Samuel Bent Sr. (1739 - 1821)

Born 1 Mar 1739 in Milton, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Husband of Rachael (Ray) Bent — married 1760 in Granville, Annapolis, Nova Scotia

Descendants

Died 27 Jul 1821 at age 82 in Granville, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia, British North America

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Biography

Samuel Bent Sr was born on March 1, 1739 in Milton, Suffolk County, Province of Massachusetts Bay, New England. He was the son of Ebenezer Bent Sr. and Deborah Fairbank.

The story is that he was apprenticed to a Capt. John Wade of Ipswich (?), Massachusetts, a carriage and chair maker, and, toward the end of his term of service, enlisted in a company, commanded by his master, for the campaign against the French in Canada, and, in that capacity, assisted in the reduction of Quebec by Gen. Wolfe in September, 1759.

Several authors, including Calnek in his 'History of the County of Annapolis' and Allen H. Bent in 'The Bent Family in America' record the story of young Samuel Bent, who, according to family tradition, had played a part in the war against the French in Canada in 1759. It was towards the end of that campaign that Samuel enlisted in a company commanded by Capt. John Wade, a Massachusetts carriage and chair maker with whom Samuel had apprenticed. Allen Bent relates the family tradition...

"Toward the close of the battle on the Plains of Abraham, when victory seemed certain, a call was made for a flag staff. Young Bent volunteered to improvise one from the many tall firs which lined the heights. After it had been set in position it was found that in the hurry of the moment the necessary halyard had not been made fast to the top. After several had tried in vain to climb the flag staff, Bent asked permission to try it and succeeded in reaching the top with the line in his teeth. The flag was attached and the officer in command ordered that the young soldier should have the honor of hoisting the flag of victory."

Either during his time in Canada or upon his return to Massachusetts, Samuel became aware of the offer being made by Governor Lawrence to New England residents to take up free lands that had been evacuated by the expulsion five years earlier of the French Acadians. Samuel's name was not on the original grant of 1759 but in the early summer of 1760 his name is found on the passenger list of the 'Charming Molly', which brought the early wave of settlers to Annapolis Royal.

About 1760, or 1761, he and Capt. Wade went to Granville, Nova Scotia, among the first to take up the lands made vacant by the expulsion of the Acadians, and here he lived the rest of his life, near the place where the first French settlement in Nova Scotia was made in 1604. He married, in 1764, Rachel Eay [possible typo for 'Ray'].

From Annapolis Royal, it is not known exactly when Samuel took up residence in Granville Township, where he would live the remainder of his life. Calnek points out that the original grant of 1759 was probably cancelled, perhaps because many of those listed on that grant failed to come to the county or, if they did, failed to meet the terms of the grant. In a document entitled "State of the Condition of Nova Scotia, 1763" it is noted that "The propietors of Annapolis and Granville have not yet got a grant of their land." It appears that most of the land grants were made between 1761 and 1769. It is probable that Samuel received his grant and built his house prior to 1764, the year in which he married.

Samuel married Rachel Ray, daughter of (--?--) Ray, on January 31, 1764 in Granville, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia. They are known to have had twelve children - two daughters and ten sons, all born in Granville Township. In order of birth they were Samuel Jr., Nedabiah, Ann, James, Rachel, Jesse, Seth, James, John, Ebenezer, Charles and Elias.

Samuel died on July 1, 1821 in Granville, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia, British North America, at age 82. Interment took place in Wadeville Cemetery, Granville Centre, Annapolis County.

The Rachel Bent who was the daughter of Samuel Bent Sr. and Rachel Ray married John Elliott Sr.

The Rachel Bent who married Abraham Bogart was the daughter of Samuel Bent JUNIOR and Mary Leonard. Samuel Bent Jr. was the son of Samuel Bent and Rachel Ray.

Sources

• "Nova Scotia Church Records, 1720-2001", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6Z3N-BPH9 : 22 February 2021).

https://archive.org/stream/bentfamilyinamer00bent/bentfamilyinamer00bent_djvu.txt

• email from Linda Bent, Apr.18/15: Samuel Bent married Rachel Ray (sister to Moses Ray from Ireland). Samuel is buried in the Wadeville Cemetery in Granville Centre, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia.
• Wadeville Cemetery listing, plot 149: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nsannapo/cemeteries/granville_centre_wadeville.html
• Rachel is listed as his wife in both the Allen Bent book "The Bent Family in America" and in Calnek's History of Annapolis.
• Bent Family History Carlson, Beverly Powell
• Granville Township Book

Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 03 December 2019), memorial page for Samuel Bent (1 Mar 1739–1 Jul 1821), Find A Grave Memorial no. 131182545, citing Wadeville Cemetery, Granville Centre, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia, Canada ; Maintained by Chris Bent (contributor 48779627) .

• Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 03 December 2019), memorial page for Rachel Bent Bogart (9 May 1772–28 Dec 1838), Find A Grave Memorial no. 169685074, citing Stoney Beach Cemetery, Granville Beach, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia, Canada ; Maintained by Lawrence H. Grunert (contributor 46831293) .