Compiled Jan 5, 1984. Highland Co., Ohio Federal Census: 1840, 50, 60, 70, 80. Death certificate, Military Pension Certificate #331-836 (could be #231-836). Co. Court Record. History of Ross and Highland Co., Ohio by Williams Brothers, Bill Bentley, Chanute, Kansas.

BENTLEY, CHARLES, born about 1807 In Leesburg, Loudon Bounty, Virginia. Married MARGARET ANN DORSEY on 12-May-1828 in Highland County, Ohio. She was the daughter of Stephen and Rachel (Ewing) Dorsey of Andora, Cecil county, Maryland. CHARLES attended the first school built In Leesburg, the teacher being Catherine Borum. He was the first Mayour elected in Leesburg and served several terms. He was a blacksmith by trade, but the census for 1860 lists him as Postmaster and the 1870 census lists him as Justice of Peace. He served in this office in Leesburg and Samatha, He was Surety Bondsmen in many instances during these years. He was a charter member of the Odd Fellow Lodge, which was chartered on 13-MaY-1858. He died on 23-July-1883 and Is buried In Leesburg, Ohio. MARGARET was born In 1812. In Cecil County, Maryland . Her father Stephen Dorsey was married to Rachel Ewing. He was granted a Patent for "Octoraro Hundred, calleded Spring Garden, from the State of Maryland. He was in the 1790 (unclear in original) census of Cecil County, Md. There was a Will dated In t825, but was unreadable. A Suriety Bond is recorded in the Marylard Records# Anaopolis, MD., recorded 17-Nov-1825 with William & Joshua Dorsey as Administrators. There Is a entry in Highland County, Ohio for:
"Mar- 30-1826-Joel Wright appointed guardian of MARGARET DORSEY, over 12 years of age, heir and legal representative of STEPHEN DORSEY, dece'd. Surities- Jonah Wright and Ell Bentley".
The only explanation of this is surely that MARGARET came to Ohio with ELI P. BENTLEY and his wife., HARRIOT SPRICE BENTLEY after the death of her father, Stephen Dorsey. Frances Taylor came Into possession of my request for information at the Cecil County Courthouse and sent me a great deal of information on the Ewing Family, since she lives in the old Patrick Ewing Home. The DORSEY & EWING Family were very prominent in the area. Stephen and Rachel lived at Millford, where there was a Dorsey Mill. There were three EWING brothers, who came from Londonderry, Ireland in 1725. ALEX married a REBECKAH- JOSHUA, who married JANE and NATHANIEL who married RACHEL. From Nathaniel and Rachel came the ancestors of MARGARET ANN DORSEY.