Merry Christmas

“The renewal of hope and faith in a world gone wrong - that is what Christmas
means to me now.”

It would not be easy for me to say which was the nicest Christmas I ever had, because no particular one stands out in my mind. Christmases divide themselves into two groups for me- childhood ones, and grown up ones. The main thing I remember about childhood Christmases is the fact that we were never allowed to get up early and race downstairs to look at our presents, or even see the tree. We had to wait till after breakfast - and breakfast was no light snack in the kitchen either, it was a good solid meal, served in the dining room for the entire assembled family which included Aunt and Uncle who always spent Christmas with us. We had to stay at the table until everyone was finished. When breakfast was finally over, the great moment arrived. My father opened the sliding door which separated the dining room and the parlor - that door was never shut except on Christmas morning.

In one corner of the parlor, the tree stood, decorated with colored metal balls, spun glass angels, silver tinsel rope, and huge candy canes. And under it were the things Santa Claus had brought us - some sort of quite substantial toy for each of my brothers and I. All the other presents were in the fireplace -why I don’t know, but there they always were. It was a very fancy Victorian tiled fireplace which nobody ever thought of building a fire in, and it didn’t seem as queer to me then as it does now. My aunt had the honor of distributing the presents. (You’ll notice I haven’t used the word gift - they were presents at our house, nobody seemed to be aware that there was such a word as gift.) She sat on the floor and handed them out one by one and waited till each one was opened and properly appreciated before she reached for the next one. The fireplace was usually pretty full it seemed to me. It took a long time to get to the bottom of the pile.

Not much remains today of these Christmases. Even yet nothing can be opened except before the assembled family. But Grandmother, Great Aunt, and Uncle are all dead, and we live in a house so small that there is no fireplace and not even room for a tree. So we content ourselves with putting a wreath on the door, candles in the window and piling the presents on top of the piano. “The old order changeth” and the happy excitement that once meant Christmas is something that will never return. The renewal of hope and faith in a world gone wrong - that is what Christmas means to me now. That and a certain lightheartedness that I can’t help feeling at the sound of familiar carols, the lighted trees, the excited children in the toy departments.But never a Christmas comes that I don’t wish to be a child again, wish once more to have the thrill of seeing that greatest of all sights - our parlor on Christmas morning.

Written by Elizabeth D Hobbs, December 1939

Dennis' of Stansted Mountfitchet

Samuel born 1650 - came to Shrewsbury NJ USA 1675
Benjamin born 1648
Benjamin born about 1624
Richard born 1643
Elizabeth born 1645
Griffon ? born about 1620
Margarrett born about 1618 married George Tyler 1637
Thomas born 1633, the son of Thomas JR
John Dennis born about 1613
Marie born 1633

These are listed in the Stansted Mountfitchet Parish Register; the handwriting is difficult to read, I may have missed some.

Hertford England court record 1683

28 Sept. Note of convictions of the following persons for being present at an unlawful conventicle held at Patmore Heath, in the parish of Aldbury:—Thomas Burne, of Ware, maltster; Robert Terlin, of Aldbury, labourer; William Wright, of Bishops Stortford, tailor ; Joseph Taylor, of the same; Thomas Phip, of Furnix Pellham, chandler; John Goulston, of Stansted, co. Essex; Simon Joslen, of the same, " cowper " ; Benjamin Dennis, of the same, bricklayer; John Dunbar, of Mannenden, co. Essex; and Edward Lucas, of Arkesden, co. Essex, labourer; at which conventicle Thomas Burre took upon himself to teach. Each of the above mentioned persons was fined 5s., and Thomas Burre, fined £20

Baptism of Samuel Dennis

Found online, a baptism record from the Stansted Mountfitchet England Parish Register.

Samuell son of Benjamin Denis born 2 November 1650 and baptised 5 January.

So this confirms my belief that Samuel Dennis was the son of Benjamin. I also found a record of a will for one Thomas Dennis Sr. dated 1679, from a nearby town who was also a bricklayer like Samuel and Benjamin. Seems like a good candidate to be an ancestor or relative of Samuel as well. I am sending for a copy of the will.

1764 AFFADAVIT OF SURVEY AND BOUNDARY LINES ON "RUMSOM NECK" , New Jersey

I found this framed and hanging on the wall at the Monmouth County Arcive in Manalapan on a recent visit, and the archivist, Mary Ann Kiernan, was gracious enough to take the framed print down from the wall and make a photocopy for me. I thiught it might be helpful to others in figuring out where their ancestors lived. This is in the Little Silver area, I think. The highway mentioned is probably Rumson Road, and I think the "North River" is the Navesink. Corrections appreciated.

Doesnt say it here, but Restore Lippincott was Jacob Dennis's uncle, and Justice Josiah Holmes was Jacobs son in law.

NEW JERSEY MONMOUTH Jacob Dennis in the Said County yeoman, aged upwards of seventy years being solemnly sworn upon the Holy Evangalist of Almighty God Deposeth and Saith , That his father Samuel Dennis late of said Shrewsbury deceased, from Great Brittain, who came to live in the said town in the year 1675 Boarded with one Restore Lippincott on Rumsom Neck in said town, and while he lived with him, the Surveyor laid out the said Lippincotts tract, and the tract next below or Eastward of it, now in the posession of Thomas Borden Jun.. And that the said Surveyor set his Compass at a Chestnut Tree about two rod below or South Eastward of the Highway that goes down Said Rumsom, on the Westerly bank of a small brook runing just under the root of the Said tree. To run the course between the said tracts to the North River which course this deponant thinks is Northwest and by North.
And that the Said little brook from the Said tree, and a small creek, that it runs into, was the bounds between the said tracts to the South Eastward. Which said Chestnut Tree this deponent saith his Said Father showed to him , and told him divers times to remember it, and that he was present at the laying out of the Said tracts as above and that the Said Brook & Creek were the bounds between said tracts below it. And that this deponents neighbour, Peter White deceased hath often told this deponent that the Said Samuel Dennis showed him the Chestnut Tree, and told Said White to remember it, And that he was present at the laying out Sd tracts as above. And the Deponent further saith that he as a Surveyor hath several times been employed by the owners of the tracts to run the division line ( or part of it ) of the Said tracts, and they began at the Said tree to run the Sd Division line , and that this brook and creek
**illegible line ***
till very lately. And that he believes it is upwards of fifty years ago that his said father showed him the said tree. And that the Said Chestnut tree hath been blown down many years, but young ones are grown up from the root thereof, And that part of this Said tree is still remaining. And further this Deponent saith not.
Jacob Dennis

Sworn this eighth day of July
1764 Before Me
Josiah Holmes, Justice

Present when the above affidavit was taken
the folling (???) vis.

John Chadwick
Elihu WIlliams
Peter Chadwick
David Allen
Thomas White sone of Levi White
Michael Hulit ( his x mark)
Thomas Hulit ( his x mark)
Joseph White
Benjamin White
Francis Chadwick
the mark of John Finemore (Tinemore ? ) X
illegible signature may be John Paterson? Capt. (?) or similar

Benjamin Dennis Stansted Mountfitchet

I found this on google, possible ancestor or sibling of Samuel Dennis- record of an indictment for unlawful assembly. Dates to 1684. LDS website www.familysearch.org has a listing for Benjamin Dennis born about 1624 Stansted Mountfitchet Essex England; but no source. Knowing that Samuel was a Quaker, and there was a Quaker meeting in Stansted makes it seem likely that this Benjamin was a Quaker too since the indictment was for a religious assembly.


1684 essex records office religious exercise
Added by samdennis1675 on 19 Sep 2009
T/A 418/195/38 Level: Item Scope and Content Indictment of John Perrin, John Giffin, [blank] Leonard wid., Calib Sammy John Plum, Benjamin Dennis, John Crabb, William Wallis, all of Stansted Mountfitchet, William Sweeting and John Dunbar of `Mallendine' [Manuden], John Read ironmonger and [blank] Ramsey basketmaker of Stortford, with divers other, 20 April 36 Charles II, at Stansted Mountfitchet under colour of religious exercises unlafully assembled there. Witnesses: John Milton, Robert Wells. [ASS 35/125/9/38]

Will of Cornelius Honce Freehold, Monmouth , NJ 1793

In the name of God Amen. I Cornelius Honce of the Township of Freehold , County of Monmouth & State of New Jersey , Yeoman, being weak in body but of sound understanding and perfect memory, knowing the shortness of life and certainty of death, Do Constitute and appoint this my last Will and Testament in manner following - viz - First of all I recommend my soul to God who gave it - and my Body to the earth from whence it was taken - to be buried in a decent manner at the discretion of my Executors herein after named. Imprimus, I give and bequeath to my son John the sum of Ten Pounds lawful money of New Jersey, to be paid to him out of my estate when my youngest child arrives at age. Imprimus, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Conelia, one young wench , one feather beds, bedding and furniture the best in the houses, with her right of dower from the time my youngest child comes of age. Items, after the payment of my just debts, I also give and bequeath to my seven children viz - David , Cornelius, Hendrick, Jenny, Mary, Phebe and Aleha, their proportion of all my Landed and Moveable Estate in manner follwing. Viz- That two equal shares shall be divided to each of my sons (namely) David, Cornelius and Hendrick, and one equal share to each of my daughters viz - Jenny, Mary, Phebe and Aleha . Imprimis That the products of my estate shall be used for the benefit and support of my Wife and children to bring them up untill the youngest arrives to ye age of Eighteen years. That the estates to be disposed of both landed and moveable and a just dividend made according to thier shares as before ascertained. I do hereby Constitute my Dearly beloved wife and my son David Exexutrix and executor of this my last will and testament and trustees of my children. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this sixteenth day of August in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety three.

Cornelius Honce ( his mark )

Witness present

John Tice
John Walter
Henry Smith

Probate 14 October 1806