Gov. Richard Bennett

Richard was born in 1609 at Wilscombe, Somerset Co, England sometime just before his baptism there on Aug 6 1609. In 1628, he came to Virginia to take charge of "Bennett's Plantation," also known as Warrascoyack, and became a member of the House of Burgesses in 1629, commissioner for Warrascoyack in 1631 and a member of the Council 1642-49.

A Puritan, he lead a migration of religious dissenters from Virginia to Maryland in 1648 and settled on the Severn River in Anne Arundel County, where he received a grant of land from Lord Baltimore. In 1651 he was named one of the commissioners to reduce the Plantations within the Bay of Chesapeake to their due obedience to the Parliament of England. They signed the articles of surrender of Virginia on Mar 12 1651/2 and secured the adherance of Maryland later that month. He served as governor of Virginia from Apr 30 1652 to Mar 31 1655, and was again a member of the Council in 1658 until his death. He was major general of Virginia forces 1662-72 and was in charge of defenses against the Dutch.

On Jun 7 1665, Richard Bennett Esq. of Nasemond Co., VA patented a 2,500a tract of land called "Bennetts Adventure" in Somerset Co., MD (modern Wicomico).

He wrote his will on Mar 15 1674/5 and it was proven Apr 12 1675 at Nansemond Co., VA where he made a bequest to the Parish where I now live and have so long lived.
- To my grandchildren Elizabeth, Ann and Bennett Scarburgh 2,800a on Pocomoke River and 2,500a on Wicomico River, eastern shore of Maryland.
- To George Parker, husband of Ann Scarburgh Parker, my granddaughter, land and plantation in Virginia, and all my slaves and personal property in Virginia.

Richard married Ann (?). (Ann (?) was born about 1610.)