William Bentley

Abt 1637 - Bef 1720  (~ 83 years)

• Name	William Bentley  [1]
  Birth	Abt 1637  [2]
  Baptism	13 Sep 1640	Ampthill, Bedfordshire, England   [2, 3]
  Gender	Male
  Death	Bef 11 Jul 1720	Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island   [2, 4]
  Person ID	I12531	Ancestry of PNH, TNH, and others
  Last Modified	6 Nov 2021

  
  

  Father	John Bentley,   b. Bef 5 Nov 1608   d. 26 Mar 1666, Ampthill, Bedfordshire, England (Age > 57 years)
  Mother	Mary Betts
  Marriage	3 Oct 1630	Ampthill, Bedfordshire, England   [3]
  Family ID	F7389	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Sarah   d. 28 Dec 1731
  Children	1. James Bentley,   b. 26 May 1679, Kingston, Washington, Rhode Island   2. Jane Bentley   d. Bef Jun 1729
  Family ID	F7384	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	6 Nov 2021

  
  

• Notes

  George Wightman of Quidnessett, R.I. (1632-1721/2) and Descendants and History of the Town of Stonington say, like several other sources, that he was a currier and that he came from England on the Arabella, sailing from Gravesend 27 May 1671. A William Bentley is in fact on the passenger list for that voyage. The fire-damaged remains of his will and personal inventory show that he was indeed a currier and that he did come from England. We also read that his wife (who survived him) was named Sarah, and among his several children listed are "Son James Bently" and "Daughter Jane Whittman". A handwritten leaf held by the Rhode Island Historical Society, reproduced and transcribed in the eccentrically-organized but data-rich Genealogical Classification by Family Group Coding for Descent from Common Ancestors (citation details below), gives what appears to be information about this William Bentley and his family, probably transcribed sometime in the late 18th century from earlier family Bibles. It states that the William Bentley who "Departed this Life in Kingstown 83 yrs and 11 days of His age" was born in "Amphill" in Bedfordshire.

  
  

• Sources

  [S6074] George Wightman of Quidnessett, R.I. (1632-1721/2) and Descendants: Waitman, Weightman, Whiteman, Whitman, Whytman, Wightman, Wyghtman by Mary Ross Whitman. Chicago, 1939. [S6073] Genealogical Classification by Family Group Coding for Descent from Common Ancestors by Cameron Ralph Stewart. 2 volumes. Long Beach, California, 1986. [S6075] Correspondence from A. F. Cirket, Senior Records Officer, Bedfordshire County Council, 20 Feb 1978. [S715] History of the Town of Stonington, County of New London, Connecticut, from its First Settlement in 1649 to 1900 by Richard Anson Wheeler. New London, Connecticut: Press of the Day Publishing Company, 1900., year and place only.