"Anthony Bennett, immigrant ancestor, was the nephew of Richard Bennett, of Salem. There is a tradition that the family was originally Welsh. Richard Bennett was in Salem as early as 1635; removed to Boston, where his wife Sybil died September 13, 1653, and he married (second) Margaret Gurgefield, widow. His will, dated June 21 and July 6, was proved September 8, 1677, bequething to wife Margaret, son Jonas Clark and Susanna his wife; grandchildren Susanna, daughter of his son Peter; cousin (i.e. nephew) Anthony Bennett "of Bass River"; frees his negro man Jethro and gives him a house lot. His son Peter was a legatee in the will of his mother's brother, Major Ralph Hooker, of Barbadoes, March 14, 1663, proved April 15, 1664. Anthony Bennett settled in Goose cove, Gloucester, and as early as 1679 owned six acres of land. He also owned land on the east side of Mill river, Gloucester. He owned a sawmill near the outlet of Cape Pond brook, where his son John succeeded him in the mill business, the site at Cape Pond brook being still known as Bennett's Mills. He died by accident in 1714 [the year appears to be an error] and his inventory amounted to one hundred and three pounds.
The will of Richard Windowe (Dindoe, Windor or Winde), of Gloucester, indicates that the father of Anthony was dead and his mother was the second wife of Windowe. Richard Window, or Windowe, was in Gloucester in 1647 or earlier; was charged with living apart from his wife, but he showed that he sent for her and she would not come. He was a town officer in 1654. He married, March 30, 1659, Bridget Travis, widow of Henry Travis. Window's will was dated May 2, 1665, proved June 7, 1665, bequethed to his wife Bridget and her son James Travis; daughter Ann; son-in-law (used for step-son always) Anthony, committing him to the care of his uncle Bennett (his Uncle Richard probably); to "daughter-in-law Elizabeth Bennett a Bible that was her father's." (She was evidently a sister of Anthony Bennett and step-daughter of Window; her mother dying before the third marriage to Widow Travis); also to Richard Goding. At the date of the will Anthony was probably a minor. It is conjectured that the name Winthrop is a modification of the name Window and perhaps the correct spelling of the surname. Winthrop is used as a christian name in several generations of the family. Anthony Bennett married Abigail ______, who died October 26, 1733. Children: 1. Anthony, born at Gloucester, November 12, 1679, mentioned below. 2. John, April 11, 1686, married Elizabeth ______, and had sons Anthony and Jonathan, born Feburary 14, 1714, who removed to New Gloucester, Maine. 3. Abigail, September 7, 1688. 4. Peter, married February 1704, Hannah Eveluth. 5. Andrew, had a grant of land in 1706 adjoining Anthony's farm; married Rebecca Thownsend, of Charlestown, and had Jonathan, Bethia and Lydia; died February 15, 1718."
