William Columbus Bennett and his brother Jesse are the sons of John Bennett and Elizabeth Dodson (daughter of Thomas Dodson and Elizabeth Rose) of Pittsylvania County, VA. They left VA before 1800 and moved south. William and 2nd wife Rachel (White) died in GA. William's son Bartholomew and Jesse Bennett were in East Feliciana, LA by 1816. Bartholomew married Jesse's daughter Sarah in LA. After her death Bartholomew remarried. Jesse married Martha Paul. They died in LA before 1825. Most of their descendants remained in the area, although many settled in MS or moved on to TX.