canada Land Petitions (1763-1865), at http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-110.02-e.php?&q2=29&interval=50&sk=0&&PHPSESSID=npfo6qij0n1rpue06msk2mqnj1, Microfilm c-1624, pages 1040-1041

Library and Archives Canada. "Canada Census 1851 - Aquilla Bennett." Government of Canada, 30 Aug 2022, https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/1851/Pages/item.aspx?itemid=98595

"Canada, Ontario Census, 1861", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQ79-CB7 : Wed Oct 04 13:55:21 UTC 2023), Entry for Aquilla Bennet, 1861.

• "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVV5-WPHF : 10 September 2021), Nicholas Bennett, ; Burial, Keswick, York Regional Municipality, Ontario, Canada, Mann Cemetery; citing record ID 29623161, Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/29623161/nicholas-bennett.

• The War of 1812 Militia Rolls and Payrolls can be accessed online

• 1851 Census of Canada East, Canada West, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia; Year: 1851; Census Place: North Gwillimbury, York County, Canada West (Ontario); Schedule: A; Roll: C_11761; Page: 41; Line: 46