He is also the great-grandfather of a famous revolutionary figure namely Abu Samah Mohd Kassim, also a fighter who later became a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Malaya and a left nationalist in the Malayan National Liberation Army.
Dato Bahaman was said to be adopted by the then-Bendahara (viceroy) of Pahang, Tun Ali, and was a playmate to the future Sultan Ahmad during his childhood.
Dato' Bahaman swore an oath of loyalty to Sultan Ahmad when he took the throne in 1881, pledging to serve his homeland.
With that appointment, Dato' Bahaman was granted equal status as the Orang Besar Berempat ("4 traditional chiefs" or "magnates") and became the Sultan's close advisor.
Tensions broke out in December 1890 when an E.A Wise, a British officer, set up a police station without prior permission in Lubuk Terua (in present day Temerloh constituency), which was within the fiefdom of Dato' Bahaman.
Subsequently, a squadron led by Hugh Clifford and Tengku Mahmud attacked Kampung Kelubi which was the second stronghold of Dato' Bahaman.
In January 1892, the British officers forced Sultan Wan Ahmad to end the uprising of Dato' Bahaman in Pahang.
In June 1894, Kuala Tembeling and Jeram Ampai was successfully conquered by Dato' Bahaman and one hundred Semantan warriors.
Sir Hugh Clifford, British officer in Pahang launched a mass attack on the remaining Semantan forces in Terengganu and Kelantan that swallowed large amounts of funds.
The Semantan forces ended in November 1895 when Dato' Bahaman, Pawang Nong and Mat Lela surrendered themselves to the Siamese government but given protection and were placed at Chiengmai early 1896.
The rise of Dato' Bahaman which lasted for three years (1891–1894) had caused the British forces in Peninsular Malaysia to lose large amounts of money from the treasury.
Bukit Haji Pak Jedih, Tanah Merah, where the Semantan warriors swore to hide their identity and to not reveal themselves.