Agnes Bent

     Agnes Bent was born on 12 December 1631 at Wayhill, Penton Grafton, Southampshire, England.² She was the daughter of John Bent and Martha Blanchard.¹ Agnes Bent married Deacon Edward Rice, son of Deacon Edmund Rice and Thomasine Frost, circa 1647; Barry's History of Framingham states Agnes Bent was without issue, which is clearly wrong. The will of John Bent of 1672 makes provision specifically for his daughter Agnes Rice and her son John Rice, which not only shows she was still living at that time, but also proves she was indeed the wife of Edward Rice (there being only one John Rice available as a grandson of John Bent). The confusion stems from the fact that the birth records of her children and the record of her death all show her name as Ann (a common variant of Agnes in her time). She was also known as Anna Bent.¹ Agnes Bent died on 4 June 1713 at Marlborough, Middlesex Co, Massachusetts, at age 81.^2,3