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William (Bently) Bentley (1677 - 1760)

William Bentley formerly Bently
Born in Narragansett, Washington, Rhode Islandmap
Ancestors ancestors
Son of and
Brother of , , , and
Husband of — married 21 Apr 1703 in Rhode Islandmap
Husband of — married 1 Aug 1734 in Westerly, Kings, Rhode Islandmap
Descendants descendants
Father of , , , , , , , , , and
Died at age 82 in Richmond, Kings, Rhode Islandmap
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Profile last modified | Created 20 Jan 2015
This page has been accessed 883 times.
This profile is part of the Bentley Name Study.
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Contents

Biography

William Bentley:

Husband: William Bentley
Wife: Bathsheba Green
Marriage:
Date: 01 AUG 1734
Place: Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island, United States

William was born on July 8, 1677 to William Bentley and Sarah Unknown in Kingston, Washington, Rhode Island. "He married perhaps about 1700 to Elizabeth, whose surname is unknown; and at Westerly, to which town he had removed in 1715 and where his first wife, Elizabeth, died, date unknown. William was made a freeman in 1712. He married second Bathsheba Lewis, widow of Israel Lewis on August 1, 1734.[1][2]

See research notes below for a discussion of why many researches have wrongly stated that William was married to Mary Elliot.

He made his will August 18, 1748, proved August 12, 1760, naming his wife Bathsheba executrix. William's will lists nine sons and four daughters. The will directs his wife to sell the homestead and divide the proceeds equally among the five youngest sons when Benjamin turned fourteen years old.[3]

His wife Bathsheba was executrix.
To his eldest son John, he left five shillings, he having had his share, and
a like amount to sons George, Caleb, Ezekiel;
daughters Elizabeth Potter, Tabitha Sweet, Ruhama James and Mary James.
To his wife all his household goods and movable estate. His wife was to sell the homestead and house when son Benjamin came to the age of fourteen and divide the proceeds equally among the
five youngest children, William, Thomas, James, Greene and Benjamin. To his wife was left also the income of the entire estate, to bring up the five youngest children.

From the Will his eight eldest children appear to be those born by his first wife and his five youngest children by his second wife Bathsheba. The birth sequence of William's children is hypothetical except for the youngest three or five children[4][5]:

  1. (1) John Clothier Bentley (1702-1777) "eldest son John Bentley."
  2. (2) George Bentley (1705-bef.1802) "son George."
  3. (3) Elizabeth Bentley, "eldest daughter Elizabeth Potter."
  4. (4) Caleb Bentley (abt.1711-1790) "son Caleb."
  5. (5) Ezekiel (Bently) Bentley (1711-1790) "son Ezekial."
  6. (6) Tabitha (Bentley) Sweet (abt.1706-1755) "daughter Tabitha Sweet."
  7. (7)Ruhamah (Bentley) James (abt.1718-) "daughter Ruhama James."
  8. (8) Mary Bentley, "daughter Mary James."

William's five youngest children with his second wife:

  1. (9) William Bentley III (1735-1800)
  2. (10) Thomas Bentley (1737-1769)
  3. (11) James Bentley (1739-abt.1829)
  4. (12) Green Bentley Sr (1735-1823)
  5. (13) Benjamin Bentley (1744-1822)

Note: the above source states that this William Bentley married Mary Elliot. However, two other sources state it was a different William Bentley who married Mary Elliot. See the profile of William Bentley of Massachusetts for more information. No source has been found for the place of William and Bathsheba's marriage.[6]

Research Notes

Please see William's section on the Bentley Name Study sub-project here

According to the Genealogical and Family History of Western New York[7]:

William was son of William Bentley and was born in approximately 1680 and lived in King's Town, Westerly, Richmond, Rhode Island . . .He was made a freeman in 1712 ... He married Bathsheba Lewis, widow of Israel Lewis on Aug. 1, 1734.

Wives of William

The Wife Elizabeth Gardiner

Sources vary as to when and where he married Elizabeth (not all agree on her last name).

The online database of STONINGTON, NEW LONDON CO., CT, BARBOUR RECORDS Transcribed by Coralynn Brown available here shows only one marriage of a Bentley in this time frame, the one between William and Mary. The list of Bentley marriages seems to be mostly from the 1750s forward. Only one Bentley is mentioned in 1703.

Elizabeth GARDINER Married first: Abt 1699 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut they had 8 children from Allan's site (he does not give a source for the date of the marriage)

"William (2) Bentley (William (1)), cordwainer, was born about 1676 at North Kingstown, Son of William Bentley (b. 1652) and Sarah (b. 1653), and he died between 25 Jan 1760 when he sold land to his son William, Jr. and 21 Mar 1760 when his inventory was taken, his will being proved 11 Jun 1760 before the Governor and Council after a bitter struggle between his widow and the Richmond Probate Court. He married (1) Elizabeth (possibly Elizabeth GARDINER) who was born about 1680 of North Kingstown, and died after 24 Dec 1723 when she signed the Westerly Land Evidence. He married (2 ) 1 Aug 1734 at Westerly Bathsheba Greene born about 1698 of Westerly daughter of George Greene (br 1665) and Mary Tibbets (br 1670), and died after 11 Oct 1775 when she appeared before the Richmond Town Council and testified. Bathsheba had married (1) Isreal LEWIS who was born 22 June 1695 a t Westerly, son of Isreal Lewis (ba 1670) and Joanna or Jane Babcock (ba 1675), and died in 1732. Bathsheba later married (3) 29 Mar 1761 at North Kingstown John BISSELL of North KIngstown."[8]

In 1702 William Bentley, Jr. married (1) Elizabeth ------- at the Stonington First Church, New London, Connecticut. She has been identified as Elizabeth Gardiner.[9]

The Wife Marry Elliot

This line of Bentleys is confused with a line of Bentleys from Connecticut. This confusion seem to come from above source saying this William was married to Mary Elliot. This profile originally had this William married to Mary Eliot. However, Mary was married to the William of CT.

Wiki current has 2 profiles with William Bentley's married to Mary Eliot:

William Bentley IV (1679-1751)Mary Eliot (1687-1752)
William II(1729-1792)Mary Jane Eliot (1730-??)

Sources seem to suggest Mary Eliot was married to the William Bentley whose parents were Mary Houghton and William Bentley. Therefore, the marriage between this William and Mary was removed.

Mary Elliot was a daughter of Henry Elliot and Deborah (Bell) (York) Elliot, of Stonington, Connecticut Colony. She was married there on 4.21.1703, to William Bentley who was son of William and Mary (Houghton) BENTLEY who were married in Dorchester, Massachusetts Bay Colony, in January of 1675/6 and who HAD APPARENTLY died many years prior to the time of their son's marriage to Mary Elliot. William and Mary (Elliot) BENTLEY settled in Lebanon, Connecticut Colony . It does not appear the RHODE ISLAND Bentley's settled in Stonington or even in Connecticut Colony until the middle of the eighteenth century."[10]

The other William Bentley married to Mary (Elliot) Bentley lived in MA and then CT

Two sources state that the William (son of Arabella) was married to Bathsheba and Mary Elliot. Both The Genealogical and Family History of Western New York available here[11] and The History of the Town of Stonington [12]say the son of the William on the Arabella's son William married:

  • Mary Elliot (married April 21, 1703) and
  • Bathsheba (married August 1, 1734 (wife mention in will of Aug 12 1760)

"William (2) son of William (1) Bentley, lived in King's Town, Westerly, Richmond, Rhode Island. He married (first) at Stonington, Conn., April 12, 1703, Mary Eliot. He married (second) Aug. 1, 1734, Bathsheba Lewis, widow of Israel Lewis. She died in 1760.

"He was made a freeman in 1712. He made his will Aug. 18, 1748, and it was proved Aug. 12, 1760. His wife Bathsheba was executrix. To his eldest son John, he left five shillings, he having had his share, and a like amount to sons George, Caleb, Ezekiel; daughters Elizabeth Potter, Tabitha Sweet, Ruhama James and Mary James. To his wife all his household goods and movable estate. His wife was to sell the homestead and house when son Benjamin came to the age of fourteen and divide the proceeds equally among the five youngest children, William, Thomas, James, Greene and Benjamin. To his wife was left also the income of the entire estate, to bring up the five youngest children. He died in 1760. Children of first wife (Mary): John, George, Caleb, Ezekiel, Elizabeth, Tabitha, Ruhama, Mary. Children of second wife: William, born May 29, 1735; Thomas, James, mentioned below; Greene born Mar 23 1741-42; Benjamin, June 11, 1744.

". . .William Bentley and his wife, Mary, owned the covenant at Stonington, June 5, 1704, and their children John and Mary were baptized there"

These sources do not say where these marriages took place. However, records show that a William Bentley married Mary Elliot on April 21, 1703 in Stonington, Connecticut.[13] [14] The marriage took place in Connecticut, not Rhode Island. The son of Arabella William, appears from his profile, to have only lived in Rhode Island. The other William, however, lived in Connecticut. Mary Elliot's profile likewise show she only lived in Connecticut. Therefore, she is currently, linked as the wife of the William who is the son of the Massachusetts William. It should be noted that at one time on Mary Elliot was listed as the wife to both Williams on their profiles.

The Wife Bathsheba Greene (widow of Israel Lewis?)

As stated above two sources say Bathsheba married William Bentley on August 1, 1734. (History of Western NY[15] and The History of the Town of Stonington)[16] As quoted above.

"William (1) Bentley, lived in King's Town, Westerly, Richmond, Rhode Island. He married (first) at Stonington, Conn., April 12, 1703, Mary Eliot. He married (second) Aug. 1, 1734, Bathsheba Lewis, widow of Israel Lewis. She died in 1760."

"He was made a freeman in 1712. He made his will Aug. 18, 1748, and it was proved Aug. 12, 1760. His wife Bathsheba was executrix. To his eldest son John, he left five shillings, he having had his share, and a like amount to sons George, Caleb, Ezekiel; daughters Elizabeth Potter, Tabitha Sweet, Ruhama James and Mary James. To his wife all his household goods and movable estate. His wife was to sell the homestead and house when son Benjamin came to the age of fourteen and divide the proceeds equally among the five youngest children, William, Thomas, James, Greene and Benjamin. To his wife was left also the income of the entire estate, to bring up the five youngest children. He died in 1760. Children of first wife (Mary): John, George, Caleb, Ezekiel, Elizabeth, Tabitha, Ruhama, Mary. Children of second wife: William, born May 29, 1735; Thomas, James, mentioned below; Greene born Mar 23 1741-42; Benjamin, June 11, 1744.

Neither of these sources specifically state where the marriage took place.

Bathsheba GREENE, 2nd Married: 1 Aug 1734 in Westerly, Washington County, Rhode Island they had five children including a William. Allan has William and Bathsheba having a son:

  • William Bentley married to 1 Abigail MILLEMAN (21 Apr 1754 in Richmond, Washington County, Rhode Island) and 2 Phoebe PAINE (1784 in New York)

Event

TAG5

Event: Family Data Collection - Individual Records
Type: Individual Record
Date: 1675
Place: WA.,, Narragansett, RI., United States[17]
Event: Family Data Collection - Births
Type: Birth Statistics
Date: 1677
Place: Kingstown, RI., United States[18]
Event: CT., Town Marriage Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection)
Type: Marriage
Date: 21 Apr 1703
Place: Stonington, CT., United States[19]
User ID: 752164CFBC524932AFEE2088953461DC9D1C

Sources

  1. ↑ Cutter, William. Genealogical and Family History of Western New York (Lewis Historical Publishing Co., New York, 1912), page 869 available here
  2. ↑ Stewart, Cameron Ralph Genealogical Classification By Family Group Vol. 2, Page 1165 (Stewart, Long Beach, 1986)
  3. ↑ Cutter: Page 869
  4. ↑ Stewart: Vol. 2, Page 1165
  5. ↑ Marlin G Criddle, "Life Histories of William Bentley, Jr. ... and His Wives, ... Bathsheba Greene ..." (Salt Lake City UT: draft, 28 Nov 2014), p 2-4; giving three husbands, ch of Wm Bentley. [1]
  6. ↑ Rhode Island Vital Records, 1636-1850, (AmericanAncestors.org: NEHGS, 2014), Washington County v5, p 2-8; giving "Bissell John, of North Kingstown, and Bathsheba Bentley, of Richmond, R.I.; by Jeremiah Crandall, Justice, March 29, 1761."
  7. ↑ Cutter, William. Genealogical and Family History of Western New York (Lewis Historical Publishing Co., New York, 1912), page 869 available here
  8. ↑ Source seems to be: Rhode Island Genealogical Register, OCT 1978, P 91-103, A LINE OF DESCENT FROM WILLIAM BENTLEY OF KINGSTOWN, by Alden G. Beaman, Ph.D. "Family of Ezekiel (4) Bentley by Mrs. Cyril M. Edmunds" as cited by http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=danielbsr&id=I2419 Allan Bentley on his site]]
  9. ↑ [Emilie Sarter,] One branch of the Bentley family of Rhode Island (Providence: Rhode Island Historical Society, 1949), p. 13. as cited by Marlin G. Criddle, Salt Lake City, Utah May 10, 2006 [available here]
  10. ↑ GENEALOGICAL CLASSIFICATION BY FAMILY GROUP CODING FOR DECENT FROM COMMON ANCESTERS«/b»", by Cameron Ralph Stewart, Vol II, p. 1059 [cited by Allan Bentley here]
  11. ↑ The Genealogical and Family History of Western New York, William Richard Cutter, 1912, Page 869-871 [available here]
  12. ↑ History of the town of Stonington, county of New London, Connecticut, from its first settlement in 1649 to 1900, by Wheeler, Richard Anson, 1900, Page 233 [available here]
  13. ↑ "Connecticut Town Birth-Death & Marriage Records, Pre 1870 (Barbour Collection) database on-line accessed 23 Nov 2010. The Generations Network, Inc., 2006. Original data: White, Lorraine Cook, ed. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records. Vol. 1-55. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1994-2002. Note: This database contains an index to vital record information for individuals born primarily before 1870, abstracted from Connecticut town vital records, and recorded in the multi-volume set known as the Lucious Barnes Barbour Collection. Information contained in the index includes name of child, relationship (son or daughter), birth date, birth location, and parents' names. Information regarding an individual's marriage and death may also be included. Repository: #R512 Italicized: Y Paranthetical: Y User ID: E059C4EA6FE944B9857EF2F74EC27D803542
  14. ↑ Barbour Collection of Connecticut Vital Records [available online here]
  15. ↑ The Genealogical and Family History of Western New York, William Richard Cutter, 1912, Page 869-871. [available here]
  16. ↑ History of the town of Stonington, county of New London, Connecticut, from its frist settlement in 1649 to 1900, by Wheeler, Richard Anson, 1900, Page 233. [available here]
  17. ↑ Source: #S247 Data: Text: Family Data Collection - Individual Records CONT about William Bentley CONT Name: «tab»William Bentley CONT Spouse: «tab»Bathsheba Green CONT Parents: «tab»William Bentley, Sarah Leithfield Leithfield CONT Birth Place: «tab»Washington, Narragansett, RI CONT Birth Date: «tab»1675 CONT Death Place: «tab»Richmond, Washington, RI CONT Death Date: «tab»1 Jul 1760
  18. ↑ Source: #S246 Page: Family Data Collection - Births." accessed 23 Nov 2010. Quality or Certainty of Data: 3 Data: Text: Family Data Collection - Births CONT about William Bentley Bentley CONT Name: «tab»William Bentley Bentley CONT Father: «tab»William Bentley Bentley CONT Mother: «tab»Sarah Leithfield CONT Birth Date: «tab»8 Jul 1677 CONT City: «tab»Kingstown CONT State: «tab»RI CONT Country: «tab»USA
  19. ↑ Source: #S269 Page: "Connecticut Town Marriage Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection)." accessed 23 Nov 2010. Quality or Certainty of Data: 3 Data: Text: Connecticut Town Marriage Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection) CONT about William Bentley CONT Name: «tab»William Bentley CONT Marriage Date: «tab»21 Apr 1703 CONT Marriage Location: «tab»Stonington CONT Spouse: «tab»Mary Eliot

Web based Genealogies

  • FamilySearch profile for William Bentley
  • Source: S246 Abbreviation: Family Data Collection - Births Title: Family Data Collection - Births Publication: n.d. Repository: #R512 Italicized: Y Paranthetical: Y Repository: R512 Name: Ancestry.com Address: Ancestry.com CONT 360 W 4800 N CONT Provo, UT 84604 USA Name: Ancestry.com SORT Ancestry.com Address 1: 360 W 4800 N City: Provo State: UT Postal Code: 84604 Country: USA Phone Number: 801-705-7000 Phone Number: 801-705-7001 (fax) URL: http://www.ancestry.com
  • Source: S247 Abbreviation: Family Data Collection - Individual Records Title: <"," Report Repository: #R512 Italicized: Y Paranthetical: Y
  • Source: S269 Abbreviation: Connecticut Town Birth-Death & Marriage Records, Pre 1870 (Barbour Collection) Title: "1-55" Author: Connecticut. Publication: n.d. Text: Source Information: CONT Ancestry.com. Connecticut Town Birth Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection) [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006. Original data: White, Lorraine Cook, ed. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records. Vol. 1-55. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1994-2002. Note: This database contains an index to vital record information for individuals born primarily before 1870, abstracted from Connecticut town vital records, and recorded in the multi-volume set known as the Lucious Barnes Barbour Collection. Information contained in the index includes name of child, relationship (son or daughter), birth date, birth locatino, and parents' names. Information regarding an individual's marriage and death may also be included. Repository: #R512 Italicized: Y Paranthetical: Y
  • Source: S-414227856 Repository: #R-592189140 Title: Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Note: This information comes from 1 or more individual Ancestry Family Tree files. This source citation points you to a current version of those files. Note: The owners of these tree files may have removed or changed information since this source citation was created. Page: Ancestry Family Trees Note: Data: Text: http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=8390315&pid=1038 Repository: R-592189140 Name: Ancestry.com Address: http://www.Ancestry.com Note:
  • Source: S16 Title: Ancestral File (R) Abbreviation: Ancestral File (R) Author: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Publication: Copyright (c) 1987, June 1998, data as of 5 January 1998 Repository: #R1 Repository: R1 Name: Unknown
  • Source: S561 Title: Person Source Abbreviation: Person Source
  • Source: S16 Title: Ancestral File (R) Abbreviation: Ancestral File (R) Author: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Publication: Copyright (c) 1987, June 1998, data as of 5 January 1998 Repository: #R1 Repository: R1 Name: Unknown
  • Source: S4158 Title: Person Source Abbreviation: Person Source
  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ancestral File (R), Copyright (c) 1987, June 1998, data as of 5 January 1998. Ancestral File, v.4.19, "Electronic," note: William BENTLEY, IV (AFN: GBFC-D3), son of William Bentley III, likely in error. Ancestral File Number 1Z3Q-Z6L Ancestral File Number 1G54-158 Ancestral File Number GBFC-D3
  • James Miller Guinn, A History of California and an Extended History of Los Angeles and Environs, (Historic Records Co., Los Angeles CA, 1915), note: has name as William, son of immigrant William, and born 1668.
  • Richard Bentley II, 2004, (cagedraptor@), "Electronic," note: has name William Bentley II.




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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with William by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with William:

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Comments: 2

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Randy Beebe
Bentley-311 and Bently-60 appear to represent the same person because: Same name (with a spelling variant on the surname), same vital data, same spouse. Obvious duplicate.

Bentley seems to be the preferred spelling variant so that Bently-60 is merged into Bentley-311

posted by Randy Beebe
Bentley-2133 John Bentley
It appears this profile is in need of some additional merges and some sources to clear it up.
posted on Bentley-311 (merged) by John Bentley

Rejected matches › William Bentley (abt.1589-) › William Bentley (1710-1800) › William Bentley Jr. (1749-1831) › William Nelson Bentley (1873-1950) › William Field Bentley (abt.1798-) › William Stuart Bentley › William Wayborn Bentley (1887-1978) › William Bentley (1640-1720) › William Bentley (abt.1840-) › William Bentley (1840-) › William R Bentley (1882-) › William Bentley V (1707-bef.1756)

Featured National Park champion connections: William is 12 degrees from Theodore Roosevelt, 19 degrees from Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger, 12 degrees from George Catlin, 12 degrees from Marjory Douglas, 22 degrees from Sueko Embrey, 12 degrees from George Grinnell, 21 degrees from Anton Kröller, 13 degrees from Stephen Mather, 18 degrees from Kara McKean, 13 degrees from John Muir, 15 degrees from Victoria Hanover and 24 degrees from Charles Young on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.

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