Benjamin Denson Sr (abt. 1720 - 1781)

Born about 1720 in Isle of Wight County, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Whitehead) Denson — married 15 Aug 1747 (to 1781) in Pagan Creek, Isle of Wight County, Virginia Colony

Descendants

Died 1 Aug 1781 at about age 61 in Nash, North Carolina, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: John Murphy [send private message], Diana Quinn [send private message], and Lance Foster [send private message]

Biography

Benjamin Denson Sr was a Virginia colonist.

Benjamin was a Friend (Quaker)

Benjamin Denson was the second or third child, being a son of John and Alice (Hollowell) Denson, born near Pagan Creek, Nansemond County, Virginia.^[1]

He and Mary Whitehead were married 15 Aug 1747, also near Pagan Creek. Their children are described in some of the Monthly Meeting reports, and in his will, a transcription of which is below reported.

He was probably buried on his property, or in an unmarked grave, as is Society of Friends custom.

Monthly Meeting Reports

The following Rich Square Monthly Meeting reports are found in Hinshaw.^[2] Later Hinshaw volumes may produce additional citations specific to Virginia.

• 1771, 8, 17. Benjamin DENSON & family produced a certificate from Western Branch Monthly Meeting, Surry County, Virginia
• 1772, 1, 18. Benjamin DENSON requested certificate of unity to submit to militia officers as he was called upon to act in obeyance of the law; also requested certificate for himself & family to Falling Creek Monthly Meeting, North Carolina (removed)
• 1774, 11, 19. Benjamin & wife, Mary, of Tar River, (Person County, North Carolina) condemned their daughter's marriage out of unity in their own home
• 1776, 3, 16. Mary (Denson) Reakes, daughter Benjamin & Mary Denson, of Tar River, disowned married out of Society of Friends
• 1776, 5, 9. Joseph, son Benjamin & Mary, Edgecombe County, married Mary Watkins, Rich Square Monthly Meeting, Northampton County^[3]
• 1776, 6, 15. Benjamin & sons, Joseph & Benjamin, of Tar River Meeting, names on list for commanding officer.
• 1782, 5, 16. Hulda disowned. (Rich Square Monthly Meeting)
• See his wife's profile for additional proofs found from monthly meetings.

Research Notes

Notes from external profile

Children:
1. Molly Denson
2. Isabella Denson, b. circa 1748
3. Jethro Denson, born 1749
4. Benjamin Denson, Jr, born 1753
5. Joseph Denson, born before 1756, Isle of Wight County
6. Mary Denson, born circa 1756
7. Jesse Denson, born circa 1760
8. John Denson, Sr, born 17 Sep 1760, Southampton County
9. Ann Denson, born circa 1762
10. Elizabeth Denson, born circa 1764
11. Hulda Denson, born circa 1766
Ruby Rorie, transcriber:
Division of estate of Benjamin Denson, deceased by order of Court of 1783...
Heirs: Joseph Denson, Benjamin Denson, Mary Ricks, John Denson, Jess Denson, Isabell (Denson) Ladd, Ann (Denson) Ricks, Betty Denson, Hulda Denson
Registered 2 Dec 1831
Note: Benjamin Denson and Mary, his wife, moved from Southhampton County, Virginia to Edgecombe County, North Carolina in 1771 and sold their farm of 330 acres to their son, Jethro.
Excerpts from Will of Benjamin Denson:
1. To my son Jethro Denson five shillings sterling
2. To my son Joseph Denson 200 acres of land including the plantation where he now lives.
3. To my son Benjamin Denson 200 acres of land it being the west part of above survey.
4. To my son Benjamin one cow and calf and one ewe and lamb.
5. To my son John Denson 200 acres and 40 acres it being the remainder of aforesaid survey.
6. To my son John one cow and calf and one ewe and lamb.
7. To my son Jesse Denson the plantation whereon I now live with 150 acres of land...observing that my wife, Mary Denson, is to have the use thereof during her natural life.
8. To my son Jesse one cow and calf and two ewes and lambs.
9. I lend to my wife, Mary Denson, all the remaining estate... during her natural life and after her decease to be divided between my 9 children, namely Isabella, Molly, Joseph, Benjamin, Ann, John, Jesse, Hulda, and Betty.
10. I do appoint my son, Joseph Denson and John Ricks my whole and sole executors.
Signed Benjamin Denson 1 Aug 1781. Citing Will Book 1 Page 20, Nash County, North Carolina (formed from Edgecombe County).
External family tree profile of Benjamin Denson

• See also: External family tree profile of Benjamin Denson
• John Murphy Family Tree

Sources

1. ↑ Note that his father, John Denson's will was written in Southampton County, Virginia. Citing Chapman, Blanche Adams. Wills and Administrations of Southampton County, Virginia, 1749-1800. 1947, p. 38. Virginia: Author. Abstract of will of John Denson, written 23 Oct 1756, proved 10 Sep 1761. His estate settlement appears to have been audited 9 Oct 1766 Chapman (1947, p. 66).
2. ↑ Hinshaw, William Wade. Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy. Vol. I: Containing Every Item of Genealogical Value Found in All Records and Minutes of the Thirty-Three Oldest Monthly Meetings which belong or ever belonged to the North Carolina Yearly Meeting of Friends... 1936, p. 237. Ann Arbor, Michigan: Edwards Brothers, Inc.
3. ↑ "North Carolina, Church Records, 1700-1970", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WZZ8-743Z : 12 August 2019), Benjamin Denson in entry for Joseph Denson, 1776.

• Find a Grave, database and images www.findagrave.com/memorial/71183191/benjamin-denson accessed 25 May 2023, memorial page for Benjamin Denson (1720–1781), Find A Grave: Memorial #71183191; Burial Details Unknown, Most likely he was buried on his homestead.; Maintained by William Bjornstad (contributor 47016546).

Acknowledgments

• Profile Denson-60 was created through the import of My Family File.ged on Nov 16, 2011 by Lance Foster.