Will Bentley

BENTLEY, William Emerson, son of George Whitfield Wheelock and Emma Jane

(Dennis) BENTLEY. Born on October 23, 1872 at Margate P.E.I. Married to

Florence Alice Earle, daughter of Samuel N. Earle of Charlottetown P.E.I. A

child; Charles Frederick married to Helen Eileen Bernasconi.

A Lawyer. A Conservative. Educated at Prince of Wales College. Commenced

reading law under the instructions of Malcolm MacLeod and was admitted to

the bar in 1897. Was a junior member of the firm Mathieson and Bentley until

1900, when he became a partner of D. B. McLeod K.C.. Member of the Law

Society of Prince Edward Island. Member of the Committee on examination of

law students for the bar.

from Weldon Laird

and from same source (in theislandregister.com)

Bentley, William Emmerson 1872-1961

Lawyer/Magistrate

The oldest lawyer, at age 87, to argue a case before the Supreme Court of Canada

One of Prince Edward Island's best-known and most colourful lawyers, he was in practice for sixty-four years

Secretary-Treasurer of the Prince Edward Island Law Society for forty years

Ran in a Prince Edward Island bye-election as an Independent candidate, basing his campaign on Temperance

WILLIAM EMERSON BENTLEY, a leading and well known attorney of Charlottetown, was born at Margate, Prince Edward Island, on October 23, 1872, and is a son of George W. W. and Emma Jane (Dennis) Bentley, both also natives of Margate. His paternal grandfather, Thomas Bentley, was a native of York, England, and upon his arrival in Prince Edward Island located at Margate, where he engaged in farming. George W. W. Bentley followed the pursuit of farming during his early years, but eventually moved to Kensington, where he engaged in mercantile business and where he still resides. He served as a member of the Provincial Parliament for about fifteen years, and was also commissioner of public works and, later commissioner of crown lands. During a part health compelled him to retire from public life. He became the father of nine children, of whom six are now living. William E. Bentley received his early education in the public schools of Kensington, and then entered Prince of Wales College. Upon leaving college he commenced reading law under the instructions of Malcolm McLeod, Q. C., and in 1897 he was admitted to the bar. He then became the junior member of the firm of Mathieson & Bentley, which relation continued until 1900, when Mr. Bentley became a partner with D. C. McLeod, K. C., under the firm name of McLeod & Bentley, and they are now enjoying a large and remunerative clientage, being considered one of the strong and reliable firms of Charlottetown. Mr. Bentley is a member of the Law Society of Prince Edward Island, and is a member of the committee on examination of law students for admission to the bar. On June 11, 1902, Mr. Bentley was united in marriage to Miss Florence Alice Earle, who was born in Charlottetown, and is a daughter of Samuel N. Earle, now of Charlottetown.

from Prince Edward Island Past and Present available from

http://www.wyattheritage.com/main.asp