That sounds like it could be the same line I've been working on. I've only gotten as far back as John or Adam Dennis from NJ who married Sophia. Most of my info comes from Virginia Oakley's research as published in the ancestry.com family trees plus census and cemetery research of my own..
Do you have a wife for your John Dennis? Or Joseph? The children I have listed for my John or Adam Dennis were John, Aaron, Catherine, Conrad, and an unknown son. I then trace forward through John I.Dennis (abt 1768 in NJ) to Adam Dennis (abt 1792 in Canada) to John Dennis (1820 in Canada) to Byron Dennis (1848 in MI).
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I have John and Jane Dennis and their daughter Sophia on Lot 20, Concession 1, Walpole during the War of 1812, living on land belonging to Captain William Francis who was murdered in October of 1813. They gave the following deposition:
District Of London Personally appeared before us George C Salmon Esquire and Thomas Bowlby Esquire two of his Majesty’s Justices of the Peace in and for the London District and Province of Upper Canada John Dennis, Jane Dennis and Sophia Dennis, who being duly Sworn, make Oath and say that they are now living on a Farm which belonged to the late Captain William Francis and have lived on the same since the month of April last, that during that period they have frequently heard of a gang of Robbers called Dixon’s Party. That sometime about the middle of the month of October last, three men came to this house at about ten o’clock in the night, Armed, and asked if Captain Francis was there; that one of the Deponents Jane Dennis told him to go to his house and look (meaning a new building formerly occupied by the said Captain Francis) that in the mean time Captain Francis, who was in bed when they first came to the house, got up and walked over the floor, by which means these Deponents suppose they discovered him, that one of the party called to him & asked if he was there, that Captain Francis answered he was, and asked what they wanted with him, that they replied that they wanted to kill him, that Captain Francis requested of them not to take his life, and that he would go with them if they would only spare his life, that they heard the report of a gun out of the door and heard something fall on the floor above stairs where Captain Francis was – That one of the party took a stick of wood which was on fire and went upstairs, and when he came down heard him tell the rest of the party that Captain Francis was dead, and with his hands shewed on his head where he had been shot, that they left the corpse in the house that they refused to allow these Deponents to take the body out of the house or bury him. That they said it was lucky for Thomas Francis that he was not there or he should have met the same fate and that there were several people in the Province that should meet the same fate also – and that the Deponents verily believed that the party consisted of John Dixon, Henry Dockstader but they cannot tell, neither do they know who the third person was.
Sworn before Us this 3d Decemr 1814 Signed George C Salmon J.P. Thos Bowlby Signed John Dennis her Jane x Dennis mark
her Sophia x Dennis mark
A True Copy Thomas Talbot
National Archives 77 Nepean Street Suite 201 Ottawa, Ontario K1R 5Z2 Series G8 Reel # C-3231 Volume 686 pp. 259-262
I also have this as their family, but most of it again came from Virginia Oakley
Descendants of John Dennis 1 John Dennis 1768 - 1855 +Jane Larraway 1774 -
........ 2 Unknown Dennis 1791 - ............ +Unknown Swartz ........ 2 Adam Dennis 1792 - 1868 ............ +Leah Doan 1797 - 1883 ........ 2 Dorothy Dennis 1794 - 1889 ............ +David Long 1786 - 1870 ........ 2 John Dennis 1797 - 1859 ............ +Christianna ........ 2 Sophia Dennis 1799 - ........ 2 Jonas Dennis 1801 - ........ 2 Elizabeth Dennis 1806 - ........ 2 Eva Dennis 1807 -
I have not been able to connect this Dennis family with the others, but that's not to say it doesn't.
Helen
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Yes, that is the Dennis family I am researching. What an interesting story about the murder! Thank you very much. Please let me know if you find any information about the parents of John I. Dennis. I have their names as Adam and Sophia.
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Just a correction to the posting about the Murder of Captain William Francis. He was murdered in October of 1814, not 1813. This may seem trivial but it is important in a sequence of events.
Helen
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The New Jersey area is where I believe the secret to the Dennis confusion lies. We have at least two, and I believe three, Ezekiel Dennises who came into the Niagara area in the 1780s. We have Ezekiel Dennis, son of John Dennis and Keziah Ball, born in 1742, and we have Ezekiel Dennis, son of Joseph Dennis and Hannah Lewis, born in 1753.
Neither of these, in my opinion, is old enough to be the father of the following family, as they have a son born about 1761 with at least two older brothers and possibly a sister. The third son, in his 1795 UCLP, says he is 34 years old and was born in New Jersey. Hopefully, if we keep at this, we'll get the confusion straightened out.
Ezekiel Dennis of Lincoln County made out his will on 26 Feb 1797 naming his oldest son Obadiah Dennis and his third son Nathaniel Dennis, leaving them his rights and profits on Point Abino. He also names his other sons and daughters, William, Julia, Sarah, Rachel, Elen, Hannah and Catharine. He mentions his wife without naming her. Probated 12 Aug, 1803 (Niagara 1803). Children: 1. Obadiah Dennis. His share seems to have passed to one Ezekiel Dennis, perhaps a son. Ezekiel sold 250 acres in the front of Lots 33 and 34 in 1835. 2. William Dennis 3. Nathaniel Dennis, UCLP 6 Jul 1795 D2/61 – aged 34 (born ca. 1761), born in New Jersey, farmer, signed oaths of loyalty at Fort Erie. Recommended for 200 acres, warrant issued 2 May 1797. Followed by a petition dated 23 Jan 1797 noting annexed recommendation received but due to illness was unable to return to the office of the Surveyor General for assignment. He has improved a lot at Humberstone, requested confirmation. He also petitioned concerning a lot at Point Abino granted to his father, Ezekiel, mentioning his brother Obadiah. UCLP D15/77 3 March 1829 – Nathaniel was residing with his brother Obadiah on land granted to their father, Ezekiel. There was a dispute over the line between them and their neighbour. Nathaniel and Obadiah Dennis received their deed dated 7 april 1808 to Lot 34 Broken Front, Bertie Twp. Nathaniel sold his share on 3 Jun 1835. 4. Julia Dennis 5. Sarah Dennis 6. Rachel Dennis 7. Elen Dennis 8. Hannah Dennis 9 Catharine Dennis
I expect, back in New Jersey, these families are all connected.
Helen
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I am looking for Thomas DOAN(E), born abt 1773 in Bucks Co., PA, came to Upper Cananda with his parents after the Revolutionary War. He was likely the younger brother of the DOANE Outlaws from Bucks Co., PA; and likely a United Empire Loyalist. He was married to a Naomi (last name unknown), and had a son, Jesse DOAN(E) in the Niagara region 11Oct 1807. The family left the region before 1823. Any leads would be appreciated.
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Helen, could you send me a private message, I want to ask you something.
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