| Notes |
- Thomas first appears on the 1767 list of titheables in Pittsylvania Co. VA, This indicates a birthdate of 1746 or before. Hannah Goad was only 14 at this time. It is unlikely that Hannah is the mother of Thomas. The mother of Thomas is probably Mary Humphreys or another unknown wife. The History and Families of Crittendon County, Kentucky, 1842-1991 Vol. 1, p. 42 states that "Thomas Bennett son of William and Hannah (born 1742 in Pittsylvania Co., Virginia) was first of family to come to Kentucky where he died in Livingston Co. in 1809." It seems likely that Thomas's biological mother died when he was young ad that he was raised by Hannah Goad.
William Bennett, father of Thomas, first appears in the tax list for Lunenburg Co., in what is now Bedford Co., in 1748. If Thomas was born before this date, he was not born in what is now Pittsylvania Co. He would have been a young child when he moved there though.
By 1780, Thomas Bennett moved to Montgomery County along with his father William, and two brothers James and Benjamin. On 25 Aug 1780, Thomas Bennett and Brian Ward Nowlin of Pittsylvania Co. sold 100 acres of land to William Mitchell. Pittsylvania Co. Deed Book 6, p. 70-71. Thomas Bennett is described in the deed as being of Montgomery County, Virginia. The 1780 deed is evidence that the Bennetts came to Montgomery County from from Pittsylvania County.
The 1782 tax list of Montgomery also shows the Bennetts living in Montgomery County.
1782 Tax List - Montgomery Co., VA
William Bennett, Sr. 0
James Bennett 1 (had land)
Thomas Bennett 1
Benjamin Bennett
James Bobbett
The individuals listed in Montgomery County, Virginia are missing from the 1782 tax list of Pittsylvania Co. It appears that William Bennett, sons James, Thomas and Benjamin, and grandson Elijah are all living in Montgomery Co. in 1782.
Thomas served in the militia during the Revolutionary War. In 1782 he is enlisted in the Montgomery Co. militia in the company of Capt. William Bobbitt. James, his brother, and Elijah, his son, are also in the same company. Benjamin Bennett is in the company of Capt. Sanders. A large percentage of this company is made up of men from Pittsylvania County including Wm. Bobbitt, Ruben Dalton, James Goad, Tobias Phillips, Reuben Lawson, William Dalton and the Bennetts. Others may also be from Pittsylvania.
The Bennetts and allied families apparently moved back to Pittsylvania. This includes the Bobbitts, Goads, Daltons and others. The return to Pittsylvania County may be due to trouble with the native population, but we don't have any documentation of this fact. All the Bennetts, except William and Benjamin, appear in later Pittsylvania Co. tax Lists. It is believed that William Bennett died in Montgomery County in about 1782. James and Thomas eventually returned to Pittsylvania County. Benjamin moved again and settled in Stokes County, North Carolina. The 1782 Tax list is the last known record of William Bennett. He would have been 79 at that time. Benjamin Bennett moved again and settled in Stokes County, North Carolina.
Thomas reappears on the 1787 Pittsylvania County tax list. On 15 Apr. 1791, Thomas Bennett witnessed a deed from Joseph Robison to Joseph Towler, both of Pittsylvania County. Pittsylvania Deeds, 1792 - 1794, p. 57.
In 1797, Thomas purchased land in Greenville Co., South Carolina in a deed witnessed by Bryant Ward Nowlin. Greenville Co., South Carolina Book D, p. 353. In 1801, Thomas Bennett of Greenville Co., South Carolina sold land in Pittsylvania Co., VA to James Bennett. Pittsylvania County, Virginia Deed Book 12, p. 329. These deeds provide solid evidence that Thomas of Greenville is from Pittsylvania County.
Numerous deeds can be found showing that other Pittsylvania County families moved to Greenville County at about the same time as Thomas Bennett. In 1797, Light Townsend (probably related to Thomas Townsend above) sold 168 acres to Thomas Bennett with Bryan Ward Nowlin as witness to the deed Greenville Co., South Carolina Book D, p. 353. In 1801 Elijah Bennett purchased land from David Tranum Greenville Co., South Carolina Book F, p. 286. This land is adjacent to Joseph Laws and Thomas Bennett. Joseph Laws is found frequently with the Bennetts in Pittsylvania County. The 1775 tax list of William Witcher has Thomas Bennett paying 3 tithes, for himself, Joseph Laws and John Laws. In 1773 Joseph Laws' tax was paid by Stephen Bennett.
Two of Thomas's sons married sisters in the Jones family. Nathan married Rebecca Jones and Larkin married Dorothy Jones. It is likely that these marriages occurred in Greenville Co., South Carolina. The Jones family were neighbors of Thomas Bennett in Greenville Co. In a 1791 deed, Andrew & Elizabeth Jones sold land to Thomas Townsend. Greenville Co., South Carolina Book B, p. 270) Bryan Ward Nowlin was a witness to this deed. Andrew and Elizabeth are good candidates for parents of Dorothy. We believe they moved to Kentucky with the Bennetts.
An 1803 deed from Thomas Bennett to Lewis Sullivant is witnessed by Daniel Crider, Thomas' son-in-law. Greenville Co., South Carolina Book G, p. 92. Also, in 1803 Daniel Crider sells land to Jesse Parker Greenville Co., South Carolina Book G, p. 90. It appears that everyone is selling land about 1803. This may be about the time they all moved to Kentucky.
Thomas's son Stephen, is also living in South Carolina at this time. He married Lucy Nowlin, daughter of Bryan Ward Nowlin, and they lived in the Pendleton District. Peyton Nowlin, son of Bryan Ward Nowlin can also be found there.
In 1817, Thomas's son Elijah and Oswell Brown and Elijah Bennett sold land to Hewitt Sullivan. Greenville Co., South Carolina Book K, p. 227. The deed describes Elijah Bennett and Oswell Brown as being of Livingston Co., Kentucky. This shows that at least Elijah moved to Kentucky. More members of the Bennett family may have moved to Kentucky, possibly Caldwell County.
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1742 - Bef 1809 (< 66 years)
Children