Thank you so much, Kiterunner: you have struck gold and provided the missing data. I have not maintained my Ancestry subscription, but will find those wills.
The family tree prepared by my great uncle Frank and published in the Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological Society in 1887, names the sons of Richard Bentall, , lord of the manor of Bentall, and his wife Jane as:
- Richard, married to Katherine Cottrell, with at least two children (Richard and John)
- Morice (buried 7 October 1609 at Much Wenlock)
- Michael
- William
- George
- Francis
- Rowland
- John
- Edward
- Lawrence who married Cicely Forster. He was buried at Much Wenlock on 8 November 1603 and she on 12 November 1612. His son Edward was killed accidentally in 1602 by a brother-in-law, and the estate was inherited by ...
- John, who married Joyce Forster.
There were also 4 daughters, one of whom married Richard Fowler and had children Henry and Margery.
I think this is decisive. It is fascinating that there were then two careers open to younger sons of gentlemen: either become a merchant, or go into service with someone higher up in the social rankings.
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