Edward Bennett (colonist)

Edward Bennett (1577 – bef. 1651), was a London merchant who established the first large plantation in the United States, luring more than 800 immigrants to the new world.

Edward Bennett was born 2 February 1577, the 15th child of Robert Bennett, a tanner and Elizabeth (Adney) Bennett of Wiveliscombe, Somerset. Edward was christened in the Parish Church of Wiveliscombe on 5 June 1577. He became Chief among the Puritans who were among the first to settle in Isle of Wight County, and was elder of the Ancient Church at Amsterdam.

The first English plantation in the region, dating to 1618, was that of Puritan merchant Christopher Lawne, and several other Puritans also seated themselves nearby, including Edward Bennett in 1621. Edward named his plantation Warrosquoake, after the river that also went by the same name. In 1621, Edward Bennett, received a patent on condition that he settle 200 persons. His associates were his brother, Robert Bennett, his nephew, Richard Bennett, Thomas Ayres, Thomas Wiseman and Richard Wiseman. The first settlers dispatched by Bennett arrived on the Sea Flower in February 1622. There were 120 settlers, led by Captain Ralph Hamor, a member of the Virginia Council who had previously come to Virginia in 1609. Also in the group were George Harrison and Rev. William Bennett, kinsman of Edward Bennett.

Bennett married Mary Bourne, daughter of Jasper Bourne of Stanmore Magna, a merchant from a prominent Somerset family. Mary was about 28 years younger than Edward, and they had six children together.

The first two were born while still living in England.

Then Bennett and family fled to Holland during the Puritan migrations, and became "by his wealth" a principal pillar of the Ancient Church. This is when he had a hand in settling over 600 people in Isle of Wight County. Bennett and his associates, Richard Wiseman, and Thomas Wiseman, were members of the Virginia Company in London and often sided with the faction led by the Earl of Warwick. The Wisemans were from the County of Essex and owned the manor of Rivenhall in Witham Hundred on the Blackwater River. In addition to his position as a wealthy London merchant, Edward was the owner of a large fleet of ships which traded with Virginia. He was also Commissioner of Virginia at the Court of England.

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