Abraham BENTLEY, Born c1845

[BAC3]

Hello,

Abraham BENTLEY according to criminal records was born a half-caste in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, c1845, the son of Harriet BENTLEY who, according to the 1861 England Census was living in High Street, Preston, but she apparently was born c1831 in Madras (India).   The Census also indicates there is a John BENTLEY, aged 47, born in Liverpool, at that same address……neither entry indicates marital/personal status.   Could they be husband and wife, father and daughter even??   Incidentally, ignore the other entry on the same Census page for a Thomas BENTLEY as this is an incorrect transcription.

There are no other Census entries for Abraham or Harriet.

Abraham BENTLEY was imprisoned twice, first from 22/02/1860 for 12 months at the Cumberland Assizes and, second, from 01/02/1862 for 6 years at the Preston Quarter Sessions…..the records for this latter sentence show he had an alias COSSAM but this is something of a red herring as there are no other sustainable links to the name.    When he was released early from prison in 1867 he stated his destination was Liverpool: where his possible father may have been born??   He stated throughout all his criminal records he was a Sailor/Fisherman.

I would appreciate any help or suggestions for other lines of research.

BAC3

[Milliepede]

Harriet BENTLEY who, according to the 1861 England Census was living in High Street, Preston, but she apparently was born c1831 in Madras (India). 

I can't see an entry with that name born in Madras ** (India) - how have you linked Abraham to Harriet?

** Ok found it under "Madnass"

[BAC3]

He states in his criminal records that his mother is Harriet BENTLEY, living at High Street, Preston and a newspaper report in January 1862 confirms he was lodging in the house of Peter BROWN in High Street, where his mother was also a lodger.

However, he does not appear in the 1861 England Census which records his mother's information.

[Radcliff]

St John Preston,
5th March 1865
Harriet Bentley
aged 2
buried
abode Hight Street
----------------------
St John Preston
11th June 1865
Lucrettia Bentley
child of John and Alice
abode High Street
father a spinner
-----------------
5th Jan 1866
Harriet Bentley
aged 54
buried
abode Workhouse
--------------------
27th October 1867
Abraham Bentley
son of John and Alice
abode Water Lane
father a hawker

[BAC3]

Thank You Radcliff,

Am I to understand you are saying that John BENTLEY had no marital connection with Harriet?  Could she have been his sister?

And the Harriet who died in 1866 is too old, of course, born in 1812 not 1831.

BAC3

[Radcliff]

Just playing with the names and abode
sorry not trying to lead you astray,
quite an interesting story about a Harriet Bentley in Liverpool in 1843 concerning the Bank Of England £1000.00 note

[Milliepede]

I take it you are thinking Harriet was unmarried when she had Abraham? 

This Harriet born 1831 would only have been 14 in 1845    and from Madras to Philadelphia at that young age 

They must both have travelled back from the US at some point. 

[Radcliff]

Yes I am thinking she was unmarried when she had him,
and strangely  can not find a birth registration for a Lucrettia Bentley child of John and Alice

[Milliepede]

Is this John Bentley Alice McDonald marriage 1864 only there are 2 Alice McDonald lodgers on the 1861 also.