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Note: NI23490 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 (1790) 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.
LINCOLN COUNTY, NC - CENSUS - 1790 Morgan Dist. Lincoln County
1st # free white males 16 year upwards and head of families 2nd # free white males under 16 years 3rd # free white females and head of families 4th # all other free persons 5th # slaves
Sixth Company
Bently, Hana, 0,0,4,0,1 Bently, Daniel, 1,3,2,0,0
Hannah sold to her "daughter," Margaret Bentley, all her goods, chattels, and plantation for "natural love and affection" on April 1, 1793.
Hannah is not on the 1800 Census of Lincoln County, North Carolina.
Of Rowan County, North Carolina. See 1788 tax records, page 18.
Rowan County was created in 1753 out of the Parent County of Anson.
�b�Lincoln Co., NC, Deed Book 3, page 508 �/b� To All People to Whom These Presents Come, I, Thomas Bentley of Lincoln County in the State of North Carolina & on the fourth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & eighty nine Send Greeting Know ye, that I, Thomas Bentley, for and in consideration of the natural love and affection which I bear & have unto Hannah Bentley, my beloved wife and for also other good causes and considerations met thereunto moving here given granted and by these presents do give grant & confirm unto the said Hannah Bentley, all my goods, chattels, Lesses, debts, plate, jewels, working tools, one Negro man named Saul, and all my other substance.
In presence of Thomas Bentley (his B mark)
Test. Francis McNemar
Lamuel Saunders
Descendants of Thomas Bentley
Generation No. 1 2. THOMAS2 BENTLEY was born 1729 in Lincoln County, North Carolina, and died Abt. 1789 in Lincoln County, North Carolina. He married HANNAH --?-- Abt. 1746. She was born Abt. 1725, and died Abt. 1788.
Notes for THOMAS BENTLEY:
Thomas Bentley, a planter, first appeared on Rowan Co., N.C., tax lists in 1768. His wife was named Hannah, whom he married in 1746. From these dates, we assume he was born about 1725. On Dec. 17, 1769, he wrote a note saying his son, Benjamin, could sign a bond for daughter, Mary to marry Aaron Freeman. I n Rowan County, on Aug 9, 1771,records show that Thomas Bentley's mark for his livestock was registered as a crop and a crop in the left ear.
In Dec. of 1780, Thomas and his son, Benjamin, being considered as "Patriots" sold to the State of N.C. 35 bushels and 30 bushes of corn respectively at a price of 75 cents per bushel.
Jan. 1, 1783, Thomas purchased a 100-acre tract of land in Lincoln Co. from Francis Beatty: and a 120-acre tract from Thomas Welch. This same land was transferred to his sons, Benjamin and Daniel, after he died without a will some time after May 1789. However, he deeded the home place to his wife, Hannah, on May 4, 1789, and mentioned his daughter, Margaret, in the deed. His wife, Hannah, died prior to 1800, as she doesn't appear on the 1800 census records.
Sources: State Archives information collected by D. Carlos Smith, and the Rowan County Library.
Notes from the work of Jenifer Lynette Ray: 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, Wm. 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 bought 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 (Yonts). 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
Notes for HANNAH THOMAS: 1790 Census shows her as head of household.
Notes from the work of Larry Bradshaw:
Children of THOMAS BENTLEY and HANNAH 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.
Generation No. 2
2. BENJAMIN3 BENTLEY (THOMAS1) was born 1747 in North Carolina, and died March 15, 1839 in Wilkes County, North Carolina. He married JANE ?. She was born Abt. 1750.
Notes for BENJAMIN BENTLEY: Benjamin Bentley, in 1795, made a trip to Lincoln County from Iredell County to help his brother, Daniel, settle their father's estate. On April 17, 1795 they sold to Jacob Bullinger (Bollinger) the two tracts of land that Thomas had bought in 1783. However, 25 acres were withheld from the 120 acre tract for the use of Hannah Bentley "widow and relict of Thomas Bentley" (Lincoln County Deed Book 17 page 211). It is this deed that establishes the fact that Benjamin and Daniel are the sons of Thomas Bentley as the deed reads that Thomas Bentley died intestate and by regular course of law (the land) descended to Daniel and Benjamin Bentley "the sons and their heirs of the said Thomas, dec'd." On September 1, 1795 Hannah and Daniel sold to George Savage and Catherine Bolinger the plantation on which Hannah lived. They probably done so Daniel and his family could migrate to Kentucky, as he did so by 1800. Hannah was not listed in the 1800 Lincoln County Census, so it thought that she also went with Daniel to Kentucky, where he has the distinction of being the "first Bentley in Eastern Kentucky."
On July 8, 1795 Hannah Bentley, as administrix of her husband's estate, wrote to the court that Thomas Bentley, in his lifetime, had at differnet times given parts of his property to his children to provide for and advance them and also before his death had made a deed of appointment for the purpose of suporting Hannah in the event that she survived him. This document goes on to say that she considered these articles as her property and not to be divided among the children. She also knew of no debts due from the estate. Hannah then proceded to name the articles that had been deeded to her, consisting of livestock, household articles, a negro boy named Saul, one big Bible, and other farm and clothing items. She signed her mark on the document.
According to family tradition Benjamin's family ancestry came from Virginia to settle in North Carolina. Benjamin Bentley, along with his parents, brother, and sisters lived in old Rowan (now Davie) County on Bear Creek, a few miles south of Mocksville. In the 1768 Rowan County tax list of Morgan Bryan is found that Benjamin Bentley and Thomas Bentley are included at one poll each. Benjamin was most likely married at this time as he was living separately from his father.
Benjamin was a "wheel-deeler" when it came to purchasing land. Early in life he amassed enough property and land (over 1,500 acres) to be considered part of the planter class of society. He was also a slave owner as was his father. On June 30, 1778 Benjamin entered a claim for 640 acres of land on Bear Creek in Rowan County. The state of North Carolina on March 21, 1780 granted him this land by Grant No. 97. It sold for fifty shillings every 100 acres and joined the lands of William Frohock, Anthony Peeler, Thomas Bentley, and Abraham Welty.
The Bentley house still stands in this area in 1985 a few miles south of the town of Mocksville on an unpaved road just of Hwy. 601. Although later land owners added onto the house, the originial portion is a two-story log structure which consists of two 20 X 20 foot square rooms downstairs separated by a 10 foot wide entrance way. The upstairs floor space was the same. This location was one of the first known communities in Davie County and was named "Bentley."
Located behind the main house was a summer house where the children slept in the summer as it was too hot to sleep upstairs in the main house. The 1778 tax list of Capt. Lyon's district in Rowan County shows Benjamin's value to be 336 pounds and that of his father, "Thomas Bentley, junr." to be 609 pounds. Benjamin also served as a constable in Rowan County from Feb 16, 1771 to Feb 1772.
On June 29, 1778, NC Grant No. 329 was made to Benjamin Bentley, assignee of Uriah Davis, for land lying at the head of the South Yadkin River in Rowan County joining Soloman Davis. Also on November 13, 1778 the state by Grant No. 1375 granted Benjamin 100 acres on the North Fork of Rocky Creek, beginning at the mouth of the big branch above the Tumbling Shoals in "Rowan" County. Benjamin transferred this land to George Hinds (Hines). Benjamin Bentley evidently moved his family to Iredell (now Alexander) County about 1784 as this is when he began selling his land on Bear Creek. He had the year before on October 10, 1783 received Grant No. 457 for 150 acres as a branch of the South Yadkin River near the "Cedar Knob" in Rowan County, about five miles north of Taylorsville. As Iredell was formed in 1788, it is here that Benjamin begins to appear in the court records. At the first court session of the newly formed county, Benjamin Bentley, Adam Hall, and others were appointed a jury to lay out the Cove Gap Road.
While Benjamin moved his family to Iredell County, his father and mother, Thomas and Hannah Bentley, moved the rest of their family to Linclon County about 1783.
More About BENJAMIN BENTLEY: Occupation: Bet. February 16, 1771 - February 07, 1772, Constable of "lower end of the forks of the Yadkin" by order of Sheriff of Rowan County Residence: 1815, Plantation was annexed from Iredell County to Wilkes County
Children of BENJAMIN BENTLEY and JANE ? are: 6. i. MOSES4 BENTLEY, b. Abt. 1766, North Carolina; d. 1827, Burke County, North Carolina. 7. ii. ESQUIRE BENTLEY, b. Abt. 1770; d. Abt. 1851, Alexander County, North Carolina. 8. iii. BENJAMIN BENTLEY, JR, b. Bet. 1771 - 1780. 9. iv. DRUCILLA BENTLEY, b. Abt. 1772, Bear Creek, Rowan County, North Carolina. v. CATHERINE BENTLEY, b. Abt. 1773; m. ? CAMPBELL; b. Abt. 1770. 10. vi. JAMES BENTLEY, b. Abt. 1781, Irdell County, North Carolina; d. Letcher County, Kentucky.
3. DANIEL3 BENTLEY (THOMAS1) was born 1752 in Rowan County, North Carolina, and died July 15, 1839 in Perry County, Kentucky. He married NANCY JANE LEWIS February 08, 1782 in Rowan County, North Carolina. She was born Abt. 1767, and died October 04, 1845 in Perry County, Kentucky.
Notes for DANIEL BENTLEY: Daniel moved to Kentucky after his father died.
Children of DANIEL BENTLEY and NANCY LEWIS are: i. DANIEL4 BENTLEY, JR. ii. THOMAS BENTLEY, b. 1785. 11. iii. BENJAMIN BENTLEY, b. 1788. 12. iv. JOHN QUILLER BENTLEY, b. 1789, Rowan County, North Carolina; d. July 08, 1859. v. LEWIS BENTLEY, b. 1790. vi. SOLOMON BENTLEY, b. Bet. 1793 - 1800.
4. MARGARET3 BENTLEY (THOMAS1) was born Bet. 1765 - 1775 in Rowan County, North Carolina, and died Bet. 1820 - 1829 in Perry, Letcher County, Kentucky. She married WILLIAM YONTS September 26, 1794 in Lincoln County, North Carolina. He was born Bet. 1771 - 1776.
Children of MARGARET BENTLEY and WILLIAM YONTS are: i. SARAH4 YONTS, b. June 13, 1796. ii. MARY YONTS, b. Bet. 1800 - 1802. iii. SOLOMON YONTS. iv. WILLIAM YONTS, JR, b. 1808.
Generation No. 3
6. MOSES4 BENTLEY (BENJAMIN2, THOMAS1) was born Abt. 1766 in North Carolina, and died 1827 in Burke County, North Carolina. He married MARY ?. She was born in England.
Notes for MOSES BENTLEY: On May 20, 1794 he bought 100 acres from Abner Baker for 100 pounds, land situated on the waters of the little South Fork of the Yadkin River and on the west side of "Rocky Faced Mountain."
1800 Iredell County records show a land evaluation for direct tax lists Moses Bentley as owning a house valued at $7.25, a tub mill and stable at $30.00 and 260 acres of land at $130.00
After selling the South Yadkin River land, he moved his family to the upper Little River area of Burke County, now Alexander and Caldwell County.
January 02, 1801, entered a claim for 80 acres, joining William Rown, on South Yadkin River Stated granted him above land by Grant No. 313 January 18, 1801, Entered claim for 110 acres, on same river, joining Isaac Baker, Grant #345 1803, Began selling his land in the South Yadkin area. Sold 48 acress on Little South Fork to Richard Wilson for 60 pounds August 02, 1803, Sold 200 acres to Matthew Wallce, later sold 40 acres to Thomas Farmer 1805, Burke County List of taxables shows 200 acres of land and two polls April 1807, Probate of will of William Payne, Mose Bentley was a witness 1827, At his death, he had over 800 acres of land. Was a slave owner May 16, 1827, Wrote his will, offered for probate in October 1827, Burke County
Children of MOSES BENTLEY and MARY ? are: i. MARGARET5 BENTLEY, b. Abt. 1794, Irdell County, North Carolina; m. WILLIAM AUSTIN, December 24, 1812, Burke County, North Carolina. ii. NANCY BENTLEY, b. Abt. 1796, Irdell County, North Carolina; m. HENRY FISHER, October 12, 1820, Burke County, North Carolina. 13. iii. MOSES BENTLEY, JR, b. July 1800, Irdell County, North Carolina. iv. BENJAMIN S BENTLEY, b. Abt. 1803.
Notes for BENJAMIN S BENTLEY: Head of his deceased father's household in 1830 Burke County Census. Appointed guardian of his minor sisters, Mary and Sarah Bentley, and his brother Joseph.
v. JAMES BENTLEY, b. Bet. 1805 - 1810. vi. DRUCILLA BENTLEY, b. Abt. 1807, Burke County, North Carolina; m. EDWARD TEAGUE.
Notes for EDWARD TEAGUE: Before 1850 moved to Cocke County, Tennessee.
vii. HUGH BENTLEY, b. Abt. 1808, Burke County, North Carolina; m. MARY SMITH, September 21, 1828, Burke County, North Carolina. 14. viii. JOSEPH BENTLEY, b. Abt. 1812, Burke County, North Carolina; d. February 03, 1897, Alexander County, North Carolina. ix. LYDIA BENTLEY, b. December 10, 1813, Burke County, North Carolina; m. (1) ? RABY; m. (2) JAMES MOORE; m. (3) ISAAC HART.
Notes for LYDIA BENTLEY: She is listed as Lydia Raby in her father's estate settlement.
More About LYDIA BENTLEY: Burial: Caldwell County, North Carolina, at Mt. Herman Methodist Church Cemetery
Notes for ? RABY: Frederick Raby and his family lived near Lydia's parents, so it is possible her first husband was related to these Rabys.
More About ISAAC HART: Burial: Caldwell County, North Carolina, at Mt. Herman Methodist Church Cemetery
15. x. MARY BENTLEY, b. May 1815, Burke County, North Carolina. xi. SARAH BENTLEY, b. Abt. 1820, Burke County, North Carolina; m. JOSEPH ROBINSON.
Notes for JOSEPH ROBINSON: He lived near her brother Joseph.
xii. PHOEBE BENTLEY, b. Aft. 1820; m. JOSEPH KELLER, April 12, 1837, Lincoln County, North Carolina.
Marriage Notes for PHOEBE BENTLEY and JOSEPH KELLER: Aquilla Keller was bondsman for her marriage.
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