Caleb Bentley

     Caleb Bentley was born 20 May 1742.¹ He was the son of George Bentley and Ruth Barber.¹ He married Mary Gardner 18 April 1779.¹ He married Mary Hewitt, daughter of Joseph Hewitt and Sarah Babcock, 27 November 1782 at Little Hoosick, Rensselaer County, New York.^2,3,1 He died 5 March 1827 at Berlin, Rensselaer County, New York, at age 84.^1,4,3
     

Although Caleb died in 1827 before becoming eligible for a Revolutionary War pension, his wife survived him and obtained a widow's pension in 1838. From her application and the supporting documents in the file we learn:

Caleb moved from Connecticut to Little Hoosick, New York in 1775. While there he was appointed 20 Feb 1776 as Captain of the Fifth Company in Colonel Stephen J. Schuyler's Sixth Regiment of Albany Co., New York Militia. Caleb was on active service at various times, wounded in the leg at the Battle of Bennington and witnessed the surrender of General Burgoyne at Saratoga. Total service was six months.

He may have even more involvement, but the widow only needed to provide evidence of six months service. From the documents in the file she was hard pressed to do that, at age 78 having to rely on friends and fellow soldiers she could find.³

Caleb Bentley left a will dated in April 1826 In the name of God, Amen. I Caleb Bentley of the Town of Berlin, County of Rensselaer and State of New York. Considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of sound and perfect mind and memory, blessed be the Almighty God for the same, Do make and publish this my last will & Testament in manner and form following that is to say

To my beloved wife Mary Bentley I give and bequeath one third of all my real estate which after her demise I order to be equitably divided between my three sons or their heirs or assigns to wit: Alexander B. Bentley, Rhodolphus Bentley and Melancton Bentley and holden by them, their heirs or assigns forever.

I do also give and bequeath to my beloved wife her heirs or assigns one third of all my household furniture and in addition there unto I do give and bequeath unto her the said Mary my brass clock & the case thereof, and also all the rents, profits and issues of the lot of land which I leased unto Joshua G. Crandall lying in the town of Berlin aforesaid which rents, profits and issues after the demise of her the said Mary I etc. give unto my three sons Alexander B. Bentley, Rhudolphus Bentley, & Melancton Bentley their heirs or assigns as aforesaid

I do also give unto my eldest son Uriah Bentley his heirs or assigns Ten dollars and in addition thereunto my large Folio copy of Josephus History of the Jewish Wars.

I do also give unto my second son William Bentley his heirs or assigns Fifty Dollars.

I do also give unto my Fourth son Darius Bentley his heirs or assigns ten dollars.

I do also give unto my fifth son Cyrus I Bentley ten dollars.

I do also give unto my daughter Sally Smith wife of Nathaniel Smith her heirs or assigns the sum of two hundred dollars.

I do also give & bequeath unto my Daughter Betsey Harvey her heirs or assigns two hundred and fifty dollars.

I do also give and bequeath to my sixth son Alexander B. Bentley his heirs or assigns forever, all that piece or parcel of land situate in the town of Berlin aforesaid bounded as follows to wit. On the north by lands owned by the heirs of Joseph Tripp on the east by lands owned by John Reeve on the south by road running by the mill into Gray’s hollow & on the west by lands owned by Joseph Crandall and John Reeve together with all the hereditainments and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining.

I do further give and bequeath unto the Said Alexander B. Bentley my grist mill situate in the town of Berlin aforesaid together with the privileges and immunities thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining to be holden by him the said Alexander B. Bentley his heirs and assigns forever.

I do also give unto my Grandson Charles Bentley son of my third Son Caleb Bentley deceased the sum of Five hundred dollars to be paid to him on his becoming twenty one years of age.

I do also give and bequeath to my two granddaughters Mary Bentley and Deborah Bentley daughters of my third Son Caleb Bentley Jr. deceased aforesaid a good cow each on their becoming eighteen years of age.

I do further give & bequeath unto my three younger sons Alexander B. Bentley, aforesaid, Rhodolphus Bentley & Melancton Bentley their heirs or assigns forever all my home farm together with the Babcock lot the lands I purchased of Michael Buck and another lot of land adjoining the farm situate on the mountain and the Saw Mill I now own situate in the town of Berlin aforesaid, and all my other property whether real, personal or mixed not herein otherwise disposed of to be equally and equitably divided between the said Alexander B. Bentley, Rhodolphus Bentley and Melancton Bentley and holden by them and their heirs or assigns forever.

I do hereby order that the said Alexander B. Bentley, Rhodolphus Bentley and Melancton Bentley , in consideration of the aforesaid Legacies do pay and discharge all my hones and lawful debts and all the legacies the time of whose payment is not otherwise specified within the term of two years after my decease.

I do constitute and appoint my beloved wife Mary Bentley and my sons Alexander B. Bentley and Rhodolphus Bentley my Executrix & Executors of this my last will & testament.

I do hereby revoke all former wills by me made.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this ____ day of April in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty six.

Signed published and declared by the above named testator to be his last will and testament in presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witness in presence of the testator and each other.

Jeffery W. Thomas, Daniel Babcock, Lewis J. Wilcox

Caleb (his mark) Bentley.⁴