When John S. Bennett was born on 9 August 1789, in Chemung, New York, United States, his father, Justus Bennett, was 46 and his mother, Nancy Pittman, was 35. He married Mary Polly Smith on 17 May 1815, in Wayne, Steuben, New York, United States. They were the parents of at least 7 sons and 5 daughters. He lived in Wayne, Steuben, New York, United States in 1820 and Michigan, United States in 1870. He died on 24 May 1871, in Hamburg, Livingston, Michigan, United States, at the age of 81, and was buried in Hamburg Cemetery, Hamburg, Livingston, Michigan, United States.