SOUTH-AFRICA-L Archives

From: Pat Smith <>
Subject: [ZA] Re:William Wood BENTLEY
Date: Sun, 04 May 2003 11:27:31 +0200
References: <918HDsaFT1408S06.1050710719@cmsweb06.cms.usa.net><005301c30765$4116a400$de271ec4@pops>
In-Reply-To: <055501c31148$074e5f00$0203a8c0@tessalaptop>

Hello Tessa,

William Wood Bentley was a son of George Bentley and Emma Ward and a
biography about George appears in Volume 2 of British Settlers in Natal,
1824-1857 by Shelagh O'Byrne Spencer.

George Bentley purchased Lot No. 31 (circa 1851) which was part of the farm
Milliehoogte and part of which became the village of York (on the road to
Greytown). You should find the Deed papers plus his emigration application
at the Deeds Office in Pietermaritzburg. The land is likely to have been
purchased from William Lund as the farm Milliehoogte was granted to William
Lund by Deed of Grant No. 1501. William Lund had this land cut up into a
large number of subdivisions some of which were transferred to immigrants
from England.

"William Wood Bentley (25 Nov 1855, ?? Helmsley (Yorkshire) - Oct 1939,
?New Hanover) married Eliza Jane Comins (Mar 1857, York - 25 Jan. 1927, New
Hanover) d. of John and Ann Comins (born Wootton) of Newington House near
York, and grand-d. of Mrs. Jane Comins and William Wootton. William
Bentley was of Fairview, New Hanover when he died."

Charles Augustus Bentley - witness at the baptism of Emma Ann and George
John - appears to have been a brother of William Wood.

Mary Ann Cornuis or Comins - witness at the baptism of George John - is,
probably, Mary Ann Comins, daughter of Mrs. Jane Comins.

Ann Comins - witness at the baptism of Emma Ann - is likely to have been
Ann Wooten who married John Comins (son of Mrs. Jane Comins) in February
1857, at Pietermaritzburg.

There is a biography on Jane Comins in Vol 4 British Settlers in Natal,
1824-1857 by Shelagh O'Byrne Spencer.

The Bentleys and Comins were Haidee Settlers and you can read about the
Haidee Settlers at
http://sa-passenger-list.za.net

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Pat Smith

At 14:58 5/1/03 +0200 today in history, Tessa King wrote the following:

>Then there is William Wood Bentley married to Eliza Jane ? with these
>children:
>1. Alice Eliza born 1 Sept 1887 Vine Cottage, York, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South
>Africa, bapt 25 Sept 1887 at St. Luke's Anglican Church, Howick, Kwa-Zulu
>Natal, SA by Rev Ernest Burges. Witnesses: William Wood Bentley, Mary
>Greeves, Sarah Isabella Comins.
>2. Emma Ann born 13 Mar 1889 at Vine Cottage, bapt 26 May 1889 at St. Lukes
>Anglican Church, Howick by Rev E Burges. Witnesses: Charles Augustus
>Bentley, Emma Bentley, Ann Comins.
>3. George John born 26 Nov 1892 at York, Kwa-Zulu Natal, bapt 5 Feb 1893 at
>St. Lukes Anglican Church, Howick by Rev E Burges. Witnesses: Joseph Woolten
>Comins, Charles Augustus Bentley, Mary Ann Cornuis or Comins.
>4. Thomas William born 5 May 1894 at York, bapt 17 June 1894 at St. Lukes
>Anglican Church by Rev E Burges. Witnesses: Charles Carter Comins, William
>Wood Bentley, Eliza Jane Bentley.
>5. Edward Joseph born 25 Nov 1900 at York, bapt 2 June 1901 at St. Lukes
>Anglican Church by Rev E Burges. Witnesses:were F Edward Bentley, William
>and Eliza Jane Bentley.

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• [ZA] Re:William Wood BENTLEY by Pat Smith <>