Rufus Sanford Bennett (1754 - 1842)

Born 20 Apr 1754 in Preston, New London, Connecticut

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 20 Apr 1842 at age 88 in Hanover, Luzerne, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

Rufus Bennett is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: 113399
Rank: Private

Rufus Bennett was born 20 April 1754. Son of Isaac Bennett and Elizabeth Sheldon.

He was one of the personal bodyguards of George Washington during the American Revolution.

The DAR lists his service with rank of private for Connecticut as 1) CAPTS RANSOM, SPALDING, DURKEE, EELS, 2) COLS GROSVENOR & BUTLER Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed June 23, 2020), "Record of BENNETT, RUFUS", Ancestor # A009293.

• Fact: Military (1777) American Revolutionary War Service
• Fact: Military (April 1783) American Revolutionary War service
• Fact: Census (1790) Federal , Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, USA
• Fact: Tax Listing (1 October 1798) Household descriptions for taxes Hanover, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, USA
• Fact: Census (1800) Federal Hanover, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, USA
• Fact: Census (1810) Federal Hanover, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, USA
• Fact: Military Pension (1818)
• Fact: Census (1820) Federal Hanover, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, USA
• Fact: Census (1830) Federal Hanover, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, USA
• Fact: Census (1840) Federal Wilkes Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, USA
• Fact: Burial (23 April 1842) Hanover Cemetery, Hanover Township, Luzerne, Pennsylvania, United States
• Fact: http://familysearch.org/v1/LifeSketch THE RUFUS BENNETT FAMILY.

Rufus Bennett came here from Connecticut with the family consisting of a mother and grandmother, but the names of the father and grandfather are lost. He v/as born in 1754; was a soldier in the Revolutionary War; was home on furlough and fought in the Battle of Wyoming, and in the escape or flight two Indians were in close pursuit of him with tomahawk and spear. Richard Inman, who had fallen out on the way to the battle-field, saw the Indians and shot one and the other ran back; lived in Hanover and died in Wilkes-Barre about 1842; he married Martha Bennett, daughter of Ishmael Bennett — no relation to him before. Children: Sally Bennett, in. Jared Marcy. William Bennett, in., went West. Welles Bennett, m. Jane Fell. Miranda Bennett, m. George Gledhill. 1st, Randall Stivers, Celesta Bennett, 2d, Peter Fisher. Rockwell Bennett, m. Fisher. Rufus H. Bennett, m Harriet Lueder. Ransom Bennett, m Phoebe Smiley. Elmer Bennett, m. Beck.

Rufus BENNETT b. 1754 came to PA from Connecticut and fought in the Revolutionary War with the Connecticut Forces. Aug 1776 two companies were raised in Wyoming Valley PA to defend Westmoreland. Rufus BENNETT enlisted 9-1-1776 (affidavit signed by Rufus BENNETT 16 Apr 1818, Pension and Warranty files, National Archives, Washington DC). After the disasters to Gen WASHINGTON's army in NY however, these two companies were sent to join Washington's army. As a part of these forces, Rufus BENNETT took part in the battles of Mill Stone, Bound Brook and in the battles of Brandywine, of Germantown, and of Mud Fort. (Annals of Luzerne County by Stewart Pearce 1866, p122 and Appendix D pages 537-8). During the time Rufus BENNETT served in the Revolutionary War, he was a private in Capt. RANSON's Co. Capt. SPAULDINGs' Independent co. and Capt. ELLIS' Co. (Conn military record 1775-1848 1889 pg 263-3 and 317). He was also one of General Washington's personal bodyguards. While home on furlough July 1778, he took part in the battle between the people of the Wyoming Valley (Wyoming Battle and Wyoming Massacre) and the British/Indians of 3 Jul 1778.During the escape or flight two Indians were in close pursuit of him with tomahawk and spear, but Richard INMAN, who had fallen out on the way to the battlefield, saw these two Indians and shot one after which the other ran away. Pvt. Rufus BENNETT served in the military until 7 Jun 1783 when he was discharged at West Point NY.He was listed on the 1840 PA Revolutionary Pensioner's Census at age 81.

Summary of Rufus' war record: Rufus Bennet enlisted 17 Sep 1776 Theses are copies of the muster rolls and payrolls that contain his name:

Bennet, Rufus Return of Officers and Men belonging to Capts. Ransom and Durkee’s Companies stationed at Wioming [sic] who were considered as part of the quota of the State of CT and have been included in the settlement with the Line of said State. Commencement of service 1 Jan 1777

Bennet Rufus 2nd Indpt. Co. raised in the town of Westmoreland commanded by Capt. Samuel Ransom Company Pay Roll Aug 1777 to Sep 1777 Pay per month 6 2/3 Dollars Term of service 1 month

Bennet Rufus 2nd Indpt. Co. raised in the town of Westmoreland commanded by Capt. Samuel Ransom Company Pay Roll Sept 1777 to Oct 1777 Pay per month 6 2/3 Dollars Term of service 1 month

Valley Forge Muster Roll Bennet, Rufus Private Rank and File Huntington's Brigade; Captain Robert Durkee's Company 2nd CT regiment Sullivan/Lee Division 1777 December sick at Westmoreland 1778 January sick at Westmoreland

Bennet Rufus Pvt. 2nd Independent Co. Commanded by Lt. Simon Spaulding, from the town of Westmoreland, State of CT Muster roll month of January 1778 Roll dated Feb 18, 1778 Enlisted 17 Sep 1776 Casualties: S WtMoreland

Bennet Rufus Pvt. 2nd Independent Co. Commanded by Lt. Simon Spaulding, from the town of Westmoreland, State of CT Muster roll month of Feb 1778 Roll dated 2 Mar 1778 Enlisted 17 Sep 1776 Casualties: S WtMoreland

Bennet Rufus 2nd Independent Co. Commanded by Lt. Simon Spaulding, from the town of Westmoreland, State of CT Muster Roll month of Mar 1778 Roll date April 1 1778 Casualties: S Westmoreland

Bennet Rufus Pvt. Lt. Simon Spalding’s Co. in a Connecticut Batt’n commanded by Col John Durkee Muster Roll month of May 1778 Roll date June 2 1778 Remarks: S Westmorland

Bennet, Rufus 2nd Co. 1st Connecticut Reg. Commanded by Col. John Durkee Muster Roll of March 1782 Roll dated 25 Apr 1782 Time since last muster or enlistment 1 March 1782

Bennett Rufus Pvt. 2nd Col 1st CT Reg Commanded by Col John Durkee Muster Roll month of Apr 1782 Roll dated May 22 1782 Term of enlistment: war Time since last muster or enlistment Apr 25

Bennet Rufus Ells Co. Col. Zebulon Butler’s Regiment 1783 Enlisted 1 Jan 1781

Bennet, Rufus 2nd Co. 1st Connecticut Reg. Commanded by Lt. Col. Thomas Grosvenor Muster Roll of May 1782 Roll dated 14 Jun 1782 Time since last muster or enlistment 22 May 1782

Bennet, Rufus 2nd Co. 1st Connecticut Reg. Commanded by Lt. Col. Thomas Grosvenor Muster Roll of June 1782 Roll dated 21 Jul 1782 Time since last muster or enlistment 14 Jun 1782

Bennet, Rufus 2nd Co. 1st Connecticut Reg. Commanded by Lt. Col. Thomas Grosvenor Muster Roll of July 1782 Roll dated 6 Aug 1782 Time since last muster or enlistment 21 Jul 1782

Bennet, Rufus 2nd Co. 1st Connecticut Reg. Commanded by Lt. Col. Thomas Grosvenor Muster Roll of Aug 1782 Roll dated 9 Sep 1782 Time since last muster or enlistment 6 Aug 1782

Bennet, Rufus 2nd Co. 1st Connecticut Reg. Commanded by Lt. Col. Thomas Grosvenor Muster Roll of September 1782 Roll dated 13 Oct 1782 Time since last muster or enlistment Sept 9, 1782

Bennet, Rufus 2nd Co. 1st Connecticut Reg. Commanded by Lt. Col. Thomas Grosvenor Muster Roll of October 1782 Roll dated 11 Nov 1782 Time since last muster or enlistment 13 Oct 1782

Bennet Rufus 1st Co. 1st CT Reg’t commanded by Col. Zebulon Butler Muster Roll of Nov 1782 Roll dated Dec 1782 Time since last muster or enlistment 1 Nov 1782

Bennet Rufus 1st Co. 1st CT Reg’t commanded by Col. Zebulon Butler Muster Roll of Dec 1782 and Jan 1783 Roll dated 24 Jan 1783 Time since last muster or enlistment 1 Dec 1782

Bennet Rufus 1st Co. 1st CT Reg’t commanded by Col. Zebulon Butler Muster Roll of Feb 1783 Roll dated 14 Mar 1783 Time since last muster or enlistment 27 Jan 1783

Bennet Rufus 1st Co. 1st CT Reg’t commanded by Col. Zebulon Butler Muster Roll of March 1783 Roll dated 29 Apr 1783 Time since last muster or enlistment 14 Mar 1783

Bennet Rufus 1st Co. 1st CT Reg’t commanded by Col. Zebulon Butler Muster Roll of Apr 1783 Roll dated 29 May 1783 Time since last muster or enlistment 29 Apr 1783

Bennet Rufus Pvt Payroll of balance due Capt. Eells’s Company 1st Connecticut Regiment for the year 1783 Term of service 10 months 3 days Pay per month 6:60 Amount 67:30 Pay received 26:60 Ball due 40:60 Deficiencies of clothing 19:30 Balance due for pay and clothing 60:00

Sources

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 23 July 2021, 02:27), entry for Rufus Sanford Bennett (PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:LCS7-H29 ); contributed by various users.
• U.S., Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783, Capt. Sells' Company, 1st Connecticut Regiment for year 1783
• U.S., Revolutionary War Pensioners, 1801-1815, 1818-1872
• History of Hanover Township & History of Wyoming Valley in Luzerne County, PA by Henry Blackman Plumb, 1885, pp 106, 164, 391
• Year: 1790; Census Place: Luzerne, Pennsylvania; Series: M637; Roll: 8; Page: 144; Image: 335; Family History Library Film: 0568148
• Year: 1810; Census Place: Hanover, Luzerne, Pennsylvania; Roll: 49; Page: 668; Image: 0193675; Family History Library Film: 00147
• 1820 U S Census; Census Place: Hanover, Luzerne, Pennsylvania; Page: 362; NARA Roll: M33_105; Image: 225
• 1830 US Census; Census Place: Hanover, Luzerne, Pennsylvania; Page: 348; NARA Series: M19; Roll Number: 145; Family History Film: 0020619
• ear: 1840; Census Place: Wilkes Barre, Luzerne, Pennsylvania; Roll: 471; Page: 132; Image: 269; Family History Library Film: 0020549
• Rufus Sanford Bennett's obituary notice as printed in the Wilkes-Barre Advocate on 16 Apr 1842.
• Find A Grave: Memorial #15582073