James Dennis, of Marblehead

James Dennis, of Marblehead was not the son of William Dennis, of Scituate. He was probably born in Southwestern England but his parents are not known. William Dennis, of Scituate also had a son James in Scituate.

James Dennis of Marblehead married Mary. Mary was not the daughter of William Charles of Marblehead, Mass. She was his wife’s niece.

On the death of William Charles, the children of Mary (Charles) Dennis inherited a half-share in a lot on the border between Marblehead and Salem. They sold their portion to Samuel Robinson on September 30, 1695[1]. The siblings also inherited a share of the Humphrey farm[2] [3]

"James lived to the ripe old age of 94, long enough to see the birth of 28 known grandchildren born between 1688 and 1719 and the start of a very large Dennis dynasty in Marblehead."

Biography

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Dennis-2888

James' birth is calculated based on his age and year of death[1] Where he was born and to whom is not yet known. Anderson's "Great Migration" series includes an Edward, Robert and William Dennis as early New England immigrants who may possibly have been his father or related in some way (William & Robert's known children do not include a James). A James Dennis also lived in Boston at about the same time and married a woman named Mary Coney but the list of his children do not include an Amos or Agnes so this was a different man.

Circa 1654 (per Torrey, if he was really born c. 1636 then it was likely 5 years or so later), he married Mary Unknown, the niece of William Charles and/or his wife Sarah Unknown (how she was blood-related and to which one is not yet known).[2] [3]

Three of James' and Mary's children inherited property from William Charles but it is critical to note that in William's will he called Mary "my Cousin Mary" and did not call her children "grandchildren".[4][5][6] [7]. When Torrey in "New England Marriages to 1700" assigns Mary a surname of "Charles" he does so by citing the Essex Antiquarian Vol 12 p. 59 which asserts that the Dennis children bequeathed to by William Charles are his grandchildren. But the Essex Antiquarian is mistaken as proven by the original text of William's will cited here.[4]. Instead, William Charles called both James Dennis AND his wife Mary "my Cousin" which, at the time, equally meant niece/nephew. Given that Mary's own testimony was that William's widow was her AUNT, not her MOTHER, the inescapable conclusion is that Mary was NOT the daughter of William Charles and her children were not his grandchildren.

Their children included:

1. James Jr[5] [6], who married Sarah Pitman[8] [9]
2. Mary, who may have died unmarried (William Charles left Mary Dennis Jr a house 'to call her own'[10]
3. Amos, who married Elizabeth Russell[8] [5] [6]
4. Agnes, who married Thomas Trefry[8] [5] [6]

James Dennis of Marblehead died in September 1730, at the age of 94[1]

References

• http://leewiegand.com/familytree/Marriages/1040/1040DennisCharles.html
• http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/59016579/person/48280922879
• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Dennis-2888 cites

1. Massachusetts Vital Records Marblehead - V2, Page 530, also available on NEHGS, which states Dennis, James, sr., __: 9 m: 1730, a. 94 y.
2. Torrey's New England Marriages to 1700 Volume 1, page 444 (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015, which states DENNIS, James (-1730, ae 96) (ae 42 in 1684) & Mary [CHARLES]; abt. 1654?; Marblehead {Gen Mag. 2:174; Essex Ant. 12:59; Putnam's Mag. 3:112, 6:79}
3. Torrey's New England Marriages to 1700 Volume 1, page 444 (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015, which states DENNIS, James & Mary ____ (above, under Mary CHARLES); by 1699; Marblehead {Salem 1:450}
4. Volume 2, page 372 of the Essex County, MA: Early Probate Records, 1635-1681 Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015
5. The Essex Antiquarian Volume 12 (1908), page 59; Salem, MA: The Essex Antiquarian, 13 vols. 1897-1909. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2006.)
6. The Essex Antiquarian Volume 13 (1909), page 137. Salem, MA: The Essex Antiquarian, 13 vols. 1897-1909. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2006.)
7. Essex Institute historical collections by Essex Institute; Peabody Essex Museum; Publication date 1859-c1993; Publisher Salem, Mass. : Essex Institute Press, see Volume 46, page 11
8. Massachusetts Vital Records showing Marblehead - Marriages, Volume 2, page 114, also available on NEHGS, which states
9. James, and Sarah Pitman, Mar. 25, 1682.
10. Torrey's New England Marriages to 1700 Volume 1, page 444 (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015, which states DENNIS, James & Sarah PITMAN; 25 Mar 1682; Marblehead {Gen Mag. 4:29; TAG 18:17}
11. Volume 2, page 372 of the Essex County, MA: Early Probate Records, 1635-1681 Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015 See also:
12. http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/59016579/person/48280922879?pgnum=1