Bennett Tompkins

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: , , , USA
• Residence: 1683, Charles Parish, York, Virginia, USA

Bennett married Hope Tomey in Mar 1711 in Charles Parish, York, Virginia, USA. Hope was born on 29 Mar 1693 in Virginia Beach, Independent Cities, Virginia, USA; died on 1 Jul 1718 in Virginia Beach, Independent Cities, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Bennett Tompkins was born on 31 Mar 1711 in Charles Parish, York, Virginia, USA; died on 1 Sep 1780 in Charles Parish, York, Virginia, USA.
2. Elizabeth Tompkins was born on 29 Sep 1713 in Charles Parish, York, Virginia, USA.
3. John Tompkins was born on 25 May 1718 in Charles Parish, York, Virginia, USA; died on 21 Aug 1757.

Bennett married Mary Tompkins in Jul 1718 in Charles Parish, York, Virginia, USA. Mary was born in 1700 in Virginia Beach, Independent Cities, Virginia, USA; died in 1742 in Virginia Beach, Independent Cities, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Mary Tompkins was born on 26 Sep 1720 in Charles Parish, York, Virginia, USA; died on 18 Dec 1720 in Charles Parish, York, Virginia, USA.
2. Edmund\Edward Tompkins was born on 11 Dec 1721 in Charles Parish, York, Virginia, USA.
3. Samuel Tompkins was born on 15 Jan 1723 in Virginia Beach, Independent Cities, Virginia, USA; died on 1 Jun 1795 in Chatham, Pittsylvania, Virginia, USA.
4. Martha Tompkins was born on 22 Nov 1725 in Charles Parish, York, Virginia, USA.
5. Mary Tompkins was born on 17 Dec 1726 in Charles Parish, York, Virginia, USA.
6. Frances Tompkins was born on 14 Jan 1728 in Charles Parish, York, Virginia, USA; died on 6 Apr 1730 in Charles Parish, York, Virginia, USA.
7. William Tompkins was born on 13 Apr 1731 in Charles Parish, York, Virginia, USA.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Charles Parish, York, Virginia, USA
• Married: 1680

Notes:

Samuel Tompkins married first Elizabeth Clark in 1685 and second, Sarah Trevillan in 1694. His son, Samuel. was the son of Sarah.

Samuel married Elizabeth Clark in 1680 in Yorktown, York, Virginia, USA. Elizabeth was born on 13 Mar 1658 in Poquoson, York, Virginia, USA; died on 21 Dec 1688 in Poquoson, York, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: , , Virginia, USA

Notes:

Bennett Farm44YO68 Presenter: Nick Luccketti
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Historical Background:
A grant made to Joane Bennett, widow, in 1636 for 450 acres. The patent was reissued in 1639 to Hannah Bennett, daughter and heir of Samuel Bennett (Nugent 1974:116). Hannah married Abraham Turner in 1644 (YCDOW 3:159). They may have stayed with Augustine Warner, who lived on a 450 acre tract immediately north of the Bennett patent, for in 1646 Abraham Turner made on oral last will and testament in the Warner's house where he lay ill (YCDOW 2:417). Actual occupation of the Bennett patent may not have occurred until the mid-1640's.
By May of 1648, Hannah had remarried Humphrey Tompkins (YCDOW 3:360). They had nine children, three of whom did not survive infancy. Humphrey appears to have been a successful planter who was frequently charged with various minor governmental responsibilities. Humphrey Tompkins died in September of 1673 (Charles Parish 1915:250).
With Hannah Tompkins embarking upon a third marriage in 1674, the estate devolved to her eldest son Samuel (YCDOW 5:65). His career was not unlike his father's, although Samuel seemingly encountered difficulties later in his life. In 1681, Samuel married widow Elizabeth Clark who bore him two children (YCDOW 6:302). Samuel was appointed constable for the lower precincts of Poquoson in 1683 (YCDOW 6:512) only to be replaced three years later, foreshadowing his troubles to come.
Following Elizabeth Tompkins' death in 1688, Samuel married Sarah Trevillion who inherited 200 acres from her brother (YCDOW 9:74). Samuel promptly sold the property for two slaves, which the records indicate were the only laborers Samuel ever owned. From 1697 to 1702, Samuel was named as defendant in three different debt suits, one case resulting in the attachment of his estate (YCDOW 10:360, 11:141, 12:5). Further, Samuel was again appointed constable in 1699, only to petition the court seventeen months later to be relieved of his duties (YCDOW 11:171,541). Samuel Tompkins died in 1702 leaving eight children and an estate appraised at little more than 30 pounds sterling (YCDOW 12:109).
In sum, the occupation of Bennett Farm apparently began in the mid-1640's, likely with the marriage of Hannah Bennett to Humphrey Tompkins who, according to the York County records, was a small planter. The Tompkins' had only one servant and Humphrey's only office was surveyor of highways in Poquoson. When he died in 1673, the estate passed to his eldest son Samuel. Although Samuel was twice appointed constable, he seems to have had economic difficulties throughout his life. Apparently the Tompkins family moved to a new site following Humphrey's death in 1702.
Archaeology:
Structures
The principal dwelling on the site originally consisted of a 20' square cell formed from two bays with posts spaced at 10' intervals There was no surviving evidence of a fireplace; however, a door in the southeast corner is indicated by a small intermediate posthole. The presence of a posthole for a door frame further implies that there were no sills between the posts. Without sills capable of supporting floor boards, Structure 1 presumably had a dirt floor. Later a 14.5' addition containing an 7.5' bay and a 7' bay was constructed on the east end of the dwelling. Nine of the 10 postholes of the dwelling each had a posthole cutting through it from the outside. The apparent repair postmolds of Structure 1, however, were 2'-3' outside the original postmold. The function of this second set of postholes was revealed when they were sectioned to show postmolds that angled in towards the building; thus, rather than replacing the original posts of Structure 1, the second set of posts acted as struts or buttresses propping up the building.
Located approximately 58' from Structure 1, Structure 2 was the only outbuilding found at Bennett Farm. It measured 14.5' by 14.5' with side-wall posts at intervals of 7.0' and 7.5'. The spacing is identical to that of posts in the addition of Structure 1.
Pits
A single pit, 68/28, lay 30' south of the main house and 30' northwest of Structure 2. About 30' south from pit 68/28 and 50' west of Structure 2 was a cluster of large and small pits. Finally, a single large pit, with several adjoining small pits, was found 50' south of the central cluster. The sequence of the refuse pits, extending in a line south of the main house, corresponded to the dates when they were filled with trash; 68/28 was filled first c.1650, 68/1-6,8-10 was filled last after 1696, while the pits in between were filled during the intervening years.
When first uncovered, each of the major refuse pits appeared as a single large feature filled with dark soil. Upon removing the top layer from the pits, it was discovered that each contained variously sized smaller holes ranging from 2'-6' in diameter, suggesting that these were not treeholes, but were dug, perhaps to obtain clay for daub. The vast majority of the artifacts recovered during the excavation came from the refuse pits. Those pits that were abundant in artifacts also had large quantities of oyster shell and animal bone indicating the domestic nature of the trash, undoubtedly coming from either Structure 1 and/or Structure 2. Other pits yielded few artifacts and likewise little shell and bone. The pits were excavated by hand and the soil was selectively sifted through 1/4" wire screen when small bones were present.
Wells
Well 1 was 8' deep below subsoil with no evidence of any form of lining. The fill was virtually devoid of artifacts. A section of a wooden ladder was preserved in the bottom.
Well 2 was10'3" below subsoil and was lined with barrels.
Postscript
Pit 28 - 87 wbc stems for 1653, TPQ of post-1645Pit 24 - 21wbc stems for 1660, TPQ of post-1677
Pit 16 - 90 wbc stems for 1658, TPQ of post-1677
Pit 30 - 57 wbc stems for 1666, TPQ of post-1677
Well 7 - 44 wbc stems for 1701, TPQ of post-1680Pit 1 - many for 1678, TPQ of post-1680, 1696 coin

Humphrey married Hannah Bennett on 22 Dec 1647 in York River, Gloucester, Virginia, USA. Hannah was born on 2 Feb 1625 in Jamestown, James City, Virginia, USA; died on 23 Sep 1673 in , Gloucester, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

*(MMA) Giles Tompkins (4352) was an Organist at Kings College Cambridge. This is probably the Giles who married Martha Coombs (4353). (1)1 TOMKINS-TOMPKINS GENEALOGY, p 7

Giles married Martha Coombs on 16 Nov 1616 in St Edmund'S, Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. Martha was born in 1595 in Vow Church, Herefordshire, England; died in 1637 in , Herefordshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Lady Ellen Stannis on 26 Nov 1580 in St Mary St Lawrence Pountney St Lawrence, London, England. Lady was born in 1550 in Hereford, Herefordshire, England; died in 1589 in St Mary at Hill, London, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

James married Margaret Ketlesby. Margaret was born in 1494 in Monington, Herefordshire, England; died in 1565 in Monington, Herefordshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]