ANN BENNETT
THE STORY AS I KNOW IT
Ann Bennett was born about 1722 in Chester County, Pennsylvania to Sarah Maris and John Bennett. The New Garden Monthly Meeting Hinshaw Quaker Records noted "Ann Bennett was the daughter of John Bennett". The Bennett family was part of the Birmingham Monthly meeting at first and then later moved to the New Garden Monthly Meeting.
Ann Bennett married Nathaniel Pennock in 1743. He was granted a certificate to marry her by the Concord Monthly Meeting on 7-24-1743. Nathaniel had been married before. He wed Jane Pusey April 22, 1738. According to information we have, she had no children and died before 1743.
Nathaniel Pennock and Ann Bennett had at least one child John Pennock born 11-8-1747/8. Nathaniel's next child was born in 1754. I believe it is very possible that Ann Bennett Pennock died sometime after John was born and he was her only child. Not only because of the gap but because of future events. John was the oldest son but when he died intestate the court proceedings used words about his "not fulfilling promises". His three brothers paid John's widow what may have been fair market value and then split the estate between themselves. This makes a bit of sense, if indeed they were half brothers with a significant gap in ages.
At any rate Nathaniel Pennock married a third time to Sarah Bourn who was born in 1735/6. We do not know when they married.
Here are all of Nathaniel's known children with their birth date:
1. John born 11-8-1747/8
2. Joseph born 1754
3. Susan born 1756
4. Mary born 1759
5. Samuel born 1763
6. William born 1765
7. Sarah born 1768
8. Alice born 1770
9. Ann born 1773
Swarthmore college library is the site of the Friends Historical Society's library. They hold the unpublished Henshaw Collection there. It contains the records of the New Garden Monthly Meeting, which condemned Nathaniel Pennock for marrying contrary to discipline on 1-25-1755. We know that Ann had been Quaker so this must have referred to Sarah Bourn and is the reason we don't have information on his marriage date.
Nathaniel Pennock was a respected leader in the community. Like his father before him, he served in the Colonial legislature.
In 1744 Joseph Pennock transferred property to his son Nathaniel Pennock. Nathaniel had married his second wife, Ann Bennett the year before. We have not yet read this deed. It can be found in the Chester County Deed Book F page 501. It may have been a parcel of land on which to build their home. At some point Nathaniel moved his family into Primitive Hall, the home is father had built in 1738. It still stands and is preserved by the Pennock Foundation.
In 1749 Nathaniel Pennock purchased land in New Castle County Delaware. His eldest son, John Pennock lived there with his family until he died about 1786.
In 1774 Nathaniel he added a codicil to his will "being sick and weak". However, his estate was not finalized until 1786. It is possible he recovered in 1774 or that the estate was large and difficult to resolve. We do not know when he died.
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Date created 10/26/2013
Date Edited 9/11/2014