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William Bennett (c. 1657–prob. 1723/1733), son of Henry Bennett and Lydia Perkins
William, the son of William Bennett, was born about 1657. He had an unknown first wife. He is probably the William who married second Abigail Bixsby on 20 April 1720 in Ipswich. [1]
His first wife is sometimes said to be Eleanor, the daughter of Renold and Elizabeth (Dane) Foster. Eleanor was born in 1673, which makes this improbable. Other than that she was of Ipswich and William, Jr. named a daughter Eleanor, there does not seem to be any evidence of this. Eleanor's father left a will, but only refers to his daughter as Eleanor.
William deposed in the matter of his father and Harlackenden Symonds. He said that he was about 19 on 27 November 1676.
William was probably born by 1657 if he was the William who took the oath of allegiance in 1678. [2]
William is a rather shadowy figure. He is supposed to be the father of the William who married Sarah Giddings because that William was of Ipswich and called William, Jr. in 1723. On this theory, he probably died by 1733, when the younger William was referred to as William, Sr.
Other than some early court records and his probable second marriage, there appear to be no records of William, his first marriage, or any of his children.
Children of William Bennett and Eleanor Foster:
i. William Bennett was born say 1695. He died on 3 September 1764 in Windham, Windham County, Connecticut. He married Sarah Giddings.
References:
1. Vital Records of Ipswich, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849 (Salem: Essex Institute, 1910), vol. 2, 42–44.
2. 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), vol. 7: 157.
31-Jan-2023