Bentley
A large portion of the early Bentley research was obtained from Joan Curtin and Ann Beardmore, I extend my gratitude. Ann Beardmore has also supplied more than several copies of wills and burial and baptism notes that makes this history so complete, a special thanks to Ann as this must have taken a lot of work and a long time to acquire.
The early Bentley history seems to start in or around Alton in Staffordshire, the site of the now popular Alton Towers theme park.
Ralph Bentley
Ralph Bentley.
born about c1600 possible Kingsley, Staffordshire.
buried in Kingsley 24th October 1662.
married 24th July 1628 at St Werburgh's church in Kingsley.
Jane Heath.
born abt 1604.
died 21st June.
buried in at St Werburgh's church in Kingsley 29th June 1667.
This is as early as I have discovered for the Bentley family, but Jane's parents were Robert Heath and Anne, both born around 1584 possibly in Kingsley in Staffordshire.
Ralph and Jane's children.
| Anne Bentley | born Mar 1629. Probably Kingsley.Ann married a man named Smith and lived in Winkhill she had a son Ralph. |
| Thomas Bentley | baptised 7th November 1630 at St Werburgh's church in Kingsley. |
| Roger Bentley | born abt 1632. Probably in Kingsley. |
| John Bentley | baptised November 1635 and buried 1636 at St Werburgh's church in Kingsley . |
| William Bentley | buried 13th May 1640. |
Thomas Bentley
Thomas Bentley.
born abt 1630 in Kingsley, Staffordshire.
buried 27th May 1704 at St Werburgh's church in Kingsley.
married.
Sarah Unknown.
born about 1661.
Thomas was a yeoman. His wife's surname is as yet unkown.
In the (16th) century, a yeoman was also a farmer of middling social status who owned his own land and often farmed it himself.
Thomas and Sarah's children.
| Thomas Bentley | baptised 9th Aug 1662 at St Werburgh's church in Kingsley. Married Margaret Cluloe. |
| William Bentley | baptised 10th June 1664 at St Werburgh's church in Kingsley. |
| John Bentley | bapt 24th Feb 1666 - not mentioned in father's will.We assume he died before his fathers will was written 5th Apr 1704. |
| Jane Bentley | bap 6th Aug 1668 at St Werburgh's church in Kingsley. - married William Tunnicliff 18th June 1702 in Kingsley. |
| Ralph Bentley | baptised 6th May 1671 at St Werburgh's church in Kingsley. - buried 24th Apr 1675 in Kingsley St Werburgh's. |
| Richard Bentley | baptised 16th May 1674 at St Werburgh's church in Kingsley. |
| Joseph Bentley | baptised Aug 1676 (I do not have the day) Died 1st April 1758 at Gorsty Croft Farm, Checkley, Staffs. Occupation, Farmer. |
| Sarah Bentley | baptised 3rd Mar 1679 - at St Werburgh's church in Kingsley. Married Henry Motteram 22nd May 1703 in Kingsley. |
| Elizabeth Bentley | baptised 20th Jan 1681at St Werburgh's church in Kingsley. Married Robert W Walthoe abt 1700. |
| Benjamin Bentley | baptised 27th Oct 1683 at St Werburgh's church in Kingsley. Married Elizabeth Harris. |
St Werburgh's Church Kingsley
Richard Bentley
Richard Bentley.
born 1674 in Kingsley Staffordshire.
died 18th August 1751 in Kingsley.
buried in Kingsley August 18th 1751.
wife unknown.
Wife is unknown but they had at least four known children. According to the baptism records when Elizabeth was born Richard was living in a place named Cotton, which is in the Staffordshire moorlands near Oakamoor, at the time of his death he is mentioned as living in Shaw Walls which is near to Foxt, Ipstones. Foxt is described as a scattered hamlet.
Richard Bentley's four children.
| Thomas Bentley | born 1701 and baptised 4th September 1701 in Alton St Peters. Died 23rd Dec 1768. He married Mary Clark born 1706. |
| Elizabeth Bentley | born 1703 in Cotton, Staffordshire and baptised in Alton St Peters November 20th 1703. She married Thomas Mottram. |
| Richard Bentley | born 1705 in Staffordshire. |
| John Bentley | born 1707 and baptised June 26th 1707 in Alton St Peters. |
John Bentley
John Bentley.
born 1708 in Hulme near Caverswall.
died 21st May 1789 and is buried in Alton St Peters.
married.
Elizabeth.
born 1722.
died 21st March 1788 and is buried in Alton St Peters.
John Bentley was born in 1708 in Hulme Staffordshire. He got married to Elizabeth. When his wife Elizabeth died they were living at Lanehead near Cotton.
John Bentley's eight children.
| Elizabeth Bentley | baptised July 22nd 1740 in Alton St Peters. Married Stephen Corker born 1738 on 25th November 1765 at Alton. |
| Thomas Bentley | baptised August 22nd 1742 in Alton St Peters. Married Frances Proctor, at St Peters in Alton in 1766. |
| Mary Bentley | baptised 22nd November 1747 in Alton St Peters. |
| Joseph Bentley | baptised 24 June 1749 in Alton St Peters. Died before 1765, only child not mentioned in Uncle Thomas's will of 1765. |
| Jane Bentley | baptised January 16th 1753 in Alton St Peters. |
| Edward Bentley | baptised January 31st 1765 in Alton St Peters. Died and was buried 25th August 1777 and buried in Alton St Peter's. |
| John Bentley | no birth date but died in 1772 and was buried September 20th 1772 in Alton St Peters. |
| Richard Bentley | no birth date but died in 1775 and was buried January 4th 1775 in Alton St Peters. |
Thomas Bentley
Thomas Bentley.
born 1743 in Hulme near Caverswall.
died 1822 in Hulme.
buried in Caverswall St Peter's.
married 1766 in St Peter's Alton.
Frances Proctor.
born 1739 in Caverswall, Staffordshire.
died 1808 in Hulme.
buried in Caverswall St Peter's.
Thomas was born in Alton. He married Frances at the age of 24 in St Peter's church in Alton and they had eight children.
Frances was the daughter of Edward Proctor and Grace Mellor. Grace was the daughter of Francis Mellor and Maria Brassington.
Marriage details
THOMAS FRANCES BENTLEY
ALTON ST PETERS PARISH REGISTERS-MARRIAGES
NUMBER 97 1766 MARCH 4TH
THOMAS BENTLEY OF THIS PARISH AND FRANCES PROCTOR OF CAVERSWALL PARISH - BY LICENCE
WITNESSES WILLIAM RATCLIFF AND EDWARD BOTHAM
Thomas and Frances's eight children.
CAVERSWALL ST PETERS PARISH REGISTERS-BAPTISMS
| 1766 November 9th | EDWARD son of THOMAS FRANCES BENTLEY |
| 1768 August14th | JOHN son of THOMAS FRANCES BENTLEY |
| 1770 August 19th | ELIZABETH daughter of THOMAS FRANCES BENTLEY |
| 1773 March 7th | THOMAS son of THOMAS FRANCES BENTLEY |
| 1776 February 25th | RICHARD son of THOMAS FRANCES BENTLEY |
| 1778 May 10th | WILLIAM son of THOMAS FRANCES BENTLEY |
| 1781 July 1st | FANNY daughter of THOMAS FRANCES BENTLEY |
| 1784 June 28th | JANE daughter of THOMAS FRANCES BENTLEY |
| Edward Bentley | born176 in Caverswall. |
| John Bentley | born 1769 in Caverswall. He married Mary Bolton born 1775, and was buried in Caverswall in 1847. |
| Elizabeth Bentley | born 1770 in Caverswall, and died in 1786 aged just sixteen. |
| Thomas Bentley | born 1773 in Caverswall.He married Ellen Flowers. |
| Richard Bentley | born 1776 in Caverswall. He married Lydia Bolton born 1796 in 1811. Richard died in 1856. |
| William Bentley | born 1778 in Caverswall. Married Ann ?? |
| Fanny Bentley | born 1781 in Caverswall. |
| Jane Bentley | born in 1784 in Caverswall. |
It has been suggested that Richard was the twin brother of James. Note : In the original register the entry for this date has been amended - James has been crossed out replaced by Richard. The original register can be seen on microfiche in Hanley Library.
CAVERSWALL CHURCHYARD ONE GRAVE
MEMORY OF JOHN BENTLEY OF HULME IN THIS PARISH WHO DIED MAY 4TH 1847, AGED 78 YEARS. (1769-1847)
IN MEMORY OF THOMAS BENTLEY OF HULME WHO DIED 13TH MARCH 1822, AGED 79 YEARS. (1743-1822)
DEAR CHILDREN DO NOT MOURN FOR ME, BUT SERVE YOUR GOD BOTH NIGHT DAY.YOUR TIME ON EARTH WILL SOON BE SPENT, BE SURE IN TIME FOR TO REPENT.
HERE LIETH THE BODY OF FRANCES, THE WIFE OF
THOS BENTLEY OF HULME WHO DIED 16TH AUG 1808 AGED 69 YEARS (1739-1808)
DEAR HUSBAND WEEP FOR ME NO MORE, NOR CHILDREN SHED A TEAR FOR I AM GONE BUT JUST BEFORE, UNTO MY SAVIOUR DEAR.
HERE LIETH THE BODY OF ELIZABETH, DAUGHTER OF
THOMAS FRANCES BENTLEY OF HULME,WHO DIED THE 20TH OF SEPT 1786, AGED 16 YEARS (1770-178)
LO HERE THE TILL TRUMPETS SOUND, CHRIST FOR ME DOTH CALL THEN I HOPE TO RISE AGAIN, DIE NO MORE AT ALL.
IN MEMORY OF ELIZABETH, THE DAUGHTER OF
RICHARD LYDIA BENTLEY, WHO DIED 30TH MAY 1822, AGED 5 YEARS (1817-1822).
ONCE LOVELY DEARLY BELOVD, THIS GRAVE DOTH AN INFANT INCLOSE WHOSE SPIRIT WE TRUST IS REMOVD, FROM PAIN TO ETERNAL REPOSE.
Richard Bentley
Richard Bentley.
born 1776 in Caverswall, Staffordshire.
died in Caverswall 15th May 1856.
buried in St James church Longton.
married January 22nd 1811 at St Peter's Stoke
Lydia Bolton.
born 1788/9.
died March 4th 1845
buried March 9th 1845 St James church Longton.
Richard was a farmer when he married Lydia the marriage was witnessed by Josiah Austin and Saml Haslehurst. Richard moved to Longton Staffordshire where he was at first a beer seller and then a publican, his headstone is in St James church in Longton, Staffs.
Richards Occupations
| Occupation 1811 (age 35) | farmer; Hulme, Staffordshire, England |
| Occupation 1813 (age 37) | Farmer's Son, Day Labourer; Longton, Staffordshire, England |
| Occupation 1819 (age 43) | Labourer; Longton, Staffordshire, England |
| Occupation 1822 (age 46) | Victualler; Longton, Staffordshire, England |
| Occupation 1841 (age 65) | Beer Seller; Longton, Staffordshire, England |
| Occupation 1845 (age 69) | Beer Seller; Longton, Staffordshire, England |
| Occupation 1846 (age 70) | Beer Retailer, Stafford Street; Longton, Staffordshire, England |
Richard and Lydia's children.
| Thomas Bentley | baptised September 7th 1811 St John the baptist Longton. He died 2 nd April 1879. |
| John Bentley | baptised at Caverswall St Peter's 12th March 1813. He married Jane Richardson. |
| Fanney Bentley | baptised at Caverswall St Peter's 14th May 1815. |
| Elizabeth Bentley | baptised at CaverswallSt Peter's 27th April 1817. Died 30th May 1822. |
| Richard Bentley | baptised at Caverswall St Peter's 14th March 1819. |
| William Bentley | baptised at St John the baptist Longton 8th March 1821. |
| Lydia Bentley | baptised at St John's the baptist Longton 10th November 1822. |
| George Bentley | baptised at St John the baptist Longton 27th March 1825. |
| Eliza Bentley | baptised at St John the baptist Longton 27th December 1828. |
| Bessie Bentley | baptised at St John the baptist Longton 28th July 1835. Married Thomas Adams in 1851 at St Mary's church in Bucknall. |
Bessie appears on the 1841 census records.
Census Records
1841 Census Records
| 1841Census records Dwelling: Flint Street Longton | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Age | Relation | Occupation | Birthplace | |
| Richard Bentley | 61 | Head | Beer seller | Caverswall | |
| Lydia Bentley | 45 | Wife | 0 | 0 | |
| William Bentley | 20 | Son | Plumber Glazier | 0 | |
| Lydia Bentley | 15 | Dau | 0 | 0 | |
| George Bentley | 15 | Son | Potter | 0 | |
| Elisa Bentley | 12 | Dau | 0 | 0 | |
| Bessy Bentley | 10 | Dau | 0 | 0 | |
According to this record Lydia is 16 years younger than Richard.
1851 Census Records.
| 1851 Census records Dwelling: 46 Stafford Street Longton. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Age | Relationship | Occupation | Birthplace |
| Richard Bentley | 71 | Widower | Retired Publican | Caverswall |
| Thomas Adams | 24 | Son in law | Potter | Longton |
| Bessy Adams | 19 | Daughter | 0 | Longton |
St Peter's Church Caverswall.
John Bentley
John Bentley.
born 1813
baptised 10th March 1813 at St Peters Caverswall
died June 1893. aged 80.
married 8th November 1837 at Stoke St Peters.
Jane Richardson.
born 1821.
Marriage (8th Nov 1837):
Witnesses to marriage of John and Jane: Thomas Lake and Mary Ann Richardson. Jane was listed as a minor in the Church registry. John signed the register, Jane made her mark.
John and Jane started off married life in Hulme where their first son Thomas was born, but by 1854 they had moved to Longton and at the time of the 1861 census records they were living in Albert street in Longton. They had seven known children. From the 1861 census records we know John's job at this time was a Banksman, Coal Miner. We also know that his daughter Elizabeth had moved back home after her husbands early death. But by the time of the 1881 census John and Jane were living in number 5 George Street, which I think was very near Albert Street as it is next on the census. He is now aged 68 and a retired labourer.
Banksman:-
Person in charge of loading or unloading the cage at the surface. He draws the full tubs from the cages at the surface and replaces them with empty ones; he also puts the full tubs to the weighing machine and onto the screens upon which he teems the coals. It is also his duty to keep an account of the quantity of coals and stones drawn each day.
Screens:-
Where coal was separated from stone etc. and cleaned.
John's occupations.
| Occupation 1837 (age 24) | Bookkeeper; Lane End, Staffordshire, England. |
| Occupation 1841 (age 28) | Beer seller; Caverswall, Staffordshire, England. |
| Occupation 1851 (age 38) | Publican (Bartender); Longton, Staffordshire, England. |
| Occupation 1861 (age 48) | Banksman Coal Miner; Longton, Staffordshire, England. |
| Occupation 1871 (age 58) | unemployed; Longton, Staffordshire, England. |
| Retirement 1881 (age 68) | Longton, Staffordshire, England. |
| Occupation 1891 (age 78) | Dry Goods Clerk - retired; Longton, Staffordshire, England. |
John and Jane's ten children.
| Elizabeth Bentley | born 1838 and married Samuel Dale in 1858 in Stoke St Peter's. Died 1915. |
| Thomas Bentley | born 1840 in Hulme. Died 1902. |
| Charles Bentley | born 1841 in Hulme. Died 1916. |
| Caroline Bentley | born 1843. Died 1916. |
| Clara Bentley | born 1845. |
| Lewis Bentley | born 1847 in Hulme. |
| Bertha Bentley | born abt 1850. |
| Fredrick Bentley | born 1854 in Longton. Died 1910. |
| Arthur Bentley | born 1856 in Longton. Died 1905. Married Grace Wardle. |
| Herbert Bentley | born 1858 in Longton. |
Details of Census records.
| 1861 census records Dwelling: Albert Street, Longton. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Age | Relationship | Status | Occupation | Birthplace |
| John Bentley | 48 | Head | Married | Banksman Coal Miner | Caverswall |
| Jane Bentley | 40 | Wife | Married | 0 | Stoke On Trent |
| Thomas Bentley | 20 | Son | Unm | Coal Miner | Hulme |
| Charles Bentley | 19 | Son | Unm | Stoker Engine | Hulme |
| Louis Bentley | 13 | Son | 0 | Scholar | Hulme |
| Fredrick Bentley | 7 | Son | Scholar | 0 | Longton |
| Arthur Bentley | 5 | Son | 0 | Scholar | Longton |
| Herbert Bentley | 3 | Son | 0 | 0 | Longton |
| Elizabeth Dale | 22 | Daughter | Widow | 0 | Longton |
| Henry Dale | 3 | Gr - son | 0 | 0 | Longton |
| 1881 Census records, Dwelling : 5 George Street, Stoke on Trent. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Age | Relationship | Status | Occupation | Birthplace |
| John Bentley | 68 | Head | Married | Retired Labourer | Hulme |
| Jane Bentley | 60 | Wife | 0 | 0 | Longton |
| Fredrick Bentley | 27 | Son | Unm | Coal Miner | Longton |
| Herbert Bentley | 22 | Son | Unm | Potter Ovenman | Longton |
Elizabeth Bentley
Elizabeth Bentley.
born 1839.
married 1858 at Stoke St Peters.
Samuel Dale.
died 1859.
Elizabeth Bentley was born in 1839 and married Samuel Dale in 1858 aged around 19 years, in the same year that the marriage took place Elizabeth gave birth to her only son Henry. The following year 1859 saw the premature death of her husband Samuel. It seems that soon after her husbands death Elizabeth has moved back with her father, If she ever moved away.
Elizabeth and Samuels child
Henry Dale born 1858 in Longton and married Mary Horne in Tunstall Christ Church in 1882.
Elizabeth's second child
Rosanna Dale born 1869 out of wedlock. Her father may have possibly been Joseph Fletcher the farmer who her mother worked as a domestic housekeeper for at Houghwood Bottom and appears on the census forms from 1871 untill his death in 1893, where he leaves a substantial amount to Rosanna and her mother Elizabeth.
Details of Census records
| 1861 census records Dwelling: Albert Street, Longton. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Age | Relationship | Status | Occupation | Place of birth |
| John Bentley | 48 | Head | Married | Banksman Coal Miner | Caverswall |
| Jane Bentley | 40 | Wife | Married | 0 | Stoke On Trent |
| Thomas Bentley | 20 | Son | Unm | Coal Miner | Hulme |
| Charles Bentley | 19 | Son | Unm | Stoker Engine | Hulme |
| Louis Bentley | 13 | Son | 0 | Scholar | Hulme |
| Fredrick Bentley | 7 | Son | 0 | Scholar | Longton |
| Arthur Bentley | 5 | Son | 0 | Scholar | Longton |
| Herbert Bentley | 3 | Son | 0 | 0 | Longton |
| Elizabeth Dale | 22 | Daughter | Widow | 0 | Longton |
| Henry Dale | 3 | Gr - son | 0 | 0 | Longton |
1871 Census record
1871 census sees Elizabeth working on Joseph Fletchers farm as a Housekeeper. Rosannah is not mentioned. Joseph is unmarried and a farmer. Elizabeth is a widow.
1881 Census record
| 1881 Census record Dwelling: Houghwood Bottom | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Age | Status | Occupation | Place of Birth |
| Joseph Fletcher | 52 | U | Farmer 7 1/2 Acres | Leek |
| Elizabeth Dale | 42 | W | Serv housekeeper (Dom) | Leek |
| Rosannah Dale | 12 | Daur | Scholar | Leek |
1891 Census record
1891 Census still sees Elizabeth on the farm with Rosannah and Joseph Fletcher.
She is still unmarried and working as a Domestic Housekeeper.
Notes :- Was Joseph the father of Roseanna ?
Josephs Will
Joseph dies in 1893 and he leaves a will which he wrote on 29th September 1888 and in this will is the following :-
Joseph has two farms Houghwood Bottom Farm and Houghwood Meadow Farm. Houghwood Bottom is twenty two and a half acres and Houghwood Meadow is seven and a half acres.
He appoints his two nephews by his half brother as executors and trustees these being John and Addin Fletcher.
He leaves the bigger farm Houghwood Bottom to his nephews and declares that ten pounds a year should be paid to his housekeeper Elizabeth Dale from this farm, this is to be paid in two equal payments twice per year.
He leaves the smaller farm Houghwood Meadow to Rosanna Dale or if she dies then to her brother Henry Dale. From this farm he also declares that fifteen pounds a year should be paid twice yearly to Elizabeth Dale.
He also declares that if Elizabeth Dale shall so desire she shall be entitled to use and possess all my household goods and furniture. The wording of certain parts of this will suggest that Rosanna was Josephs daughter.
1901 Census record
1901 Census record sees Elizabeth and Rosanna in Fenton Stoke on Trent. Elizabeth is aged 62 and Rosanna is 32. Rosanna is working as an earthenware manufactures clerk / bookeeper. Elizabeths place of birth is given as Heaton. They appear on the census using the name Dole which is probably a transcribing error.
1911 Census record
1911 Census record sees Elizabeth and Roseannah at No 7 Whieldon Road in Fenton, Stoke on Trent. Rosanna is still unmarried and working as an earthenware manufactures clerk / bookeeper.
Note :-
An interesting point was made by my mother when I told her I was researching Rosanna, she could remember that there was a small tapestry sampler done in a type of cross stitch that was in the house when she was a child. It was by Rosanna Dale aged 8 and contained a short poem The loss of much is more, the loss of more is much, but the loss of Jesus no man can restore. It also contained the alphabet in capital and small letters.