Birth recorded in DAR 297302 as son of Greene and Diana/Dinah Strait Bentley. In the 1850 Census of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, he states he was born in Massachusetts.

Marriages: (1) Mary Keeney; (2) Jane Otterson.

From his son Elisha Tucker Bentley:

"My father, Benjamin Bentley, in company with Elizah Zephry built and operated the first sawmill in Chemung County. It was on Bentley Creek; in the winter he worked in the Coopering business but did not work at that after he moved to Tioga.

About 1800 my father piloted the first ark load of wheat that was run from Elmira to Northumberland on the Susquehanna. At that time and for some years after this was their only market and they brought their goods up the river in small boats, pushed them up by hand six men to a boat.

My father Benjamin Bentley by both marriages had fifteen children, five died young, ten grew to manhood and womanhood, and only I am left."

The First Baptist Church of Tioga, incorporated, March 17, 1842, is the oldest regularly organized church in the county. Its history dates to a meeting held April 24, 1813, at the residence of Benjamin Bentley, near Mitchell's Creek, when a conference was constituted embracing the following persons: David Short, Richard Mitchell, Nathan Seely, Titus Ives, Charles Blanchard, Benjamin Bentley, Simeon Power, Timothy Ives, Mary Bentley, Ruth Ingersole, Abigail Mitchell, Sally Short and Ruby Mitchell. A covenant and articles of faith and practice were adopted February 26, 1814, and on June 18, 1814, the place of meeting was changed from the house of Benjamin Bentley to the house of Richard Mitchell, at Mitchell's Creek, and continued there until December, 1816. The church was formally organized June 20, 1816. [See Wellsburg Church Records - Feb. 3, 1816 http://www.roots web.com/~srgp/church/welsb100.htm] The following named persons constituted the original members: David Short, James Mitchell, F. Keeney, Elisha Tucker, John Maine, Samuel Warriner, Charles Blanchard, Ruby Mitchell, Anna Keeney, Hannah Welch, Nancy Maine, Catharine Matteson, Sally Short and Abigail Mitchell. From 1816 to 1844, the place of meeting was the school house on the Bentley farm, near Mitchell's Creek. In the latter year the present house of worship in Tioga borough was erected and dedicated. The lot on which it stands was the gift of Elijah DePui, who also gave $250 in money. Labor and material to the amount of about $3,000 were contributed by the other members. The building was erected by S. M. Broakman. The following persons have served the church as deacons: Charles Blanchard, Thomas Keeney, Asaph Ellis, Isaac Adams, John Drew, A. C. Keeney, E. T. Bentley (Elisha Tucker Bentley), S. S. McKinney and G. W. Dibble. The names of the pastors, in the order of their succession, are as follows: Revs. David Short, Elisha Tucker, Samuel Bigelow, Elisha Booth, Daniel Platt, T. S. Sheardown, W. A. Smith, James R. Burdick, Jeremiah Weatherby, Tobias Pinkham, G. L. Stevens, B. R. Swick, Jacob Kennedy, A. M. Brown, Levi Stone, J. L. Smith, G. P. Watrous, D. R. McDearmon d, 1865-67; A. B. Chase, 1868-71; H. F. Hill, 1872; Ross Matthews, 1873; S. D. Merrick, 1875-85; S. Z. Batten, 1886-87; Allen Peckham, 1888; Fisher Wilson, 1889-91; S. A. Field, 1892-93; S. G. Brundage, 1895, and C. H. Crowl, 1896.

TIOGA TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH.

By Henry H. Goodrich.

Sketches of the Pioneers (continued)

"THE BENTLEY FAMILY.--Major Benjamin Bentley came from Chemung, N.Y., in April 1806, and settled on the Crozier tract north of Cobin Van Camp. His ancestors were of Scotch origin, and are traced back to the troublous times that dethroned James the Second of England. His grandfather came to America about the year 1750, bringing with him a family of twelve sons, who are supposed to have been the progenitors of all the Bentley family in the country. One of their sons, James, served in the old French war; and he and a younger brother, Green, served together in the war of the Revolution. The gun carried by Green is now a relic in the possession of his great-grandson, Melville Bentley Prutsman, of Tioga. Benjamin Bentley was the son of Green Bentley, and was born in Litchfield, Conn., September 24th 1772. In 1790 Mr. Bentley joined a company of surveyors employed by the Holland Land Company, and went with them as far as the Genesee Country. There he was engaged a part of one year on the farm of the elder General Wadsworth, and, returning to Chemung, on the Tioga River, he married Mary Keeney February 11th 1791. He purchased a farm at Wellsburg, near the mouth of Bentley Creek, so called from the settlement of himself and his father at that point. Here his father, Green, and his only brother, Green Jr., joined him, the latter removing subsequently to Millport, N.Y. Benjamin subsequently removed to Muncy, Lycoming County; and after a residence of three or four years at that place, failing to obtain a good title to his land, he removed to Chemung, and finally to Tioga, settling near his brother-in-law, Richard Mitchell, He bought an interest in three "claims"--one of Rufus Adams, one of Asa Stiles, and one of Cobin Van Camp or of one of his sons--comprising in all 460 acres, the title in fee to which was finally secured, 106 acres from mark Wilcox (included in the S.M. Fox warrant), and the rest from General Cadwallader, in the Crozier tract.

Major Bentley always took an active part in church affairs. He united with the Baptists at Chemung, Elder Goff pastor, and brought a letter, as did his wife Mary, from the church thereto to those of the same faith at Tioga, where a complete church organization was formed in 1816. Before this event, however, his wife Mary died, September 14th 1815, and was buried in the old Bentley graveyard [Evergreen Cemetery, Tioga, Tioga County, Pennsylvania]. April 19th 1816 he married Jane Otterson, an aunt of Franklin J. Otterson, long connected with the New York Tribune as associate editor. A granddaughter of Major Bentley says of him:
"He was a man of sterling integrity, indefatigable perseverance, and a pure, conscientious Christian. In creed he was a Baptist, as were his ancestors as far back as there is any record. He was a lover of justice and honor, and fond of improvement and progress. In 1810 he was commissioned by Governor Snyder a major to serve in a regiment command ed by Colonel Ambrose Millard, and received notice during the war of 1812 to hold himself in readiness for marching orders; but the war closed without requiring his services. H e was generous, social, kept open house and hospitable fare, and was a great favorite in his neighborhood, and among his acquaintances, who were extended from Chemung Point to t he Genesee on the north and to Williamsport on the south.

"Seven years previous to his death he became entirely blind, and during this period, his mind being left a great deal for occupation to a review of his past life, he would recall incidents of his boyhood, when his mother and her children were obliged to leave home and secrete themselves in the woods at night, for fear of the Indians and Tories; of the time when he carried the surveyor's chain, and camped at night where is now the city of Elmira; of the hardships of a pioneer life, converting the forests into fields of waving grain, and pounding his grain in the hollow of a stump. And when his last hours came they were the fitting close of a well spent life--the beautiful sunset of an active day, when, through the spirit of faith, he assured his weeping friends that he saw again, and that the room was filled with a glorious light."

Benjamin Bentley died September 7th 1854; Jane Bentley, his second wife, died January 26th 1865; and these two, together with the first wife, are now buried in Evergreen Cemetery [Tioga, Tioga County, Pennsylvania]. He had fifteen children, viz.:

1. William,
2. Thomas,
3. Daniel,
4. Bathsheba,
5. Bethuel,
6. Jesse,
7. Green,
8. Marianne,
9. Mercy,
10. Benjamin Jr.,
11. Benoni,
12. James,
13. Ephraim,
14. Elisha Tucker, and
15. one son born previous to Green and dying early, as did also the first three.

Of this family there are but three living. Green, residing at Stevens Point, Wis., was born January 28th 1807, and moved west in 1849; Marianne, the wife of Andrew M. Prutsman, born March 6th 1809, on the 25th of November 1880 celebrated the 50th anniversary of her marriage. She had six children, among them Christopher, Martha (Mrs. Brown), Harland, Mary and Melville. Christopher and Harland were both Lieu tenants in the war of the Rebellion. Christopher served in all four years; was in fourteen battles; was captured and held a prisoner sixteen months, seven in Libby Prison, four at Macon, Georgia, two at Charleston and on Morris Island exposed to Union guns, afterward at Columbia and Fayetteville, where he and six others made their escape by cutting through the bottom of a car with a serrated case knife, and finally joined Sherman's army. He is now a pensioner, living in the State of Nebraska. Harland, after a service of a little less than a year, was discharged for disease contracted, and died at home June 21st 1863, aged 25 years."

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This is a transcription of the Deed Benjamin Bentley to Robert Mitchell of Tioga Township, Tioga County, PA

"Deed – Benjamin Bentley to Richard Mitchell [Jr.]

Dated January 30 1849 – Deed Book 19, pp 696-697

This Indenture made this thirtieth day of January in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty nine Between Benjamin Bentley of Tioga Township Tioga County State of Pennsylvania and Jane Bentley his wife of the first part and Richard Mitchell of the same place of the second part Witnesseth that the said parties of the first part for and in consideration of the sum of twelve hundred and twenty five dollars lawful money of the United States to them in hand paid by the party of the second part at or before the ensealing and delivery of these presents the receipt whereof they do hereby acknowledge and thereof acquit and forever discharge the said party of the second part his heirs executors and administrators by these presents have granted bargained sold aliened enfeoffed released and confirmed and by these presents do grant bargain sell alien enfeoffrel ease convey and confirm unto the said party of the second part and to his heirs and assigns for ever all that certain or those lots pieces or parcels of land situate lying and being in the Township of Tioga in the County of Tioga and State of Pennsylvania and bounded as follows namely Beginning at a post on the East line of John S Allen lot Thence South fourteen degrees West Ninety four perches to a post Thence South twenty six degrees East Eight perches to a post Thence South thirty seven degrees East Sixty four perches to a post Thence East thirty two perches to a post Thence North fourteen degrees West one hundred and seventy eight perches to a Buttonwood Thence West fourteen degrees South Sixty three and one half perches to the place of Beginning About fifty six acres more or less. Also a certain lot bounded as follows to wit beginning at a post on the West line of the Baldwin lot Thence South fourteen degrees East Ninety and ½ one half perches to a yellow pine Thence East twenty five perches to a Hemlock Thence North four degrees East Sixty perches to a dead Hemlock Thence West fifty eight degrees West fifty nine perches to the place of beginning containing about twenty acres more or less Together with all and singular the ways woods waters watercourses mines minerals quarries rights liberties privileges heredidaments and appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining and the reversions and remainders rents issues and profits thereof and also all the estate right title interest property claim and demand whatsoever of the said part of the first part in law or equity of in to and out of the same and every part and parcel thereof To Have and to Hold the said Hereby granted premises with the appurtenances unto the said party of the second part his heirs and assigns to the only purpose use benefit and behoof of the said party of the second part his heirs and assigns forever and the said parties of the first part do for their heirs executors to and with the said party of the second part his heirs executors administrators and assigns that the above described premises with the appurtenances unto the said party of the second part his heirs and assigns they will warrant and forever defend against all and every person or persons lawfully claiming or to claim the same or in any part thereof In witness whereof the said parties of the first part have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written Benjamin Bentley (Seal) Jane Bentley (Seal) Benoni Bentley Signed Sealed and delivered in presence of the above Written instrument was signed sealed and delivered by the above named Benjamin Bentley and he being blind the same was carefully read over to him in the presence of the Signer S M Broakman Tioga County SS personally came before me the subscriber one of the justices of the peace in and for said County Benjamin Bentley and Jane Bentley his wife grantors above named and in due form of law acknowledged that they Executed the foregoing Indenture for the purposes therein mentioned and desired that the same might be recorded as such and the said Jane Bentley being of full age and separate and apart from her said husband by me therein privately Examined and the full content of the forgoing Deed by me first made known unto her did the reupon declare and say that she did voluntarily and of her own free will and accord sign seal and as her own act and deed deliver the above written Indenture Deed or Conveyance without any coercion or compulsion of her said husband Witness my Hand and seal this thirtieth day of January AD 18 49 S M Broakman SS
Recorded April 9th 1849
Jno Bache Recorder"
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Evergreen Cemetery, Tioga Township, Tioga Co., PA
From Tioga County Cemetery Inscriptions
*Bentley Benjamine d. 1854, aged: 82 (born 1772)
*Bentley Jane d. 1866, aged: 84; wife of Benjamine (born 1782)
*Bentley Mary d. 1815, aged: 24 [should be 44]; wife of Benjamin (born 1771)