Governor Richard Bennett Sr

Richard BENNETT Sr. was born in 1625 in Isle of Wight, VA. He died on 4 Dec 1709 in Surry County, VA. Richard Bennett (1625-1709) of Isle of Wight was probably a son of Thomas and Alice Bennett who were residing on the south side of the James River, near Lawne's Creek in 1624. **Source: *Boddie, 17th Century Isle of Wight Co., Vol 1 pg 289 **Richard Bennett, son of Thomas, is mentioned as "brother-in-law," in the will of Anthony Barham of Mulberry Island, 6th of Sept.,1641, as heretofore shown. He resided at Blackwater in the vicinity of the plantations of Justinian Cooper and Francis England, for in 1669 Thomas Wood, "son of Arthur Wood, and Sarah Wooten his mother, relict of Arthur deceased," deeded him land and in the deed he is mentioned as "Richard Bennett of Blackwater." Col. Arthur Smith in 1666 made a deed to land at "Blackwater" inherited by his wife Sarah Jackson from her grandmother Alice Bennett." *In 1682, Richard Bennett patented 630 acres in the Lower Parrish of Surry Co., bounded by the land of Francis Mason, William Edwards, and the Hollybush Swamp, for the transportation of thirteen persons, his name not being among those mentioned. As he did not receive any land for his own transportation, it seems therefore that he was born in Virginia.* *Soon after receiving the above grant, he sold George Morrell part of the land as evidenced by the following deed (Deed Bk. 2, pp. 30-31): *"Richard Bennet, ye elder of the Upper Parish of Isle of Wight with the free will and consent of my wife Anne, have for a valuable consideration to me in hand paid before the sealing, grant unto George Morrell of Lawne's Creek Parish in the County of Surry, 150 acres situate on the west side of Pocatink Swamp in Surry, tha same parcel of land being part of a patent for 630 acres to me granted the 22 July 1682 - near Mr. Thos. Binns." *On the fourth of Sept., 1694, he made a gift of 200 acres on the west side of Pocatink Swamp to his son, James Bennet of the Lower Parrish of Surry County. (Deeds 1694-1709, p.18) July 5, 1699, as Richard Bennett of Upper Parish of Isle of Wight he deeded to his "son and heir" Richard Bennett, Jr., of the same parish "all right and title in land that belonged to Edward Jones then taking in plantation Richard Bennett now lives, being part of land bought of William Miles in 1656." (bk. 1688-1704, p. 292) *This date, 1656, is interesting for it shows that Richard Bennett must have been grown in 1656, and therefore could have been the Richard Bennett mentioned by Anthony Barham in his will in 1641. When the above Richard Bennett, Jr. made his will in 1720, he was still living on this land as he speaks of "my plantation and land whereon I live, it being part of ye land which was bought formerly of William Miles." Miles patented land on the second branch of the Blackwater adjoining Mr. England's land at an early date and died in 1698. He was aged seventy-five years on the 8th of March, 1697-98, which would make him twenty-three years of age in 1656. *Richard Bennett's first wife was named Anne. She was probably the mother of his children. The wife mentioned in his will was named Sarah and she subsequently married Robert Lancaster whose will was probated in 1720. Sarah Bennett-Lancaster made her will the 31st of October, 1722, and same was probated 29, January, 1723. *Richard Bennett, Sr. died in 1709. He was then probably between eighty and eighty-five years of age as he had several sets of grandchildren. Fifteen years before his death he made a deed of land in Surry to Ann Bell, a married grandaughter. He made his will as "Richard Bennett, Sr." on the 4th of December, 1709 and same was probated February, 1710. ** A Richard Bennett patented 300 acres in Isle of Wight, 2 March 1638, "due by right of transportation of 6 persons by John Mils. 150 acres were upon the bay behind Ambrose Meders Point and 150 acres at the Miles end upon west of Thomas Davis." This may be the Richard Bennett of our sketch. * *Source: *Boddie, 17th Century Isle of Wight Co., Vol 1 pg 294-296 **He was married to Ann BARHAM in 1659 in Isle of Wight, VA