Re: Info on David Bentley
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In reply to:
Re: Info on David Bentley
Scotty B 5/26/06
William was known to be a Baptist Minister, which was not a popular religion outside of Rhode Island. There is one reference to him as a "weaver." However, in 1785, he was ordained in Bennington, VT, and there is evidence
that he served as a Baptist minister in Hoosic, Rensselaer Co., New York
William was a party to numerous court actions, in few of which he emerges the winner. He was sued by his mother and step-father because he did not maintain her in a good decent manner during her natural life although she had signed her dower rights to him. He was sued later for debts by Eliphalet Jones in 1783 and Ismael Spink, and his property was confiscated by court order.
After Abigail's death about 1783, William married about 1785 to Phebe Paine, daughter of Joshua Paine and Constance Paine. Phebe had been widowed twice before, and had children by each of her two prior husbands. William and Phebe had four children: John born 1787, Jonathan and David (twins) born 1790 and Joshua born 1792. Phebe's brother Barnabus wrote of the "horrid abuses and inhumanity" of their marriage, which was brought to a conclusion October 23, 1799. On that day, William struck his wife with a shoemaker's hammer on one of her arms which was broken in two places; she attempted to escape and had proceeded some way towards a neighbor's home when he overtook her and struck her repeatedly with the edge and head of an axe on her head and
shoulders. She survived only a few hours
William was tried and convicted. He was sentenced to hang, but died in prison before the sentence could be carried out. There is some evidence to suggest that he took poison. In his will, William made his son Elisha guardian of the twins Jonathan and David, William Jr. was guardian of John, and William's
brother Benjamin was guardian of the youngest son, Joshua
William3 (William 2,1) was descended from William Bentley who came to Narragansett, RI, in 1671 on the "Arabella" and died about 1720. He married Sarah Eldred or Eldridge. Alden Beaman, "A Line of Descent from William Bentley
of Kingstown" in Rhode Island Genealogical Register, Vol. 10 p. 340, erroneously states that William4 (Caleb3 William 2,1) married Abigail Milleman. This William was born about 1745 and would have been only nine years of age when William3 married Abigail.
More Replies:
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Re: Info on David Bentley
Scotty B 5/26/06
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Re: Info on David Bentley
Gerald Steffy 5/27/06
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Re: Info on David Bentley
Scotty B 5/27/06
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Re: Info on David Bentley
Gerald Steffy 5/27/06
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Re: Info on David Bentley
Scotty B 5/27/06
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Re: Info on David Bentley
Scotty B 6/08/06
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Re: Info on David Bentley
Gerald Steffy 6/13/06
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Re: Info on David Bentley
Scotty B 6/13/06
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Re: Info on David Bentley
Scotty B 6/13/06
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Re: Info on David Bentley
Gerald Steffy 6/24/06
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Re: Info on David Bentley
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Re: Info on David Bentley
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Re: Info on David Bentley
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Re: Info on David Bentley
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Re: Info on David Bentley
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Re: Info on David Bentley