Research Notes:
These are notes about John Dennis, son of Robert and Mary Dennis, of Woodbridge, Middlesex County.
1669 On 20 December, Samuel Moore, planter of Woodbridge, was deeded land in and around Woodbridge. Neighbors included John Dennis. [1]
1669-70 March 18. Patent to John Dennis of Woodbridge for: 1) a houselot of 19 ½ acres between Elishay Parker and Daniel Greasie; 2) 7 ½ acres of meadow between Elishay Parker and Craine Neck Creek; 3) 60 acres of upland along the upper line of Woodbridge bounds and the Piscataway path; 4) 20 acres of Raratans meadows between Tho. Blumfild jun., the great Saltpond, Elisha Parker, Obadiah Heires and Raratans River. [2] [3]
1669 Dec. 20. Patent to Samuell Moore of Woodbridge planter for land in and about Woodbridge, vizt: ... 4, four acres of meadow at the North of his house lot, West of John Dennis... [4]
1670 Dec. 30. Do. to John Adams of Woodbridge for:... sixteen acres of Raratans meadows, bounded N. by Obadiah Heires, W. by John Dennis, S. by Raratans R., E. by Daniel Greasie. [5]
1679 May 10. Last Will and Testament of Benaiah Dunham of Piscataway, weaver. Wife Elizabeth, children Edmund, Mary and Elizabeth. Land on Raraton R. and Bonhams Creek and in New-England. Executors the wife, Samuel Dennis of Woodbridge and John Fitzrandolph of Piscataway. Witnesses Benja Hull and George Hill. [6]
1681-2 Jan. 26. Do. John Dennis, carpenter, to John Allin, clerice, both of Woodbridge, for a messuage there on the road from the Meeting House to the Common Court House and Prison, 19 ½ acres, N. Elisha Parker, W. Daniel Greasy, now Thomas Leonard, S. Samuel Moore, with said road between; also 7 ½ acres of meadow, S. Crane Neck Creek, W. Samuel Moore, N. the first lot. [7]
1683-4 Jan. 2. Letters of administration on the estate of John Allen, late of Woodbridge, Clerk, granted to John Dennis, of the same place, and bond of the administrator. [8]
1687 John Dennis, perhaps this one, purchased land in Cape May County (south New Jersey) from Panktoe, an Indian. [9]
There are multiple records (1689 and 1695) for deaths of John Dennis in Middlesex County [10] [11]. Circumstantial links suggest these are for the same person. The 1689 record names Nathaniel Fitch Randoll. The 1695 record indicates John was likely the brother of Samuel and had son or brother John. The 1702 will of John Dennis (perhaps the son of this John Dennis), carpenter, of Woodbridge names brother Nathaniel Fitz Randolph and uncle Samuel Dennis. Perhaps Nathaniel Fitz Randolph was a son-in-law in the 1689 record. Perhaps son John was not of age to administer an intestate estate in 1689.
1689 June 3. Dennis, John, of Middlesex Co. Inventory of the personal estate of (pounds 44.10.10) made by Natt'll Fitch Randoll (see 1726 will below), Ephraim Androws and Joseph Dole (copy). [12]
1691 April 14. Deed. Jonathen Dennes, carpenter, to John Coddington, both of Woodbridge, for 10 acres of Rahawack meadows, granted to him by the Town April I, 1684, E. his father Robert Dennes. [13]
1695 June 1. Letters of administration on the estate of John Dennis, senior, of Woodbridge, carpenter, dec'd intestate, granted John Dennis of the same place. [14] [15]
1695-6 Feb. 21. Do. John Allin, late of London, now of Boston, son of John Allin, Clerk, dec'd, by Capt. Samuel Walker, late of Boston, New England, merchant, now of Piscataqua, Middlesex County, his attorney, to William Ellison of Woodbridge, tanner, for a houselot of 19 ½ acres in Woodbridge, N. Elisha Parker, W. Daniel Greasy, now Thomas Leonard, S, Samuel More and John Dennis, E. Elisha Parker and upland; 7 ½ acres of meadow, E. a small creek, dividing it from Elisha Parker, S. Crane Neck Creek, W. Samuel Moore, N. upland, bo't by John Allin, Clerk, dec'd of John Dennis January 26, 1681. [16]
1696 June 1. Bond of John Dennis of Woodbridge, as administrator of the estate. Samuel Dennis of the same place fellow bondsman. (These could be brothers to this John Dennis). [17]
Two wills of Fitzrandolph are shown here, because they might be related to John Dennis (see 1689 will).
1718 On May 20, Joseph Fitsrendalph (father of Nathaniel), of Woodbridge, Middlesex County, planter, dated his will. Wife Isobell. Children: Joseph, Nathaniel, Margaret, Mary, all under age, brothers Samuel and Edward. Real and personal estate (negroes). Executors: the wife and two brothers Edward Fitsrendalph and William Laing. Witnesses: John Kinsey, Joseph Stimson, Grace Kinsey. Proved July 21, 1718. Lib. A, p. 99 [18]
1726-7 On January 15, Nathaniel Fitsrandolph, of Woodbridge, Middlesex County, blacksmith, dated his will. Intending to make a sea voyage, gives farm at Smoking Point, alias Blazing Starr, in Woodbridge Township and personal estate to mother Isabel and sisters Margaret and Mary Fitz Randolph. John Kinsey senior, executor. Witnesses: Jonathan Kinsey, Johanna Kinsey, Elizabeth Kinsey. Proved January 8, 1727-8. [19]
1694 July 2. Fitzrandolph, Isaac, of Woodbridge. Bond of Ruth Fitzrandolph, widow of, as administratrix of his estate. Thomas Higgins of Piscataway fellow bondsman. [20]
1694 July 2. Administration on the estate granted to his widow Ruth. [21] [22]
1695 Dec. 27. Bond of Nathaniel Fitzrandolph senior of Woodbridge for the payment of £13.8.- for the use of Isaac and William Fitzrandolph, the children, Nathaniel Fitchrandal junior fellow bondsman. [23]
1695 Oct. Account of the estate rendered by his late widow and administratrix Ruth, nov/ wife of Stephen Tuttel, in which appear charges for supporting two sons of the deceased and for accountant's lying in. [24]
1695 Dec. 31. Bond of Stephen Tattle of Woodbridge for maintaining to their 15th year and educating Isaac and William Fitzrandolph, the children of Isaac Fitzrandolph. [25]
The names of children of John Dennis and Sarah Bloomfield have been reported. The report states incorrectly that John Dennis was the son of Thomas Dennis.[26]
[1] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 9, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].
[2] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 11, of 11-12, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].
[3] Joseph W. Dalley, Woodbridge and Vicinity, the story of a New Jersey township (1873), 18, [HathiTrust].
[4] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 9, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].
[5] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 16, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].
[6] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 63, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].
[7] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 226, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].
[8] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 56, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].
[9] Harold Fisher Wilson, The Jersey Shore: a social and economic history of the counties of Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth, and Ocean, Vol. 1-3 (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co, 1953),69, Vol. 1.
[10] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 23. (Wills and Administrations 1, 1670-1730) (1901), 134, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].
[11] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 23. (Wills and Administrations 1, 1670-1730) (1901), 135, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].
[12] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 23. (Wills and Administrations 1, 1670-1730) (1901), 134, of 134-35, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].
[13] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 229, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].
[14] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 243, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].
[15] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 23. (Wills and Administrations 1, 1670-1730) (1901), 135, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].
[16] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 237, of 237-38, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].
[17] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 23. (Wills and Administrations 1, 1670-1730) (1901), 135, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].
[18] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 23. (Wills and Administrations 1, 1670-1730) (1901), 166, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].
[19] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 23. (Wills and Administrations 1, 1670-1730) (1901), 166, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].
[20] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 23. (Wills and Administrations 1, 1670-1730) (1901), 166, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].
[21] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 215, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].
[22] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 23. (Wills and Administrations 1, 1670-1730) (1901), 166, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].
[23] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 23. (Wills and Administrations 1, 1670-1730) (1901), 166, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].
[24] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 23. (Wills and Administrations 1, 1670-1730) (1901), 166, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].
[25] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 23. (Wills and Administrations 1, 1670-1730) (1901), 166, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].
[26] Louise Aymar Christian, "Nathaniel Fitz Randolph of Woodbridge, N.J., Quaker, and his Descendants," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 97 (1943), 275-280 at 279, see footnote, [AmericanAncestors].