Charles Bentley (1752 - 1833)

Born 23 May 1752 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut

Ancestors

Husband of Hannah (Wilson) Bentley — married 6 Aug 1787 in Cambridge, New York

Descendants

Died 16 Oct 1833 at age 81 in Tyringham, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States

Biography

Private Charles Bentley served with 4th Connecticut Regiment (1777), Continental Army during the American Revolution.

Charles Bentley is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A009425.

Charles Bentley is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: P-113596
Rank: Private

This profile is part of the Rainsford Name Study.

Charles Bentley was born at Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut on 23 May 1752^{[1][2][3][4][5]} to William and Orange (Tozer) Bentley.^[6][7][8] He died on 16 Oct 1833 at the home of his son Roswell in New Marlborough, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts.^{[3][4][5][9][10]} (although he resided in Tyringham, see below). He was buried at Corashire Cemetery in Monterey, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts.^[8][11]

Charles married (1) to Abigail Raynsford about 1775. Abigail was born on 15 Nov 1756 in Canterbury, Windham Co., Connecticut.^[12] Abigail died on 21 Apr 1783 in Canterbury, New London, Connecticut. Children born to Charles and Abigail:

1. Hannah Bentley (1776–1790)
2. Ruth Bentley (1778–1855)
3. Elisha Bentley (1780–1838)
4. John Bentley (1782–1869)^[13]

Charles married (2) to Phoebe Pember on 2 Sep 1784 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut.^[3][4][5] Phoebe was born of 4 Jan 1756 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut^[14] and died in 1787 in Whitehall, Washington Co., New York. Children born to Charles and Pheobe:

1. Abigail Bentley (1785–1806)
2. Betsey Bentley (b1787)

Charles married (3) to Hannah Wilson on 6 Aug 1789 at Cambridge, Washington Co., New York.^[3][4][5] Hannah was born on 1768 in Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont and died in 1842 in Tyringham, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Children born to Charles and Hannah:

1. Roswell Bentley (1791–1860)
2. Charlotte Bentley (1792–1880)^[15][16] (death and burial records identify parents)
3. Sarah Bentley (1793–1846)
4. William Bentley (1797–1807), who married Dorothy McCoy on 16 Apr 1854 at Tyringham, Massachusetts.^[17][18][19] (sources identifiy parents)
5. Charles Bentley (1799–1869)
6. Lebbeus Bently (1800–1802)
7. Polly Bently (b1803)
8. William Bentley (1808-1870)^[20][21][22] (death and burial records identify parents)

Charles was a blacksmith. After the death of his first wife Abigail, Charles moved to Skenesboro (Whitehall) New York, where he lived with his older brother Richard. He and his family later moved to Arlington, Vermont, and then to Tyringham, Massachusetts, where he lived until his death in 1833; however, his pension file indicates that he "resided in Windham, Connecticut, until March 1789, then moved to New Cambridge, Washington County, New York, where he lived about three years, thence to Tyringham, Berkshire County, Massachusetts."^[3][4][5] According to his Revolutionary War pension file he actually died at the home of his son Roswell Bentley in New Marlborough, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts.^[3][4][5]

Revolutionary War Service
Charles enlisted at Windham, Connecticut in the Connecticut Militia for three months in 1776. His company had reached West Chester, New York, when his enlistment expired. He then enlisted in the Continental Army for 6 months and was at York Island, New York until it was captured by the British. His unit escaped across the North River (Hudson) to Hackensack Bridge, New Jersey and then to Morristown, New Jersey, where he became sick and was placed in a hospital. His enlistment expired, and after recuperating at a private home, he returned his home in Connecticut. In May 1777 he enlisted for 18 months and rejoined his regiment under Colonel John Durkee in Morristown and marched with them back across the North River, and then to West Chester (White Plains) again. Later he was ordered to Fishkill, where he spent the rest of his service working on the forging of the chain which was strung across the Hudson River to prevent the British Fleet from proceeding north to meet General Burgoyne who was advancing from Canada. Charles returned home in 1779 when his enlistment expired. His pension file indicates that he was residing in Windham , Connecticut in August 1776 when he enlisted under Lt. Hammond of Colonel Experience Storr's Continental Regiment, then served under Captain James Cleveland's company in Colonel John Durkee's regiment.^{[3][4][5][9][10]}

The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) ancestor page for Charles Bentley shows him to have served with Lt. Hammond and Lt. Colonel Experience Storrs in the Connecticut Militia, and Captain James Cleaveland and Colonel Durkee in the Continental Army.^[23] The Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) ancestor page for Charles Bentley shows him as having served as an artivicer in the Continental Army.^[11]

Charles Bentley applied on 27 Sep 1832 for a pension based on Revolutionary War service, "at which time he was 82 years of age and residing at Tryingham, Mass.", and was approved for the pension.^{[3][4][5][9][10]} After his death in 1833, his widow Hannah Bentley was granted a pension based on her application of 5 Sep 1838 "at which time she was aged seventy years and a resident of Tyringham, Massachusetts."^{[3][4][5][9][10]} She was receiving pension payments up until 1841^[24], but may have died about that time.

Census Records

• 1790 - Charles Bentley, Tyringham, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Males over 16: 1, under 16: 1, Females: 2.^[25]
  
• 1800 - not located
  
• 1810 - Charles Bentley, Tyringham, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Males over 45: 1, 10-15: 1, Females over 45: 1, under 10: 1.^[26]
  
• 1820 - Charles Bentley, Tyringham, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Males over 45: 1, Females over 45: 1, 10-15: 1.^[27]
  
• 1830 - not located

Research Notes

• Birth year: Note that Charles, born 1752, was the second son of that name born to his parents; a brother named Charles was born 5 May 1747 and died on 19 Aug 1750.^[1]
• Death year: His pension file and the ancestor memorials at DAR and SAR have his death year as 1833.^[3][4][5] However, his tombstone has 1834.^[8] An affidavit in his pension file written by his son John states that Charles' death "was in October 1833 or 1834", which may account for the error on the tombstone.^[3][4][5] The Findagrave memorial includes a notation in the biographical summary that his tombstone is incorrect and he actually died in 1833.^[8] The pension file must be considered the most reliable as it was used to grant a continuing pension to his widow after his date of death. We do not know when the tombstone was created.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Vital Records of Norwich, Connecticut 1659-1848, Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Connecticut, Hartford, Connecticut, 1918, Volume 1, page 262. Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/vitalrecordsofno01norw/page/262/mode/1uphttps://archive.org/details/vitalrecordsofno01norw/page/262/mode/1up
2. ↑ First Book of Records - Norwich, Vital Records of Norwich, 1659-1848, page 262. AmericanAncestors (NEHGS): https://www.americanancestors.org/databases/norwich-ct-vital-records-of-norwich-1659-1848/image?pageName=262&volumeId=28745&rId=577945737
3. ↑ ^{3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10} United States Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Applications, 1800-1900: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N97V-YM9
4. ↑ ^{4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10} Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Applications Based on Revolutionary War Service, NARA Record Group 15, Catalog No. 300022, Publication M804, Pension No. W14298. Fold3: https://www.fold3.com/image/13714801/bentley-charles-page-1-us-revolutionary-war-pensions-1800-1900
5. ↑ ^{5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10} Charles Bentley pension file PDF included in his ancestor profile at FamilySearch: https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/190391704?p=58860886&returnLabel=Charles%20Bentley%20(LHL1-PC9)&returnUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.familysearch.org%2Ftree%2Fperson%2Fmemories%2FLHL1-PC9
6. ↑ "Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906", FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F74X-PVV : 7 January 2020), Charles Bentle, 1752.
7. ↑ "Connecticut, Vital Records, Prior to 1850", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP71-3N53 : Fri Nov 10 00:59:54 UTC 2023), Entry for Charles Bentle and William, 23 May 1752.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3} Charles Bentley - Findagrave Memorial https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34486981/charles-bentley
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3} The Pension Role of 1835, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, Volume 1, page 346. Ancestry: https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/18534:60514?ssrc=pt&tid=173540670&pid=222385529566
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3} Charles Bentley, deceased 16 Oct 1833, recorded on the Massachusetts pension role in 1835. Report from the Secretary of War, in Obedience to Resolutions of the Senate of the 5th and 30th of June, 1834, and the 3d of March, 1835, In Relation to the Pension Establishment of the United States. Printed by D. Green, Washington, 1835, Volume 1, Massachusetts Pension Role, page 24. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89058650649&seq=350
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) ancestor P-113596 https://sarpatriots.sar.org/patriot/display/113596
12. ↑ "Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7W4-PYY : 7 January 2020), Abigail Raynsford, 1756.
13. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHXZ-SJW : Wed Oct 25 17:07:53 UTC 2023), Entry for Dea John Bently and Charles Bently, 8 Sep 1869.
14. ↑ "Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7W7-GY3 : 7 January 2020), Phebe Pember, 1756.
15. ↑ "Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1925", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N72G-6HL : 13 December 2022), Chas. Bentley in entry for Charlotte Judd, 1880.
16. ↑ "Massachusetts Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910", FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FH1P-LJN : 17 January 2020), Charles Bentley in entry for Charlotte Judd, 1880.
17. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHW3-VP5 : Thu Oct 26 03:28:48 UTC 2023), Entry for William Bently and Charles Bently, 16 Apr 1854.
18. ↑ "Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1925", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N4MG-67M : 9 November 2022), Chas. Bently in entry for William Bently and Dorothy McCoy, 1854.
19. ↑ "Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1925", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FCDZ-V39 : 29 December 2022), Charles Bently in entry for William Bently, 1854.
20. ↑ "Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1925", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N7V8-SP2 : 17 November 2022), Charles Bentley in entry for William Bentley, 1870.
21. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHX8-67V : Wed Oct 25 22:49:07 UTC 2023), Entry for William Bentley and Chas Bentley, 20 Jan 1870.
22. ↑ "Massachusetts Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FH1T-78H : 17 January 2020), Charles Bentley in entry for William Bentley
23. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) ancestor A009425 https://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A009425
24. ↑ United States Revolutionary War Pension Payment Ledgers, 1818-1872, , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q24Q-5XFG : Sat Dec 09 06:03:28 UTC 2023), Entry for Hannah Bentley and Charles Bentley, 04 Mar 1836.
25. ↑ United States Census, 1790, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHKG-DX9 : Thu Oct 05 11:25:11 UTC 2023), Entry for Charles Bentley, 1790.
26. ↑ United States Census, 1810, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH2L-3WT : Fri Oct 06 11:20:08 UTC 2023), Entry for Charles Bentley, 1810.
27. ↑ United States Census, 1820, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLK-VGG : Wed Oct 04 17:31:06 UTC 2023), Entry for Charles Bentley, 1820.

See also:
Charles Bentley ancestor profile on FamilySearch:
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LHL1-PC9