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Hi Paula,

Robert and Jane Bennett, who you mentioned in your original enquiry, lived in Cargans, an area of Tandragee in Northern Ireland. They had numerous children, of whom 4 or 5 moved to New Zealand, including my great great grandmothers.

The elder of the 2 sisters that went to NZ, Margaret, married a bloke by the name of Henry Bennett also from Tandragee, but from the Tullyhue area.

The younger of the 2 sisters, Elizabeth, married a man by the name of William Macduff, originally from Scotland.

Henry Bennett's father was also named Henry, and He and Robert Bennett were brothers from what I can recall.

This could possibly explain two Bennett families in Tandragee, however I do recall reading that back then, 2 out of 3 people who lived in Tandragee were Bennett's.  In those days, people never moved. They stayed where they were born, got married, farmed, had children and died basically.

As far as I know, Margaret and Elizabeth were very staunch Orange women, so I can only guess that their parents, Robert and Jane, were as well.

Did you know that one of the Bennets from Tandragee was either a mayor or a councillor with the Melbourne City Council?

I look forward to hearing from you again,

Kind regards,