Joseph Bennett (abt. 1681 - abt. 1725)

Biography

Joseph Bennett, son of John Bennett ^[1] and Ursula White was born 20 Mar 1681 Stonington, New London, Connecticut. Joseph married Sarah (Backus) Bennett ^[1] on 4 November 1702 at Stonington, Connecticut, and they had 9 children. Joseph died between 7 Apr 1725 (will written) and 11 Apr 1725 (will proved) ^[2] at Stonington, New London County, Connecticut.

In the 1901 census Joseph (age 18), Coal Miner (Horse Driver), was the unmarried son of Ursilla Bennett in Dudley, Staffordshire, England.^[3]

Family of Joseph Bennett as a young man; shown with his parents and siblings:

1. ) John Bennett married
2. ) Ursula White on 22 October 1655 at Providence, RI.
   1. ) Children of John and Ursala Bennett:
      1. ) John Bennett
      2. ) William Bennett
      3. ) Elizabeth (Bennett) Hendrick
      4. ) Joseph Bennett

Family of Joseph Bennett as an adult; shown with his wife and children:

1. ) Joseph Bennett married ^[1]
2. ) Sarah Backus Beckwith on 4 Nov 1702 at Stonington, New London, Connecticut
   1. ) Children of Joseph and Sarah Bennett: ^[1]
      1. ) Joseph Bennett
      2. ) Jerusha Bennett
      3. ) Stephen Bennett
      4. ) Sarah (Bennett) Mack
      5. ) Hannah (Bennett) Butler
      6. ) Phebe Bennett
      7. ) Daniel Bennett
      8. ) William Bennett
      9. ) Nathaniel Bennett {Not included in the Vital Records of Stonington, but is named as a son in the will of his father Joseph Bennett Sr.}
      10. ) Joseph Bennett

Genealogical Records

Vital Records

1. Primary Source, The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records, Stonington 1658-1854, Vol 43. ^[1]: Data Extract:

• 1. ) Stonington, CT. VR; BENNETT: Vital Records for Joseph Bennett family:
  2. ) Joseph Bennett, son of John, b Mar 20, 1681
     1. ) Joseph Bennett, m Sarah BEQUESS, Nov 4, 1702, by Rev James Noyes
     2. ) Children of Joseph Bennett and Sarah Bequess:
        1. ) Daniel, son Joseph, b Aug 19, 1715
        2. ) Hannah, dau Joseph, b Apr 19, 1711
        3. ) Jerusha, dau Joseph, b Oct 26, 1705
        4. ) Joseph, son Joseph, b Oct 16, 1703
        5. ) Joseph, son Joseph, b Feb 20, 1714/15 {Editorial note: See Research Notes.}
        6. ) Phebe, dau Joseph, b May 19, 1713
        7. ) Sarah, dau Joseph, b Mar 4, 1708/09
        8. ) Stephen, son Joseph, b Apr 8, 1707
        9. ) William, son Joseph, b Oct 22, 1717

Probate Court Records

• Primary Source, Connecticut, Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999, ^[2] Data Extract:

• 1. ) Will of Joseph Benit, Image 1089 of 1284: Last Will and Testament of Joseph Bennett, dated 7 April 1725 at Stonington, Connecticut.
     1. ) Pay all just debts.
     2. ) Item: I bequeath to Sarah, my beloved wife; whom together with (as joint executors) my eldest son Stephen, all manner of household goods and moveables to take care of and to bring up the rest of my children. That is to say Sarah, Hannah, Phebe, Daniel, William, Nathaniel, and the youngest not named. {Editorial note: See Research Notes.}
     3. ) I give to my well beloved son Stephen a double share of all my lands, which is a quarter part.
     4. ) To my son Daniel, a single share, which is an eighth part. My two Sons Stephen and Daniel shall hold the entire land estate paying to the rest of the children what their shares amount as it shall now be priced as they come of age.
     5. ) If my son Joseph Benit's widow be with child by him, him deceased, and the child lives to come of age, I give £8 if the child is a son, and £5 if the child is a daughter.
     6. ) This will supersedes all previous wills.
     7. ) Witnessess: Ebenezer Williams, Dofov Crory, John Ashcroft.
     8. ) 26 July 1725 Ebenezer Williams, Peter Crory and John Ashcroft appear before the James Minor, Justice of the Peace, and swear an oath, before the probate court that said will was authentic and they witnessed, Joseph Benit make his mark on the document.

Biographic and Genealogical References

• Secondary Source, Richard A. Wheeler, History of the Town of Stonington, ^[4] Data Extract:

• 1. ) HIstory of Stonington, Page 229: Joseph Bennett (No. 6) m. Sarah Bequess, Nov 4, 1702.
     1. ) Children:
        1. ) 19 Joseph, b. Oct 16, 1703.
        2. ) 20 Jerusha, b. Oct 26, 1705.
        3. ) 21 Stephen, b. Apr. 8, 1707
        4. ) 22 Sarah, b. Mch. 4, 1709
        5. ) 23 Hannah. b. Apr. 19, 1711
        6. ) 24 Phebe, b. May 19, 1713
        7. ) 25 Daniel, b. Aug 19, 1715
        8. ) 26 William, b. Oct. 22, 1717
        9. ) 27 Joseph, b. Feb 20, 1724. {Editorial note: See Research Notes.}

Research Notes

1. ) The birth date (DoB) given for Joseph Bennett Jr. (the younger) in the History of Stonington ^[4] is ten years later than that given in the Barbour Vital Record. ^[1] However, it does align with the narrative given in the Last Will and Testament ^[2] of Joseph Bennett Sr., in that his youngest child was unnamed on 7 April 1725. The Barbour Record shows Julian dates for Joseph Jr. (the second) and hence the known data suggests that the younger Joseph Jr. was actually born on 20 Feb 1725; this date aligns with the history of Stonington, a transcription error in Barbour, and the narrative in Joseph Sr.'s will that his youngest child was unnamed when the 7 April 1725 will was written. With a 20 Feb 1725 birth date, the second Joseph Bennett Jr. would have been a little over a month old when Joseph Bennett Sr.'s Will was written.
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Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records, Stonington 1658-1854, Vol 43. Barbour Vital Records are presently available from two sources:
   • 1. ) Lorraine Cook White transcription online at Ancestry.com or in Print. Vol. 1-55. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1994-2002. Ancestry.com, Provo, UT, USA, Page 26 or
     2. ) Free access, on-line transcription by Coralynn Brown Joseph Bennett, once at the site, you will need to scroll down to BENNETT]
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Connecticut, Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999, Ancestry.com database on-line. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Connecticut State Library (Hartford, Connecticut); Probate Place: Hartford, Connecticut.
3. ↑ 1901 Census: "England and Wales, Census, 1901"
   citing District: Dudley; Piece/Folio: 143; Page: 17
   FamilySearch Record: XS7C-N8W (accessed 7 October 2025)
   Joseph Bennett (18), single son, Coal Miner (Horse Driver), in household of Ursilla Bennett (43) in Dudley registration district in Staffordshire, England. Born in Dudley, Worcestershire.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Wheeler, Richard Anson, History of the Town of Stonington, County of New London, Connecticut, from its First Settlement in 1649 to 1900, with a Genealogical Register of Stonington Families., New London, Conn., Press of the Day Publishing Co., 1900. Public Domain.

• Family Data Collection - Births Author: Edmund West, comp. Publication: Ancestry.com Operations Inc
• 1891 England Census. The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891; Class: RG12; Piece: 2297; Folio: 133; Page: 7; GSU roll: 6097407. Residence Place: Dudley, Worcestershire, England.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194158652/joseph-bennett: accessed October 21, 2025), memorial page for Joseph Bennett (20 Mar 1681–11 Apr 1725), Find a Grave Memorial ID 194158652; Maintained by M Backus (contributor 47468547).

Acknowledgement

Thanks to Ed Poor for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Ed and others.