Not all children have been verified but are placed here because ofproximity of famiy names and geographical locations.
Excerpts from the Redman-Bennett Reunion History, August 14 (1921) atRichwoods, Clark Co, IL.
For almost two hundred years, these families have been closely unitedtogether by marriages and relationships, emigrating together from theOld Country to the United States, and settling in the State ofVirginia.
These familes were prosperous farmers and lived in Virginia untilafter the Revolutionary war when they began to colonize and emigratefurther west. Our ancestors were the first to go; they moved to thestate of Kentucky, settling in Spencer county.
In 1799 an emigrant party of one hundred under the leadership ofCaptain John Hawkins left Virginia and went over the Alleghenymountains for the west. In the crowd were the Redmans, Bennetts,Kesters, Briscoes, Le es, and Drakes, all of whom have descendents inEdgar and Clark counties. They settled in Spencer county, Ky.
Years passed by and emigration spread westward. Illinois was admittedto the Union as a free state, and all its lands were open forsettlement . Our forefathers took advantage of this; they colonized,and in the y ear of 1831 they left their homes in Spencer county,Kentucky, coming to the new state of Illinois, and entering land inEdgar and Clark counties. Thie region of the country has long beenknown as the Rich Woods, and the home of the Redmans and Bennetts. Ourancestors were of Scotch-Irish and German descent, but for nearly twocenturies have been American by birth.
Basel Bennett, who came to the United States with John Redman, isclose ly related to the Redmans. Marriages with the two familes havebeen tr aced back for four hundred years. They were also slave ownersand owned large plantations.
Richard Bennett was governor of Virginia in 1653.
Residences & events:
Spencer Co, KY
Again from reunion notes:
"In the year of 1831, Joesph Redman and John Bennett, of SpencerCounty, Ky., organized a colony to move to the new State of Illinois.Everything was to be in readiness for this colony to start bySeptember 1, 1831. There were amny things to be done; wagons to becovered, household goods to be packed, and all stock ready for thislong drive. In these two families there were 23 children, many ofthem young men and women. There were other families with children inthis party. When the final day to sart had come, everything was
in readiness. Relatives and neighbors met to say good-bye and wishthem well. it was a beautiful September morning. The final good-byewas said, and the emigrant party were seen winding their way down theTurn Pike toward the Ohio River a distance of 25 miles. When theystopped for dinner, they had made half of that distance. They stoppedat the Old Water Mill, to exchange grain for grinding, and to let thestock rest. Everyone was busy, the children were excited, but happy,for several of them had never seen a river, city or village. The Cityof Louisville was in sight, and it was a wonder to them. They allcongregated at night on the bank of the river, some to fish, others towatch the boats and view the city. it was almost mrning before any ofthem retired.
"The next morning all were loaded on the ferry boat and started acrossthe river. it was a mile wide and took almost an hour to ferryacross. After crossing the river, the emigrant party took anorthwestern route across the state of Indiana. Their progress fortraveling was slow, but finally they reached the little town ofVincennes, wheree they ferried across the Wabash River. They thentraveled north to palestine where the General Land Office of Illinoiswas established. There they made some land entried--Joseph Redmanentering land in Edgar county and John Bennett entering land in Clarkcounty. The county line divided their farms.
Their destination was reached at last. The found their land a denseforest of heavy woodland of oak, walnut and sugar trees--splendidtimber for building purposes. They found a few neighbors who hadpreceded them a few years to this neighborhood, who gave them a happywelcome. There was no time lost; a site was soon selected for abuilding place, and everybody got busy at work."
From Find-a-Grave:
"This section which now embraces Kansas Township was originallysettled by the Boyers, Pinnells, Arterburns, Wilhoits, Bennetts,Redmans, Kesters and others. The first land entry and settlement madein the township was made by Solomon Boyer, October 25th, 1823, andupon this land was the first log cabin built. A few years later, thisland was sold to William Kester, and for almost one hundred years hasremained in his estate, his daughter Charlotte Woodruff is the presentowner.
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At that time this section was wilderness inhabited by a tribe ofKickapoo Indians, and long known for their happy hunting ground. Itwas a heavily timbered section, covered with oak, walnut and sugartrees and the home of the deer, wolves, bears, wildcats, and otherwild and savage animals. This section was first called Rich Land, butlater changed to Rich Woods. In the year 1822, all lands of Illinois,west of the Indian Boundry Line were opened up and made subject toentry. This caused a great emigration from the State of Kentucky tothis section.
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Among some of the early settlers were Thomas Frazier, Absalom Kester,Richard M. Newport, Solomon Boyars, John Bennett, Daniel Bennett,Joseph Redman, Nathan Kester, Jeremiah Cornwelll, Edward Pinnell,Julius Wilhoit, Henry Randall, Francis Davis, William Comstock andmany others.
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In the fall of 1831, they organized and constituted the Rich Woodschurch, with the following members, Thomas Frazier and wife, AbsalomKester and wife, William Walker and wife, Daniel Bennett and wife,Henry Randall and wife, also Rebecca Davis. The name of this church tobe known as the Concord Baptist Church. The first meeting was held inthe home of Francis Davis, and on the second Lord's day in October1831, the following named members united with this church: JosephRedman and Lucy Redman, his wife, John Bennett and Charlotte Bennett,his wife. As there was no church house in the neighborhood, they heldtheir services at the different neighbors' houses.
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During the first year, the following named persons united with thischurch: Joseph Redman and wife, John Bennett and wife, Harvey Bennett,Matilda Bennett, Lucy Bennett, Letitia Bennett, Nathan Kester, WilliamKester, Fergus Johnson, Vincent Redman, Elizabeth Kester, Fanny AnnKester, Rachel Johnson, Isaac P. Dougherty, Fanny W. Kester, FrancisDavis, John Black Polly Black, Alexander McGraham, Rebecca Stark,Abner Stark, Elizabeth McGraham, Enoch Hawkins, Alexander Black, Wm.Steely, John Bennett, Phamy Bennett, Amandaline Redman, Byron Kester,Wm. Comstock, Sallie Barbee, Parkerson Walker, Eunice Kester, andSusan Tichenor."
And again from the reunion notes:
"The winter of 1831 and 1832 several hundred Indians camped almost inthe center of the Rich Woods. It was near where Joseph Redman andJohn Bennett had erected their buildings. The Indians were veryfriendly with the whites and frequently would invite them to theircamp to dine with them....
Another noted place in the neighborhood and near where this homecomingis being held, was a deer lick. It was a spot of salt ground wherethe deer would come and lick. The usual time for them to come to thisplace was just at dawning or a little before daybreak. This was anoted place for the sons of Joseph and John Bennett to hunt the deer.When the moon was its brightest and early in the morning, these boyswould go to this place and with their rifles climb up in the trees andhide themselves. It wouldn't be long until the snapping of a twigcould be heard and a fallow deer would quietly come slipping throughthe brush. The boys understood that when a low whistle was given,they were to fire. This nearly always brought down a deer....
The happiest event of the year was sugar-making time. This wouldusually begin about the middle of February and last through the monthof March. Extensive preparations were required before sugar-makingbegan. A large furnace with kettles had to be made, troughs had to bedug for sugar water and splies had to be made for the trees and woodcut to fire the furnace. Some of the largest camps in the settlementin that day were owned by Absalom Frazier, Thomas Frazier, JosephRedman, William Cumstock, John Bennett, Henry Randall, and in fact,nearly all the early settlers of Rich Woods made sugar."
9/3/1850 Richland Pct, Clark Co, IL. At census time he and Charlottelived 2 doors down from daughter, Rebecca and Francis Davis. John wasa 71 year old farmer with $800 in real estate, Charlotte was 69.Living wi th them was 12 year old Harrison Bennet, probably agrandchild. The neighbors, the Pettenger family, was probably anotherdaughter, Eliza, as their family had all the same names.
7/5/1860 Westfield, Clark Co, IL. Probably the geographical lineshad shifted rather than the entire family moving as they still livedonly a few doors apart. Having lost his wife, John, at age 81, hadliving with h im the family of daughter America and John Devorire.John had apparently retired, perhaps turning the farm over to theson-in-law who was a farmer at age 45. America was 39, their chidlrenwere William A, 19, farm laborer with property of his own worth$2000/600; James A, 16, Emma R , 12, John, 9, and Morris A, 4. Theylived between John's son Isaac and daughter Rebecca and Francis Davis.
Some say John died in Clark Co, IA but since he was in Clark Co, ILthe p revious year, that is the logical place of death.
