Henry Pence/Bentz
Tremont City, Ohio
22 July 1878
(edited to relevant parts)
Mssrs. Editors: You will confer a special favor upon not only the writer, but a very large circle of friends and relatives by giving publicity to the following genealogical record of the Pence family. While on a visit to David Pence, of Madriver Township, the writer obtained from Mr. Pence the family record, which was commenced 118 years ago.
Henry Pence, the father, and Mary Blimly, the mother, emigrated from Germany in their youth. Henry Pence was born A.D. 1740, just 36 years prior to the Declaration of American Independence, and died A.D. 1826, being 86 years old at his death. Mary Pence died A.D. 1829, in her 80th year. The family consisted of nineteen children, two of whom died in infancy, and whose names are not given. The other seventeen grew to man and womanhood, were all married, and together with their wives and husbands were at one time gathered around the family board during the lifetime of both parents. The record is in the German language, but was translated by the Rev. John Pence, as follows, giving their births in their respective order -
George 16 Aug 1766
Jacob 15 Sep 1767
Henry 4 Jan 1768
Abraham 7 Sep 1769
Magdalena 3 Jan 1771
Sussannah 4 Jun 1772
John 15 Jan 1774
Barbary 2 Nov 1775
David 4 Feb 1777
Joseph 26 Sep 1778
Samuel 4 Feb 1780
Anna 10 Oct 1781
Isaac 21 Jul 1784
Elizabeth 22 Feb 1786
Benjamin 25 Apr 1787
Mary 9 Jun 1789
Reuben 28 Jun 1791
The original name was Bentz, but by reasons of the German dialect the name stands as above. I will not trespass upon your indulgence by giving anything additional at present.
Yours truly,
S.H. Wallace
