I think it likely that Annie was working in Cottwood or went there to give birth (any relatives in or around that area at the time?), though I would have thought the parish officials would not have been too happy with the latter option if she had no means of support.

She may well have expected the father to marry her, which might account for the slight 'delay' in registering the birth (though the longest in my tree is 6 months and I have never found the marriage!).

Perhaps she went off to London with the children, following the father (if he was a coachman then he would have 'ferried' his employer about), and then it all came to nothing.

Having had the children baptised as Bentley, then on her return to the area, she would have continued to use her 'married' name.

I can only find one Richard Bentley who is a coachman (I have looked for 'groom and 'ostler' as well), born in Enfield c1825, which makes him older than her father. I think he dies in 1898 (St Geo Hanover Sq)but I can find no connection to Devon.


There is a Richard Bentley who dies in 1898 in Islington, born c 1860. I cannot find anything on him (e.g. place of birth, and without that, there is little chance of pinning him down on a census), other than the workhouse records which have him as a labourer (b c1862/3 if it the same one).

All conjecture on my part! Good luck with your search.