Edward DENISON

Family/Spouse: Mercy ?. Mercy died after 18 Oct 1715 in Westerly, Washington Co., Rhode Island. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Abby DENISON was born in 1709.
2. Mary DENISON was born in 1705 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, USA.
3. Elisha DENISON was born in 1703 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, USA; died on 02 Nov 1714 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, USA.
4. Edward DENISON was born in 1699; died in young.
5. Desire DENISON was born in 1707 in Westerly, Kings Co., Rhode Island; died in 1740 in Groton, New London Co., Conn..
6. Capt John DENISON was born in 1701 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut; died on 28 Nov 1777 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut.

Edward married Anna DENISON on 02 Mar 1717/8 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, USA. Anna (daughter of John Borodell DENISON and Phebe LAY) was born on 03 Oct 1684 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Will: 04 Dec 1711
• Will Proved: 10 Mar 1712

George married Mercy GORHAM about 1677 in Barnstable, Barnstable Co., Massachusetts. Mercy (daughter of Capt John GORHAM and Desire HOWLAND) was born on 20 Jan 1658 in Barnstable, Barnstable Co., Massachusetts; died on 24 Sep 1725 in Westerly, Washington Co., Rhode Island. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: 1643, Went to England and fought in the Parliamentary Army
• Fact: 02 Jul 1644, Wounded and captured - Battle of Marston
• Emigration: 1651
• Will Proved: Jun 1695

Notes:

"After his wife's death, Bridget, George went to England, served under Cromwell in the army of the Parliment, won distintion, was wounded at Naseby, was nursed at the house of John Borodell, by his daughter Ann- whom he married and returned to Roxbury, and finally settled at Stonington, Conn."

"George and Ann were both remarkable for magnificent personal appearance, and for force of mind and character. She was always called "Lady Ann." They held foremost place in Stonington. He has been described as "the Miles Standish of the settlement," but he was a greater and more brilliant soldier than Miles Standish. He had no equal in any of the colonies, for conducting a war against the Indians, excepting, perhaps, Captain John Mason."

Excerpt from "Rev. John Eliot's Record of Church Members, Roxbury, Mass.": This winter we had a gracious p'vidence of God befell two brothers Edward & George Dennison, who had been proude incendiarys of some trobls among us, and full of distemp', and disaffection. but the Lord left them to open and shamefull drundennesse at Boston: espec'.edward. We did so greatly humble them both yet though George (being a membr) was excomvnicated, yet in a short time was taken in againe. And Edward humbling himselfe so effectually yet he was also speedyly received in to the Church, this is the tryvmph of grace, to magnify grace by sinne.

Excerpt from "Direct Descendants of Capt. George Denison": George's bro, Gen Danl Denison wrote in 1672 "My two brothers, Edward and George had all the Estate of my father left between athem, being both marryed long before my father's death; my Brother George buried his first Wife in the year 1643, went into England was a souldier ther above a year, was at the Battle of York, or Marton Moore, where he did good service, was after ward taken Prisoner, but got free and having maried a second Wife he returned to New England the year before our Mother died, and not long after ward removed himelf to New Ldon near whereunto at Stonington he now liveth, having 3 sons John, William, and George, 4 or 5 daughters......3 daughters are married to Stanton, Palmer and Cheesebrook all living at present in the same town."
He served as Deputy to the Conn Gen Court from New London Sept 1653, May 1654 and Feb 1657, and from Stonington Oct 1671, Oct 1674, May 1678, Oct 1682, May and Oct 1683, May, July and Oct 1684, May and Oct 1685, May 1686, May 1687, Sept 1689, May Sept and Oct 1693, and May 1694. When 1st mentioned in "Conn Col Recds" he is called "Captain," based upon his service and commission in England. He served on the War Comm for New London in 1653 when war threatened with Dutch. Although 56 he served as capt in King Philip's War 1676 in command of New London County troops and second in command of the Conn Army under Maj Robert Treat. He was ap'pted Provost Marshal May 1677. He was Capt of volunteer troops against the enemy Sept 1689.

"George Denison of Rocksbury in New England gentleman and Bridge Denison his wife daughter of John thompson late of Preston in the County of Northampton and of M(ist)ris Alice Thompso now dwelling at Rocksbury" gave a power of attorney on 22 march 1640/1 to recover her share of her father's estate.

George married Ann BORRODELL in 1645 in Naseby, Northamton, England. Ann was born about 1615 in England; died on 26 Sep 1712 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut; was buried in Elm Grove Cemetery, Mystic, New London, Conn.. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Death: 06 Sep 1712

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Between 07 Mar 1676 and 1677, Division of Estate

John married Desire HOWLAND about 1643 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA. Desire (daughter of John HOWLAND and Elizabeth TILLEY) was born before 1625 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA; died on 13 Oct 1683 in Barnstable, Barnstaple Co.,, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: 05 Mar 1683/4, Settlement of Estate

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]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Son of James Gorham and Agnes Bernington

Notes:

Name:
Ralph Gorham of Benefield, Northamptonshire, England, and his son John, were established in Plymouth colony before October 1637.

Of the former, little is known. The parish register in Benefield shows that he was born in 1575, the son of James and Agnes Bernington. he was of the Puritan faith, and apparently lived and died in Plymouth colony. An interesting entry appears in a diary of his great, great grandson, Colonel John Gorham, of Massachusetts (Shubael, John, Captain John). During the siege of Louisburg, he recorded in his "Wast Book", under the date of 1745, the following:

THE RISE OF YE FAMILY OF GORHAMS TAKEN FROM CAPTAIN GEORGE GORHAM

"My Great Great Grandfather & Family came out of Some part of England and lived att Marshfield and Had one son Nam'd after him John Gorum, alias Gorham--which Son after Having Marryed With an Howland and had Sevrall Children Went Home to England and Returnd Soone again to his family--
His Father Lived & Dyed att Marshfield and Whats Remarkable He was a Joyner and made his Coffin himself for sevrall Year before he Dyed and used to Keep apples in it as a Chest Untill he dyed & used t." (Mayflower Descendant, Vol. 5, July 1903)

His name appears again on 4 June 1639, and 5 April 1642. At the latter date he was 67 years of age. Because there are no other records concerning him, and because his name does not appear on the list of those fit for military duty in 1643, it is supposed that he died soon after the last entry, April 1642.

Ralph married Margaret STEPHENSON on 23 May 1610 in Benefield, Northamptonshire, England. Margaret was born in Bennefield, Northampton, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: 03 Mar 1672, Inventory taken.
• Will: 29 May 1672

Notes:

Excerpt from Mayflower Increasing: In the Plymouth ChR 1:147, Rev. John Cotton said of him, " he was a good old disciple & had bin sometime a magistrate here, a plaine-hearted christian". Nathaniel Morton wrote, "The 23 February 1672 Mr John Howland Senr of the Towne of Plymouth Deceased hee was a Godly man and an ancient professor in the wayes of Christ hee lived untill hee attained above eighty yearaes in the world he was one of the first Comers into this land and proved a usefull Instrument of Good in his place & was the last man that was left of those that Came over in the ship Called the May Flower that lived in Pkymouth he was with honor intered at the Towne of Plymouth on the 25 February 1672."

Name:
American history legend from the voyage of the Mayflower and founding of Plymouth Rock in 1620. American children discover John Howland when they learn of the Pilgrims, Plymouth Rock, and the first Thanksgiving. The Pilgrims' leader Governor William Bradford wrote a first hand account of the Pilgrim history from 1620 to 1647. This account was first published in 1952, and is considered one of the best first hand accounts of any kind on American history. In Bradford's account of the voyage over on the Mayflower, he tells of how John Howland washed overboard in violent storm. Howland was 29 years of age at the time. Howland was able to grab some ropes from the sails and gradually pull himself back on board the ship. This event and Bradford's account of it made John Howland a legend. Howland's name and account has been published in hundreds of publications and in school history books. As myths can grow, the story had changed that he had died and was the first pilgrim to die, thus the oldest burial in the Plymouth cemetery, Burial Hill. In fact, he survived, married and had a number of children with Elizabeth Tilley Howland, and lived to 80 plus, according to his grave stone. His grave stone also states from Plymouth records that he was the last male to die from the original pilgrims of the Mayflower. (bio by: Bruce)


Inscription:
Here ended the Pilgrimage of JOHN HOWLAND who died February 23, 1672/3 aged above 80 years. He married Elizabeth daughter of JOHN TILLEY who came with him in the Mayflower Dec. 1620. From them are descended a numerous posterity. "Here was a godly man and an ancient professor in the ways of Christ. Hee was one of the first comers into this land and was the last man that was left of those that came over in the Shipp called the Mayflower that lived in Plymouth."

John married Elizabeth TILLEY on 25 Mar 1623 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts. Elizabeth (daughter of John TILLEY and Joan HURST) was born in Henlow, Bedfordshire, England; was christened on 30 Aug 1607 in Henlow, Bedfordshire, England; died on 22 Dec 1687 in Swansea, Bristol Co., Massachusetts; was buried in Brown Lot, Little Neck Cemetery, Riverside, Rhode Island. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Will: 17 Dec 1686
• Will Proved: Between 10 Jan 1687 and 1688

Notes:

Name:
When the Mayflower set sail for the new world in 120, one of the passengers was a thirteen-year-old teenager, Elizabeth Tilley. The daughter of John and Joan (Hurst) (Rogers) Tilley, Elizabeth was baptized at Henlow, Bedfordshire, England, on 30 August 1607. She died at Swansea, Massachusetts 22 December 1687, at the age of 80. Throughout the seasons of her life, Elizabeth tilley was a first person witness and participant in the settlement of what came to become known as New England and the United States of America...

Sadly Elizabeth Tilley's parents did not survive the first winter. Historians believe that she subsequently went to live with John Carver and his wife, and it is with this family that John Howland was employed as a servant. However, John Carver died the first spring and his wife, Katherine, died the first summer and so this apparently left John Howland in charge of the Carver household. the Carvers' children died in Leiden and "Howland may have inherited at least a portion of Carver's estate. In 1624 he was considered the head of what was once the Carver household when he was granted an acre for each member of the household including himself, Elizabeth Tilley, Desire Minter and a boy named William Latham."

The exact marriage date of Elizabeth Tilley to John Howland is unknown. However, the Pilgrim John Howland Society states that,"...in the Division of Cattle in 1627 they were married with two children, Desire and John. If Desire was born in 1624 or 1625 it seems John and Elizabeth were married in March 1623 when Elizabeth was almost 16." John Howland was approximately 15 years her senior based on his date of death at age 80. Their ten children included six daughters and four sons: Desire, John, Jabez, Hope, Elizabeth, Lydia, Ruth, Hannah, Joseph and Isaac. Using an estimated marriage date of 1623, John Howland cared and provided for his then "teenage wife" for approximately 49 years.

With so little written about Elizabeth Tilley, a review of John Howland's record adds to what can be surmised about her --Elizabeth was John's able partner for life. He took an active role in Plymouth's affairs and became a prominent society member. Also, John Howland was one of the "Undertakers" who assumed the debt of the colony and was in charge of the Plymouth Colony trading post at Cushnoc on the Kennebec River, and he also served as Assistant to the Governor and participated in the founding of the First Parish Church in Plymouth.

The first house of Elizabeth and John Howland was located on the north side of Leiden Street in Plymouth. A reproduction of this first dwelling can be found at Plimoth Plantation....

The place that was to become their home for many years was the farm known as Rocky Nook. "This place" (now in the village of Kingston) 'we had a great liking to plant in, but it was so far from our fishing our principal profit and so encompassed with woods that we should be in much danger of the savages, and our number being so little and so much ground to clear,' that they wisely decided to settle on the high cleared lands of the present town of Plymouth, 'so near the sea, so well provided with fresh water, and so fortunately protected against Indian attacks.'" In 1637/8 John Howland acquired three acres of land, a house, barn, out buildings and five acres of adjoining meadow, Rocky Nook Farm. It appears that three of their ten children were born there...

Information varies with regard to the widow Elizabeth Howland leaving Rocky Nook. However, it is known that she never remarried and went on to live with two of her children. It appears she was in residence with her son, Jabez Howland, in Plymouth from 1674 until his house was sold in 1680. It was then that Elizabeth went to Swansea to live with her daughter, Lydia (Howland) Brown. Sadly the Howlands beloved Rocky Nook Homestead was burned in 1675 during the King Philip's War.....

While it isn't known how Elizabeth Tilley Howland occupied herself following the death of her husband, there are several interesting articles on the website of the Pilgrim John Howland Society. One article indicates that she kept busy with her numerous grandchildren. Elizabeth's admonition to her children in her Last Will and testament reveals her love of God and family: "I give & commit my soule unto Almighty God my Savior & Redeemer....It is my Will & Charge to all my Children that they walke in ye Feare of ye Lord, and in Love and peace toward each other."

Article written by Kathleen M. (Kathy) Myers