John Bent

Notes:

The Bent Family, Allen H. Bent, published 1900.

pages 15-16.

#4 of Bent Family.

John (2) Bent (John-1) was born in Penton-Grafton, England, in Jan., 1636, and died in Framingham, MA, in Sept. (buried the 15th), 1717, age 81. He came to America with his father in 1638, and was brought up in Sudbury, MA. In 1662, four years after his marriage, he bought land of Henry Rice near the fordway over the Cochituate Brook, on the west side of the old Connecticut Path (*** see below), in what is now the town of Framingham, and built one of the first houses on Framingham land. April 16, 1683, he bought sixty acres adjoining. In the Sudbury town records, under date of Oct. 26, 1686, is an "agreement between the town of Sudbury and certain out-dwellers, viz.: Corporal John Bent * * * * who are inhabitants bordering upon, but dwelling without the line or bounds of the town." The first petition for the incorporation of the town of Framingham, in 1693, was headed by John Bent. It was not incorporated, however, until 1700. At the second town meeting, March 3, 1701,he was chosen one of the tythingmen, who were men of authority not only on Sunday but throughout the week, and doubtless he performed the delicate duties with dignity and discretion. In his will, dated Feb. 19, 1714-15, "in the first year of our sovereign George of England, King," etc., he says that he is "very sick and weake in Body." His property is to be divided equally between his two sons, his daughter having already received her portion.

He married, first, July 1, 1658, Hannah, born June 6, 1640, daughter of John and Anne Stone of Cambridge, and second, Martha, born August 17, 1657, daughter of Matthew Rice, who was a brother of Edward Rice that married John Bent's sister Agnes.

(***) This old Indian trail was for years the only way the eastern settlers had to reach the towns on the Connecticut River. It went along the north bank of Charles River, thence to northern end of Cochituate Pond, and S.W. through South Framingham, etc.

NOTE: THE BENT FAMILY GENEALOGY HAD ERRORS AS ALLEN H. BENT ATTRIBUTED ALL 3 CHILDREN TO WIFE NO. 1, HANNAH STONE. THIS ISN'T POSSIBLE AS HANNAH DIED BETWEEN 1681 AND 1684. ONLY HANNAH, B. IN 1661 IS THE CHILD OF HANNAH STONE; JOHN AND DAVID MUST BE THE CHILDREN OF MARTHA RICE.

SOURCE: Genealogical Register of Framingham (CD):

Probably he was the fourth man to build on Framingham land. He m. (1) July 1, 1658, Hannah Stone, dau. of John; (2) Martha Rice, dau. of Matthew, CHILDREN- HANNAH, b. May 6, 1661, m. John Adams; John, b. Nov. 29, 1689 (#3); David (#4).

John married Hannah Stone on 07 Jul 1658 in Sudbury, MA (see Torrey). Hannah (daughter of Living and Living) was born on 06 Jun 1640 in of Cambridge, MA; died before 1684 in Framingham, MA. [Group Sheet]

1. Hannah Bent was born on 06 May 1661 in Sudbury,Middlesex,MA.

John married Martha Rice. Martha (daughter of Matthew Rice and Living) was born on 17 Aug 1657 in Sudbury,Middlesex,MA. [Group Sheet]

1. David Bent was born about 1691 in Framingham, MA; died on 15 Feb 1730 in Sudbury, MA.
2. John Bent was born on 29 Nov 1689.

Notes:

The Bent Family, Allen H. Bent, published 1900.

pages 11-13.

#1 of Bent Family in America.

John Bent (1), first of the name in America, was born in Penton-Grafton, England, in November 1596 (while Elizabeth was still Queen), came to America in his forty-second year, and settled in Sudbury, MA, where he remained until his death , Sept. 27, 1672, age nearly 76. He married in England about 1624, Martha (Unknown), who died in Sudbury, May 15, 1679, well along in years.

The family ---- John, his wife and five small children ---- sailed from Southampton in the latter part of April, 1638, in the ship "Confidence of London," John Jobson, master, the whole numbers of passengers, "greater and little," being 110 souls.

John Bent continued to till the soil in America as he had done in England. His farm was in the part of Sudbury now the town of Wayland, about sixteen miles directly west of Boston. He was one of the original settlers of the town, which was incorporated in 1639 with fifty-four inhabitants. Although it was the nineteenth town in Massachusetts Bay Colony, and the Sudbury River, the picture of peace, ran through fertile meadows near his new home, it was for some years after its settlement a frontier town.

John Bent was made a freeman in 1640; that is , because he had become a member of the church of the Puritans, he was allowed to take part in town affairs.

Children of John and Martha, i. to v. born in Penton-Grafton, England, vi. and vii, in Sudbury, MA:
i. Robert baptized Jan. 10, 1625.
ii William, baptized Oct. 24, 1626.
iii. Peter, baptized April 14, 1629.
iv. Agnes, b. about 1631.
#4 v. JOHN, BAPTIZED JAN. 24, 1636.
vi. Joseph, b. May 16, 1641.
vii. Martha, b.about 1643.

Source: Genealogical Register of Framingham (CD):
John (1) was an original proprietor of Marlborough, 1656.

John married Martha Baker before 1625 in ENG. Martha was born in in Penton-Grafton,,Eng ??; died on 15 May 1679 in Sudbury,,MA. [Group Sheet]

Robert married Annis-Agnes Gosling on 13 Oct 1589 in Weyhill,Hants,Eng. Annis-Agnes was born in in ENG; died in 1634 in Sudbury,Middlesex,MA. [Group Sheet]