Sam'l References: Don't Support Report Conclusions
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In reply to:
SAMUEL BENTLEY REPORT REFERENCES
Marsha Bentley 8/14/02
Hi Marsha,
Thanks so much for putting this information here.I have been waiting to respond to the first part to see what references the report had and whether there was any further documentation.Before I forget, if it is available, could you give us any information such as the formal title of the report, any name and/or address of the author/company, and the date?
In my opinion, with acknowledgement that I need to clarify (b) below again, I believe that the report does nothing to cast any doubt on arguments that Amelia County's Samuel, John and William (?) and another possible "daughter Bentley" were most likely the children of Daniel and Ann per the Richmond County records.My earliest knowledge is still the 1704 Richmond Co. deeds of Daniel of GLOSTER County. In your words, I think the Daniel theory still "pans" out as the best we've got.I'd really like to hear what everyone else thinks.
Here are my views regarding the main assertions on Samuel:
(a) RESIDENCY IN EAST GREENWICH, KENT CO.,ENGLAND.Referencing the 1745 patent to John Bently, the assertion that the Bentleys were from a mannor in East Greenwich, Kent Co, England is a misreading of what is boilerplate language for a significant number of Virginia patents, which were "fill in the blank forms".The phrase in the patent in no way suggests anything about the residency of the patentee.
I have transcribed most of the patent of John Bentley which is online at the Library of Virginia website.I append it at the end, with the URL for the website where I found it so you can all go and view it yourself.
Regarding the use of the East Greenwich phrasing, I quote here from the introduction to Volume VII "Cavaliers and Pioneers" (abstracts of VA patents).I encourage anyone who questions this to look at the introductions to at least Volumes IV, VI or VII (not V), which have lengthy statements on patent form.
"PATENT FORMS
Separate formats were established for the various types of land patented: new land, new land, old land, lapsed land, escheat land, land in trust, church land, glebe land, etc.. The scribe would reference the first appearance of a particular form by page number and thus one finds a columnar note such as "part old part new form, p 1."
Examples of each of the formats used for the different patent types follow. Underlined and/or italicized material changed with each patent.
Examples"
"To be held of us our Heirs and Successors as of our Manor of East Greenwich in the County of Kent in free and Common Soccage and not in Capite or by Knights Service"
Source:
Dennis Ray Hudgins, ed., Cavaliers and Pioneers Volume Seven:1762-1776. (Richmond: Virginia Genealogical Society, 1999), pp. xix-xx.
(b) SAMUEL AS FATHER OF JOHN, SAMUEL and WILLIAM BENTLEY of AMELIA. I believe that the assertion that Samuel1 is the father of Samuel baptized 1719, John and William is a misreading of the 1735 deed of Samuel Bentley to John Bentley, leasing 6 acres (with I think an important water course).I understand that deed does NOT say to son John, but just to John.I believe this is Samuel's brother. I have not seen the deed, but had a reliable researcher look at the microfilm in Richmond for me about a year ago. The report's questionable assertion that the deed is from Samuel to son John is the only "evidence" I see for the assertion that Samuel is the father.I could be wrong here, and I will soon try to obtain a copy of the deed to see with my own eyes.If anyone has the actual deed, or if it came with the report, please let me/us all know.
(c) SAMUEL AS THE IMMIGRANT.This assertion I believe results from the fact that the researcher appears to not have been aware of the many other earlier related Bentley and James Spicer references in Amelia/Prince George and Richmond/Middlesex Counties (see #2871) However, in defense of the researcher, if I recall correctly from some discussions sight unseen of the report a couple of years ago, the report was done some 50 years ago...before Cavaliers and Pioneers was published, before the Library of Virginia provided a central focus for statewide research.We don't know just what budget the researcher had, what information was provided ahead of time, nor exactly what questions he/she was asked to concentrate on.The earlier generations or the later generations??
Just some of the principal important items that come to mind and are not included in the report but seem to bear on the strength of the arguments that Samuel was the immigrant in the late 1720s from East Greenwich, County of Kent,and father of John, Samuel and William include:
(1) The Richmond County Virginia court records, including the 1704 land purchases by Daniel Bently of Gloucester Co, VA, the will and inventory of Daniel Bentley, 1721 (noting particularly the listing of James Spicer in Daniel Bentley's inventory), the identification of Anne Bentley as a widow in the 1723 deed, and the 1731 deed of gift from Anne to sons John, Samuel and William;
(2)North Farnham Parish (Richmond Co) records, with baptisms of children of Daniel and Anne, children of Samuel and Mary, and child of John and Mary,
(3) Bristol Parish (Prince George/Amelia Co) records, with baptisms of children of John and Mary,
(4) Middlesex County records, with marriage of John Bentley and Mary Ellis.
(5) Other Amelia County Patent/deed records.In addition to being surprised that the Bristol Parish records were omitted, I was surprised that no reference was made toSamuel Bentley's 1734 patent in Prince George/Amelia Co..also on Pruitt's Creek like John's (URL for original is below...doesn't include the East Greenwich language). A closer look at the patents and deeds would have, for example, shown that John and Samuel Bentley were neighbors of a John Ellis early on. But without knowledge of the Middlesex Co marriage, this would have not seemed too important even if the researcher did see the names in deeds.
I have questions raised by James Spicer's will and the conclusion he was married to the three brothers' sister, but will do so separately.I had a hard time following the later arguments but it seems as though the author may have partially collapsed two Samuels into one (the separate Samuels, sons of Samuel (baptised 1719) and brother John). I have some other comments, but that's enough for now, and I look forward to seeing what the rest of you with more direct interest in the lines in the report have to say.
My Best Regards, Janet Hunter [email protected]
From Library of Virginia website:
PATENT OF JOHN BENTLY, July 10, 1745
http://lvaimage.lib.va.us/cgi-bin/drawer?retrieve_image=LONN&dir=/LONN/LO-1/021/021&image_number=0334&offset=-553&name=Patents+No.23+1743-1745+(VOL.1+%26+VOL.2)&dbl_pgs=no&round=http://lvaimage.lib.va.us/cgi-bin/drawer?retrieve_image=LONN&dir=/LONN/LO-1/021/021&image_number=0334&offset=-553&name=Patents+No.23+1743-1745+(VOL.1+%26+VOL.2)&dbl_pgs=no&round=
Virginia Patent Book 23, pp. 887-888Note that the East Greenwich/Kent language is found in the next two patents on page 889 and 890 (accessible at the site the above link leads to).
I did not transcribe the detailed description of the location of the land (poles, trees, etc.).I found no reference to "gentile" in the patent as the Academy Report seems to indicate.
(In Margin)John Bently200 acres
George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender o the Faith To all to Whom These presents shall come greetings Know Ye that for divers good cause and consideration but more Especially for and in consideration of the sum of Twenty Shillings of good and lawful money for our use paid to our Receivor General of our Revenues in this our Colony and Dominion of Virginia We have given granted and confirmed and by these presents for us our heirs and Successors & give grant and confirm unto John Bently one certain Tract or parcel of Land containing 200 acres lying and being in the county of Amelia on the Heads of Pruitts Creek between the lines of William Gates, William Davis, William Kendrick (Hendrick?) and William Hurt…[ goes on to describe location of land].. With all woodsUnder woods swamps Marshes Low grounds Meadows Feedingsand his due Share of all Veins mines and Quarries as well as discovered or not discovered within the bounds aforesaid and being part of the said Quantity of two hundred acres of Land and the Rivers waters and water courses therein contained together with the Privileges of Hunting Hawking Fishing Fowling and all other Profits Commodities and Hereditaments whatsoever to the same or any part thereof belonging in anywise or appertaining To have hold Possess Enjoy the said Tract or parcel of Land andall other the before granted promised and every part thereof with their and every part of their appurtenances unto the said John Bentley and to his Heirs and assigns forever to the only use and behalf of him the said John Bentley his heirs assigns forever to be held of us our Heirs and Successors as of our mannor of East Greenwich in the County of Kent of free and common Soccage and not in capite or Knights service…Yielding and Paying unto us our Heirs and Successors for every fifty acres of land and so proportionably for a lesser or greater Quantity than fifty acres the fee rent of one shilling yearly to be paid upon the Feast of Saint Michael the arch angel and also Cultivating three acres part of every fifty of the Tract above mentioned within three years after the Date of these Presents Provided always that if three years of the said Fee Rent shall at any time be in arrears and unpaid or if the said John Bently his Heirs or assigns do not within the space of three years next coming coming after the Date of these presents cultivate and improve three acres part of every Fifty of the Tract above mentioned then the Estate hereby Granted Cease and be utterly Determined and thereafter it shall and may be lawful to and for us our Heirs and Successors to grant the same lands and Premises with the appurtenances unto such other Person or Persons as we our Heirs and Successors shall think fit In Witness whereof we have caused our Letters Patent to be made Witness our Trusty and well beloved William Gooch, Esq., our Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief of our said Colony and Dominion at Williamsburg under the Seal of our said Colony the tenth day of July one thousand seven hundred and forty five in the Nineteenth year of our Reign
William Gooch
PATENT OF SAMUEL BENTLEY, October 3, 1734 -- you will find it here:
http://lvaimage.lib.va.us/cgi-bin/drawer?retrieve_image=LONN&dir=/LONN/LO-1/013/013&image_number=0367&offset=%2B13&name=Patents+No.15+1732-1735+(VOL.1+%26+VOL.2)&dbl_pgs=no&round=http://lvaimage.lib.va.us/cgi-bin/drawer?retrieve_image=LONN&dir=/LONN/LO-1/013/013&image_number=0367&offset=%2B13&name=Patents+No.15+1732-1735+(VOL.1+%26+VOL.2)&dbl_pgs=no&round=
More Replies:
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Re: Sam'l References: Don't Support Report Conclusions
Janet Hunter 9/05/02
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Re: Sam'l References: Don't Support Report Conclusions
Marsha Bentley 8/15/02
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Re: Sam'l References: Don't Support Report Conclusions
Janet Hunter 8/15/02
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Re: Sam'l References: Don't Support Report Conclusions