John WYLLEY

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]

Agnes married John DENISON on 11 May 1561 in St. James, Thorley, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, England. John (son of Bishop DENISON and ? UNKNOWN) was born about 1530 in England; died on 04 Dec 1582 in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Agnes married John GACE on 03 May 1584 in Bishop's Stortford. John was buried on 02 Sep 1602 in Bishop's Stortford. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Agnes married John WALL on 18 May 1603 in Little Hadham, Hertfordshire. John was buried on 03 Nov 1613 in Bishop's Stortford. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Mary married Edward DUCKETT on 18 Oct 1579 in Bishop's Stortford. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: George ABBOT. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Grace married Richard WALKER on 16 Oct 1580 in Bishop's Stortford. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Edward married Elizabeth JARDFELD on 18 Jan 1591/2 in Bishop's Stortford. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

George married Mary BRETT in 1583. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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]

Notes:

It has been brought to my attention from an e-mail dtd 6-5-09 from Sarah Sully, there seems to be 2 different Denisons lines. I previously had John Denison as the son of William Denison and Margaret Chandler. I have removed him and started a new Denison line. Here is what she had to say:

Because of errors in a couple of Denison Genealogy books which were then repeated in the books about other families, two distinct and unrelated Denison families have been shuffled together like a deck of cards. Ruth Denison's ancestry is correct in this article from the NEHGR, (see below) but it didn't get as much exposure as the compiled genealogy books did. So it's the bad info that went viral on the 'Net while the correct info is being ignored.

As far as anyone can prove, these Denisons and the ones from Bishops Stortford are not related. General Daniel Denison wrote an autobiography (finished in 1672) that was published in NEHGR, 1892; Vol. 46, in which he talks about all sorts of cousins, living and dead, but he never mentioned the Denison family that lived in Ipswich at the same time. Apparently, they weren't related.

Elizabeth Saltonstall did marry a John Denison, about 1688, and he died 14 September 1689 in Cambridge, Mass. She then married Rev. Roland Cotton, and was having children with him in Sandwich from 15 July 1693 (when John and Ruth were still having children in Ipswich) until 1721. All Cotton births are in the Sandwich VR. Rev. Cotton died 22 March 1721/22, and Elizabeth Saltonstall died in Boston, 8 July 1726. Elizabeth Saltonstall's obituary is below.

Interestingly enough, Elizabeth, widow of John Denison, the weaver, died only a year earlier, in Ipswich Sept. 15, 1725. She was the mother of sons George and Daniel. (See the Vital Records attached below.)

If you can correct your Denison line, you'll be part of the solution! And maybe you can keep some other poor researcher from spending nine years (like I did) trying to untangle these two Denison families!

Thanks,
Sarah

Transcription of New England Historical Genealogy Record, Vol. 56, p. 207.

1902 Notes and Queries 207

Denison. --- As a different ancestry has been given in the Denison Genealogy (1881), page 330, for Ruth and Hannah Denison, the wives of Joseph and Nathaniel Kingsbury, I give the following abstracts of wills and deeds from the Essex Co. Registries of Wills and Deeds, showing their correct line of descent.

I. John1 Denison, of Ipswich, was a weaver by trade, a subscriber to the Major Denison fund, 1648, commoner, 1664, voter in town affairs, 1679; he had six acres of marsh next Goodman How, granted Feb. 7, 1647. He died in 1683, leaving a widow, Priscilla, who died Feb. 15, 1692, a son John2, and daughters, Ruth, Sarah, wife of Tobijah Perkins, Priscilla, wife of Thomas Persons, and a grandchild, Sary Pritchett, daughter of John Pritchett.

II. John2 Denison, of Ipswich, married Ruth, daughter of Cornet Peter and Hannah (Allen) Ayer, of Haverhill; he received the covenant of the church, January 25, 1673-4. His wife, Ruth, died February 2, 1694-5, and he married a second wife, Elizabeth. His will, dated July 24, 1725, proved January 22, 1726-7, mentions wife Elizabeth, son John, son George, son Daniel, daughters Ruth Kingsbury and Hannah Kingsbury, and aged sister Smith, to be supported with a comfortable subsistence during her natural life, and a "Decent buriall at her Death, out of my estate." Essex County Probate Records. His children were: 1. Ruth,3 born Aug. 9, 1684; died Aug. 15, 1685. 2. Ruth, born June 7, 1685; married Joseph Kingsbury. 3. John, died July 30, 1688. 4. Hannah, born 1689; married Nathaniel Kingsbury. 5. George, of Ipswich. 6. Daniel, removed to Windham, Conn. 7. John, born, April 28, 1692. 8. Priscilla, born January 14, 1694-5; died January 30, 1694-5.

III. John3 Denison, of Ipswich, weaver, mentions in his will, niece Rebeckah Manning, "who lives with me," also her sisters, Elizabeth, Mary, and Anna; "my sister, Ruth Kingsbury," of Norwich; "all my land at Harwich that arrived to me by my Grand Father Ayer to my two cousins, Daniel Kingsbury and Denison Kingsbury in equal halfs": all the residue of the estate "to my two sisters, Ruth Kingsbury and Hannah Kingsbury, and my cousin, Daniel Dennison"; Cousin John Perkins, of Topsfield; cousin Eliza Fitts; Joseph Kingsbury, of Norwich, and Nathll Kingsbury, of Coventry, Executors; dated January 18, 1754; proved June 1, 1761. Adminsitration granted to Ephriam Kingsbury, of Norwich, and Nathl Kingsbury, of Tollon, in Conn. Essex Probate Records.

John Denison, of Ipswich, Junr, weaver, and Joseph Kingsbury and Ruth Kingsbury, and Nathaniel Kingsbury and Hannah Kingsbury, of Norwich, in Connecticut, convey to Samuel Ayer, of Haverhill, land in Haverhill, known by the name of World's End land, which was formerly Peter Ayer's land; Oct. 30, 1714. Essex County Deeds.

Name:
John, vicar at Standon, Hertfordshire; at the time of the family's remove to New England he was married with a good portion, a minister and lived about Pelham, not far from Stratford where we were born.

John married Priscilla ? before 1648 in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Priscilla died on 15 Feb 1692. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name:
WILLIAM, bp 5 October 1606; "would needs go a soldier into Holland in the year 1624 at the famous Seige of Breda when it was taken by Spinola and Count Mansfield had an army out of England, to have raised the seige, but the army miscarried and my brother William was never heard of since" (NEHGR 46:127)

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]

Notes:

Excerpt from :Rev. John Eliot's Record of church Members": 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, & full of distemp', and disaffection. but the Lord left them to open and shamefull drunkennesse at Boston: espec'.edward. We did so greatly huble them both y though George (being a membr) was excomvnicated, yet in a short time was taken in againe. And Edward humbling himselfe so effectually yt he was also speedyly received in to the Church, this is the tryvumph of grace, to magnify grace by sinne.

Excerpts from Major-General Daniel Denison: Edward, one of the brothers of Gen. Denison, made Roxbury his residence, and there married Eliza, daughter of Joseph Weld. As we have seen he was "disarmed" in 1637. He was representative in 1652 and 1655. He had a large family, one of the sons, William, graduating at Harvard College in 1681. He died April 26, 1668, and his wife in 1717".

Edward married Elizabeth WELDE on 30 Mar 1641. Elizabeth was born about 1625; died in 1716 in Roxbury, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts. [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 Bridget TOMPSON in Mar 1640. Bridget (daughter of John TOMPSON, Gent and Alice FREEMAN) was born on 11 Sep 1622 in England; died in Aug 1643 in Roxbury, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts; was buried in Aug 1643 in Roxbury, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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]