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Note: �b�Bentley DNA Project B-101, B-102, B-104, B-105, B108, B- 110, B-112
The following is from James Miller: �/b� "To visit the old Bentley house homesite situated just off Hwy. 601 south of the town of Mocksville, NC. To find the house take 601 South from Mockville passing by Davie County High School. Turn right onto McCulloch Rd (State Rd 1135). Go some distance and then turn right onto Daniel Rd (State Rd 1136). The house is about 2 miles down this road on the right but is hard to find because the front is badly overgrown with kudzu and honeysuckle vines. It is sad to report the house is in a bad state of disrepair as all work seems to have come to a stop about 10 years ago after the death of Mr. Armand (Punch) Daniel who was in the process of remodeling the house into a private dwelling for his family. His widow, since remarried, was living in the restored John Wilcockson cabin, a beautiful house. It is situated about 200 yards from the Bentley house, a cow pasture separating the two."
�b�From James Miller�/b�:
"At the 9 August 1771 session of Rowan County [NC] Court, Thomas Bentley's flesh mark, or livestock brand, was recorded as a "Crap and a Hole in the Right ear & a Crap of the Left."
The minutes of Rowan County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, book four, page 128, show that Thomas Bentley, among others, appeared in court 4 November 1777 and swore an oath of fidelity to the State of North Carolina.
# The Rowan County court minutes dated 8 August 1778 lists those persons who "refused or neglected" to take the Oath of Allegiance to the State. Included in the list for Capt. Lyon's District is the name of Daniel Bentley, and the names of Bentley neighbors: Mesheck Davis, John Willcockson, Snr., Mark Whitacre, Adam Hall Snr., Samuel Willcoxson and Israel Willcoxson being also on the list. �u��b�Evidently Daniel Bentley and his future brother-in-law, Meshack Davis�/u��/b�, neglected to take the oath for they both would later apply for Revolutionary War pensions.
A list dated 3 November 1782 details the names of men living in Capt. PEARSON'S Company who were summoned by William Butler, constable, to show why their property should not be confiscated.
# Included in the 1782 list are the names of �b�Anthony Pealor [PEELER]�/b�, John Wilcockson, Danul [Daniel] Lewis, and "Richard Whitaker Runaway." "Runaway" simply meant the individual was no longer in the area. �u��b�This was Richard Whitaker's case as he moved with Thomas Bentley's family in 1782 to Lincoln County, North Carolina, having married Thomas Bentley's daughter, Rachel Bentley�/u��/b�."
http://home.att.net/~MDriskill/ �u��b�Aaron Freeman married Mary Bentley in Rowan County, NC on December 17, 1769�/u��/b�. Mary's Father, Thomas Bentley was a Revolutionary War Soldier, who had moved to the Western Piedmont Section of NC from VA. Aaron Freeman was also a Patriot and Revolutionary War Soldier. [No Military service has been found , but records do exist showing he sold supplies to the Revolutionary cause]
�b�1790 Census of Lincoln County, North Carolina �/b�1. Daniel Bentley 2. Hannah Bentley (wife of Thomas Bentley deceased in 1789)
The earliest record of Thomas Bentley, an early settler of Rowan (now Davie) County, North Carolina is found in the 1768 Rowan County, North Carolina List of Taxables of Morgan Bryan's District. Here he and his son, Benjamin, are listed separately at one poll each. Thomas was born about 1725. In the 1778 Rowan County tax List he is listed as "Thomas Bentley junr" indicating that his father may have been named Thomas Bentley. According to family tradition these Bentleys or their ancestor had migrated to North Carolina from Virginia, but it is not known where Thomas Jr. was born.
On 17 December 1769 Thomas wrote a note that his son, Benjamin, might sign the bond for his daughter, Mary, to marry Aaron Freeman. Benjamin did sign the bond for his sister to marry, along with James Freeman.
In Rowan County Court, 9 August 1771 Thomas Bentley registered his livestock brand as a "crop and a hole in the right ear and a crop in the left ear."
Although Thomas' political affiliation is unknown, it is found that on November 4, 1777 he and others, including neighbors, William Frohock and Anthony Peeler, appeared in Rowan County Court and swore an Oath of Fidelity to the State of North Carolina. By 1783 Thomas and his family began moving from Rowan County. Thomas, his wife Hannah, and some of the children moved to Lincoln County, North Carolina. His son, Benjamin, sold the land he owned in Rowan and moved to Cedar Run - South Yadkin River area of Iredell (now Alexander) County while the other son, Daniel, moved to Lincoln County, North Carolina. Daniel Bentley married Nancy Lewis by bond in Rowan County North Carolina February 8, 1782. As he and his parents were moving to Lincoln County, it appears he could not bear to leave his sweetheart behind. On January 1, 1783 Thomas Bentley bought 100 acres for 30 pounds on both sides of Indian Creek in Lincoln County from Robert Armstrong and Hugh Beaty, executors of Francis Beaty. On this same day, Thomas also brought 120 acres from Thomas Wilsh (Welch), planter, for 20 pounds. This land also lay on both sides of Indian Creek. By 1789 Thomas may have begun to experience poor health as on the fourth of May that year he deeded to his wife, Hannah for the natural love and affection "which I bear & have unto Hannah Bentley, my beloved wife" all his goods, chattels, leases, plate jewels, working tools and one Negro man named Saul.
In the Lincoln County census, Hannah was listed as the head of household with three other females in her house, which are probably the younger daughters which are not yet married. Thus it seems that Thomas died between the dates of May 4, 1789 and the census of 1790. Hannah sold to her "daughter," Margaret Bentley, all her goods, chattels, and plantation for "natural love and affection" on April 1, 1793. Margaret Bentley married by bond in Lincoln County on September 25, 1794 to William Younce (Younts). Christian Eaker was the bondsman for the marriage.
December 1780, he was considered as a "Patriot" by selling corn at a price of 75 cents per bushel.
More About THOMAS BENTLEY
Residence: 1768, Shown on Rowan County tax list as a planter
Children of THOMAS BENTLEY and HANNAH THOMAS are: i. LYDIA3 BENTLEY, d. July 15, 1847; m. MESHACK DAVIS; b. Abt. 1749; d. October 15, 1852. ii. PATIENCE BENTLEY, m. ? LEWIS. 3. iii. BENJAMIN BENTLEY, b. 1747, North Carolina; d. March 15, 1839, Wilkes County, North Carolina. iv. MARY BENTLEY, b. Abt. 1749; m. AARON FREEMAN, December 17, 1769, Rowan County, North Carolina; b. Abt. 1745; d. Bef. 1830. 4. v. DANIEL BENTLEY, b. 1752, Rowan County, North Carolina; d. July 15, 1839, Perry County, Kentucky. 5. vi. MARGARET BENTLEY, b. Bet. 1765 - 1775, Rowan County, North Carolina; d. Bet. 1820 - 1829, Perry, Letcher County, Kentucky. Father: Thomas BENTLEY b: 1700 in England Mother: UNKNOWN b: ABT. 1703
Marriage 1 Hannah b: ABT. 1726
Married: ABT. 1746
Children
1. Benjamin BENTLEY b: ABT. 1747 in North Carolina 2. Mary BENTLEY b: ABT. 1749 3. Daniel BENTLEY b: 1752 in Rowan County, NC 4. Lydia BENTLEY b: ABT. 1760 5. Patience BENTLEY b: ABT. 1762 6. Margaret BENTLEY b: BET. 1765 - 1775 in Rowan County, North Carolina
Sources:
1.Title: Bentley Internet message board posted by Larry Bradshaw 6/4/20
BIRTH: 1752, Rowan Co., NC The Heritage of Alexander Co., NC from the Southwest Virginia Ancestors per e-mail Patty Bentley
DEATH: 15 JUL 1839 J. J. Johnson, Counsel for the Consolidated Coal and Coke Co. in Woods Family History by Frances Peebles Woods
BURIAL: Whitaker, Letcher Co., Ky.
Dec 7, 1779 he made entry for 100 acres of land lying on the waters of the South Yadkin River. Research shows the Bentley house to be in the first known community in the county (Lincoln County) which was named Bentley. He moved to Lincoln Co., NC in 1782.
Lincoln County, North Carolina
Lincoln County came into existence in 1779 during the American Revolution. Prior to 1779, Lincoln County was formerly part of Tryon County. Tryon County was formed from Mecklenburg County in 1768 and abolished in 1779 to form Rutherford and Lincoln counties. At its formation and until the border survey of 1772, Tryon County included all or portions of the South Carolina counties of York, Chester, Union, Spartanburg and Cherokee counties Tryon County was named for William Tryon, the Royal Governor of the Province. William Tryon was a Major General in command of the American Loyalists. His oppressions of the inhabitants made his name so detestable, the General Assembly in 1779 blotted the name of Tryon from the list of counties and divided the territory into the counties of Lincoln and Rutherford. The eastern portion becoming Lincoln County and the western portion becoming Rutherford County. The lines were drawn by a line beginning at the south line near Broad River, thence along the dividing ridge between Buffalo Creek and Little Broad River to the line of Burke County. (Alfred Nixon, THE NORTH CAROLINA BOOKLET, January 1910, pg. 112)
Re: Bentley Families of VA,NC,SC,GA,AL,TN,Tx Posted by: Mary Kay Coker Date: April 25, 2001 at 16:41:41 In Reply to: Bentley Families of VA,NC,SC,GA,AL,TN,Tx by Allan L. Bentl
Hi, I am a descendant of Thomas and Hannah Bentley of NC (through daughter Mary Freeman) and recently sent for several articles on him.
A very well documented article called "Thomas Bentley of Old Rowan and Lincoln Counties, N.C." by James W. Miller, Jr., is found in the Rowan County Register, Vol. 6, No. 1, February 1991. It details all the records found up to that point in NC on Thomas.
Unfortunately, it doesn't even speculate on the origins of Thomas before NC. But a very short entry in (I think) Kinfolk & Connections, Vol. 9, No. 1, June 1991, apparently following up on this article, states that Clara W. Shook of Taylorsville, NC, furnished proof that Thomas Bentley and wife Hannah of Frederick Co., MD, sold land there in 1751 (Book B: 410) and in 1767, while residents of Rowan Co., NC, disposed of additional acreage they had owned in Frederick County (Book K:203).
If true, that means we know that the Bentleys were in MD, not VA or England, before going to NC. I only got this information today, so I have not had a chance to check it out. I assume the deed books are those in MD and not NC or we would have heard about it before now.
Has anyone else checked out the Maryland angle? I know that Miller's article has one of the Bentley's neighbors (Meshack Davis) coming from Maryland. And Thomas Bentley signed a petition to help out a Dunkard (German Baptist Brethren) neighbor. I know from my own Dunkard heritage that there were a number of them in Frederick Co., MD.
Mary Kay Coker mkcoker@compuserve.com
Thomas Bentley of MD and Rowan Co., NC
Posted by: Mary Kay Coker Date: May 08, 2001 at 18:49:30
Hi, I posted earlier about the possibility that Thomas Bentley of Rowan Co., NC, was originally from Maryland, per a reference in a genealogy newsletter. Well, I've now had a chance to followup on it and found that there is indeed proof of the link from the land records of Frederick Co., MD:
Liber K, 1283-1284 To Jacob BANKER recorded 6 Jun 1767, made 5 Jun from Thomas BENTLY of Roan Co, NC, for 168 pounds PA currency, tract "Carolina" and "Addition to Carolina", containing 108 acres and 35 acres. Said tract Carolina containing acres sold to Bently in 1751 by Dr. Charles CARROLL. (Thomas' wife Hannah released dower).
I also have part of the deed in Liber B where Thomas Bentley sold another tract called "Hill Spring" to Jacob Banker in 1751. Thomas had received the patent for "Hill Spring" in 1745. Where Thomas came from before 1745, I don't know. Perhaps he was an immigrant. But, in any case, it does show that he was in Maryland, not Virginia, prior to the move to North Carolina.
Mary Kay Coker mkcoker@compuserve.com Posted by: Mary Kay Coker Date: June 06, 2001 at 17:14:54 In Reply to: Re: Correction: Daniel Bentley(not Benjamin) by Allan L. Bentley post #1923
Hi, if Daniel was born ca. 1752, as per my sources, then he was most likely born in Frederick Co., MD. Thomas and Hannah Bentley had sold land there in 1751 and then bought more in the county that same year. Their residence was given as Frederick Co., MD. I don't have documentation for them being in North Carolina until 1767, when they sold the land they'd acquired in 1751. They were then residing in "Roan" (Rowan) in North Carolina. That coincides with Thomas Bentley first appearing in the tax records there in 1768. The 1768/69 tax records back in Maryland show Thomas Bentley had "gone to Carolina."
The England connection might well be a generation back from your Daniel. Thomas Bentley is listed as being a servant in Maryland in 1739 and was granted 50 acres in 1745, the same amount normally given to an indentured servant after the term of service finished. I am still trying to find documentation proving he was indeed an indentured servant. If so, he likely did come from England. All I really know for sure, though, is that Thomas Bentley was in America by 1739. So son Daniel could not have been born in England.
Best wishes, Mary Kay Coker mkcoker@compuserve.com Posted by: Mary Kay Coker Date: June 07, 2001 at 20:29:38 In Reply to: Re: Correction: Daniel Bentley(not Benjamin) by Mary Kay Coker Post #1932
Allan and Kevin,
Since I already had typed them up for others by e-mail, I thought I might as well post these deed and tax records for Thomas and Hannah Bentley in Maryland. I do not yet have the original deed from Dr. Charles Carroll to Thomas Bentley of the tract "Carolina" in 1751, though it is mentioned in one of these, but otherwise the string of deeds is complete. Still awaiting the warrant for the initial purchase of "Hill Spring," though, in hopes it will help determine whether or not he was an indentured servant.
Hope someone finds these records of help in our search for Thomas Bentley's origins. I'm much indebted to the research of Clara Shook and James W. Miller, as reported by Robert W. Barnes and Jo White Linn, in uncovering the Maryland connection.
FYI, the land Thomas Bentley purchased was initially in Baltimore Co., later cut off to form Frederick Co., and apparently now is found in Carroll Co., MD, on the south side of Big Pipe Creek.
These are abstracts from Equity Court Records of Frederick County, Maryland, Liber JS-3 Records Located at Maryland State Archives - MSA T2936, Loc 2-70-10-3) 23-33 - BENTLEY, WALES, JACOBS, KUHNS - Mar 1823 George BENTLEY and Ann BENTLEY vs Eli BENTLEY Estate Eli BENTLEY d/ 1822 intestate, leaving widow - Mary and children - - George BENTLEY - Ann BENTLEY - John BENTLEY - Baltimore County - Joseph BENTLEY - Virginia - Harriett (died after her father) w/o Roger WALES - New Jersey .....Eli B. WALES (turned 21 by Oct 1823) .....Edmund L. WALES .....Harriett A. WALES .....Mary B. WALES - Mary Belinda w/ Richard JACOBS - Lancaster Co, PA (both dec'd) .....Hanson B. JACOBS .....Cyrus H. JACOBS .....Caroline JACOBS Land -
"�b��i�More Marylanders to Carolina: migration of Marylanders to North Carolina and South Carolina Prior to 1800�/b��/i�", By Henry C. Peden
page 14
�b�Bentley-Bently �/b� "On June 6, 1767, in Frederick County, Maryland, Jacob Banke recorded a deed made on June 5, 1767 between himself and �u��b�THOMAS BENTLY of County of Roan [Rowan] in the province of North Carolina�/u��/b� L 168 moneyof Pennsylvania, for a tract called �b��i�Carolina�/b��/i� and also one called �b��i�Addition to Carolina�/b��/i�, containing 108 acres and 35 acres respectfully. The original tract Carolina contained 280 acres when taken up by Dr. Charles Carroll and was �u��b�sold to THOMAS BENTLEY in 1751�/u��/b�. Signed by Thomas Bentley before Joseph Wood and John Fee. �u��b�HANNAH BENTLEY, wife of THOMAS�/u��/b�, released her dower before Joseph Wood and John Price. [Ref. Frederick County, Maryland Land Records Liber K Abstracts, 1765-1768, by Patricia Abelard Anderson (1997), page 100]"
Mary Kay
Thomas Bently Pat[ent] 50 } acres Hill Spring}
Know ye that for and consideration that THOMAS BENTLEY of Baltimore County hath due unto him fifty acres of land within our said province by virtue of a warrant for that quantity granted him the twenty eighth day of July Anno Dom Seventeen hundred forty four as appears in our land office and upon such conditions and terms as are expressed in our conditions of plantation of our said province...[on instructions of various dates made in London]...We do therefore hereby grant unto him the said THOMAS BENTLEY all that tract of land called Hill Spring lying on the south side of great pipe creek...for fifty acres more or less...Given under our great seal of our said province of Maryland this twenty second day of January Anno Dom Seventeen hundred forty four [1745]. Witness our Trusty and well beloved Thomas BLADEN Esq Lieutenant General and chief Governor of our said province of Maryland chancellor and keeper of the great seal.
SOURCE: MSA No. SM2, Land Office (Patent Record), Volume PT 1, pp. 165-166, abstracted by Mary Kay Coker
Liber B, pp. 410-1412 Jacob Banker [purchaser] recorded 21 June 1751. Made 29 May 1751 between THOMAS BENTLEY of FC [Frederick County], for 39 pcm [pounds current money], tract called "Hill Spring," on south side of Great Pipe Creek, M&B [metes and bounds] given; for 50 acres. Signed THOS. BENTLEY, before Nath Wickham, Nathl Wickham 3d. THOMAS BENTLEY ack. deed, and at same time HANNAH BENTLEY, wife of THOMAS BENTLEY examined apart released dower [before Nath Wickham and Tho Beatty]. Receipt. AF [alienation fee] paid.
SOURCE: Frederick County Maryland Land Records, Liber B Abstracts, 1748-1752, by Patricia Abelard Andersen, p. 45 (and copy from courthouse)
Liber BC&GC#23, Folio 188 Frederick County Land Patents Maryland State Archives Index 55 Bentley, Thomas; 1761; Addition to Carolina; 35 acres
SOURCE: Inhabitants of Frederick County Maryland, Volume 2, 1749-1800, by Stefanie Shaffer, p. 2
Liber H, pp. 45-46 Jacob Bankard [Banker/Banckert] recorded 17 June 1762, made 2 June 1762 between Charles Carroll of Annapolis, barrister, for 16 pcm, sells part of Carolina, M&B given to part of original conveyed to THOMAS BENTLY, for 50 acres. Signed Charles Carroll before John Bruno, Francis Fairbrother. Receipt. Ack. AF & duty paid.
SOURCE: Frederick County Maryland Land Records, Liber G & H Abstracts, 1761-1763, by Patricia Abelard Andersen, p. 47
Liber K, pp. 1283-1284 Jacob Banker [purchaser] recorded 6 June 1767, made 5 June between THOMAS BENTLY of the County of Roan in the Province of North Carolina, for 168 [pounds] Penn., sells parcel called Carolina, and also one tract called Addition to Carolina, containing 108 acres and 35 acres. M&B given. Said tract Carolina containing 280 acres taken up by Dr. Charles Carroll and sold to THOMAS BENTLEY in 1751. Signed THOMAS BENTLY before Jos Wood, Joh Fee [in German]. Receipt. Ack. and HANNAH wife of THOMAS BENTLEY released dower, before Jos Wood, Thomas Price. AF paid.
SOURCE: Frederick County Maryland Land Records, Liber K Abstracts, 1765-1768, by Patricia Abelard Andersen, p. 100 (and copy from courthouse)
Rent Due on Land in Frederick County, 1768-1769 Thomas Bentley, gone to Carolina
SOURCE: Inhabitants of Frederick County Maryland, Volume 1, 1750-1790, p. 43
Bentley forum on Genealogy.com Thomas Bentley of MD and Rowan CO., NC Posted by: James Miller (ID *****0057) Date: April 08, 2002 at 05:23:46 Message #2762
Good morning all you Bentley researchers.
First, let me introduce myself. My name is James W. Miller and I live in Hickory, NC. I am one of the "old-time" Bentley researchers and a descendant of Thomas Bentley who sold his land in Fredereick Co., MD and moved to Rowan Co., NC, settling in the area south of what is now the town of Mocksville in Davie Co, on Bear Creek.
When I first started my research many years ago very few people were doing Bentley research on my line, but I was able to piece together many of Thomas's descendants in NC and eastern KY. I have tons, and I do mean tons, of material here packed away in a spare room. If any of you query me as to my research please give me time to dig the material out. I only recently put this computer on line and I am now amazed at how much of my past research has been used and quoted (some without reference), but I am always happy to share. At one time I was one of only 12 Certified Genealogical Record Specialists in NC.
Several years ago I went through a divorce (a mistake I will NEVER make again), and my research all but came to an end. But now I'm back on the scene, but as "a new kid on the block" so to speak. Hey, I'm only 45 so I still have YEARS to go on this research!!
My line of descent from Thomas Bentley is as follows:
Thomas (wife Hannah) Benjamin (Jane) had brother Daniel who md. Nancy Lewis Moses (Mary) Moses Jr. (Caroline Ann Sloop) Thomas H. (Margaret) Noah Carolina (wife Ellen Lydia Rupard) James Woodrow Miller (wife Mary Lou Bentley) James W. Miller, Jr (ME)
Good luck to all of our researchers! Will be looking forward to hearing from all of you.
James (Jim) Miller
"...he (Thomas Bentley, Jr.) sold his Frederick Co., MD, land in 1751 and then moved his family to NC settling just a few miles south of the present day town of Mocksville in Davie County"
Bentley Forum on Genealogy.com Stephen Bently, Ancestor of Thomas? Posted by: Teresa Conley (ID *****5179) Date: July 03, 2002 at 09:51:56 Message #2853 of 2853
Hi All,
Has anyone established a relationship between Stephen Bently of Baltimore county MD with our Thomas (married to Hannah). The land Thomas bought in Frederick county Maryland was originally part of Baltimore Co. The information I have on Stephen is:
First shows up on 1678 Dorchester Md tax lists. Married to Anne Pearle (widow of William Pearle) in 1692 or thereabouts in Baltimore Co. (Carroll County is between Fredrick and Baltimore County)
Next shows up on: 1699 tax list Montgomery MD 1701 tax list Montgomery MD 1703 tax list Montgomery MD
Anyone have any information on him that could possibly link him to Thomas? Baltimore county and Montgomery county both border Frederick.
Also have a Richard Bently, supposedly given one of the first land grants in Maryland, approximately 1650. (Don't have my records here with me at the moment).
Teresa
Fort Jefferson and the community of Clarksville [Kentucky]
"By order of Governor Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, George Rogers Clark (brother of the famous Clark of Lewis and Clark) was ordered to build Fort Jefferson at the mouth of the Ohio River. The fort and community of Clarksville were the first settlement sanctioned by the Virginia government to be located in the part of Virginia that is today western Kentucky.
Until recently the population of Fort Jefferson and the civilian community of Clarksville was thought to be only thirty-five. With the new findings by Kenneth Charles Carstens1 it is now believed to have been over five hundred and eighty men, women and children."
"...The fort returns to some sort of "normalcy" after August 12, 1780 when �u��b�Thomas BENTLEY, a double agent,�/u��/b� writes Haldimand in Detroit. BENTLEY tells Haldimand that all of the troops are again at Fort Jefferson and that the Illinois country is free for the taking. But this "normalcy" was short lived. On August 17, 1780, a larger force of the Chickasaw Indians attacked the civilian community. The attack escalates and encapsulates both Fort Jefferson and the civilian community of Clarksville. The attack was led by Lt. James Whitehead from the Southern British Indian department. On August 21, 1780, the Chickasaw Indians finally withdraw but not until they burned the corn crop and killing most of the livestock. Again assistance from Fort Clark was asked for and received. Lt. Helm and William Clark assessed the damage done the fort and community. Forty-five acres of the corn crop had been destroyed. Col. Montgomery arrived from Fort Clark with eight soldiers and sixty-five Kaskaskia Indians some time before September 6, 1780. A "revenge" party of Kaskaskia Indians leaves the fort on September 7, 1780, to find the Chickasaw Indians...."
�b�DAR PATRIOTS�/b� North Carolina
Thomas Bentley, Patriotic Service Birth: circa 1725 Death: 1789 Lincoln County, North Carolina Wife: Hannah
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