Captain Royal Bennett was born on Chebeague Island in 1863, sonof Stephen Frye Bennett and Caroline Hamilton, daughter ofBenjamin Hamilton (Son James'). He married Isabel Hamilton,daughter of Captain Roswell E. Hamilton (Son John's). Hestarted stone slooping in 1879 as cook on the Sloop Mary Elizaand in some fifteen years worked aboard the Jenny Lind,Riverside and the A. L. Hamilton. In the middle 1890's he wentin for himself--first a small schooner "James K. Polk", thenfor twenty years he was captain of his Friendship Sloop"Florence Simmons", followed by another twenty years by hislaunch "Billow". He specialized in sailing parties and tripsup and down the bay. He built his home about 1870--it istoward the East End of Great Chebeague.