Richard Denton, lll, Reverend - The Origins of Reverend Richard Denton

According to http://rbcarleton.com/JohnOfLondon/JohnOfLondon.pdf the ship captain, Lambertson, a returnee to New England, was ultimately bound for New Haven.

Speculation: perhaps Rev. Denton did not stay long enough in Watertown to bother himself to become a freeman.

The only person I can imagine inviting him to Wethersfield would be Rev. John Sherman in Wethersfield. But because Rev. Sherman was the pastor in Wethersfield until 1641, I find it difficult to believe Rev. Denton remained there as just one of the flock for several years.

Below is perhaps a little more religious context from The First Congregational Church of Stamford (the church founded by Rev. Denton). But note in the second paragraph it refers to 7 Watertown Puritans who left for Wethersfield. I assume that is the same 7 mentioned in the History of Ancient Wethersfield, p. 20 as having made that move on May 29 1635, before even the James of London arrived. The 7 named in the History of Ancient Wethersfield at p. 20 were: Rev. Richard Denton, Robert Reynolds, John Strickland, Jonas Weede, Rev. John Sherman, Robert Coe, and Andrew Ward. (The church history may be derived from the History of Ancient Wethersfield.)

You will note that Rev. John Sherman was the pastor in Wethersfield from 1635 to 1641. But Rev. Denton became the pastor in 1641 once the dissenters moved to Stamford. Interestingly, those moving to Stamford were 4 voting members of the church plus 24 "non-Congregationalists."

http://www.fccstamford.org/history:

Early History
On July 30, 1630, about 40 Puritans who had recently migrated from England, under leadership of Sir Richard Saltonstall, established a church in Watertown, Massachusetts. They chose Rev. George Phillips from Norfolk County, England, as their first pastor. This Watertown Colony was the first congregation to choose, ordain, and install its own pastor, thus making it the first Congregational Church in this country.

Five years later, in 1635, seven of the Watertown Puritans “removed” to the Connecticut River Valley and gathered as a church in Wethersfield, Connecticut. With this move, the Wethersfield congregation became the second church organized and located in Connecticut (the first being in Windsor, also in 1635), and one of the earliest Congregational churches to be formed in what became the United States of America 141 years later.

The Wethersfield congregation grew, as did the dissension among the members, and after six years, only seven members remained. As a result, four of the seven united with other local planters who were not voting members of the church. Together, these four churchmen, 24 other men (non-Congregationalists), and their families sought a new place to worship and live. The New Haven Colony, at the suggestion of Rev. John Davenport, offered land to these 28 families within the New Haven Colony territory at Rippowams, now Stamford. In the summer of 1641, these families laid the foundations of the First Congregational Church of Stamford. Because the four voting members who separated from Wethersfield constituted the majority of the voting members, they gained the right to take the church records of organization, and thus, the First Congregational Church of Stamford was officially organized six years before the actual founding of Stamford.

Pastors
Since its initial gathering, FCC Stamford has been led by 25 pastors, beginning with Rev. John Sherman, who served as the first pastor in Wethersfield from 1635 to 1641. Rev. Richard Denton, originally from Halifax, England, who had come with the church members from Wethersfield, served as the first pastor of the church in Stamford, from 1641 to 1644.

I'm wondering if Rev Denton ever intended on Mass Bay at all. Lambertson, the ship captain of the John, already had CT property, he had a falling out with Rogers when he made it clear he was going to it with his family he had brought over from England, and the Rowley area Rogers & his people wanted was too inland for Lambertson to ply his trade. Rogers records are lost, they likely had more details of the organizing of his trip & early days. There's no association between Denton & Salem or Rowley. We should look at Davenport.

I want to go back to Yorkshire wills; George " the Chandler" Denton of Halifax & Isabel his wealthy & childless widow would have been contemporary with Richard, and not brothers, or surely his children would have been Isabel's heirs, and not (her side?) niece Anne Priestley. That Henry "the apothecary" Priestley bought Priestley Green, the same place Rev Denton was living, cannot be a coincidence.

It appears that Rev. Denton's arrival in Wethersfield coincided with Rev. Sherman's departure from Wethersfield for Milford, New Haven. The deed for Rev. Denton's 15 acres was dated 10 Apr. 1640. Rev. Sherman moved to Milford and was admitted to the church there on Nov 20, 1640. Then, within a year of becoming the minister at Wethersfield (by the summer of 1641), dissension had grown strong enough that Rev. Denton and many of the parishioners moved to Stamford. The timing suggests the dissension did not arise as a result of a feud between Rev. Sherman and Rev. Denton.

Roland's theory of a ship arrival in the summer or fall of 1639 makes some sense combined with these facts plus the fact that Rev. Denton apparently did not become a freeman in Watertown. The question then becomes how, when and why might Rev. Sherman and Rev. Denton have communicated about Rev. Sherman's need for a replacement?

Rev. John Sherman (1613-1685),
Born: 26 Dec 1613 Dedham, Essex, England
1629-30 BA & 1633 MA Immanuel or Trinity College, Cambridge
1634 Ship Elizabeth to Watertown
1635 Wethersfield
1640 Planter in Milford, New Haven, CT (Admitted to church Nov. 20, 1640)
1647 Watertown, Minister
Fellow at Harvard College

One source says Rev. Sherman's ancestry has received extended treatment in several articles in the New Eng. Hist. and Gen. Register, and in the Sherman Genealogy (1920) by Thomas Townsend Sherman.

Sources:
http://cybergata.com/roots/114.htm
http://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:John_Sherman_(1)
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=henry...

I think looking again at George and Isabel Denton is a good idea.

Based on the above scenario, I suppose an additional question might be whether some of those Wethersfield parishioners were people who had followed Rev. Denton from Coley.

Another thought. Note that the Stamford Congregational Church history states that 24 "non-Congregationalists" followed Rev. Denton to Stamford. Rev. Denton years later had troubles in Hempstead when local Congregationalists accused him of secretly baptizing their children. If he was preaching a Presbyterian doctrine in Wethersfield, that may be why there was dissension. Although the Stamford church may now be Congregational, it may have begun under Rev. Denton as essentially Presbyterian. Churches, like the one in Wethersfield, do undergo changes and affiliate with different denominations.

Perhaps stating that the 24 "non-Congregationalists" followed Rev. Denton to Stamford indicates that they were already followers of his preaching, for example, from Coley.

It appears that Rev. Sherman may have gone to Milford as early as November 1639. He may also have matriculated at St. Catharine's as a sizar in 1631 but did not finish his degree. Apparently he has been confused with another John Sherman who went to Trinity College Cambridge.

From https://commonheroes3.wordpress.com/11th-generation/sherman-john-mary/

"John Sherman joined the Milford settlement, probably about 1639. He was on the list of “free planters” there on 20 November 1639, making him one of the founding members of the community. He was “freed from watching” at Wethersfield 7 May 1640. Rev. John Sherman served on the New Haven General Court, representing Milford, in October of 1643. He occupied Lot #9 in Milford, near the corner of West River and West Main Streets."

From Genealogy.com http://www.genealogy.com/ftm/a/m/m/Christie-Ammirati-PA/WEBSITE-000...

John Sherman (son of Edmund Sherman and Joanne) was born December 26, 1613 in Dedham, Essex Co. England, and died August 08, 1685 in Watertown, Middlesex Co MA.He married Mary Gibbs.

From Frederick Lewis Weis, The Colonial Clergy and the Colonial Churches of New England, (Lancaster MA: 1936; reprinted, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, Co., Inc., 1977.), pg. 186:

"JOHN SHERMAN, b. Dedham, Essex, England, Dec. 26, 1613, son of Edmund and Grace (Makin) Sherman; matriculated sizar at St. Catharine's Hall, Camb., Easter, 1631; declined to subscribe for his degree; (another John Sherman, not this one, was A.B., Trinity Coll., Camb., 1629/30; A.M., 1633); came to N. E., 1634; sett. New Haven, Ct., 1636-1644; sett. Branford, Ct., 1645; Ord. Watertown, 1647; sett. Watertown, 1647-1685; Mass. Convention Sermon, 1682; Fellow, H. C., where he gave lectures for 30 years; his sermons were distinguished for beauty of style and language; he was a recognized authority in astronomy; by two wives he was the father of twenty-six children; Overseer, H.C., 1678-1685; d. Watertown, Aug. 8, 1685, a. 72."

Tagging his profile

Rev. John Sherman, of Coffe

I notice - an example of Cotton Mather oratory also. :)

So, Ezekiel Rogers' father was Richard Rogers who was a famous minister in Wethersfield, Essex, England. Rev. John Sherman was from Dedham in Essex, a sizar at St. Catharines at Cambridge and gave his new settlement the name Wethersfield.

And, then, Rev. Richard Denton returned to Essex c.1658.

Just FYI. I checked a map and the passengers on the James of London out of Hull in 1638 mostly came from towns near Hull. Halifax is about 70 miles west of Hull.

Just a thought. Identifying and checking the Pipe Rolls for Hull (in the hinterlands) could be a good deal less daunting than doing it for London or Bristol.

Yes, I think getting into Yorkshire records is well called for. I suspect Port of Bristol has been tried before without a lot of success. And Hull at 70 miles away would have been a lot easier than Bristol for the Rev. It's a good thought

Extending the Timeline from page 3 above (5/19/2017 3:56 PM entry)

1628, 3 July -- Rev. Denton appointed Curate at Turton, Lancashire. Previously graduated from St. Catharines College, Cambridge.

1631 -- Rev. John Sherman (1613-1685; b. Dedham, Essex, England) matriculated as sizar at St. Catharines College, Cambridge in 1631.

1631-32 -- Rev. Denton moves to Coley, Yorkshire. Living at Priestly Green.

1636, 26 April -- John Sherman and 5 other residents given permission by the Newtown (Hartford) Court to form a church in Wethersfield. Rev. Denton's name is not listed on that court document but it does list 6 Wethersfield residents including Rev. Sherman.

1638? -- John of London sails from Hull, Yorkshire to Boston/Salem? How does this fit with Ezekiel Rogers' discharge from Rowley in December, 1638? Was this fleet really organized by Rogers? Did the John of London really sail in 1639?

1638, December -- Ezekiel Rogers (1590-1660) discharged from church at Rowley, Yorkshire.

1638-9? -- Ezekiel Rogers organized 8 to 11 ships from Hull, Yorkshire to Boston. (If he was discharged in Dec. 1638, these ships were more likely departing in spring 1639 or after.) Rogers took about 20 families from Rowley, Yorkshire with him.

1639, 4 September -- Rowley, Mass. incorporated.

1639, 20 November -- Rev. Sherman on list of free planters in Milford.

1640, 10 April -- Rev. Denton receives deed for 15 acres in Wethersfield.

1640, 7 May -- Rev. Sherman freed from the watch in Wethersfield.

1640, 20 Nov -- Rev. Sherman admitted to church in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut.

1641, summer -- Rev. Denton and 28 "non-Congregationalists" move to Stamford, Connecticut and founded a new church using the Wethersfield charter (now known as the First Congregational Church of Stamford).

A question about the 24 to 28 "non-Congregationalists:" I suspect that number may represent the number of church men (i.e. heads of household) that moved to Stamford. In other words, the number might actually represent the number of families. Do you have any insight?

FYI. While the Stamford church used the number 24, I think I saw 28 in another source.

In this case it refers to families, 24 family heads + the 4 church members from Wethersfield = 28

http://www.fccstamford.org/history

The Wethersfield congregation grew, as did the dissension among the members, and after six years, only seven members remained. As a result, four of the seven united with other local planters who were not voting members of the church. Together, these four churchmen, 24 other men (non-Congregationalists), and their families sought a new place to worship and live. The New Haven Colony, at the suggestion of Rev. John Davenport, offered land to these 28 families within the New Haven Colony territory at Rippowams, now Stamford. In the summer of 1641, these families laid the foundations of the First Congregational Church of Stamford. Because the four voting members who separated from Wethersfield constituted the majority of the voting members, they gained the right to take the church records of organization, and thus, the First Congregational Church of Stamford was officially organized six years before the actual founding of Stamford.

Pastors

Since its initial gathering, FCC Stamford has been led by 25 pastors, beginning with Rev. John Sherman, who served as the first pastor in Wethersfield from 1635 to 1641.
Rev. Richard Denton, originally from Halifax, England, who had come with the church members from Wethersfield, served as the first pastor of the church in Stamford, from 1641 to 1644.

-----

"had come with the church Members" implies he had not been a church member, so he and his family are not counted as either the 4 or the 24 (I think).

Cool little article
http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/lifestyle/nostalgia/coley-curate-s-...

Ministers from York listed here, we've met most of them. The date I've extracted is emigration date.

https://books.google.com/books?id=LkAsLiLKWS8C&lpg=PA196&ot...

Pilgrims: New World Settlers & the Call of Home By Susan Hardman Moore page 196

Denton, Richard, by 1638, Stamford, Hempstead; returned 1659
Maude, Daniel, 1635, Boston, Dover
Newman, Samuel, by 1638, Weymouth
Pierson, Abraham, early 1640, Lynn, Southampton, Branford, Newark
Rayner, John, 1635, Plymouth, Dover
Rogers, Ezekiel, 1638, Rowley
Saxton, Peter, 1640, Scituate; returned 1641
Shove, Edward, 1638; died on voyage [asst to Ezekiel Rogers]

Rev. Samuel Newman, I

Looks like he's a "probably" for the John from Bristol 1635

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/feet-of-fines-yorks/vol4/pp87-114

Yorkshire Fines: 1598
Pages 87-114

Feet of Fines of the Tudor Period [Yorks]: Part 4, 1594-1603. Originally published by Yorkshire Archeological Society, Leeds, 1890.

1597–8.—HILARY TERM, 40 ELIZABETH.

John Mawde

Richard Denton and Jane his wife, Leonard Aikeroid and Grace his wife, George Oldfeild and Susan his wife, and William Dal ton and Dorothy his wife

The moiety of a messuage and cottage with lands in Risheworthe and Norland.

Notes From the Great Migration sketch for Mathew Mitchell

https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/2496/42521_b158316-00244?pid=3...

- in 1640 20 men, mostly from Wethersfield, bound themselves, under pain of £5 forfeiture, to go or send to Rippowams [eventually Stamford] ... Matthew Mitchell is 2nd on the list, after Rev Denton
- his origins could be sought in Bradford, Yorkshire, just to the north of Halifax

Sorry also of interest from the Halifax area is Edmund Wood. Matthew Wood article, NYGBR, 1989 & 1990, issues 120 & 121

Matthew Wood, "English Origins of the Mitchell, Wood, Lum and Hastead Families," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record 120 (Jan - Oct 1989) & 121 (Apr 1990), at 98-101. Hereafter cited as Wood, "Origins of Mitchell, Wood, Lum and Halstead."

(properly formatted for ya ...borrowed from here -

http://www.gdcooke.org/ss/default.aspx/page/org2-o/p1654.htm

But to really read about the hard times Matthew Mitchell survived ---

https://books.google.com/books?id=zAV98m0cyl4C&lpg=PA258&ot...

(he looks to have been a close associate & supporter of Rev Denton's)

Just a brainstorming thought. We know that during this period some of the non-conformists sought refuge in places like Leiden, Holland despite the competition between the English and the Dutch for land in America. Geographically, Hull seems like an easy port for Dutch ships to reach. I wonder if some Dutch traders may have engaged in transporting some of those Yorkshire emigrants.

If Rev. Denton's Coley flock followed him to Wethersfield, then that list, or partial list, of those who may have followed him would be among those you noted as paying the 5 pound forfeiture when they moved from Wethersfield to Stamford. The list is reproduced below for anyone who may be following this discussion.

See History of Stamford, Connecticut from Its Settlement to the Present Time, Rev. E.B. Huntington (1868), p. 17 et seq. https://archive.org/stream/cu31924028843229#page/n9/mode/2up

The following was transcribed from the handwriting of Richard Law:

"1640-41. A town bo(ok of the) freeholders of the towne (of Stamford as it) was afterwards called, but now Rippowam, contay(n)in(g the acts) and conclusions of the companie of Wethersffeld men, to (begin a) removal thither this winter. And also their most matteriall acts and agreements, touching the place how they came by it, theire rat(es) and accounts, theire divisions and grants of land, and records of every man's land, and passages of land from one to another.

First these men whose names are underwriten have bound thems(elves) under the paine of forfiture of 5 lb a man to goe or sende to Ripp(owan) so begin and psecute the designe of a plantation there by ye 16th o(f) may next, the rest, theire familyes thither by ye last of novembe(r) 12 months, viz.

Ri Denton, Ri Gildersleue, Tho Weekes, Sam Sherman, ma mitchell, Edm Wood, Jon Wood H, Hen Smith, Thur Rainor, Jo Wood, Jer Jagger, Vincint Simkins, Robt Coe, Jer Wood, J Jisopp, Dan Finch, And Ward, Sam Clark, Jo Seaman, Jo Northend"

Tagging Thurston Raynor, of Elmsett & Southold

Tagging Andrew Ward of Fairfield

Search on Denton in Yorkshire Deeds:, Volume 1 edited by William Brown

https://books.google.com/books?id=YlHpGU3I7KIC&lpg=PA262&dq...

Thanks for the "Yorkshire Deeds," Vol 1, William Brown, ed. (2013)

Those Yorkshire deed summaries contain a couple of surnames that also appear in the list of Wethersfield residents who moved with Rev. Denton to Stamford:

One of the Wethersfield residents was "Jer Jagger." A 1581 transaction mentions a house in Barkisland occupied by Margaret Jagger, widow. Barkisland is several miles southwest of Halifax.

Another Westhersfield resident was "Thur Rainor." A 1590 transaction mentions "William Rayner" of Lyversedge, deceased and his daughter Joan (aka Jennett) who was wife of John Hansenn. Again, the transaction is related to property in Barkisland. Lyversedge is about 10 miles east of Halifax. Another different transaction which is unclear mentions "Edmund Rayner."

Another Westhersfield resident was "Hen Smith." The same 1590 transaction as above lists Henry Smithe of Elland as a witness. Elland is a couple miles south of Halifax.

The deeds also mention:

(1) Leonard Denton of Barkisland (living 1581);

(2) John Denton (living 1563), alias Jenkin Denton of Barkisland and describes him as a yeoman.

(3) John Maud (living 1563) of Tremingham.

(4) Richard Denton (living 1590) son of Richard Denton, relating to land in Barkisland.

(5) William Denton (dates unknown), son of Barnard Denton of Stayneland.

(6) Grant (1552-53) from Edward Denton of Hellewell Grene in the township of Staynland, to his son Leonard Denton. Lands in Staynland and Eland occupied by Edward Denton junior, younger brother of Leonard. Mentions Richard, Leonard's elder brother

Here is an interesting connection. Rev. Henry Smith of Wethersfield (1588-1648) says he went to Cambridge in the early 1620's (college uncertain), was ordained at Peterborough in 1623 and was in Wethersfield by 1637 where he died in 1648. The profile contains a letter from Henry's son, Samuel, describing his father. Yet a third minister in Wethersfield?