1

The Bennett family came from England in 1635 and settled in the Saybrook Colony, a British colony established at the mouth of the Connecticut River. Zadack (Zadoc) Bennett left Lyme, Connecticut in 1761 with his wife Mary (Mercy) Hackett and their children to settle in Horton, near present day Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Their 500 acre land holdings included a town lot, a share of dyke land, and two farm lots.

In 1784 Benjamin Bennett, son of Zadoc Bennett, left his new wife in Horton while he went to Hopewell, New Brunswick, to clear land and build a home for his family. Unfortunately his wife died in 1788 and therefore she never made the journey to join Benjamin in Hopewell. In 1800 he married his second wife, Rebecca Stevens, of Harvey. They had several children together.

2

Benjamin's brother, George, was the first Bennett in what is now Albert County to build ships. The 61 ton Schooner 'Mary and Eliza' was launched in May 1818.

3

Half-Model
1818-1874
Hopewell Cape, Albert County, New Brunswick, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
Albert County Museum / 961.23.1

4

Several members of the Bennett family followed in the shipbuilding tradition including Benjamin's and Rebecca's son, Nathan Murray Bennett. Nathan's first registered vessel was the 75 ton Schooner 'Hopewell' that was launched in July 1835.

5

Half-Model
July 1860
Hopewell Cape, Albert County, New Brunswick, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
Albert County Museum / 961.23.2

6

Nathan's son, Henry John Bennett, joined the family tradition and launched his first vessel, the 680 ton Barque 'Enoch Arden', in June 1867.

In all, there were 44 registered vessels built by the Bennett family. 36 of them were built at the family shipyard in Hopewell Cape, 7 in Hillsborough and one in Harvey. The Bennett shipyard in Hopewell Cape was well equipped with a large boarding house, moulding copts, a blacksmith shop, barns and stables, and a general store.

7

Model of the Bennett Shipyard
Circa 1870
Hopewell Cape, Albert County, New Brunswick, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
Albert County Museum
Model made by Joe Cernan, Havelock NB

8

Henry Bennett is credited as the builder of the last vessel constructed at the Bennett Shipyard, the 298 ton Brigantine 'Romola'. It was launched in December 1874 and marked the end of an era for the Bennett family.

9

Henry John Bennett
Circa 1870
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
Archives & Special Collections, Harriet Irving Library, University of New Brunswick
Photo by A.M. Sanders, 16 King Street, St. John, NB

10

The Stiles family genealogy has been traced back through New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Connecticut, Massachusetts and England. David Stiles was born in New Brunswick in 1812. He married Mary Ann Wright in 1835 and they had several children at their modest home in Hopewell Hill. David was a sea captain.

11

Captain David Stiles Residence, Hopewell Hill
Circa 1900
Hopewell Hill, Albert County, New Brunswick, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
Archives & Special Collections, Harriet Irving Library, University of New Brunswick

12

View of Grindstone Island from Hopewell Hill
Circa 1940
Hopewell Hill, Albert County, New Brunswick, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
Archives & Special Collections, Harriet Irving Library, University of New Brunswick
Photo by Wilcox Studio, Moncton, NB

13

Captain David Stiles
Circa 1850
Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
Archives & Special Collections, Harriet Irving Library, University of New Brunswick
Photo by S. Wing's, 23 Hanover Street, Boston

14

David's and Mary Ann's children were Mary Ann, John Harvey, Lucy Elizabeth, Isabella R, Henrietta, Ernest Albert and Sarah Alberta.