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CAPTAIN PETER BENNETT (1674–1749), son of Deacon John Bennett and Deborah Grover
PRISCILLA HOWLAND (1681–1746), daughter of Lieutenant Isaac Howland and Elizabeth Vaughan
Captain Peter Bennett, the son of John and Deborah Bennett, was born in September 1674.1 He died on 22 October 1749, age 75 years, one month and four days, in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.2 Cornet Peter Bennett married Priscilla Howland on 30 October 1700 in Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.3,4 Peter and Priscilla are buried in the Cemetery at the Green in Middleborough.5
Priscilla, the daughter of Isaac Howland, was born on 22 August 1681.6 Priscilla, the wife of Capt. Peter and daughter of Howland, died on 3 March 1746, age 65, in Middleborough.2,5
As noted, Peter and Priscilla were married on 30 October 1700. When their first child Elizabeth was born on 28 March 1701—about five months later—suspicions were raised and the couple were fined "for carnal copulation with each other before marriage."7
Peter was a juror at the court of common pleas in September 1716 and December 1723.8
The town of Middleborough was presented at the December 1723 court of general sessions for not keeping a bridge in good repair. Lieutenant Peter Bennett appeared as agent for the town and asserted that the bridge was in good repair.9
Captain Peter Bennett of Middleborough made his will on 5 October 1749; it was probated on 6 November 1749. He left his son Isaac land that he bought from Colonel Shubael Gorham and land that he had bought from Nathan Howland, who had inherited it from Seth Howland. He mentioned the children of his deceased son Joseph, the minor children of his deceased son Peter, the daughters of his deceased son Nathan and Nathan's widow Jerusha, his daughters Elizabeth Darling, Susanna Drew, and Priscilla Miller, the son of his deceased daughter Jael Edson, and his daughter Deborah Thatcher. Inventory was taken on 20 November 1749. Peter was an affluent man—it amounted to 5,085 pounds worth of real estate and a personal estate of 1,013.17 pounds.10
Inventory on the estate of the Priscilla Bennett, the widow[!] of Captain Peter Bennett, was taken on 27 December 1749. It amounted to 560 pounds. Administration was granted on 1 January 1749/[50?]10
Children of Captain Peter Bennett and Priscilla Howland:
i. Elizabeth Bennett was born on 28 March 1701.1 She died on 22 January 1774, age 73.1 She is buried in the Cemetery at the Green.5 She married John Darling on 17 October 1721 in Middleborough.11
ii. Isaac Bennett was born on 7 January 17__.1 He died before 9 July 1760.1
iii. Lieutenant Joseph Bennett was born on 16 November 1704.1He died on 3 January 1741/2, age 37, in Middleborough.2 He married Thankful Sproat. Thankful died on 19 February 1788.5 Joseph and Thankful are buried in the Cemetery at the Green.5
iv. Susanna Bennett was born on 10 July 1707 in Middleborough. She died after 13 June 1755. She married John Drew.
v. Peter Bennett was born on 16 March 1708.2 He died on 9 July 1746, age 37, in Middleborough.2[June1] He is buried in the Cemetery at the Green.5 He married Sarah Stephens. She died on 23 January 1786 and is buried in the Center Cemetery in Westhampton, Hampshire County.5 She married second Zebulon Thayer.5
From Plymouth Court Records9
vi. Priscilla Bennett was born on 21 August 1711.1 She died on 7 October 1754.1 She is buried in the Cemetery at the Green.5 She married John Miller in 1735.12 John was the son of John Miller and Lydia Coombs and the grandson of Francis Coombs. John died on 7 April 1794 and is buried in the Cemetery at the Green.5
vii. Anna Bennett was born on 4 February 1713/4.1 She died on 7 June 1714/5, at about 11 months [!], in Middleborough.2
viii. Ensign Jedediah Bennett was born on 15 December 1715.1 He died on 25 August 1745, age 29, in Middleborough.1 [1845[!]2] He is buried in the Cemetery at the Green.5
ix. Jael Bennett was born on 22 September 1717.1 She died before 5 October 1749.1
x. Nathan Bennett was born on 23 October 1720.1 He died before 5 October 1749.1
xi. Deborah Bennett was born on 29 January 1722/3.1
Endnotes:
1. "Mayflower Births and Deaths, vol. 1 and 2," Ancestry, citing Susan E. Roser, Mayflower Births and Deaths: From the Files of George Ernest Bowman at the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, 2 vols. (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1992), vol. 1, 154.
2. Alfred Wood, "Records of Deaths in Middleborough, Massachusetts," Mayflower Descendant 47 (1997): 27–32, specifically 30–32.
3. New England Historic Genealogical Society, "Massachusetts, U.S., Town Marriage Records, 1620-1850," database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/4079), entry for Peter Bennet, only the year.
4. "Early Marriages in Bridgewater Previous to its Division," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 21 (1867): 225–8, specifically 225. "Cornet Peter," no last name.
5. Findagrave. "Capt. Peter Bennett" (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39806191/peter-bennett). "Priscilla Howland Bennet" (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17967830/priscilla-bennet), "In memory of Mrs. Priscilla Bennet wife of Capt Peter Bennet who decsd March 3 1746 in y 66[?] year of her age." "Elizabeth Bennett Darling" (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/75239794/elizabeth-darling). "Lieutenant Joseph Bennett" (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39806494/joseph-bennet). "Thankful Sproat Samson" (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/143319855/thankful-samson). "Peter Bennett" (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39806376/peter-bennett). "Sarah Stephens Thayer" (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/27490620/sarah-thayer), "In Memory of Mrs. Sarah Thayer, Wife of Mr. Zebulon Thayer, who died Jan. 23d, 1786, in the 84th year of her age." "Priscilla Bennett Miller" (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/40012100/priscilla-miller). "John Miller" (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/40012030/john-miller). "Ens Jadediah Bennett" (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39806320/jadediah-bennett), "In memory of Ensign Jadediah Bennett son of Capt Peter Bennett & Mrs Priscilla his wife who decsd Augst ye 25th 1745 in ye 30th year of his age."
6. "Documentation Files," Mayflower Descendant 38 (1988): 144.
7. Alicia Crane Williams, "Plymouth County Bastards and Other Little Mistakes," Mayflower Descendant 40 (1990): 31–32.
8. "Plymouth County, MA: Plymouth Court Records, 1686–1859," database with images, AmericanAncestors (https://www.americanancestors.org/DB213/i/7638/33/8924849), 5: 33; (https://www.americanancestors.org/DB213/i/7638/115/8930486), 5: 115.
9. "Plymouth County, MA: Plymouth Court Records," database with images, AmericanAncestors, vol. 2: 35, 105 (image).
10. "Mayflower Deeds and Probates, 1600–185," database with images, Ancestry, citing Susan E. Roser, Mayflower Deeds and Probates: From the Files of George Ernest Bowman at the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1994), pp. 333–4.
11. Barbara Lambert Merrick and Alicia Crane Williams, Middleborough, Massachusetts Vital Records, 2 vols. (Boston: Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1990, 1987), vol. 1: 26.
12. Archie Lee Talboy, "Shaw Family," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 51 (1895): 191–5, specifically 192.
Last revised: 22-Dec-2023