Person:Adam Bennett (2)

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Adam Bennett: Biographical Information

Adam Bennett was the enslaved overseerer for Magnolia Plantation in Charleston, South Carolina. Little is known of his life before the Civil War.

The Antebellum records for Magnolia Plantation are sparse and fragmentary. The plantation house burned three times in the past and the family records may have been destroyed in one or more of these fires.

Birth

Adam was born about 1835 in South Carolina. This birth year was taken from Census records. The Antebellum records are too sparse at present to reveal Adam's precise date and place of birth.

Parents

Our research in the surviving Antebellum public records, such as wills, estate inventories and bills of sale for the Drayton and Grimke families continues. We hope to learn the names of Adam's parents, and details about their lives.

Marriage

Adam Bennett married Hannah. You may follow the link on the left of this page to view Hannah's Person Page.

Children

Adam and Hannah Bennett had 8 children:

Gabriel - 1872 Adam - 1875 John - 1878 Unknown child - 1880 Isaac - 1883 Susan - 1885 Ezekiel - 14 March 1886 Elizabeth - 1890 ...

This photo shows four of the Bennett children - From left to right, Isaac, Gabriel, Susan and Ezekiel.

Death

Adam died on April 27, 1910, on Johns Island, Charleston District, South Carolina.

Family Oral History

The Rev. John Grimke Drayton owned Magnolia Plantation at the time of the Civil War. Prior to the end of the War, the Rev. John Grimke Drayton took his family to Phila. PA. He then traveled to Flat Rock, North Carolina on his way back to Charleston. After the Civil War ended, Adam Bennett is said to have walked from Magnolia Plantation to Flat Rock to meet Drayton. They returned to Magnolia Plantation together. Adam continued to work and live on Magnolia Plantation after the Civil War.

Adam Bennett: Associated Documents

Adam Bennett: Associated Places

Place: Magnolia Plantation, Charleston, South Carolina, United States

Place: Charleston, South Carolina, United States

Place: Henderson, North Carolina, United States

Adam Bennett: Biographical Information

Adam Bennett was the enslaved overseer for Magnolia Plantation in Charleston, South Carolina. Little is known of his life before the Civil War, as the Antebellum records for Magnolia Plantation are sparse and fragmentary. The main house at Magnolia Plantation today is actually the third house which has stood in its place. Two previous houses were destroyed by fire and the family records may have been destroyed in one or more of these fires. ^S4

The Rev. John Grimke Drayton owned Magnolia Plantation at the time of the Civil War. Prior to the end of the War, the Rev. Drayton took his family to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He then traveled to Flat Rock, North Carolina on his way back to Charleston. After the Civil War ended, Adam Bennett is said to have walked from Magnolia Plantation to Flat Rock to meet Drayton. They returned to Magnolia Plantation together. Adam and his family continued to work and live on Magnolia Plantation after the Civil War. ^S3

Adam married Hannah. We know little about Hannah's life but research continues (please contact us if you have information!). Adam and Hannah had 8 children:

Gabriel - b. 1872 Adam - b. 1875 John - b. 1878 Unknown child - b. 1880 Isaac - b. 1883 Susan - b. 1885 Ezekiel - b. 1886 Elizabeth - 1890

This photo shows four of the Bennett children - From left to right, Isaac, Gabriel, Susan and Ezekiel.

You can follow the links in the Family Group Sheet below to see the pages for each member of Adam's immediate family.

You can click on "More" then "Pedigree-Map" at the top right corner of this page to view pedigree charts, maps, timelines, thumbnail images and more for Adam's family.

Family Group Sheet

• Person:Adam Bennett (4)
• + Person:Hannah Unknown (436)
  • Person:Gabriel Bennett (1)
  • Person:Adam Bennett (3)
  • Person:John Bennett (54)
  • Person:Isaac Bennett (3)
  • Person:Susan Bennett (6)
  • Person:Ezekiel Bennett (1)
  • Person:Elizabeth Bennett (38)

About This Page

This page is part of a groundbreaking research project to rediscover the family lineages of enslaved people on Drayton family plantations in Barbados and the United States. To read more about this historic research, please visit the article below:

Genealogy of Enslaved Communities on Drayton Family Plantations: A Research Project Sponsored by the Magnolia Plantation Foundation of Charleston, SC

Original 1950s photo - possibly Adam Bennett

Enhanced photo - possibly Adam Bennett

This photo shows four of the Bennett children - From left to right, Isaac, Gabriel, Susan and Ezekiel.

1.   1880 Census of the United States.

   Census Year: 1880; Census Place: Saint Andrews, Charleston, South Carolina; Roll: T9_1223; Family History Film: 1255223; Page: 67.2000; Enumeration District: 81.

2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Magnolia Plantation Cemetery, Charleston, South Carolina.

   Inscription: "In Memorium Adam Bennett, Died April 27, 1910, Aged 72 Years"

3.   1880 Census of the United States.

   Source Citation: Year: 1880; Census Place: Saint Andrews, Charleston, South Carolina; Roll: T9_1223; Family History Film: 1255223; Page: 67.2000; Enumeration District: 81

4.   The Story of Historic Magnolia Plantation and Its Gardens.

   Magnolia Plantation, Interpretive Booklet, Self-Published.

5.   Griffin, Dorothy Gail. The Eighteenth Century Draytons of Drayton Hall. (Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia: Ph.D Dissertation, 1985).

   Griffin, Dorothy Gail. 1985. (Ph.D. diss., Emory University)

6.   The original photograph contained in the sepia photo above, left, was taken by a Mr. A.F. Baker. Baker was an Englishman who had studied photography under Alexander Bassano in London and he toured the Southeast during the late 1870/early 1880s. He later opened a summer studio in Hendersonville, NC. (Hendersonville is about 6 miles from Flat Rock.) If one looks carefully at the black & white photo, you see the name Baker on the left side of the photo and Hendersonville, N.C. on the right. Adam Bennett was in the Flat Rock area and family oral history tracks the photo as saying that the photo is of Adam Bennett - we are not sure but it certainly looks reasonable.
7.   Of the 49 marked graves in the African American Cemetery at Magnolia Gardens Plantation 14 of those interred there are members of the Bennett family. They are:
   
   1) IN MEMORIUM HANNAH WIFE OF ADAM BENNETT DIED DEC.7,1908
   2) IN MEMORIUM ADAM BENNETT DIED APRIL 27, 1910 AGED 72 YEARS
   3) JOHN BENNETT 1878-1926 FOR 30 YEARS SUPT. OF MAGNOLIA GARDENS
   IN LIFE THE FAMILY HE SERVED LOVED AND TRUSTED HIM, IN DEATH THEY HONOR HIM
   4) WILLIAM J. BENNETT 1908-1925 AT REST
   5) ELIGAH C. BENNETT 1909-1933 AT REST
   6) EVELYN BENNETT JENKIN 1907-1936 AT REST
   7) GABRIEL BENNETT DIED MAY 25, 1938 AT REST
   8) HATTIE BENNETT 1886- 1954
   9) MOTHER LOLA BENNETT 1898-1948
   10)REBBECCA WESTON 12 9 1954
   11)SUSAN BENNETT HADDOCK APRIL 13, 1886 DEC. 10, 1957
   12)EZEKIAL BENNETT 1886-1949 AT REST
   13)SIMON BENNETT JAN 4,1873 NOV.26,1939 AT REST
   14)ELLA BENNETT 1896-1944 AT REST
8.   Of the 49 marked graves in the African American Cemetery at Magnolia Plantation 14 of those interred there are members of the Bennett family. They are:
   
   1) IN MEMORIUM HANNAH WIFE OF ADAM BENNETT DIED DEC.7,1908
   2) IN MEMORIUM ADAM BENNETT DIED APRIL 27, 1910 AGED 72 YEARS
   3) JOHN BENNETT 1878-1926 FOR 30 YEARS SUPT. OF MAGNOLIA GARDENS
   IN LIFE THE FAMILY HE SERVED LOVED AND TRUSTED HIM, IN DEATH THEY HONOR HIM
   4) WILLIAM J. BENNETT 1908-1925 AT REST
   5) ELIGAH C. BENNETT 1909-1933 AT REST
   6) EVELYN BENNETT JENKIN 1907-1936 AT REST
   7) GABRIEL BENNETT DIED MAY 25, 1938 AT REST
   8) HATTIE BENNETT 1886- 1954
   9) MOTHER LOLA BENNETT 1898-1948
   10)REBBECCA WESTON 12 9 1954
   11)SUSAN BENNETT HADDOCK APRIL 13, 1886 DEC. 10, 1957
   12)EZEKIAL BENNETT 1886-1949 AT REST
   13)SIMON BENNETT JAN 4,1873 NOV.26,1939 AT REST
   14)ELLA BENNETT 1896-1944 AT REST