Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia, V1-16.
Richard Bennett, a Revolutionary soldier, was born in 1756 in Robeson County, N. C. He and his brothers, William and James, all moved to Georgia in the 1780s and settled in Effingham County where they granted land in 1793 and at other times. In 1796, in the creation of Bulloch County out of Effingham, they became residents of that county. Record is found where he registered his stock-mark in Effingham County in 1790. About 1794 he moved with his family to Bryan County, where record is found of his services in the militia as an ensign, commissioned June 12, 1801. He moved in 1819 to the new county of Appling and established his home near the Altamaha River in what is now Wayne County. He died there in 1830.
Mr. Bennett was married in 1785 to Mary Cook, born 1769, died 1847. Nothing is known at this time of her antecedents.
Richard Bennett was a soldier in the Revolutionary War in North Carolina, serving under Capt. Thomas Clark, and was paid for his services Nov. 15, 1783. Certificate No. 89843 was issued to him (see p. 4, “Roster of Soldiers from North Carolina in the American Revolution”).
BENNETT, RICHARD (p. 16): (1) His wife, Mary, was a daughter of James Cook, R. S., and his wife, Margaret, of Effingham County, and is so shown in a deed of gift, dated Sept. 16, 1786, to the Cook children (see deed book A, page 13, Effingham County). (2) The Revolutionary War records of Georgia, edited by Gov. Candler, show that he and his brother, William Bennett (p. 15), together with nearly 100 other Effingham County citizens, were amerced by resolution of the House of Assembly (legislature) in July, 1782. Among those named was James Cook, father-in-law of Richard Bennett. This shows the Bennett brothers were residents of Georgia during the Revolution, and married here. The fact that the 1790 Census of Robeson County, N. C., shows Richard and William Bennett residents there, may be a co-incidence and that they may have been different men of the same name from those in Georgia.
Note: These people were amerced [punished] for helping the British. See the sketch on John Goldwire for more on this.
[His so-called service seems to have been tainted.]

Children of RICHARD BENNETT and MARY COOK are:

i. ELIZABETH BENNETT, b. Abt. 1785, Georgia; d. Bef. 1860, Georgia; m. REV. MOSES WESTBERRY, SR, Abt. 1815, Georgia; b. March 02, 1772, High Hills Santee, Statesburg, South Carolina; d. Abt. 1864, Holmesville, Appling Co, Georgia.
ii. WILLIAM BENNETT, b. 1786, Georgia; m. URSERY.
iii. HENRY BENNETT, b. 1789, Georgia; d. 1835; m. MARGARET SHEFFIELD; b. 1785, Georgia; d. Aft. 1850, Georgia.
iv. WILEY S. BENNETT, #, b. 1800, Georgia; d. 1861; m. MATILDA ROBESON, July 08, 1832; b. 1812.
v. BRAXTON BENNETT, b. March 18, 1808, Bryan Co, Georgia; d. April 03, 1881, Wayne Co, Georgia; m. (1) MARTHA HOPPS, May 27, 1833; b. August 04, 1816, Georgia; d. June 20, 1846, Georgia; m. (2) ELIZABETH WESTBERRY, June 1847, Wayne Co, Georgia; b. January 07, 1827, Appling Co, Georgia; d. 1861, Wayne Co, Georgia; m. (3) CAROLINE BOZEMAN, 1863; b. 1847, North Carolina.