Harold L. Dennis

Harold — Maud Alice Reed. [Group Sheet]

1. Leroy Alden Dennis was born 1908; died 1989.

Frank — Lucy A. Gifford. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The 1850 Federal Census at Tiverton, RI, shows Holder Dennis, age 34, a sailor, living with Betsey Dennis 30 and son Edward M., age 4. The family is living right near Betsey's parents, Philip & Abby Manchester, and some of their children.

The 1860 Federal Census at Tiverton shows Holder Dennis, farm laborer age 44, living with Lydia A. Dennis 35 or 38, Edward M. 13, Abby S. 10, Daniel 5, and Nathaniel 1. These two are obviously the same individual. Holder's first wife, Betsey Manchester, died in 1857, after which he must have married Lydia.

In 1870 Holder is age 53 and Lydia A. is age 40, still living at Tiverton, RI Three children are in the household: Nathaniel 11, Frank 7, & James 5.

In 1880 Holder & Lydia A. Dennis, ages 62 & 50, are still at Tiverton. In the household are their son James H. age 14, and Holder's brother Bradford C. Dennis, age "about 55."

In 1900 Holder is age 84, living in Little Compton with son Frank and family.

Holder married Lydia Ann Macomber 12 Aug 1858, Tiverton, RI. Lydia was born Abt 1829, MA; died Aft 1 Jun 1870. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

In the 1850 Federal Census, John & Roby Dennis are living at Tiverton, Newport Co., RI. His age is given as 70, and hers is 65. He is a laborer. This census was taken at Tiverton on 20 Sept 1850. Obviously she was older than that, since her first son was born in 1800. Probably both of their ages have been estimated; she is more like 70 and perhaps he is 70 or older.

Please note that John's parentage as shown on this family tree has not yet been proven. More research is needed to confirm the data.

He is very possibly the son named John Dennis who was born to Obediah & Ruth (Fish, d/o Ebenezer) Dennis on 18 Aug 1775 at Tiverton, RI. (Obadiah, who married second to Phebe, was a son of Tabitha, who was a daughter of Robert & Susannah [Briggs] Dennis.) However, there was another John Dennis born at Tiverton 16 Apr 1767 to Robert & Joanna. This needs more research.

I tend to think that John was the son of Obediah & Ruth (Fish) Dennis, of Tabitha Dennis, of Robert & Susannah (Briggs) Dennis, of Robert & Sarah (Howland) Dennis.

If he is the older John, then he is son of Robert & Joanna (Hilliard) Dennis, of John & Hannah (Wilbor) Dennis, of Robert & Susannah (Briggs) Dennis, of Robert & Sarah (Howland) Dennis. If he is this particular John Dennis, then his age should be 83 in the 1850 census. For this reason I lean toward his being the son of Obediah.

I obtained the names of some of John & Roby's children from "Genealogy of a Part of the Wodell Family" by Eli Wodell p 67 (Google Books).

John married Robena "Roby" SOULE 29 Dec 1799, Westport, MA. Robena (daughter of Nathaniel SOULE and Rebecca GIFFORD) was born Abt 1780, Westport, MA; died Aft 1 Jun 1860, Tiverton, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Her name is given as both Roby and Roba in marriage and death records of her children. The Mayflower Descendants book gives it as Rube or Rhoda. However, it is Roby (possibly short for Robena, as her granddaughter's name is given in one place). Her granddaughter is named Roby S. Dennis, clearly named after Roby Soule.

In the 1850 Federal Census, Roby Dennis is age 65, living at Tiverton with her husband, John Dennis, age 70 (these ages are most likely not precise). They are living next to John & Hannah (Manchester) Remington and family, on one side, and next to John & Mary Manchester and family on the other side.

The 1860 Tiverton Census shows a Rhoda (or Rhoba?) Dennis at age 80, living with (her son) Bradford Dennis 39, next to households of Joseph Rounds 31 and Holder Dennis 44. From this I have estimated her year of birth as c1780, although she may have been born a year or two later than that.

I had her estimated birth year as 1780, but Soule Kindred email dated 1 June 2020 stated it should be 1774. I don't know how they arrived at that. Based on the censuses, she was born 1780-1785; the ages given could be incorrect.

According to the death record of her son Bradford, Roby Sowle was born in Westport, MA.

Notes:

1799 DENNIS, John of Tiverton, RI, and Roba Sowle, 29 Dec 1799, Marriage Westport (NEHGS website, Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850 database)