George Denison

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Captain George Denison (bp. 1620 –1694), son of William Denison and Margaret Chandler

Ann Borodell (say 1625–after 1694)

The migrant ancestor George Denison was baptized on 10 December 1620 in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, England. [1] He died on 23 October 1694 during the session of the General Court at Hartford and was buried there. He married Bridget Thompson in March 1640/1. Bridget was the daughter of John Thompson and Alice Freeman of Little Preston, Preston Capes, Northamptonshire, England and the sister of Reverend Thompson of Braintree. She was baptized on 11 September 1622 in Preston Capes. She died in 1643. George married second Ann Borodell. [2][3]

Ann Borodell was born say 1623. She died on 26 September 1712 in Stonington. [4]

The English Ancestry of Ann Borodell

The information here from Travis Dodge Miscia's article in the New England Historican and Genealogical Register. [4]

Nicholas Borodell of Cragg House, Santon, Cumberland, was born say 1530. He died between 10 October 1597, when he made his will, and 18 October 1597, the date of probate. He had a wife, Ellice ___, who survived him.

Children of Nicholas Borodell:

i. John Borodell was born say 1552. He died before 1636.

ii. Nicholas Borodell was born say 1555. He died before 1636.

iii. Robert Borodell was born about 1557.

iv. Elizabeth Borodell was born say 1567. She married John Coate of Woodend in Egremont, Cumberland.

v. William Borodell was born say 1572. He died before 1636.

Robert Borodell was born about 1557. He died before 6 November 1634, when his estate was inventoried. Nothing is known about his wife or wives. He left an estate of about 202 pounds.

Children of Robert Borodell:

i. Dorothy Borodell was born about 1595. She died after 1657. She married first Robert Patrickson by a Clerkenwell, London license dated 1 January 1617/8. He died between 29 January and 24 February 1640/1. She married second Reverend Jeremiah Burroughs about 1642. He died on 13 November 1646 in London. She married third Reverend John Yates about 1648. He was born about 1604 and was buried on 24 August 1679 in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire.

Jeremiah Burroughs was "a Puritan cleric of great reknown."

ii. John Borodell was born say 1600.

iii. Alice Borodell was born say 1602. She married Francis Morden, a yeoman of Egremont, Cumberland.

John Borodell was born say 1600. He died before 1640, when his brother-in-law Robert Patrickson became guardian of his minor children. There are no known records for him or any reference to any wife or wives; he appears only in relation to his children.

Children of John Borodell:

i. Ann Borodell was born say 1623.

ii. Margaret Borodell was born say 1625. She probably died in early 1691 in Cambridge. She married first Reverend Thomas Shepard as his third wife on 8 September 1647 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She married second Reverend Jonathan Mitchell on 19 November 1650 in Cambridge.

iii. John Borodell was born about 1628. He died between 2 September 1667, when he made his will, and 18 November 1667, when it was proved. He married Anne Broughton about 1652. She was the daughter of the regicide Andrew Broughton—the clerk of the court who read out the King's death sentence.

John was the apprentice and protoge of London goldsmith Francis Allen, an M.P. committee member and treasurer of Cromwell's New Model Army. John's fortunes probably rose and fell with Allen's but he remained in business and left a gentleman's estate.

iv. Alice Borodell was born say 1630. She married ___ Hincks.

George and Ann's marriage settlement says: [4]

This witnesseth that I, George Denison of Southerton, in Connecticut ... in consideration of a jointure due unto my now wife Ann Borodell Dennison, upon marriage ... in consideration of the sum of three hundred pounds by me received of Mr. John Brodell, wich he freely gave to my wife, his sister, Ann Borodell Dennison ...

In his will, George Denison wrote that, “there is considerable rent due me for a house of my wife, in Cork, in Ireland, which was given unto her as a legacy by her father, John Borrodel, at his death.” [2]

Mrs. Anne Denison attended the ordination of Rev. James Noyes at the first church in Stonington on 10 September 1674. [5, 189]

As young men, George and his brother Edward were apparently in disrepute with the church in Roxbury. In 1647 Reverend John Elliot wrote, “This winter we had a gracious p’vidence of God befell two brothers Edward & Georg Denison, who had been proude incendiarys of some trobls among us, & full of distemp’, and disaffection. but the Lord left them to open and shamefull drunkenness at Boston: espec’. Edward. Weh did so greatly humble them both yt though George (being a member) was excommunicated, yet in a short time was taken in again.” [6]

Shortly after his first marriage, George Denison, gentleman of Roxbury, and his wife Bridget, the daughter of John Thompson late of Preston in the county of Northampton and deceased and his wife Mrs. Alice Thompson now of Roxbury, gave power of attorney to two men to receive Bridget’s portion of her father’s estate. [3]

George’s brother Major General Daniel Denison wrote to his grandchildren about his family saying about George, “Brother George buried his first wife in the year 1643, went into England and was a soldier there above a year, was at the Battle of York or Marston Moor, where he did good service, was afterward taken prisoner, but got free and having married a second wife he returned to New England, the year before our mother died, and not long after removed himself to New London.” [7]

George was one of the first settlers in Stonington. The town of New London granted him 200 acres in the Pequotsepos valley in Mystic in 1652 and his house was raised there on 3 May 1663. [8, 338] On 21 May 1653 he was appointed to a committee to advise the constable in Pequot in pressing men for a military expedition. On 18 May 1654 the Court gave him the authority to board vessels entering the harbor at Pequot to ensure that corn and other provisions were not being transported illegally out of the jurisdiction. On 3 October 1654 he was appointed to a three-person committee to press men in Pequot. [9, vol. 1, 243, 258, 264]

George Denison, Thomas Parke, Thomas Minor, Thomas Stanton, and Samuel Chesebrough laid out the bounds of Sotherton on 2 March 1659. [8]

In the Massachusetts order of 1658 incorporating the town of Sothertown, Captain George Denison is first among those listed to order its prudential affairs. The township came under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts in 1662 and George did not willingly assent to this. In October 1664 the Connecticut General Court pardoned the inhabitants of Mystic and Pawcatuck who had resisted the authority of Connecticut—except, for George. On 10 May 1666 the pardon was extended to George. [9, vol. 2, 36]

George appears frequently in Thomas Minor’s diary. In December 1658 Thomas wrote that “the Captaine was arrested.” In February 1659 he wrote, “I was questioned at my ffathers [father-in-law Walter Palmer] for being a leader to make division 2ly to take ye Captains power from him.” In May 1661 he wrote, “the Captaine and I wer at new London and they denied us the records till they did heare from the governor and Courte.” [10]

George had some dispute with Herman Garret regarding the Indians and on 11 May 1665 Mr. Thomas Stanton and Thomas Minor were empowered to investigate and if things were not settled to Herman Garret’s satisfaction, they were to summon George to court. On 12 October 1665 Captain George Denison, having failed to appear despite being called before the court, forfeited his bond. On 10 May 1677 Captain Denison pointed out his service to the colony in King Philip’s War and successfully requested that his fine from two years ago be waived. [9, vol. 2, 17, 310]

George appears in a 1668 census conducted in Stonington. [5, 40–41] He is on a 5 October 1669 list of freemen in Stonington. [9, vol. 2, 523] Captain Denison was taken into full communion in the first church in Stonington on 24 August 1684. [5, 189] He was on a committee that laid out a highway beginning at Mystic River and running to Mistuxet Brook. The committee made a report on 5 April 1669. [8, 105]

Captain George Denison—an extremely competent soldier—played a prominent role in King Philip’s War. [9, vol. 2, 407, 418, 427–31, 435, 444, 448–9, 459, 468, 448–9, 459, 474, 484–8, 490] On 12 February 1676 he was appointed Provost Marshall of New London County and on 10 May 1677 he was paid 50 shillings for his services. [9, vol. 2, 306, 448]

George Denison of Stonington wrote his will on 24 January 1693/4. It was exhibited on 4 June 1694. [11] He noted that he has already given portions to his children. He left his wife Ann his house, barns, buildings, land, stock and household goods. He gave his eldest son John his “great sword and gauntlet which I wore in the wars of England.” He left his son William his “rapier and broad buff belt and the cartridge box which I used in the Indian Wars, together with my long carbine, which belt and sword I used in the same service.” He mentioned his son George, William’s wife Sarah, his eldest daughter Sarah Stanton, his daughters Hannah Saxton, Ann Palmer, Margaret Brown and Borodell Stanton, his grandson George Palmer and his son-in-law Gershom Palmer. [2]

Children of George Denison and Bridget Thompson:

i. Sarah Denison was born on 20 March 1641. She married Thomas, the son of Thomas Stanton. [8, 336]

ii. Hannah Denison was born on 20 May 1643. She married first Nathaniel Chesebrough in 1659. He died on 22 November 1678. She married second Captain Joseph Saxton on 15 July 1698. [8, 336, 338]

In May 1672 Thomas Minor wrote in his diary, “nathaniell Cheesbrough was ill … the doctor let Nathanell Cheesbroughs blood.” [10, 109]

Children of George Denison and Ann Borodell:

iii. Seargent John B. Denison was born on 14 July 1646. He died on 26 April 1698. He married Phebe Lay on 26 November 1667. Phebe, the daughter of Robert Lay of Saybrook, died in 1699, age 49. [8, 338–9][22]

Thomas Minor wrote in his diary, “Tuesday 26 of november 1667 John Denison was maried.” [10, 199]

On 26 April 1698 Manasseh Minor wrote in his diary, “sargen Deneson departed this life.” [12, 29]

John appears in a 1668 census conducted in Stonington. [5, 40–41] Mr. John Denison of Stonington was presented to be a freeman on 13 May 1669. He was appointed an ensign for the county of New London on 7 August 1673. [9, vol. 2, 105, 206] John was admitted to the first church in Stonington on 29 July 1677. His wife Phebe was baptized, owned the covenant, and was admitted on 14 October 1677. [5, 189, 195]

John Denison of Stonington made his will on 26 April 1698. It was proved on 16 June 1698. He mentioned his children and his wife. Gershom Palmer and John Stanton were witnesses. [11]

iv. Ann Denison wa baptized on 20 May 1646 in Roxbury. She died on 17 November 1706. She died on 17 November 1706. She married Gershom Palmer.

v. Borodell Denison was born in 1651. She married Samuel, the son of Thomas Stanton on 23 June 1680. [8, 338.]

vi. George Denison was born in 1653. He died on 27 December 1711, age 59. He married Mercy Gorham. Mercy was the daughter of John and Desire (Howland) Gorham and the granddaughter of John Howland of the Mayflower. She died on 24 September 1725. [8, 338, 340]

In his will, George’s father says that he had given George land and that he and his wife had signed the deed and it had been sealed and witnessed, but that George refused to acknowledge it so that it could be formally recorded. He complains that George then sold the land. “[W]hat his reasons may be I cannot certainly divine, but have it to fear they are not good or tending to peace after my decease.” [2]

George Denison and his wife owned the covenant at the first church in Stonington on 16 April 1689. Marcy Denison owned the covenant on 18 April 1689 and she was admitted to the church on 8 June 1690. [5, 190, 193, 194]

vii. Captain William Denison was born in 1655. He died on 2 March 1715. He married Sarah (Stanton) Prentice as her second husband. Sarah was the daughter of Thomas Stanton. She died on 7 August 1713. [8, 338, 340]

His father left William’s mother in his care. Regarding William he notes, “former experiences we have had of his great industry and childlike duty in the management of all our concern, for our comfort and comfortable supply.” [2]

William Denison owned the covenant at the first church in Stonington on 16 April 1689. [5, 193]

viii. Margaret Denison was born in 1657. She married James Brown, Jr. [8, 338]

ix. Mary Denison was born in 1659. She died on 10 March 1671. [8, 338]

Endnotes

1. "The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620–1633, Volumes I-III," digitized book, AmericanAncestors.org, originally published as: Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, 3 volumes (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995), 523.

2. “Will of George Denison—1693,” New England Historical and Genealogical Register 13 (1859), 73–77.

3. Clarence Almon Torrey, "Alice (Freeman) (Tompson) Parke," The American Genealogist 13, 1936, 1–8.

4. Travis Dodge Miscia, "The Cumbrian Origins and Puritan Connections of Ann (Borodell) Denison and Margaret (Borodell) (Shepard) Mitchell," New England Historican and Genealogical Register 178 (2024): 241–59.

5. Richard A Wheeler, History of the First Congregational Church, Stonington, Conn., 1674–1874 (Norwich, T.H. Davis and Co., 1875).

6. William B. Trask, “Rev. John Eliot’s Records of the First Church in Roxbury, Mass.,” NEHGR 33 (1879), 238.

7. Daniel Denison Slade, “Autobiography of Major-General Daniel Denison,” New England Historical and Genealogical Register 46 (1892), 128.

8. Richard Anson Wheeler, History of the Town of Stonington (New London: Press of the Day, 1900).

9. J. Hammond Trumble, The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, vol. 1 (Hartford: Brown & Parsons, 1850; vol. 2 (Hartford: F.A. Brown, 1852), vol. 3 (Case, Lockwood, & Co., 1859).

10. Thomas Minor, Sydney H. Minor and George D. Stanton, The Diary of Thomas Minor, Stonington, Connecticut, 1653–1684(New London: Press of the Day, 1899).

11. Donald Lines Jacobus, “New London Probate Records,” The American Genealogist 10 (1933), 215.

12. Manasseh Minor, The Diary of Manasseh Minor: Stonington, Conn., 1696–1720 (n.p: published by Frank Denison Miner with the assistance of Hannah Miner, 1988).

Revised August 29, 2024