John (?) Bennett

Other Events and Attributes:

• Property: 1792, Martin Co, North Carolina

Notes:

Both William Bennett (d 1801) and James Bennett (d 1807) left wills in Martin County with daughters named Nancy Bennett. It is possible, though unlikely, that was the Nancy who m. John Griffin. Neither mentioned a married name for their Nancy, or if they were married or not. However, their brother John Bennett is most likely to be this Nancy's father in my view.

John Bennett did not leave a will, and due to the courthouse fire of 1884, estate and civil court records have not survived which might tell the exact year of his death and his heirs. John Bennett was probably Thomas Bennett's oldest son. He appeared on a grand jury in Tyrrell County in March 1752, implying that he was at least 21 by that date. John appeared regularly in court, deed, and will records in Tyrrell County after 1752 and in Martin County deed and wills after Martin County's creation in 1774, into the 1790s. In Tyrrell County's Deed Book 4, #49, 1761, John Bennett bought land from James Mizell, which was witnessed by John Griffin. In Deed Book 4, #374, 1765, Martha Griffin sold land adjoining John Bennett's Branch (Martin Griffin was mentioned also.) John Bennett appeared in the 1790 Census, but was deceased by the 1800 Census, though he was alive as late as January 12, 1795 when his father Thomas made his will. John Bennett had 11 slaves in the 1790 Census. He apparently was married previously, and had at least one son by this marriage --- Robert Bennett.

John Bennett apparently married (Martin County marriage records for this era have not survived) Amy, widow of Samuel Turner EVERITT after Everitt's death in 1780, see Will Book 1, p77. JOHN GRIFFIN was an executor of this will. Samuel Turner Everitt married Amy -------- perhaps as early as 1755 or 1760. Per Samuel's will they had one child, a son James Everitt. A deed book 5, # 33 entry of 1768 of Samuel Turner Everitt was witnessed by John Bennett. John Bennett's line adjoined John Everett/Everitt's line (brother of Samuel Turner) in 1770s and 1780s deeds. William Everett, nephew of Samuel Turner Everitt, deceased, in 1792 sold John Bennett 2 tracts of land totaling 260 acres that formerly belonged to William's father James Everett, deceased, (Deed Book C, #630.) [Samuel Turner Everitt, 1st husband of Amy, was the son of William Everitt, Sr., who died testate in Martin County in 1775.]

John Bennett did not appear in the 1800 Census, but Amy Bennett did (aged 45+.) She had 2 females aged 10, but not 16, and one male under 10 in her household. In 1802, Am[e]y Bennett died, leaving a will (Book 1, p 409) in which she named daughters NANCY BENNETT and Betsey Bennett, a son William Bennett, and a son James EVERITT. (She also mentioned a sister: Annie Long.) For Amy Bennett to still have children as late as 1790, one would think her birth date must not have preceded 1745 or so by much.

The above show that John Bennett lived near, even adjoining the Griffins and Everitts. It showed that there were real estate conveyances amongst them as well. It shows that John Bennett was alive in the 1790 Census, but not in the 1800 Census---when Amy Bennett became head of a household. It showed that Amy married some Bennett male and had 3 children by him. [I think it is worth pointing out that whichever Bennett was Amy's husband it must have been a "mature" one, because Amy was in her mid to late 30s at least when she married for the 2nd time. John Bennett fits in this category. In fact he is the only Martin County Bennett who who cannot be accounted for by a will of his own in this time period.] It does not, however, show that John Bennett married Amy Everitt, or that Amy's daughter Nancy was John Griffin's wife.

These three records, I think, do STRONGLY point to the conclusion that John Bennett was Amy Everitt's 2nd husband and father of the Nancy Bennett who married John Griffin in 1802:

* Martin County Deed Book D, #187, March 9 1804 --- Henry Slade, Jr. to JOHN GRIFFIN 130 acres for 150 pounds, lying on the south side of Mill Swamp, being half of 2 tracts of land conveyed by William Everett (son of James) to JOHN BENNETT containing 130 acres. Signed: Henry Slade, ELIZABETH Slade. Elizabeth Slade was examined as to her willingness to sell this land by Jesse Cherry and Starling Rogers.

* Martin County Deed Book E, #135, October 18, 1806 --- John & Ann GRIFFIN to William Hines 160 acres--land being on the south side of Mill Swamp and it being part of a tract of land granted to William Everitt, deceased & it being part of land formerly belonged to James Everitt, deceased. Beginning at a dividing line between John Everitt, Sr. and William Everitt then along various courses to Mill Swamp to Dickey Jones corner back to the beginning. Another parcel of land beginning at a corner
of the other part of land containing 100 acres. Signed: JOHN GRIFFIN, NANCY GRIFFIN. Witness: E. Slade.

* Martin County Deed Book , 1818 --- Henry B. and Elizabeth Slade sold 3/4 acre of land to William R. Bennett which is the remainder of the land descended from James Everitt, formerly Samuel T. Everitt's land. (This is a rough abstract that I made by pen years ago---the other deed records are from the Martin County Deed Abstracts published by the Martin County Historical Society which only are up to 1810 at this time.) William R. Bennett moved to Mississippi in the 1840s and died in 1854.

I think these deeds are the closest thing to a "smoking gun" that one is likely to find given the courthouse fire of 1884, unless one had a family Bible entry, which specifically gave Nancy's parentage.

My interpretation is that the 1804 deed was for the other half of the 260 acres that John Bennett bought from William Everitt in 1792, Nancy and John Griffin already possessing one half through Nancy's inheritance from her mother, Amy. (Amy's 1802 will may have more on this land, but I only have the abstract.) Further, Elizabeth Slade, wife of Henry, must be the "Betsey" referred to in Amy's will. The 1806 deed is for the whole 260 acres, though the deed abstract was poorly worded. "Ann" is used interchangeably with Nancy as a given name. When she signed this deed, she signed "Nancy." The "E. Slade" who witnessed the deed was doubtless her sister. After the Revolution (until 1868) females were not required to sign deeds if they were married, UNLESS the land being sold was their land by inheritance. They had to give their assent to this type of land being sold for the deed to be valid. This land appears to have been northwest of Williamston, toward Oak City, not close at all to where the Griffins and Bennetts originally lived. (Of course both families spread all over the county in time.)

In summary, I would say that John Bennett was born about 1730, probably in Chowan County. I would place his date of death at about 1798 in Martin County. Amy was probably born about 1740-45, and died in 1802 in Martin County. Additional research might reveal Amy's maiden name. It seems highly appropriate that John Bennett Griffin's grandfather was most likely --- JOHN BENNETT.

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=murquhar&id=I12034


Property:
William Everett, nephew of Samuel Turner Everitt, deceased, in 1792 sold John Bennett 2 tracts of land totaling 260 acres that formerly belonged to William's father James Everett, deceased, (Deed Book C, #630.)

Martin County Deed Book D, #187, March 9 1804 --- Henry Slade, Jr. to JOHN GRIFFIN 130 acres for 150 pounds, lying on the south side of Mill Swamp, being half of 2 tracts of land conveyed by William Everett (son of James) to JOHN BENNETT containing 130 acres. Signed: Henry Slade, ELIZABETH Slade. Elizabeth Slade was examined as to her willingness to sell this land by Jesse Cherry and Starling Rogers.

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=murquhar&id=I12034

John married Mrs. Amy (..) Everitt after 1780 in Martin Co, North Carolina. Amy was born about 1745; died after 1802 in of, Martin Co, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Nancy Bennett was born about 1786 in Martin Co, North Carolina; died after 1810 in of, Southampton Co, Virginia.
2. Betsy Bennett was born between 1786 and 1800 in Martin Co, North Carolina; died after 1802.
3. William Bennett was born between 1890 and 1900 in Martin Co, North Carolina; died after 1802 in of, Martin Co, North Carolina.