Martha Bennett

     Martha Bennett was born circa 1757. She was the daughter of Jonathan Bennett and Martha Parsons. Martha Bennett was baptized on 2 April 1758 at Gloucester, Essex Co, Massachusetts; 1st Parish Church. She married Zebedee Hammond, son of John Hammond and Patience Webber, on 16 October 1774 at Gloucester, Essex Co, Massachusetts.^1,2 Martha Bennett married John Scott circa 1795 at New Brunswick; Martha Bennett Hammond supposedly married a man named Scott and moved to Fredericton after Zebedee's death.³ Martha Bennett died on 6 February 1823 at Saint John, Saint John Co, New Brunswick; Martha Scott was aged 66 years. The newspaper was dated 13 February 1823 but mentions she died Thursday evening. Since the 13th was also a Thursday, this writer assumes she passed away the previous Thursday.⁴
     She had filed their marriage intention on 15 October 1774 at No. Yarmouth, Cumberland Co, Maine. Martha Scott, of the Parish of Portland, assigned, transferred and quitted claim to land situated in Queen's Ward given the number of 513. This was in favor of Moses Scott, cooper, of Saint John, for £10.⁵ On 25 Apr 1821, Martha Scott, widow, and John Scott, yeoman, both of Portland parish, sold off land to Thomas Bean Sr, of the same place for £100. The land was in the southestern and undivided half of a lot situated at or near Red Head, part of the original grant by the Crown to George Smith, deceased, Lot #2, bound to the west by the Bay of Saint John, southwardly by land granted to John Streit(?). The parcel was estimated to be about 100 acres.⁶