Daniel BENTLEY

1752 - 1839  (87 years)

• Name	Daniel BENTLEY
  Born	1752	Frederick Co. MD   [1]
  Gender	Male
  _UID	C825D34D1FD545D8AE301141D55B7C8C8657
  Died	15 Jan 1839	Letcher Co. KY   [1]
  Notes	The Rowan County court minutes dated 8 August 1778 lists those persons who "refused or neglected" to take the Oath of Allegiance to the Sate. 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. Evidently Daniel Bentley and his future brother-in-law, Meshack Davis, neglected to take the oath for they both would later apply for Revolutionary War pensions. Thomas's son, Daniel, received a pension for serving as a soldier. After having served as a soldier and returned home, Daniel married Nancy Lewis, their Rowan County marriage bond dated 8 February 1782. Daniel Bentley and Peter (his mark) Lewis signed the bond. Nancy Lewis was a member of the family who established the Lewis Quaker Meeting House that existed as early as 1771 about two miles north-northeast of the Bentley homestead. Shortly after their marriage, Daniel and Nancy left Rowan County in 1782 with Thomas and Hannah Bentley and the rest of the family to settle in the Indian Creek area of eastern Lincoln County, North Carolina. Daniel and Nancy would later remove to Washington County, Virginia, for a few years and then on to Perry County, Kentucky. On 17 April 1795 Daniel Bentley and Benjamin, the only "two sons and heirs" of Thomas Bentley, deceased, sold both of the tracts of land Thomas had purchased in 1783, withholding 25 acres for the use of Hannah Bentley, "widow & relict of Thomas Bentley." This land was sold to Jacob Bollinger. Witnesses were sons-in-law of Thomas Bentley who were Meshack Davis and William Yonts. This is a very important deed for it establishes the fact that Thomas and Hannah Bentley were the parents of Daniel and Benjamin Bentley. The deed states as follows, "Know all men by these parents; that this indenture made this 17th day of April in the year of our Lord 1795 between Daniel BENTLEY and Benjamin BENTLEY both of the county of Lincoln and State of North Carolina of the one part and Jacob Bullinger of the county and State aforesaid of the other part. Witnesseth for and in consideration of the sum of 80 pounds to the said Daniel and Benjamin BENTLEY in hand paid the said Jacob Bullinger the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged and they the said Daniel BENTLEY and Benjamin BENTLEY have bargained sold and aliened enf_____ and confirmed and by these presents doth bargain sell align enf _______ and confirm unto the said Jacob Bullinger his heirs and asigns forever under the condition and exceptions hereafter mentioned two parcels and tracts of land joining each other one situated lying and being in the county and state aforesaid on both sides of Indian Creek between two tracts of land formerly granted to Francis Beatty including a shoal beginning at a black oak thence east 126 poles to a hickory thence south 127 poles to a black oak thece west 126 poles crossing the creek to a white oak then north to the begining containing by survey 100 acres being a tract of land granted to Francis Beatty by a patent bearing date December 22 AD 1768 and by Robert Armstrong and Hugh Beatty executor of the said Francis Beatty deceased and by a virtus of a power given then by the will of the said Francis Beatty conveyed to Thomas BENTLEY by a deed bearing date January 1, 1783 and the said Thomas BENTLEY dying intestate the aforesaid tract of land by due and regular course of law descended to the said Daniel BENTLEY and Benjamin BENTLEY the only sons and heirs of the said Thomas (BENTLEY) deceased. The other tract joining running into and intersecting the above described land on both sides of Indian Creek begining at a white oak on the east side of the creek abnd runs north 42 degrees west 180 poles to a white oak then south 42 degrees # 180 poles to a hickory thence crossing the creek to the begining containing by estimation 200 acres but only 120 acres is intended to be conveyed or so much thereof as may remain after the claim or interference of the above described land is satisfied which runs into a big tract of the title older and better whereby a part is lost being a tract of land surveyed for Thomas Welch and granted to him by a patent bearing date May 5, AD 1769 and conveyed by the said Thmas Welch to Thomas BENTLEY by a deed bearing date January 1, AD 1783 and at the decease of the said Thomas BENTLEY who died intestate left to his two sons and heirs Daniel BENTLEY and Benjamin BENTLEY and now by them conveyed in manner and form aforesaid excepting notwithstanding 25 acres out of what remains on the south side of the creek for the purpose and to the use of Hannah BENTLEY widow and relict of the said Thomas Bentley deceased and to be left and remain to her the said Hannah BENTLEY her heirs and asigns forever being the land on which the said Hannah now lives and improves and the said Daniel BENTLEY and Benjamin BENTLEY heirs of Thomas BENTLEY aforesaid for themselves and Thier heirs doth hereby set over and convey to the said Jacob Bullinger his heirs and assigns together with the before mentioned premises as there described and the aportenances and hereditaments thereunto belonging or appertaining and also all woods ways waters and water courses and all the right interest profits and estate of then the said Daniel BENTLEY and Benjamin BENTLEY in any manner or sort appertaining to belonging to the premises to have and to hold the said lands tenements and hereditaments hereby dold with their appurtenances to the said Jacob Bullinger to the only proper use and behoof of him and the said Jacob Bullinger his heirs and assigns forever and the said Daniel BENTLEY and Benjamin BENTLEY for themselves and their heirs doth hereby promise covenant and agree to and with the said Jacob Bullinger his heirs that they the said Daniel BENTLEY and Benjamin BENTLEY and Thier heirs executors and administrators shall and will warrant and defend the said premises to the said Jacob Bullinger his heirs and assigns forever against the lawful claim or claims of all persons whatsoever which might in any manner affect or incumber the premises contrary to the true intent and meaning of these presents provided nevertheless that this warranty shall not extend and it is hereby expressed and declared to be the true intent of the parties contracting that it does not extend so as to make the said Daniel and Benjamin BENTLEY any way liable to the said Jacob Bullinger or his heirs or assigns for the before mentioned deficiency or loss in the last describes tract or as to the 25 acres intended to be reserved for the use of Hannah BENTLEY aforesaid and it is also expressly provided to be the meaning and intention of the parties contracting that the 25 acres as aforesaid referenced for the use of Hannah BENTLEY is not included neither shall it by any possible construction either in law or equity by considered as included in this deed of conveyance made in manner and form as aforesaid. In witness whereof the said Daniel BENTLEY and Benjamin BENTLEY hath hereunto set their hands and affixed Their seals the day and year 1st above written." Daniel Bentley Benjamin Bentley (their marks) Lincoln County April Session 1795 The within deed was proven in open court by the oath of William Yonts and ordered to be registered. Witnesses: Meshack Davies (his mark) William Yonts Lincoln Co., NC, Deed Book 17, page 211. "1 September 1795. Hannah Bentley & Daniel Bentley of Lincoln County to George Savage & Catherine Bollinger, both of Lincoln County, for 20 pounds, a tract of land that Thomas Bentley bought of Thomas Welch in Lincoln County on the waters of Indian Creek on the south side of the creek, it being the plantation she [Hannah Bentley] now lives on. It being the land [25 acres] that was accepted [excepted] in the deed that Daniel Bentley made to Jacob Bollinger [doesnâ??t give boundaries] Signed: Hannah Bentley (her mark), Daniel Bentley. Witnesses: Benj. Moore, Richard Whiteakker, William Yonts. Lincoln Co., NC, Deed Book 18, page 146." Daniel Bentley moved to KY after 1800. On the first day of January, 1830, Daniel Bentley, seventy-eight years old [born 1752], appeared at the Perry County, Kentucky, Court in order to make application for a Revolutionary War pension. He declared on oath that "the year forgotten at Rowan County CH [Court House] N Carolina he enlisted for 2 years in the company commanded by Burris in the 7th Regiment..he supposes in N Carolina line on continental establishment but it may have been the 7th Regiment on Virginia line on continental establishment either Regiment was commanded by Col. Campbell..that he continued to serve in the said corps until the expiration of his term of service when he was discharged from the service by Capt. Burris at the place of his enlistment aforesaid.." Daniel also made oath that "he resides a considerable distance from the court house and for several years has been confined at home by disease besides he was told that he had no chance to succeed unless he had a discharge or could prove his service." Continuing Daniel swore "That he is by occupation a farmer but so old and diseased he is unable to work he has no family but his wife Betsey ___ years of age unable to support herself they are supported by the charity of their children grown and left them and kind neighbors." Anthony Hall and Thomas Stuart gave oath before the court they knew from their own knowledge that the statement of Daniel Bentley as to his enlistment under Capt. Burris in the 7th Regiment North Carolina line on continental establishment was true having seen him enlist and they knew he served in the continental line for about two years. Stuart was present and saw Bentley discharged by Capt. Burris at the place stated and they "have long known said Bentley and that he is to be relied upon as a man of strict integrity." Daniel and Nancy (Lewis) Bentley are buried in the hilltop Bentley family cemetery located near Neon Junction in Letcher County. His tombstone reads "Daniel Bentley Born in England Died Jan. 15, 1839." Nancy's tombstone reads "Nancy Wife of Daniel Bently Born in England Died Oct. 4, 1843." There has been heavy discussion among descendants as to the phrase "Born in England" which is found on both Daniel and Nancy's tombstones. In looking at the stones of Daniel, Nancy, John, and Margaret one notices all the stones are similar in appearance with a rounded top and the picture of a flying dove within the circumference of a circle at the top of the stone. An ascending dove, or flying bird, represents rebirth; the transport of the departed's soul to Heaven. One would venture to guess these stones were all erected within a close time period of each other; thus perhaps offering an explanation the place of birth on Daniel and Nancy's tombstones was given by a descendant and erected at a later date. Land records seem to confirm Daniel's parents, Thomas and Hannah Bentley, were in Maryland at the time of their marriage, so it seems more reasonable to think Daniel was born in the Frederick County area of Maryland. [1, 2]
  Person ID	I1018	Master File
  Last Modified	5 Apr 2010

  
  

  Father	Thomas BENTLEY,   b. Abt 1716, most likely in England ,   d. Aft 4 May 1789, Lincoln Co. NC  (Age ~ 73 years)
  Mother	Hannah
  Married	1746	Maryland   [1, 2]
  Family ID	F295	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Nancy LEWIS,   b. Abt 1759,   d. 4 Oct 1843, Letcher Co. KY  (Age ~ 84 years)
  Married	8 Feb 1782	Rowan County, NC   [1]
  	North Carolina Marriages, 1759-1979 Groom's Name: Daniel Bentley Bride's Name: Nancy Lewis Marriage Date: 08 Feb 1782 Marriage Place: Rowan, North Carolina Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M75225-8 System Origin: North Carolina-EASy Source Film Number: 317002
  Children	1. John Quiller BENTLEY,   b. 1788, North Carolina ,   d. 3 Jul 1858, Letcher Co. KY  (Age 70 years)
  Last Modified	15 Dec 2011
  Family ID	F728	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Sources

  [S27] Thomas Bentley of Frederick County Maryland and Old Rowan County, NC. and His Descendants, James W. Miller, Jr., (Self published, web 2006). [S25] Descendants of Richard Whitaker, Jr. and Rachel Bentley, Joye Boardman.