Charlotte Amy Bentley was born in Freehold Street, NewcastleUnder Lyme, Staffordshire on 6th May 1871. From her birth certificateher father Samuel Bentley was a boot boy in domestic service and Lucy Bentley, mother, formerly Tomkinson, registered the birth.

England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index: 1837-1983 about Charlotte Amy Bentley
Name: Charlotte Amy Bentley
Year of Registration: 1871
Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun
District: Newcastle Under Lyme
County: Staffordshire
Volume: 6b
Page: 70

I.G.I. Shows CharlotteAmy Bentley Christened on 14.1.1872 at Newcastle Under Lyme. Relatives present Samuel Bentley and Lucy [parents]

Charlotte came to Stockport with her family when she was about 2 years old. This information was gathered from the 1881 census (see below). Charlotte's father was a Groom and her oldest brother (aged 16) was in Domestic Service. They may have come to Stockport with their employing family or just for work.

1881 England Census about Charlotte Bentley
Name: Charlotte Bentley
Age: 9
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1872
Relation: Daughter
Father's Name: Samuel
Mother's Name: Lucy Ellen
Gender: Female
Where born: Neioth, Staffordshire, England
Civil Parish: Stockport
County/Island: Cheshire
Country: England
Street address: 21 George Street
Education:
Employment status:
Occupation: Scholar
Registration district: Stockport
Sub registration district: Stockport Second
ED, institution, or vessel: 7
Household Members: Name Age
Charlotte Bentley 9
Edward Eli Bentley 4
Lucy Ellen Bentley 31
Lucy Ellen Bentley 7
Samuel Bentley 31 Groom
Samuel Bentley 12
William Bentley 16 Domestic Servant

Could not find any reference on the 1891 census fiches checked....a012 a144 b050 b113 c129 d078 d090 d108 f116 j146 k015 k099k127 k134 l049 p024 q102 q124 r049 r069 r125 s078 s113t023 u092

1901 Census shows her living at 17 Churchgate with her mother and sister and also Edith May Bentley (Crawshawe) her daughter.She was a Cotton Winder at this time.

1901 England Census about Charlotte A Bentley
Name: Charlotte A Bentley
Age: 29
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1872
Relation: Daughter
Mother's Name: Lucy E
Gender: Female
Where born: Leek, Staffordshire, England
Civil Parish: Stockport
Ecclesiastical parish: St Mary
County/Island: Cheshire
Country: England
Street address: 17 Churchgate
Occupation:
Condition as to marriage:
Education:
Employment status:
Registration district: Stockport
Sub registration district: Stockport Second
ED, institution, or vessel: 6
Household schedule number: 38
Household Members: Name Age
Charlotte A Bentley 29
Edith M Bentley 7 Scholar - shown as Daughter of Lucy E Bentley (Aged 60)
Lucy E Bentley 60 Widow
Lucy E Bentley 27

1911 Census SD4 ED6 SN129)
Address 66 LOMAS ST STOCKPORT
County Cheshire
District Stockport
Subdistrict Stockport First
Enumeration District 6
Parish Stockport
THOMPSON, HARRY HEAD MARRIED M 41 BRICKLAYER Born CHESHIRE STOCKPORT
THOMPSON, CHARLOTTE WIFE MARRIED Years Married = 20 F 37 WINDER STAFFORDSHIRE HANLEY
THOMPSON, HARRY SON M 7 SCHOOL LANCASHIRE STOCKPORT
THOMPSON, NELLIE DAUGHTER F 5 LANCASHIRE STOCKPORT
THOMPSON, ANNIE DAUGHTER F 3 LANCASHIRE STOCKPORT


1927 Charlotte worked in a mill possibly Cartwright's on cornerof Longshut Lane, Stockport - she knotted tassles to make fringes to put on towels. She also worked in a mill near Edgeley and lived in Mahood Street, Edgeley. Charlotte used to bring home "Fents" - peices of towels and bedding from the mill.

On the 19th March 1928 Charlotte Bentley of 2 Horsfield Place, Chapel Street, Stockport bought the exclusive right of burial in perpetuity at grave No. EN 425 at Stockport Borough Cemetary. Lena Bentley, Charlotte's sister in law, was first placed in the grave on that date (19.03.1928) at a cost of 11 pounds 8 shillings and sixpence. Less than a year later Lena's husband, Edward Eli Bentley was placed in the grave (20.02.1929). Later, Abraham Thompson was interred 10.02.1949, and Charlotte Amy Bentley was interred 19.09.1963. Her son, Harry Thompson had his ashes scattered on the plot or one very close by as the graves are difficult to identify.

Grandad Abraham (Harry) Thompson lived in Randolf Place/BackAdcroft Street. It is thought that they never actually lived together and Abraham was probably still married. When Charlotte was at Nana's (Annie Bird) and Abraham arrived she used to leave by the back door when he came to the front. She didn't speak to him. She was always known as Mrs Thompson but it appears that she never married Abraham, this may be because Abraham was already married?

Charlotte had an income or shares in South Africa, it was said that her uncle had bought a salt mine or had interest in diamonds. It appears that the money was dividends or interest in investments that may have originally been in mining. When Charlotte Died her share of the income was to be divided between family. The family appears to have fallen out because Harry insisted that Edith have a share in the money and the others thought she shouldn't- possibly this was because she was a half-sister.

The family stories about the South African money has led to intrigue. People know that diamonds are mined in South Africa, but what about Salt production? Was the uncle ARTHUR TOMKINSON HAYWOOD just a wealthy uncle that left a will. We don't even know his direct link to the family and Charlotte. There are rumours that she was well in with a Mill owner - is this thesame man?

Charlotte's mother was Tomkinson - a link with Arthur's name. Arthur Tomkinson Haywood is on the family tree lists but not yet linked to anyone. In his notes section I have included all of my current research. All that is really known is that Charlotte and her descendants benefitted from a trust fund in South Africa and Arthur who was a commandant in the South African Police was very wealthy at the time of his death.

Charlotte Amy Thompson otherwise Bentley died at 14 Mahood Street, Stockport aged 92 years. Her death certificate says that she was a retired cotton weaver and spinster. The informant was Harry Thompson her son, of 35 Barnfield Road West Stockport.
The Stockport Express had a peice which said “The late Charlotte Thompson Bentley wish sincerely to thank all relatives and friends at the Prince Albert for kindness and sympathy shown to them in their bereavement also the family doctor and the home Nursing Services for their kind attention and to gratefully acknowledge the beautiful floral tributes.14 Mahood Street, Edgeley."



England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966 Probate shows that £3100+ was left to Harry Thompson in 1963 - Would have bought a very nice house in those days.