John Dennis, son of Charles Dennis, first married Mary Williams, daughter of Edward Williams and his wife Mary. John and Mary had four children. John Dennis later married Elinor Bullock, daughter of John Bullock. John and Elinor had ten children. Sarah Platt, one of the daughters of John and Elinor Dennis, married Thomas Platt. [1]
1698 The will of Charles Dennis of Shrewsberry was dated April 14. Wife Mary, sons Philipp, John, Joseph were named. Real and personal estate. The wife executrix, with George Curlis and Nathaniel Slocum guardians of "the fatherless and motherless children" of Francis and Elizabeth Jackson. Witnesses Thomas Huitt, George Curlis, Remembrance Lippincott. Proved February 9, 1698-9. 1699 May 18. Letters testimonial with preceding will annexed, issued to the widow Mary Dennis. [2] [3] We have found no other evidence that this John Dennis was a son of Charles Dennis.
1710 John Denis witnessed the will of Robert Drumond of Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, New Jersey. The will was dated February 6. [4]
1730 John Dennis of Monmouth County purchased 300 acres of land in Crosswicks, Monmouth County, from John Ritchie of Perth Amboy, Middlesex County. The land was adjacent to Lahawago Creek and lands of John Stillwell and Joseph Ashton. The land had been previously purchased from George Willocks, deceased, by Ann Ritchie. The deed was dated on May 16 and was witnessed by Rob Row and (?) Beakes. [5]
1738 The will of widow Mary Ware named daughter Mary Dennis, apparently deceased, wife of John Dennis, and their daughters Mary and Elizabeth of Crosswicks. Mary Ware was the widow of Joseph Ware, but daughter Mary was from her first marriage to Edward Williams. Dated September 29. The will was recorded in Gloucester County, New Jersey. [6] James, Mary, Elizabeth, and Samuel were named as children of John Dennis and first wife Mary [7]. We speculate that the first wife of John Dennis was widow Mary Williams, and seek further evidence to clarify this hypothesis.
1739 Thomas Platt of New Hanover Twp, Burlington County, and spinster Sarah Dennis, daughter of yeoman John Dennis of Upper Freehold, were married on November 1, in Monmouth County, New Jersey. [8] [Photocopy, 1739 Marriage Record Thomas Platt and Sarah Dennis]
1741 The will of John Bullock, yeoman of Burlington County, was dated on May 1 and named daughter Elenor Dennis. [9] [10]
1756 The will of John Dennis was dated May 8, 1756 at Shrewsbury Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey and named wife Ellinor. Children: James, John, Jacob, Philipp, Sarah Platt, Susannah Platt, Rebecca Platt, Anna Jonson, Rachel and Hannah. Land on North and South side of "Seader" Creek, on the Bay. Personal property. Executors: sons Jacob and Philipp. Witnesses: William Worth, Elizabeth Ogley and Samuel Emily. Proved August 2, 1756. [11] [12]
1756 Inventory for John Dennis, July 22, £96, by David Lippincott and Samuel Emley. [13]
1756 Son John Dennis died in Piles Grove, Salem County, New Jersey with wife Elizabeth and executors Jacob and Philip Dennis, both of Shrewsbury. [14]
1757 Elliner Dennis was named as daughter-in-law in the will of Elinor's step-mother, Susannah Wright Bullock. [15]
Research Notes:
The Gash Genealogy names Robert and Susanna Briggs Dennis as the parents of this John Dennis. [Further research is needed]
1728 John Dennis, perhaps this one, was named as receiving payment from the estate of John Clawson of Elizabeth Town, Essex County, New Jersey. This will named mostly Dutch people, so it is not a good fit to this John Dennis, but also named John Parker, who might have been a Quaker.
1740 Johnathan Dennis was named as friend and executor for Robert Ayers, all of Woodbridge. [16]
1744 Piscataway land sale. [17]
The children of John Dennis, by each wife, are listed in [18] [19] [20]
[1] William S. Hornor, This Old Monmouth of Ours (1932, reprint 1974), 389, [FHLBook].
[2] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 295, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].
[3] USGenWeb Archives, [USGenWeb].
[4] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 23. (Wills and Administrations 1, 1670-1730) (1901), 143, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].
[5] Deeds (Burlington, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, and Somerset Counties); New Jersey Collection, C0523, Manuscripts Division, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library, Firestone Library, Box 6, Folder 16, [Princeton Library].
[6] A. Van Doren Honeyman, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 30. (Wills and Administrations 2, 1730-1750) (1918), 516, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust].
[7] Charles Platt Jr, Thomas Platt of Burlington, New Jersey and his Descendants (Peterborough: Richard R Smith Co, 1967), 15.
[8] Charles Platt Jr, Thomas Platt of Burlington, New Jersey and his Descendants (Peterborough: Richard R Smith Co, 1967), 17.
[9] A. Van Doren Honeyman, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 30. (Wills and Administrations 2, 1730-1750) (1918), 75, Lib. 4, p. 289, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust].
[10] Wilfred Jordan, ed. Colonial and Revolutionary Families of Pennsylvania, Vol. 2 (1911), [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[11] A. Van Doren Honeyman, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 32. (Wills and Administrations 3, 1751-1760) (1924), 92, citing Lib. 8, p. 313, [InternetArchive].
[12] New Jersey, U.S., Abstract of Wills, 1670-1817, Vol.36, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[13] A. Van Doren Honeyman, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 32. (Wills and Administrations 3, 1751-1760) (1924), 92, [InternetArchive].
[14] A. Van Doren Honeyman, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 32. (Wills and Administrations 3, 1751-1760) (1924), 92, the wills of the son and father are distinguished by the names of the wives, [InternetArchive].
[15] A. Van Doren Honeyman, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 32. (Wills and Administrations 3, 1751-1760) (1924), 46, [InternetArchive].
[16] A. Van Doren Honeyman, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 30. (Wills and Administrations 2, 1730-1750) (1918), 29, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust].
[17] Richard S. Hutchinson, East New Jersey Land Records, 1747-1757, Books G2 and H2 (Lewes, Delaware: Colonial Roots, 2005), 5, [GoogleBooks].
[18] Franklin Platt, Notes upon the ancestry of John Platt: born in Burlington County, N.J., Aug. 13, 1749; died near Wilmington, Del., Dec. 1823 (1896), 8-9, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive], [FamilySearch].
[19] Charles Platt Jr, Thomas Platt of Burlington, New Jersey and his Descendants (Peterborough: Richard R Smith Co, 1967), 15-16.
[20] Geneanet Community Trees Index, [AncestryRecord].