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Notes for Samuel Dennis

before 1660 Samuel Dennis and Sarah Scullard were married, perhaps in Nantucket. [1]

Samuel Dennis was a weaver. [2]

1669-70 March 18. Patent to Samuel Dennis of Woodbridge for: 1) a houselot of 12 acres between Thomas Blumfield junior and Joshua Bradly; 2) 5 acres of meadow on Papiack Creek between Stephen Kent jun. and Samuel Smith; 3) one acre of meadow on the Eastside of Papiack Creek, adjoining Robert Dennis and John Bishop senior; 4) 60 acres of upland at the North end of Langsters Plain, bounded E. by Stephen Kent, W. by Thomas Blumfeilde senior, N. by a road, S. by the road to New Piscataway; 5) 16 acres of Raratons meadow, bounded N. by John Pike junior, N. by David Makany, E. by Robert Vauquellin and Benjamin Parkest, S. by a creek. [3] Samuel Dennis was listed as a freeholder of Woodbridge with a total of 94 acres. [4]

1669-70 March 18. Do. to Thomas Blumfield junior of Woodbridge for: 1, a houselot of 11 ½ acres, bounded W. by Samuel Dennis, ... [5]

1670 Samuel Dennis of Woodbridge received 40 pounds from John Bishop of Nantucket on behalf of Samuel's wife Sarah Dennis, formerly Sarah Scullard for the share given her by her father Samuel Scullard, including the 5 pounds given her by her grandfather Richard Kent. [6]

1670-4 May 20. Deed. Rehoboth Gannatt, of New Piscataway to Samuel Dennes of Woodbridge, planter, for 10 acres between John Marline senior and Charles Gillman, bought of Hopewell Hull of Woodbridge, also 3 acres of meadow between Charles Gilman and Lipperarye. [7]

1670 October 10. Do. to John Pike jun. of Woodbridge for: ... fifteen acres of meadow of Raratons R. bounded E. by Samuel Dennis and David Makany ... [8]

1670 Dec. 29. Do. to Abraham Tappin of Woodbridge for: ... four acres of meadow on Papiack Creek, next to John Smith millwright; 5, two and one half acres of meadow on said creek adjoining Samuel Dennis ... [9]

1670 Dec. 30. Do. to Joshua Bradley of Woodbridge planter for: 1, a houselot of 15 acres, adjoining Saml Dennis ... [10]

1670 Dec. 30. Do. to Benjamin Parkis of Woodbridge for: ... 15 acres of Raratans meadows, S. of Robert Vauquellin, E. of Samuel Dennis. Marginal Note: "This is solde to Glaude Vallot." [11]

1673 On 24 August, Samuel Dennis and two others were chosen as "Schepens (or magistrates)" of Woodbridge. [12]

1675 June 15. Do. to Charles Gilman for do. land, vizt: 1, a houselot of 10 acres, bounded S. by the houselot of Hopewell Hull, now in possession of Samuel Dennis, N. by the lot of Hugh Donn, now Wm Cotter ... [13]

1675 Nov. 24. Commission for a Court at Woodbridge, vizt Capt. John Pike to be President, John Bishop senior, Stephen Kent, Thomas Blumfeild and Samuel Dennis Magistrates. [14]

1678-9 Feb. 16. Last Will and Testament of Thomas Blomfield junior of Woodbridge: bequeathes lands at Woodbridge and personal property to brother Ezekiel Blomfeild, to aged father and mother, to cousin Elisabeth, dau. of John Dennis, to cousin Jonathan and David Dunham, sons of brother-in-law Jonathan Dunham, to brother Nathaniel Blumfield, to cousin John Dennis, to cousin Samuel Dennis, to cousin William Thornton, to "my boy" Mathew Moore, to brother John Blumfield. Executor brother Ezekiel. Witnesses Ephraim Andross and Samuel Hale. [15]

1679 April 7. Inventory of the estate of Thomas Blumfield junior made by Samuel Dennis and Jonathan Dunham (267. 10. 8.). [16]

1680 Samuel Dennes was to assist the widow Anne upon execution of the will of Robert Rogers of Woodbridge, written Sept 1. John Dennes witness. [17]

1681 On 31 August, Samuel Dennis was appointed Justice of the Peace for Woodbridge, assistant to the county court for Woodbridge and Piscataway. [18]

1683 Samuel Dennis, of Woodbrige, was a deputy to the New Jersey Council. [19]

1682/83 On 1 March, "At the General Assembly begun and holded at Elizabeth Town, in the Province of East New Jersey, ... that in and throughout this Province, all necessary highways, bridges, passages, landings, and ferries, fit and apt for travelling passages, landing of goods, shall be set, laid out and appointed in and throughout every county within this Province, by the respective persons, herein after mentioned, ' that is to say, in and for the county of Middlesex. ... Samuel Dennis" [20]

1682/83 Men named Samuel Dennis were appointed tax commissioners in both Monmouth and Middlesex Counties. [21]

1683 The first court for Middlesex county was held at Piscataway, Samuel Dennis presiding as judge. [22]

1683 Nov. 10. Will of Samuel Moore of Woodbridge. Wife Hannah, sons Samuel, Thomas, John, Enoch, daughters Hannah, Elizabeth, Frances, Sarah. Real and personal estate: liberates negro-woman Nanny. Executors brothers-in-law Samuel Dennes and Samuel Hale with son-inlaw John Blumfield. Witnesses John Pike, John Bishop, Samuel Haile, John Blumfield, John Ilsly, Ephraim Andrise, Israeli Thornehill, Ezekiel Blumfield, Jonathan Bischop, Mathew Moore. [23] [24]

1683-4 June 29. Deed. Stephen Kent to Israel Thornill, both of Woodbridge, for 60 acres on the Eastside of Langstares Farm or Plaine bounded S. by the highway, W. by Samuel Dennis. [25]

1684 a grand jury was empanelled on 16 Sep at Woodbridge. An indictment was presented against John Bishop and Samuel Dennis for being the principals in a duel, but there was no evidence of punishment.

1680 Sept. 1. Will of Robert Rogers of Woodbridge. Wife Anne, sons Thomas, John, son-in-law Henry Allword. Real and personal estate. The wife executrix wiih Ephraim Andrise and Samuel Dennes as assistants. Witnesses John Dennes, Samuel Haile, John Wilkines. Proved June 15, 1686. [26]

1688 Mr. Samuel Dennis was appointed commissioner to make tax assessments in Middlesex County, New Jersey. [Samuel Dennis, a different person, was appointed in Monmouth Co.] [27]

1689 Nov. 22. Will of Henry Forrest, late of Dublin, Ireland, now of Woodbridge, merchant. Wife Margaret, son John, son-in-law William Wolmore, sister Ellenor Franklen, who has son Joseph Francklen of Cork, Ireland, merchant, Mathew Moore and wife of Woodbridge, Capt. John Bischop, Nathaniel Fitzrandolph and Samuel Dennis, all of Woodbridge, apprentice boy John Markfeat. Personal estate. Executors Capt. John Stuart of Barbadoes and Samuel Dennis. Witnesses James Moore, Bartholomew Doud, Samuel Dennes. Proved Dec. 10, 1689. [28]

1689 Samuel Dennis married widow Mary Crowe (Crowell).

1694-5 March 5. Power of attorney. Samuel Dennis of Woodbridge, having married Mary, the widow of Edward Crow, and thereby legally become the administrator of the estate of said Crow, who has died intestate, empowers his said wife to manage the estate for the benefit of her children by Crow, vizt: Mary, Yelvarton, Joseph and Edward; followed by the inventory of the part of the estate, belonging to the children, and the receipt by Mary Dennis for it on behalf of her children. [29]

1695 Dec. 14. Do. Daniel Robins of Woodbridge to Peter Lacont of Staten Island, for certain parcels there: ...3 acres of meadow, N. Samuel Dennis, E. a creek, S. grantor, W. William Bingley, bo't of James Clerkson May 29, 1688 ... [30]

1697 Sept. 6. Deed. Samuel Dennis of Woodbridge and wife Mary to Richard Powell of the same place, innholder, for 5 acres of meadow there. S. Peter Lacount of Staten Island, formerly Robert Dennis dec'd, W. certain small creeks and coves, N. and E. a greater creek. [31]

1698 Samuel Dennes was named to the General Assembly from Middlesex County, returned by sheriff Nathaniel Fitzrandolph junior. [32]

1707 On July 26, Samuel Dennes [Dennis], of Woodbridge, East Jersey, dated his will. Wife Mary. Children Samuel, sole executor, and Jonathan. Real and personal estate. Witnesses Sam'l Shepherd, Tho: Davis, Geo. Ewbunck. Proved June 10, 1708. [33]

1707-8 Feb. 2. Dennes, Mr. Samuel, of Middlesex Co. Inventory of the personal estate of, £I07.2.9, incl. a Bible and other books. £1.8.-; made by John Bishop, Thomas Pike and Noah Bishop. [34]

1708 June I0. Letters testamentary granted to Samuel Dennis, the executor of the last will, etc. [35]

Research Notes:

1689 On 22 November, Samuel Dennis of Woodbridge interacted with people from Cork, Ireland. [36] By inference, Samuel Dennis of Woodbridge may also be related to the Dennis families in Glocester Co by the Delaware River.

1684 2d m. (April). Return of survey. for John and Samuel Dennis, of 250 acres on Dellaware R. between Jno Ithell and Edw. Evarett. [37]

1686-7 Jan. 11. Power of attorney. Samuel Dennis of Cork, Ireland, merchant, to his brother John Dennis of the same place, joiner, as land agent for property jointly held in West Jersey On April 25, 1688: Substitution of attorney. John Dennis to Thomas Thackery of West Jersey [38]

1688 April 23. Do. John Dennis, late of Cork, Ireland, now of West Jersey, joiner, for himself and as attorney of his brother Samuel Dennis, to Christopher Sibthorpe of Philadelphia, brasier, for 250 acres in Gloucester County, on Delaware R. [39]

1689 April 18. Do. Do. to Tho. Thackera as attorney of John Dennis, of 500 acres with 25 acres highway allowance, on Glocester R., between Tho. Gardiner and Edward Smout. [40]

1692 Sept. 1. Do. Andrew Robeson of .Philadelphia, merchant, to William Alberson of West Jersey, yeoman, for 200 acres in the townbounds of Glocester, between Francis Collins, the little boundary creek (North), the highway, and John Dennis. [41]

1693 Dec. 31. Do. Thomas Gardiner of Grovely, Gloucester County, administrator of Tho: Matthews dec'd, to Hugh Durborrow, sawyer, Daniel Standish, bricklayer, and Daniel Radley, sawyer, all of Philadelphia, for 355 acres in Gloucester County, N. William Steel, S. John and Samuel Dennis, E. the South branch of Gloucester River. [42]

1697 Nov. 2. Do. Hugh Durborow, sawyer, Daniel Radley, sawyer, and John Parsons, carpenter, all of Philadelphia, to John Ashbrook of Glocester River, Glocester County, yeoman, for 100 acres on said river and on Allomannessing alias Steel's Branch, adjoining John and Samuel Dennis, part of 355 acres bought of Thomas Gardiner, as administrator of Thomas Matthews, December 31, 1693. [43]

1698 June 1. Do. William Alberson senior of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, to his son William Alberson junior of Glocester Co, West Jersey, for a plantation of 250 acres in Glocester Co, N. Newton Creek, E. Tho. Carleton, S. E. Archibald Mickell, S. W. and W. the South branch of said creek; excepting 4 acres in the possession of Tho. Dennis and 20 acres at the Upper Landing of said branch, laid out to Abraham Alberson. [44]

1698 June 1. Do. Same to his son Abraham Alberson of Glocester Co, West Jersey, for 220 acres in said County, of which 200 are on the Southside of the South branch of Newton Creek, N. W. Archibald Mickell, S. E. Samuel Dennis, bought of Andrew Robeson September I, 1692; 20 acres on the Northside of said branch, at the Upper Landing, enclosed by William Alberson's land. [45]

1705 Samuel Denis and Daniel Denis Junior, and other freeholders and inhabitants of Woodbridge, Middlesex County, New Jersey, granted land to preacher Samuel Shepard, whom the people supported, and a house called the Cow House. [46]


Footnotes:

[1] Clarence Almon Torrey and Elizabeth Petty Bently, New England Marriages prior to 1700 (Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1985), 216, [GoogleBooks].

[2] Joseph W. Dalley, Woodbridge and Vicinity, the story of a New Jersey township (1873), 20, [HathiTrust].

[3] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 12, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].

[4] Joseph W. Dalley, Woodbridge and Vicinity, the story of a New Jersey township (1873), 28, [HathiTrust].

[5] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 12, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].

[6] Register of Probate, The probate records of Essex County Massachusetts, Vol. 1 1635-1664 (Salem Massachusetts: The Essex Institute, 1916), 84, [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), 103, [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), 14, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].

[9] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 14, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].

[10] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 15, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].

[11] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 15, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].

[12] Joseph W. Dalley, Woodbridge and Vicinity, the story of a New Jersey township (1873), 50, [HathiTrust].

[13] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 44, [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), 38, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].

[15] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 43, of 43-44, [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), 44, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].

[17] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 124, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].

[18] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 44, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].

[19] Celebration of the bi-centennial anniversary of the New Jersey Legislature, 1683-1883 (Trenton, N.J. : Naar, Day & Naar, 1883), 10, [HathiTrust].

[20] Aaron Leaming and Jacob Spicer, The Grants, Concessions, and original constitutions of the province of New Jersey (1881), 257, 275, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].

[21] Aaron Leaming and Jacob Spicer, The Grants, Concessions, and original constitutions of the province of New Jersey (1881), 307, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].

[22] John P. Wall and Harold E. Pickersgill, eds., History of Middlesex County New Jersey 1664-1920 Vol. 1 (New York: Lewis historical publishing company, 1921), 233, [HathiTrust].

[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), 324, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].

[24] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 121, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].

[25] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 57, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].

[26] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 124, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].

[27] Aaron Leaming and Jacob Spicer, The Grants, Concessions, and original constitutions of the province of New Jersey (1881), 307, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].

[28] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 170, citing page 110, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].

[29] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 231, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].

[30] 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].

[31] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 272, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].

[32] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 162, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].

[33] 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, citing Lib. I, p. 202, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].

[34] 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].

[35] 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].

[36] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 170, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].

[37] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 362, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].

[38] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 650, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].

[39] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 651, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].

[40] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 680, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].

[41] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 668, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].

[42] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 661, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].

[43] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 671, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].

[44] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 668, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].

[45] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 21. (Patents and Deeds, 1664-1703) (1899), 668, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].

[46] Richard S. Hutchinson, East New Jersey Land Records, 1702-1717, Books H, I, and Little K (Lewes, Delaware: Colonial Roots, 2008), 161, citing deed K-64.