Elisha Bentley was a farmer. His will, published in Tree Talks Vol. 28 #1, stated "To my beloved wife Basheba, all household furn., use of my south room and privileges in buttery, cellar, woodhouse, well, garden; also 2 cows. My son Joseph L.J. to keep said cows and provide food and fodder and take care of them as he would his own. Also furnish necessary firewood and bring to house; also sufficient meat, flour, and veal, etc. for support and maintenance and comfort of my wife. Item. To son Joseph L.J. the farm on which I now live and his heirs forever on condition that he pay Elisha Bently, Jr., $150 in horses, cattle, and sheep 2 years after my decease. Joseph L.J. to pay my dau. Sally $100 in horses, cattle, and sheep in 2 yrs after my decease. Sally to have home in my dwelling as long as she is single. Joseph L.J. shall pay my grandson Samuel E. $50 to be paid in horses, cattle, and sheep when grandson become 21. He to be schooled and clothed by Joseph L.J. Appoint my son Joseph L.J. Bently executor. Signed May 1830. Elisha Bently L.S. Witnesses: Samuel A. Gilbert, Moses Ported and Lucian A. Gilbert, all of Northampton. Proved 30 Mar. 1840." The will suggests that Basheba may not have been the mother of at least Joseph since she was not referred to as Joseph's mother. She was probably only the mother of Samuel, Jane and Lydia since the 17-year gap between the births of Elisha and Samuel suggests that there was an earlier wife.

Elisha enlisted for service in the Revolution at Norwich, CT, in June 1776 and at Richmond, RI, March 1777 as a substitute for his brother Thomas. Later that summer he enlisted again in his own right for two terms from Tyringham, MA.

He was married and living at Sunderland, Bennington Co., VT, in 1790, and was said to have been there when he took custody of his two half-brothers, David and Jonathan, about 1800. By 1810 he had moved to Montgomery County, NY.

Source: Tree Talks Vol. 28 #1, March 1988.
DAR Bible and Cemetery Records, Film #837376.
"The House of David".
Information from Edwin Bentley.

1. (dau) Bentley b: BEF 1790
2. (dau) Bentley b: BEF 1790
3. Elizabeth Bentley b: ABT 1789
4. Benjamin Bentley b: ABT 1794
5. Sally R. Bentley b: ABT 1795
6. Atta Bentley b: 28 Mar 1800 in Mayfield, , NY
7. Elisha Bentley Jr. b: 26 May 1802 in Mayfield, Fulton, NY
8. Joseph S. J. Bentley b: 10 Oct 1805
9. Samuel Bentley b: ABT 1822
10. Jane Bentley b: ABT 1828
11. Lydia Bentley b: ABT 1830 in NY