Richard Bennet had the great satisfaction of benefiting
permanently the home of his adoption. Virginia now
enjoyed large liberties. "The executive officers became
elective, and so evident were the designs of all parties to
promote an amicable settlement of the government, that
Richard Bennet, himself a Commissioner of the Parliament,
and, moreover, a merchant and a Roundhead, was, on the
recommendation of the other Commissioners, unanimously
chosen Governor." Cromwell never made any appointments
for Virginia; not one Governor acted under his commission.
When Bennet retired from office, the Assembly elected his
successor, and Edward Digges, who had before been chosen
of the Council, and who "had given a signal testimony of
his fidelity to Virginia and to the Commonwealth of England,"
received the suffrages.
In 1666 Bennet commanded the militia of three of the four
military districts into which Virginia was divided, with the
rank of Major-General, and was a member of the Council as
late as 1674. He owned the plantations of "Weyanoak"
and "Kicotan," on the James River, and has many distinguished
descendants in Virginia.
