| Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. From the book "Pleasant Mangum and All His Kin, the Story of the Bennetts, the Mangums, and the Parhams," comp. by James Lynn Parham, Gateway Press, Inc., Baltimore, MD, 1997, portion of chapter 3: Thomas Bennett:
"We know very little about Thomas Bennett of Warwick although he is the first of our line we have any confidence in. Thomas, as far as available records go, does not appear to be closely related to the prominent Edward Bennett family. In fact, we have no records of any direct association between the two families in Virginia.(l) In 1632 Thomas Bennett represented Mulberry Island, Warwick Co., in the House of Burgesses.(2) Mulberry Island is on the north side of the James River, across from the Bennett plantation, "Bennett's Welcome." It is also across the river from where Thomas & Alice Bennett lived, and where the 'Widow Bennett' lived later. We do not know if it is significant that Thomas did not live on Mulberry Island. It was not required that the Burgesses live in the district they represented although they usually did.
Thomas married Alice Pierce on or before 1624, possibly at James City. Alice Pierce appears to be the widow of Thomas Pierce, Sergeant of Arms of the 'Convention and Assembly of 1619'. Thomas Pierce was one of those unfortunate individuals slain in the Indian massacre of 22 March 1621/2.
From "Colonial Records of Virginia" we have the following: "Here following is set downe a true list of the names of all those what were massacred by the treachery of the Savages in Virginia the 22nd March last (1621/2) - At Mr. Thomas Pierce his house over against Mulberry Island, Master Tho Pierce; his wife and Childe."(3) Extant records indicate, however, that although Thomas Pierce was slain, probably his wife and daughter were not. Thomas must have been one of the husbands and fathers slain in the presence of their terrified families, who themselves were subsequently carried off as captives of the savages.(4) That wife and child must have been Alice Pierce who later married our Thomas Bennett and Elizabeth Pierce who married Anthony Barham.
The muster (census) of Mulberry Island, 25 June 1624/5 shows the following:(5)
Anthony Baram in the 'Abigail'
Elizabeth his wife in the 'William & Thomas'
The 'William & Thomas' sailed to Virginia in August of 1618. Since daughter Elizabeth sailed on that ship, we assume that her parents Thomas & Alice Pierce accompanied her. The William & Thomas was a magazine ship containing merchandise to be retailed to the colonists for their personal use. Thomas Pierce had been given an official position of the Convention and Assembly. He may have come over in some official capacity in connection with the magazine.
After this great Indian massacre of 1621/2 there was a list of the dead sent to England. Also, in Feb. of 1623/4 there was a census of the living in the colony and of the dead since the previous April. On 7 Feb. 1624/5 a "Muster of the Inhabitants of Virginia" was taken. We find two Thomas Bennetts in this latter census although not in the earlier 1623/4 census. One Thomas Bennett was living on the "Neck of Land" near James City on Feb. 4, 1624/5. He came to the colony on the Bona Nova and his wife Margery came in the Guift. In Warriscoyak, Basse's Choice plantation, on 7 Feb. 1624/5 we find a Thomas Bennett, age 38, who came in the Neptune in 1618. With him was Mary Bennett, age 18, who came in the Southampton in 1622.(6,7,8) 'Basse's Choice' was across the river from the Mulberry Island that Thomas represented in the House of Burgesses, not far from where Thomas and Alice lived.
If either of these is our Thomas Bennett, it would probably be the one at Basse's Choice. The "Neck of Land" was much further north of the area where our Thomas settled. Mary is a puzzle, though. Possibly she could have been a daughter by a previous marriage in England. These records and the fact that Thomas was in the House of Burgesses indicate that Thomas was a man of some means.
An alternate possibility is that Mary was Thomas's wife. Such age differences were not at all uncommon during that period. If she was a wife, then she must have died before Thomas married Alice Pierce in 1624.
The final possibility is that none of these records refer to our Thomas Bennett. Our Thomas may have come to the Colony about 1624, too late to make the census but early enough to court and marry the widow Alice Pierce.
Thomas and Alice were living on the south side of the James River, near Lawnes Creek, in 1624. Alice Bennett, in October of that year, was a witness before the General Court at the trial of John Proctor for cruelty to his servants.(9)
Elizabeth Pierce in that same General Court, Oct., 1624, chose her father-in-law (In reality he was her stepfather) Thomas Bennett as her guardian. She needed one because her fiance had just died and left her all his property. She later married Anthony Barham.
The will of Anthony Barham provides additional detail of Thomas Bennett's family. Anthony Barham, as reported above, married Elizabeth Pierce, daughter of Alice (Pierce) Bennett. Anthony also represented Mulberry Island in the House of Burgesses but he died in England in 1641. In his will dated 6 Sept. 1641, proved 13 Sept. 1641, he mentions his wife Elizabeth, his "mother Bennett" and his brother-in-law Richard Bennett. "Mother Bennett" was probably Alice Bennett, his mother-in-law. Richard Bennett was almost certainly Alice and Thomas Bennett's son, Richard Bennett Sr.
Alice Bennett is mentioned in a land grant to George Hardy in 1642. The grant in Lawnes Creek was adjacent to Alice Bennett. In June 1642 John Stacker patented 200 acres adjoining the widow Bennett's line.
We don't know when Thomas Bennett died, but he was obviously dead by June 1642 as evidenced by the above-mentioned patent. The fact that he was not mentioned in the will of Anthony Barham may indicate that he was dead before 6 Sept 1641...
The Bennetts were part of the American experience almost from the beginning of America. The Bennetts became widespread in Virginia and later in the rest of the developing county as migrations populated the frontier. In a few cases these migrations coincided with the migrations of their relations, the Mangums. Mostly, however, the Bennetts went their separate ways. We are proud of the Bennetts because they tie our heritage back to the beginning of America. Most of us "Mangums" probably carry genes from some of those earliest Bennett pioneers."
"References
1. It is interesting to note that one of the daughters of the merchant Edward Bennett was Silvestra or Silvester who married Col. Nicholas Hill, Burgess for Isle of Wight, 1659-66. Richard Bennett Jr., grandson of our Thomas of Warwick, also named a daughter 'Silvester'. In spite of these similarities in family names we presently do not know what family relationship there was, if any, between the Edward Bennett family and our Thomas Bennett family. John Jennings, who married Mary, daughter of Silvester and Col. Hill, made his will on Dec. 1692. The mistaken reading of that will by Boddie showed that one of the witnesses was Frances Mangum when it was actually Frances Taylor. See Reference 3, Chapter 1.
2. The Burgess Journals (1619-59), page XIII.
3. Colonial Records of Virginia, re-published by the Clearfield Co., 1992, page 66.
4. John Bennett Boddie, Southside Virginia Families, page 50.
5, Hatten, page 241. See Bibliography.
6. Basse's Choice was a plantation of Nathaniel Basse. He represented his plantation in the House of Burgesses in 1629. He went to New England in 1631. The First Seventeen Years, Virginia, 1607-1624, page 89.
7. The Neptune left England in the middle of April 1618 with 180 immigrants and arrived in August with 150. Lord Delaware was one of those who did not survive the voyage. He died 7 June 1618. 17th Century Isle of Wight, Boddie, page 31.
8. Hatten, page 242.
9. John Bennett Boddie, Seventeenth Century Isle of Wight, page 289."
2. FHL book 975.5 D2b5, "Southside Virginia Families," by John Bennett Boddie, vol. 1, 1976-1996, pp. 50-54; this section describes the great Indian Massacre of March 22, 1622, in which one quarter of the population of Jamestown was massacred:
"...All of which is of interest in connection with Thomas Pierse:
The official report of the slain shows that his plantation was the next one to the south of Martin's Hundred, near Mulberry Island. The dead at his place included Thomas, himself, "his Wife and Childe", two other men and a French boy. (3 Ibid. 570). Word of the massacre and the list of those slain or supposed to be, did not reach England until July, 1622. At a Quarter Court in London, October 2, 1622, "Edward Peirs Cittizen and Merchantaylor in London", petitioned for administration upon the estate of "one Thomas Peirs his Brother, late inhabitating neare Mulberry Islands in Virginia (who was there slain with his wife and Childe in the late massacre)". Edward satisfied the Court that he and sister Anne were the only heirs in England, so instructions were issued to authorities in Virginia to lend aid to Edward in salvaging his brother's estate. (2 Ibid. 106.)
However, there is no indication anywhere in the records, that Edward Pierse and his sister acquired any part of the estate of their brother, Thomas. On the contrary, extant records show beyond reasonable doubt that Thomas Pierse must have been one of the husbands and fathers slain in the presence of their terrified families who were carried off as captors of the savages... For subsequent recÂords seem to prove that the Alice Peerce, widow, who married Thomas Bennett was the widow of Sergeant at Arms Thomas Pierse; and that her daughter, Elizabeth Peerce, who chose her step-father, Thomas Bennett to be her guardian, and who married, first, Anthony Barham; and then Richard Jackson, must have been the "Childe" of Thomas Pierse listed among those killed at his house.
At a Court held at Jamestown, October 10, 1624, "Alice Bennett" testified that she and her husband and Richard Richards found a runaway servant of John Proctor's, and took her home. Richard Grove, a servant of Proctor's, deposed in this connection that when "Mr Richards and Thomas Bennett brought her home last, she received no Corrections, but when they two and the wife of said Thomas Bennett brought her home, last, then she received Correction".
"Mr. Anthony Barram" also testified in this case. (Minutes of the General Court, 23.) These people all lived at or near Warrasqueake on the southside of James River, at the time of these occurrences, where the Bennetts, Barhams, Proctors and Richards had lands. (4 Records of the Virginia Company, 552-554; C. P. 10).
At a General Court held November 1, 1624, George Fadom reported that "about the 4th of July last past", he had written a will for John Phillimore (Filmer), who "signed and sealed it". But when Phillimore died the will could not be found. Fadom testified that "said Philimore did give all of his estate to Elizabeth Peerce to whom he was assured and meant to have married". One Sully, to whom Fadom had read the will, also said that Phillimore had bequeathed to said Elizabeth all of his "goods, lands and Chattells". Others gave the same testimony. Whereupon the Court ordered that the guardianship and administration of the lands and goods of John Phillimore be granted to "any friende whom the said Elizabeth Peerce shal choose to her use". Elizabeth "made choyce of Thomas Bennett her father in law" (stepfather). (Minutes of the Court, 27.) Three months later, the bereaved Elizabeth was married to another - none other than the Anthony Barham or Baram (Barram &c), who lived in the neighborhood with the Thomas Bennetts on the southside; but at the time of the census or Muster of 1624/25, Anthony Baram and wife Elizabeth were listed as living at Mulberry Island. This is on the northside of the James River, and where Thomas Pierse had his plantation. The record shows that Anthony came in the Abigail (1621); and Elizabeth in the William and Thomas (1618). (Hotten's Lists). Anthony was Burgess from Mulberry Island, 1629-30. Thomas Bennett represented Mulberry Island in 1632. In that day, however, in Virginia as in England, a man did not have to live in the community he was Burgess from, but as a rule they did. (Jour. H. B., 1619-1658/9, pp. xi; xiii.)
That Elizabeth, wife of Anthony Baram, was the foregoing Elizabeth Peerce, is borne out by the will of "Anthony Barham, Gent. of Mulberry Island, Virginia and at present residing in England": This will dated September 6, 1641, was probated in England September 13 as follows:
Wife Elizabeth, goods for her to be sent over to Virginia.
Daughter Elizabeth, ₤100 to be sent to my wife for her use.
To Mother Bennett
to brother in law Richard Bennett
to my sister Mrs. Mary Duke; to sister Groves and her son.
to friend Edward Major; to friend and gossip William Butler
To Mrs. Joan Pierce wife of Mr. William Pierce.
To Martha Major, wife of friend Edward Major
To Goddaughter Sarah Butler daughter of William Butler
To friend Edward Aldey minister of Canterbury
To Thomasine David.
Executors: Edward Major and William Butler.
(N. E. list. and Genealogical Register, Vol. 42, p. 393; Seventeenth Century Isle of Wight, p. 291.)
This will leaves no room for doubt that Barham's wife, Elizabeth, listed with him in the Muster of 1624/5 as having come in the William and Thomas, 1618, was the Elizabeth Pierse (Peerce) who, in November, 1624 chose her stepfather, Thomas Bennett, as her guardian and administrator of the estate left Elizabeth by her deceased fiance; nor can there be any doubt "Mother Bennett" of the will was the Alice (Peerce) Bennett, wife of Thomas Bennett and mother to said Elizabeth, wife and widow of Anthony Barham. It is equally evident that the Richard Bennett of the will was the son of Alice and Thomas Bennett, and so, half brother to Elizabeth (Pierse) Barham.
A thorough check of every contemporary Pierce - including every variant of the name shows that Alice and Elizabeth could not have belonged to any Pierce or Peurce &c, in Virginia, other than Sergeant at Arms Thomas Pierse of the Convention and Assembly of 1619. This being the case, then the fact that Elizabeth is shown to have come in the William and Thomas, which sailed for Virginia in August, 1618, indicates that Thomas Pierse with wife Alice and daughter Elizabeth, emigrated to America on that ship. The William and Thomas was a "magazine ship" - that is, contained merchandize to be retailed to the colonists for their personal use. In other words, the "department store" of that time. In as much as Thomas was given an official position in the Convention and Assembly, it suggests that he probably came in some official capacity in connection with the Magazine. (3 Rec. Va. Comp. 239.) When we remember that twelve years was a legal marriageable age for girls in early Virginia; and we take into consideration the scarcity of young girls in the Colony, it is easily deducible that Elizabeth may have been engaged even before she was twelve - this in 1624; and therefore, she might well have been a "Childe" of ten or less at the time of the massacre in 1622.
Another inference to be drawn from this will is that Alice Bennett, as Alice Pierse, had but the one child, Elizabeth; and as Alice Bennett, she also had but one child, Richard Bennett. This seems conclusive from the fact that no sister whatever, of Elizabeth, his wife, nor of her brother, Richard Bennett, is mentioned in Barham's will. Neither is there any brother mentioned save the half-brother, Richard Bennett. It is logical to assume that had there been either a sister or other brother of his wife, she or he would have been remembered by Anthony, in view of the wide range of relatives and friends named as beneficiaries. (The Mr. William Pierce and wife Joan mentioned in the will, were Captain William Pierce who, as Lieutenant Pierce sailed in the Seaventure, 1609, under Yeardley as Captain of the Governor's Company of soldiers. William's wife, Joan, and daughter Joan (or Jone), came in the Blessing which sailed at the same time. The daughter be-came the third wife of John Rolfe and later, of Captain Roger Smith.)
The last heard of Thomas Bennett is as Burgess in 1632. As he is not mentioned in Barham's will, he probably had died before September, 1641. On June 10, 1642, George Hardy received a patent for land adjoining that of Alice Bennett on the easternmost side of Lawne's Creek, Isle of Wight County. (1 Nugent, 140). On April 2, 1644, Justinian Cooper sold to his neighbor, Alice Bennett, widow, for a cow and a calf and barrel of corn, 150 acres in Isle of Wight, between Castle and Cypress Creeks. On July 19, 1647, Alice Bennett deeded the said 150 acres of land to her granddaughters, Mary and Sarah Jackson, daughters of Richard Jackson, to be possessed immediately after her death - the land and housing on the side of swamp "where I dwell", to Mary; the land on the other side, to Sarah. If either die without issue, the other to inherit. (17 C-513) They were not in the Colony when the census or Muster was taken in January and February, 1624/25, there were many absentees from the Colony at that time, partly on business but also to learn what it was all about, after the Commissioners appointed to report to the King on the state of the Colony, attempted to get the Assembly of February and March, 1623/4, to consent to relinquish the Virginia Charters. Among those out of the country at that time were William Claiborne, Hon. John West, Francis Eppes, John Pountis, the Justinian Coopers, Sergeant John Harris and family, William Perry &c &c, all of whom returned to the Colony later. There are two other Thomas Bennetts in that Muster, however, but there is no indication whatever, of any connection between them and any of the other Bennetts: One was Thomas Benett, with wife, Margery, living in the "Neck of Land neare James City". The other was Thomas Bennett, aged 38, and Mary Bennett, aged 18, presumably his wife, living down below Basse's Choice on the south side, several miles below the Bennett Plantation of Edward Bennett and his brothers, Robert and Richard. There is no proof that Thomas Bennett who married the widow of Thomas Pierse, was connected with the family of Governor Richard and no indication thereof aside from the fact that the widow, Alice Bennett, is known to have had land in the vicinity of the original Bennett plantation; and two of Richard Bennett's land patents contained the name of Thomas Bennett as headright.
Since Elizabeth (Pierse) Barham is the only daughter of Alice (Pierse) Bennett found anywhere in the records, said Elizabeth must have been the mother of Alice Bennett's granddaughters, Mary and Sarah Jackson, as already noted; and wife of Richard Jackson, their father.
Richard Jackson patented 450 acres, March 13, 1641, upon Sewards Creek, 350 acres by assignment from Thomas Stamp and John Sweete and 100 acres for the transportation of himself and one other person. (C.P.128) On Aug. 28, 1643, he patented 110 acres near head of Sewards Creek. (C.P.147)
Richard Jackson appears in the picture about the time Elizabeth (Peirce) Barham became a widow. The date of their marriage is unknown but they had at least two children, Mary and Sarah, in 1647 according to deed of Alice Bennett to her granddaughters heretofore mentioned.
Richard Jackson was a "Viewer of Tobacco" from Lawne's Creek to Castle Creek in 1639-40 (17 C-172). He was deceased before June 19, 1666, for on that day Capt. George Hardy made a deed to land which belonged to his wife Mary, whom he refers to as the daughter of Richard Jackson, deceased. (17 C-294).
The children of Elizabeth (Pierce) Barham and Richard Jackson were: Mary, who married George Hardy; Sarah, who married Col. Arthur Smith II; (see 17C.) and probably Richard2 Jackson, who made his will April 4, 1703, Pro. Dec. 9, 1703. He names his wife Priscilla, Sons Richard and John, daughters Mary, Ann and Sarah, and wife's daughter, Ann Clark. (Wills 1-62). Richard Jackson of Nottoway Parrish made his will, Oct. 14, 1740, pro., June 22, 1741, legatees, wife, Sarah, daughters Mary, Sarah and Katherine, granddaughters Ann Stuart.(Bk. 2l04) (The foregoing pages were kindly written by Mrs. Henry Lowell Cook, of Chicago, Illinois)."
3. From the book "Seventeenth Century Isle of Wight," by John Bennett Boddie, 1938, [Note the original founder of the Colony was Edward Bennett. Brothers of Edward involved with the Colony were Richard and Robert, one of which became Governor of Virginia. These Bennetts are not connected to Thomas Bennett in the book. References to this Thomas Bennett:
P. 88: "A 'Muster of the inhabitants in Virginia' was taken in Feb., 1625, and the total number of inhabitants was 1,095. Those living at Basse's Choice are shown below... The Muster of Thomas Bennett. Thomas Bennett, aged 38, in the Neptune 1618. Mary Bennett, aged 18, in the Southampton 1622. Roger Heford, aged 22, in the Returne 1623. Benjamine Simes, aged 33, in the - - "
P. 90: "Thomas Bennett, aged 38, who came in the Neptune in 1618, was probably the Thomas Bennett who appears as a tenant on the Governor's Land at the mouth of the Chickahomniny, January 1626/7. (Min. Counc., 136)."
P. 91: "Anthony Barham, who owned 100 acres in 1626, moved to Mulberry Island which he represented in the House of Burgesses in 1629-30. He married a stepdaughter of Thomas Bennett and his career is given in a subsequent account of Thomas Bennett's family."
4. The book "17th Century Isle of Wight County Virginia," by John Bennett Boddie, 1938, chapter XVI, Descendants of Richard Bennett of Isle of Wight: "Richard Bennett (1625-1709) of Isle of Wight was probably a son of Thomas and Alice Bennett who were residing on the south side of the James River, near Lawne's Creek in 1624. On October the 4th, 1624, Alice Bennett was a witness before the General Court at the trial of one John Proctor for cruelty to his servants. (John Proctor was a member of the Virginia Company. He came over on the Sea Adventure in 1607 and Allis, his wife, in the George in 1621.) She was sworn and examined as to the beating of Elizabeth Abbott, serving maid of Mr. Proctors, and stated that she "found her by the waterside by Mr. Burroughs plantation lying behind a boat wrapped in a rug... whereupon this examinat, with Her Husband and Richard Richards carried her and delivered her to her master." (Va. Mag., 19, page 389.)
"Richard Grove, servant of Mr. Proctor saith that the said wench often times ran away and that she was corrected for it, but that she never received over 20 or 30 lashes, etc., that when Mr. Richards and Mr. Thomas Bennett brought her home last she received no correction, but when they two and the wife of Mr. Thomas Bennett brought her home last she received correction from William Moyle servant of Mr. Proctors."
The above testimony seems to prove that Alice Bennett was the wife of Thomas Bennett. Several other witnesses testified at this trial among them was John Burroughs by whose plantation on the waterside Alice Bennett and her husband had found Elizabeth Abbott. John Burroughs was living at Jamestown in 1625 but had a plantation called "Burrow's Hill" on the south side of the James in James City County, now Surry. James City's records were destroyed in the Civil War.
At the same court Anthony Barham swore that "he saw Mr. Proctor strike Elias Hinton one of his servants." In 1626 Anthony Barham had a patent of 100 acres next to Captain Nathaniel Basse's on the James River in Isle of Wight. (V.M. 7, page 218) in March, 1629-30 he was a member of the House of Burgesses from Mulberry Island across the James from Basse's Choice. He came to Virginia with Captain Bass on the Abigail in 1621. His wife Elizabeth came on the William and Thomas in 1618.
It seems that Thomas Bennett's wife, Alice, was formerly the widow of one Pierce, for at that same General Court in October, 1624, "Elizabeth Pierce chose her father in law (stepfather), Thomas Bennett, as her guardian." (V.M. 20, page 155.) She was unmarried and then because John Filmer to whom she was engaged had just died and left all his property to her. This was the reason for her choosing a guardian. It is probable that this Elizabeth Pierce afterwards married Anthony Barham.
Thomas Bennett was also a member of the House of Burgesses as he represented Mulberry Island in 1632. (Burgess Journals 1619-59, page 13) Mulberry Island is in Warwick County and as Warwick's records were destroyed in the Civil War nothing more can be found out about Thomas Bennett. However, a clue to his family is found in the will of Anthony Barham, the former Burgess of Mulberry Island who died in England in 1641. His will was as follows (N.E.H.G.R. Vol. 42, p. 393): "Will of the Anthony Barham of Mulberry Island, Virginia, and that present residing in England; dated 6th September, 1641. To my wife Elizabeth, goods for her to be sent over to Virginia; to my daughter Elizabeth 100 pounds to be sent over to my wife for her use; to my mother Bennett, 5 pounds; to my brother in law Richard Bennett, 5 pounds; to sister Mrs. Mary Duke, sister Groves 40 shillings; friend Edward Major 10 shillings; Gossett William Butler; to son of the my Sister grows 40 shillings; to Mrs. Joane Pierce, wife of Mr. William Pierce 50 shillings to make her a ring; to Martha Major, wife of my loving friend Edward Major 50 shillings to make her a ring; to my god daughter Sara Butler, dau. of Wm. Butler, 30 shillings for a wine cup; to friend Edward Aldey, minister of St. Andrews in Canterbury; to Thomas Dove 40 shillings for a ring: 226 pounds owed me by Thomas Lyne. Edward Major and William Butler, exrs. in Virginia. Probated 13th Sept.1641."
With reference to the persons mentioned in Anthony Barham's will it is important to ascertain whom some of them were and where they lived or owned land because Alice Bennett, wife of Thomas Bennett, appears to have resided near them in the Lawne's Creek district and probably on Mulberry Island, if she and her husband removed there when he represented Mulberry Island in the House.
"Mr. William Pierce" was Captain of Governor Wyatt's guard and Lieutenant Governor at James City in 1629. He was in Ancient Planter having come over with Sir Thomas Gates in 1609, also was a member of the Virginia Council in 1631. Captain Pierce owned land both upon Lawne's Creek and Mulberry Island. In 1628, one Lieut. Thomas Flint received a grant of 1000 acres two upon the Southern Shore of Warwick River (Mulberry Island) adjacent to land patented by John Rolfe, Esq., deceased, and Capt. William Pierce. (C & P, page 9.) Jane Pierce, daughter of Captain Pierce, was the third wife of John Rolfe, whose first wife was the celebrated Pocahontas.
On June 22, 1635, Captain William Pierce, "one of the Council of State," patented 2000 acres upon Lawne's Creek near the land of William Spencer. (C & P, page 29.) This Creek was the dividing line between Surry and Isle of Wight. Pierce's Creek which flows into Lawne's Creek was evidently named after him. In 1640 Captain William Pierce of Mulberry Island conveyed 50 acres on Lawne's Creek adjacent to William Spencer. (C & P, page 147.)
An important grouping of persons and places is shown in a grant to one John Sweet of 1,540 acres in Isle of Wight, September 26, 1643, as follows: "lying upon the eastern branch of the Blackwater, adjacent Francis England, Mr. Justinian Cooper and north towards Capt. Pierce's."
Francis England obtained a patent 26th July, 1652, for 1066 acres, same "being in Isle of Wight County lying on a swamp running to Blackwater upon the eastern most branch pointing to Upper Chipoaks in Surry... 120 acres adjacent Richard Jackson."
Justinian Cooper and Francis England will be found in subsequent transactions with Thomas Bennett's wife Alice, his son Richard, and his grandson James Bennett.
"My said gossip William Butler," mentioned in the will of Anthony Barham also patented 700 acres in Surry, August 29, 1643, "upon the south side of the James River at the head of Lawne's Creek" adjacent to Captain William Pierce for the transportation of himself and family. (C & P, p. 146.)
Alice Bennett, seemingly the "Mother Bennett" of Anthony Barham's will, in 1641 was residing in the vicinity of Lawne's Creek, for on June 10, 1642 George Hardy received a grant of 300 acres upon the eastermost side of Lawne's Creek adjacent to Alice Bennett. June 19, 1642, one John Stocker patented 200 acres adjoining Mr. Hardy's land and the widow Bennett.
She bought 150 acres from her neighbor Justinian Cooper the 2nd of April 1644 for a cow and a calf and a barrel of corn. Justinian Cooper had previously patented 1050 acres in 1636 lying at the head of Lawne's Creek.
Alice Bennett, sometime after purchasing the above mentioned 150 acres from Justinian Cooper, deeded the same to her granddaughters Sarah and Mary Jackson. They were probably very young at the time as she seems to have married Thomas Bennett about 1624. Her granddaughters were married by 1666 as shown below.
Children of Thomas and Alice Bennett:
1. Richard. (See later, may be stepson of Alice.)
2. (Daughter) [Mary?] married Richard Jackson who patented 450 acres in Isle of Wight adjacent to Justinian Cooper, March 1641. Children:
a. Mary Jackson, married Capt. George Hardy who besides the grant formerly mentioned patented 500 acres on July 17, 1648 "lying on east side of Lawne's Creek extending to main river and along the great river to the creek dividing the same from land of Alice Bennett." On 19th of June 1666 he made a deed to land which belonged to his wife Mary whom he refers to as the "daughter of Richard Jackson, dec."
b. Sarah Jackson, married Col. Arthur Smith II, as evidenced by a deed. (See deed.)
Richard Bennett, son of Thomas, is mentioned as "brother-in-law," in the will of Anthony Barham of Mulberry Island, 6th of September, 1641, as heretofore shown. (A Richard Bennett patented 300 acres in Isle of Wight, 2 Mar. 1638, "due by right of transportation of 6 persons by John Miles. 150 acres were upon the bay behind Ambrose Meders Point and 150 acres at the Miles end upon west side of Thomas Davis." This may be the Richard Bennett of our sketch.) He resided at Blackwater in the vicinity of the plantations of Justinian Cooper and Francis England, for in 1669 Thomas Wood, "son of Arthur Wood, and Sarah Wooten his mother, relict of Arthur deceased," deeded him land and in the deed he is mentioned as "Richard Bennett of Blackwater." Colonel Arthur Smith in 1666 made a deed to land at "Blackwater" inherited by his wife Sarah Jackson from her grandmother Alice Bennett."
In 1682, Richard Bennett patented 630 acres in the Lower Parish of Surry County, bounded by the land of Francis Mason, William Edwards and Hollybush Swamp, for the transportation of 13 persons, his name not being among those mentioned. As he did not receive any land for his own transportation it seems therefore he was born in Virginia.
Soon after receiving the above grant he sold George Morrell part of land as evidenced by the following deed (Deed book 2, pages 30-31): "Richard Bennett, ye elder of the Upper Parish of Isle of Wight with the free will and consent of my wife Anne, have for a valuable consideration to me and hand paid before the sealing, grant unto George Morrell of Lawne's Creek Parish in the County of Surry, 150 acres situate on the west side of Pocatink Swamp in Surry, the same parcel of land being part of a patent for 630 acres to me granted the 22nd July 1682 - near Mr. Thos. Binns."
On the fourth of September, 1694, he made a gift of 200 acres on the west side of Pocatink Swamp to his son James Bennett of the Lower Parish of Surry County. (Deeds 1694-1709, page 18) July 5, 1699, as Richard Bennett of the Upper Parish of Isle of Wight he deeded to his "son and heir" Richard Bennett, Jr., of the same parish "all right and title in land that belonged to Edward Jones then taking in plantation Richard Bennett now lives, being part of land bought of William Miles in 1656." (Book 1688-1704, page 292.)
This date, 1656, is interesting for it shows that Richard Bennett must have been grown in 1656 and therefore could have been the Richard Bennett mentioned by Anthony Barham in his will in 1641. When the above Richard Bennett, Jr., made his will in 1720 he was still living on this land as he speaks of "my plantation and land whereon I now live, it being part of ye land which was bought formerly of William Miles." Miles patented land on the second branch of the Blackwater adjoining Mr. England's land at an early date and died in 1698. He was age to 75 years on the 8th of March 1697-98, which would make him 23 years of age in 1656.
Richard Bennett's first wife was named Anne. She was probably the mother and his children. The wife mentioned in his will was named Sarah and she subsequently married Robert Lancaster whose will is probated in 1720. (See will.) Sarah Bennett-Lancaster made her will the 31st of October, 1722, and same was probated 29 January, 1723.
Richard Bennett, Sr., died in 1709. He was then probably between 80 and 85 years of age as he had several sets of great-grandchildren. 15 years before his death he made a deed of land in Surry to Ann Bell a married granddaughter. He made his will as "Richard Bennett, Sr.," on the 4th of December, 1709 and same was probated February, 1710..."
5. "Mangum Family Bulletin," Four part article in vol. numbers 27-30, Jan. 1986, Apr. 1986, July 1987, Oct. 1987, editor James L. Parham: "Mangum Origins - The Bennett Connection," by James L. Parham. [Notes by myself, Kerry Petersen, are in brackets.]
"Introduction
My first attempt to resolve the question of Mangum origins was in December 1969 when I published an article on John Mangum of early Virginia (issue 4, MFB). Please review that earlier article for background information. There have been further developments since then, some (but not many) new records and a lot of thought & debate. In this article I will try to present all that is known about Mangum origins with emphasis on John Mangum of early Virginia and the Bennett family he was connected with.
This has been a very difficult article to write. It is long, the records are sparse and there is much disagreement about what the records mean. Please be careful about using the theories that I present. They are not to be taken as actual fact without proof. I will try to cover dissenting opinions, but this article will, of necessity, be biased in favor of my theories and beliefs. I welcome and encourage different theories and will offer to print any such received.
Because of the length of this article it will be published in several parts. I will try to finish it before the end of the year. Please be forewarned that the problem of Mangum origins will not be solved by this article. In fact, you may be more confused after reading it than before you started. Nevertheless, it will be useful to present the known facts and ask the questions that need to be asked.
I will try to make this article as organized as possible. However, you may find that I did not quite succeed at times. I will first present some general history of the Virginia colony and how the Bennett family fits in. I will then present information on the Edward Bennett line which may not be directly related to "our Bennetts." However, there seems to be some tie-in of this line to the Mangums. Next I will present what is known about the Bennett family that was definitely associated with our John Mangum and the details of that tie-in.
Delta Ivy Mangum Hale.
Mrs. Hale of Utah spent 40 years of research into her Mangum line and the problem of Mangum origins. She hired professional genealogists to make extensive searches of ship passenger lists and other records to uncover Mangum origins. Unfortunately, she found little hard evidence. One family tradition she found seemed to explain why there were no official records of our Mangum immigrant. This tradition states that two brothers in Isle of Man were playing and accidentally broke a window. They ran, hid on a ship and went to sleep. When they awoke they were out to sea on the way to the New World. The likelihood of this story being true is debatable and there are other possible explanations for the lack of Mangums on the passenger lists. One obvious possibility is the fact that many passenger lists were destroyed or lost over the years. Mrs. Hale's book was published in 1971 posthumously. At that time it could be ordered from Mr. Elgie J. Hale, 1040 E. Arlington, Bountiful, Utah. I feel very indebted to Mrs. Hale for the huge amount of work she put into Mangum research. If not for her earlier work then this article could not have been possible.
Mangum Beginnings.
The only definite evidence of the immigration of a Mangum to the new World was in 1666. In that year a Timothy Mangham was transported to Maryland as a colonist. There is no evidence that this individual left any descendants. There were Mangum families in Maryland during the first census in 1790 but this was over 120 years later. Mangham was one popular spelling of the name Mangum. Few names had "fixed" spellings before the mid-1800's.
John Mangum of Virginia appears to have been the first Mangum immigrant to have left surviving descendants. The evidence is not definitive but he appears to have been the father of the several families of Mangums who were in the Albemarle Parish, Sussex & Surry Counties in the early 1700's. He also appears to have been associated with the Bennett family, probably by marriage, of Isle of Wight County. This Bennett family was in Virginia much earlier than the Mangum family, possibly from near the beginning of Virginia itself.
We may be in error by trying to assign a single person as "the immigrant ancestor." In fact, there may have been several. Nicholas & Martha Mangum who died in Surry Co, VA in 1757 and 1761 respectively were likely immigrants. They were apparently elderly people, certainly not very young and only their estate records have been found. Jacob Mangum of Richmond County N. C. (ca 1786) and later S. C. may also been an immigrant from Ireland. Others believe he was descended from James Mangum of the 1st VA to N. C. migration. These are only two examples of several possible Mangum immigrants.
The Virginia Colony.
In 1607 three ships carrying colonists sent by the Virginia Company of London dropped anchor in what is now the James River of Virginia. They built a fort and the settlement that grew up around it became known as Jamestown. This was the first permanent English settlement in North America and the beginning of Virginia. Even though the settlers suffered great hardship in the first years, they managed to survive under the leadership of Capt. John Smith. Tobacco became a commercial crop in 1612 and the marriage of John Rolfe to Pocahontas insured peace with the Indians until her death in 1618.
By 1619 plantations were on both sides of the James River and women had also begun arriving in the colony. Also during this year the first representative legislature in the New World, the House of Burgesses, met at Jamestown. The House of Burgesses was a 22 member legislative body together with Sir George Yeardly as Governor and a 6 member council appointed by him. The first Negroes also arrived in the colony. There was an Indian massacre in 1622 but the colony survived. By 1624 Virginia became a royal colony under the direct control of the King rather than a commercial venture.
Edward Bennett Family.
Edward Bennett of London owned a fleet of ships doing trade with Virginia. He established a large plantation in Virginia in 1621 which was called "Bennetts Welcome." He was not in VA at this time but his brothers Robert & Richard were. Edward must have come to VA by 1627 because he was in the House of Burgesses for that year.
One of Edward's daughters was named Silvestra and she is one of two of his heirs mentioned in his will. She was born 25 Oct. 1630 and died 1706. She married Lieut. Col. Nicholas Hill who was also in the House of Burgesses in 1663, 1666. He died in 1675 in Isle of Wight. One daughter of the Hills, Mary, married John Jennings Jr. John made his will in Dec. 1692, probated Dec. 1695. In his will he names mother (in- law?) Silvester Hill. A witness to the probate was Frances Mangum. [This has since been proven by the same author to be an error and Frances was not the signature on the will - see separate note on this subject in Frances Bennett's notes in this database.]
This enigmatic reference to Frances Mangum with the Edward Bennett Family raises many questions which cannot be answered at this time. We have found no further reference to a Mangum with this Bennett line. It remains to be seen what significance this has in relation to the Thomas-Richard Bennett line that we usually associate with the Mangums.
General References:
1. John Mangum of Early Virginia, Article MFB #4, Dec. 69
2. Southside Virginia Families, Boddie, pp. 57-64
3. 17th Century Isle of Wight, Boddie, pp. 289-304
4. Adventures of Purse & Person
5. Albemarle Parish Register, MFB # 1-4
6. Encyclopedia
7. Nicholas Mangum, Article MFB # 9-12
8. Misc. records from MFB
This is the second installment of the Mangum-Bennett article. This article begins with Thomas Bennett who was the first known of the Bennett line who came to America and whose descendants were associated with our immigrant ancestor.
Thomas Bennett:
The Bennett family that was associated with our apparent immigrant ancestor, John Mangum, was in the New World almost from the beginning. We have not been able to find any definite tie to the Edward Bennett family described last issue other than the Jennings-Mangum record. However, it is very likely that there was some relation. Thomas Bennett was apparently the first Bennett of this particular line to come to the New World. He was a member of the House of Burgesses in 1632 from Warwick County, VA. Unfortunately, the records of Warwick County were destroyed in the Civil War.
Thomas's wife was named Alice & she was a widow of Thomas Pierce. She may have married Thomas Bennett about 1624 and was apparently the mother of his only child, Richard. They lived on the south side of the James near Lawnes Creek in 1624.
Elizabeth Pierce, daughter of Thomas and Alice pierce(later Alice Bennett), probably married Anthony Barham. Anthony was also a member of the house of Burgesses in 1629-30. His will in 1641 in England mentioned his brother-in-law Richard Bennett and mother Bennett.
Thomas Bennett probably died between 1632 and 1641. These are the dates of his House of Burgesses service and the 1641 will of Anthony Barham. Anthony Barham mentions mother Bennett and his Brother-in-law Richard Bennett in his will, but makes no mention of Thomas Bennett. Alice is alive at least until 1642 when she was mentioned in several land dealings.
Richard Bennett, Sr.:
Richard Bennett Sr. was born about 1625, probably in Virginia. He received land for transporting several people to the colonies in 1638 and 1682.
Richard first married Anne who was apparently the mother of his children. He married 2nd Sarah, widow of Daniel Lewis (who died 1679) Sarah married a third time to Robert Lancaster after Richard died.
Richard in 1699 resided at Blackwater near a Justinson Cooper and Frances England. He calls himself Elder of Upper Parish of Isle of Wight in a deed sometime after 1682. His known children were Susan who married Daniel Lewis (had daughter Mary Throp), Martha who married a Lewis, Richard Jr. and James.
Richard Sr. made his will in isle of Wight 4 Dec. 1709 and it was probated in Feb. 1710. He mentions wife Sarah and John Mangum. A John Mangum was also a witness to the will and gave oath at probate.
Sarah Lewis Bennett Lancaster:
Sarah Lewis was a widow of Daniel Lewis who died in 1769. She had a son Daniel and a daughter Sarah from that first marriage. She married Richard Bennett Sr. & became a widow a second time when he died in 1709. Her third marriage was to Robert Lancaster. She made her will on 31 Oct. 1722 and it was probated on 29 Jan. 1722?? She had several legatees including Mary & Sarah Mangum, daughters of John Mangum.
Richard Bennett, Jr.:
Richard Bennett Jr. was the oldest son of Richard Bennett Sr. and wife Anne. We believe he was born about 1650, probably in Isle of Wight. He was given the family plantation in 1699 in Upper Parish Isle of Wight. We do not know the name of his wife.
His tentatively identified children were Richard who died intestate in Surry county, VA in 1735, Jane who married John Cofer, Silvester, Ann who married John Bell and James.
Richard Bennett Jr. made his will in Isle of Wight 30 March 1720 and it was probated 23 May 1720, He mentions son Richard, Jane Coffer, John Coffer, Rob. & John Coffer, Magdalen Coffer, daughter Silvester, Wm Allen and friends Jn. Carter and James Carter. He also mentions Francis Manggum, calls her granddaughter and leaves her a feather bed and furniture.
It should be noted here that Frances Mangum is called granddaughter. This means that she was a daughter of one of the children of Richard Bennett Jr. There are several possibilities, none of which can be proven at present. She may have been a daughter of one of the children mentioned above, she may have been born out of wedlock, she may have been a daughter of an unnamed deceased child of Richard Jr. Also, she may have been the wife of John Mangum or she may have been his daughter, These possibilities and theories will be given further discussion later.
This is the third installment of the Mangum-Bennett article. It contains what we know about John Mangum himself and his supposed wife Frances. The final installment will be printed in the next issue.
John Mangum of Early Virginia:
The earliest records of a Mangum in Virginia refer to a John Mangum. These records date back to about 1695 and maybe earlier. [Tithables records, which were similar to property taxes, that mention John begin in 1692.] These records and the absence of other Mangum records in that period lead us to believe that John Mangum was the father of the Mangum families who were later in the Albemarle Parish, Surry and Sussex Counties shortly after the parish was set up in 1738. The absence of earlier records also indicate that John was an immigrant. These records leave many unanswered questions, but first let us examine the records themselves.
John Mangum was born by 1674 [1671]since he was able to purchase land in 1695 [listed as tithables by 1692]. The land was purchased in Surry Co., VA from Richard Bennett Sr. who apparently was a great grandfather of the Frances who was married to John Mangum. In March 1695/6 John trades this 100 acres of land for 90 acres in Isle of Wight. Both tracts must have been near Lawnes Creek which was the dividing line between Surry and Isle of Wight Counties. The Quit Rent of 1704 lists a John Mangum with 100 acres, probably an error for the 90 acres he actually had.
John Mangum is mentioned in the will of Richard Bennett Sr. and in the will of Sarah Lancaster, widow of Richard Bennett Sr. John is dead by 1737 since a Frances Mangum is administrator of his estate in that year.
It is my guess that we are dealing with two John Mangum here. One John Mangum was mentioned in the will of Richard Bennett Sr., and another John Mangum signed the same will probate as witness. It is not impossible that these were the same person, but I think it is unlikely. I would also guess that the two daughters of John Mangum referred to in Sarah Lancaster's will in 1722 were daughters of the younger John Mangum, not of John the immigrant. If these were daughters of the elder John Mangum, then the other probable children of the elder John were ignored as well as their mother Frances. John Mangum the younger was very likely son of John the immigrant. He was married to Olive Savage and she was administrator to his estate in Isle of Wight in 1744. See previous 1969 article for additional information on this family.
Frances Mangum:
Frances, supposed wife of John Mangum the immigrant, is one of the major problems that we have to deal with. Most of the controversy centers around her. It appears that she was married to John Mangum by 1695. At least we know that John Mangum had land dealings with Richard Bennett during this period.
Frances Mangum is mentioned in the will of Richard Bennett Jr. in 1720 and is called granddaughter. Unfortunately we were given no hint as to who her parents were. The probable children of Richard Bennett Jr. were given in the last installment of the article. Silvester has been mentioned as a possible parent of Frances or a deceased child of Richard Jr. could have been her parent. We may never know. A tie that I would like to make, but just cannot make fit, is that Frances was daughter of Silvester and that the Frances that witnessed the John Jennings Jr.'s probate in 1695 [it has now been determined that it was not Frances Mangum who witnessed the Jennings will and that the signature was misinterpreted] and the Silvester Hill who was mentioned in the will were mother and daughter. Alas, that is not to be. That Silvester appears to be the daughter of Edward Bennett, an entirely different line. Frances was administrator of John Mangum's estate in Isle of Wight in 1737 and we have no further record of her.
Using the assumptions above, then Frances likely did not have Bennett as her maiden name. She also could have been born out of wedlock which was not uncommon then. (This is pure speculation!) Others want to believe that her maiden name was Bennett and that also is possible. There may have been a daughter of John & Frances who was named Frances. The elder Frances would be the daughter of Richard Bennett Jr. Some point out that Richard Jr., would more likely leave a feather bed to a young girl just starting out rather than to a mature woman who probably had her own bed. The Frances mentioned in the will would therefore be a young daughter of the mother Frances. In fact, there is only circumstantial evidence that John Mangum married Frances at all. Still, if there was a daughter Frances and a granddaughter Frances, why mention the granddaughter and not the daughter in the will? It is unfortunate that we cannot establish a definite birthday for Richard Jr. This would have a definite influence on the likelihood that the granddaughter Frances of Richard Jr.'s will was either a young girl or a mature married woman.
And, if the above is not enough of a problem, then take a look at the deeds of John Mangum, If he was married to Frances or anyone by 1695, then why did not his wife sign any of the deeds where he sold land before 1700? Why is the signature mark on the 1696 deed of John Mangum to George Morrell different from the signature mark when John Mangum signs the will of Richard Bennett Sr. Father and son maybe? Cousins?
This is the fourth and last installment of the Mangum-Bennett article. It is mainly a summary of the previous articles plus some of my personal theories. Please send in any new information you may have and/or make any comments you feel that are relevant.
Summary:
As I promised you, we asked a lot of questions in this article and answered few. To summarize the major questions, I will list a number of them again here.
1. What was the origin of Thomas Bennett ?
2. How was he related to the family of Edward Bennett?
3. How was the Mangums related to Edward Bennett?
4. How did John Mangum get to the New World?
5. Was he the one and only immigrant ancestor?
6. Did he marry Frances, granddaughter of Richard Bennett Jr.?
7. Who were her parents?
8. When did they marry?
9. Why is she not on deeds with John Mangum?
10. Why did she witness the will probate of John Jennings Jr. who married a descendent of Edward Bennett? [Answered: it was not her signature on the will.]
11. Was there another John Mangum clouding up the records? Was he son of John the immigrant? Was he the John that married Olive Savidge?
12. Why was no effort made to separate the two John Mangums in the records?
13. Was there a Frances, daughter of John & Frances Mangum?
14. Why was only two daughters of John Mangum mentioned in the will of Sarah Lancaster?
15. What is the birthdate of Richard Bennett Jr.?
There are many more, but you get the idea. If you have any information relating to the above, please send it to me.
Personal Theories:
I have changed my mind many times over the years about what is going on with these early families. Some of the changes were made while I was writing this article. Below I am going to list my ideas, working hypothesis if you will. Most are pure speculation and should be treated as such. Ordinarily, we should try to stay away from speculation, relying instead on solid facts. Unfortunately, with these early families there are few facts to rely on and speculation is the only thing we have left. Hopefully, this will eventually change. I suspect that if we ever do find enough information to substantiate this line, then there will be many surprises which, although thoroughly logical, are completely unsuspected by present researchers.
1. Thomas Bennett was a relative of Edward Bennett.
2. Most or all the Bennetts in the New World were well known to each other.
3. Frances Mangum, wife of John, witnessed the will probate of John Jennings Jr. because they were kinfolks. [Disregard since Frances Mangum did not in fact sign the will - someone had misinterpreted the writing.]
4. Frances was a daughter of either Silvester Bennett or maybe a deceased child of Richard Bennett Jr.
5. She married John Mangum, immigrant around 1695.
6. One of their sons, John, married Olive Savadge.
7. This son witnessed the will of Richard Bennett Sr. (With father mentioned in the will) and the two daughters mentioned in will of Sarah Lancaster were his.
8. John the immigrant was the father of the several families of Mangums listed in the Albemarle Parish immediately after it was set up in 1738.
9. There were other immigrants beside John but he was the first to leave descendants.
General References:
1. John Mangum of Early Virginia, Article MFB #4, Dec. 69
2. Southside Virginia Families, Boddie, pp. 57-64
3. 17th Century Isle of Wight, Boddie, pp. 289-304
4. Adventures of Purse & Person, Author ?
5. Albemarle Parish Register, MFB #1-4
6. Encyclopedias
7. Nicholas Mangum, Article MFB #9-12"
6. FHL Film 1697868 and book "The Mangums of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, Utah, and Adjoining States," by John T. Palmer, Ph.D. Santa Rosa, CA 95409, 1993, 3rd ed., P. 4, has the following information; however, the data seems to be erroneous in regards to additional marriages of Alice to other men besides Pierce and Bennett: "Thomas Bennett was born in England around 1600 and died sometime between 1632 and 1641. He was in Virginia in 1624 and married the widow, Alice Pierse (Pierce, Peirce, Peerce, Pierse) about that time. The last record of Thomas Bennett was in 1632 when he represented Mulberry Island as a member of the House of Burgesses. Mulberry Island was located directly across the James River from Bennett's plantation.
Alice Pierse was the widow of Thomas Pierse, her maiden name is unknown. The Pierse family came to America in 1618 aboard the "William & Thomas," a magazine ship supplied with goods for sale to the colonists. Thomas Pierse was probably aboard the ship. He was slain at the Indian massacre of 26 Mar 1721/22 at Martin's Hundred. Alice had one child by Thomas Pierse, a daughter Elizabeth. She may have had children by her second husband, Anthony Barham, and she did have at least two children by her third husband, Richard Jackson. Her daughter Mary married Captain George Hardy, and daughter, Sarah, married Colonel Arthur Smith, II. Thomas and Alice Bennett had one child, Richard Bennett, Sr. from her fourth marriage."
7. "The Mangum-Mangham-Mangrum Journal," by James "Lynn" Parham, editor, Issue Number 48, April 2002, [Formerly "Mangum Family Bulletin"], p. 20, recounts the editor's 1999 trip through England. He remarks as follows while in southwest England: "Our first stop after leaving the Castle was the town of Wiveliscombe, and the Parish Church there. That is where the Bennetts, who were traders in the New World in the 1620's, came from. One line of Bennetts intermarried with the Virginia Mangums about 1695. The Bennett records at Wiveliscombe go back to the 1500's. The original church was built in the 1300's but the present church is not very old, having been rebuilt several times." [It is important to note that this connection is not proved as Mr. Parham points out in the book "Pleasant Mangum and All His Kin, the Story of the Bennetts, the Mangums, and the Parhams," comp. by James Lynn Parham, Gateway Press, Inc., Baltimore, MD, 1997.
8. Background information on the settlement of the Jamestown area from the book "Pleasant Mangum and All His Kin, the Story of the Bennetts, the Mangums, and the Parhams," comp. by James Lynn Parham, Gateway Press, Inc., Baltimore, MD, 1997:
"Virginia
Columbus was not the first European to discover the New World. Some say that Bjarni Heljulfson, a Scandinavian sailing the Greenland Sea about 986 AD and driven by a storm westward, was the first European to see the shores of North America. He was not curious about the strange land, now called Labrador in Canada, nor did he set foot on it. Fifteen years later, however, Leif Ericson did land somewhere within the later "patent of Virginia." For three centuries these and later 'prowlers of the sea' occasionally visited the northern shores of the American Continent, mostly without leaving a trace. Documentation of this land across the vast ocean west of Europe had to wait until the Italian, Christopher Columbus, commissioned by Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, reached the New World in 1492. Thereafter the Spanish concentrated on the lands of Central and South America. There they seized huge treasures while conquering and systematically destroying the well-developed Indian civilizations there.
The English were not idle though. When reports of Columbus's first voyage reached England, King Henry issued letters of patent to John Cabot and his sons, Lewis, Sebastian and Santius for a voyage of discovery to the New World. These explorers, like Columbus, were Italian. John Cabot's name was actually 'Giovanni Caboto' and he had established himself as a trader in Venice in 1461. He and his sons sailed from Bristol on 2 May 1497 in the Mathew with a crew of 17. After 50 days they sighted land at Newfoundland and explored the coast further south. In May of 1498, with fresh letters of patent, 6 ships under the command of John Cabot set sail from Bristol for further exploration. They reached Greenland, named it Labrador's Land, and continued their exploration of the North American coast. The Cabots were actually seeking an all-water route for their East-West trade.
The English, based on the discoveries of John Cabot, claimed all the territory from the Spanish territory on the South to the French Territory on the North. It encompassed most of the present United States Atlantic coastline westward except Florida. All this vast territory was originally called Virginia, named by Queen Elizabeth in honor of herself, the 'Virgin Queen'.
It was during the reign of Queen Elizabeth (1558-1603) that England realized that it would be necessary to colonize America if they were to hold their land of "New & unknown greatness." Early expeditions by Cabot and others had shown that Virginia held little of the gold and other treasures the Spanish were extracting from their conquered lands to the south. Profits, however, can lie in natural resources as well as gold and silver. Fisherman from England and Portugal, and later France and Spain, began to fish off the Newfoundland coast as early as 1502.
Early attempts at colonization by the English were failures. In 1583 Sir Humphrey Gilbert landed in Newfoundland to found the first English settlement in North America. It was soon abandoned and the colonists were rescued by Sir Frances Drake. Drake returned to England with tobacco and potatoes from the New World. In 1584 Sir Walter Raleigh obtained a large land grant from Queen Elizabeth. He sent several unsuccessful expeditions to colonize Roanoke Island, N. C. The final attempt in 1587 was under the direction of Gov. White. White sailed back to England and when he returned to the colony in 1590 he found that it had vanished without a trace.
In 1606 King James I of England divided the territory into two parts, South Virginia extending from Cape Fear to the Potomac, and North Virginia from the mouth of the Hudson to Newfoundland. The region between the Hudson and the Potomac was neutral ground. The charter of 10 April 1606 was to "deduce a colony of sundry of our people into that part of America commonly called Virginia." Two commercial companies were formed for the colonization.6 The London Company, later called the Virginia Company, was granted South Virginia. The Plymouth Company was granted North Virginia.
On 19th December 1606 the Virginia Company sent 105 emigrants, including the famous John Smith of Blackwell, to the New World. (7) The Plymouth Company would wait until the following May, 1607 to send their expedition to Kennebec River in what is now Maine. That expedition was under the direction of George Popham and when he died in 1608 the colonists abandoned their settlement and returned to England.
The Virginia Company expedition of three vessels went by way of the West Indies ~d reached the coast of Virginia on the 26th of April, 1607.(8) After some initial exploration along the coast they sailed up the James River about 32 miles from its mouth and landed the 13th of May, 1607 on a marshy peninsula. That site was chosen mainly for its strategic military location. There they built the first permanent English settlement in the New World, calling it Jamestown after their King. The settlement was under the leadership of Capt Christopher Newport.
The colonists had a very difficult time at first A fire destroyed the settlement in 1608 but it was rebuilt During the winter of 1609-10 (The starving time) famine and internal discord almost wiped out the settlement John Smith had earlier been injured and had returned to England for medical treatment. The colonists gave themselves up to riot and idleness and a fruitless search for gold, silver and a westward passage to the Pacific. A group of 30 seized a ship belonging to the colony and sailed away as pirates. In the end only 60 colonists remained. The settlement was abandoned on 7 June 1610 and the colonists embarked on their ships in the mouth of the James River to sail back to England. Before they could leave they met Lord Delaware (De La Warr) bringing supplies and additional colonists. The settlers were persuaded to return to their village.
The first colonists were almost all men. There may have been wives of some of the administrators present. In 1618, however, 90 women arrived at Jamestown to marry the colonists. In 1619 a Dutch trading ship arrived with a cargo of 20 blacks. There is some indications that they were not slaves but were indentured servants like their white counterparts and would eventually gain their freedom when their indenture was worked out. Also in 1619 100 felons from English prisons came. They would be sent in increasing numbers for the next hundred years.
1619 also saw the establishment of the rudiments of self-government in the Virginia colony. Governor Yeardly formed the House of Burgesses with two elected representatives from each of the eleven boroughs ('citties' & large plantations) of the colony. They met in the Jamestown church.
In 1624 the commerciaI 'London (or Virginia) Company' was dissolved by the King. The government of the colony fell directly under the direction of the King, establishing the first royal province in the country. He may have had many reasons for his actions, including a charge of mismanagement, but he also may h
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Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
Abt 1587 - 1641 (~ 46 years)