Maj. Gen. Daniel DENISON

Other Events and Attributes:

• Birth: 18 Oct 1612, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, England
• Immigration: 02 Nov 1631, To Boston on the ship "Lion" (Capt. William Pierce, Master).
• Fact: 01 Apr 1634, Became a freeman
• Fact: Between 1635 and 1643, Representative
• Fact: 1649, Speaker of the House
• Fact: 1651, Speaker of the House
• Death: 20 Sep 1682, Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts

Notes:

Daniel and Patience had two children: Jon, who married a daughter of Deputy Govn. John Symonds: and Elizabeth, who married John Rogers, president of Harvard College. He was very prominent in Massachusetts, having been Major General of Militia, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and for 29 years one of the "Assistants." He died in 1682.

Excerpts from "Major-General Daniel Denison" from NEHGs: Daniel, the oldest son, was born in England in 1612. He removed from Roxbury to Newtown (Cambridge in 1632, his name being among the list of first settlers and church members. He there married Patience, the daughter of Gov. Thomas Dudley, who was at this time a resident of the place. Of the exact date of this marriage no record is now known to exist. At a general court "holden at Newtown March 4, 1634," Mr. Denison was appointed to assist in setting out the bounds of ground between "Newtowen and Rocksberry." He took the oath of freeman April 1, 1634: and under the same date the court grant him two hundred acres "all lyeing and being about the falls--easterly side of Charles River."

Excerpt from Royal Families Americans of Royal and Noble Ancestry, Vol. 1, Gov. Thomas Dudley: He became a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artilery in 1660. He wrote his autobiography which included: "In the year 1645, I was made major of the Regiment of Essex, and in the year 1653 was Chosen an assistant or magistrate and about a year after was made major General and continued so for about 7 or eight years after." Daniel was elected captain of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts in 1660. When he died in 1682, Mr. Randolph said of him that he was "among the most popular and well-principled men."

Daniel married Patience DUDLEY on 18 Oct 1632 in Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. Patience (daughter of Gov. Thomas DUDLEY and Dorothy YORKE) was born about 1613 in Northampton, England; died on 08 Feb 1689/90 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, USA; was buried in Ipswich, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. John DENISON was born on 16 Jan 1639/40 in Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA; died on 09 Jan 1670/1 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, USA.
2. Elizabeth DENISON was born on 10 Apr 1642 in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts; died on 13 Jul 1723 in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts; was buried in Ipswich Ancient Burying Ground- Linebrook Parish Cemetery.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Birth: 03 Feb 1570, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire, England
• Immigration: 1631, Came to America in the "Lion"

Notes:

Excerpt taken from "Rev. John Eliot's Record of Church Members, Roxbury, Mass.": William Dennison, he brought 3 children to N.E. all sons: Daniel Edward & George: Daniel married at Newtowne, & was joyned to the church there he afterwards removed to the church at Ipswich."

Excerpts from "Major-General Daniel Denison" from NEHG: As to the origin of the family, there is much uncertainty. The name, variously spelt Denison, Dennison, Denyson, Dennistown, is unquestionably ancient and probably of Norman extraction. In the "Patronymia Britannica", is the following notice: "The Dennistowns" of the ilk" have an extraordinary way of accounting for their surmane. One Danziel, or Daniel (say they), probably of Norman extraction, settled in Renfrewshire, and calling the estate Danzielstown assumed therefrom his surname. The family are unquestionably ancient, the name appearing in a charter of King Malcolm 1st, who died in 1165, but the Norman Danziel is probably a genealogical figment. The English Denisons are said to have sprung from a cadet of this "ancient house, who went from Scotland, temp. Charles I., who fought at Marston Moor."
We have been unable to determine with any degree of accuracy from what county of England came the Denisons who emigrated to this country. Neither is the exact period of their coming out by any means certain. There is little doubt, however, that Mr savage, is correct when he states that William Denison, with his wife Margaret, and his three sons, Daniel, Edward and George, probably came in the ship Lion, with Winthrop's wife and son, John and the Apostle Eliot, in 1631. This may be inferred from the fact that the name of William Denison stands third in the records of Eliot's church in Roxbury, it being highly probable that he would follow the fortunes of a man with whose noble character he must have become intimately acquainted during the tedious trans-atlantic voyage; even if he had not recognized him as his spiritual adviser before leaving the shores of the old world.
From the few records which exist relating to Mr. william Denison, we learn that, having settled in Roxbnury, he soon enjoyed the esteem of his fellow-townsmen. With seven others he took the oath of freeman July 3, 1632. "At a court holden at Boston March 4, 1633-34 Mr. Will Dennison is chosen constable of Rocksbury.: and, under the same date, the colony records give his name among those who have "gyven and pmised towareds the sea fort." Chosen deputy in 1634, he was called upon th serve on important committees, among which was the boarding of vessels for the regulation of trade. Taking part in that unhappy religious controversy, which shook the plantation to its very centre, and which nearly terminated its existence, at its commencement, he, together with his son Edward, was "disarmed" November 20, 1637.
In 1645, Mr Denison was one of the original donors of the "Roxbury Free Schoole," and for many years was an appraiser of wills. That he was a man of substance, may be inferred from the fact that his name appears on a loose leaf in the oldest record of the town, entitled "a note of y estates and persons of y inhabitants of Roxbury." in which he is represented as the possessor of considerable property.

Of his wife, Margaret, we know nothing beyond these brief records of the church: "Margaret Dennison, the wife of William Dennison. It pleased God to work upon her heart and change it in her ancient years after she came to this land and joyned to the church in the year 1632."
"1645 Month 12, day 3, Old Mother Dennison dyed."
He died January 25, 1653.

William married Margaret CHANDLER on 07 Nov 1603 in Bishop's Stortford, Hertsfordshire, England. Margaret was born in England; died on 23 Feb 1645 in Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Agnes WYLLEY on 11 May 1561 in St. James, Thorley, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, England. Agnes (daughter of John WYLLEY and Joan MARSHALL) was born in England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Also Known As: Bishop Denyson

Bishop married ? UNKNOWN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Joan MARSHALL on 7 Oct 1540 in Thorley, England. Joan was born in England; died after 19 Sep 1591. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]