Abraham
Bennett was born about April 1742 in Ridgefield, Fairfield Co., CT. He was the
son of Abraham Bennett & Silence Hickox
Jerusha Wanzer was born in 1750 in Frederickstown, NY. She was the daughter of
Thomas Wanzer & Sarah Tilson
THE FAMILY OF ABRAHAM BENNETT & JERUSHA WANZER
 | Abraham Bennett & Jerusha Wanzer | Abraham Bennett
& Jerusha Wanzer were married in 1770 in CT, NJ, PA or NY.. Jerusha's
sister Mercy married Abraham's brother Nathaniel in 1772 in Fairfield, CT. In
an account posted by Jean Kay Morse on 02/14/04 on a website for the Painted Hills
Genealogy Society states; "Abraham's father (Abraham Bennett Sr) sold his
land in Ridgefield, Fairfield Co CT (when??) & took his family across the
Hudson River. By 1775 he & Abraham Jr were living in the town of Warwick,
Orange Co NY after temporary locations in NJ & in the part of northern Pennsylvania
to which the Colony of Connecticut then laid claim." The same account states
that Abraham & Jerusha were married in 1770 in Warwick, Orange Co., NY, but
as it also says they settled there "by" 1775. I'm not sure if they were
in New York in 1770 - their first son Jacob was born in 1772, and all census records
I have found for him (or his children where they list birthplace of father) say
that Jacob was born in New Jersey. Abraham & Jerusha had at least 12 children.
(When Abraham died his probate papers state that Jerusha was left with 12 children,
but census records indicate that they may have had as many as 15.) Abraham &
his father both served in the Revolutionary War in the same military company.
The family is listed on the 1790 census of Warwick, Orange Co., NY. Abraham
Bennett died in 1795, in Goshen, Orange Co., NY. (There are some online trees
that list his death date as 1789, but I think that is incorrect. Abraham is still
listed as a head of household on the 1790 census and the 1800 census shows several
children under age 10 in the household of his widow Jerusha. Also his will was
probated September 14, 1795 in Goshen, NY Libre B, pg 961). Jerusha is listed
as the head of household on the 1800 census of Warwick, Orange Co., NY. Jerusha
moved to Big Flats, Tioga Co., NY in 1801, and she bought land from James &
Hannah Rockwell in 1805. According to the account posted by Jean K. Morse, Jerusha
bought land for each of her children as they came of age, and then lived with
each for awhile. Several of her sons settled and farmed in Chemung & Steuben
Co., NY. Jerusha is listed as head of household on the 1810 census of Elmira,
Tioga Co., NY. Mrs. Jerusha Bennett is listed as a head of household on the 1820
census of Howard, Steuben Co., NY, living near the households of her married children
Daniel N., Jacob & Benjamin Bennett & Jerusha Sabins. (The part of Tioga
County contaning Elmira & Big Flats became Chemung County in 1836). Jerusha
Wanzer Bennett died on October 10, 1839 in Big Flats, Chemung Co., NY. |
The Children of Abraham Bennett & Jerusha Wanzer:
| Unknown Son Bennett | Unknown Son Bennett was born about 1770. There is a male who could be this son, age 20, in the household of Abraham Bennett on the 1790 census of Warwick, Orange Co., NY. The account by Jean Morse states: "Letters of Administration were issued to his wife on Sept 14 (1795) of that year; to Jerusha wanzer Bennett who by her husband's death was left with a family of twelve children, the eldest son being about 25 yrs old." There is not a male who could be this son, age 30, in the household of Jerusha Bennett on the 1800 census of Warwick, Orange Co., NY. Unknown Son Bennett died sometime after 1795, but I don't know when or where. |
| Jacob Bennett | Jacob Bennett was born on June
2 or 3, 1772 in NJ. His parents lived briefly in NJ and upper PA before settling
in Warwick, Orange Co., NY sometime before 1775. There is a male the right age
to be Jacob listed in the household of Abraham Bennett on the 1790 census of Warwick,
Orange Co., NY. Jacob married Julia Benjamin about 1793 and they had 11
children. Their son Isaac was born June 7, 1793 in NY or Litchfield Co., CT, and
daughter Jerusha was born Sept. 17, 1795 in NY or NJ. No 1800 census for New Jersey
exists, but their son Benjamin, born July 18, 1800, is listed on all later census
records as being born in New Jersey. According to the "History of the Settlement
of Steuben County, New York" by: Guy McMasters [1853], Jacob, Benjamin and
Daniel N. Bennett, "settled in 1807 or about that time" in Steuben Co,
NY "on what is yet called Bennett’s Flatts". Jacob operated the
hotel on the corner in Howard, Steuben co., NY. (The Gaynor House was located
on that spot in 1983.) Jacob Bennett is listed as a head of household on the 1810
census of Canisteo, Steuben Co., NY, living near the households of Thomas &
Benjamin Bennett. The town of Howard was formed from part of Canisteo, Steuben
Co., NY in 1812. Jacob Bennett is listed as a head of household on the 1820 census
of Howard, Steuben Co., NY, living near the households of Jacob's mother Jerusha,
his married daughter Jerusha Bennet Sabin, & several of his brothers and sons.
Julia probably died sometime between 1820-1824, when Jacob was remarried to Thankful
Baker Stephens, probably in Howard, Steuben Co., NY. Thankful was the
widow of Rufus Stephens, and she had at least 3 children from her first
marriage. Jacob & Thankful had 2 more children, born in 1825 & 1827. Jacob
was captured by the Indians about 1829, and while captured he married a full blooded
Mohawk Indian named Charlotte Gitchell and returned with her to Steuben
Co., NY by 1830. (The wife in Jacob's household in 1830 is age 30-40, so
is Charlotte, age 36, and not Thankful, who would be age 52.) At least one online
tree states that Thankful Baker Stephens Bennett did not die until 1867, in Canisteo,
Steuben Co., NY, but I have not found her on any records after her last child
was born about 1827. Jacob had at least 4 children with Charlotte betwen 1829-1836,
and he is listed with Charlotte as his wife on the 1830, 1840 & 1850 censuses
of Howard, Steuben Co., NY. Jacob wrote his will on January 15, 1851, in which
he named Charlotte as his wife, and also named as his heirs 15 children, 3 son-in-laws,
12 grandchildren, 3 husbands of his granddaughters, and a niece. Jacob Bennett
died on December 1, 1851 in Howard, Steuben Co., NY. He was age 79 when he
died. Charlotte is listed at age 67 on the 1860 census of Howard, Steuben Co.,
NY in the household of her married daughter Nancy Mesick. I have not found her
on the 1870 census at this time. Charlotte died April 20, 1877. Jacob &
Charlotte are both buried in the Howard/Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Howard, Steuben
Co., NY. |
| Rhoda Bennett | Rhoda Bennett was born between 1770
to 1774 (probably about 1774) in probably Warwick, Orange Co., NY. Her parents
lived in NJ and upper PA, but settled in Warwick, Orange Co., NY sometime before
1775 (when??). She is probably one of the 6 females listed in the household of
Abraham Bennett on the 1790 census of Warwick, Orange Co., NY. Rhoda married Thomas
Scofield/Schofield, about 1790 in Orange Co., NY, and they had 10
children. The family is listed on the 1800 census of Newtown, Tioga Co., NY. They
are listed on the 1810 & 1820 census of Elmira, Tioga Co., NY. They are listed
on the 1830 census of Big Flats, Tioga Co., NY. Thomas Scofield/Schofield died
on August 16, 1831 at age 66y 3m. This would indicate his birthdate was April
or May 1765. (There is a baptism record for a Thomas Scofield at the First Congregational
Church records in Fairfield, CT which indicates his birth year may have actually
been 1755.). Thomas is buried in Sing Sing (Pioneer) Cemetery in Big Flats, Chemung
Co., NY under the name Thomas SCHOFIELD. He had written a will on October 27,
1830 that was probated on October 24, 1831, and it named Rhoda as his wife and
lists 8 of his children by name. Rhoda Bennett Scofield/Schofield died sometime
after 1830, probably in Big Flats, Tioga (became Chemung in 1836) Co., NY.
Notes for Rhoda Bennett Scofield/Schofield |
| Benjamin Bennett | Benjamin Bennett was born between
1775-1780, probably in Warwick, Orange Co., NY. As census records indicate
his wife was born 1770-1775, and based on when his siblings were born, I would
guess he was born about 1776. There is a male the right age to be him listed in
the household of Abraham Bennett on the 1790 census of Warwick, Orange Co., NY.
His father died in 1795 when he was about age 19. Benjamin married Susan McConnell
about 1798, probably in Orange Co., NY, and they had at least 8 children born
between 1799 to 1814. I have not found them on the 1800 census at this time, but
they had a child in Warwick, Orange Co., NY in 1802. According to the "History
of the Settlement of Steuben County, New York" by: Guy McMasters [1853],
Jacob, Benjamin and Daniel N. Bennett, "settled in 1807 or about that time"
in Steuben Co, NY "on what is yet called Bennett’s Flatts". There
is a household headed by Benjamin Bennetton the 1810 census of Canisteo, Steuben
Co., NY, living next to Charles McConnell, and on the same page as Jacob &
Thomas Bennett. The town of Howard was created from part of the town of Canisteo
in 1812, and the household of Benjamin Bennett is listed on the 1820 census of
Howard, Steuben Co., NY. Benjamin Bennett died sometime between 1825-1830 in
Howard Steuben Co., NY. I have not found Susan on the 1830 census at this
time. Benjamin & Susan were buried in the Howard Cemetery, Howard,
Steuben Co., NY, but the tombstones no longer exist for them.. Notes for Benjamin Bennett |
| Abraham Bennett, Jr. | Abraham Bennett, Jr. was born on August 07,
1778, in Warwick, Orange Co., NY. There is a male the right age to be him
listed in the household of Abraham Bennett on the 1790 census of Warwick, Orange
Co., NY. His father died in 1795 when he was about age 17, and there is a male
the right age to be him in the household of Jerusha Bennett on the 1800 census
of Warwick, Orange Co., NY. Abraham married Peggy Burt about 1802 and they
had 8 children. Abraham's mother moved from Orange to Tioga Co., NY about 1802,
and his brothers Jacob, Benjamin & Daniel moved to Steuben Co., NY about 1807
- I don't know if Abraham went to Tioga County, but he did move at some point
to Steuben County. I haven't found Abraham on the 1810 census at this time, but
the family is listed on the 1820 census of Howard, Steuben Co., NY, living near
the households of Abraham's mother, his sister Jerusha, & several of his brothers
and nephews. Abraham is listed as head of household on the 1830 census of Painted
Post, Steuben Co., NY. Peggy died on April 10, 1839. Abraham was remarried to
Nancy (maiden name?) Goff on August 25, 1839, probably in Steuben
Co., NY. At the time of their marriage Abraham was about age 61 & Nancy was
about age 41. Nancy was the widow of Rev. Roswell Goff. Abraham & Nancy had
two more children, born in 1840 & about 1843. The family is listed on the
1840 & 1850 censuses of Painted Post, Steuben Co., NY. Abraham Bennett
died on March 7, 1854 in East Painted Post, Steuben Co., NY or Big Flats, Chemung
Co., NY. He is buried in the Sing Sing Cemetery, Big Flats, Chemung Co.,
NY. At the time of his death he was age 75. Notes for Abraham Bennett, Jr. |
 | Comfort Bennett | Comfort Bennett was born on January 18, 1781
in Warwick, Orange Co., NY. There is a male the right age to be him listed
in the household of Abraham Bennett on the 1790 census of Warwick, Orange Co.,
NY. There is a biography of Comfort that says his father died when he was 8 (1789),
but as there is still a household headed by Abraham Bennett on the 1790 census
of Warwick, I do not think this is correct. I think from other records that Comfort's
father died when he was about age 14 (1795). There is a male the right age to
be Comfort in the household of Jerusha Bennett on the 1800 census of Warwick,
Orange Co., NY. Comfort married Abigail Miller on November 03, 1806 and
they had 12 children. The family moved from Orange Co. to Tioga Co., NY sometime
between 1800 to 1810, and they are listed on the 1810 & 1820 censuses of Elmira,
Tioga Co., NY. They are listed on the 1830 census of Big Flats, Tioga Co., NY.
Part of Tioga County became Chemung County in 1836, and the family is listed on
the 1840, 1850 & 1860 censuses of Big Flats, Chemung Co., NY. Comfort Bennett
was a very wealthy and successful farmer. On the 1860 census Comfort is listed
as owning $100,000 in real estate and $15,000 in personal property. He is also
listed as being Blind. Comfort Bennett died on August 12, 1864 in Big Flats,
Chemung Co., NY. Abigail is listed on the 1870 census of Horseheads, Chemung
Co., NY living in the household of her married son Andrew. Abigail Miller Bennett
died on February 27, 1872. Notes for Comfort Bennett Tombstone of Comfort & Abigail Miller Bennett |
| Mary Bennett | Mary Bennett was born on March 18,
1784, probably in Warwick, Orange Co., NY. She is one of the 6 females listed
in the household of Abraham Bennett on the 1790 census of Warwick, Orange Co.,
NY. Her father died when she was about age 11, and there is a female the right
age to be her in the household of Jerusha Bennett on the 1800 census of Warwick,
Orange Co., NY. Mary married Silas Gildersleeve Brees about 1807 in Orange
or Tioga Co., NY. Silas was the son of John Brees
& Hannah Gildersleeve. Silas' brother Elias married Mary's sister Deborah
about the same year. Silas & Mary had 8 children. The family is listed on
the 1820, 1830, & 1840 censuses of Elmira, Chemung Co., NY. Mary Bennett Brees
died on March 14, 1850. She is listed in the Mortality Schedule from the 1850
Federal Census of Chemung County. Mary died from dropsy heart, a condition that
had persisted for a year. Silas is listed on the 1850 census of Elmira with daughter
Mary and a 13 year old name William that may be a grandson. Silas Brees died
on October 05, 1855 in Horseheads, Chemung Co., NY. Silas & Mary are buried
in the Maple Grove Cemetery, Horseheads, Chemung Co., NY. Notes for Mary Bennett Brees |
| John Bennett | John Bennett was born on April 04, 1786, probably
in Warwick, Orange Co., NY. There is a male the right age to be him listed
in the household of Abraham Bennett on the 1790 census of Warwick, Orange Co.,
NY. His father died when he was about age 9, and there is a male the right age
to be him in the household of Jerusha Bennett on the 1800 census of Warwick, Orange
Co., NY. John's mother moved from Orange to Tioga County, NY in 1801 when John
was age 14. John married Sarah "Sally" Rockwell about 1808, probably
in Tioga Co., NY. Sally was the daughter of Jonathan
Rockwell & Hannah Bennett. John & Sally were first cousins who shared
the same birthday - John's father Abraham & Sally's mother Hannah were siblings.
John's sister Nancy also married Sally's brother William. Sally was the widow
of Benjamin Atwood, and she had a young daughter from her first marriage. John
& Sally had 8 children, born between 1808 to 1830. The family is listed on
the 1810 & 1820 censuses of Elmira, Tioga Co., NY. They are listed on the
1830 census of Big Flats, Tioga Co., NY. Chemung County was formed from part of
Tioga Co., NY in 1836. John Bennett died on February 8, 1837 in Big Flats,Chemung
Co, NY. He left a will that named his wife and children, and he also left
some money to Milla Atwood, who was Sally's daughter from her first marriage.
John is buried in the Sing Sing (Pioneer) Cemetery, Big Flats, Chemung Co., NY.
Sally died on November 29, 1849. Of their 8 children, only Miles C. Bennett stayed
in Big Flats, Chemung Co., NY. Notes for John Bennett |
| Deborah Bennett | Deborah Bennett was born on April 09, 1789 in Warwick,
Orange Co., NY. She is probably one of the 6 females listed in the household
of Abraham Bennett on the 1790 census of Warwick, Orange Co., NY. Her father died
when she was about age 6, and there is a female the right age to be her in the
household of Jerusha Bennett on the 1800 census of Warwick, Orange Co., NY. She
moved with her mother to Big Flats, Tioga (later Chemung) Co., NY when she was
about age 12. Deborah married Elias Brees about 1806 in Orange or Tioga
Co., NY. Elias was the son of John Brees &
Hannah Gildersleeve. Elias' brother Silas married Deborah's sister Mary about
the same year. Elias & Deborah had 10 children. The family is listed on the
1810 census of Tioga (later Chemung) Co., NY. Elias is listed as a veteran of
the War of 1812, serving with Swartwood's Regt., NY Militia along with his brother
Lewis. The family is on the 1820 & 1830 censuses of Elmira, Tioga Co., NY.
Three of Elias' daughters married sons of Jacob Rorick. In May 1837 Elias &
Deborah left New York to emigrate to Ohio with some of their children. The children
who remained in New York were Abram Bennett, John & possibly Darius. The children
who went to Ohio were William & Phoebe (Brees) Rorick (who had gone ahead
of Elias in December 1836), Lewis, Estell & Hannah (Brees) Rorick, Solomon,
Daniel, Jacob Wanzer & Nancy. Elias' brother Solomon Brees also went with
them at this time. The group was in Ohio for about 6 months, but then some of
them emigrated to Michigan in 1838, including Elias & Deborah. Deborah
Bennett Brees died on September 8, 1838 in Canandaigua, Lenawee Co., MI and is
buried there. I have not found Elias on the 1840 census at this time, but
at some point he returned to Ohio, and some of his children settled in both Ohio
& Michigan. Elias is listed at age 75 on the 1850 census of Royalton, Fulton
Co., OH, living with his son Jacob & wife. He is listed as age 85 and still
living with son Jacob & family on the 1860 census of Seneca, Lenawee Co.,
MI. Elias died on January 29, 1863 in Seneca Twp., Lenawee Co., MI. The Family of Elias Brees & Deborah Bennett Notes for Deborah Bennett |
| Nancy Bennett | Nancy Bennett was born on August 26,
1791 in Warwick, Orange Co., NY. Her father died when she was about age 4,
and there is a female the right age to be her in the household of Jerusha Bennett
on the 1800 census of Warwick, Orange Co., NY. She moved with her mother to Big
Flats, Tioga Co., NY in 1801 when she was about age 10. Nancy married William
Rockwell on Feb.15, 1807 in Big Flats, Tioga Co., NY. William was the son
of Jonathan Rockwell & Hannah Bennett.
William & Nancy were first cousins as William's mother Hannah & Nancy's
father Abraham were siblings. Nancy's brother John also married William's sister
Sally. William was a widower with at least one child when they married; his first
wife was Anna Kelsey, who died in 1806. William and Nancy had at least 6 children.
There is a William Rockwell listed as head of household on the 1810 & 1820
censuses of Elmira, Tioga Co., NY. According to Towner's "History of Chemung
County, New York, in 1822 William purchased the farm where they resided the rest
of their lives, but I do not find them on the 1830 census at this time. Chemung
County was created from part of Tioga Co., NY in 1836. The family is listed on
the 1840 & 1850 censuses of Elmira, Chemung Co., NY - in 1850 Nancy is listed
as being age 58. Nancy Bennett Rockwell died on January 1, 1859 in Chemung
Co., NY. She was age 67 at the time of her death. William is listed at age
78 on the 1860 census of Horseheads, Chemung Co., NY. William died on May 24,
1863. Notes for Nancy Bennett Rockwell |
| Daniel N.Bennett | Daniel Niles Bennett was born about
1793 in Warwick, Orange Co., NY. His father died when he was about age 2,
and there is a male the right age to be him in the household of Jerusha Bennett
on the 1800 census of Warwick, Orange Co., NY. His mother moved to Big Flats,
Tioga (later Chemung) Co., NY in 1801 when Daniel was about age 8, but I do not
know if he went with her. According to the "History of the Settlement of
Steuben County, New York" by: Guy McMasters [1853], Jacob, Benjamin and Daniel
N. Bennett, "settled in 1807or about that time" in Steuben Co, NY "on
what is yet called Bennett’s Flatts". Major Thomas Bennett settled there
in 1808. I have not found Daniel at age 17 on the 1810 census at this time, but
he should be in Steuben Co., NY. Daniel married Clarissa Dolby/Doleby on
September 22, 1816 in Steuben Co., NY and they had 11 children. The family is
listed on the 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850 & 1860 censuses of Howard, Steuben Co.,
NY. Clarissa died on September 30, 1869 in Howard, Steuben Co., NY. Daniel is
listed at age 77 on the 1870 census of Howard, Steuben Co., NY. Daniel Niles
Bennett died on June 08, 1875 in Howard, Steuben Co., NY. Both Daniel &
Clarissa are buried in the Howard Cemetery, Howard, Steuben Co., NY. Notes for Daniel Niles Bennett |
NOTE: Jerusha Bennett, born September 17, 1795, is sometimes listed as being a child of Abraham & Jerusha Wanzer Bennett, and there is a female in the household of Jerusha Wanzer in 1800 who would be the right age to be her. However I no longer think she was a child of Abraham & Jerusha, because in the will of Jacob Bennett (oldest son of Abraham & Jerusha) he lists Jerusha Sabin as being his daughter, and William Sabin as being his son-in-law. For more info on Jerusha & William, see the info on Jacob Bennett above, and also see The Families of Jacob Bennett.
