On the 1850 census of Allegheny Twp., Westmoreland Co., PA in Dwelling # 17, there is a Moses Bennett, aged 68 (1782), Mary Bennett aged 58 (1792), Sarah Bennett aged 33 (1817), Samuel H. Bennett aged 7 (1843) and Catherine Hicks aged 20 (1830).
In Dwelling #26/26, there is a James Bennett aged 40(1810). Also listed is wife Catherine aged 40 (1810), Eliza Bennett aged 19 (1831), Susannah Bennett aged 17 (1833), William Bennett aged 14 (1836), James Bennett aged 9 (1841), John Bennett, aged 3 (1847), Mary Bennett aged 1 (1849). Another son, David Bennett, would be born in 1857.
It has been verified that this James Bennett was married to Catherine Edwards, daughter of William and Mary Margaret (Remaley) Edwards of Franklin Twp., Westmoreland Co., PA. This James Bennett and his entire family ended up in Horton Twp., Elk Co., PA where they died and left many descendents.
In the dwelling (#25/25) just ahead of James Bennett on the 1850 census of Allegheny Twp., Westmoreland Co., PA, there is possibly a John Bennett aged 48 (1802) and family. The name certainly looks like it is spelled Bennett.
I have never been able to connect my James Bennett to a Bennett family. The Moses Bennett on the census is certainly of an age that he could be James' father, but I have no proof. If that is a John Bennett in the dwelling next to James in 1850, he is of the correct age to be a brother.
I believe it is this Moses and Mary Bennett that is buried in the Puckety UP cemetery in Lower Burrell Twp., Westmoreland Co., PA. The James Bennett buried in the same cemetery is a different one from my own, who is buried in Horton Twp., Elk Co., PA.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~njm1/pucke...Any ideas appreciated. Despite it being all over the internet, there is no proof that the elder James Bennett on the 1850 census of Westmoreland Co., PA is the son of James and Lola (Pritchard) Bennett of Mass. and NY.
Edited to add: I just found that the name ahead of James on the 1850 census is John BEACOM, not Bennett. So there goes that theory. :-/