"The soil was suitable for the raising of wheat and corn as well as fruits and vegetables, and most of the inhabitants engaged in farming. Surplus wheat and corn were forwarded in shallops up the Delaware River to the Brandywine Creek for grinding into flour and cornmeal, frequently for export to the West Indies along with salted meat and other provisions. Lumber and cypress shingles were among the exports of Sussex County." 1 p.6
"Religion was an important influence in determining men's attitude toward the American Revolution. Generally speaking, more loyalists were found among the Anglican members of that church than in any other denomination, while Presbyterians supported the American cause. Religiously the Anglicans had more members than any other denomination in the colony and were especially strong in Kent and Sussex Counties, but their services were not well attended, and only five clergymen were active. The Presbyterians were very strong in New Castle County because of the presence of numerous residents of Scotch-Irish background. Baptists, Catholics, and Lutherans had only one church apiece, while the Methodists had only begun circuit riding when the war began.1 p.7-8
Some of the leaders of the insurrection were influential persons like Thomas Robinson, a member of the assembly, storekeeper, and large landowner; Boaz Manlove, county treasurer; Thomas Evans, innkeeper; and Sheriff Dorman Lofland. Others were large landowners like Pemberton Carlile, who owned 375 acres and had 7 slaves, and Nathaniel Hays, who possessed 780 acres and had 9 slaves. But the majority were farmers of very modest means, such as Edward Cary, who left no estate at his death in 1781; Dorman Lofland, the inventory of whose estate in 1788 totaled 241 pounds; Job Townsend, whose estate amounted to 189 pounds in 1793; and Luke Watson, with a farm of 210 acres, half of which was marshland.This paragraph was significant to me because of the names mentioned. Pemberton Carlile was one of the petitioners to build the road by Bennet's house. Pemberton Carlile was also charged with treason the same time as Bennett. Thomas Evans, as Sheriff, had dealings with Shepherd Bryan in 1778. Nehemiah Cary was charged in the same action as Pemberton and Bennett. The Townsend farm was next to Bennett's and Lofland and Hays names appear on many of the family documents from this era.
Bennett Bryan, Will Made on 28, Oct. 1787, at Cedar Creek Hundred (Delaware).Some thoughts and notes on Bennett Bryan: By the inventory and cash in his estate, he seemed fairly successful as a yeoman, or farmer. I believe he was also fairly religious as evidenced by the fact that his first words in his will are to God, and he had a bible in his estate. Other things that I found interesting about his estate's inventory were that there were a number of Indian items. Also, Bennett could write, and we assume read if he owned a Bible. We know for a fact that at least James and Shepherd could read and write, I assume the rest of his children could too.
Heirs: wife Rachel Bryan; sons James, Shepherd and Jonathan Bryan; daus. Charity, Mary, Rachel, Sarah, Rebeckah and Elizabeth Bryan, and Comfort Cordery.
Exec/Trus Name: son Shepherd Bryan
Wit Name: John Jester, Daniel Sturgis, William Poynter
Will Probate Date: 05 Nov 1787
Will Book A60, Liber D Page 243-246;folios 156-157
Thoughts on Bennett Bryan's Name and possible connection to the Bennett family of Sussex County Delaware. I believe it is possible that Bennett Bryan's parents could have been Miss Bennett and Mr. Bryan. It occurrs to me that Bennett is an unusual first name in the region, and is also a known last name. Also, Bennett himself named one of his sons Shepperd Bryan - Shepperd being his wife's maiden name. So I know that Wife's Maiden Name, Husband's last name is a reasonable naming convention assumption.
POSSIBLE!! http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/sc/marriages/sc-b1800.txt
CD3_012 , BENNET , MARY , BRYAN , WM , Jan ,11 , 1735 ,SC Mar 1693-1842 , SC
11 JAN 1735 Saint Philip, Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina
CD3_012 , BENNET , MARY , GRAVES , JOSEPH , Apr ,29 , 1743 ,SC Mar 1693-1842 , SC
John Bennett (born abt 1660, Manoka, Somerset, Md, Married Feb 6, 1683 Md, died abt 1745-Cedar Creek, Sussex, DE) and his wife Sarah FURNIS (b: 20 Dec 1665 - abt. 1716 Cedar Creek, Sussex, DE) had the following daughters who may be possibles for Bennett Bryan's mother: Ann BENNETT (born abt 1687 Manoka, Somerset, Md), Sarah BENNETT (born abt 1691, Manoka, Somerset, Md), Hannah BENNETT (born abt 1697, Manoka, Somerset, Md). These were the sisters on Stephen Bennett who is referenced below in regard to the Webb family.
Need to look into Hill, J. Bennett. The Bennett Family of Sussex County, Delaware, 1680-1860, with Branches into the Warren, Shockley, and Other Families. Milford?: DE, 1970. LOCATION: Morris Library - Special Collections (Del CS71 .B469 1970)
Bryan, Bennett, Webb Connection In 1790, Shepperd Bryan and Sylvestor Webb were the bonded Administrators of Betty Bryan's Estate. (I suspect that this is Sheppherd's sister Elizabeth Bryan becasue a husband would not usually be a bonded administrator and she had husband or children mentioned). So we know that the Bryan and Webb families knew each other.
Also: "The Bennett Family of Sussex County, Delaware 1680-1860" by J. Bennett Hill pub. 1970 p.3 & p.6 state that Stephen Bennett made a will on August 23, 1751 which was witnessed by John Johnson, Benjamin Webb (b. 2 Oct 1761) and Magdalane Webb. In my experience, wills are usually wittnessed by close friends or neighbors, so I assume the Webb's were close in some way. In addition, Norwood Cooper who is researching the Jemima Bennett and Daniel Ponder line sent me information that Sylvestor Webb married Purnal Bennett's widow, Miriam Lofland probably sometime between 1786 and 1789.
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Waring Aprial (Clothes) 2 : 13 : 6 Old Bed Quilt and Sheet 1 : 0 : 0 1 Small Cark and some Crockery Ware 0 : 3 : 9 or 5 Some Old Cupper Waise 0 : 1 : 6 1 Iron Kittle and small Hammon 0 : 5 : 0 Old Bed and Blad 0 : 1 : 0 1 Old Pine Table 0 : 2 : 6 Cash 0 : 1 : 3 Total 4 : 8 : 6