Bennett's Creek
Encyclopedia
Bennett Creek or Bennett's Creek is a 7.3 miles (11.7 km) tributary of the Nansemond River
in Suffolk
, Virginia
.
Bennett's Creek Park offers two free boat ramps that access the Nansemond River, a playground, tennis courts, restrooms, three covered shelters that can be reserved for use, a nature trail, open fields, a fishing and crabbing pier with handicap accessible features, and plenty of fresh air and sunshine. A 2.6 miles (4.2 km) canoe trail begins at the park boat ramp, passing through a tranquil salt marsh
. Otter
, raccoon
, and nesting osprey
are some of the wildlife viewing opportunities. The trail terminates at the confluence of the Nansemond River
.
s led by Richard and Robert Bennett. Richard Bennett later became the first Puritan governor of Virginia after the English Civil War
. His home was located on Bennett Creek; today a historical maker indicates the location.
In 1637 Nansemond County
was formed including the Bennett Creek area. The county was first called Upper Norfolk County
, but in 1646 it was re-named Nansemond for the Indian tribe.
In May 1779 a skirmish between Virginia militia and English troops under Gen. Edward Matthews occurred at Hargrove's Tavern near Bennett Creek. The English moved on to attack and burn Suffolk.
During the American Civil War
, the Bennett Creek area was fortified with gun batteries. But the area was captured by Union
troops by May 1862 soon after the ironclad CSS Virginia
failed to hold off the U.S. Navy at the Battle of Hampton Roads
(aka Monitor-Merrimack) within sight of the mouth of Bennett Creek.
Detailed historical records of the area are sparse because Nansemond County court records were destroyed in three separate fires, the earliest of which consumed the house of the court clerk in April 1734 (where the records were kept at that time), and the last on 7 February 1866.
Nansemond River
The Nansemond River is a tributary of the James River in the U.S. state of Virginia. The Nansemond River Bridge crosses the river near its mouth. Both it and the former State Route 125 bridge, demolished in 2008, were once toll bridges. The river begins at the outlet of Lake Meade north of...
in Suffolk
Suffolk, Virginia
Suffolk is the largest city by area in Virginia, United States, and is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 84,585. Its median household income was $57,546.-History:...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
Bennett's Creek Park offers two free boat ramps that access the Nansemond River, a playground, tennis courts, restrooms, three covered shelters that can be reserved for use, a nature trail, open fields, a fishing and crabbing pier with handicap accessible features, and plenty of fresh air and sunshine. A 2.6 miles (4.2 km) canoe trail begins at the park boat ramp, passing through a tranquil salt marsh
Salt marsh
A salt marsh is an environment in the upper coastal intertidal zone between land and salt water or brackish water, it is dominated by dense stands of halophytic plants such as herbs, grasses, or low shrubs. These plants are terrestrial in origin and are essential to the stability of the salt marsh...
. Otter
Otter
The Otters are twelve species of semi-aquatic mammals which feed on fish and shellfish, and also other invertebrates, amphibians, birds and small mammals....
, raccoon
Raccoon
Procyon is a genus of nocturnal mammals, comprising three species commonly known as raccoons, in the family Procyonidae. The most familiar species, the common raccoon , is often known simply as "the" raccoon, as the two other raccoon species in the genus are native only to the tropics and are...
, and nesting osprey
Osprey
The Osprey , sometimes known as the sea hawk or fish eagle, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey. It is a large raptor, reaching more than in length and across the wings...
are some of the wildlife viewing opportunities. The trail terminates at the confluence of the Nansemond River
Nansemond River
The Nansemond River is a tributary of the James River in the U.S. state of Virginia. The Nansemond River Bridge crosses the river near its mouth. Both it and the former State Route 125 bridge, demolished in 2008, were once toll bridges. The river begins at the outlet of Lake Meade north of...
.
History
Prior to the Jamestown landing, the Bennett Creek area was populated by Nansemond Indians. A series of land grants beginning June 26, 1635, handed the land around Bennett Creek to a group of PuritanPuritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
s led by Richard and Robert Bennett. Richard Bennett later became the first Puritan governor of Virginia after the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
. His home was located on Bennett Creek; today a historical maker indicates the location.
In 1637 Nansemond County
Nansemond County, Virginia
Nansemond County is an extinct county which was located in Virginia Colony and the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States, from 1646 until 1972...
was formed including the Bennett Creek area. The county was first called Upper Norfolk County
Upper Norfolk County, Virginia
Upper Norfolk County is an extinct county which was located in colonial Virginia from 1637 until 1646.In 1634, the King of England directed the formation of eight shires in the colony of Virginia. One of these was Elizabeth City Shire, which included land area on both sides of Hampton Roads.New...
, but in 1646 it was re-named Nansemond for the Indian tribe.
In May 1779 a skirmish between Virginia militia and English troops under Gen. Edward Matthews occurred at Hargrove's Tavern near Bennett Creek. The English moved on to attack and burn Suffolk.
During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the Bennett Creek area was fortified with gun batteries. But the area was captured by Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
troops by May 1862 soon after the ironclad CSS Virginia
CSS Virginia
CSS Virginia was the first steam-powered ironclad warship of the Confederate States Navy, built during the first year of the American Civil War; she was constructed as a casemate ironclad using the raised and cut down original lower hull and steam engines of the scuttled . Virginia was one of the...
failed to hold off the U.S. Navy at the Battle of Hampton Roads
Battle of Hampton Roads
The Battle of Hampton Roads, often referred to as either the Battle of the Monitor and Merrimack or the Battle of Ironclads, was the most noted and arguably most important naval battle of the American Civil War from the standpoint of the development of navies...
(aka Monitor-Merrimack) within sight of the mouth of Bennett Creek.
Detailed historical records of the area are sparse because Nansemond County court records were destroyed in three separate fires, the earliest of which consumed the house of the court clerk in April 1734 (where the records were kept at that time), and the last on 7 February 1866.