Nat Gould

Elizabeth Heathcote 1753-1814

Elizabeth Heathcote was the daughter of Michael Heathcote 1710-1777 and his wife formerly Rachel Edensor 1714-1791.

She married Dr James Justin Bent 1739-1812, surgeon of Basford House, Newcastle-under-Lyme (1).

They had the following children (2) :

John Bent. He was born on 30 December 1776 at Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Richard Bent. He was born on 6 June 1780 at Newcastle-under-Lyme, and became a physician. On 12 October 1812 he married his cousin Frances Heathcote, daughter of Sir John Edensor Heathcote 1757-1822. Dr Bent succeeded to the family estates on 25 October 1814.

James Bent. He became a Major in the 20th Regiment of Foot, and was killed at the Battle of Orthes on 27 February 1814 (3).

Thomas Bent. He was born on 9 July 1783. He became a physician in Derby, and leased the family estate at Bentlanes near Manchester.

Anne Bent. She was married in 1810 to Richard Rawson esquire of Wheathill near Liverpool (4). They had the following children: Helen Maria Rawson (born 1813), Frances Ann Rawson (born 1814), Jessie Rawson (born 1816), Arthur Rawson (born 1816), Harry Rawson (born 1817), Philip Rawson (born 1820), Rose Rawson (born 1822), Francis Rawson (born 1826), Edward Rawson (born 1826), and Sophia Rawson (born 1827).

Eliza Bent. She was born in 1789.

Maria Bent. She was born on 16 November 1790.

Their father Dr James Justin Bent died on 8 June 1812 at Basford Hall near Newcastle-under-Lyme (5).

Their mother Elizabeth Bent nee Heathcote died on 23 October 1814 at Basford (6).

(1) His distinguished career is set out in his obituary in the Gentleman's Magazine and Historical Chronicle volume 111 page 604.
(2) A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland, enjoying Territorial Possessions or High Official Rank: but uninvested with Heritable Honours J. Burke (1835) volume 2 page 408.
(3) The Battle of Orthes was fought on 27 February 1814 in Portugal during the Peninsular War against Napoleon. An Anglo-Portuguese army defeated the French, but Major James Bent, Commanding Officer of the 20th Regiment of Foot was killed during the fighting. He died leaving his widow Amelia Edwards Bent "and an Infant Daughter in distressed circumstances" and she was awarded £100 by the British Government. Estimates and Accounts: Army, Navy, Civil List, Pensions, &c (1817) page 48. See also The Monthly Magazine (1814) volume 37 page 264; and Historical Record of the Twentieth, or East Devonshire Regiment of Foot (1848) page 47.
(4) "[Married.]- At Woolstanton, Richard Rawson, esq. of Rose Hill, near Liverpool, to Anne, eldest daughter of Dr. Bent, of Basford, near Newcastle." The Monthly Magazine Sir R. Phillips (1810) volume 29 page 185.
(5) The Monthly Magazine and British Register volume 23 (1812) page 535.
(6) "Early on Sunday morning last [23 October], in her 62d year, at Basford, near Newcastle, in this county, Elizabeth, relict of the late James Bent, M.D. of that place." Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 29 October 1814.