Benjamin BENTLEY

Male Abt 1746 - Bef 1839  (~ 93 years)


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  • Name Benjamin BENTLEY 
    Born Abt 1746  Frederick Co. MD Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Gender Male 
    _UID 2074435BBD60484F89999C43C023D68B2BB6 
    Died Bef 15 Mar 1839  Wilkes Co. NC Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Notes 
    • He first appears in Rowan Co., NC, in the 1768 tax list where he and his father, Thomas Bentley, are listed at one poll each.

      Rowan Co., NC, List of Taxables, 1768

      List of Morgan Bryan Davie Co., NC, "Forks of the Yadkin" of today

      Thomas Bentley 1 [poll]
      Benjamin Bentley 1 [poll]

      Source: Rowan County List of Taxables, 1768, NC State Archives, Raleigh, NC, CRX 244

      On 17 December 1769, Thomas Bentley wrote a letter requesting that his son be permitted to sign the Rowan County marriage bond, issued by Thomas Frohock, allowing Aaron Freeman to marry his daughter, Mary Bentley, as follows:

      Sr [Sir] if you please to let Aaron Freeman have licence for my daughter Marry [sic] Bentley I am Sattisfied so far let my son sign the licence bond I hope you are in better health then when I saw you last No more at present but your humb servt [humble servant]

      December ye 17th day 1769 [signed] Thos Bentley

      Wits [Witnesses] present

      Benjamin Bentley (his mark)

      James Freeman (his mark)


      The Forks of the Yadkin was a hotbed of Tory, or Loyalist, activity during the Revolutionary struggle for independence. Here Benjamin Bentley was appointed Constable of the "lower end of the forks of the Yadkin" by the Rowan County Court to serve from 16 February 1771 until 7 February 1772.

      An excerpt from James W. Wall's Davie County: A Brief History, page 24, details the following concerning sentiments in the forks of the Yadkin during the struggle for independence:

      Extreme cruelties, persecution, murder, and looting were practiced by members of both philosophies. The Moravian records note that in 1776 "We heard that up on the Yadkin many who sided with the King were driven from house and home by persecution; and that these people were hiding in the woods in our neighborhood." This is the first mention of "Outlyers," as they were called. The year 1780 seems to have been the worst. The Moravian records refer to "infrequent acts of robbery and murder" in that year. On October 4, 1780, the Moravians reported, "We hear that on the Atkin [Yadkin] a party of Tories has fallen on the people, but only on those who had formerly done the same to them."

      Thomas and his son, Benjamin, sold supplies to the revolutionary cause as can be found the Revolutionary Army Account is the State Archives in Raleigh, NC. Thomas'son, Daniel, received a pension for serving as a soldier.

      In the 1778 Rowan tax list of Capt. Lyon's District, Benjamin Bentley, is listed with property valued at 336 pounds.

      On 7 December 1779 Thomas Bentley made entry for 100 acres of vacant land lying on the water of the South Yadkin River adjoining Benjamin Bentley, Anthony Peeler, and Carson's [James Carson] land, which he made over, or assigned, to Alexander Carons [Cairns/Carnes].

      On 30 June 1778 Benjamin Bentley, Thomas' son, made an entry for 640 acres of vacant land on Bear Creek adjoining Adam Hall, Abraham Welty, [John] McElhaney, Anthony Peelor [Peeler], Carson, Wm. Frohock, and Thos. Bentley. Benjamin received State Grant number 97 for this tract on 21 March 1780.

      1782 Benjamin Bentley moved his family to land he had purchased in Iredell (later Wilkes/now Alexander) County, settling in the Cedar Run area of the South Yadkin River.

      Iredell County, North Carolina, was formed in 1788. During the first term of court on 25 March 1789 a road jury was appointed by the court to lay out the Cove Gap Road [leading from Rich land Cove Gap to Joseph Sharpe's] , viz: Samuel Smith, Joshua Davis, James Davis, Lat Hudson, Hugh Campbell, Benjamin BENTLEY, Adam Hall, John Meadows, Will Stevenson, James Stevenson, Will Cowan, Nat Pairs, Ford Fortner, John White, Will Brown, David McQuen, Edward Carter, Howel Barker, Will Hughs, Will Campbell, Joe Nableton, James Patterson, Samuel Williams, Jo Millsaps, Will Millsaps, Joseph Millsaps, Henry Revis, John Gortney, John Smith, Edward Griffith, Solomon Kelly, John Arrington, Abner Davis, Thos. Campbell and John Kelly. That is almost a complete roll call of the settlers of northwest Iredell and northeast Alexander. Besides, four slaves are named in the list, Stevenson's Luk, Cook's Deek, Baker's Jack, and Sharp's Deek. Iredell - Piedmont County, page 173. (Iredell County Court Minutes Book 1, page 4.)


      20 Aug 1796, recorded 1 Aug 1798. Gasper Rowland of Rowan Co., NC, to Jacob Kellar of Rowan Co., NC, for 185 pounds current money of NC for 320 acres in Rowan Co. on Weaver's Creek, bounded by BENJAMIN BENTLEY, John Johnson, Rudolph Neat's corner. Signed Kasper Roland. Wit: John Keller his mark, John Hendrix. Rowan Co., NC, Deed Book 16, page 341, 1798-1799 (SLFHL 0019790.

      Hannah seems to have lived with son, Benjamin, in Alexander County, NC after Thomas' death.

      Benjamin Bentley and his family are listed in the 1790 Iredell County, North Carolina, census as follows: four white males over the age of sixteen years including the head of the household, and 4 free white females. This would appear to be Benjamin, his wife, three sons and three daughters. The name of Benjamin's wife can be found in an Iredell County power of attorney dated 23 March 1837 wherein James Bentley names "my Father and Mother Benjamin & Jane Bentley," James Bentley also names his sons John, Ambros, Joel, and William R. Bentley.

      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.

      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.




      ABOUT THE BENTLEY HOUSE

      Mr. Armand T. Daniel purchased the former Bentley property in 1945. His research and remodeling efforts of the log house were featured in the Davie County Enterprise Record, August 7, 1975, page 1B, as follows:

      The Bentley House Over 200 Years Old

      For over two years Armand Daniel tried to sell what he thought was just an old frame house on his property.

      It wasn't until years later he discovered underneath the exterior of boards and paint was an old log house dating back more than two centuries.

      Benjamin Bentley, according to Daniel's research, was apparently in this vicinity when the Boone expedition first came this route through Davie County. His research shows this location as being the first known community in the county and it was named "Bentley."

      Daniel says there was the Bentley School, Post Office trading post, and in fact it was the community for the entire group of our first settlers.

      Archibald G. Carter lived in this old log house. He purchased Bentley around 1823 and the school was then known as the "Baldy Carter School."

      The original house was two 20 ft. x 20 ft. square rooms downstairs separated by a 10 foot wide entrance way and they were studded together by four 50-foot long logs. The upstairs floor space was the same.

      Daniel, who is in the process of restoring the old house, recently moved one of the 50-foot logs with the help of nine other men. "It took ten of us to get that log down," Daniel said, "and I just wonder how many men it took to put it up there."

      And after more than 200 years, these logs are just as solid as ever.

      Daniel has a map of the entire farm, dated in 1800, which has helped him considerable in his research.

      He has also found on the land an old ice pond, where ice was frozen then cut into blocks and stored in the ice house, located near-by. He is in the process now of filling in the pond.

      Behind the main house is what he called a summer house.

      "This is where the kinds slept in the summertime because it was too hot upstairs in the main house." he explained.

      The summer house was three stories, including a basement and two stories above.

      When Kerr Clement purchased this tract of land in 1929, he remodeled the house and it has since been remodeled again. In the original portion of the house the double rafters are significant of the remodeling. The old rafters of the log cabin are easily detected.

      When Daniel bought this property 35 years ago and even rented the house, he had no idea it was an original log cabin built over two hundred years ago. Daniel's research shows this to be the best house in Davie County when it was built in the 1700s and remains today one of the better built houses, he says.

      Daniel has now torn away all except the original log cabin and when the renovation is complete he says it will be good for another 200 years.

      His remodeling plans include building seven bedrooms and seven bathrooms along with the other necessary rooms.

      "And I'm gonna build an outdoor kitchen, he said, with a patio between it and the main house."

      Daniel plans to invest a great deal of time and money into this project. Upon completion he says he will move his family here from their present location, which was formerly the John Wilcoxson House featured in another edition.

      Mr. Daniel was never able to complete his remodeling of the Bentley House before he passed away in 1979. During the four years he worked on the house he was able to add a two-story addition to the rear of the house, plus adding a brick facade to the exterior, three dormers across the front roof, and a slate roof on the entire house. The house sat empty for 26 years until 2005 when it was lost to an unforgivable act of arson.  

      Davie County Enterprise-Record
      Thursday, Feb. 24, 2005 page 1.

      Teens Charged With Setting Fire To House
      by Mike Gunning
      Davie County Enterprise-Record

      Two students at South Davie Middle School were charged with arson after they confessed to burning down a 200-year-old house in Cooleemee. Police have not released their names because of their ages.

      The boys, ages 14 and 13, cut school last Thursday and during the morning hours entered the Family Dollar Store on Wilkesboro Street, said Davie Sheriff's Detective Robert Trotter. They were charged with larceny of one cigarette lighter and a box of cigars, which the boys smoked after breaking into the unoccupied house at the corner of Daniels Road and Carter Lane, the detective said.

      At 11 a.m. neighbors reported seeing smoke billowing from the structure and called the fire department. "I could see the smoke all the way from the firehouse. It was coming up pretty good," Chief Wayne Williams of the Jerusalem Fire Department said. Jerusalem is approximately three miles from the scene.

      William's unit was the first to respond, and he immediately noticed the fire had spread to the woods behind the house. Williams knew he had to call in back up.

      "We were concerned with the way the wind was blowing that day." Williams said. "Plus, it was difficult to put the fire out because the house was being used to store hay for feed."

      Cooleemee and Mocksville departments assisted. Lt. Andy Lipscomb of the Mocksville Fire Department said there was not much left of the house when they arrived.

      "It was burned up pretty good," Lipscomb said. "The house was a total loss."

      Trotter and Detective Stuart Parker investigated. Trotter said that neighbor's reported seeing two boys in the area. After driving around, Trotter said they spotted the boys who matched the description.

      "We asked a few questions, then brought all the parents in for a complete interview at the sheriff's department," Trotter said, "they admitted to starting the fire and stealing a lighter from the store. It was no accident."

      According to court records, one of the suspects has a prior arson conviction, and is on probation for that offense. The other child has no prior convictions.

      Letter to the Editor, Davie County Enterprise-Record, March 3, 2005, written by Evelyn Daniel, Marjorie D. Foster, and the Daniel Family.

      Firefighters Tried to Save Historic Structure

      To the editor:

      With life moving at the speed of light, sometimes it's easy to overlook the simple acts of kindness and bravery. Like the dedication, commitment and work ethics of our volunteer firefighters. On Thursday, Feb. 17, one of the oldest homes in Davie County was destroyed by fire. My family has owned the old log "Bentley House" since 1945. According to the historical records and genealogical research done by my late father, Armand T. Daniel, the home was constructed between 1780 and 1784. Benjamin Bentley is credited with the original construction of one grandest and largest homes in the area now called Davie County. The original house consisted of two rooms, 20x20 ft. each, constructed of hand hewed forest pine logs spanning 20 feet each. The rooms were spaced 10 feet apart leaving a total of 50 feet of width. Two 50-ft. pine logs were then laid on top of the structure across the front and back. An upstairs story, called a garret, of the same size was placed on top with addition 50-ft. logs spanning the width. The original Bentley House was 2,000 square feet, a very large home for the period. In the early 1800s, a 20x20 kitchen was added 15 feet away and later enclosed for a dining room. Other floors and rooms had been added throughout time. My father, during his period of restoration before his death in 1979, had added more rooms for a total of 8,500 square feet. Unfortunately, he was never able to complete his dream but he had uncovered the history of the home and had the major architectural designs on display.

      The log framing in the house and the enormous additions made it a unique place. Although restoration had to be abandoned after my father's death, it held many memories of my childhood while he worked on it in his final years. Many historians have come from as far away as Ohio just to view the home. The 225-year-old logs went up in a flash. The slate roofs came crashing down. The volunteers of the Jerusalem Fire Department and others spent the entire day pumping water and foam on the remains. We knew the structure could not be saved, but hoped the surrounding buildings, trees and land could be spared. The wind made for a terrible day to fight a fire. The smoke was horrendous, yet the firefighters stood among the rubble for more than eight hours. They had to cut a very old burning oak tree near the structure along with employing the use of a bulldozer. All of this was a very dangerous job. I did mention a volunteer job. Most fire departments in the county were involved in some way, either assisting or on backup call. The refilled water and foam trucks just kept coming. As I understand it, at least 55,000 gallons of water, that's more than 42 tanker truck loads, plus 25 gallons of concentrated foaming solution at a cost of over $650 were used in the containment of the fire. We especially want to thank the brave men and women of the Jerusalem, Mocksville and Cooleemee departments for the majority of the work. There may have been other departments that I failed to see, but we want to thank any and everyone who assisted in controlling the calamity. The sheriff's department, the EMTs, the US Forest Service, the Fire Marshall, the NC Wildlife, we had them all. Everyone worked well together, and we understand the responsible parties have been detained. It's a sad day when we lost part of our history to such a senseless act perpetrated by two teen-age boys.

      The moral here is, please support your local fire departments. Let them know you are thankful for their dedication and humbled by their unselfish donation of their own time to help someone in need. Buy their chicken pie dinners or whatever else they sell. Or, lend a hand, it's the least we can do.

      Marjorie D. Foster, Evelyn Daniel and the Family of the late Armand T. Daniel Mocksville [1, 2]
    Person ID I841  Master File
    Last Modified 5 Apr 2010 

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

    Family Jane HOLMAN,   b. Abt 1750,   d. Wilkes Co. NC Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Married Abt 1765  [1
    Children 
     1. James BENTLEY
     2. Moses BENTLEY
    Family ID F619  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Sources 
    1. [S27] Thomas Bentley of Frederick County Maryland and Old Rowan County, NC. and His Descendants, James W. Miller, Jr., (Self published, web 2006).

    2. [S25] Descendants of Richard Whitaker, Jr. and Rachel Bentley, Joye Boardman.