Mary Anne Remington

Notes:

She is called "Anna" by Vira Dodge, a relative.

Mary married Charles Edwin Turner 8 Mar 1878, Warwick, RI. Charles (son of Charles P. Turner and Caroline Hale) was born 1844, Guernsey, England; died 25 Jan 1899; was buried , Greenwood Cemetery, Coventry, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The Warwick marriage entry says Charles was age 34 and resided in Crompton. It was his second marriage.

1. George Turner
2. Matilda Brayton Turner was born 15 May 1879, RI; died 27 Feb 1947.
3. Charles Patton Turner was born Abt 1882; died Abt 1960; was buried , Brayton Cemetery, Apponaug, Warwick, RI.
4. Benjamin Remington Turner was born Abt 1885; died 4 Aug 1918; was buried , Brayton Cemetery, Apponaug, Warwick, RI.
5. Adeline Gertrude Turner was born 1887, RI; died 4 May 1962; was buried , Union Cemetery, Great Rd., North Smithfield, RI.

Notes:

Benjamin's birth record is noted as:
REMINGTON, Benjamin F., of Benjamin and Mary, b. 1831 Ti (TiM 1-5)

I have a photocopy of his official death certificate from Tiverton, RI. In addition, I have copies of the family group in the 1860 and 1870 censuses at "Old Warwick" and in the 1880 census at Coventry.

In the 1865 RI State Census, the family is at Warwick. They have six children.

In the 1870 Federal Census, Benjamin & Adeline are living at Old Warwick. They have eight children.

In 1875 the family is in Warwick, still in he section known as Old Warwick. There are 10 children, ranging in age from 2 to 20.

In 1880 Benjamin & "Adelaid" are in Coventry. Seven of their children are in the household.

Benjamin & Adeline lived in Tiverton, Old Warwick/Warwick Neck, Coventry, West Greenwich, and probably East Greenwich. Benjamin's signature is on the West Greenwich voting lists, Burton District, for 1885 to 1888. This record gives his date of birth as 13 Feb 1832, and his birthplace as Tiverton, RI. The Burton District, sometimes referred to as the Button District, was located in the northeastern corner of West Greenwich, in the the area between Carrs Pond and Lake Mishnock where Division Rd., Hopkins Hill Rd., and New London Turnpike intersect. I am not sure exactly where in this area my ancestors lived during these years.

Benjamin's middle name was probably Franklin, although no official document has been found giving the full name. Benjamin is in the 1850 Federal Census at Tiverton, listed with the household of his maternal grandparents, Deacon Benjamin and Peace Hambly, along with his mother, his brother John, and other individuals.

It seems as if he and Adeline named several of their children after relatives, such as Mary Anna, Peace H., David Thomas, Charles Abner, Joseph Ellery, John, and George, as well as after notable American or RI leaders. There is the obvious Benjamin Franklin, probably named after his father and great uncle, as well as the statesman and his maternal grandfather Benjamin. James DeWolf Remington may have been named after James DeWolf (1764-1837), a prominent merchant, shipowner, and manufacturer from Bristol, who was very prosperous in slave trading; but after this was halted by the War of 1812, sponsored a privateer that captured millions of dollars worth of goods from British ships. In 1821, the RI General Assembly chose him to be US Senator. In the words of Patrick T. Conley, "In 1837, after a full life as a lawbreaker and lawmaker, he died on his elegant 1,000-acre Bristol estate."

Cousin Barbara Shaw gave Dad Remington pictures of Adeline and Benjamin. On the back of his she wrote Benjamin Franklin Remington, so if accurate this means he gave one of his sons the same name. The portrait shows him dressed in a three-piece suit. He seems to have had brown hair -- parted on the side, slicked back, and cut below the ears -- and a full beard. His face shows classic features, with light eyes -- possibly blue or gray. I try to see my children, cousins, aunts or uncles in his face. Maybe . . .

Benjamin married Adeline Tripp MANCHESTER 12 Dec 1852, The Amicable Congregational Church, Tiverton, RI. Adeline (daughter of Jeremiah A. MANCHESTER and Mary H. DENNIS) was born 7 Jun 1835, Tiverton, Newport Co., RI; died 10 May 1893, East Greenwich, RI; was buried , Glenwood Cemetery, East Greenwich, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Adeline is one of our links to our Mayflower Pilgrim ancestry, through her maternal grandmother.

The 1850 Tiverton census shows Adeline Manchester as a 15-year-old living in the household of Edward and Elizabeth Wing, ages 78 and 73. There is also Isaac Manchester, age 11, her brother. Others living there are Joseph and Roby Rounds, 22 and 20; and John Keefe, 24, from Ireland. Roby was Adeline's and Isaac's older married sister. Another Tiverton home lists Emeline Manchester, 17; William Manchester, 23; and Lucy A., 7; living with six individuals of the surname Rounds. These other Manchesters were Adeline's siblings, and her mother, Mary, had remarried to Roderick Rounds. I have found the birth entries for all of them except Lucy.

Adeline Remington is 24 in the 1860 Census at Warwick, and 45 in the 1880 Census at Coventry.

Her death is entered in East Greenwich, Vol. 4, p. 76: "10 May 1893, Adlin T. Remington, age 58, birthplace Tiverton, parents Jeremiah & Mary Manchester, cause of death -- pneumonia." I visited the Greenwood Cemetery on 9 Feb 2002, and took some pictures of the gravestone, which is inscribed Adelin T. Manchester (elsewhere she is named as Adeline H. but that is incorrect). It is a very nice memorial stone, in the area over to the left as one enters the gates.

I found Adeline's middle name in James N. Arnold's "Family Notes" Volume R, "Remington" at the Knight Memorial Library, Elmwood Ave., Providence (these papers are now at the Providence Public Library). It is also on son David's death record at Providence, but is misspelled as Krip.

Her picture shows her with light brown hair, parted in the middle and pulled back, probably in a braid or chignon. Her eyes must have been brown or dark blue. Attired very properly and modestly in a dark-colored dress with a high collar and small bow at the neck, and buttons down the front, she appears somewhat tired, but calm and resolute. In her thin oval face and sloping eyebrows I can see a striking resemblance to my Great Uncle Fran, who was her grandson. (Note from cousin Judith Walton: "The picture was done by Morton Artistic Photographer of Westminster St. in Providence.")

There is no way of knowing for sure, but I suppose the pictures could have been taken when they were about forty, perhaps even for their 25th anniversary, around 1877.

I have been trying to determine whom Adeline was named after -- if anyone. There was an Adeline Manchester who married a Rufus Tripp; this Adeline was a daughter of Perry Manchester, who was a son of Peleg & Margaret. I have not found any Tripp ancestry for this branch of the family, although this is a possibility. John Dennis's ancestry has not yet been determined with certainly, although I have researched it to the extent that I am fairly satisfied with the available evidence.

Notes:

I have a photocopy of Benjamin's and Adeline's official marriage record from Tiverton, RI.

Notes:

Benjamin was a seaman whose name appears on the whaling crew lists at New Bedford Public Library. The information that he was lost at sea came from a descendant, Mrs. Vira Dodge of West Greenwich, and was transcribed in James N. Arnold's "Family Notes" Volume R, an unpublished manuscript located at the Knight Library in Providence, RI (now at Providence Public Library, main branch)

Whaling crew records at New Bedford provide information on some of the whaling voyages he went on. For instance, on 6 May 1820 he departed from New Bedford on the brig Juno, bound for the coast of Africa. The crew's master was Simeon Long, Jr. The roster says Benjamin was age 17, 5'7" tall, fair-skinned, had brown hair, and resided in Tiverton, RI.

On 21 April 1827 he left on the brig Parthian for a whaling voyage, "bound for the the Western Islands and elsewhere in the Atlantic Ocean." They returned on 7 June 1828. The crew's master was John J. (or T.) Parker. Benjamin was age 23, had a fair complexion and brown hair, and was 5' 8 1/2" in height. His residence was still Tiverton. Also on the crew list was Eseck Manchester, age 22, also from Tiverton.

A brig was a large seagoing vessel with two masts and square sails. They usually carried three boats, and were smaller than a ship or bark, which carried four or five whaleboats. The brig Juno was originally registered at New Bedford on 9 May 1818, and was re-registered a number of times after that, such as on 6 May 1820. The owners were: John A, Parker, merchant; Joseph Spooner, New Bedford; and Nathan Church, Fairhaven. As already noted above, the master for this voyage was Simeon Long, Jr.

The brig Parthian was built at Dartmouth, MA, in 1820, and was first registered on 19 April 1821. The vessel measured 119 35/95 tons, length 66 ft. 10 in., breadth 20 ft. 8 in., depth 10 ft. 1 in. When it was re-registered on 21 April 1827, the master was John J. Parker and the owners were Abraham Barker and James Russell of New Bedford.

From the records I have found, it looks as if the Parthinan went on ten voyages, beginning in 1821, then in 1834 the register was lost in a mutiny.

Although the family has passed down the information that Benjamin died at sea, we don't know the circumstances of his death -- whether from sickness, from the many dangers of whaling, or whatever.

Benjamin was not the only one of our family members on the Remington side to be a whaler. His brothers David and Abner also made voyages, possibly his brother John, and possibly his son John. There are numerous other Remingtons listed in New Bedford records as whalers, who may have been among his close or extended family.

(The information in the following two paragraphs is from "The Bounty of the Beast: Why Whales Were Hunted" on the web site of the New Bedford Free Library)

"Although many men died chasing whales, very few profited handsomely. Why, then, did they pursue these great creatures of the sea to the brink of extinction? The answer lies in the whale's enormous economic value. In 'Men and Whales,' Richard Ellis writes that, until the beginning of the twentieth century, whaling was considered an admirable occupation. '. . . it is only through the lens of hindsight that the whaleman's job becomes malicious or cruel . . . Oil was needed for light and lubrication; baleen was needed for skirt hoops and corset stays. That whales had to die to provide these things is a fact of seventeenth-, eighteenth-, and nineteenth-century life . . . ' "

Whale oil provided fuel for lighting, slow-burning and with no offensive odor. The oil was also used for clock making; lubricating many types of machinery; manufacturing of soaps, varnish, and paint; and producing special smokeless, odorless candles. The wax from sperm whales was also used in making face and hand creams and skin lotions. The baleen from whales was used in buggy whips, carriage springs, corset stays, fishing poles, hoops for women's skirts, umbrella ribs, and other such applications for which plastic or steel would now be used. A dark waxy substance called ambergris was used in cosmetics, wines, and as a headache remedy.

Many beautifully carved objects of both a practical and decorative use were made from whale bone. Examples of these works of art are on display at the Whaling Museum in New Bedford, a location maintained by the National Park Service.

When whaling ships returned to port, the profits were divided up among the ship's owners and the crew. Ordinary seamen were paid last and received the smallest percentage of the profits. Depending on the success of their voyage, their take-home pay could range from several hundred dollars to about ten dollars. Of course, they might also be taking home some beautiful objects they had carved from whalebone during the long hours, days, and months on the sea.

Benjamin married Mary Anne HAMBLY Abt 1831. Mary (daughter of Benjamin HAMBLY, III and Peace SHERMAN) was born 15 Feb 1811, Tiverton, Newport Co., RI; died 1 Apr 1868, Tiverton, Newport Co., RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

An entry from Beaman's Vital Records/Births From Death Records, vol. 12, A-J:

Mary A. Hambly, dtr. of Benjamin and Peace Hambly, b. 1811 Tiverton;
widow of Mr. Remington; d. 1 Apr 1868 Tiverton [TiD 1-40]

Her middle name was either Ann(e) or Anna. Her son (Benjamin's) first daughter was named Mary Anna; also, there was an Anna Hambly born in 1789 in Tiverton; she was Mary's aunt, a sister of her father, Benjamin Hambly, who was born in 1783 in Tiverton.

In the 1840 census, Mary Anne is probably living with her parents at Tiverton.

The 1850 census microfilm for Tiverton shows Benjamin Hambly, a 64-year-old farmer, and Peace Hambly, age 63. Living with them are Marianne Remington, 39; Benjamin Remington, a 19-year-old laborer; and John H. Remington, 15. Other household members are Gardner Hambly, 29, and Ann/Amy (?) Hambly, 20. They are Marianne's younger siblings.

Notes:

Please note that Jeremiah's parentage has not been proven. Although no birth record has yet been found for a Jeremiah in this family group, Jeremiah A. has been placed here based on the suggestion of professional genealogist John Redfern (contact information available on request). There is some evidence from the names of Jeremiah's children and grandchildren that he may belong to John & Lucy (Almy) Manchester. I have also speculated that he could be a son of John Manchester (1761) and Mary Brayton, or Perry Manchester (1765) and Anna Bennett.

Therefore, this Manchester line has been determined to be a likely possibility based on research by me, Carla Phillips, and John Redfern. Research is ongoing; any leads are appreciated.

However, Jeremiah is not mentioned as a grandchild in the will of Rhoda Manchester, dated 13 Aug 1823. She is mother of Nancy Manchester, first wife of John.

Also, Jeremiah is not mentioned in the will of John Almy, Lucy's brother; John mentions only two of Lucy's children.

Jeremiah A. may be the Jeremiah who was born 27 Dec 1804, son of John & Rhoda Manchester (not the above Rhoda). See notes below.

Jeremiah's middle name may have been Almy or Allen. He had a son named Isaac Allen, and Isaac in turn had a son named Jeremiah Allen. I found Jeremiah's middle initial in son Isaac's VRs at Tiverton, as transcribed in Alden G. Beaman's "RI Vital Record, New Series, Vol. 13 p. 55, which in turn references TiD 1-24A and TiM 1-49. Note that Lucy Almy has Allen family ancestry; her paternal grandmother was Patience Allen, and two of Lucy's brothers were named Allen.

In Emeline's marriage and death records at Tiverton, Jeremiah is called Jeremy Manchester.

Jeremiah & Mary may have had another daughter, born before the 1830 census, as the census data lists a female under 5. In that census, there is 1 male under 5, 1 male 20-30, 1 female under 5, and 1 female 20-30.

In the 1840 Federal Census, Jeremiah Manchester is living at Tiverton, RI. He and his wife are ages 30 - 40. There are 2 male children and 3 female children in the household. Heads of neighboring households include Benjamin Manchester (probably husband of Lucy A. Cook), Joseph Cook, Abraham Manchester (possibly Jeremiah's uncle), Abner D. Bennett, & Giles Manchester. There are two Jeremiah Manchesters living at Tiverton in this census; the other has 1 male under 5, 1 male 30-40, 1 female under 5, a female 5-10, and 1 female 30-40.

I have estimated Jeremiah's birth year. I have not yet been able to obtain proof of when John Manchester married Lucy Almy, but it is a reasonable assumption that he remarried shortly after the death of his first wife in November 1803.

For the present time I am assuming that Jeremiah died before his wife's second marriage, but this has not been confirmed (see notes below and on this tree for other Jeremiah Manchesters). Again, researching the Manchester clan is an ongoing project.

* * * * *

Various individuals named Jeremiah Manchester about the same age who lived during this time period:

Jeremiah Manchester b 22 March 1786 to Zebedee & Deborah (Briggs) Manchester, Little Compton. Little Compton has no further records on him.

Jeremiah Manchester b c1798-1800 possibly RI (see 1870 census, Putnam, IA; see his sons Jabez & William in 1880), married Tryphena, lived at Providence, Saratoga, NY in 1860; had children Jabez, Myron, Josephine, Helen, possibly others. This Jeremiah is probably a son of Jabez Manchester born c1765 RI (see 1850 census at Providence, NY); Jabez is possibly a son of Archer.

Jeremiah Manchester, b Dec 1804, s/o John & Rhoda. Is he the one at Glocester in the 1850 census, living as a single man, a cook? One family tree online speculates that he is our ancestor, the one who married Mary Dennis. However, no divorce record exists at the Judicial Archives, so he cannot be the same individual.

Jeremiah A. Manchester (our ancestor) b c1804 if he is indeed s/o John & Lucy (or if parentage is unknown, could be b 1795-1808).

Jeremiah Manchester, b 20 Dec 1810, s/o Abner Wilcox and Lydia Manchester (not a married couple); he married three times and is found in the town vital records and censuses; marriage and death record identify him as illegitimate son of AW & LM.

Jeremiah D. Manchester, b c 1814, s/o John & Rebecca. He died 2 Oct 1881 at age 67 (RIDI). According to an online family tree, John Mancester and his wife Rebecca P. Taber went west. (Rebecca born 23 Mar 1782) They may have had another son Job.

Jeremiah Manchester, b 11 Sep 1815, s/o John & Rebecca of Bristol. I believe he is Jerem Manchester, carpenter, single, at Providence in 1850, 1870, and at Bristol in 1880.

Jeremiah married Mary H. DENNIS Abt 1825. Mary (daughter of John DENNIS and Robena "Roby" SOULE) was born 7 Jun 1805, Tiverton, RI; died 20 Apr 1866, Tiverton, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

In the 1850 Federal Census, this is the family household: Roderick Rounds 53, Mary Rounds 42, Emeline Manchester 17, William Manchester 23, Lucy A. Manchester 7, Bradford C. Rounds 4, Charles E. Rounds 2, John Rounds 18, & Abraham Rounds 25. This is what we today would call a blended family. The other two children, Adeline & Isaac, are living with married sister Roby Rounds and her husband Joseph, at the home of Edward & Elizabeth Wing.

The 1860 Federal Census at Tiverton, RI, shows a Mary H. Rounds, age 50, living with Lucy A. 18, Bradford C. 14, and Charles E. 11. If accurate ages, this would mean their years of birth were: 1810, 1842, 1846, 1849.

Her death record identifies her as d/o John & Roba.

Notes:

Thomas Remington of Tiverton was appointed to serve on the grand jury, along with Isaac Negus, for the November term 1797, to attend the Court of Common Pleas. (Tiverton Probate Records No 5 p 56)

Thomas served in the military during the Revolutionary War. He first enlisted at Tiverton in January 1777, and when he was discharged in March 1778, re-enlisted right away, and was subsequently discharged about a year later. During much of that time his company was encamped at Bristol and at Ft. Barton in Tiverton. He was in the action during the Battle of RI under General Sullivan.

In his deposition as part of the pension application in 1832, he said he had been born in South Kingstown, but that his family had moved to Tiverton when he was very young. After the war he returned to Tiverton, where he is most likely the other adult male in his father's household in 1790, which includes 2 free white males 16+, and one free white female -- probably his mother or a sister.

In 1832 he mentions that he is a neighbor of Job and Charles Durfee, Esquires. Thomas Remington is in the 1830 RI Census, residing in Tiverton (Newport County, p. 071). He is also there in 1840, and is listed as a Revolutionary War Pensioner, at age 79 1/2. However, he seems to be living alone at that time. Perhaps Alice is in ill health, and has gone to live with one of her children? She will pass away in 1848 at Dartmouth; their son Joseph and family are probably there in 1840, but appear in New Bedford by 1850. I have not yet found a date of death for Thomas, but apparently he died before Alice because she is described as his widow; also, since his last pension payment was in March 1842, he probably died in Feb or March of that year. "Thomas Remington residing in Tiverton collected a pension until March 2, 1842." (source for quote: George Sermuksnis, Archives Technician at Waltham National Archives).

On 7 September 1832, two friends/neighbors and fellow-Revolutionary-soldiers testified on his behalf; they were William Cook, and John Manchester, our ancestor.

Thomas Remington is on the list of persons who united with the Amicable Congregational Society, associated with the Amicable Congregational Church, Tiverton, RI. (ref: "The History of Amicable Congregational Church 1746 - 1946" p.83) He probably was buried from this church, but there were no death records kept for the church at this time. The location of his grave is unknown. I suspect he may be buried with his parents and their Brayton relatives, in one of the unknown gravesites in the family plot at Pleasant View Cemetery, Stone Church Rd., Tiverton, RI (formerly buried on a family farm and relocated to this cemetery).

Revolutionary War Pension file # S21938

He is listed on the Pension Roll of 1835: Remington, Thomas, private of Artillery, Newport county, all $90, rec $270, R.I. Cont. Line, pl July 9, 1833, com March 4, 1831, age 74

In the 1840 Federal Census, Thomas is listed in Tiverton, RI, as a Revolutionary War Veteran/Pensioner age 79 and 1/2.

The list of Thomas and Alice's children came to me from a distant cousin in Michigan. This agreed with names I already had found in the New Bedford whaling crew lists and in marriage, census, and death records in RI and MA.

On 2 March 1791 Thomas Remington mariner of Tiverton received 250 in Spanish milled dollars from Thomas Barker of Tiverton, for the 13th 50-acre lot in the Pocasset Purchase, bounded easterly and westerly on highway, north by the 12th lot and south by the 14th lot. Witnessed by Joseph Barker and Abraham Barker. (Tiverton Deed Book 4)

See this note from cousin Russ Shaw (I am not sure if it pertains to this particular Thomas Remington, our ancestor, but it probably does):
"Last time I was at the RIHS archives I came across an interesting document that I think you may want to check on. It involves Thomas Remington and his son John. I found them both as crew members on the brig Eliza out of Bristol, bound for Trinidad de Cuba, 5 Jan 1818. Reference: MS 28,sg 2, Box 7 (1819-1820), Bristol Custom House records, RIHS."

Thomas married Alice "Elce" GRINNELL Abt 1793. Alice (daughter of Daniel GRINNELL and Sarah Unknown) was born Abt Mar 1777, Tiverton, Newport Co., RI; died 1 Jan 1848, Dartmouth, MA; was buried , Rural Cemetery, New Bedford, MA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Her death announcement was in The Daily Mercury, New Bedford, on Monday 3 Jan 1848:
"Died, in Dartmouth, the 1st, Mrs. Alice Remington, the widow of the late Thomas Remington, formerly of Tiverton, RI, aged 72. Funeral this afternoon at 2 o'clock from No. 59 Grinnell Street. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend."

A similar announcement was in the New Bedford Mercury (not the daily), Friday, 7 Jan 1848:
"In Dartmouth, the 1st, Mrs. Alice, widow of the late Thomas Remington, formerly of Tiverton, RI, aged 72."

According to the New Bedford death record, Alice died of consumption at age 70 y 10 m.

She may have died at the home of her daughter Mary Rounds.

Notes:

In the 1850 Tiverton Census, Benjamin is 64, living with Peace 63, along with Marianne Remington 39, Gardner Hambly 29, Benjamin Remington 19, John H. Remington 15, Alice Hambly 22, Ann or Amy Hambly 20, and Hannah Hambly 6.

In the 1860 Tiverton Census, residence #57, Benjamin is listed as age 77. Living in the household with him are Gardner 40, Amy Borden 35(?), Gilbert Borden 35, Hannah G. Hambly 16, and George G. Hambly 8. Gardner and Amy are two of Benjamin's children; Gilbert is Amy's husband, and the other two may be Gardner's children.

Benjamin married Peace SHERMAN 13 Jul 1806. Peace (daughter of William SHERMAN and Margaret Steward-STEWART) was born 8 Feb 1786, Tiverton, RI; died 10 Apr 1859, Tiverton, RI; was buried Apr 1859, Deacon Benj Hambly Lot, TV57, Fish Road, Tiverton, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The book "Little Compton Families" by B. F. Wilbour p. 410 says that this John Manchester married first Nancy, then Lucy. I have not been able to verify this with certainty, as there were several John Manchesters in Tiverton around this time. However, for the present I have attached Nancy and Lucy as his two wives.

A query posted on the Manchester mailing list at rootsweb.com gives John & Lucy's marriage date as 18 March 1804, Tiverton, no source noted.

It appears that this John Manchester may very well be our ancestor, based on the opinion of genealogist John Redfern (contact information available on request).

See also the notes for son Jeremiah A. Manchester, and notes for the other John Manchesters on this tree.

John married Lucy ALMY Abt 18 Mar 1804. Lucy (daughter of Gideon ALMY and Sarah LITTLE) was born 27 Mar 1775, Tiverton, Newport Co., RI; died Aft 13 Aug 1823. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

A query posted on the Manchester mailing list at rootsweb.com gives their marriage date as 18 March 1804, Tiverton, no source noted.

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)