[1] Born at Whitehaugh, near Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire, he was the youngest son of William Bennet, a yeoman, and his wife Ann, who were members of the local Dissenting Chapel of Dr James Clegg.
[2] Having received a good education at the school at Chapel-en-le-Frith and at the hands of private tutors, at the age of about seventeen Bennet attended Findern Academy, near Derby, to study for the Ministry.
However, for unknown reasons, Bennet later commenced work as a Justice's Clerk, and then as an independent packman transporting goods across the moors, from Sheffield to Macclesfield.
While working as a packman, Bennet met the itinerant preacher, David Taylor, a former butler of Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon, and became his travelling companion.
Bennet was also credited with establishing the first Methodist Circuit Quarterly Meeting which took place "at Major Marshall’s at Todmorden Edge on Tuesday 18th October, 1748".