Person:William Denison (1)

Origins

From “Pedigree of Denison,” Communicated by J.L Clacock, Jr., Esq., of Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, England NEHGR 46:352-3: Extracts from the Paris Register of Bishop’s Stortford, Hrts.: Baptisms 1561 to 1712:

[Baptisms:] 1571-- William Denysen feb 3d

[Marriages:] 1603-- William Denisen and Margaret Monck [she was a widow; see her notes] Nov 7th

From “Emigrants from Hertfordshire,” NEHGR 132:19: "The recent publication of the Calendar of Assize Records: Hertfordshire Indictments, James I ([Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1975], 163), allows William Denison’s trade to be identified as maltster, an occupation common in Bishop’s Stortford, an important malting center until this century. This information explains the source of the “very good Estate” which Daniel said his father brought to New England."

William Dennyson was church warden of St. Michael's Parish church, Bishop's Stratford, in 1606.

William and Margaret had several children, baptized in Bishop's Stortford (NEHGR 46:352-3):

• 1605-- John (incorrectly transcribed as son of Edward, but can't be; see article for explanation) April 7th
• 1606-- William son of William Denyson Oct 5th [left England about 1624 to be a soldier in Holland where he fought in the famous siege of Breda; he was never heard from again]
• 1609-- George the son of William Denisen Oct 18th [buried 18 Jun 1614]
• 1612-- Daniel son of William Denniison Oct 18th
• 1615-- Sarah Dension da of William and Margaret Oct 8th [buried Oct 13th]
• 1616-- Edward Denizon son of William and Margaret Nov 3
• 1620-- George Denison son of “ Dec 10

Life in New England

Per the autobiography of his son Daniel Denison [“Autobiography of Major-General Daniel Denison,” communicated by Daniel Denison Slade, M.D., of Chestnut Hill, Mass. NEHGR 46:127-133 (April 1892); see notes for Daniel Denison for transcription], William called two of his sons back from Cambridge and left England for New England in 1631, bringing his three youngest sons (Daniel, Edward and George) and leaving behind the eldest son John who had by this time married and settled as a clergyman.

Savage believes he may have come over on the LION with Rev. Eliot into whose church he is later admitted.

William and his family settled in Roxbury, Mass. He is recorded in Rev. John Eliot's church records. He was admitted freeman 3 July 1632 and was a representative in the General Court in 1635; but in 1637, being an adherent of Rev. John Wheelwright, he was disarmed.

“At a court holden att Boston March 4, 1633-34 Mr. Willm Dennison is chosen constable of Rocksbury,” and, under the same date, the colony records give his name among those who have “gyven and pmised towards the sea fort.” Chosen deputy in 1634, he was called upon to serve on important committees, among which was the boarding of vessels for the regulation of trade.

Was one of the founders of the "Free School." ^{Citation needed}

Legacy

He was buried January 25, 1653, and his wife Margaret, February 1645.

He does not appear to have left a will. His son Daniel settled in Ipswich; his son Edward remained in Roxbury; his son George settled in Stonington, CT.

1. ↑ William Denison, in Anderson, Robert Charles. The Great Migration Directory. (Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, Jun 2015)
   92.

   "Denison, William: [Origin] Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire; [Emigration] 1631; [Resided] Roxbury [GMB 521-24; TAG 73:50-57; NEHGR 158:361-62]."

2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} William Denison, in Anderson, Robert Charles. The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633. (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995)
   1:522-24.

   "ORIGIN: Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire …
   CHURCH MEMBERSHIP: Admitted to Roxbury church as member #3 (which would be at the time of gathering the church, in 1632): 'William Dennison, he brought 3 children to N. E. all sons; Daniel, Edward, & George: Daniel married at Newtowne, & was joined to the church there, he afterwards removed to the church at Ipswich" [RChR 73]. …
   BIRTH: Baptized Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, 3 February 1571 [NYGBR 67:47], son of John and Agnes (Willie) Denison [NYGBR 67:50-51].
   DEATH: Roxbury 25 January 1653/4 [RChR 175]."
   
   Mr. Anderson does not include information indicating that this William Denison was a deacon of the church as stated in Find A Grave memorial 9327690/

3.   Wheeler, Richard Anson. History of the Town of Stonington, County of New London, Connecticut, from its first settlement in 1649 to 1900 (1966): With a Genealogical Register of Stonington Families. (Mystic, Connecticut: Lawrence Verry, 1966)
   p. 334-335.
4.   Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England: Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before May, 1692, on the Basis of Farmer's Register. (Boston: Little, Brown, and Co, 1860-1862)
   2:37.
5.   Roberts, Gary Boyd. English origins of New England families: from The New England historical and genealogical register, first series. (Baltimore [Maryland]: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1984)
   Vol. 3, p. 785.

   Emigrants from Hertfordshire, 1630-1640, Some Corrections and Additions

6.   Denison, Daniel, and Daniel Denison Slade. Autobiography of Major-General Daniel Denison. NEHGR. (New England Historical Genealogical Society, April 1892)
   NEHGR 46:127-133, April 1892.
7.   Baldwin, John Denison, and William Clift. A Record of the Descendants of Capt. George Denison, of Stonington, Conn: With Notices of His Father and Brothers, and Some Account of Other Denisons Who Settled in America in the Colony Times. (Worcester, Mass.: Tyler & Seagrave, 1881).
8.   Miller, Spencer. Early ancestors of Abbott, Denison and Willie families of Bishop's Stortford, County Herts, England. (1936)
   p. 466 (?).
9.   Fran, Lucy Lee Palmer. Palmers of Stonington & Allied Families. (Augusta, IL, 1937)
   p. 36.
10.   Founders of Early American Families. (Order of the Founders & Patriots of America)
    p. 99.
11.   Some of the ancestors of Oliver Hazard Perry of Lowell, Mass. (446480)
    Part I, pp.22-23.
12.   Compiled By William L Decoursey. It's About Time. (1735 - 19th Terrace Nw New Brighton, Minnesota 55112)
    citing (among others).

    Haynes, Williams, Captain George and Lady Ann (1963); The Second Boat, Vol. 6, p.7-8

13.   Ohler, Clara Paine. Ancestors and descendants of Captain John James and Esther Denison of Preston, Connecticut. (Lima, Ohio: unknown, 1912)
    p.146-160.
14.   Wildey, Anna Chesebrough. Genealogy of the descendants of William Chesebrough of Boston, Rehoboth, Mass. (New York: T.A. Wright, 1903)
    p.518-519.
15.   Allyn, James H. Swamp Yankee from Mystic. (Mystic, Connecticut: Roy N. Bohlander, c1980)
    p.32-34.
16.   Glasscock, J. L., and Church of England. St. Michael's Church (Bishops-Stortford). The Records of St. Michael's Parish Church, Bishop's Stortford. (London: Elliot Stock, 1882)
    p. 113.
17.   The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society)
    Vol. 46, 1892, p. 352-354; Vol. 85, Jan. 1831, pp. 79-86; Vol. 132, Jan 1978, p. 19-20.
18.   Deacon William Denison, in Find A Grave.

    No image provided; no actual evidence of burial presented.