USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Boston and eastern Massachusetts > Part 60
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Original documents concerning Moses Ben- nett, Jr., of Groton, and also of Thomas and his military and naval service, are in the Mass- achusetts archives, Boston. An order dated Boston, July 21, 1747, signed by Governor Shirley, directing Captain Moses Bennett to
land the guns belonging to the brig "Boston Pickett," under his command, to secure the stores, haul up the vessel, and discharge the crew excepting a boatswain and boy to take care of the vessel, and a muster roll dated Boston, September 13. 1748, shows the muster roll of the ship "Massachusetts," com- manded by Captain Moses Bennett, and June 20, 1749, the pilotage of the frigate "Massa- chusetts" in and out of New York was certi- fied by the autograph of Captain Moses Ben- nett.
Lydia Adams, widow of Thomas Bennett. who subsequently married Gershom Hobart and lived to the great age already mentioned, was born in Groton, August 4, 1743. daughter of Methiboshbth Adams. It is interesting to note how these old scriptural names were inevitable throughout that period.
In Munsell's "Genealogical Index" refer- ences to Bennetts are made in fifty-eight dif- ferent books. There was a Henry Bennett in Ipswich, Massachusetts, as early as 1650, as a record of his marriage with Lydia Perkins of that town testifies. In 1654 he bought of Jonathan Wade a farm of two hundred acres, and besides his homestead he held considerable land on Pluim island and elsewhere. Among the settlers in Wyoming Valley, Pennsylvania, the seat of subsequent bloody massacres by Indians, were Bennetts, and when the now thriving city of Wilkes-Barre held but five women three of them were of the name of Bennett.
William Bennett, one of the original planters of Manchester, Massachusetts, who died in 1683, has already been alluded to.
Stephen B. Bennett, of Pittston, wrote a brief volume about the Pennsylvania Bennetts in 1899, and acknowledged that he formerly believed Samuel of Lynn to be an ancestor of the Bennetts who were drawn to the Wyoming lands by the Susquehanna Company. It was afterward discovered, however, that the other Samuel was a son of Edward, who with his wife and four children sailed from Wey- mouth, England, and settled at Weymouth, Massachusetts, taking up, as he was entitled to, thirty-six acres of public land and being made freeman in 1636.
Richard Bennett, of Virginia, was owner of immense tracts of land in Nansemond coun- ty, whence he came in 1621. His son Rich- ard, of Greenburg Point, Anne Arundel coun- ty, Maryland, was a member of the Maryland assembly in 1663. His son, the third Richard, born 1663, died 1749, owned thirteen hundred
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slaves. The Gentlemen's Magasine, in a notice of his death, says he was the richest man in the colonies. His tomb is at Bennett Point, Queen Anne county, Maryland, with the Ben- nett arms and a long inscription.
James Gordon Bennett, founder of the New York Herald, a Scotchman born in Banffshire, once wrote: "The Bennetts were a little band of freebooters, A. D., 896, in Saxony. I have no doubt they robbed and plundered a great deal. They migrated to France and settled on the Loire, where they lived several hundred years. The family was Roman Catholic and later of the Church of England." It is said that there are now more than one hundred Bennetts who are ministers of the Established Church of England.
In 1619, at Yoguhal, a south Irish seaport, Richard, Lord Boyle, caused repairs to be made to a certain chapel, time having caused it to fall into ruin. He carved recumbent stone effigies of a man and woman upon a tomb which bears the inscription: "Here lyeth the bodies of Richard Bennett and Ellen Barry, his wife, the first founders of this chapel. It is for a reviving of their memory I have had their figures cut in stone."
Perhaps the oldest family of Bennetts in England is at Pithouse in Wiltshire. They have a coat-of-arms with the motto: "Bene- dictus qui toluit coucere"-"Blessed is he who bears the cross." No doubt there have been Bennetts in Germany, France and Ireland as well as in England and Scotland: "but," says Hon. F. P. Bennett. "I still insist that the de- rivation of their name from the given name of Benedict is so well established that there are many of them whose relationship is not nearer than by way of Adam."
Frank P. Bennett, of Saugus, journalist and business man, author of the foregoing narra- tive of the Bennetts of Saugus, Lynn and Groton, is a native of Cambridge, Massachu- setts, born May 2, 1853, great-great-grandson of Moses Bennett, of Groton, and a descendant in the eighth generation of Samuel Bennett, of Saugus and Lynn, 1638, of both of whom extended mention is made in preceding para- graphs.
Mr. Bennett was educated in Malden and Chelsea public schools, and in business life has devoted attention principally to editorial work, also dealing somewhat extensively in wool, and incidentally, perhaps, taking considerable interest in Massachusetts politics and always on the Republican side. His career in journal- ism is too well known to require more than
casual mention in this place, his editorials and monograph articles on subjects relating to finance and trade are so generally accepted as to negative the suggestion of either comment or compliment, and his legislative service is written in history as a record creditable alike to himself and the commonwealth. He is editor and proprietor of the Wool and Cotton Re- porter, owner of the United States Investor, the American Clothier, and the Shepherd's Bulletin : member and ex-president of the Na- tional Wool Growers' Association, the New England Wool Growers' Association and of the Middlesex Eastern Agricultural Society ; member of William Sutton Lodge. F. and A. M. : Beauseant Commandery, K. T., of Mal- den, Cliftondale Lodge, I. O. O. F .; Malden Lodge of Elks: Aleppo Temple, Mystic Shrine: and about thirty other fraternal and social bodies.
While living in Everett, Mr. Bennett served as town auditor and member of the board of selectmen. In November, 1890, he was elected to a seat in the lower house of the general court, serving continuously until the close of the legislative session in 1894, and was again representative in 1898, 1899 and 1900. In 1891 he was chairman of the house committee on taxation and member of the special com- mittee on administrative boards and commis- sions : in 1892 was chairman of the house committee on rapid transit, member of the committee on rules and the joint special com- mittee on public reservations; in 1893 was house chairman of the special committee on rapid transit, of public reservations and mem- ber of the committee on rules; in 1894 he de- clined all committee appointments except that on rules. In 1898 he was house chairman of the committee on agriculture and also that on election laws ; and in 1899 and 1900 was chair- man of the committee on agriculture and mem- ber of the ways and means committee.
Nancy L. Bennett, wife of Frank P. Ben- nett, was born in Palermo, Maine, December 30. 1857, and comes also of revolutionary and Mayflower stock. One of her ancestors was Lieutenant Colonel Charles Smith, of Ipswich, and her own maiden name was Greeley. Her maternal grandfather was one of the Turners who came into that region by way of Damaris- cotta, after the revolutionary war. Mrs. Ben- nett has been president of the Friday Club of Everett, the Riverside Club, of Saugus, and is now serving her third term as president of the North Shore Club, of Lynn. They have three sons, the oldest of whom, Frank P. Ben-
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nett, Jr., has served three terms as a member of the Massachusetts legislature, and is now chairman of the school committee of Saugus. They also have several grandchildren, the son of Frank P. Bennett, Jr., being named Frank- lin P. Bennett, and still another grandson is named Frank P. Bennett 3rd.
Thomas Dickinson, immi- DICKINSON grant ancestor, was a pro- prietor of Rowley, Massa- chusetts, in 1643, and owned a house lot on Bradford street, of an acre and a half. He married, in England, Jennet . His will was dated March 8, 1661-62, and proved April 17, 1662. He mentions his wife Jennet, son James and four daughters. His widow mar- ried (second) John Whipple, of Ipswich, and was buried in Rowley, February 1, 1686. Chil- dren : 1. James, born September 6, 1640, men- tioned below. 2. Mary, born September 27, 1642, married, December 21. 1666, Abel Lang- ley. 3. Sarah, born October 18, 1644, married. May 1, 1661, Jeremiah Jewett. 4. Mercy, born October, 1646, married, in Ipswich, June 30, 1668, Nathaniel Adams, of Ipswich. 5. Mar- tha, born February 9, 1648, married, Decem- ber 9, 1669, Wry Quarles, of Ipswich. 6. Thomas, born October 26, 1655, buried March 30, 1659.
(II) James Dickinson, son of Thomas Dickinson, born September 6, 1640, died June 26, 1698. He married Rebecca His will was dated June 25, 1698, proved August I, 1698, and bequeaths to wife Rebecca, eldest son Thomas, sons James, Samuel and George, and daughters Sarah, Mercy and Mary. His widow married (second), January 7, 1701-02. Lieutenant John Dresser. Children: 1. Sarah, born August 25, 1664, married, April 18, 1684. John Andrews, of Boxford. 2. Thomas, born November 21, 1666, mentioned below. 3- Mercy, baptized June 20. 1669, married, June 7, 1688. John Dresser. 4. John, born March 24. 1671-72. 5. Mary, born November 14. 1675, married, March 30, 1696, Joseph An- drews, of Boxford. 6. James, born June 30, 1678, married Mary Wood. 7. Samuel, born February 4. 1680-81, married Ruth Nelson. 8. George, born March 6, 1683-84, married Martha Nelson. 9. Rebecca, born October 30. 1688, died June 9, 1689.
(III) Thomas Dickinson, son of James Dickinson, born November 21. 1666, died Sep- tember 8, 1737. His will was dated January 28, 1733-34, proved October 31, 1737, and men- tions wife Damaris, sons John, Thomas, who
is the executor, Jonathan and Joseph. He mar- ried ( first), June 3, 1691, Elizabeth Platts, who died August 30, 1716, daughter of Jonathan Platts. He married (second), May 27, 1717, Damaris Leaver, daughter of Thomas Leaver. She married (second), July 16, 1746, Captain Daniel Hardy, of Bradford. Children : 1. John, born March 13, 1691-92, mentioned below. 2. Thomas, born March II, 1694-95, married, May 27, 1723, Elizabeth Pickard : died June 3. 1771. 3. Elizabeth, born April 19, 1699, died April 1, 1708. 4. Jonathan, born Novem- ber 18, 1701, married, December 16, 1736, Mary Pickard : died July 23, 1769. 5. Joseph, baptized March 2, 1706-07, married, June 12, 1732, Sarah Jewett : died February 19, 1748-49.
(IV) John Dickinson, son of Thomas
Dickinson, born March 13, and baptized March 16, 1691-92, died in January, 1786, aged ninety-five years. He married, January 7, 1718-19. Susanna Gage, who died July II. 1750. He married ( second), July 5, 1753, Sarah (Davis) Plats, widow of John Cressy and John Plats. She died in February, 1789. He resided in Rowley. Children: 1. Eliza- beth, born December 1. 1723. 2. Hannah, born September 19, 1725. 3. John, born Feb- ruary 18, 1727, mentioned below. 4. William, born February 7. 1731, died young. 5. Wil- liam, baptized July 30, 1732.
(V) John Dickinson, son of John Dickin- son, was born February 18, 1727. He owned the covenant in the Rowley Church, June 3, 1753. He removed to Ipswich. His son Joshua was a soldier in the revolution from the west parish of Ipswich in Captain Abra- ham How's company on the Lexington alarm, April 19, 1775. He seems to have died before 1792, the date of his father's death. His son Joshua was appointed administrator of the grandfather's estate, September 4, 1792, with Joseph Dresser and Joseph Chaplin sureties. He married, November 6, 1750, at Rowley, Mehitable Pickard, who owned the covenant April 14, 1765. Children, born at Rowley: I. Susanna, baptized June 24, 1753, died young. 2. Mehitable, baptized September 22, 1754. 3. Joshua, baptized February 29, 1756, mentioned below. 4. Dolly, baptized March 12. 1758. 5. Susanna, baptized May 31, 1761.
(VI) Joshua Dickinson, son of John Dick- inson (5), was baptized at Rowley, February 29, 1756. He was a soldier in the revolution from the west parish of Ipswich in Captain Abraham Howe's company, April 19, 1775. Much of the genealogy of this family is re- vealed by. the will of Mary Dickinson, widow
i-21
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of Jonathan Dickinson, son of Thomas Dick- inson (3), dated August 16, 1774, proved August 16, 1775. To nephews and nieces of her- self and husband, called "cousins," she be- queathed her property. Those mentioned in this will were Joseph Pickard, Jr., Jeremiah Pickard, William Dickinson, Moses Dickin- son who had son Jonathan, a minor, Joshua Dickinson, James Dickinson, Samuel Pickard, Jacob Pickard, Elizabeth Felton, Anne Pingry, wife of Stephen, Mary Ellsworth, wife of Edward, Jane Brocklebank, wife of Samuel, Rebecca Kilbourne, Mehitable Dickinson, Eliz- abeth Pingry, Mary Ellsworth and James Brocklebank. Joshua Dickinson, of Rowley, cordwainer, deeded ten acres of land in Line- brook parish, Rowley : also one undivided half of the remaining undivided third of certain premises, excepting the dower of his mother Mehitable during life, dated May 21, 1801. From this deed and another in which Israel Cook, of Lyme, Grafton county, New Hamp- shire, and his wife, Susanna Cook, of Lyme, and Ruth Burpee, of Rowley, spinster, deeded land in Rowley in 1799 to Darius Dickinson, who sold it soon afterward to John Pickard, it is shown that Darius was his son, mentioned below.
(VII) Darius Dickinson, son .of Joshua Dickinson, was born in Rowley or Ipswich, about 1775. He lived in what is now George- town, formerly Rowley, Massachusetts, also in Ipswich. He was a yeoman or farmer. He married Mary Keyser. He died intestate at Ipswich in 1849. His estate was divided Sep- tember 7. 1852, among the following heirs : Horace Dickinson, Jacob Dickinson, Darius Dickinson, Samuel Haskell for his wife, Oliver Porter for his wife, John Dickinson, Mary, by her guardian John Dickinson, Lewis, by his guardian John, Cyrus Averill for his wife, Charles by his creditors and Asa by his credi- tors. Children: 1. Lewis, born February 25, 1816, mentioned below. 2. Darius, Jr. 3. Jacob. 4. John. 5. Charles. 6. Mary. 7. Elmira.
(VIII) Lewis Dickinson, son of Darius Dickinson, born Georgetown, February 25, 1816, married, July 23, 1854, Lucinda Hutch- inson, of Danvers, born April 21, 1824. (See Hutchinson sketch). He resided at Ipswich and was a farmer and shoemaker. He was educated in the public schools. He began to manufacture shoes and boots on a larger scale than formerly practiced and had a large fac- tory in Ipswich, and in connection with his manufacturing he opened a general store, deal-
ing also in East and West India goods. About the time of the civil war he retired from busi- ness and spent the remainder of his active life in conducting the homestead. He was a promi- nent member of the Congregational church of Ipswich, and for many years was chorister, also playing the bass viol before the days of the church organ. He was a staunch Whig in early life, later a Republican. He was a member of no lodges or secret societies. Child, John Lewis, born July 24, 1855, mentioned below.
(IX) John Lewis Dickinson, son of Lewis Dickinson, was born at Ipswich, July 24, 1855. He was educated in the public schools of his native town, graduating from the high school, and was a student under Issachar Lefavour. He began early in life to work on his father's farm. He was fond of horses and, after leav- ing school, engaged in buying, selling and trad- ing horses. He understood the horse thoroughly and loved the animals. He kept a livery and sale stable in Rockport for a time. After the death of his father he removed to Ipswich, but soon afterward sold the homestead and moved to Salem, in 1890, and again became the proprietor of a livery stable. He con-
tinued in the stable and horse dealing business there the remainder of his days. He died at Salem, August II, 1905. He was one of the best known and most popular men in his line of business in Essex county. He met many people and made many friends. He was kind- ly in his disposition, enjoying the fun and humor of life and always a cheerful influence among his associates. In his youth he attend- ed the Baptist church and Sunday school in Rowley, but in later years he and his wife attended the Second Unitarian Church of Salem. In politics he was a Republican. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity. He married, February 11, 1880, in Rockport, Josie A. Saunders, born April 8, 1856, daughter of Captain Edward Howard and Mary J. (Wil- kins) Saunders, of Gloucester. Children: I. John Hallett, born December 22, 1882, mar- ried Bessie E. Stickney ; children: i. Edward Howard, born September 14, 1902; ii. Gard- ner, born October 20, 1904; iii. Luella, born June 20, 1906. 2. Roland Howard, born at Ipswich, October 17, 1887, unmarried.
Sanders or Saunders is an SAUNDERS ancient English surname found in all parts of the United Kingdom at the present time and num- erous also in the United States. Many of the
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Irish families are descended from Colonel Robert Saunders, who went to Ireland with Cromwell, and was made governor of Kinsale with a grant of 3,725 acres of land in Wex- ford. The coat-of-arms of Colonel Robert and his ancestors : Out of a mural crown proper an elephant's head argent, charged with a torteau.
In 1568 the visitation of London gives the grandson of William Saunders of Welford, Northamptonshire, having this coat-of-arms : Per chevron sable and argent three elephants heads erased counterchanged tusked or. Crest : An elephant's head erased sable eared and tusked or. In most of the Saunders families entitled to bear arms, there is a similarity of design, the elephants' head being the chief de- vice. Sanders of Essex has: Argent three fleurs-de-lis sable on a chief of the second as many fleurs-de-lis of the first. Sanders of Maidstone, Kent: Sable a chevron between three elephants' heads erased argent a chief embattled argent. Saunders of Uxbridge, county Middlesex, like the one just described. Saunders of Sheriff, Northamptonshire, in the time of Queen Elizabeth : Per pale sable and argent three elephants, heads counterchanged. Saunders of Dinton, Buckinghamshire; of Buxworth, Cottesbrook, East Haddon, Har- rington, Stresham, and Welford in county Northampton: Per chevron argent and sable three elephants heads erased counterchanged. Crest : An elephant's head erased sable, eared and armed argent.
The Saunders family of Sauntersted, San- ders Place and Charlwood, county Surrey, is a very ancient family in that county and is the parent stock of the Sanders family of Luffing- ton, Caldwell and Little Irelon, county Derby. and of Teaby, county Pembroke.
Watkin de Sandersted gave the advowson of Sandersted to Hyde Abbey by Winchester in the time of Edward the Confessor for the souls of his ancestors. Watkin was succeeded by his brother, Stephen Sanders, who held Sandersted according to Domesday Book be- fore the Conquest.
William Sanders, of Charlwood, in the time of Henry VI. married Joan Carew, daughter and co-heir of Thomas Carew, of Beddington, county Surrey ; his great-grandson, Sir Thomas Sanders, knight of Charlwood, had confirma- tion of the family arms and crest in 1653. viz: Sable a chevron ermine between three bulls heads cabossed argent. Crest: A demi- bull per pale gules and sable eared and horned argent and or, counterchanged about his neck
a collar gemee argent supporting between his feet a stalk of alisaunder, leaved vert budded or. This armorial doubtless took the place of the more ancient elephants' heads described above.
There were a number of Saunders pioneers among the early settlers in Essex county, Massachusetts. The similarity of names, the location of their homes and many other facts indicate that they were related.
John Saunders, born in England in 1613. yeoman. married, about 1638, Hester Ralfe (or Rolfe) ; came in the ship "Confidence ;" one of the twelve original grantees of Salis- bury, September, 1638, and drew land in the first division : removed to Newbury in 1642; after 1655 returned to Weeks, parish of Dain- ton (Downton ) Wiltshire, England, and ap- pointed his kinsman, Richard Dole. of New- bury, attorney to look after his Massachusetts property ; children: Hester, born September 5. 1639; John, born July 1. 1641, died Septem- ber 3. 1641 ; Ruth, born December, 1642 ; John, born December 19, 1644: the preceding born at Salisbury, the following at Newbury : Sarah, born August 20, 1646; Mary, born June 12, 1649: Abigail, born April 12, 1651; Joseph, born August 28, 1653: Elizabeth, born Janu- ary 26, 1654-55. The father of John Saunders was also John; married, February 4. 1610, Alice Cole, at Downton, Wiltshire : children : John, baptized March, 1613; Elizabeth, bap- tized 1614: Sarah, baptized 1615 : Joseph, bap- tized 1617: Moses, baptized 1622.
Still another John Saunders came to Ips- wich, 1635, removed to Hampton, New Hamp- shire, and thence to Wells, Maine, about 1644; was admitted freeman ; in 1643 he was fined for "indiscreet words" ( perhaps reflecting on the minister or some of the petty officials) ; he had then "six little children ;" was at Ken- nebunkport in 1663: died 1670: children : Thomas, John, Elizabeth and three or more others.
John Saunders, of Salem, still another John, came as early as 1637 ; married a daughter of Joseph Grafton: died 1643, bequeathing to father-in-law, wife, son John ; his widow mar- ried. 1654, John Gardner : son John, born about 1640, was the famous Quaker who went to England and procured a royal order to pro- hibit the persecution of Friends in Massachu- setts Bay; died 1694. There was another pioneer. James Saunders, at Haverhill early.
(I) Widow Mary Saunders, immigrant ancestor. came to Gloucester, Massachusetts, according to tradition, direct from England.
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The name of her husband is not known. Her sons were grown, were shipwrights by trade and were doubtless attracted thither by the activity in shipbuilding at this port at that time. The sons appear first in Gloucester in 1702 ; the mother may have come then or later. It is said that one of the family came first, perhaps as sailor, and the others were induced to make their home here under inducements held out by him on his return from a voyage to America. Mary Saunders died in Glou- cester, December 21, 1717, aged sixty years. Children : 1. John, lost at sea February, 1736, on voyage to Isle of Sable. 2. Nathaniel, had four sons, Nathaniel, John, Joseph and David, and five daughters. 3. Captain Thomas, men- tioned below. 4. Edward, was a shipwright at Gloucester ; died 1759: left four sons and three daughters. 5. Joseph, married, January I, 1735. and had son Nathaniel, born June 29. 1736 ; lost at sea with brother John, February, 1736, on a voyage to Isle of Sable ; both seem to have had posthumous sons. 6. Mary. 7. Elizabeth, married Jonathan Springer.
(II) Captain Thomas Saunders, son of Mary Saunders, born in England, 1682, died at Gloucester, July 17, 1742, aged sixty years. In March, 1704, he received from the com- moners a grant of an acre of land between the head of the harbor and Cripple cove. Here he built boats and ships. In 1706 he was granted a piece of flats below where he "built vessels." He was a very successful and com- petent shipwright and did a large business, as shown by the frequent grants of ship timber on the part of the town. In 1725 he com- manded the government sloop "Merry-meet- ing." He left a clear estate of 3,160 pounds, one of the largest accumulated in Gloucester up to the time of his death. He married, Jan- tiary 7, 1703, Abigail Curney, who died Feb- ruary 16, 1767. Children: I. Thomas, born March 20, 1704, mentioned below. 2. Abi- gail, born June 29, 1705, married Peter Dolli- ver. 3. Joseph, born February 21, 1707. 4. Mary, born March 10. 1709. married Daniel Gibbs. 5. John, born June 14, 1711. 6. Lydia, born March 24, 1714, married Daniel Witham. 7. Elizabeth, born April 10, 1717, married Zebulon Witham and died November 27, 1767. 8. Judith, married Winthrop Sargent.
(III) Captain Thomas Saunders, son of Captain Thomas Saunders, born March 20, 1704, died at Gloucester. October 24, 1774. He was lieutenant on the sloop "Merry-meet- ing" in 1725, and during the greater part of his life commanded a government vessel. On
one of his voyages to the eastward ( Maine) he was taken prisoner by the French and In- dians. He threw his captors off their guard by appearing happy and contented and they took but little precaution against his escape. When at Owl's Head he took occasion, while his captors were asleep, to escape, taking with him their money, about two hundred pounds, which he hid, and made his way safely to Fort St. Georges. Many years afterward, when he was returning from the Louisburg Expedition on the same ship with General Amherst, he related this adventure and re- quested the general to go ashore with him and look for the treasure. Somewhat skeptical the general acquiesced and Saunders soon found his cache and corroborated his remarkable story. Captain Saunders addressed the gov- ernor in a memorial dated January, 1745, ask- ing for an increased allowance for the support of his vessel, the sloop "Massachusetts" in the government service. The governor in com- municating the memorial to the general court wrote: "I am satisfied with the reasonable- ness of Captain Saunder's request and ex- tremely loth to lose so faithful and experienced an officer. I must desire you would give him such relief as may make him easy in the ser- vice." The wages and pay were: for the sloop, five shillings a ton per month; for the captain five pounds a month ; for the mate a trifle less than the captain and for the sailors. fifty shillings each. Captain Saunders took part in the expedition to Cape Breton in 1745. and during the siege had command of the transports in Chapeau Rouge Bay. "He was a gentleman, well respected among those who had the honor of his acquaintance and died greatly lamented." He had eleven children, of whom: I. Hon. Thomas, mentioned below. 2. Captain Joseph, married Elizabeth
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