Question

What documentation is there that the middle name of William Bentley 1754-1823 was Weldon?

Answer 1

Having source information and documentation is always important.  This is a GEDCOM created profile so the source information is not obvious.  Try contacting the profile manager and/or posting your question in the comments on the profile page.  If you have source information to the contrary post it there as well.  - Mags

Answer 2

The only documentation I have is from "THE McGAVOCK FAMILY. A Genealogical History of James McGavock and his Descendants from 1760 to 1903", by
Rev. Robert Gray, page 79 (published 1903):

"Cynthia KENT, 255, daughter of James R., born in Montgomery county, Va., 16 July 1820, married Dr. Henry Moss BENTLEY, 14 March 1837. He, son of William Weldon BENTLEY and his wife Lucy Gaines TURPIN, was born in Powhatan county, Va., 25 April, 1807, and died 19 December, 1846. he was an eminent physician, a polished gentleman, and as such highly esteemed. She died 7 December, 1883."

Answer 3

"The Ligons Family and Connections" copyrighted in 1947 by William D. Ligon

P. 612:  "Issue of John and his 2nd wife Sally (Saunders) Ligon:
iv. William Ligon.
v. James Ligon.
vi. Sally Ligon, m. Horatio Gates Saunders, July 11, 1803, Powhatan Co., Va. He was her first cousin and the son of Rev. John Hyde Saunders and his wife, Rachel Bentley, sister of Col. William BENTLEY.  Issue: Aenas Saunders; James L. Saunders; and John Ligon Saunders.
vii.  Paulina Saunders, b. 1796; m. above-mentioned Horatio G. Saunders, widower, December 20, 1817, Powhatan Co., Va."

Page 613:  "General William Ligon, son of John and Sally (Saunders) Ligon born about 1785, Powhatan Co., Va.; died 1864, and was buried in Powhatan. He married in Powhatan County, Martha E. Harris, called Evelyn, born 1774, the daughter of Benjamin Harris and his wife Lucy Turpin. Her father, Thomas Turpin, (born 1736), son of Thomas Turpin and his wife, Mary Jefferson, aunt of Thomas Jefferson, of Monticello, married Martha Gaines, widow of Daniel Gaines. Order to the clerk of Powhatan, dated February 14, 1803, by which Lucy Gaines (Turpin) Harris, widow, authorized Col. William Weldon BENTLEY, widower, to obtain the license to marry her. Colonel BENTLEY was the son of Samuel Bentley of Amelia Co., Va. who died 1784, and brother of Rachel (Bentley) Saunders, whose son, Horatio Saunders married Sallie Ligon, sister of General William Ligon."

Answer 4

After 15 + years researching and being part of the team that finally figured out the 2 different older Samuel Bentley families of c1760 Amelia Co VA (and their correct children), I have never seen a period (during his lifetime) document referring to him as anything other than Lt./ Capt./ Col./ William Bentley.  It is my contention that both he and his PROVED brother Efford Bentley (who is sometime referred to as "Peter" Efford Bentley and likewise I have never seen a period document referring to him as "Peter"), both "inherited" the "Weldon" and "Peter" from later born relatives. I have seen speculation that their mother may have been a "Weldon" (a"Mary" or a "Sarah") or an "Efford" and they may have also descended from Peter Efford, but no proof. There is speculation that the "Mary" Bentley, wife of Samuel of Amelia newspaper obituary was their mother (W/o the Samuel who left the 1784 will), but more proof than just that is required because the other Samuel Bentley of Amelia (who was born in 1719 in North Farnham Parish Richmond Co VA, S/o Daniel and Ann) was proved c1745 married to a "Mary"

George F. Bentley

PS:The quote by Allan above "Harris, widow, authorized Col. William Weldon BENTLEY, widower, to obtain the license to marry her. Colonel BENTLEY was the son of Samuel Bentley of Amelia Co., Va. who died 1784," is not a period doc and it is also PROVED that Col Bentley's father Samuel did not "die 1784" (that is the date of his will). He dies around 1795.