The stories and history of

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Chapter 5:   GREENE M. BENTLEY, SR. (G5) (1741-prob. abt 1823); son of WILLIAM BENTLEY, JR  and Bathsheba Greene Bentley;  husband of  DINAH (DIANA) STRAIGHT (STRAIT) BENTLEY  (abt 1745-1803); father of Green Bentley, Jr.; grandfather of George C. Bentley, g grandfather of George E. Bentley, gg grandfather of Wilbur D. Bentley; ggg grandfather of Adelia Bentley Burger; ggg g grandfather of Corinne Burger Glover;  ggg gg grandfather of Robert H. Glover—REVOLUTIONARY WAR SOLDIER; FIRST BENTLEY TO MIGRATE TO NEW YORK STATE

BORN:  Mar 23, 1741
MARRIED:  abt. 1760
DIED:    prob. abt. Mar 4, 1823

Greene M. Bentley, Sr. was born Mar 23, 1741 (14). Criddle states that he was born in Westerly, Washington Co., RI  and “the record of his birth is recorded in the records of the Richmond township, even though it was not created until 18 August 1747.” (8)   The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) documentation for descendant Viola Tripp Weber (daughter of Mary Bentley, the daughter of George C.—G7) lists his birth in East Greenwich, RI, which is near Richmond.  Whatever, Greene was born in the Richmond, RI area.

Criddle, Cowan and others list no middle initial for Green Sr or Jr, but A.S. Bennett notes it as “M.” for both father and son. (19) Noted on the Tice site:  “Chemung Co patriots:  Town of Veteran:  Green M. Bentley.”(17)

Criddle (8) notes from S.B. Bennett (16): “A few details of Green Bentley’s physical appearance have been noted.  A cane in the possession of his grandson, Charles M. Bennett, indicated that he was a very tall man.  He was also said to have had red or light hair. “

xUpdated all sources
THE MYSTERIES OF THE DEATH AND BURIAL OF GREENE BENTLEY

The exact date of death and location of the death and burial for Greene, Sr. is not known for sure.  Claims have been made that he died in 1820, 1821,

Did Greene die in 1820?

Brinkerhoff  (13, 15) quotes E.T. Bentley, grandson of Greene:  “My grandfather died in Chemung County, New York, 1820.” Yet Stewart (11) notes that E.T. “wrote that Green Bentley d 1821 at Bentley’s Creek, Chemung Co., NY.”
This E.T. Bentley has been proven to have made a few errors in his memories.  Davidson (13)  in “The Family of Eldred Bentley” notes Greene died Mar 4, 1820 in Tioga Co, NY.  (but later includes info from Wisby stating he died in 1823).  

Criddle (7) gives first a preferred death date of Mar 4, 1820 in Elmira, Chemung Co, NY, but in 2007 stated (8): “that claim is incorrect, since it is known that he granted property to his daughter-in-law Olive Bentley after that date on March 13, 1822.”   Criddle documented that he had read microfilm of this deed of Tioga Co (v. 15, pp 498-499).  Greene is not listed in the 1820 Census as a head of household, however Green, Jr. is listed with a male over age 45 living with him in Town of Catherine, Tioga Co., NY and that likely was his father Greene, Sr.

Thus, it seems that the 1820 death date noted in many sources was in error.
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Did Greene die in 1821?  

A marker provided by the state and placed at the old Bentley Cemetery in the village of Millport, Town of Veteran on Route 14 north of the village reads:

            GREEN BENTLY

But this is a state marker, not his original tombstone.  So how did the state determine the year of death?  This marker must have been placed, per a saved newspaper clipping from the MacDougall family noted below, prior to 1909 (and most likely in 1899) so perhaps back then someone had evidence of when he died or perhaps had viewed his original tombstone?  The clipping notes that a noted historian of the area was the key speaker at the dedication of the marker.   But perhaps the 1821 date on the marker was based on false hearsay?  Perhaps from E.T. Bentley’s memory?  Or simply a state government mistake that was never fixed (which in fact happened to a Cobin relative with his Civil War plaque)?  Criddle (8) notes in regard to the March 13, 1822 deed: “On the same date Green Bentley acknowledged the deed before Francis Catlin, Commissioner.”   So it seems Green was alive in 1822, likely died in 1823, and the marker is incorrect.

Did Greene die in 1823?

A.S. Bennett noted (10, 19): “Green M. Jr, died about 1820---three years before his father.”  That would have Sr. die in about 1823.  The Tice site states he died abt 1823. An article by H.A. Wisby, Jr. (13) states “Greene Sr. died prior to Sept 6, 1823 when land from his estate was transferred by deed.”  Cowan adds:  “Greene Sr. spent his last years in the area of Catherine Town in Tioga County, New York. The town of Veteran was formed from Catherine on April 16, 1823, probably close to the date of Greene's death. All of the local histories make it clear that Greene Bentley Sr was one of - if not THE - veteran for whom the town was named.”

Titus (11, 25) states Greene died in 1823 in Millport, NY.  Criddle (7) lists the possible death date as 1823 in Montour Falls, NY. The DAR documentation for Viola Tripp Weber lists Green as died in 1823 in Havana, NY.  Allan Bentley (23) states that the DAR Records note that Greene died Mar 4, 1823 in Tioga Co., NY on a farm near Havana, NY. Green M. Bentley is listed in the index for the “Havana, NY History Book.”

Note:  Havana later became Montour Falls, which is where Greene’s daughter Hannah was buried with husband Ephraim Bennett, as well as several of their children.  Perhaps Greene Bentley, Sr. after the 1820 Census, when it appears he was living with Green, Jr.,  stayed with his daughter Hannah in Havana/Montour Falls, died at their farm, and then was buried on his old Bentley farm in Millport.  The 1820 Census shows Hannah and Ephraim as living in the Town of Catherine near the property of Green, Jr.  The Town of Veteran (made from Catherine), which includes the village of Millport, in now Chemung Co. borders Montour Falls. Tioga Co. once included much of the territory.  So the geographic picture is rather muddled.

SO WHEN AND WHERE DID GREENE DIE?

It seems most likely that he died sometime between March 13,1822 when he deeded land to his daughter-in-law Olive Hopper Bentley and September 6, 1823 when land from his estate was transferred by deed.  The Town of Veteran was named after Greene when formed on April 16, 1823.  It is most likely that this happened shortly after his death to honor his memory.  Thus the DAR Records listing March 4, 1823 as his death date is very possible.  

It is likely that in 1820 the 80 yr old Greene was living with Green, Jr and Olive Bentley since an age 45+ male is listed in the household of Green, Jr. for the Census.  Greene, it seems, disposed of all of his real property in the deed of 1822.   It is likely that in 1823 when he died that he was living either with his daughter-in-law, the widowed Olive, in the Town of Catherine (later Veteran), village of Millport; or near Havana/Montour Falls with his daughter Hannah Bentley Bennett.  Or it could be that he was living with Olive, but that farm was near Havana.  

Where was Greene buried?

A 1925 publication by the Daughters of the American Revolution, “Graves of Revolutionary Soldiers Buried in New York,” (7,8) lists Greene as buried near Millport, Veteran Twp, Chemung Co., NY.

According to the 1879 “History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins, and Schuyler Counties, New York ” in the chapter on the Town of Veteran, in regard to Green Bentley: (20)

“The men who first settled here have long since passed away, leaving few traces of their existence, and not often a stone to mark their final resting place; yet enough remains in the memory of a few of their descendants to establish the fact that they were men of great endurance and indomitable courage……. His remains now rest in a little burying ground on the old Bently farm, a short distance below Millport.”  (So his remains in 1879 were on the old farm “below” Millport.  But does this mean “south” of Millport or “down the hill.”  And was this accurate?)

Marlin Criddle (8, 16) refers to S.B. Bennett’s statement that Green was “buried in a private plot upon his land.  Recently the people of Millport have taken steps to remove the remains to their public cemetery and there to erect a suitable monument.” This from his book which was published in 1899, thus perhaps Greene’s body was removed to the public cemetery in Millport at about that time?  Or was this an incorrect statement?

The MacDougall clipping (17) noted:  “Saturday afternoon, Sept. 18 the citizens of Millport and vicinity will dedicate a tablet to the memory of Green Bently, the first settler in that locality, the ceremonies taking place at the little cemetery a little north of the village, where his remains rest. The cemetery in which his remains rest was a part of his original plot of land purchased in 1798.”

In “History of Central New York” by Harry R. Melone (1932), in the chapter on Chemung Co., it states:  “In a little burying ground on a farm a short distance from Millport, lie the remains of Green Bentley.”   Wisby (13) noted: “He was buried in the family cemetery north of Millport, site of a State Historical Marker.”    

SO WHERE IS GREENE BENTLEY?

It seems that Greene was buried on his old Bentley farm outside Millport.  But were his remains ever moved to the old Bentley Cemetery north of Millport nearly 80 years after his death, or rather is this old cemetery located where he was buried on his farm?

He may or may not have ever had a tombstone, whether he was moved or not, as many of the old tombstones were destroyed over time.  What Bennett referred to as “a suitable monument” apparently ended up being a simple, standard state marker placed along the road where it was convenient to the public. It is not likely at the exact spot where Greene’s remains are located, and most likely nobody knows exactly where Greene is now.  Why didn’t they give him a tombstone in addition to the marker?  Most likely Greene is somewhere under the ground on his old farm at the old Bentley Cemetery somewhere near where the state marker (with the wrong year of death) was placed.  But at this point only Greene knows where he is resting.

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WHERE IS THE BENTLEY CEMETERY?

Marlin Criddle wrote Bob Glover in March 2007: “When our family was traveling in New York in the summer of 1962, I happened to notice a grave marker for Green Bentley, on the west side of the road outside of Millport. I didn't take a picture, but I did transcribe the grave marker. It seems to me that I read somewhere that the highway had been widened, and the graves had to be moved. Do you know anything about this?”

INDEED!  Bob and Shelly Glover visited the Bentley Cemetery on Aug 31, 2007 and took photos……….

Joyce Tice notes along with her 1999 photo of the state marker for Greene, Sr. and what is left of the Bentley Cemetery :

http://www.rootsweb.com/~srgp/cemc/greene.htm

Veteran, Chemung County, New York
Greene / Bentley Cemetery/Green Bentley Cemetery

“This small cemetery is located on the West side of NYS Route 14 North just as you leave the village of Millport, Town of Veteran, Chemung Co., N.Y. (This is between Route 17 at Horseheads to the south  and Watkins Glen/Seneca Lake to the north.  It is on the left after you leave the few places of business in Millport and just before an ice cream stand)  When the new road was put through this area many years ago, approximately half of the stones in the cemetery were destroyed.” But did that include the stone of Greene Bentley?  When did this happen?  Apparently before 1930 as a DAR listing of tombstones on the Tice site had about the same 15 names (which DID NOT include Greene Bentley, Sr.) as the 2006 version and that is about what Bob Glover witnessed on Aug 31, 2007.

The new road destroyed about half of the cemetery but this is the list of what is there now, and those marked, that were destroyed. The part left is abandoned and grown to brush.

NOTE:  This is not the same as the Millport Cemetery where his son Green, Jr is buried.  Bentley Cemetery is to the west of Route 14 north outside of Millport, whereas Millport Cemetery is to the east of Route 14 and north of 6A which intersects with 14 in M

illport.   It is located on the brink of the escarpment on the east side of the village.   It appears that the Bentley Cemetery is inactive and the Millport Cemetery is still active and much bigger.

GPS coordinates for these cemeteries: http://www.rootsweb.com/~srgp/articles/gpsvetrn.htm

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DEDICATION OF THE MARKER FOR GREEN BENTLEY IN MILLPORT

Photo of the Green Bentley marker and clipping of announcement of the dedication

Tice (17)  http://www.rootsweb.com/~srgp/clippings/tcobt131.htm

THE STATE MARKER

Below the statement by Joyce Tice in regard to the clipping in announcing the dedication of the marker for Green Bentley at the old Bentley Cemetery.  The date of the newspaper article is not included, but it had to be prior to 1909 when the clippings were presented.  Most likely is was in Sept. 1899.

Tice:  “Following clippings are submitted by Walter R. Samson, Rock Creek, OH.  His mother was Helen MacDougall Samson.”

Samson: “In 1909 my Grandmother Berneice Reed MacDougall made a Christmas present for her mother Sophia Emmeline (Emma) Webster Reed.  It was a booklet with fancy edges cut from card stock containing envelopes, and found with a red ribbon.  In each envelope were newspaper clipping of interest to the family, mostly centered on activities in Chemung Co., NY.”

Saturday afternoon, Sept. 18 the citizens of Millport and vicinity will dedicate a tablet to the memory of Green Bently, the first settler in that locality, the ceremonies taking place at the little cemetery a little north of the village, where his remains rest.

An elaborate program has been arranged, which will begin at 2 p.m.  The first part will take place in the Masonic Lodge rooms of Old Oak Lodge, Charles Sleeper will introduce Abner C. Wright, local historian for the Town of Ashland and the Village of Wellsburg, who is well versed in history of this section of the country, and well informed in the facts concerning Green Bently and who will be the principal speaker at the lodge hall.  The meeting will be opened with prayer.  Selections by a local quartet will also be a part of the program.

Following the meeting in the lodge hall, a procession will be formed in which will be delegations from the Grand Army of the Republic, the Spanish War Veterans, the Veterans of the World War, all preceded by the fife and drum corps of Watkins Glen and Montour Falls.

The procession will move to the cemetery where the dedication ceremonies will take place, G. Archie Turner delivering the dedication address.  Following the address the Boy Scouts will take a solemn pledge to keep inviolate and undesecrated the little plot of ground on which the marker will stand.  This will be followed by a salute by the firing squad and “Taps” the service to be ended by benediction.  It is expected that many from outside the community will be in attendance.

Green Bently was born about 1741, was a soldier of the Revolution and from his known character as a patriot, when the town was organized it was given the name of Veteran in honor of him.

The cemetery in which his remains rest was a part of his original plot of land purchased in 1798.  About a year ago, the Boy Scouts held a field day and among the guests invited was the Elmira Heights troop.  During the day the scouts ascended the pinnacle near the pinnacle near the village, where, it is said the Masons in Sullivan’s army held communication.  In order to understand the history of the spot Err Locke was invited to and did explain the situation.  It was suggested at that time that the resting place of Green Bently be marked in some manner, but it was not until the past spring that the matter of a marker was finally decided upon.

The proposition was brought to the attention of the Chemung County Historical Society, and application was made to Dr. A. C. Flick, state historian, for the marker, which will be dedicated Saturday.  The Boy Scouts have taken a great deal of interest in the matter since a year ago, and it is under their auspices that the celebration will be held.

Millport has always been a patriotic community, contributing liberally to all causes for the benefit of the country.  In all wars they have contributed their full quota in the service of the State and Nation.

Under a committee of local citizens, the cemetery has been improved and presents a creditable appearance, the ground leveled and the stones straightened.  Many of the oldest citizens were buried there, previous to the purchase of the cemetery to the east of the village.

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GREENE OR GREEN??????????

Bently or Bentley, and was Bathsheba a Greene (or Green) and thus named her son by her maiden name?  

The Rhode Island Vital Records state he was born as “Greene Bentley.” (10, 14).  Cowan chose to go with “Greene” but Criddle with “Green.”  Bates went with “Greene, Sr.” and “Green, Jr.”    The Rhode Island Colonial Servicemen records for the French and Indian War notes “Greene” for the father, but the New York Militia Records list “Green” for the son.  On the Tice website, the various histories go with “Green” as the first settler of Veteran.  The minutes of the Baptist Church in Wellsburg use “Green” for father and son.  The state marker for the father and the tombstone for the son note “Green.”  

Since he apparently was born as “Greene” and died as “Green,” we will go with “Greene” for the father and “Green” for the son, who was born as “Green.”  

Of our branch of Bentleys, Greene (Green), Sr. and Green, Jr were only the first of that name.  Green, Jr.  had a son Green Bentley. Green, Jr’s son George C. Bentley had a son Green Bentley.   Green, Sr.’s son Benjamin had a son Green Bentley.  Two of Greene, Sr.’s sisters had sons with Green as first name and Bentley as the middle name:  Hannah (Green Bentley Bennett), and Sarah (Green Bentley Coryell).  And there were many more Green Bentleys among the descendants of Green Bentley, Sr.

to be updated

RELIGIOUS HISTORY OF GREENE BENTLEY

Criddle (8) refers to several sources of Greene’s religious affiliations.  He notes that “Elisha Tucker Bentley, grandson of Green Bentley, said that his grandfather was a Baptist and was driven out of Connecticut because he would not pay tithes to the Church of England. “(15).   

Stephen Beers Bennett wrote in his 1899 book that Greene Bentley:

“was, in religious matters, a follower of Roger Williams, and would neither support nor attend any but Baptist preaching.  This resulted in annoyance and vexatious litigation, and being arrested and subjected to fines, he concluded to try a residence among the Quakers, who also had hard lines in New England.  He had started westward with all his possessions when the sheriff overtook and proposed to detain him, but Bently, backed by his old flint-lock musket of Canada in 1757, safely convoyed his expedition across the State line.”

On September 2,1789 the settlers, including Greene, organized the Chemung Baptist Church at Wellsburg, NY (8)

It seems that the Wellsburg Church records didn’t catalog births, marriages and deaths, only, the deeds or misdeeds of the members.

Church records (17) show that Greene Sr and, especially Green Jr. and his wife Olive, had some difficulties with the church which in those days seemed to be the keepers of moral behavior.  For example, records of 1792 show that the Church disciplined members for “disguiised by drunkenness, refuse wed damsel in distress,”  for “raffling & drinking ,” and for “Vain Dancing & refusing to hear the church.”

The below records apparently refer to Greene, Sr:

Dec 3, 1791-- Apointed Brother Justice Bennitt To Labour with Ebinezer Green On account of his refusing to join In the Constitution of the Church 2ly appointed Elizabeth Townsand to labour with Green Bently for the same cause

Feb 4, 1792--- The Church met in fellowship & having had no answer from Brother Bently again apointed three Brothers Viz: William Buck & Thomas Keeny & Joh hillman To Labour with him.

Mar 3, 1792- Met pursuant  the brothers that was appointed To Visit Brother Green Bently Inform the Church They found him wishing to retract his wrong.

see Greene history in documents

THE MIGRATIONS OF GREENE BENTLEY, SR.

Elaine Cowan traced the migration of Greene Bentley at:

http://www.migrations.org/individual.php3?record=32504

Greene was born in Westerly/Richmond, Washington Co, RI. on March 23, 1741.  Criddle:  “On Sept 22, 1766, Green Bentley and his family were given a certificate from Richmond to North Kingstown.” (8, 11)   Cowan: “We can only assume that the family went from North Kingston, Rhode Island to Kent, Litchfield Co., CT sometime between 1766 and 1770.”  It is believed that his first children were born in Rhode Island before the move to Connecticut, where Benjamin was born in 1771 and Rhoda in 1774.

Then, Greene was the first Bentley to migrate to New York State:

 “In 1775 Green Bentley and several other families immigrated to Warwick, Orange Co., NY, “with a view of settling in the Wyoming Valley of Pennsylvania, but fearing difficulty with the Indians, they remained at Warwick, where he joined the Revolutionary army.”  (20)  Greene apparently served in the army from abt 1775 to abt 1783.  He apparently made at least some trips home as Green, Jr. was born in 1778 in Warwick, NY

The newspaper article about the dedication of the Bentley/Millport Cemetery marker for Greene Bentley traces his movements starting in abt 1784:  (17)

“At the close of the Revolution, he with several other families (NOTE: which included the Ephraim and Thaddeus Bennett family---later two Bennett brothers, apparently sons of this Ephraim,  married two daughters of Greene, Sr.), who had started from Rhode Island with him, removed from Orange County to the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania

(NOTE:  property and tax records show he lived in Northumberland Co., PA from 1783-1787 and he  owned two horses and one cow (8))

where he remained for three years, when the quarrel arose between the New England settlers and the followers of William Penn, with reference to the title of the land; the former claiming it under the new Connecticut charter, and the latter as coming within the charter given to William Penn, both of which had been granted by the King of England. (NOTE: This was called the Pennamite Wars).

The quarrel proved serious and many deaths resulted, and as the New England people were in the minority, it became obvious that their only chance for peace and safety depended on their leaving the valley. Green Bently with sixteen other heads of families (including the Bennetts) built a boat, on which they placed their effects, and pushed and poled it up the river, while others drove the cattle and horses along the banks.  In 30 days they reached what is now Wellsburg, where Bently purchased all the land lying between the river and the Pennsylvania line, including about three hundred acres at the point where the creek since known by his name, Bently’s Creek, enters the Chemung River. .