Increase (Lippincott) Dennis (1657 - 1695)

Born 5 Dec 1657 in Stonehouse, Devon, England

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 29 Nov 1695 at age 37 in Shrewsbury, Monmouth, New Jersey Colony

Biography

A Colonial Family in the Town of Shrewsbury, New Jersey - Wedding

It was a beautiful morning in October in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and eighty-five. Shrewsbury, in East Jersey, one of the most beautiful spots in this new land was enjoying the balmy weather of lingering summer. A few trees, here and there, had changed the color of their leaves, which served to make more glorious those wide sweeping elms and willows that lined the roads leading to the village. This was the wedding day of Samuel Dennis and Increase Lippincott, but there was no stir in that little settlement to indicate any event of importance. The little home of Richard and Abigail Lippincott, with its meagre [sic] furnishings, had been cleaned with customary thoroughness and the other members of the family, Increase and her brothers, were busy at their daily tasks.

Increase talked with her mother as they worked about the house, and clothed in the drab dresses they wore to “Meeting”, they looked far removed from the grandeur of a wedding day. A light was in the younger woman’s eyes, and her voice took on a bird-like quality this morning that contrasted with the low quiet tones of her mother’s voice. There had been discussion about the white kerchief Increase had decided to wear. Was it vanity or was it symbolic of the great happiness and the many hopes she felt swelling in her heart? After much solemn thought she made this concession to her feelings. Samuel Dennis had come to this country from Great Britain, in the year 1675, following the example of his friends, the Lippincotts, when living in England was no longer bearable.

Upon his arrival in Boston, he found that his friends had been forced to leave Massachusetts, because of their religion, so he followed them to Rhode Island, and then to East Jersey, to the Quaker settlement at Shrewsbury, where these “People of God, in scorn called Quakers” had peace and protection in the expression of their thoughts. The Meeting House, back from the road, said to have been built of brick brought over from Holland was where “Friends” assembled on this morning in October. There could scarcely be a greater contrast between the lavish gifts of Nature on this beautiful day and studied simplicity of the wedding party.

“At two previous public meetings of the Quakers, had Samuel and Increase declared their intentions of marriage with each other, desiring the consent and approbation of said meetings, and upon inquiry made by persons appointed by the meeting for that purpose. Having the consent of their parents, and no other marriage ties, they appeared before a public meeting of the people called Quakers. Here in the Presence of God and before the Assembly, Samuel Dennis took his friend Increase Lippincott to be his wife until death separate them, and in like manner Increase Lippincott declares friends in the Presence of God and before this assembly, I take this my friend Samuel Dennis to be my husband until death separates us.”

This was a ceremony at which there was neither preacher nor magistrate to pronounce them man and wife. They, with as little ceremony as possible, had declared it themselves to all who wished to listen. After this declaration, Samuel and Increase Dennis signed their names to the written declaration, called a certificate. Then followed the signatures or marks of the assembled friends who acted as witnesses. There was no handshaking, no kisses and no tears. The assembly left the Meeting House as quietly as it had entered. As they had been the first to enter, now the last to leave were the bride and groom; she was a beautiful, light haired English girl, and her husband, dark, thick set, and dignified.

They walked slowly down the road until they reached a house, which had been built several years, waiting for its mistress. For ten years Samuel had waited for this Quaker girl, who in turn had been waiting for a confirmation from within that she could marry one not of the “faith”. Theirs was a beautiful home, and five children came to bless them. In the Autumn, almost at the tenth anniversary of their wedding, Rachel came to them, and when the baby was a few days old, Increase passed on from this life. Samuel Dennis continued in the faith of the Church of England. He was appointed Attorney General and Agent for the King, and it was he who started building Christ Church in Shrewsbury. His monument stands there today, across the road from the Friends Meeting House, where Increase rests, but it is a greater monument to the great love he bore for Increase.

Here lies

Samuel Dennis

Who came to this country from

Great Britain 1675 and died in 1723

leaving an issue of five children by

his only wife, Increase

(This is not the complete inscription)

^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Article written by Eleanor Cumberson Letson about Samuel Dennis. His relation to this make the women descendants eligible to the D.A.R. and the children’s order of C.A.R. Note: The quotations of this ceremony and epitaph were taken from “Historical and Genealogical Miscellany” by Dr. John Stilwell.

"Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey," Volume XXLII, Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Vol. 1. 1670-1730; By William Nelson; The Press Printing and Publishing Co., 1901; transcribed by Genealogy Trails Transcription Team

• http://genealogytrails.com/njer/monmouth/will_callendar2.html

Taken from a transcribed record of the Will of Increase's mother, Abigail. 1697 June 28 - Lippincott, Abigail, of Shrewsherry, widow of Richard; will of. Grandson John, son of John Lippincott, widow and children of son Freedom except eldest son Samuel, granddaughters, children of daughter Increas Dennes, viz. Abigail, Sibiah and Rachel Dennes, son-in-law Samuel Dennes

• Judith M. OLSEN Title: "LIPPINCOTT 5 Generations of the Descendants of Richard & Abigail LIPPINCOTT" Publication: Name: Gloucester County Historical Society Woodbury, NJ 1982;