Caleb Bentley

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ChartsAncestors of Jennie Luene Logan
John Alden to Jennie Luene (Logan) Billings
George Soule to Jennie Luene (Logan) Billings
Captain Caleb Bentley to Jennie Luene Logan
Diana, Princess of Wales, and Jennie Luene (Logan) Billings
King Ethelred II to Jennie Luene Logan
George Washington - Jennie Luene (Logan) Billings
John Adams & John Quncy Adams - Jennie Luene (Logan) Billings
James Madison - Jennie Luene (Logan) Billings
Warren Gamaliel Harding - Jennie Luene (Logan) Billings
Franklin Delano Roosevelt - Jennie Luene (Logan) Billings
Barack Obama - Jennie Luene (Logan) Billings
Caleb Bentley, son of George Bentley and Ruth Barber, was born 20 May 1742.1 He died at Berlin, Rensselaer Co., New York, 5 March 1827,1,2,3 and was buried in the Center Berlin Cemetery, Berlin, Rensselaer Co., New York.4,5,6

Caleb married (1) Mary Minerva Gardner, daughter of Benjamin Gardner and Elizabeth Olin, 18 April 1779;1,7 he married (2) Mary Babcock Hewitt, daughter of Joseph Hewitt and Sarah Babcock, at Little Hoosick, Rensselaer Co., New York, 27 November 1782.8,3,1,9

In 1790, his household was probably the one enumerated at Stephentown, Albany Co., New York, with 2 free white males over 16, 4 under 16, and 2 free white females.10

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 left a will dated 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.2

Family 1

Mary Minerva Gardner d. 27 Dec 1780
Children
  • Uriah Bentley3 b. 21 Jun 1779
  • William Bentley3 b. abt. 1780, d. Jul 1781

Family 2

Mary Babcock Hewitt b. abt. 1759, d. 18 Nov 1840
Children
  • William Bentley1 b. 24 Feb 1784, d. bef. 1826
  • Caleb Bentley+2 b. 6 Jan 1786, d. 2 Dec 1822
  • Darius Bentley2 b. 12 Mar 1788
  • Cyrus I Bentley2 b. 15 Aug 1790
  • Alexander Barber Bentley2 b. 21 Jun 1793
  • Sally (Mary) Bentley2 b. 22 Sep 1795
  • Rhodolphus Bentley2 b. 6 Nov 1797
  • Elizabeth (Betsey) Bentley2 b. 9 Oct 1801
  • Melancton Bentley2 b. 10 Dec 1803, d. 7 Sep 1865
This person was last edited on16 Dec 2022

Citations

  1. [S642] Mrs. Clarence L. [Nellie B.] Knapp, Compiler, Unpublished Bible and Family Records Together With Genealogical Notes and Other Authentic Data Collected by Chapters of New York State Conference of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (New York: n.p., various, 22:1-2, Bentley Family Bible), Microform copy: FHL Film/Fiche #862769, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.
  2. [S629] Rensselaer Co., New York, Probate records, 1791-1921; index to probate records, 1794-1916, 9:16-18, FHL microfilm 549912, further cited as Rensselaer Co., NY Probate.
  3. [S630] "Revolutionary War Pensions," database and digital images, Fold3 (https://www.fold3.com), Capt Caleb Bentley, File #W.16184; original data: Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, National Archives microfilm publication M0804, 2670 rolls, roll #223.
  4. [S1567] Peace Party Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, "Center Berlin, Rens. Co., N.Y. Cemetery: "Berlin Baptist": With Newspaper Obituary Notices", Pittsfield, Massachusetts: 1950, microform copy: FHL Film/Fiche #860322, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah, 18, further cited as "Berlin Center Cemetery."
  5. [S1568] Don Radz and Clare Radz, "Cemetery Records, Berlin, Rensselaer County, New York, USA": c1997, microform copy: FHL Film/Fiche #2025955, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah, 10, further cited as Radz and Radz, "Berlin Cemetery Records."
  6. [S1546] Superkentman, Find A Grave memorial #22420134, added 24 Oct 2007, online http://www.findagrave.com, accessed Jan 2020, further cited as Find A Grave.
  7. [S2300] Frank J. Doherty, The Settlers of the Beekman Patent, Dutchess County, New York: An Historical and Genealogical Study of All the 18th Century Settlers in the Patent (12 vols., Pleasant Valley, New York: F. J. Doherty, 1990–2013), 7:948, further cited as Doherty, Settlers of the Beekman Patent.
  8. [S641] Stephen Babcock, Babcock Genealogy (New York: Eaton & Mains, 1903), 54, further cited as Babcock, Babcock Genealogy.
  9. [S2280] Esther Littleford Woodworth-Barnes and Jane Fletcher Fiske, editor, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Descendants of the Pilgrims Who Landed at Plymouth, Mass. December 1620 Volume 16, Part 6, The Descendants of John Alden Through His son, David, Generations 5 and 6 (Plymouth, Massachusetts: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 2020), 107, further cited as Woodworth-Barnes and Fiske, MF 16 pt 6.
  10. [S2161] Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790, 12 vols. (Washington D.C.: Department of Commerce and Labor, Bureau of the Census, 1907-1908), NY:48, further cited as Heads of Families, 1790.