The information we have on the Bennett family is that Dr. Bennett was born in England and was granted three acres of land in Rowley in February of 1672 and made his home there for the rest of his life. As far as we know, he was the town's only practicing physician until his son, William, was qualified to assist him. Mary (Plumer) Cheney Bennett was Dr. Bennett's second wife, was the daughter of Francis and Ruth Plumer, and the widow of John Cheney of Newbury.

I have received the following information from Tom Davis concerning Sarah Bennet: "Sarah Bennett was niece of Mary Spencer Phips who was the wife of Sir William Phips, Governor of Mass. Sarah's brothers Spencer and William also became prominent men, one a physician, the other a Lt.Governor. Sarah Bennett's brother William married Jemima Nelson, a sister of Philip Nelson who filed a deposition against Margaret Scott, grandmother of John Decker, Jr., who was hanged as a witch. Sarah Bennett's aunt Mary (Spencer) Phips, widow of Sir William Phips, married Peter Sergeant, a member of the court of "Oyer and Terminer' which came up with the convictions for witchcraft in 1692."

John, Jr. and Sarah (Bennett) Decker lived in Kittery, ME, and were of Newington, NH by 1716. They were admitted to full communion in the church at Newington, NH on 30 September 1716 or 30 September 1728.

Helene Decker