To James Madison from William Bentley, 17 September 1814
From William Bentley
Salem Mass. USA. September 17, 1814
Sir,
Forgive me. My Ancestor came to America in 1711. He was a young Officer under the Duke of Malborough in Flanders, & was sent by Queen Anne to Canada. He was left by the pilots on Onticossa. His only child, my Grand father, intended for the Navy, fought under General Pepperell, in Canada, in 1745. My father was with Wolfe in 1759, in the year of my birth, & is now living at 90 years. My Brother John, named after Adm. B. who was here in 1745, is now a Sergeant in the 21 Regiment.1 He was a Volunteer from Maine, zealous, sincere, with a child in his house named Madison, & another named Galatin. May I not ask that this letter may assist him to a commission of Ensign.1 A warm, unshaken, sincere friend of Mr Madison, your devoted Servant,
William Bentley.
John was in the battle of Chipewa & Bridgewater, & slightly wounded. The whole race of one heart & mind.
RC (DLC). Addressed to “President James Madison. The highest of Titles & the best of Men.” Docketed by JM.
1. William Bentley’s brother, John Bentley, was promoted to ensign on 21 Sept. 1814, to rank from 15 Sept., but he was killed in action at Fort Erie on 17 Sept. 1814 ( 1:212; 2:542). Vice Admiral John Bentley (1703–1772) commanded ten different ships during his Royal Navy career, taking part in four major British victories over the French: the first and second battles of Cape Finisterre (1747), the Battle of Lagos (1759), and the Battle of Quiberon Bay (1759). He was knighted on 20 Sept. 1759 and promoted to vice admiral on 18 Oct. 1770 (Richard Bentley, John Bentley: Knight, Vice-Admiral of the White and One Time an Extra Commissioner of the Navy [Guildford, England, 1921], 1, 27–29, 33–37, 61–66, 68–78, 90, 98).