BENNETT ANCESTORS

The Bennett's came to America early in its development.

Bennett's Plantation was situated on the Rock Wharf on the present Burwell's Bay and was patented November 21, 1621, by Edward Bennett, a rich London merchant in partnership with his brother Robert Bennett and nephew, Richard Bennett.

Richard Bennett became the first Puritan Governor of Virginia in 1652. Edward Bennett's daughter, Silvester, married Major Nicholas Hill, of Isle of Wight County, and another daughter, Mary, married Thomas Bland. Thomas Bland's daughter, Mary, married Captain James Day of Day's Point, a plantation that was later absorbed by the estate of Major Lewis Burwell. The Bennetts came from Somerset England. The following affidavit, made by Richard Bennett in England while negotiating with Lord Baltimore on behalf of a fellow Virginian, indicated this origin.

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RICHARD BENNETT, Jr. (d. 1720)

Richard Bennett, Jr. was the eldest son of Richard and Anne Bennett. In 1699, he was given the plantation that his father had bought from William Miles in 1656. The name of Richard Jr.'s wife is not known.
Richard Bennett Jr. made his will in 1720 Richard Bennett Jr's children:

A. Richard Bennett, according to the Quit rents for Surry in 1704,was holding 200 acres on which he was living at the time of his father's death. Richard Bennett died intestate in Surry in 1735. Inventory of his estate was recorded January 21, 1735. His personal property was appraised at 51. Richard Bennett's children have not been determined for sure, but the following were probably his children:

1.John Bennett who made his will on January 24, 1750/51.

2.Benjamin Bennett of Amelia County, Virginia who made his will
December 31, 1767 and named his wife, Mary; sons William, John, and
Benjamin; and daughters, Susan, Elizabeth, Mary and Selah.

3.Richard Bennett, who died in Surry in 1719.

B. Jane Bennett married John Cofer. She and her sons, John and
Robert, inherited the plantation their grandfather bought from William
Miles in 1656.

C. Silvester Bennett.

D. Frances Bennett (d. after 1737) who married John Mangum and wasour ancestor. Not much is known about her, but she is discussed in the section on John Mangum above.

E. Ann Bennett married John Bell. She was not mentioned in her father's will, as she had already received her portion. RichardBennett Sr., of Isle of Wight on August 30, 1694 made a deed of gift to Ann Bell, "the now wife of John Bell, lately Ann Bennett, daughter of Richard Bennett Jr., Isle of Wight." John Bell died intestate and his children can not be determined. Two children are known, Joseph Bell and John Bell. Joseph left a will naming his brother, John and "cousin (nephew) Burrell." John's will identifies this son, Burrell, and other children John, Benjamin, Baalam, James, Ann Parham, Hannahand Mary. His wife Hannah is also identified.

F. James Bennett married Mary Rogers, daughter of William Rogers of Surry. James made his will November 11, 1751. It was probated March 1, 1752. His children were 1) Benjamin Bennett, 2) James Bennett, 3) Mary
Bennett Proctor, 4) Frances Bennett Sims, 5) Priscilla Bennett Dugger, 6) Joseph Bennett 7) Reuben Bennett, and a daughter, 8) Brambley Bennett.

Richard Bennett Jr.'s will in the "Great Book" is badly torn and the names of his sons are not shown. They seem to be Richard and James. We do know that he had a daughter, Ann, whose name does not appear in the will, so it is possible that there were other children. William Bennett could have been a younger son of the second Richard Bennett.

G. William Bennett of Isle of Wight, Virginia and Northampton County,North Carolina died in 1763 leaving a large number of children and grandchildren identified in his will. His wife, Grace, may have been a
Cotten. William Bennett was executor of John Cotten's will in Bertie Precinct in 1728 and Mrs. William Bennett and Captain Thomas Bryantwere trustees for four small children of John Cotten, indicating a
relationship. William Bennett was an early settler in what is now  Northampton County, North Carolina. He was in active service as Captain of the Roanoke Company in the Spanish Alarm of 1747-48. His
son-in-law, William Boodie was Lieutenant and his son, William was Ensign. Colonel John Dawson, stepfather of William Boodie, was Colonel of the Northampton Regiment. William Bennetts children:

1.Anne Bennett married Robert Ruffin. Robert made his will in Northampton County on March 28, 1767 and it was probated in August1767. His wife, Anne, and these children were mentioned in the will:

a.William Ruffin was born 1735 and died 1781 at Bertie County. He married Sarah Hill in 1762 and their children were Robert Ruffin who died unmarried in 1786; Thomas Ruffin, who died young; Sallie
Ruffin who married William Rhodes; Hannah Ruffin who married Marmaduke Norfleet; and Rebecca Ruffin who died young.

b.Anne Ruffin was born April 6, 1737 and died in July 1801. She Married Arthur Smith and their children were Robert Ruffin Smith, William Ruffin Smith, Drew Smith, Arthur Smith, Martha SmithHarrison, Ann Bennett Smith Hannon, and Mary Smith Hogan.

c.Olivia Ruffin died at Feliciana Parish, Louisiana April 2, 1803. She married  William Barrow on July 8, 1760. He died in 1787, leaving her a widow with 8 children. In 1798, she left North Carolina with three sons and three daughters in a covered wagon train with slaves and household belongings and moved to Louisiana
Territory where she and her children took up large grants of land and built several large plantation homes in the Feliciana Parisharea. Olivia Ruffin Barrow's children were: William Barrow, Bartholemew Barrow, Bennett Barrow, and three daughters and two other children whose names are not known.

d.Probably another daughter, Faith, who died young.

2.Mary Bennett married William Boodie about 1730.

3.William Bennett who died in 1757. He married Mary Kearney.

4.Grace Bennett was born April 26, 1726 and died in 1772. She married Green Hill, son of Henry Applewhite Hill, in 1739. Green was born November 1714. He made his will August 14, 1766 and it was
proved in Northampton in 1769. Their children were: Green Hill Jr.;William Hill, who married Mary Jones daughter of Edward Jones and Mary Hill; Bennett Hill; Mary Hill; Sarah Hill; Temperance Hill;
Elizabeth Hill; and Henry Hill.