Richard Denton (abt. 1602 - abt. 1662)

Born about 1602 in Halifax, Yorkshire, England [uncertain]

Descendants

Died about 1662 at about age 60 in Hempstead, Essex, England [uncertain]

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Richard Denton migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 92) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Disputed Marriage

The identity of the wife of Rev. Richard Denton is not known.^[1] There are no records that indicate his wife's name... neither Helen Windebanke nor Maria Durden.

Note that a Richard Denton DID marry a Mary Duerdon on 21 January 1633 at Halifax, Yorkshire at St. John the Baptist. ^[2] However, the immigrant Rev. Richard Denton was known to be married and at Turton, Lancashire by 1627 when his first son was born. Another Richard Denton was married on 28 Dec 1637 at St. John the Baptist at Halifax to Susan Smith (this date from ancestry.com, findmypast.co.uk gives it as 13 Dec 1637). Given that a Richard Denton, son of Henry was baptized at Halifax 19 Apr 1601^[3] and a Richard Denton, son of Richard 5 Apr 1603,^[4] it seems that either of these two Richards could have been the two who were married in 1633 and 1637 or not, there is no certainty in these records. And then there was Richard son of Samuel baptized Oct 1614, and Richard son of Edward baptized 9 Jun 1611 and Richard son of Richard baptized Jun 1595 who could have been the ones who married...but not the Richard son of John who was buried April 1615...

Biography

This profile is part of the Denton Name Study.

Richard Denton immigrated to New England between 1621 and 1640 and later departed for Long Island then England.

Richard Denton was a New Netherland settler.

Richard Denton was an early settler (before 1664) of Heempstede (Hempstead), on Dutch-ruled western Long Island, as the town was founded by English colonists after purchase from natives in 1643, and then under a patent from New Netherland.

A graduate of St. Catherines, Cambridge in 1623, Rev. Richard Denton came to New England circa 1640. Before coming he was a preacher in Halifax England. The Cambridge University listing for Richard Denton says: "Sizar of St. Catherine's Easter, 1621-23-24, priest 8 June 1623, Deacon at Peterborough 9 March 1622-3. Curate of Coley Chapel, Halifax, for some years." ("Sizar" is defined as an undergraduate student.) Coley Chapel was a small vicarage between Southowram and Northowram in Halifax, England.

Regarding his origin near Halifax, Cotton Mather said this as part of his tribute to Denton in Mather's book "Magnalia Christi Americana":

...was one Mr. Richard Denton, a Yorkshireman, pious and learned, who, having watered Halifax in England with his fruitful ministry...^[5]

This is not adequate for a specific origin and the fact that Denton was a curate at Coley near Halifax does not prove a birth there and is not asserted as such but it is a data point.

It is assumed that since he was a subsidized university student at St. Catherine's, he was not married until he had graduated in 1623/24.^[1]

From New England Genealogical Reg. 11/241: Rev. Richard Denton came to America from the Parish of Owram, North England. According to The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Rev, Richard Denton did not arrive on the ship "James" in 1635 otherwise Rev. Richard Mather, in his journal, would have recognized his presence. Rev. Mather makes several references to the sermons of the ministers on board the "James" and these include only himself and Rev. Mawde.

Susan Hardman Moore in her book, "Abandoning America, Life-Stories From Early New England" says Rev. Denton arrived in Wethersfield, Connecticut Colony about 1638.^[6]Other sources say Rev. Richard Denton's first appearance in the new world was in Wethersfield, Connecticut in 1640. In 1641, Rev. Richard Denton, along with twenty eight families^[6] including with Matthew Mitchell, Edmund Wood and probably John Lum with their families all moved to Stamford, Connecticut which was under the jurisdiction of New Haven Colony. In 1644, Rev. Denton and Matthew Mitchell remained in Stafford, while Edmund Wood, his sons and son-in-law, John Lum and others went over the Sound to Hempstead. Rev. Denton didn't like the practice of disenfranchising the non-church members, nor the refusing to baptize children whose parents were not members. About 1644 he secured land from the Dutch and moved to Hempstead on Long Island.^[6]

From "Narratives of New Netherland, 1609-1664" a letter to the Classis of Amsterdam from Johannes Megapolensis and Samuel Drisius dated August 5,1657: "At Hempsted, about seven leagues from here, there live some Independents. There are also many of our own church, and some Presbyterians. They have a Presbyterian preacher, Richard Denton, a pious, godly and learned man, who is in agreement with our church in everything. The Independents of the place listen attentively to his sermons; but when he began to baptize the children of parents who are not members of the church, they rushed out of the church." From another letter dated Oct. 22, 1657 the same writers continue: "Mr. Richard Denton, who is sound in faith, of a friendly disposition, and beloved by all, cannot be induced by us to remain, although we have earnestly tried to do this in various ways. He first went to Virginia to seek a situation, complaining of lack of salary, and that he was getting in debt, but he has returned thence. He is now fully resolved to go to old England, because of his wife who is sickly will not go without him, and there is need of their going there on account of a legacy of four hundred pounds sterling lately left by a deceased friend, and which they cannot obtain except by their personal presence."^[7]

The famous preacher, Cotton Mather, born 1663, speaks of Rev. Denton in his early memoirs: "Rev. Denton was a highly religious man with strong Presbyterian beliefs. He was a small man with only one eye, but in the pulpit he could sway a congregation like he was nine feet tall."^[5]

He and his wife had the following children:

1. As "Tymothie," Timothy Denton was baptized at St. Peter's Parish Church, Turton, Bolton Priory, Lancashire on July 23, 1627.^[8]No additional records indicating he may have died young.^[1]
2. As "Nathaniell," Nathaniel Denton was baptized on March 9, 1629 at St. Peter's Parish Church, Turnton, Bolton, Lancashire.^[9]He married Sarah (surname unidentified) probably at Hempstead by 1653. He died at Jamaica, Long Island in 1690, but before October 18 of that year.^[1]
3. Samuel Denton was baptized May 29, 1631 at Coley Chapel, Halifax Parish, Yorkshire.^[1]
4. Daniel Denton was baptized on July 10, 1632 at Coley Chapel, Halifax Parish, Yorkshire.^[1]
5. Phoebe Denton, a daughter was born November 30, 1634 at Coley Chapel, Halifax Parish, Yorkshire. No additional records indicating she may have died young.^[1]
6. Peter Denton was baptized 6 Jan 1636/37 as son of Richard Denton of Coley^[10] followed by his burial 5 June 1637 as son of Richard Denton of Coley^[11] Note that Krumm apparently missed two of the children of Richard, viz. Peter and Mary as described by R. Riegal in the analysis cited on this profile.

• There is a possibility of another son Richard Denton. Dr. Krumm in footnotes on page 12 of his article "Descendants of Rev. Richard Denton" says there is nothing to connect Richard Denton as the son of Rev. Richard Denton except their names and the fact that there were probably no other Denton families in New England or New Netherland at this time. Krumm goes on to say that if Richard was a son, he was probably the youngest, putting his birth date at 1636 or later. He married Ruth Tileston on December 11, 1657 at Dorchester.^{[citation needed]} She was the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Tilleston. The couple had no children. Richard died one year after his wedding, on December 26, 1658.^[1]

The J.S. Denton papers show baptismal records of Nathaniel and Timothy sons of Rev. Richard Denton "in Parish Church of Bolton, England."

The history of Hempstead, Long Island makes many references to the Dentons and their marriages and big families. The men were active in the local militias fighting the Indians and they developed excellent military experience that prepared them for officer commissions when they moved on to the Virginia frontier.

Rev Richard Denton returned to England in 1658 after he found he was unable to live on his wages on Long Island and could not find a preaching situation in Virginia that provided a better salary.^[1] As well, he reportedly had "little comfort, not altogether of their principles as to curch discipline . . ."^[6] Rev & Mrs. Denton upon return to England, received a bequest of L400. He left all of his living offspring behind in New England with little or no property for his sons to inherit.^[1] In England he spent his time writing Memoirs and Religious Studies.

Moore who writes in 2013, says "...he returned to Old England about the year 1659; lived awhile in Essex, and there died."^[6] As well several additional sources indicate that he died in Essex. Krumm wrote that it is tradition that he died at home in England about 1662.^[1] Some Long Island historians and genealogists have reported a text that is said to be inscribed on his tomb there. But Venn's Cambridge University Alumni indicates that he died in Hempstead, Essex, but no tomb for him has been found there. Krumm notes that Hempstead in Old England was strongly Puritan, so Rev. Denton could have found the place hospitable.^[12]

According to the "Encyclopedia of the Presbyterian Church" ed. Alfred Nevin, p. 183-84, the Presbyterian Church in America looks upon Rev. Richard Denton as their first minister and his descendants number in the thousands.^[1]

Research Notes

• If Richard Denton was indeed the son of Rev. Richard Denton, Krumm says "one must then wonder when and where he was born, and how and when he came to Dorchester."^[1] Since there were no children from his marriage, his inclusion here will not confuse any lineages.
• The marriage register at St. Saviour, Southwark (now Southwark Cathedral), London, records the marriage by license on 16 November 1611/2 of Richard Denton to Helen Windebanke. ^[13] Based on this record, Helen Windebanke was mistakenly identified as the wife of Rev. Richard Denton. This record of 1611/12 is too early for Rev. Richard Denton to have married. She must have married some other Richard Denton.^[14]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12} Dr. Walter C. Krumm. "Descendants of the Rev. Richard Denton" October (1986). New York Genealogical Biographical Register Vol. 120, # 1 pp. 10-12. membership required.
2. ↑ West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1512-1812 for Richard Denton Halifax, St John the Baptist 1633 public image at ancestry.com
3. ↑ West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1512-1812 for Richard Denton Halifax, St John the Baptist 1601 public image at ancestry.com
4. ↑ West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1512-1812 for Richard Denton Halifax, St John the Baptist 1603 public image at ancestry.com
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Magnalia Christi Americana : or, The ecclesiastical history of New-England, from its first planting in the year 1620. unto the year of Our Lord, 1698. In seven books ... by Mather, Cotton, 1663-1728; Publication date 1702 p. 95
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4} Susan Hardman Moore. "Abandoning America, Life-Stories From Early New England" Boydell Press (2013). p. 89,90.
7. ↑ Jameson, J. Franklin, ed. Narratives of New Netherland 1609-1664. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1909.
8. ↑ Lancashire Parish Register Society Publications 50:107, 114.
9. ↑ Lancashire Parish Register Society Publications 50:107, 114.
10. ↑ West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1512-1812 Halifax, St John the Baptist; the subscription link displays the 1638 baptism of Mary Denton; to find Peter on 6 January 1636/37 navigate to 1636, image 11 of 13 $subscription and public image at ancestry.com]
11. ↑ West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1512-1812 for Peter Denton Halifax, St John the Baptist 1637 $subscription and public image at ancestry.com]
12. ↑ Krumm, "Who Was the Rev. RIchard Denton?", pages 217-218.
13. ↑ St Saviour Southwark Parish Register $subscription (accessed 22 Sep 2019 Meehan-411)
14. ↑ Krumm, Ph.D., Walter C. "Who Was the Rev. Richard Denton?" In The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 163-166, 211-219. Vol. 117. New York, N.Y.: New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, 1986.

• 1657 petition that mentions Rev. Denton
• Hollister, Gideon. The History of Connecticut, From the First Settlement of the Colony to the Adoption of the Present Constitution (Case, Tiffany & Co., Hartford, 1857) Vol. 1, Page 506
• Denton Genealogy website, Rev. Richard Denton, archived at Archive.org, 5 July 2008. Citing Krumm, New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 117, numbers 3 and 4.
• Krumm, Ph.D., Walter C. "Who Was the Rev. RIchard Denton?" In The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 163-166, 211-219. Vol. 117. New York, N.Y.: New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, 1986.
• Krumm, Ph.D., Walter C. "Descendants of the Rev. Richard Denton." In The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record. Vol. 120, 121, 122. New York, N.Y.: New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, 1989.
• R Riegal, “The Origins of Reverend Richard Denton 1601-c. 1662,” 6 Nov 2017, formerly at www.analent.com/Denton/OriginsOfRichardDenton.pdf, accessed 14 April 2018. This appears to be the same document that is at https://pdffox.com/origins-of-reverend-richard-denton-pdf-free.html as of 21 Jan 2022.
• Moore, Charles B. Early History of Hempstead, Long Island. New York: Trow's Printing and Bookbinding Company, 1879. 8.
• Moore, Susan Hardman. Abandoning America: Life-stories from early New England. Woodbridge, Suffolk: The Boydell Press, 2013.
• Onderdonk, Henry. The Annals of Hempstead, 1643 to 1832: Also, the Rise and Growth of the Society of Friends on Long Island and in New York, 1657 to 1826. Hempstead, N.Y.: L. Van De Water, 1878.
• Suffolk County Wills
• Venn, John Archibald, Comp. Alumni Cantabrigienses (Cambridge University Press, 1922) Vol. 2, Page 34.

• "Dennton, Richard. Matric. sizar from St Catharine's, Easter, 1621. B. 1603, in Yorkshire. B.A. 1623-4. Ord. deacon (Peterb.) Mar. 9, 1622-3; priest, June 8, 1623. C. of Coley Chapel, Halifax, for some years. Went to New England, c. 1638. Preacher at Stamford, Conn.; and at Hempstead, Long Island, for 15 years. Returned to England, 1659. Said to have died at Hempstead, Essex, 1663. Author, Solilquia Sacra. (Felt, 515; J.G. Bartlett; D.N.B.)"

• Wood, Matthew. "English Origins of the Mitchell, Wood, Lum and Halstead Families." The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record. January 1989. Volume 120, Number 1., pp. 2, 3.
• Goodwin, Nathaniel. The Foote Family (Case, Tiffany and Co., Hartford, Connecticut, 1849) Page xxxviii
• Chapin, Alonzo Bowen. Glastenbury For Two Hundred Years (Case, Tiffany & Co., Hartford, 1853) Page 31.