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Newsletter, Jerry
Orton 213 Dixon
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GIDEON BENTLY DIED JANUARY 22, 1858
The funeral of Gideon Bently, whose
death we mentioned a few days ago, occur on Friday last, in
Constantia, Oswego County. The Syracuse Citizens' Corps,
under Lt. Col. Walrath, attended the funeral in a body,
accompanied by Sutherland's full Band, escorting the remains about five
miles. At the grave Col. Walrath remarked as follows,
"Comrades - A solemn call has
summoned us together - it is the funeral dirge which announces to
us that one of the Veterans, a relic of the Revolution, has gone
to the receptacle of the dead.
Gideon Bently is no more with the
living. On the 15th of June we beheld him for the first
time. His head was white with the frosts of four score and seven
winters. And who is here, that was present on that occasion,
who was not struck with the remarkable preservation of his health
intellect. Now he,
'Wraps the drapery of his couch
about him, And lies down to pleasant dreams'
"It is in obedience to the dictates
of our hearts that we are now assembled to perform the rites due the
soldier of '76. Another link which bound us to the past is
broken. An old veteran full of years and ripe for the celestial
harvest is gathered to his father and sleeps in the peaceful stillness
of the grave.
'The Veterans died as a Christian
dies, With hope in his Savior, God, And now on the brave old heart
there lied, The heavy and fresh grave sod.'
"I do not intend to add to the able
and eloquent eulogy pronounced today. Let us now proceed to
perform the last duties and pay the final tribute of respect to the
remains of a Revolutionary patriot, a kind neighbor, a true friend and
fellow citizen."
The deceased was born in the town of
Exeter, R. I., August 12th 1750. Served under Col. Barton in a
Rhode Island regiment one year and as a minute man three years.
Was volunteer in a company under Capt. Barton, who crossed over to Long
Island in boats and captured a body of Tories , killing fifteen and
taking seventy-five prisoners, making a narrow escape-getting into the
boats just as the British came up and fired a volley at them as they
were pulling from the shore, but doing no damage. Has voted at
every Presidential election from Washington to Buchanan. Had at
the time of his death thirteen children; also, grandchildren and great
grandchildren numbering 225-all of whom are now living.
Gideon Bentley is buried in West Monroe Cemetery in section
5, lot 55 and his wife, Isabel, who died on September 2, 1844, and
survived at least 13 births, is buried along side him.
We wish to thank Compatriot Ken Sweet who brought this
Revolutionary War veteran to our attention.
Sources: Syracuse Daily Courier, January 23,
1858. West Monroe Historical Society cemetery records.
