Family and Education

Offices Held

Biography

There are three possible candidates for either or both these seats, assuming, as is likely, that a local man sat in each case. The status of all three was low: as, in all probability, was that of at least the Westbury burgess, the borough being remarkable in this period for the mediocrity of its Members.

(1) s. of William Bennett of Norton Bavant, Wilts. by Isabel, da. of Augustine Dursley of Glos; bro. of William. The Thynne family, who had influence at Heytesbury, owned property at Norton Bavant, and Bennett may have been connected with them. He was probably elderly by 1586. His brother was buried at Westbury in 1574.

(2) s. of Thomas Pitt alias Bennett of Pythouse, Wilts. by Mary, da. of Christopher Aslocke of Heytesbury.

(3) s. of John Pitt alias Bennett of Pythouse by Agnes Topp of Fenny Sutton. This John Bennett lived at Boyton, some 2½ miles from Heytesbury, and was uncle of (2) above.

The only mention of John Bennet (the spelling varies), burgess for Westbury, in the extant parliamentary journals comes when the Speaker granted him permission to depart ‘about his necessary business’ on 1 Mar. 1589.

Hoare, Wilts. Dunworth 132, Heytesbury 77, Warminster 78; D’Ewes, 441.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: J.C.H.

Notes