Joseph Bennett

Notes:

The family of Joseph Bennett are also settlers in Western States, none remaining in Portage.

The Episcopal Church at Hunt's Hollow was organized in 1826, as St. Mark's Church. Sanford Hunt and Walter Bennett were chosen as wardens. The vestrymen included Joseph Bennett, Thomas T. Bennett and Roswell Bennett.

Among the early settlers of Portage the Bennetts were somewhat conspicuous. They are of English origin, tracing the immediate family tie back to Ephraim Bennett, who was born in England about the year 1720, but the exact date of his birth, migration to this country, marriage and death are lost to this branch of his posterity. His death occurred about the year 1780. Thomas, one of his three sons, was born in Newtown, Connecticut, November 17, 1752, and died in the same town, February 7, 1836, at the age of eighty-four. He had a family of eight sons and three daughters, all reared in Newtown, all married and all living to raise families of children. As the sons successively came of age, they left their native town, and most of them settled in Scipio, Cayuga county, N. Y. But after a few years the wild Genesee country had attractions for them, and between 1817 and 1821, seven of the brothers bought lands and settled in the wilderness of Nunda,
Their names were Henry, David, Thomas, Joseph, Walter, Philo and Roswell Bennett. So numerous were their children that it was said there were seventy-seven Bennett cousins living near enough to attend church at Hunt's Hollow.
The descendants of these seven brothers afford an illustration of the Yankee tendency to spread and 'replenish the earth,' as they are known to be settled in various parts of seventeen different States and also in Canada and Brazil. Very many of them are or have been teachers, thus naturally occupying positions of responsibility and influence. Only one of the old homesteads built by the fathers now remains in the hands of the children reared in them. This is the one established by David Bennett, now owned and occupied by his son, Charles D. Bennett.

Records of the County Historian of Livingston County indicate that Joseph was married three times: Eunice French, Fanny Seeley, Eliza Rynd. As of 25 Apr 2018, Deputy Historian Holly Watson reports those records cannot be located.

The family of Joseph Bennett went West also, excepting one daughter, the mother of the late Amos Clark of Portage, whose daughter, Mrs. M. E. Van Dusen resides in Nunda.

A note on the burial of Joseph Bennett - while obviously he is only interred at one of the two cemeteries in question, it is possible that there are markers in both CT and Hunt's Hollow cemetery. I checked our more recent photo survey and there are many Bennetts listed in Hunts Hollow Cemetery, including a daughter of Joseph Bennett though her first name is illegible. I did not see a clearly indexed burial for Joseph, though it seems the stones are old. On our online database, though, you may have seen a "Death" link for Joseph Bennett, which leads to a simple record stating year of death as 1862. This record comes from a survey c. 1945 that the local DAR chapter did of legible stones. So, it seems there was a burial marker for Joseph Bennett that was legible in 1945 but may not be today. Again, there could be a marker here while he is actually buried in CT or the other way around. It may be hard to know which without some written notation. I would imagine that it might depend on where he died; bodies could be shipped to another state for burial, but it was usually more common to be buried near where the person passed away. Therefore, it's also possible the stone in CT, if extant, was an homage to his connection with his first wife.

1810 US Census, Connecticut, Fairfield, Fairfield, Joseph Bennett, 1 male under 10 , 1 male 26-44 , 2 females under 10 , 1 female 26-44 , 5 total people. Zarr not accounted for.

1820 US Census, New York, Allegany, Nunda, Joseph Bennett, two males under 10 , one male 10-15 , one male 26-44 , 1 female under 10 , one female 16-25 , 2 persons engaged in agriculture, 6 total persons. Zaar, Harriet, Burr, Fanny not accounted for.

1820 US Census, New York, Onondaga, Onondaga, Joseph Bennett, 2 males under 10 , 2 males 10-15 , 1 male 45+ , 2 females under 10 , 1 female 10-15 , 1 female 26-44 , 9 total persons

1830 US Census, New York, Allegany, Portage, Joseph Bennett, 1 male 10-14 , 3 males 20-29 , 1 male 40-49 , 2 females under 5 , 3 females 5-9 , 1 female 30-39 , 11 total persons. Betsey perhaps is working/living elsewhere.

1840 US Census, New York, Albany, Albany Ward 4, Joseph Bennett, 1 male 30-39 , one female under 5 , one female 20-29

1850 US Census, New York, Albany, Albany, Joseph Bennet, 66, carpenter, born CT, Eliza D. Bennet, 48, born NJ, Mary A. Swain, 19, born NJ

1855 NY Census, Albany, Albany Ward 4, Joseph Bennett, 70, born CT, 10 years resident, carpenter, owner of land, wife Eliza Bennett, 51, born NJ, 13 year resident, daughter Mary Bennett, 22, born Allegheny Co., 1 year resident, teacher, boarder Sarah Van Buren, 17, born Albany, 2 year resident, dressmaker

1860 US Census, New York, Albany, Albany, Joseph Bennet, 77, carpenter, value of personal estate 400, born CT, Eliza Bennet, 54, born NJ, Emily Lepace, 18, seamstress, born NY

Joseph married Eunice French about 1802. Eunice (daughter of Capt. Ephraim French and Abigail Winton) was born on 10 Oct 1784 in Weston, Fairfield, Connecticut; died on 29 Aug 1815 in Newtown, Fairfield, Connecticut; was buried in Bennett Cemetery, Newtown, Fairfield, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Abigail Bennett was born in 1803; died in 1898.
2. Asa French Bennett was born on 8 Nov 1805 in Connecticut; died on 30 Oct 1891 in Dane Co., Wisconsin; was buried in Union Grove Cemetery, Darlington, Lafayette, Wisconsin.
3. Zarr Bennett was born on 12 Nov 1807 in Connecticut; died on 1 Jul 1901 in Iola, Allen, Kansas.
4. Winton Bennett was born on 17 Mar 1810 in Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut; died on 6 Dec 1891 in Fort Wayne, Allen, Indiana; was buried on 8 Dec 1891 in Lindenwood Cemetery, Fort Wayne, Allen, Indiana.
5. Betsey Bennett was born on 17 Mar 1813 in Fairfield Co., Connecticut; died on 15 Jan 1894 in Darlington, Lafayette, Wisconsin; was buried in Miller Cemetery, Wiota, Lafayette, Wisconsin.

Family/Spouse: Frances Fanny Seeley. Frances (daughter of David Seeley and Patty Hubbell) was born on 13 Dec 1795 in Weston, Fairfield, Connecticut; died in 1834 in Portage, Livingston, New York; was buried in Hunts Hollow Cemetery, Portage, Livingston, New York. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Harriet Bennett was born in 1816; died in 1829.
2. Burr Bennett was born in Nov 1819 in Connecticut; died in 1850 in New York harbor.
3. Martha Bennett was born on 17 May 1821 in New York; died on 17 May 1905 in Darlington, Lafayette, Wisconsin; was buried in Union Grove Cemetery, Darlington, Lafayette, Wisconsin.
4. Vashti Bennett was born in 1822 in Livingston Co., New York; died in 1890 in Shiawassee Co., Michigan; was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Owosso, Shiawassee, Michigan.
5. Eunice Elizabeth Eliza Bennett was born in Aug 1824 in Hunts Hollow, New York; died in 1915 in Washington, District of Columbia.
6. Alosia B. Bennett was born on 13 Aug 1826 in Livingston Co., New York; died on 23 Jul 1914 in Darlington, Lafayette, Wisconsin; was buried in Union Grove Cemetery, Darlington, Lafayette, Wisconsin.
7. Cleora Bennett was born in 1829; died in 1879 in Darlington, Lafayette, Wisconsin.
8. Mary Cyria Bennett was born on 4 Sep 1831 in Livingston Co., New York; died on 28 Mar 1910 in Washington, District of Columbia.
9. William Francis Bennett was born in 1834; died in 1834.

Family/Spouse: Eliza Rynd. Eliza was born in 1803 in New Jersey; died in 1875. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

1790 US Census, Connecticut, Fairfield, Newtown, 4 males under 16 , 3 males 16 and over , 3 females , 10 household members.

1800 US Census, Connecticut, Fairfield, Newtown, 2 males under 10 , 1 male 10-25, , 1 male 45+, , 1 female under 10, , 1 female 10-15, , 1 female 16-25, , 1 female 26-44 , 8 household members.

1830 US Census, Connecticut, Fairfield, Newtown, 1 male 70-79, , 1 female 60-69, , 2 free white persons.

Thomas married Molly Ford on 28 Sep 1772 in Newtown, Fairfield, Connecticut. Molly (daughter of Ebenezer Ford and Sarah Tousey) was born on 10 Apr 1756 in Newtown, Fairfield, Connecticut; died on 9 Aug 1814 in Newtown, Fairfield, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 11 Apr 1756, Newtown, Fairfield, Connecticut

Notes:

Ephraim served in the Revolutionary War "of Captain Elnathan Nichols' Company of Light Dragoons in Major Starr's Reg't under command of Lt. John Curtiss, who marched in the service of the United States: in the 1st place to New Haven in the month of July, 1779; in the 2nd place, to Fairfield under command of Col. Whiting; in the 3d place, to Norwalk under the command of Gen'l Wolcott; at the time when the enemy invaded our seaport towns."

Headstone Inscription:
In memory of
Mr. Epphriam Bennitt
who died
of a cancer in his breast
October 7, 1779
In the 65 year
of his life.

"Many are the afflictions
Alloted in this life
And few have endured trial
More severe."
Per Newtown's History and Historian page 195

Ephraim married Ann Baldwin on 16 Jun 1745 in Newtown, Fairfield, Connecticut. Ann (daughter of Caleb Baldwin and Mehitable) was born on 18 Sep 1727 in Probably Milford, Connecticut; died on 7 Nov 1772 in Newtown, Fairfield, Connecticut; was buried in Newtown Village Cemetery, Newtown, Fairfield, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
ae 45

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 1 Sep 1734, Milford, New Haven, Connecticut

Ebenezer married Sarah Tousey in by 1754 in Newtown, Fairfield, Connecticut. Sarah (daughter of Rev. Thomas Tousey and Hannah Clark) was born on 16 Oct 1730 in Newtown, Fairfield, Connecticut; died on 14 Dec 1803 in Newtown, Fairfield, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Sarah, wid., d. 14 Dec 1803

Died:
Newtown, p. 70, citing Vol. 2, p. 170

Notes:

Married:
birth of first child in 1755

Notes:

Will of Capt. Thomas of Newtown, 20 Mar 1738/9, proved 21 Apr. 1739; wife Mary; sons Abraham, Thomas, Ephraim; daughters Deborah Bassett, Eunice Booth, Rebecca Booth, Anna Botsford, Damaris Botsford, Bethia; referred to will of his father, James Bennett, Esq.

Thomas Bennett was appointed a Justice of the Peace for Fairfield County in the years 1726-1734, 1737-1738. In the year 1730 he was referred to as Captain Thomas Bennett.

Thomas married Mary Booth on 12 Apr 1692 in Stratford, Fairfield, Connecticut. Mary (daughter of Ephraim Booth and Mary Osborne) was born on 12 Nov 1676 in Stratford, Fairfield, Connecticut; died before 18 Sep 1741 in Newtown, Fairfield, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Will of Mary of Newtown, 4 Sep 1741, proved 16 Sep 1741; son Abraham; daus. Mary Botsford, Deborah Bassett, Eunice Booth, Rebecca Booth; son Thomas; daus. Anna Botsford, Bethia Bennett; sons Joseph Botsford, Samuel Bassett, Daniel Booth, and Abiel Booth, executors

Died:
will proved

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 29 Nov 1702, Milford, New Haven, Connecticut

Notes:

April 15, 1732, in consideration of one hundred and fifty pounds, in current bills of public credit, he conveys land, in Milford, to his brother Jeremiah. He settled in Newtown. His will, of Aug. 16. 1779 [1770], appears in the Danbury Probate: he remembers his wife Jerusha, and children named. He died March 9, 1772, aged 70 of dropsy. He married first Mehitable, who died Sept. 5, 1758, aged between 50 and 60. He married second, Feb. 8. 1759, Jerusha Daton of Newtown. He was a leading citizen, and for many years Town Clerk; he was succeeded in that office by his son, and it is said that the two held that office ninety years. In 1740, he was made by the General Assembly, Ensign of the 1st Company of Newtown. He was afterward several times Member of the Assembly from that town.

Died:
died of dropsy

Caleb married Mehitable about 1724. Mehitable died on 25 Sep 1758 in Newtown, Fairfield, Connecticut; was buried in Newtown Village Cemetery, Newtown, Fairfield, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
ae between 50 and 60

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 27 Sep 1702, Milford, New Haven, Connecticut

Notes:

Admitted church 10 Feb 1760V

Died:
age about 62

Thomas married Mary Prime by about 1729 in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut. Mary (daughter of James Prime and Sarah) was born about 1707 in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut; died on 29 Oct 1759 in Newtown, Fairfield, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 4 May 1707, Milford, New Haven, Connecticut

Notes:

Died:
age about 50

Notes:

Thomas Tousey, Jr., was born in Wethersfield in 1688 and graduated from Yale College in 1707. Tradition says he joined the little settlement in Newtown as early as 1709, and his name appears among the residents of the town in 1712.
Mr. Tousey relinquished his charge in March, 1724, "sore broken in health, and as it may seem refusing recovery" and two months later memoralized the General Assembly to secure the receipt of his last year's dues, sixty pounds and firewood.
After Mr. Tousey closed his pastorate, tradition says he went to England, and there received the commission of Captain in the King's Army. After his return he took up the practice of medicine in the town and became Newtown's first physician. An account book now in possession of one of his descendants shows that he sold drugs and medicines and attended the sick as early as 1737. He also became a large land-owner in the town and his name and the name of his wife, Hannah Clark of Milford, to whom he was married Nov. 12, 1717, appear in many of the early deeds.
In 1727 he was commissioned by the General Assembly as captain of a train band, and from 1728 until his death in 1761, a period of thirty-three years, he was justice of the peace. He was also Newtown's first representative in the General Court, being elected with John Northrop to that office in 1747. He also represented the town in 1748 and again 1754.

Thomas married Hannah Clark on 12 Nov 1717 in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut. Hannah (daughter of Samuel Clark and Mehitable Phippen) was born about 1697 in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut; died on 26 May 1773 in Derby, New Haven, Connecticut; was buried in Hillside Cemetery, Oxford, New Haven, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 4 Apr 1697, Milford, New Haven, Connecticut

Notes:

Daughter of Capt. Samuel Clark of Milford. Died 14 Sep 1777

Died:
Oxford parish

Notes:

Married:
by Samuel Andrew