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Henry Bennett (c. 1629–aft. 1708)

Lydia Perkins (bp. 1632–by 1679), daughter of John Perkins and Judith Gator

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Henry Bennett was born about 1629 in England. [1] He probably died after 12 January 1707/8 as his second wife is called his wife, not his widow, in her death record. He married first Lydia Perkins. He married second the widow Mary (Smith) (Call) Burr. Mary was the daughter of Richard Smith of Shropham, co. Norfolk. [1] Mary, the wife of Henry and "before widow of Mr. John Burr & also former Wife of Mr. Phillip Call" died on 12 January 1707/8 in Ipswich. [2]

Lydia, the daughter of John and Judith (Gator) Perkins was baptized on 3 June 1632 in Boston. [3] She died before 18 February 1678/9 when Henry was a commoner on the right of Philip Call. [1][4]

John Perkins refereed to his daughter as Lydia Bennett in his will of 1654.

In 1654 Henry bought Jonathan Wade’s 200-acre farm in what is now the southeastern part of Ipswich. Its southern boundary was Castle Neck Creek and it bordered the land of Mr. Symonds, Mr. Saltonstall, and Reverend Nathaniel Rogers. He sold it to John Wainwright in 1698. Henry also had considerable land on Hog Island, Castle Neck, and Plum Island. [1]

On 18 June 1658, the town voted that George Giddings, Henry Bennett, and John Gage should view the way to Castle Neck and decide which part the town should mend and which part Mr. Epps should mend. [5, 6: 406]

Henry was sued by a tenant of Richard Saltonstall’s for taking hay from his land at the September 1659 court in Ipswich. The court found for the plaintiff, but Henry appealed. [5, 2: 170]

James Sanders was presented at the September 1662 court at Ipswich for striking John Lynde in the meeting house on the Lord’s day. He was ordered to be whipped or pay £3-40 to the treasurer and 20 shillings to John Lynde. Henry Bennett paid his fine. [5, 2: 441]

Henry was on the trial jury at the September 1663, September 1665, September 1674, and April 1683 courts at Ipswich. [5, 3: 84 270; 5: 385, 9: 1]

Andrew Hodges of Ipswich left Henry Bennett five pounds in. his will of October 1665. [5, 3: 315]

Mr. Samuel Symonds and Henry Bennett appeared at the March 1666 court in Ipswich as attorneys to Samuel Symonds, gentleman, executor to Humphrey Vincent v. John Edwards in two cases for debt. [5, 3: 302]

By a 5 April 1669 deed, John Ayres, husbandman of Ipswich, sold to Henry Bennett of Ipswich, his division lot granted by the town in the upland at Castle Neck. [5, 6: 408]

Elizabeth Gator—presumably a relative of Henry’s mother-in-law—was complained of at the April 1669 court in Ipswich for abusing the wife of William Linkhorn. Elizabeth Gator deposed that she was at Henry Bennett’s house when Elizabeth Linkhorn came in and said that John Ring would put the Elizabeth Gator in jail by Sunday night. She carried Elizabeth Linkhorn out of the house and shut the door. Linkhorn came back in and told Goody Bennett and Benjamin Morgan to witness that Elizabeth Gator had beaten her. However, Elizabeth Gator deposed that she had never struck her. She said Linkhorn went to Samuel Symonds's’s house for a warrant, but before she came back John Ring came in and said he never said the word’s Linkhorn had related. Elizabeth Linkhorn deposed that when she came to dame Bennett’s house, Gator had called her names, thrown her down on the stones, kicked her, and knelt upon her. Lydia Bennett, about 36 disposed, and her son Jacob was mentioned, on 27 April 1669. The court ordered Elizabeth Gator to be sent to the house of correction for a week, but upon entreaty, the court changed her sentence to a fine, which Henry Bennett agreed to pay. [5, 4: 135–6] Lydia’s deposition reveals the first name of Henry’s wife.

On 4 May 1669 Richard Brabrucke deeded the lot granted to him in the upland at Castle Neck to Henry Bennett. [6]

Henry Bennett and William Bennett (who signed with his mark) appraised the inventory of Samuel Symonds, Jr., gentleman, on 29 November 1669. [5, 4: 205]

Henry Bennett traded six acres of marsh at Plum Island to Deacon Moses Pingry for a lot at Hog Island. Several years later, at the March 1674 court, he sued Pingry for refusing to give him legal assurance. Robert Lord deposed that when the bargain was struck, Pingry’s wife had brought them wine and they went to lay out the land. The court found for Henry. [5, 5: 286]

Harlackenden Symonds, gentleman, sued Henry Bennett at the November 1675 court. Harlackenden had learned from Henry's son Jacob that Henry had a wealthy uncle, William Bennett, in England. Harlackenden went to England, and while there, looked up this uncle. He learned from William's son-in-law, Mr. Henry Gennings, a vintner of London, that William had been dead for a year. In Harlackenden's recounting of events, Harlackenden had a offered to procure Henry's bequest if he could have half of it for his pains. He said that he waited in vain for a year for a letter of attorney, and then tracked down Mr. Henry Gennings at the White Hart, outside Bishopsgate. Mr. Gennings told him that that money already been paid to a Mr. Atkinson of Woking at Henry Bennett's request, leaving only 40 shillings for Harlackenden. Henry's son John deposed that his father had rejected the offer of half the bequest. He said Harlackenden had responded that Henry had been a good friend to him and he would do it for ten pounds. The court found for Henry. Harlackenden brought suit again in November 1676, repeating his story. William Quarles testified that Harlackenden's father [Deputy Governor Samuel Symonds] had told him not to go to England for the bequest because Henry would not employ his son unless his father gave a bond, which he would not do. This time the court found for Symonds and Henry appealed. [5, 6: 84–86, 220­-2]

Henry was one of the appraisers of the estate of George Giddings of Ipswich on 19 June 1676. [5, 6: 168]

By an indenture of 21 December 1676, Henry leased to John Graves of Ipswich most of his interest in Hog Island, Long Island, and Round Island in Ipswich along with four oxen, six cows, 40 sheep, and two sows. He agreed to finish a new house on Hog Island by May and a new barn by the first of July. An 11 June 1677 contract between Henry and Joseph Bolles and Jacob Bennett, carpenters, obligated Joseph and Jacob to build a barn by the end of July. It was witnessed by William Bennett and [Jacob's wife?] Sarah Bennett, who signed with their marks. John brought suit at the March 1678 court for the tardy completion of the house. [5, 6: 420–1]

Henry sued John Stanion for debt at the January 1678 court. He had previously sent John a letter addressing him as his loving cousin and signing it “Loving Uncle.” [5, 6: 391–2] John Stanion’s wife was Mary, the daughter of Thomas and Mary (Perkins) Bradbury, and niece of Henry’s wife Lydia. [1]

Mr. Daniel Epps of Ipswich sued Henry, Sr. of Ipswich for trespass after Henry’s son Jacob felled 20 trees on property that was in dispute. The March 1678 court found for Epps. [5, 6: 404]

On 26 March 1678 Thomas Lovell confirmed that his has sold his interest in Castle Neck land to Henry Bennett. [5, 6: 409]

A William Bennett, age about 50 on 28 November 1676, testified in the matter of the bequest from Henry's uncle. [5, 6: 221]

Henry, William, and Steven Bennett took the oath of allegiance in Ipswich in 1678. [5, 7: 157]

In September 1685 Isaac Ring sued Nathaniel Emerson over a mare. A 28 September 1685 summons included Jacob Bennett, Henry Bennett, Jr., and others as witnesses. Henry, Jr., about 21, testified that the mare in question was one that Henry Bennett bought from John Bridge. Jacob Bennett, about 33, said that the horse was sold to Isaac Ring. William Bennett, about 28, also testified. [5, 9: 528]

A William Bennett, age about 73, who signed with his mark, testified in March 1677 that he had been a carpenter who worked for Mr. Winthrop hewing timber for ships. [5, 6: 247] This was William of Manchester.

Children of Henry Bennett and Lydia Perkins:

i. Jacob Bennett was born about 1651/2. He died on 5 March 1685/[6?] in Ipswich. [VRI, 2: 489–90] He married Sarah ___.

Jacob deposed that he was about 21 on 25 January 1672. [5, 5: 145] He deposed that he was about 26 on 27 November 1676. [5, 6: 220–2]

While walking with his father he fell forward onto the ice and was quickly dead. Daniel Epps and Harlackenden Symonds were on the Grand Enquest. [1]

Inventory on Jacob's estate was taken on 17 March 1685 by Daniel Epps and William Goodhew, Jr. It amounted to £423-14-06, and to £351-00-03 after debts. Sarah Bennett made oath to it on 30 March 1686. [7]

Jacob had children Jacob and Ebenezer, whose births in 1676 and 1686 were recorded in Ipswich. He presumably had three unrecorded children, Sarah, Stephen, and Mary.

Sarah Bennett, Jacob Bennett, Sarah Bennett, Jr., Stephen Barrett, and Mary Barrett sold land in 1704/5. [8]

ii. Stephen Bennett (possible son) was probably born by 1657. He died the “latter end” of July 1680 in Ipswich. [2]

Stephen is never referred to as Henry's son, but Jacob's son might have been named for him.

iii. John Bennett was born about 1655. He was killed at Bloody Brook on 8 September 1675. [1]

John said that he was about twenty when he gave his deposition in Harlackenden Symonds's suit against his father. On 1 : 10: 1675 Ephraim Fellows took an oath in court that he had been present when John wrote out his testimony and that it was "but a little while before he went out against the Indians." [5, 6: 84]

iv. William Bennett was born about 1657. He had an unknown first wife. He married second Abigail Bixsby. [2]

v. Henry Bennett was born about 1664. He married Frances Barr (Burr) on 20 May 1685 in Ipswich. [2] Frances was the daughter of John and Mary (Smith) Burr. [1] He married second Margaret ___.

Henry and Frances had a daughter Mary in 1686. Henry and Margaret had daughters Frances, Margaret, Joanna and Lucy in 1694, 1697/[8?], 1701, and 1703, respectively. [2]

vii. Thomas Bennett died in 1700. [1] He married Susanna Unknown. She died on 21 September 1731. [1]

His father deeded Thomas a portion of his farm in 1692. [1]

Administration was granted on his estate on 7 April 1701. [8]

Thomas had children Thomas, Lydia, and Joseph. [8]

viii. Benjamin Bennett (possible son) died on 31 May 1722 in Ipswich. [2] He married Abihall ___.

Mehetabel, the daughter of Benjamin and and Abihall, was born on 4 May 1700 in Ipswich. [2]

References:

1. John M. Bradbury, “The Bennett Family of Ipswich,” New England Historical and Genealogical Register 29 (1875): 1615–9.

2. Vital Records of Ipswich, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849, 2 vols. (Salem: Essex Institute, 1910), vol. 1 (births), 144 (Foster); vol. 2, (marriages), 42–44, (deaths), 489–90 (Bennett).

3. "The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620–1633, Volumes I-III," digitized book, AmericanAncestors.org, originally Published as: Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, 3 volumes (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995), 1432.

4. “Materials for the History of Ipswich,” New England Historical and Genealogical Society 7 (1853): 77–78.

5. George Francis Dow, ed., and Harriet S. Tapley, trans., Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, 9 vols., digitized books, Salem Witch Trials: Documentary Archive and Transcription Project (http://salem.lib.virginia.edu).

6. W. Greenough White, “Genealogical Notes,” New England Historical and Genealogical Society 14 (1860): 57.

7. "Essex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1638–1881," database with images, AmericanAncestors.org, case 2342.

8. "Notes," Essex Antiquarian 8 (1904): 185, 189.

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27-Nov-2023