Career
Born in Wiveliscombe, Somerset, Bennett served as governor from 30 April 1652, until 2 March 1655. In 1648, he fled to Anne Arundel, Maryland. Governor William Berkeley had been sympathetic to the Crown during the Civil War, but on 12 March 1652, he surrendered to representatives of the Commonwealth, and Bennett, then back in Virginia, was unanimously elected by the House of Burgesses on 30 April.
Though little is known about his time as governor, it is believed that he was popular with the colonists.
On 30 November 1657, Bennett, having returned to the colonies, signed the treaty with Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore, which recognised the latter"s claim to Maryland. He returned to the governor"s Council, and also became a Major-General, leading forces against a marauding Dutch fleet of four vessels committing depredations at Hampton Roads in 1667.
Richard Bennett is thought to be a son of Thomas Bennett (1570–1616) and Antsie Tomson of Wiveliscombe. In 1666, Secretary Thomas Ludwell wrote to Henry Bennet, 1st Earl of Arlington that Richard Bennett seemed to be of the same family, sharing the same coat of arms (also shared by the Bennetts of North Bavant, Wiltshire).
Richard Bennett Junior., married Henrietta Maria Neale, daughter of James Neale of Maryland.
Drowned at sea 1676 Anna Bennett (died November 1687) first married Theodorick Bland of Westover in 1660 and had three sons: the original surveyor of both Alexandria and Williamsburg Theodorick Bland, Richard Bland (who had many notable descendants), and John Bland, who was the great-grandfather of Chancellor Theodorick Bland of Maryland. Her second marriage was to Colonel Saint Leger Codd, and they had one son, also named Saint Leger Codd.
Elizabeth Bennett, married Colonel
Charles Scarborough of Accomac County, the son of Edmund Scarborough Bennett"s descendants include Richard Bland II, John Randolph of Roanoke Henry Lee III,Robert East. Lee, and Roger Atkinson Pryor. Claus Bernet: Bennett, Richard (1609-1675), in: Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon, volunteer
