BAKER FAMILY HISTORY
AND GENEALOGY
THE DESCENDANTS
OF WILLIAM BENNETT
GENERATION 3 Cont.
5. COL. ANTHONY
BENNETT
(WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born March 30,
1777 in Northumberland Co., PA, and died June 25, 1859 in Shenango
Twp., Crawford Co., PA. He
married NANCY ESPY October 29, 1805 in Pennsylvania, daughter
of GEORGE ESPY and POLLY PATTERSON.
She was born June 18, 1785 in Crawford Co., PA, and died April 08,
1863 in Shenango Twp., Crawford Co.,
PA.
Notes for COL. ANTHONY
BENNETT:
Anthony was in
Northern Liberties Twp. In
1790
COMPANY
BOUNDS
Of the battalion lately composing the
137th Regiment.
The 137th Regiment, now forming one
battalion, is divided into companies as follows,
viz.-
. . .the article goes on to name five different
townships involved and is
signed
DAVID NELSON,
Colonel.
ANTH. BENNETT. Lt.
Col.
JAMES COCHRAN,
Major.
September 21st,
1814.
Source: Crawford Messenger Sept 28,
1814
An indenture between Stephen Barlow of CT. and
Henry Baldwin of PA and the subscribers of Crawford County having original
warrantees for tracts of land, lying North and West of the Ohio and
Allegheny Rivers and Coneswango Creek surveyed and warrants in the names
of the persons whose agreement and bearing date 21st April 1792., etc,
etc, do hereby declare that it is our request that the Hons. Board of
property would grant Patents in the same manner as if separate contracts
had been made as aforesaid.
-In testimony, whereof the parties of these presents have hereunto
set their hands and seals.
Names of Settlers parties to this
agreements:
W. Hill
John Linn
John L. Siliegh
Elijah Collins
William Reid
Andrew Linn
Robert Bennett
George Espy
Anthony Bennett
George Espy
David
Collins
Mathew Gamble
Source:
Crawford County Deed Book F, p. 263; Recorded: 30 June
1817
"........The first settlement in North Shenango was made in
1798, when David McKee and Anthony Bennett came from Susquehanna County
and settled--the former in the southwestern part, near Espyville, and the
latter in the northern part........Bennett settled on the stream which now
bears his name, where he built the first saw and grist mill in the
township and operated them for many years....."page
548
Source: OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
Historical and Memorial Record of Crawford County, Pennsylvania
By Samuel P. Bates, LL.
D.
"Col. Anthony Bennett erected the first grist and saw mill
in the township in 1800 or 1801 on Bennett's Run, and both were operated
for many years. He was a
Major in 133rd Regiment under Col. Samuel Goudy in the War of
1812--promoted to Colonel."
Source: The Espy-Espey BookVol 2, p. 21,
22
Anthony, Robtert Bennett and Thos. Elliott as
administrators, posted a notice of the ESTATE OF MAT. GAMBLE in the Mar.
4, 1823 Crawford Messenger.
Also found in the Crawford Messenger dated Aug. 15, 1834 a
notice of a meeting of the seven SCHOOL DIRECTORS. “The Electors of North
Shenango to meet at the house of Anthony
Bennet.”
p578.......Anthony and Henry Bennett, came from the
Susquehanna about 1798. The
former settled on Tract 42, the latter on Tract 46. They were Seceders and life long
residents of the township.
Their aged father, William Bennett said to have built the first
keel boat on the Susquehanna, also immigrated to the township and died in
1812, aged one hundred and one years. Anthony Bennett erected the first
grist and saw-mills in the township in 1800 or 1801, on Bennetts's Run,
and bother were operated for many
years."
Source: History of Crawford
County.
p 71
"Stewartsville, (North Shenango P. O. ) is situated on Bennetts
Run, in the eastern part of the township.........The present settlement
was commenced as early as 1798, in which year David McKee and Anthony
Bennett, from Susquehanna County,
located.......
Source: Gazetteer
1874.
Southwest Corner of Anthony Bennett’s
Land
Anthony's Farm From Highway
Bennetts Run Looking West
The Position of The Picture Above, Located On
The S. W. Corner Of
The Intersection. North Shenango, Crawford Co.,
PA.
Anthony Bennett Land
Transactions in North Shenango, Crawford Co.,
PA
Anthony owned 400 acres of land
(Original Plots #98), situated on the northeastern corner of Rt. 285 and
Church Rd. (road to Linesville).
He received land warrant
#31517, of 160 acres.
1817, May
28: Articles of Agreement
regarding original tracts of Land in Crawford Co.,
PA.
Received 150
acres and the improvements they had
made.
1822, May
15: Baldwin & Barlow to
Anthony Bennett in Shenango Twp. 169 acres 165 perches 150 acres being settlement right
on above agreement (1817) and 19 acres and 165 acres being by purchase
from tract of land patented to Baldwin & Barlow in 1817.
$60.43
1829, April 2: David McKee and Hannah Burwell,
Adm. Of Samuel Burwell, dec. to Anthony Bennett 100 acres
$300
Bought at auction.
(Hannah Burwell and Samuel Burwell are the parents of Isaac Burwell
who married Anthony Bennett’s daughter Ann). My theory is that Anthony bought
the land with the intention of selling it back to Hannah, probably saving
her home. (Samuel died in
1822 at age 44 – she had 11 children, so some were undoubtedly still home.
Her son Findley became man of the house at a very young age and leased and
eventually bought the land.)
1829, June
10: Anthony and Nancy Bennett
to Hannah Burwell 100
acres $300 (see
above)
1840, March
24: Anthony & Nancy
Bennett to Thomas S. Bennett
26 acres 97 perches
(part of the larger tract of land deeded to Anthony May 15, 1822.
$100
1853, Jan.
13: Anthony Bennett to James
P. Bennett (James
Patterson Bennett is son of Anthony) Being part of
larger tract of land deeded to Anthony 1822 76 acres 76
perches
$500
1853, Jan. 13: Anthony Bennett to Robert H.
Bennett (not sure which Robert Bennett this is – many Roberts in line)29
acres 69 perches $500 Part of larger tract of land
deeded to Anthony in 1822.
These land
documents account for 738 acres of land Anthony acquired over a period of
some years. He soon began selling off acreage to his sons, which makes me
assume he was buying up land as it became available just for the purpose
of selling land at an affordable cost to his sons as they became of age or
married.
As a Major, (and Col.?), PA. militia served in 1812. He served under Lt. Col Samuel
Gowdy under Maj. Gen. David Mead at Erie, PA., serving 20-21 days
July-Aug. 1813 and 40-41 days Jan. - Feb. 1814.
179? New Jersey, War 1812
Records of the Officers and Men of NJ. In wars 1791-1815. Trenton, NJ.
1909. (369p.):183
I also found this curious entry:
Database: Pennsylvania Pensioners, 1835
County: Philadelphia
Co.
Name: Anthony
Bennett
Rank:
Private
Description of service: 32nd regiment
infantry
Time of decease: September 9,
1814
Names of the heirs: James, George W., Mary Ann,
Elizabeth, Caroline, Margaretta, and William P.
Bennett
Annual Allowance: 48
00
Sums Received: 240
00
When placed on the pension roll: May 1,
1818
Commencement of pension: February 17,
1815
Ending of pension: February 17,
1820
This is a mystery as Anthony did not die in 1814,
should this read “time of service?”
The names of the heirs are very close to the names that appear in
our family line. Anthony may have had a cousin or uncle by the name
of Anthony who lived in Philadelphia county. As many times as the
Bennett’s repeatedly named their children after other family members it
makes me think that there probably were other “Anthony’s” somewhere in the
family.
ANTHONY BENNETT MUSTER ROLLS
Plot map showing location of Anthony
and
Henry Bennett’s
farms in Shenango Twp., Crawford County
Articles of
Agreement dated May 28, 1817 and recorded June 30, 1817 in the County of
Crawford Pennsylvania.
Each of the
named had met residency and improvement requirements on their allotted 150
acres of land.
PHOTO COPIES OF
ANTHONY BENNETT DEEDS
Baldwin and
Barlow to Anthony Bennnett
Anthony & Nancy Bennett to Hannah
Burwell
McKee &
Burwell to Anthony Bennett
Anthony Bennett to Espy
Bennett
Anthony Bennett to James P.
Bennett
Anthony Bennett to Thomas S.
Bennett
Anthony Bennett to Robert N.
Bennett
[Perch/pole/rod = 5 ½ yds = 16 ½
feet].
May 15,
1822
Baldwin and
Barlow to Anthony Bennett of
Shenango
$60.43
Beginning at
a black alder north 22 perches to a beech, west 98 perches to an ironwood,
north 134 perches to a post, west 105 perches to a post, south 107 perches
to a white oak, east 209 perches to the black alder, containing 169 acres
and 155 perches, being part of a larger warrant (21) April 1794 granted to
James Linn for _______ of the North American Land Company and by the said
company coneyed to the said Henry and Stephen 150 acres _____ 19 acres _
165 acres being ______ which (part) of land was patented _____paid Henry
and Stephen and the sid Anthon Bennett on the 3rd day October
1817 _______ Anthony Bennett
$60.43
Recorded May
18, 1822
Baldwin and
Barlow to Anthony Bennett October 31,
1827
Anthony
Bennett of Shenango
$136.
Land lying in
Shenango township
Beginning at
a post south east corner land of Edward Mullen, west 70 perches to a post
center of the hiway., north 133 perches to a beech by land of Samuel B_,
east 70 perches to a post thence by land of said Anthony 133 perches to
the post at beginning, containing 154 acres and 151 perches. __5(4) acres
of land.
Witness
Arthur
Cullum
Recorded June
29, 1829
Anthony and
Nancy Bennett to Hannah
Burwell
North
Shenango formerly
Shenango
$300.00
Beginning
south east corner at an ash _________, north 106 perches to a post, west
160 perches to a post, south 106 perches to a post, east 160 perches to
the beginning, containing about 400
acres.
(The
following part of the same
document)
Archibald
Davis by indenture dated July 6, 1819 did grant and convey unto Samuel
Burwell and Hannah his wife 100
acres.
Witnesses
(Maria)
Espy
William W.
Bennett,
Anthony
Bennett
Nancy
Bennett
[Written] by George
Espy*
* See my Espy
family
line
Recorded June
29, 1829.
David McKee and
Hannah Burwell ____of Samuel Burwell dec. To Anthony Bennett [Transaction
page missing] Book M p. 423
Recorded June
30, 1817
May 15,
1822
Baldwin and
Barlow to Anthony Bennett of
Shenango
$60.43
Beginning at
a black alder north 22 perches to a beech, west 98 perches to an ironwood,
north 134 perches to a post, west 105 perches to a post, south 107 perches
to a white oak, east 209 perches to the black alder, containing 169 acres
and 155 perches, being part of a larger warrant (21) April 1794 granted to
James Linn for _______ of the North American Land Company and by the said
company coneyed to the said Henry and Stephen 150 acres _____ 19 acres _
165 acres being ______ which (part) of land was patented _____paid Henry
and Stephen and the sid Anthon Bennett on the 3rd day October
1817 _______ Anthony Bennett
$60.43
Recorded May
18, 1822
Baldwin and
Barlow to Anthony Bennett October 31,
1827
Anthony
Bennett of Shenango
$136.
Land lying in
Shenango township
Beginning at
a post south east corner land of Edward Mullen, west 70 perches to a post
center of the hiway., north 133 perches to a beech by land of Samuel B_,
east 70 perches to a post thence by land of said Anthony 133 perches to
the post at beginning, containing 154 acres and 151 perches. __5(4) acres
of land.
Witness
Arthur
Cullum
Recorded June
29, 1829
Anthony and
Nancy Bennett to Hannah
Burwell
North
Shenango formerly
Shenango
$300.00
(The following
part of the same
document)
Archibald
Davis by indenture dated July 6, 1819 did grant and convey unto Samuel
Burwell and Hannah his wife 100
acres.
Witnesses
(Maria)
Espy
William W.
Bennett,
Anthony
Bennett
Nancy
Bennett
[Written] by
George Espy
Recorded
June 29, 1829.
David McKee
and Hannah Burwell ____of Samuel Burwell dec. To Anthony Bennett
[Transaction page missing] Book M p.
423
Recorded
June 30, 1817
April 22,
1836 Deed Anthony Bennett to
Espy Bennett
Recorded
Sept. 1, 1837
North
Shenango – South east corner of water (bench), 108 perches to white
oak, north 84 perches to a post, east 108 perches to a post in the public
road, south 84 perches to beginning, containing 53 732 perches allowing 6% for
roads.
Original
survey and warrant April 1794 ____patented Baldwin, Barlow and Bennett
3rd day October
1817
Witness
James Espy
Anthony and other
family members are buried at South Shenango Cemetery,
others are buried at
the Espyville Cemetery, the headstones can be seen on
my
CEMETERIES
PAGE
Signature of Anthony
Bennett
More About: Anthony
Bennett
May be the Anthony Bennett who served in Grayson's
Reg. as a Leut.
Notes for NANCY
ESPY:
The following
stories name only a Mrs. Bennett without stating whether it was Anthony's
or Henry's wife. I tried to
determine this by studying the age of the children. The dates of births for Henry’s
children would suggest they were too old to be "babe in arms". Anthony’s children's dates of
birth have not all been found, so I am crediting this story to being about
Nancy Espy Bennett, I may have assumed incorrectly, also it could have
been a different Mrs. Bennett altogether as I have found other Bennett’s
listed in early accounts of the county. Anthony Bennett was close to the
Reed and Collins families both in locality and through
marriage.
. . . James and William Reed, brothers, came
from the Susquehanna about 1800.
William proceeded as far as Franklin in a canoe, his wife following
along the river upon horseback, and driving two cows. They stopped at first in the
eastern part of the township, but subsequently removed to the southwest
part, in the vicinity of a spring discovered by Mrs. Reed while lost in
the woods. She and Mrs.
Bennett, the latter with a babe in her arms, started through the forest to
carry the mid-day meal to their husbands, but lost their way and rambled
through the woods till evening, then took refuge in a small tree. They passed the night in terror
beholding a panther for a long time crouched beneath them. Descending in the morning they
were attracted by the sound of chopping and soon found two men by whom
they were guided homeward, where they learned that the neighborhood was
aroused and searching for
them."
Source:
History of Crawford County p.578.
The same story told in the Gazetteer &
Business Directory of Crawford Co. PA 1874. p. 72. The story has a little different
twist to it as follows:
“When they had got within fifteen miles of
Franklin, their supply of provisions became exhausted, and Mr. Reed
proceeded on foot to procure a new supply. They stopped at first in the
eastern part of the township, but subsequently removed to the vicinity of
a spring discovered by Mrs. Reed while lost in the woods, she, in company
with Mrs. Bennett, having started out with their husbands' dinners. It is related by Isaiah Collins
that these two women, having lost their way rambled through the woods and
at night took refuge in small trees up which they climbed. During the night an animal, which
they supposed to be a panther, made its appearance, and Mrs. Reed urged
her companion to appease the hungry beast and secure themselves from harm
by the sacrifice of the babe she had with her; but the thought so
repugnant to a mother's sensibilities was too horrifying to be obscured by
that of personal danger and was promptly rejected. In the morning their fears of
immediate danger were removed by the retreat of the animal. They descended and after some time
their attention was attracted by the sound of chopping, toward which they
turned their steps, and soon were gratified with the sight of two men,
engaged in digging out a trough, by whom they were piloted to their homes,
where they learned that the neighborhood was aroused and searching for
them.”
Children of ANTHONY BENNETT and NANCY ESPY
are:
12.
i. PVT. ESPY
BENNETT, b.
1806
13.
ii. ANNA E. BENNETT, b. Abt.
1808
14.
iii.
WILLIAM BENNETT, b. Abt.
1810.
15.
iv. THOMAS STEVENSON BENNETT b. September 15,
1812.
16.
v. MARGERY BENNETT, b. December 25,
1816
17.
vi. MARY BENNETT, b. Bet. September 14, 1814 -
1817
18.
vii.
NANCY JANE BENNETT, b. Bet. 1819 -
1822.
19. viii. MARGARET BENNETT, b. Abt.
1820.
ix. JOHN A. BENNETT, b. May 25, 1821, Crawford Co., PA; d.
March 11, 1829, Crawford Co.,
PA.
More About JOHN A. BENNETT:
Burial: So. Shenango Cemetery Row X #26,
Crawford Co., PA
"7 yr 9 m 14
da"
x. GEORGE BENNETT, b. Abt.
1823.
20.
xi. JAMES PATTERSON BENNETT, b.
1827.
Continued