William Bentley
M, #12721, b. 11 February 1797, d. 12 January 1870
| Note* | | William lived in Tyringham, Lee and nearby towns. Late in life he married a second time. William, later Dr. Bentley, at the age of 18 was 'bound out' to a Mr. Wells of Washington, Maine. In the spring of 1810 moved with Mr. Wells to the 'Holland Purchase' in present Genesee County walking the 300 miles and driving a cow. In 1813 returned to Tyringham. after marriage he began housekeeping in Coleshire [Monterey]. Pleades died of typhoid fever. (continued letter of Edward S. Bentley)- As might be expected, with a total of thirteen children, the tenth child, William, had poor pickings. At the age of 13 he was 'bound out' to a man named Wells of Washington, Maine. This meant that he did everything and was paid nothing except for his keep. In 1810, soon after William joined the Wells family they all moved to the 'Holland Purchase'in Genesee County, New York. William made the 300 mile journey on foot driving a cow, following the covered wagon trough almost uninhabited country, and sometimes losing contact with the rest of the party for days at a time. The long journey injured the muscles or his feet and ankles, and in 1813 he returned to Tyringham. On February 15, 1821 at Chester Massachusetts he married Pleades Williams, a daughter of John Williams nd Releaf Abbot. They began housekeeping in Coleshire (Monterey) and later lived in New Marleborough and Lee, Massachusetts, and then in Harwinton, Connecticut. Pleades died of typhoid fever on October 12, 1851 and was buried in the cemetery there. William returned to Tyringham and died there on January 12, 1870. |
| Birth* | 11 February 1797 | William Bentley was born on 11 February 1797. |
| Marriage* | 15 February 1821 | He married Pleades Williams, daughter of John Williams and Releaf Abbott, on 15 February 1821 at Chester, Massachussets. |
| Death* | 12 January 1870 | William Bentley died on 12 January 1870 at Tyringham, Massachussets, at age 72. |