Benjamin Allenthorpe was born in Stafford County, Virginia, about 1726. Benjamin married Elizabeth Fletcher on August 19, 1746 in Stafford County, Virginia at the Aquia Church.

To this union seven known children were born: 1. Vincent 2. John 3. William 4. Chrnick 5. Presley 6. Berallin 7. Sarah (who was listed on the lease of 1748. Why she was listed there is not known)

After his marriage, Benjamin Allenthorpe moved to King George County, Virginia. It is known at this time, of their lives, that the young couple had little of the world's goods so they leased a tract of land in pioneer country. Benjamin was literate for he signed his name as a witness to his father's will and he signed his name to this lease. As important as reading and writing are to an individual, they are of little help in making a living in a new territory. The lease was made for three years, from December 20, 1748 to December 20, 1751. It seems that William Newton was making excessive demands to expect in that time to have Benjamin to erect a small dwelling house, a barn, a corn house and to have planted one hundred apple trees, one hundred peach trees, twenty-five cherry trees, to be enclosed by a fence, plus a yearly rent of five hundred thirty pounds of tobacco, and two shillings and six pence. How would a young man, even though he was young and strong, be able to complete the buildings, plant the fruit trees, cultivate tobacco in three years. In addition he had to have a garden and livestock to feed the growing family. Having no slaves to help him, no doubt his brothers, Jacob and John, helped him as well as some of his many Sebastin cousins. As stringent as the terms of this lease were, the form must have been customary for William Newton made another recorded lease with the same terms. One can but admire and respect this remarkable young man and his wife who undertook such a formidable task. They were industrious, thrifty and good managers to accomplish this work. It is a privilege to have such strong sturdy dependable people for our ancestors.

When Benjamin signed the lease, he signed as Benjm Allentharp. This is the beginning of th euse of "a" in the name instead of the "o". For many years thereafter the anme was written Allentharp.

It is to be noted that Benjamin Allenthorpe along with sons John, William, Charnick, Presley, and Berallin fought for the Tories (British) in the American Revolution. It's not known why son Vincent chose the American side. The name of Benjamin Allenthorpe was on the early list of Tories. No records are found in South Carolina to tell what became of Benjamin Allenthorpe but a record has been found in England that tells that he died sometime between April 24, 1781 and April 19, 1782. A copy of this list has been placed in the library of Congress. "Tories Murdered in the South Carolina Up Country in the Revolution" says, "In giving the above list of Persons massacred in this Province we have confined us to the 96 Dist., the Southern part of Camden and upper part of Orangeburg with five in Charleston and from every account we can safely say that at least thrice the number have been Butchered and Hanged in the like manner - not one of these named fell in action but were killed at their Plantations or after they had been made Prisoners - we would particularize the circumstances but think it an unnecessary intrusion upon your time. " (page 126 of this list includes Benjamin Tharp)
Thomas Fletchall, Coll
Joseph Robinson, Lt Coll So
Co Caro Toyle
Endorsed in Colo Fletchalls .. of 19th April 1782


References:
Notes of the Tharp and Allentharp Families - Eleanor Davis
Sifting Through The Ashes - Eleanor Davis McSwain
Georgia Archives