Mary BENNETT

1631 - 1682  (41 years)

• Name	Mary BENNETT
  Birth	c. 1631	England   [1]
  	Mary's age has been ascertained from a deposition that she made on 15 November 1656 in Lower Norfolk County Court. She stated that she was "aged about 25 years."
  Gender	Female
  FSME	15 Apr 1653	Lower Norfolk Co, Virginia Colony   [2, 3]
  	Mary was 1 of 16 headrights listed on a Certificate of Importation granted to Thomas Willoughby, Jr. by the Lower Norfolk County Court on 15 April 1653. It is of interest to note that on 7 October 1654, Capt. Thomas Willoughby [Sr], patented 1400 acres in Lynnhaven Parish, Lower Norfolk County using the April 1653 Certificate of Importation issued to his son and certificates to support the payment of transportation costs for 12 additional individuals.
  anecdote	15 Nov 1654 - 15 Dec 1654	Lower Norfolk Co, Virginia Colony   [4, 5]
  	During the 15 December 1654 meeting of the Lower Norfolk County Court "by joynt consent between Capt. Thomas Willoughby and Mary Bennett, she is to have her freedom upon paying 300 lb tob[acco] & caske in March 1654/5 and another 300 lb tob[acco] & caske 10 January 1655/6." During November 1654, Mary brought legal action against Thomas Willoughby, Jr. in Lower Norfolk County Court. On 15 December of that year, Capt. Thomas Willoughby, Sr. "in op[e]ne Co[u]rt ingaged to deliv[er] unto Mary Bennett to and for the use of the Child w[hi]ch she now hath, one heiffer of two yeeres ould uppon demand." Little more than a year after her arrival in the Virginia Colony, Mary conceived an illegitimate child with Thomas Willoughby, Jr, son of her master, Capt. Thomas Willoughby. And at that same December Court, Thomas, Jr. was "p[re]sented for Comitting of fornicac[i]on with Mary Bennett Singlewoman his fathers Servant."
  Death	Between Jul 1672 and 20 Jun 1682  [6, 7]
  	Mary died after July 1672, when she "humbly craves a hearing at the next Court" of Lower Norfolk County, but before 20 June 1682, when she was not a recipient in the division of her deceased husband's property.
  Person ID	I567	mason
  Last Modified	22 Jul 2026

  
  

  Family 1	John HERBERT, alias WILKINSON   d. c. 1675
  Marriage	Between 10 Jan 1655/6 and 15 Nov 1656  [1, 4, 8]
  	The couple was married after 10 January 1655/6, the date on which Mary was free of her indenture to Capt. Thomas Willoughby, but before 15 November 1656, when she was deposed in Lower Norfolk County Court as "Mary Wilkinson."
  Notes	When Mary Bennett married John Herbert alias Wilkinson, Mary's illegitimate son Thomas Willoughby was taken into his step-father's home and treated as an equal with his half-brothers.
  Children	1. John HERBERT,   b. c. 1657, Lower Norfolk Co, Virginia Colony d. 1679 (Age 22 years)   2. Richard HERBERT,   b. Lower Norfolk Co, Virginia Colony d. c. 1693
  Family ID	F21	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	22 Jul 2026

  
  

  Family 2	Thomas WILLOUGHBY,   b. 25 Dec 1632, , Colony of Virginia d. 15 Dec 1671 (Age 38 years)
  Children	1. Thomas WILLOUGHBY,   b. Sep 1654, Lower Norfolk Co, Virginia Colony d. Abt 1711 (Age 56 years)
  Family ID	F4379	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	22 Jul 2026

  
  

• Sources

  [S4733] Mary Wilkinson deposition (1656), Norfolk Co, VA Wills & Deeds Book "D", f. 38. [S2320] Thomas Willoughby, Jr, certificate of importation (1653), Norfolk Co, VA Wills & Deeds "C", f. 44. [S2332] Capt. Thomas Willoughby, Virginia land patent, 7 October 1654. [S2319] Mary Bennett purchase of freedom (1654), Norfolk Co, VA Wills & Deeds "C", f. 117a. [S4476] Mary Bennett court action (1654), Norfolk Co, VA Wills & Deeds "C", ff. 105, 110, 113a. [S2317] John Herbert division of property (1691), Norfolk Co, VA Deed Book 5, Pt. 2 (Orders), ff. 160-160a. [S2318] Mary Herbert court appeal (1672), Norfolk Co, VA Wills & Deeds "E", ff.125a, 248. [S4395] Mary Tucker deposition (1694), Norfolk Co, VA Deed Book 5, f. 231.