Son of Willem Adriaenszen and Maria Badie.

Willem Willemszen Bennet was born in 1638 or 1639 at New Amsterdam.

Married Gertrude Van Mulheym at Reformed Dutch Church, New Amsterdam, on 9 April 1660.

On 18 Dec 1658, a suit was initiated by Thomas Verdon before the Orphan Master's Court at City Hall, New Amsterdam, "Mr. Paulus Van der Beek appears in the place of Tomas Verdon's son and is (directed), that when Tomas Verdon comes, he is to make a settlement of his wife's (Mary Badies's) estate." Apparently this was not completed, and four years later on 8 Feb 1663, Adam Brouwer (for his wife Magdalena Verdon), Thomas Verdon, and Arien Willemsen (Bennet) again appeared before the Orphan Master's Court and requested action in that Paulus Van der Beek should be ordered to let them have "their father's property." A week later on 15 Feb 1663, their mother Marritie Tomas (Mary Badie) made her deposition before the Orphan Master's Court. The Orphan Master's Court decided that the property and persons were not within their jurisdiction and suggested that the petitioners address themselves to the Director General and Council of New Netherlands. On 1 March 1664, a petition by "Willem Willemsen Bennet, Thomas Verdon, Adam Brouwer, and Adriaen Willemsen (Bennet), coheirs of Thomas (error for Jacob) Vardon, praying that Paulus van der Beecq, husband of said Vardon's widow (Mary Badie), may be obliged to account for their paternal estate." This was followed on 10 May 1664 by a warrent to "Sheriff Hegeman to put Adriaen, William, and Marietje Williamsen Bennet in possession of a portion of their late father's lands, pending their suit against Paulus van der Beecq, their stepfather."

Willem owned a farm in Gowanus which later belonged to Cornelis W. Bennet. He was the ancestor of the Bennets of New Utrecht, Bushwick, and of one line in Monmouth County, New Jersey. At an earlier time in his life, however, it appears that he lived in New Amsterdam. He is called "Van Amsterdam in N. Nederlt" on the record of his marriage, and on 25 Dec. 1661 he was admitted as a member to the Reformed Dutch Church in Brooklyn with a letter from the Church in New Amsterdam. In 1676 he was on the assessment roll of Brooklyn (of which Gowanus was then a part) with 1 poll, 2 horses, 2 horses of 1 year, 2 oxen, 5 cows, 4 cows of two years, 3 cows of one year, valued at £99:10 and 13 1/2 morgens of land valued at £27, total £126:10. He is certainly the "William Bennings" in the Brooklyn Assessment of 1683 where his total holdings incresed to £149. Willem's original holdings were presumed to be from his share in the distribution of Bennet lands resulting from legal action taken by him, his brother Adriaen, and his Verdon half brother and sister against Paulus Van der Beek, their common step-father. Van der Beek, in the right of his wife, their mother, had continued to hold the Bennet property after the children came of age.

He and Gertrude Van Mulheym were members of the at Old First Dutch Reformed Church, Breuckelen (Brooklyn), Kings Co., Long Island, New York, on 25 December 1661 with an attestation from the "Church of Amsterdam in New Netherland."

New Netherland surrendered to the English invasion fleet in early September 1664. The New Amsterdam Court records of 13 Oct 1664 show that "Willem Willemszen and Thomas Verdon, inhabitants of Gowanus, appearing with them Thomas Fransen, carman, complain of the great injury inflicted on them by some English, about twenty persons in number from one of the ships lying in the Bay... The above named Willem Willemszen declares that they took away his powder, lead, and gun; also the stocking and shoes from his feet; further six to seven pounds of rolled tobacco just spun; and a young hog together with a red under-waistcoat. And with a hanger they severely struck Tomas Verdon's wife, whilst the above-named Verdon was out with the above-named Tomas Fransen, and inflicted a blood wound on her arm. (They also) took the goods out of the chest and strewed them over the floor, keeping watch at the door, so that he should not run out to call the neighbors; and when they missed him, because he climbed out through a back window, they hastily took the goods from the chest and strewed them over the floor, as already declared."

Willem Willemszen Bennet and Thomas Verdon, were both nominated as candidates from Gowanus for the positions of elder and deacon to the Reformed Dutch Church at Brooklyn. The third candidate was Jan Pietersen., 27 February 1664.

On 13 May 1670 Willem Willemsse Bennit, elder, witnessed the confirmation of Dirck Storm, Jan Pieterssen Mackelijck and Stijntien Janssen, his wife, as members of the Breuckelen Reformed Dutch Church.

Willem Willemszen Bennet and Gertrude Van Mulheym were members of the at Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, Flatbush, Kings Co., Long Island, New York, in 1677 at Gowanus. Old Members found here in the 4 Villages in the year 1677. Gowanus. Willem Bennet and wife Geertruid van Mulem.

In November 1677 At Brooklyn, Anthonis Gijsbertz Boogaard was elected elder in place of Willem Willemsz Bennet.

Willem Willemszen Bennet and Gertrude Van Mulheym were members of the at Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, Flatbush, Kings Co., Long Island, New York, on 19 November 1679 (at) Gowanus.

Witnessed the baptism of Willemtje Schaers, daughter of Johannes Christoffel Schaers and Marritje Willemse, on 27 February 1681 at New Utrecht, Kings Co., Long Island, New York, (sponsors Willem Willemsz Bennet, Agnietje Jans van Dijck).

Willem Willemszen Bennet was Elder of at Brooklyn, Kings Co., Long Island, New York, on 19 November 1684 in place of Jan Damen.

Children by Gertrude:

1. Maria Willemse Bennet b. 10 Apr 1661

2. Willemse Bennet b. 7 Jan 1663, d. between 6 May 1743 and 8 Mar 1744

3. Willem Willemse Bennet b. ca. 1665, d. before 1724

4. Jacob Willemse Bennet b. ca. 1667

Willem Willemsen is listed among the "Old Members" and as an Elder of the Brooklyn Reformed Dutch Church on 12 March 1677, and again on 11 June 1677. Either he, or his son of the same name, took the oath of allegiance in Brooklyn in the fall of 1687. Only one Willem Bennet took the oath, and although he was old enough, the son if still living with his father, would not have been required to. In a deed dated 20 April 1689 from his mother, Mary Badie to his brother Adriaen, Willem Willemse Bennet's land is referred to in a fashion that indicates he was alive at the time. Only one Willem Bennet appears on the 1698 census in Brooklyn, with five children, and so is more likely the son.

Willem Willemszen Bennet possibly died between April 1689 and 1698 when he is mentioned on a deed, and when is not found on the Brooklyn census.

Bio includes data from The Brouwer Genealogy Database.

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