This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: Allan_Bentley Surnames: Bentley, Meginnis, Crosier, Tankersley, Garnett, Graves, Bussey, Walker, O'Neil, Owens, Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.georgia.counties.lincoln/1200.3/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I have been doing research on Balaam Bentley for many years and have met and talked with the Hunts that now own the property. I have also been to the property and taken photos of the house and grounds. Here is what I have on Balaam Bentley and the house and Tannery: Balaam Bentley was born in Wilkes County, Georgia (some believe as early as 1763) one of the "two youngest sons" of William Bentley II. It is believed he was born near Loyd's Creek near Amity, just inside the lower eastern border of Wilkes County with Lincoln County. He died February of 1816 and is believed to be buried at the Bentley Family Cemetery in Amity, at Loyds Creek in Lincoln County, Georgia. When William Bentley II died he left the home, tenements, and buildings to his youngest sons Joshua and Balaam. This land was located in the south east corner of Wilkes County, Georgia. According to Clarence "Gross" Bentley, "Balaam moved from the lower part of Wilkes County, Georgia to the south part of Lincoln County, Georgia, January of 1779". This area soon became known as Leathersville. It is believed that the town of Leathersville was named for the Leather Tannery owned and operated by Balaam Bentley and later by his two sons, Dr. John Bentley and Benjamin Balaam Bentley, after their father's death. Dr. John Bentley bought out his brother's share of the Tannery and became sole owner and operator. Email from Bill and Tammy Hunt, January 21, 2003 (Present owners of Balaam Bentley's house) : "...our house and land were recently studied by the Architectural History department from UGA. We had students and professors in and out several times a week from September to December (2002). They have now presented us with a Historical Structure report, which outlines the evolution of the house and the outlying buildings. As suspected, the house was built sometime between 1790 and 1800, with additions in 1810-1820 and then sometime early in the 1900's. The best part of this is that our suppositions are now proven. This puts us way ahead in our attempts to get the house put on the National Register." The original house was rectangular in shape with chimneys on each side. The Kitchen area was to the left of the house. Sometime after the original house was built, a large back porch was added to the back of the house. Sometime after that an addition equal in size to the original house (a total of 1000 square feet) was added to the front of the house along with an L-shaped front porch. It is believed that the children slept in the "loft" of the original house, climbing a steep staircase to get to this large attic room. The original house was put together using wooden pegs. The floor joists were made of whole trees split in half. the ceiling joists were made of TRUE 4 inch X 6 inch hand hewn lumber and the roof rafters were made of 4 inch by 4 inch hand hewn lumber assembled with wooden pegs. Here is a list of what was origiinally located on the property: 1. Hand hewn log barn 2. Large livestock barn 3. House 4. Summer Kitchen (2 room cabin that was more likely a small house for the slaves) 5. Smoke house 6. 3 seater Out House 7. Bentley Cemetery 8. 2 Springs 9. Dozier Branch 10. Blacksmith Shop next to the Spring 11. One small livestock barn near Leathersville Rd. 12. Garage/Coach House 13. Chicken House 14. Hog pen and barn 15. The Leather Tannery (believed to be on the property but not yet located; most likely located next to the spring) Balaam's family raised Horses, Sheep, Cows, and Pigs as well as being a "planter". If you haven't already guessed, Balaam was rather well off for a farmer. In the inventory of his property after his death was listed 7 slaves. Let me add here that Balaam was a very religious man and was even a "minister" of the Greenwood Baptist Church so I am sure he treated his slaves well. Hazel Bentley Eubanks (direct descendant of Balaam Bentley) informed me that Balaam lived first at a home near Amity and Greenwood Baptist Church. He sold that land to the Dunaway family and moved to the house at Leathersville. She believes Balaam and his wife are buried in the Family Cemetery on this old home place in Amity, Lincoln County, Georgia. Will Book B 1807-1832 Pages 55-57 BENTLEY, Balaam--January 21, 1816; March 4, 1816. To Wife Nancy. To sons John and Benjamin Bentley. To Daughters, Keziah and Vincey Garret. Division when youngest son attains lawful age. Exrs: Wife, Ely Garnett. John Bentley. Wit. William Bussey, John H. Walker, Wm Owens. Will of Balaam Bentley Lincoln County, Georgia Signed: January 21, 1816 Probated: March 4, 1816 In the name of God, amen. I, Balaam BENTLEY of Lincoln County and State of Georgia, being afflicted of body by mortal disease that has every appearance of ending in the dissolution of my mortal body and knowing that it is appointed for all flesh to die, and being of sound mind and memory, I therefore do make constitute and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form as follows. To Wit: 1st. I will that all my just debts be paid out of my estate. 2nd. I will that my beloved Wife, Nancy BENTLEY hold possess and enjoy her Dower, during her natural life, of all my real estate, and if she Intermarry again she shall be at her disposal to make her election according to law in everything of my estate. 3rd. I will that after her death that this tract of land whereon I now live be equally divided between my two sons to wit: John BENTLEY and Benjamin BENTLEY. 4th. I will that my other tract of land on Broad River containing three hundred and twenty acres be equally divided between my two daughters to wit: Kizziah BENTLEY and Clency GARNIT and also to Vincy I give the Negro girl Rast that is now in her possession and Kizziah the Negro boy Peter and to my son John BENTLEY I give my boy Harvey and my son Benjamin is to have a Negro from the increased use of this estate. Lastly my will is that all my surviving herd have all their parts appraised so that every one shall have an equal part and also my other Negroes by my George, Jerry, and Peg is to be kept with the plantation and in the support of my beloved wife Nancy BENTLEY during her life, my other Negro man Pollard is to be hired out until my youngest son Benjamin becomes of age and then are at the disposal of my executors either to hire out still or to sell or work at home as they may think best. Lastly I appoint my beloved wife Nancy BENTLEY, Eli GARNETT, and John BENTLEY my executrix and executors to carry out this will into effect and so I commit my soul unto the hand of my gracious Savior and blessed Redeemer. Signed and acknowledged this 21 day of January 1816 in presence of William BUSSEY, John A. WALKER, and William O'NEAL. Balaam BENTLEY Georgia Society of the NSDAR Miscellaneous Records 1968, Vol. 1, p. 143: Balaam Bentley "Balaam Bentley's Will made January 21, 1816, Probated March 4, 1816, Recorded May 8, 1816, in the Ordinary's Office of Lincoln County, Georgia. Since it is the law that a will be probated within 10 days after the death of the testator it is evident that Balaam Bentley died about the last of February. His wife was to have the home place at Leathersville, and at her death it would go to the two sons, John and Benjamin but John evidently bought Benjamin's share. The two daughters, Lavina and Kizzah Bentley were to have a 325 acre tract on Broad River. Benjamin Bentley at one time owned the old Lamar Hotel at Lincolnton, Georgia. His first wife, Mary Paschal, died there and was buried in the Larmar Cemetery. She was related to the (Lamar) family. This hotel was purchased by Robert F. Gullebeau in 1902 and was still owned by his children in 1964. It is said to be around 250 years old. Balaam Bentley settled in Leathersville in January 1801 and had a tanyard, which caused the name of Leathersville. Benjamin Bentley and his second wife Martha Jane McGill, moved to Ouitman, (Brooks County), Georgia and in 1964 Thier descendants were still there and at Valdosta. The late Reverand James H. Wilkinson of Athens, Georgia was thier grandson. Nancy Jane Bentley, daughter of Benjamin and Mary, was born September 8, 1834, died August 7, 1898. (She was) Married February 24, 1853, to John Tatom Harnesberger, born February 19, 1833, died October 1, 1919. They were married by the Reverand William R. Cox in Lincoln County, Georgia." Balaam Bentley owned land in Lincoln County on LOYDS CREEK, at the fork of DRY FORK CREEK AND SOAP CREEK, and on BROAD RIVER near Cade's Mill. Balaam Bentley put an ad in an Augusta newspaper for the return of a runaway slave named "Jem": RUN AWAY From the subscriber, living in WILKES COUNTY, near LITTLE RIVER, A NEGRO MAN Named "Jem", about 22 years of age, of yellowish complexion, about 5 feet 6 or 7 inches high, with a large scar across his forehead; had on when he went away, a short blue coat, corduroy breeches, a pair of Ruffia Sheeting overalls, and a small hat. He is well made country made fellow, and is very ingenious. Whoever apprehends and secures him in any goal, or secures him so that I get him, shall have Eight Guineas reward. BALAAM BENTLEY APRIL 22, 1788 FROM: "History of Lincoln County" by Clinton Perryman, pages 51-52, published in 1933, comes the following: "TANNERY. Sometimes in the early days of settlement, the exact date of which is unknown, a tannery was established in the southern part of the county and the place was called LEATHERSVILLE, a name which it still remains, and was the first one in Georgia, if not in the South. According to tradition, it was established by BALAAM BENTLEY, the progenitor of the BENTLEY FAMILY in the county, and was operated by him for a number of years. It was later owned and operated by his son, DR. JOHN BENTLEY. It was patronized not only by this county, but by all the surrounding counties, for in the early days , and for many years later, shoes and harness were made locally by hand. During the latter years of it's existence, most of the leather was shipped to northern markets." NOTE: Hazel Bently Eubanks remembers as a child of 7 years old her mother taking her to the old Balaam Bentley property and showing her where the Tannery once stood. She states that it was behind the house and to one side near the creek. She states it had to be near the creek for the Leather Tanning Process. She states that lots of water was needed. She also remembers that the Colonial Dames (Hazel is a member and participated in the process) went through the Family Cemetery behind the house and wrote down all the names they could find in the cemetery and published them in a book. She also remembers that a man (Bartley Crosier) worked for Dr. John Bentley overseeing the tannery and that he was listed in the census records along with Dr. John Bentley. She states the original census record showed that this man was overseer of the tannery. A shoemaker also lived next to the Tannery by the name of Patrick Meginnis from Ireland. 1850 Census of the 52nd. District, Lincoln County, Georgia, page 335. Taken on 6th August 1850 LN PG FM 11 335 33 GRAVES BENJAMIN 28 M W MERCHANT GA 1822 12 335 33 GRAVES ANN A. 24 F W GA 1826 13 335 33 GRAVES FRANCES L. 03 F W GA 1847 14 335 33 GRAVES HENRY E. 01 M W GA 1849 15 335 33 DAY AMY 10 F MU GA 1840 16 335 34 BENTLEY JOHN 53 M W PLANTER GA 1797 17 335 34 BENTLEY NANCY (PASCHALL) 44 F W GA 1806 18 335 34 BENTLEY JOHN B. 23 M W OVERSEER GA 1827 19 335 34 BENTLEY JEREMIAH W. 20 M W STUDENT GA 1830 20 335 34 BENTLEY JABEZ M. 18 M W LABORER GA 1832 21 335 34 BENTLEY ASA J. 15 M W LABORER GA 1835 22 335 34 BENTLEY SARAH E. 13 F W GA 1837 23 335 34 BENTLEY MARTHA J. 11 F W GA 1839 24 335 34 BENTLEY CHARLES M. 08 M W GA 1842 25 335 34 BENTLEY DENNIS B. 06 M W GA 1844 26 335 34 BENTLEY HENRY 03 M W GA 1847 27 335 34 BENTLEY NANCY 10/12 F W GA 1850 28 335 34 STUART ELLEN 25 F W GA 1825 29 335 34 GARNETT GEORGE 60 M B PLANTER VA 1790 30 335 34 GARNETT CATY 50 F B GA 1800 31 335 35 MEGINNIS PATRICK 45 M W SHOE MAKER IR 1805 32 335 35 MEGINNIS ELIZABETH 26 F W GA 1821 33 335 35 MEGINNIS GEORGE P. 9/12M W GA 1850 34 335 36 CROSIER BARTLEY 28 M MU TANNER GA 1822 35 335 36 CROSIER ELIZA 25 F GA 1825 36 335 36 CROSIER JOHN 09/12M MU GA 1850 37 335 36 DAY REBECCA 35 F MU GA 1815 38 335 36 DAY JESSY 02 M MU GA 1848 39 335 36 BENTLEY VIRGINIA 70 F MU UNK 1780 Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. 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