Henry
Bennett was born in 1780 in Pennsylvania. He was the son of William
Bennett & Ann
Elenor "Nellie" Thompson was born in 1781
in Donegal or Down Co., Ireland. Nellie's parents died on board ship enroute to
America, and Elenor & her 2 younger brothers were raised by a German family
named Cline. The Christening Record in County Down, Down Patrick, Northern
Ireland states Elenor was the daughter of James and Susan Thompson.
THE FAMILY OF HENRY BENNETT & ELENOR THOMPSON
| Henry
Bennett & Eleanor Thompson | Henry Bennett
& Elenor "Nellie" Thompson were married 1800-1804 and census records
indicate that they had at least 10 (and possibly 11) children. Henry Bennett
had moved to Alleghany Co., .PA in 1799 with his father William and brother Anthony,
and the area they settled in became Crawford Co., PA in 1800. I have not found
Henry on the 1800 census at this time, but he is listed as a head of household
on the 1810 & 1820 censuses of Shenango, Crawford Co., PA. In 1810 he had
4 children under age 10, and he is listed on the same page as his father William
& brother Anthony Bennett, and also Andrew Thompson, George Espey & William
Reid. Henry Bennett & family are listed on the 1830, 1840 & 1850 censuses
of North Shenango, Crawford Co., PA. In 1850 Henry's occupation is listed as Farmer,
and they are raising 4 grandchildren; the two older boys are sons of their deceased
son Samuel T. Bennett, but the two younger girl are either Samuel's or children
of another son,William Perry Bennett who had died in 1843. Elenor Thompson
Cline Bennett died on September 28, 1856 in North Shenango, Crawford Co., PA.
Henry wrote his will On December 1, 1856, naming several of his children and grandchildren.
Henry Bennett died in November 1859. His will was probated November 29, 1859.
Henry & Elenor are both buried in the cemetery East and North of Hartstown,
So. Shenango Twp. In 1989, Elenor's grave marker was readable in Row IX, #27,
S. Shenango Cemetery. There is a sandstone marker in #26, eroded, but could be
that of husband, Henry. Elenor's tombstone was broken and laying flat on the ground
in May 1993. |
The Children of Henry Bennett & Elenor Thompson
| Unknown Daughter #1 Bennett | Unknown Daughter Bennett was born between 1800-1810 in Crawford Co., PA. She is one of the 3 females under age 10 in 1810 in the household of Henry Bennett in Shenango, Crawford Co., PA. I have not found her on the 1820 census or any census after that, but if she was born around 1800 it is possible that she could be married in 1820. She is not listed as a daughter in the will of Henry Bennett that was signed in 1856 & probated in 1859, and there are no grandchildren named in the will that I think would be hers. Unknown Daughter Bennett died sometime after 1810, and before 1856. I think she probably died before 1820, but that is not for certain. | |
| Polly Bennett | Polly Bennett was born about 1804 in Crawford Co.,
PA. Her first name was probably Mary, but I have found her listed as Polly
on all records so far. There is a female the right age to be Polly, age 6, on
the 1810 census, and also to be Polly, age 16, on the 1820 census, both in the
household of Henry Bennett in Shenango, Crawford Co., PA. Polly married Emmor
Williams about 1822, and they had 7 children. The family is listed on the
1830 census of Springfield, Erie Co., PA, which is the county directly north of
Crawford Co., PA. Based on birthplaces of their children, they moved from Pennsylvania
to Branch Co., Michigan between 1835-1840. The family is listed on the 1840 &
1850 censuses of Butler, Branch Co., MI. The will of Henry Bennett, signed in
1856 and probated 1859 lists daughter Polly Williams as an heir. Emmor & Polly
are listed with their family on the 1860 & 1870 censuses of Butler, Branch
Co., MI. Emmor Williams died on September 10, 1871 in Branch Co., MI. Polly is
listed as age 76 and widowed in the household of her married daughter Johnathan
& Sarah E. (Williams) Gardner on the 1880 census of Quincy, Branch Co., MI.
In 1880 Polly's father was listed as born in PA and her mother was listed as born
in Ireland. I have not found Polly on the 1900 census at this time. Polly Bennett
Williams died between 1880-1900, probably in Branch Co., Michigan. Online
trees state that she died on March 4, 1882 in Lineville, Crawford, Pennsylvania,
but that is the death date and place of her sister Anna Bennett Wiser Minnely.
In 1900, Polly's widowed sister Elizabeth Jane (Bennett) Cook is living with Polly's
married daughter John C. & Wealthy (Williams) Hall in Coldwater, Branch Co.,
MI. Children of Emmor & Polly Bennett Williams were: Wealthy (1823), Matilda
J. (1824), Henry B. (1827), Sarah E. (1829), Asa W. (1831), Robert W., (1833)
& John C. (1835). Notes for Polly Bennett Williams | |
| Samuel Thompson Bennett | Samuel Thompson Bennett was
born between 1805-1810 in Crawford Co., PA. There is a male the right age
group to be Samuel, age 0-5, on the 1810 census, and age 10-15 on the 1820 census,
both in Henry Bennett's household in Shenango, Crawford Co., PA. There is a male
the right age to be Samuel, age 20-25 in Henry Bennett's household on the 1830
census of North Shenango, Crawford Co., PA. Samuel married Unknown sometime
between 1830-1835, probably in Crawford Co., PA. An article in the Meadville Courier
on March 7, 1837 reported the deaths in a barn fire of a 4 year old son of Thompson
Bennett of North Shenango, and the 5 year old son of neighbor Asa Wiser. Asa was
the husband of Samuel's younger sister Anna, and I think Thompson and Samuel T.
are the same person. (There was another Samuel Bennett who was born in 1807, who
also lived in Crawford Co., PA in 1840, and Samuel T. may have been known as Thompson
to avoid confusion between the two. The other Samuel was married to Margaret Dickey,
and he was living in South Shenango, Crawford Co., PA in 1840 with a young daughter
under age 5.) Samuel T. Bennett is listed as head of household on the 1840 census
of North Shenango, Crawford Co., PA, living a few households away from the households
of his father Henry and brothers John C. and William P. Bennett. In 1840, Samuel
is listed with a wife, age 20-30, a son age 5-9, and 2 sons under age 5. Samuel
Thompson Bennett died sometime between 1840 to 1850, probably in Crawford Co.,
PA. In 1850, there are 2 grandsons aged 15 & 13 living with Henry &
Elenor Bennett that I believe are 2 of 3 sons that are listed in Samuel T.'s household
in 1840. (Some online trees have indicated they were sons of William Perry Bennett,
but as he had no children listed in his household in 1840 I think this is incorrect.)
There are also 2 granddaughters living with Henry & Elenor in 1850 who are
age 8 & 6. As both Samuel & William Perry Bennett were married in 1840
and deceased by 1850, I don't know which family these granddaughters belong to
at this time, because it could be either of them. Children of Samuel Thompson
Bennett & Unknown are: John T. (1835) & William Perry (1837). Possible
(but not confirmed) children of Samuel T. Bennett and Unknown are: Jane (1842)
& Elizabeth (1844). Notes for Samuel Thompson Bennett | |
| Anna Bennett | Anna Bennett was born in 1809
in Crawford Co., PA. There is a female the right age group to be Anna, age
1 in 1810, and to Anna, age 11, in 1820, both in the household of Henry Bennett
in the census of Shenango, Crawford Co., IL. Anna married Asa Gallup Wiser
on June 16, 1830 in Crawford Co., IL, and at that time The Crawford Messenger
reported the marriage of "Mr. Asa G. Wiser of Conneaut, to Miss Anna Bennet
of Shenango." Asa & Anna had 7 children. They were living in North Shenango,
Crawford Co., PA in March 1837 when their 5 year old son Herman was killed in
a barn fire while playing with the 4 year old son of neighbor Thompson (Samuel
T.?) Bennett. Asa & Anna moved from North Shenango to Conneaut sometime between
1837 to 1840, and the family is listed on the 1840 census of Conneaut, Crawford
Co., PA. Asa bought 1/2 acre of land in North Shenango in July 1845, and he died
about 1846. Pine Twp was also formed from part of North Shenango in 1845. Anna
is listed as head of household with the children on the 1850 census of Pine, Crawford
Co., PA. Anna was remarried to John Minneley about 1853, probably in Crawford
Co., PA. The last name has been spelled various ways on records, ie. Manely, Minely,
Minelly, Minneley. In 1853, Anna sold land in North Shenango, and was listed on
the land record as "Anna Wiser Minelly, lately Anna Wiser administrix of
the late Asa G. Wiser of Pine Twp. deceased..." Henry Bennett's will, signed
in 1856 and probated 1859 lists daughter Ann McNeally, but I believe the person
writing the will misspelled Meneally (he also listed sister Sarah's last name
as Read instead of Reid). John & Anna had one son. The family is listed on
the 1860, 1870 & 1880 censuses of Pine, Crawford Co., PA. On the 1880 census
Anna is age 71, born PA, with father born in PA and mother born in Ireland. Anna
Bennett Wiser Minneley died of apoplexy on March 4, 1882 in Linesville (Pine?),
Crawford Co., PA. John died on October 15, 1881 in Pine Twp, Crawford Co,
PA. Children of Anna Bennett & Asa Wiser were: Fidelia (1831), Herman (1832),
Sarah (1834), Antoinette (1836), Catherine (1838), Ellen (1841) & Henry (1845).
Child of Anna Bennett & John Minneley was William Perry (1854) | |
| Sarah Cline Bennett | Sarah Cline Bennett was born on July 31,
1811 in Crawford Co., PA. There is a female the right age group to be Sarah,
age 8, in the household of Henry Bennett on the 1820 census of Shenango, Crawford
Co., PA. There is a female the right age group to be Sarah, age 18, in the household
of Henry Bennett on the 1830 census of North Shenango, Crawford Co., PA. Sarah
married William Reid II in 1830 in Pennsylvania and they had 13 children.
The family is listed on the 1840 & 1850 censuses of North Shenango, Crawford
Co., PA, and they moved to Iowa in 1854. The will of Henry Bennett, signed in
1856 and probated 1859 lists daughter Sarah C. Read as an heir. William &
Sarah are listed with their family on the 1860, 1870 & 1880 censuses of Hanover
Twp., Allamakee Co., IA. They are listed on the 1885 state census of Riverside,
Fremont Co., IA, where son Zenas had settled with his family. Sarah Cline Bennett
Reid died on September 18, 1887 in Randolph, Fremont Co., Iowa. William died
on January 26, 1892 in (probably Fremont Co.,) Iowa. They are both buried in the
Tabor, Fremont Co., Iowa cemetery. Children of William Reid & Sarah Cline
Bennett are: William Henry (1831), Matilda (1833), Zenas Pelton (1836), Robert
(1837), Mary (1839), Margaret (1841), Sarah Jane (1844), James Knox Polk (1846),
Nancy (1848), Victoria (1848), Emma Josephine (1850), Eleanor (1853) & John
Bennett (1854). The Family of William Reid II & Sarah Cline Bennett Notes for Sarah Cline Bennett | |
| William Perry Bennett | William Perry Bennett was born
between 1812-1820 in Crawford Co., PA. He is one of the 3 males under age
10 in the household of Henry Bennett on the 1820 census of Shenango, Crawford
Co., PA. I am not sure where he is in 1830 at age 10-19. There is a male I haven't
identified in the household of Henry Bennett that year who is age 5-9, and that
could be William if he was age 10 and an error was made and he was listed as being
age 9. If he was an older teen, ie 19, he could also have been living in another
household and working as a farm laborer. William married Unknown sometime
before 1840. On the 1840 census of North Shenango, Crawford Co., PA, William P.
Bennett, age 20-29, is listed as a head of household, next to the households of
his father Henry and brother John C. Bennett. At that time William's wife is also
age 20-29, and no children are listed in the household. William P. Bennett
died in 1843 in Crawford Co., PA. In 1850, Henry & Elenor Bennett have
4 grandchildren living with them, ages 15, 13, 8 & 6. I think the two older
boys were sons of Samuel T. Bennett, as William had no children listed in 1840,
but I'm not sure about the two younger girls as both Samuel & William were
married in 1840 and deceased in 1850. The will of Henry Bennett, signed in 1856
and probated 1859 lists 3 of these grandchildren as heirs. Possible (but not confirmed)
children of William P. Bennett and Unknown are: Jane (1842) & Elizabeth (1844) Notes for William Perry Bennett | |
| Unknown Daughter #2 Bennett | Unknown Daughter #2 Bennett was born between 1813-1820 in Crawford Co., PA. She is one of the 3 females under 10 in 1820 in the household of Henry Bennett in Shenango, Crawford Co., PA. I have not found her on the 1830 census or any census after that, but if she was born around 1813 it is possible that she could be married in 1830 if she married by age 17. She is not listed as a daughter in the will of Henry Bennett that was signed in 1856 & probated in 1859, and there are no grandchildren named in the will that I think would be hers. Unknown Daughter Bennett #2 died sometime after 1820, and before 1856. I think she probably died before 1830, but that is not for certain. | |
| Robert W. Bennett | Robert W. Bennett was born in 1816 in Crawford
Co., PA. Birthyear is from his tombstone. His middle initial is listed on
some records as N., but his tombstone says W., and the middle name may have been
William. There is a male the right age group to be Robert, age 4 in the household
of Henry Bennett on the 1820 census of Shenango, Crawford Co., PA. There is a
male the right age group to be Robert age 16, on the 1830 census, and Robert,
age 26, on the 1840 census, both in the household of Henry Bennett in North Shenango,
Crawford Co., PA. Robert married Catharine Freeman (Mosman?) about 1840,
probably in Crawford Co., PA, and they had 6 children. (Death certificate of daughter
Mary indicates that Catharine's maiden name was Freeman, but diary of Alex Collins
indicates it was Mosman.) The family is listed on the 1850 census of North Shenango,
Crawford Co., PA, next door to the the household of Henry & Elenor Bennett.
The will of Henry Bennett, signed in 1856 and probated 1859 lists son Robert W.
Bennett as an heir. Robert & Catharine are listed with their family on the
1860 & 1870 censuses of North Shenango, Crawford Co., PA. Robert W. Bennett
died in 1871 in Crawford Co., PA. He is buried in the Espyville Cemetery,
Crawford Co., PA. Catherine is listed as age 60 & widowed on the 1880 census
of North Shenango, Crawford Co., PA. Catharine Freeman Bennett died in 1911. Children
of Robert W. Bennett & Catharine were: Mary (1841), George (1843), Harriet
(1845), Ellen (1848), Sarah Catherine (1851) & Ida (1858) Notes for Robert W. Bennett | |
| John C. Bennett | John C. Bennett was born 1818
in Crawford Co., PA. His middle name may have been Cline. There is a male
the right age group to be John, age 2 in the household of Henry Bennett on the
1820 census of Shenango, Crawford Co., PA. There is a male the right age group
to be John, age 12, on the 1830 census, and also to be John, age 22, on the 1840
census, both in the household of Henry Bennett in North Shenango, Crawford Co.,
PA. John married Phebe about 1840, probably in Crawford Co., PA, and they
had 5 or 6 children. Based on birthplaces of his children, the family moved from
Pennsylvania to Branch Co., Michigan sometime between 1845 to 1848. At least one
family story indicates that John may have gone to Minnesota before going to Michigan,
and that he built the first frame house in St. Paul, MN. (This is not confirmed,
see The Mystery of John & Henry).
John & Phebe are listed with their family on the 1850 census of Coldwater,
Branch Co., MI, with John's occupation listed as Carpenter. The will of Henry
Bennett, signed in 1856 and probated 1859 lists son John C. Bennett as an heir.
John & Phebe are listed with their family on the 1860 & 1870 censuses
of Coldwater, Branch Co., MI. In 1860, John's occupation is listed as Master Carpenter,
and in 1870 it is listed as Carpenter Builder. I believe I find John living in
Leadville, Lake Co., CO in 1880, and am not sure what happened to the family.
He is listed as J. C. Bennett, age 62, maritial status not marked, occupation
Carpenter, born in PA with father born in PA and mother born in Ireland. He is
listed with several other carpenters and plasterers, so he may just be there for
a job, but I have not located Phebe or any of the children at that time. John
C. Bennett died sometime after 1880, possibly in Colorado, but that is not for
sure. Children of John C. Bennett & Phebe are; Henry (1841), James (1842),
Sarah (1843) Mary (1845), Pamelia/Amelia (1848) & possibly Clendenin (1867).
Clendenin is at least 21 years younger than any of John's other children, so he
may be a grandson. | |
| Elizabeth Jane Bennett | Elizabeth "Betsy" Jane Bennett was
born in April 6, 1820 in Crawford Co., PA. There is a female the right age
group to be Betsy, age baby, in the household of Henry Bennett on the 1820 census
of Shenango, Crawford Co., PA. There is a female the right age group to be Betsy,
age 9, on the 1830 census, and also to be Betsy, age 20, on the 1840 census, both
in the household of Henry Bennett in North Shenango, Crawford Co., PA. Betsy married
Henry Cook about 1840, probably in Crawford Co., PA, and they had 4 children.
Elizabeth is listed with the children in the household of her married sister,
William & Sarah (Bennett) Reid, on the 1850 census of North Shenango, Crawford
Co., PA. I do not know why Henry was not listed with her at the time, as he is
listed with her on later censuses. Also note that there was another Elizabeth
Cook, the same age, married to Aaron Cook and living in South Shenango, Crawford
Co., PA that year who has been listed on some online trees as being the daughter
of Henry Bennett, but I believe this is an error. The will of Henry Bennett, signed
in 1856 and probated 1859 lists daughter Betsy Jane Cook. Based on birthplaces
of their children, Henry & Betsy Bennett Cook moved from Pennsylvania to Branch
Co., Michigan between 1851-1859, following siblings Polly (Mrs. Emmor) Williams
and John C. Bennett who had emigrated there earlier. Henry & Elizabeth Cook
and family are listed on the 1860, 1870 & 1880 censuses of Coldwater, Branch
Co., Michigan. Henry died on May 3, 1897, and Betsy is listed as age 80 and widowed
on the 1900 census of Coldwater, Branch Co., MI, living as a boarder in the household
of her married niece, John C. & Wealthy (Williams) Hall. Wealthy was the daughter
of Betsy's older sister Polly. In 1900, Betsy was listed as having 4 births with
3 surviving at that time, and her father is listed as born PA and mother born
Ireland. Elizabeth "Betsy" Jane Bennett Cook died on January 28,
1908 in Coldwater, Branch Co., Michigan. Children of Henry Cook & Elizabeth
Jane Bennett were: William Perry (1842), Wealthy (1844), George (1851) & Andrew
(1859) Notes for Elizabeth "Betsy" Jane Bennett Cook | |
| Henry
Bennett Jr THIS IS NOT A CONFIRMED CHILD OF HENRY & ELENOR BENNETT | Henry
Bennett Jr was possibly born between 1821-1825 in Crawford Co., PA. There
is a son age 5-9 in the household of Henry Bennett on the 1830 census that I have
not been able to identify. At least one family story states that Henry & Elenor
had a son named Henry Jr who emigrated to St. Paul, MN and later to Detroit, MI.
(This is not confirmed, see The Mystery
of John & Henry). I have not found this Henry Jr on any census records
after 1830, but census records do not exist for Minnesota in 1840. I do not find
him in Minnesota or Michigan in 1850, and no son named Henry (Jr) is named in
Henry Bennett's will, which was written in December 1856 and probated in 1859.
Henry Bennett Jr (if he existed) probably died sometime between 1840 to 1850
in Michigan. Notes for Henry Bennett Jr. |