Joseph Sleeth Bennett, II

A Patriot of the American Revolution for VIRGINIA (Soldier). DAR Ancestor # A009259

Joseph Sleeth Bennett Jr. BIRTH 10 May 1752 DEATH 25 Jun 1810 (aged 58) Pendleton County, West Virginia, USA BURIAL John Warner Cemetery Pendleton County, West Virginia

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/68765557/joseph-sleeth-bennett

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Bennett-3356
Children of Joseph Bennett, Jr. and Hannah Starnes:

• William Bennett, b September 18 1775 in Pendleton Co., WV He died March 31, 1857 in Lewis County, WV. He married Rebecca McCally on August 4, 1794 in Pendleton County, WV
• Jacob Bennett md Rachel Davis, Dec 1, 1810
• John Bennett, b 1776; prb died in Ohio; md Jane Wilson
• Elijah Bennett, md Barbara Bible [ I'm descended from this line ]
• Mary Bennett, b Mar 12, 1770; d 1835 in Lewis Co., WV: md abt 1796 to William Peterson
• Phebe Bennett
• Hannah Bennett

  ---

  
  

Joseph Bennett BIRTH 10 May 1752 [This does not agree with the DAR date of birth of 1745-47.] New Jersey, USA DEATH 25 Jun 1810 (aged 58) Pendleton County, West Virginia, USA BURIAL Bennett Cemetery Onego, Pendleton County, West Virginia

This is probably the oldest grave in the John Warner cemetery. Joseph's will asks that his lands go to his wife Hannah and his horses and guns be distributed among his sons John, Jacob, and Elijah. Hannah remarried in 1814 and was buried with her second husband.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/187686525/joseph-bennett

Bennett Family Source: West Virginia And Its People By Thomas Condit Miller and Hu Maxwell Vol. II New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co. 1913. Pp. 362-366 (included in the book is a picture of W.G. Bennett "With the settlement and development of every new country there are always men of superior intellect and business training, who take a deserved place as leaders, some in one role, some in another, but as a rule the ancestry of such men has had a large part in shaping the destinies of such characters and leaders. The Bennett family is no exception to such a rule. Its early ancestors were from England and were possessed of the sterling traits of character found in many of the English who first settled the United States, before, during and after the formation of the federation of states. (I) Joseph Bennett, the first of the line here under consideration, was born in New Jersey, his father having emigrated (it is believed) from London, England, and served with General Braddock. Later he settled in Pendleton county, Virginia, where he died.

_____________________________________________________ Bio.Joseph Sleeth Bennett Posted 01 May 2010 by suzyqwv54 Name: Joseph Sleeth Bennett 1 Sex: M ALIA: /Sleeth/ Birth: 10 MAY 1732 in Cumberland, New Jersey Birth: 10 MAY 1732 in Lewis Co, Virginia Death: 7 MAY 1808 in Pendleton Co, Virginia Death: 3 JUL 1810 in Pendleton Co, Virginia Note: Joseph Bennett, came to Pendelton County in 1767, settled 90 acres below Clover Lick, North Fork, and had ==fifteen children==. He ventured into the Allegheny wilderness and continued west until he reached the North Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac, in the vicinity of Big Run, where he established a home many years before the Revolutionary war. In 1787 they moved to Harrison County. Johnathan Manley Bennett said in 1815 that his grandmother is Hannah Starnes, a German.Joseph Bennett was a noted loom and wheel-maker, and made dozens of them throughout the community.Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 402-403 JOHN BRANNON BENNETT is a lawyer by training and profession, practiced a number of years at Weston, but now has the active business management of the old Bennett estate at Walkersville, a noted general purpose and stock farm of 1,000 acres, a portion of the original tract of 5,000 acres once owned by his GREAT-grandfather Bennett. Bennett is one of the oldest and most distinguished names in the annals of Lewis County, West Virginia. William Bennett, its founder, was born in Pendleton County, Virginia, in 1775, son of Joseph Bennett, a native of Scotland, who settled in Augusta County, Virginia, before the Revolutionary war. William Bennett, in 1797, bought a large tract of land in Lewis County from George Jackson, and he moved to the county in 1798 and throughout the rest of his life bore the reputation of a large land owner and a prominent citizen, serving on the first grand jury in the county. He died in 1857. His wife was Rebecca Mc Cally, a native of Botetourt County, Virginia. They were married October 21, 1796. Her father, Dr. James Mc Cally, resigned as captain in the British Marines to join the American Colonists in the Revolutionary war, and he spent his last years at the home of William Bennett in West Virginia. The grandfather of John Brannon Bennett was Jonathan Mc Cally Bennett, who was born in Lewis County, October 4, 1816, and died October 28, 1887. During his youth schools were hardly available, but his active mind led him into a wide field of knowledge and he acquired the equivalent of a liberal education and became a very thorough and eminent lawyer. During his youth he was deputy county clerk and deputy sheriff, was admitted to the bar in 1843, was the first prosecuting attorney of Gilmer County, and practiced law with Judge Gideon D. Camden until the latter was elevated to the bench in 1852. Jonathan M. Bennett was elected the first mayor of Weston in 1846, and in 1852 took the place in the Legislature vacated by Mr. Camden. Not long afterward he was appointed auditor of public accounts for the State of Virginia by Governor Wise, and filled that post of duty until 1865. As auditor of the state he was at Richmond at the outbreak of the Civil war. He was instrumental in securing the appointment of Stonewall Jackson to a cadetship at West Point, and like wise was an influence in securing his appointment as a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army. He was elected president of the Exchange Bank of Weston in 1853. In 1858 he was defeated for nomination for Congress on the democratic ticket by only a small margin. It was largely due to him that Weston was selected as the site for the hospital for insane. After the war he resumed his law practice at Weston, was elected a member of the State Senate, and was one of the commissioners appointed to negotiate with Virginia relative to the division of the state debt. His report on that subject was one of the valuable documents that figured in the negotiation

___________________________ Joseph Bennett, Jr. b May 10, 1732 in New Jersey; died abt 1808 in Pendleton County, (now in WV). Abt 1717, he md Hannah Starnes, who was b. August 4, 1747. Joseph Jr. is the son of Joseph Bennett, Sr. and Mary Vernon. I have a second marriage for Hannah Starnes; she also md Aaron Vanscoy after death of Joseph Bennett, Jr. I Children of Joseph Bennett, Jr. and Hannah Starnes: II William Bennett, b September 18 1775 in Pendleton Co., WV He died March 31, 1857 in Lewis County, WV. He married Rebecca McCally on August 4, 1794 in Pendleton County, WV III Jacob Bennett md Rachel Davis, Dec 1, 1810 IV John Bennett, b 1776;prb died in Ohio; md Jane Wilson V Elijah Bennett, md Barbara Bible [ I'm descended from this line ] VI Nary Bennett, b Mar 12, 1770; d 1835 in Lewis Co., WV: md abt 1796 to William Peterson VII Phebe Bennett VIII Hannah Bennett

I didn't start researching my Bennett side of the Family until after my grandfather's death in 1980. His name was Lonnie Claudis Bennett born in Upshur County, West Virginia and in his writings I found a note telling his father was David Lee Bennett and his grandfather was William C Bennett both being natives of Upshur County, West Virginia...So that was no problem...Checking into the Upshur County, Bennett's, I found William C. Bennett was easy to find. Next I found his father was David M. Bennett.

But in researching family history, I soon found that county formations plays a big part of your research. Upshur County, had not been formed when researching David M. Bennett. Therefore, I had to go to Lewis County, West Virginia records. There was two David Bennett's in Lewis County at that same time period, so I had to be very careful.

David M. Bennett led me to Moses Bennett.

Who was Moses Bennett, that has been a piece of the puzzle that I am still unable to find. Moses settled in now Upshur County, West Virginia on an area called Turkey Run around 1800...we know that for a fact. He was reportedly born in Pendleton County, (W)Virginia about 1776.

There were diffently Bennett's in Pendleton County, (W) Virginia, starting with a Bennett Family settling on Clover Lick of the North Fork in 1767 with 70 acres of land. This was a Joseph Bennett.

Some researchers has Moses parents as Joseph Bennett and Hannah Starnes

Some reseachers has Moses parents as Joseph Bennett and Barbara Ellsworth

Some researchers has Moses parents as Levi Bennett and Barbara Ellsworth

Some reseachers has Moses parents as Jacob Bennett and Nancy.

W.C. Cutright, Author of Upshur County History written in 1903 have his parents listed as Levi Bennett and Barbara Ellsworth. He writes that Levi Bennett was a German who served in the Revolutionary War.

A neighbor of the Bennett's in 1903, Greta Proudfoot, wrote several articles on person of Upshur County, including the whole Bennett family. Stating that as a child she lived by the Bennett's, remembered parts of the family and in her own hand writing she stated the same....Levi Bennett.....was this where W.C. Cutright retained his information?

Then in researching the Pendleton County History and Harris County, (W) Virginia History, I found that the Bennett's and the Ellsworth do appear in Harrison County as early as 1787. Joseph Bennett was found owning 11 horses, 17 head of cattle, with 2 white males under 16 and under 21.

In 1788 Moses Ellsworth can be found purchasing 182 acres from Henry Runyon and at the same time Joseph Bennett purchased 200 acres from Henry Runyon. Joseph purchased an additional 11 acres from Jonathan Coburn in 1788 on Colburn Creek of Harrison County.

Joseph Bennett settled Buffalo Lake area of Harrison County, and Moses Ellsworth settled Colburn Creek area of Harrison County, and these are directly over the hill from each other within about 5 miles.

This was the Joseph Bennett who owned 70 acres in Pendleton County at Clover Lick. Joseph Bennett and his wife Mary sold this acreage on 13 June 1788 to Isaac Hinkle. This sale was only 2 months after his purchase of the 200 acres on Buffalo Creek, of Harrison County....

It appears that that the Bennett Family and Ellsworth Family probably traveled into Harrison County, West Virginia about the same time or together. This traveling across the Alleghanies would have been very difficult. All the travel would have been by foot or they utilized oxen and cattle for the trip. At that time the wagon was not even in use yet. Sometimes sled were used. The trails at that time open to travel were old Indian Trails, namely the McCullough Trail, The Horseshoe Trail, The Seneca Trail and the Pocahontas Trail.

I have found no record as to which trail they traveled.

We do know that Moses Bennett was married by 1800 to Phoebe Casto, a daughter of David Casto who died in 1800 in Randolph County. In his nucupative will (oral will) he left 50 acres on Turkey Run of now Upshur County, then Lewis County, although the deed wasn't received for this land until 1831. (Lewis County Land Book B Page 75) Moses was evidently established and living on Turkey Run in the early 1800's.

In Lewis County Land Books in 1817, Moses Bennett owned 34 1/2 acres on Turkey Run, in 1818 value on buildings were $20.00 and 13 1/8 acres on Turkey Run, Buckhannon, West Virginia, USA.

Greta Proudfoot wrote in 1903 that Moses Bennett lived on the hard road near Mt. Lebanon in the corner of the Web Dix Meadow. This would have near the Mt. Lebannon Church community of Upshur County, West Virginia.

BENNETT-REEDER-QUEEN-HALEY FAMILIES wrote....Joseph Bennett (1750) was the father of Moses Bennett (1776) Pendleton Co., (W)V 1845 who married first Phoebe Casto in 1800. This story appeared in Harrison County, West Virginia BiCentennial Book

Confusion has reigned over proof of Barbara Ellsworth's marriage to Joseph Bennett. She was a daughter of Moses Ellsworth (ca 1731, Jan. 1801) and Maria Elizabeth Henckle (1731 Bucks Co., PA 1824 OH). One record of a Jsoeph Bennett (1732-1808) and wife Hannah Starnes, who died after 1808, gives reason to believe an error prevails. However, it is a fact that Joseph's son Moses, married four times. His second wife was Mary "Nancy" Queen whose parents were Charles Queen, Jr (ca 1752 Peel Tree, Harrison Co., ) and Mary E. Haley, possibly related to early resident, Anthony Haley/Hailey. Her parental grandfather was Charles Queen, Sr. born about 1732 in Ireland and married his wife in England. Her name is not known. Charles Sr. came to Harrison County after his marriage, but returned to England where he died.

Moses Bennett and Phoebe Casto Bennett had three children....David M. Bennett born 1801, William C. Bennett born 1803, and Jonathan E. Bennett born 1805....

Phoebe Casto Bennett died around 1805, probably due to childbirth. Her gravesite has never been located. Moses then married Mary Queen, daughter of Charles Queen and Mary Haley. Moses and Mary married on 7 Aug 1806 in Harrison County, West Virginia. Mary Queen was born ca 1782 and died March 1828.

We find Moses Bennett in 1810 Census of Harrison County, West Virginia with 4 males under 10, 1 male 25-45 and 1 female under 10 and 1 female 25-45.

Moses and Mary had the following children:

Elias Bennett born 1807

Phoebe Hannah Bennett born 1811

Elizabeth Betty Bennett born 1812

Sarah Sally Bennett born 1814

Silas Bennett born 1817

Moses can be found taking an active part in his community as in 1819, he went before the County Court to receive payment from where he had summoned a witness for the court and was responsible for hiring guards to help in this summons. Amounting to $4.20 which was examined by the Court and ordered to be certified to the action of public accounts to be settled with Moses Bennett.

In 1834 Moses purchased an 100 acres from the estate of George Jackson on Turkey Run, Lewis County, now Upshur County for sixty dollars. George Jackson was the first settler of this area some 50 years prior. In 1835 Moses in turn sold the 100 acres to his son David M. Bennett for one dollar, love and affection. Later in 1839 Moses conveyed to David J. Casto, Phoebe Casto's brother 10 acres of land for 40 dollars, this 10 acres appears to have been part of the orginial 50 acres he inherited from David and Phoebe's father David Casto.

In 1840, 81 acres of land was conveyed to Moses Bennett from D.J. Casto, This was also part of the George Jackson estate. Moses purchased an additional 8 acres in 1841.

In 1841, Moses appears to be trying to get his affairs in order. Three deeds are written on the 9th April 1842 with his wife then being Katherine. This was Katherine Crites. Crites was her married name, she had been married previously. Moses Bennett married Katherine Crites on 27 August 1835.

Katherine had a daughter, Rebecca Crites who married Moses' son, Silas Bennett on March 21, 1836. Bondsman on the marriage was Moses Marple and Silas Bennett.

One of the deeds written in 1842 was to Alexander Ireland for 8 and 3/4 acres on Sugar Camp Run for eighty seven dollars and 50 censt. Alexander Ireland did not receive his deed until March 25, 1853. The second deed was to Anthony Strader for eighty-one acres on Sugar Camp Run for ninety dollars and the third deed was to his youngest son, Silas Bennett, no acreage was shown, but the land was reportedly in the upper corner of the tract that Moses was living on, consideration given was one hundred and eight dollars. Silas received his deed April 16, 1865.

Moses wrote his will on the 14th day of November 1844, stating in the will that he was sick and ready to resign his life to the Almighty God.

In this will he left his beloved Katherine, his wife, one gray mare, one side saddle and bridle, one bedstead and bed clothing, one cow called Sil, dresser ware, dining table and other that I cannot read. To his son, Silas he left twenty three acres that included the house in which he lived and the orchard with the consideration that Silas would give his beloved Kathine home with all rights and priveleges.

His other children all other monies after everything was sold which were David M. Bennett, Jonathan E. Bennett, Elias Bennett, Phebe Reder, wife of Abram Reder, Elizabeth Marple, wife of Moses Marple, Sarah Queen, wife of James Queen.

His white face cow was left to Michael Crites and a blue coulored (spelling in will) coverlid to Dorcas Bennett, daughter of D.M. Bennett. His big kettle to D.M. Bennett.

Silas was made executor of his will.

Greta Proudfoot and other researchers state that Moses Bennett married a fourth time to a Dorcas Rodgers, if he did one would assume that this was previous to his will. Moses' will was presented to Court in Lewis County on April 1, 1845. That was only a year after his will was written. So where did Dorcas Rodgers come into this action?

In 1845 Land Book of Lewis County, Moses Bennett heirs have 25 acres on Turkey Run, 26 acres on Turkey Run, and 6 1/4 acres on Turkey Run.

If his birth date of 1776 is correct he died at age 69. As to where he is buried, I do not know. Greta Proudfoot said that Moses Bennett was the first person buried in Mt. Lebanon Cemetery in Upshur County, West Virginia. This is possible, as I visited Mt. Lebanon Cemetery in 1997 there many sandstone markers, some visible falling into pieces.

All of Moses children appeared to have stayed in Upshur County, except for William C. Bennett, who reportedly moved to Ohio after his marriage to Laurey Beeman/Beaman, daughter of Isaac Beaman. The Beaman family is shown to migrate to Ohio as well. No mention of William C. Bennett was in Moses' will.

The Ellsworth name appear throughout the Bennett's children names. In an article written by Jeff Carr in the Allegheny Regional Ancestors in 1997, he states it is wrong to implant incorrect and unsubstantiated information into the public, as people will use this to make up thier ancestry charts.

So after 8 years of research I am still unable to who the parents of Moses Bennett were.

Taken from Bennett's of Pendleton County by Jeff Carr in 1999- Moses Bennett- David Armstrong has written a full -length article on him that was in Allegheny Regional Ancestors Vol. 6 #1. The only two Bennett men in our family with circumstantail connections to Moses were Jacob Sr and William Sr. Moses' birth time, 1780-4 is established via census enumerations. William Sr never had a male titable corresponding to that birth range. Jacob is the only one who had an unidentified tithable that fits Moses' birth range. Jacob may have been near Moses at Buckhannon. Jacob had an extra titable in 1799 (born 1782-3) and gone in 1800, which is when Moses first appeared in the tax lists. William Sr. is the only one that was definitely near Moses at Buckhannon and William had come specifically there straight from Pendleton.

The earliest source for Moses' parentage comes from Cutright's History of Upshur County, in which his father was reported as "Levi Bennett" and that his mother had been an Ellsworth. S.P. Queen, in his history of the Queen Family ca 1943; (for whom Moses was not a direct ancestor) gave Moses' parents as "Joseph and Barbara Ellsworth Bennett" This predates Junkins' Henckel Genealogy and Chance's Ellsworth manuscript in Ohio, so it appears to have been a self contained family legend. Because if that, I tend to believe that Moses' family was correct in believing that his mother was an Ellsworth. There is absolutely no evidence of a Levi Bennett, nor a "Joseph and Barbara" relationship in our family. I am inclined to believe that Moses' family tradtion was slightly inaccurate, in that they mistakenly replaced the father's name, either William or Jacob, with that of the grandfather. Most of us have seen this happen multiple times; it's not that unlikely. Moses could have been an obvious namesake for Moses Ellsworth, but that doesn't prove a direct familial relationship; Moses Bennett also had a grandson named Ormsby Ellsworth Bennett. Jacob Sr.s extra tithable and his circumstantial connections with the Ellsworth's and Moses' probable connection to the Ellsworth certainly make Jacob Sr the leading contender as Moses' father; but its not proof. Not enough is yet known about William Sr family to eliminate him from consideration. It may be pertinent to note that William Bennett Jr named a son Moses.

David Armstrong, a descendant of Moses, has also wondered if Moses was Illegitimate child. While we don't know his mother could have been, he does fit the profile of an illegitimate child. He lived in proximity to a larger family of the same name, yet lived distinctly separate from them; repeated similar family names; and left a rumor/legend in his family of kinship to this bigger Bennett family. Unfortunately, the mother of an illegitimate child that early will leave few, if any, records. David has searched in vain for a man that could have been a step-father to Moses, and taken him to the Buckhannon settlement. This avenue should continue to be considered. Judge W.G. Bennett's inclusion of the Upshur County Bennetts (most of whom were from Moses) in the Hackers Creek Pioneer Descendants article that they were of our family. At the very least, there is to much evidence to be ignored, and the possibilities of Moses' parentage should continued to be researched. Most of his information has been discussed more extensively in the Henckle Bulletin and Allegheny Regional Ancestors.

jenniferBennett135added this on 28 Nov 2009

Joseph Sleeth Bennett, Jr BIRTH 10 May 1752 DEATH 25 Jun 1810 (aged 58) Pendleton County, West Virginia, USA BURIAL John Warner Cemetery Pendleton County, West Virginia,

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/68765557/joseph-sleeth-bennett

This is probably the oldest grave in the John Warner cemetery. Joseph's will asks that his lands go to his wife Hannah and his horses and guns be distributed among his sons John, Jacob, and Elijah. Hannah remarried in 1814 and was buried with her second husband.

Children Photo William George Bennett 1775–1858

Photo Elijah Bennett 1795–1871

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/68765557/joseph-sleeth-bennett

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/68765557/joseph-sleeth-bennett

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/68765557/joseph-sleeth-bennett

Children Photo Mary E Bennett Peterson 1770–1833

Photo William George Bennett 1775–1858

Photo Sarah Bennett McCartney 1780–1850

Photo Elijah Bennett 1795–1871

Joseph Sleeth Bennett Jr. BIRTH 10 May 1752 DEATH 25 Jun 1810 (aged 58) Pendleton County, West Virginia, USA BURIAL John Warner Cemetery Pendleton County, West Virginia

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/68765557/joseph-sleeth-bennett

Children Photo Mary E Bennett Peterson 1770–1833

Photo William George Bennett 1775–1858

Photo Phoebe Bennett Cassell 1780–1850

Photo Sarah Bennett McCartney 1780–1850

Photo Elijah Bennett 1795–1871

This is probably the oldest grave in the John Warner cemetery. Joseph's will asks that his lands go to his wife Hannah and his horses and guns be distributed among his sons John, Jacob, and Elijah. Hannah remarried in 1814 and was buried with her second husband.