| Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. The book "17th Century Isle of Wight County Virginia," by John Bennett Boddie, 1938, chapter XVI, Descendants of Richard Bennett of Isle of Wight: "Richard Bennett, Jr., eldest son of Richard, Sr., and his wife Ann, in 1699 was given the plantation "bought of William Miles in 1656" by his father, Richard, Sr. The name of Richard's wife is unknown. He made his will in 1720, as follows, "I, Richard Bennett, of the Upper Parish of Isle of Wight, give to son Richard 200 acres of land where he now lives; to my son James the other 200 acres where he now lives, it being a conveyance of 400 acres taken out Mr. John Cofer's patent of 1450 acres; to Jane Cofer and her two sons Robert and John Cofer, my plantation whereon I now live, it being part of the land which was bought of William Miles. Also to Jane Cofer a small trunk and a gold ring; to Richard Cofer my long gun. To Magdalen Cofer a great pewter dish and basin; to Frances Mangum my granddaughter a feather bed and furniture; to dau. He Silvester, dishes and plates. Jane Cofer and William Allen, exrs. My trusty friends, John and James Carter to the overseers." Children:
1. Richard, according to the Quit rents for Surry in 1704, was holding 200 acres in that county. This may be the 200 acres on which he was living at the time of his father's death. On May 23, 1744, John Langston of Surry deeded Robert Gray 200 acres on north side of Black Swamp in Surrey which he had purchased of Richard Bennett. Richard Bennett died intestate in Surry in 1735. Inventory of his estate was recorded in January 21, 1735. His personal property was appraised at 51 pounds by James Washington, Wm. Evans and Thomas Bell. It is difficult to determine who his children were, but those shown below are unplaced and may be his children, as he and another Richard shown below are seemingly the only ones of this name who died intestate. Children, may have been those shown below (tentative arrangement only as there is no proof):
a. John, made his will in Surry, Jan. 24, 1750-51 (B. 3, p. 713.) He leaves his "well beloved friend and brother," without naming him, all of his personal effects except his horse which he leaves you with to Edward son of Daniel Eppes whom he appoints executor.
b. Benjamin of Amelia, who may have been the Benjamin who is Richard Bennett's administrator. Benjamin bought land in Amelia in 1746 from William Baldwin and in 1751 from Thomas Morrow. He made his will Dec.31, 1767, and names wife Mary, sons William, John and Benjamin, daughters Susan, Elizabeth, Mary and Selah.
c. Richard, died in Surry in 1719. An appraisal of his estate was made by Hugh Foster, William Howell, and Charles White Oct. 7, 1719. The administrator was Benjamin Chapman; personalty valued at 10 pounds. (Book 1715-30, page 230.) (Name placed here tentatively.)
2. Jane, married John Cofer. She and her children John and Robert inherited the plantation their grandfather bought of William Miles in 1656.
3. Silvester, no further record.
4. (Daughter) married John Mangum, who was mentioned in will of Richard Bennett, Sr. Richard Jr., leaves his granddaughter Frances Mangum a feather bed.
5. Ann, married John Bell. She is not mentioned in the will for father, as she had already received her portion. On August 30, 1694, Richard Bennett, Sr., of Isle of Wight made a deed of gift to Ann Bell, "the now wife of John Bell, lately Ann Bennett, daughter of Richard Bennett, Jr., of Isle of Wight." (Surry W & D. Bk., 1693-1707.) John Bell gave testimony in a lawsuit, July 9, 1705, and said he was 37 years old. He died intestate in Surry in 1713 and his wife Ann was administratrix. As he left no will his children cannot be ascertained and but two of them seem to be known. A Joseph Bell made his will in Surry in 1733 and left his property to his brother John and "cousin (nephew) Burrell." This John Bell made his will in Surry in 1746 and mentions his son "Burrell," above named, and other children - John, Benjamin, Balaam, James, Ann Parham, Hannah and Mary; wife Hannah. Hannah Bell made her will in Sussex in 1768 and mentions, daughter Hannah Thompson, grandson Lewis Parham, son Benjamin, son James, daughter Mary Anderson, grandsons Silvanus and Zadock Bell, granddaughter Phoebe Bell. The above-mentioned daughter, Hannah Thompson, married William Thompson prior to 1744. They moved from Sussex to Chatham County, North Carolina about 1750. Hannah Thompson made her will in Chatham, Sept. 7, 1784 and same as probated May, 1788. She mentions sons John and Balaam; daughters Sussannah Kendrick, Sarah Terrell, Hannah Terrell, Ann Kendrick: and her deceased husband William Thompson. The birth dates of the three oldest children of William and Hannah (Bell) Thompson are shown in the Albemarle Parish Register for Surry and Sussex, as follows: John Thompson, born June 24, 1744, baptized August 19, 1744. Balaam Thompson, born Oct.13, 1745; baptized Dec. 15, 1745. Sussannah Thompson, born Nov. 16, 1749; baptized March 8, 1750.
6. James is given 200 acres from John Cofer's place by his father Richard. He patented 190 acres in Isle of Wight, 15 March 1741 on south side of Nottoway River, bounded by Ridley's Branch. (Book 20, page 199.) The 10th of July, 1745, he patented 382 acres in Brunswick on both side of Gravelly Run adjoining Edward Jackson. (Book 23, page 946.) In 1748 he received a grant of 404 acres in Brunswick on both side of Rocky Run. James Bennett made his will 11 Nov. 1751 and same was probated March 1, 1752, as follows: "To my son Benjamin Bennett all land lying between Honey Bottom and the upper line. To my children James Bennett, Mary Proctor, Frances Sands, Priscilla Dugger and Joseph Bennett, one shilling each. To my son Reuben Bennett all the lower part from said Honey Bottom and plantation; to my dau. Brambley Bennett, bible and furniture, etc., to wife Mary rest of the estate, she and son Reuben to be executors. Teste, John Dugger, John Duke and Edward Parish." Benjamin Bennett, evidently the eldest son was mentioned first in his will and was given land lying on Honey Bottom. Benjamin patented 180 acres in Brunswick on both sides of Stephen Creek in 1750. (Book 29, page 264) and together with his brother Reuben patented 263 acres 26 Sept., 1761. (Book 33, page 958.) On the 25th of May, 1770, Benjamin Bennett and Sarah his wife, Reuben Bennett and Mary his wife, of Brunswick, deeded William Brown of Prince George, "332 acres left Reuben Bennett by with last will and testament of James Bennett his father, the residue being granted to Reuben Bennett by patent 26 Sept.1." Benjamin Bennett made his will in Brunswick in 1783 as follows: "To my son John Bennett 150 acres where he now lives; to my son Benjamin Bennett five shillings, to son Richard Bennett 180 acres where he now lives; to son William Bennett 163 acres; to dau. Sarah Sadler five shillings, my plantation where I now live to be sold by my executors, my sons of John and William Bennett and another place bought for my wife Sarah for her life. Personal property to be equally divided between my wife and Children. William, John, Mary, Elizabeth, Charles, Priscilla and Frankey Bennett, except one cow to Nancy Bennett and to my son James Bennett one colt to be sold to purchase land. Plantation of my wife to my son Charles after her death. Pro. 26 May, 1783."
2. "The Mangum-Mangham-Mangrum Journal," Issue No. 43, Jan. 2001, (formerly "Mangum Family Bulletin"), James L. Parham, editor, p. 29: The John Mangum - Frances Bennett Controversy Although not directly stated, John Mangum's wife was apparently named Frances, an "assumption" based on the "fact" that Frances Mangum was the administrator of his estate in 1737. A Frances Mangum was also called "granddaughter" in the will of Richard Bennett Jr. dated 1720. These two are the only known records of Frances Mangum. The problem is that, given just these two records, there are several situations that potentially fit those records. Was Frances (granddaughter of Richard Bennett Jr.) the Frances who married John Mangum [Theory 1], or was she possibly a daughter of John and Frances, named after her mother [Theory 2]? [Theory 1] If we assume that there was only one Frances who was both wife of John Mangum and granddaughter of Richard Bennett Jr., we cannot unequivocally state that her maiden name was Bennett. If she was a daughter of one of the Bennett sons, her maiden name was truly Bennett. Also, if her mother were unmarried she would again have the maiden name "Bennett" from her mother. However, if she was a child of a married daughter of Richard Bennett Jr., then her maiden name would be her father's surname and her father's surname was likely not Bennett. Admittedly, most Mangum researchers now believe, or have at least accepted, that there were indeed two different individuals named Frances [Theory 2], one the mother and the other the daughter.1 The former would be Frances Bennett, "supposed" (but unnamed in his will) daughter of Richard Bennett Jr. who married John Mangum and the latter would be the child (of John Mangum and Frances Bennett Mangum), named as granddaughter in Richard Bennett Jr.'s will. Researchers justify this theory by pointing out that "apparent" ages of the various individuals concerned infer that the granddaughter of Richard Bennett Jr. was too young to be wife of John Mangum just after 1700. Therefore she must be John & Frances's daughter. A cursory examination of the available records is not definitive but there is some justification for researchers feeling that Richard Bennett Jr.'s grandchildren were very young to be marrying before 1710.2 But, considering the "very young" marriageable age of females in the colonies, and the present uncertainties of ages and marriage dates of the individuals involved, it is difficult to totally eliminate the possibility that John Mangum married Frances, granddaughter of Richard Bennett Jr. Also, it seems significant that Richard Bennett Jr. did not mention a daughter named Frances in his will. It is not unheard of for that to occur, especially when a child has already received their inheritance. In fact, Richard Jr.'s daughter Ann (who married John Bell) received her portion by deed on 30 August, 1694 from her grandfather Richard Bennett Sr. She was therefore not mentioned in the will of her father Richard Bennett Jr. However, there is no known record indicating that a daughter Frances also received an earlier inheritance. A Mrs. Muriel Bennett Minium published a book in 1990 on this particular Bennett line titled "Bennetts on the Bias." In the book she skillfully weaves Bennett history with royal history in England, tracing the ancient English Bennett lineages on into the American Colonies. In private communications to the editor, and in her post-book newsletter, she suggested another possible solution to the John Mangum-Frances issue. She has proposed that Richard Bennett Jr.'s daughter Silvester, who was mentioned in his will, might actually have been named Silvester Frances Bennett or maybe Frances Silvester Bennett [Theory 2A]. This theory would explain why Richard Bennett Jr. did not mention a daughter Frances in his will. According to this theory he actually did, but he called her by her other name, that is, Silvester. Unfortunately, this quite reasonable (and possibly true) theory remains only a theory. No actual direct evidence has been found to substantiate it. Some researchers apparently believe that the preponderance of evidence points either to the theory that there were two Frances Mangums, one the mother and one the daughter [Theory 2] or more likely the modified theory that Silvester was actually Silvester Frances [Theory 2A]. A few others, including this editor, do not actually disagree but are uncomfortable with the "loose end" of a competing theory [Theory 1] that has not been fully eliminated. We have not seen enough evidence, direct or indirect, to pronounce the issue resolved beyond a reasonable doubt. Each individual researcher must use his/her own judgment on how to deal with this issue. This editor has decided that he will continue to consider the issue of Frances' true identity unresolved, while at the same time concurring that Theory 2A [John's wife as Silvester Frances Bennett] is presently the most likely one. It would not seem prudent to consider the issue totally resolved until more definitive evidence is found. - Lynn Parham
[Notes:]
1. John Bennett Boddie, in his book "17th Century Isle of Wight," page 302, published in 1938 apparently originated the theory that John Mangum married a daughter of Richard Bennett Jr. He appears to base this on the fact that Richard Bennett Sr. deeds land to and mentions a John Mangum in his will and the fact that Richard Jr. mentioned a granddaughter Frances Mangum in his will. He gave no name to that "daughter" of Richard Bennett Jr., wife of John Mangum, because he probably had not seen John Mangum's estate record in 1737 that listed Frances Mangum as administrator. We wonder if he would have altered his theory in any way had he known that this second record of a Frances Mangum existed?
2. According to researchers the first children of John & Frances Mangum were probably born about 1703-1705. Unfortunately, neither the parentage nor the birthdates of these early Virginia Mangums can be directly established.
[Kerry's note: Ordinance Index shows some entries with Silvester as a middle name for Frances. This of course is assumption as noted above.]
SOURCES_MISC:
1. LDS Archive Record family group sheet with temple dates stamped. Submitted by Shirley B. Matern, 4198 S. 755 E., Salt Lake City, Utah 84107. References: "Southside Virginia Families Va 112 Vol 1 pg. 58-59; 17th Century Isle of Wight pg. 300, 302-303; (7287) Va 7a Prt 2 pg. 61 Will of Jmes Bennett; AM Pub c Vol 69 Wills 1732-1797 Will of James Bennett; DAR National Number of Mrs. Perry Belle Bennett Hough, 410 Chesterfield Ave., Lancaster, So. Carolina. #325731; Records Checked (Nil) Brunswick, Virginia; (7903) Va P7d Land Records of Pittsyvania County, Surveyor of Brunswick 1737-1770; (7292) Va B7f Vestry Book 1732-1798. Necessary explanations: According to Will of Richard Bennett Jr. Child #5 Silvestor was a daughter. See back of sheet for additional sources checked [back not copied]."
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Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
1690 - Aft 1720 (~ 51 years)