Second Generation

10. Thomas BENTLEY was living on 6 Jun 1841 in Sutton Valence, Kent.³ He was born about 1841.⁷ He was living on 30 Mar 1851 in Podkin, Biddenden, Kent.⁴ He was living on 3 Apr 1881 in Rose Cottage, Biddenden, Kent.¹⁷ In 1871 Thomas was a farmer of some 36 acres.

By 1881 he farmed 70 acres and employed 1 man. This was probably his father-in-law, John Sharp. John and his wife Jane are shown to be living with Thomas at the time if the 1881 census and is registered as being an agricultural laborer.

Besides John and Jane, Amy Luckhurst (30), Thomas's sister-in-law is also living in the cottage with her children Lillian E. (1) and John C. (3 months). Both chilren were born at High Halden, Kent

Thomas BENTLEY and Mary Ann SHARP were married. Mary Ann SHARP (daughter of John SHARP and Jane) was born in 1848 in Biddenden, Kent.^17,18 She was living on 3 Apr 1881 in Rose Cottage, Biddenden, Kent.¹⁷ Mary's maiden name is derived from the entry on the 1881 census that show's that a John and Jane Sharp are living with Thomas and Mary as father-in-law and mother-in-law. Thomas BENTLEY and Mary Ann SHARP had the following children:

14	i.	William BENTLEY was born in 1870 in Biddenden, Kent.17 He was living on 3 Apr 1881 in Rose Cottage, Biddenden, Kent.17
15	ii.	John BENTLEY was born about Dec 1870 in Biddenden, Kent. Birth month and year derived from 1871 census. The census shows John to be 5 months and the census was taken on 2nd April 1871. He was living on 3 Apr 1881 in Rose Cottage, Biddenden, Kent.17