Scard Family 
Benness Family of Hampshire
Thomas Scard of Eling married Susannah Benness 10th Feb. 1763 at All Saints Southampton
JOHN BENNESS
of Eling, Hampshire
[c.1720-1770]
Note: There are many burial entries for Benness Family in the HBI who resided in the area of Totton, Eling
& Southampton dating quite far back. There are also several very old newspaper clippings relating
to the Benness Family in this area.
Anyone wishing to expand the lineage of Susannah Scard nee Benness further is welcome to
contact the writer for further details.
John Benness, a malster, was born c. 1720. He married Elizabeth [nee unknown] and is documented as having one
son and three daughters.
John Benness died testate and was buried at Eling Hampshire 4th April 1770.
His wife Elizabeth Benness[nee Durley] survived him by a further 17 months and also died testate , buried at Eling
18th September 1771.
Issue;
SON: John Benness [noted as Junr.] also a maltser. Married Elizabeth Durling [of Ringwood] 20th May 1761
at Eling.
Died young, four years after his marriage.
No known issue.
He predeceased his father by six years.
Died Testate see particulars of his Will below.
Buried 11th June 1764 at Eling [HBI].
DAUGHTER: Susannah Benness born 1743 married Thomas Scard of Eling 10th Feb. 1763 at All Saints Southampton
and had issue.
Susanna was buried at Eling 9th November 1815 at the recorded age of 72yrs.
[Further information access the Biography of her Spouse: Thomas Scard].
DAUGHTER: Ann Benness married Stephen Newland at Eling 17th December 1758, the son of Arthur Newland of Eling.
Two children: William and Jenny. Ann appears to have predeceased her father.
DAUGHTER: Sarah Benness appears to have married John Kent at Eling 22nd January 1758.
The Kent Family were resident at Eling.
Two children: Sarah Kent and Ann Kent.
DAUGHTER: Mary Benness married John Abbott at Eling 29th December 1755.
Two children: John Abbott and Elizabeth Abbott.
SYNOPSIS FOR BENNESS WILLS
By LMealey
The Will of John Benness of Eling (proved 1770), maltser, indicated that his
wife was Elizabeth. His daughters were Ann Newlands (deceased, wife of
Stephen Newlands), Sarah Kent (wife of John Kent) and Susannah Scard
(wife of Thomas Scard). He also mentions grandson William Newlands
(son of Stephen) and grandchildren John Abbott and Elizabeth Abbott
(parents both dead ?). Executrix, daughter - Susannah Scard. See Full Transcription Below.
The Will of Elizabeth Benness of Eling (written 1771), widow of John Benness
gives more info re children and grandchildren. Grandchildren mentioned are
Jenny Newland, Elizabeth Abbott, Sarah Kent, John Abbott and Benness Scard.
Her executors were James Warwick (Eling) and Andrew Worsem (Totton).
Witnesses were Peter Smith, James Worsem and John Collis (all signed).
Elizabeth made her mark. (Dec 2007). Submitted by LMealey.
The Will of John Benness (the Younger) (written 1764) mentions nephews
John Abbott and John Scard and nieces Ann Kent and Elizabeth Abbott.
His executors were his father John Benness and his wife Elizabeth Benness.
Witnesses were Wm Durling (father or brother of Elizabeth?), Thos Dawkins
(both signed) and Elizabeth Benness (mark/EB). Submitted by LMealey.
HISTORY:
The earliest entry for 'Benness' is Henrie Bennis of London c.1400 who noted alongside Richard Ford
(a remembrancer in the Exchequer), "and Henrie Bennis (clerk of his privy seal)" British History online.
Also;
http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&q=%22Henry+Bennis%22&btnG=Google+Search&meta=
The earliest recorded progenitor found by the writer in Hampshire was Edward Benness who recorded a son
Edward buried in 1587 at Wellow, 6 miles NW of Eling.
The Benness Family recorded 37 burials in the surrounding area during the next two centuries implying the
family was well localised, although lived very near the Border of Wiltshire. Some family members could very well
have settled in the adjacent County. Requests for Hampshire burial information can be made by contacting the writer.
OTHER RECORDS:
There are many transactions, Deeds, Wills etc. for the Benness Family dating back to the 1600's recorded at the
Hampshire Record Office [online].
One entry for John Benness is related to the property mentioned in his Will purchased from Peter Searle Esq.
Their Index with an excellent synopsis for each document is free and can be accessed at;
http://www3.hants.gov.uk/archives/catalog.htm [suggest also search under variants i.e. Benis, Benniss etc.]
Anyone wishing to Research this family, the writer has a list of Benness Burials in Hampshire [all variants]
WILL of John Benness
Transcribed by JAdams
and also Transcribed separately by LMealey
In the name of God Amen I John Benness of Totton in the Parish of Eling in the County of Southampton Maltser being of
perfect mind and understanding praised our God do make and publish this my present Last Will and Testament in manner
following,
that is to say first and principally I command my soul unto Almighty God hoping for Salvation through my blessed Saviour
Jesus Christ and my body I commit to the earth to be properly buried at the discretion of my executrix hereinafter named
and as to such worldly Estate as it forth provided God to bestow upon me I dispose thereof as follows
In the first place I will and devise that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid and discharged
Also I give devise and bequeath unto my beloved wife Elizabeth Benness and to her assigns all my Estates as well Freehold
and Leasehold and Copyhold whatsoever and whosoever which and shall be possessed of to be lived and enjoyed by her or
them during her natural life [???] my widow and shall keep the same in [???] and from and after her decease or marriage.
I give and devise my Freehold Estate called [Honness’s] with the [?] land thereto belonging situated at Totton aforesaid
unto my beloved daughter Susannah Scard and her heirs for ever subject [???] to this condition that she and they shall
permit and suffer my beloved daughter Sarah Kent to hold and enjoy the house wherein she lives being part of the Estate
called [Hommes’s] without payment of any sort for the same during her natural life [?] with this proviso that she shall not
[??] under this my Will and disturb my said daughter Susanna or her heirs in their enjoyment of the said Estate called
[Hommess’s] but in case she shall attempt so to do then my Will is that the said Susannah Scard and her heirs shall have
and be entitled to the full Rent of the said house wherein my said daughter Sarah now lives from the time such attempt
shall be so made and from and after the decease or marriage of my said wife which shall first happen.
I give and devise unto my said daughter Susannah Scard and her heirs for ever all that my freehold Estate which I purchased
of Robert [or Richard] Oviatt situated in the Parish of Eling aforesaid subject [?] to the payment of four hundred pounds [??]
in equal shares and proportions vis. Two hundred pounds [?] to my two grandchildren John Abbott and Elizabeth Abbott in
full satisfaction and discharge of the two survival Legacies given to them by their late uncle deceased and I do hereby
expressly charge the same upon the sold last mentioned estate and from and after the death or marriage of my said wife
which shall first happen.
I give and devise unto my said daughter Sarah Kent and her heirs for ever my Freehold Meadow or piece of Land situated at
[Calmore] In the said Parish of Eling which I sometime since purchased of Peter Serle Esq. and from and after my said wife’s
decease or marriage as aforesaid I give and bequeath unto my daughter Sarah Kent and to her Executors administrators and
assigns my Leasehold Estate situated at Totton Lopperwood within the said parish of Eling known by the name of [?] to hold
to her and them for and during all the then Residue and remainder of my Term and Interest therein.
Also I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Sarah Kent the sum of two hundred pounds to be paid by my Executrix
hereinafter named in twelve months next after my decease.
Also I give and bequeath unto my grandson William Newland, son of Stephen Newland the full sum of one hundred pounds
for the purpose of investing his ? in a Trade of the [?] at Millbrook now in the occupation of his grandfather
Arthur Stowlands as soon as the same can be offered but in case the aforesaid purpose cannot be accomplished then I Will
and direct that the said sum of one hundred pounds shall be applied and laid out by my Executrix in such manner as shall be
thought most [?] to his advantage.
Also I give and bequeath to my said wife Elizabeth Benness the sum of one hundred pounds at her own disposal and the [?]
and enjoyment of all my household goods plate [?] and furniture during her widowhood.
And all the rest and residue of my personal Estate Goods, Chattels moneys and Annuities for money Stock in Trade Debts and
Effects whatsoever and wheresoever I give and bequeath to my said daughter Susannah Scard and unto her Executors
Administrators and assigns.
And I do hereby name and appoint my said daughter Susannah Scard to be sole Executrix of this my Last Will and Testament
and I do hereby revoke all former Wills by me at any time before made.
In Witness whereof I have to this my Will contained in three pages of one sheet of paper to the two first thereof inscribed my
name and this third of my hand and seal the sixteenth day of December in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred
and sixty nine – John Benness – [signed].
Signed sealed published and declared by the Testator as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his
presence at his request have inscribed our names as witnesses thereto W. Daman, John Marsh, Thomas Warner.
PROVED;
This Will was proved at London on the twenty seventh day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and
seventy before the Right Worshipful George Day Doctor of Laws [??] or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
lawfully [?] by the oath of Susannah Scard wife of Thomas Scard the daughter of the Deceased and sole Executrix named
in the said Will to whom administration was granted of all said singular the goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased
having been first sworn by Commission duly to administer.