| Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. The periodical "The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record," 120[1989]:10-17, 94-97, 160-163; 121[1990]:221-225, etc., "Descendants of the Rev. Richard Denton," by Walter C. Krumm. I have divided up this article and included each generation with the individual detailed (see notes of Rev. Richard Denton for summary of all other publications and researchers prior to this publication):
"Nathaniel3 Denton (Nathaniel2, Rev. Richard1) was born say 1653 in Hempstead, Long Island. He was twice married, first say 1679 to Deborah Ashman, daughter of Robert Ashman (Queens County Deed Books, Wills Pages, hereafter QCDW, A:43). She is last listed on a land transaction on 3 January 1695/6 (JTR 2:235-6), perhaps dying shortly thereafter. He married second say 1700 to Elizabeth ___, who has been identified as Elizabeth Smith (e.g., TAG 25:75), but that identification has not been substantiated.
He first appears as "Nathaniell Denton Juner" on 28 June 1675 on his purchase of an acre with "fruett trees" from Sarah, widow of Jonathan Davis (JTR 1:125). He next bought five acres from John Hinds on 9 February 1675/6, and enlarged the Widow Davis' parcel on 7 March 1679/80 with two adjacent acres (JTR 1:124-6). The 1683 "List of the Towne Estate of Jamaica" says he owned 15 acres of land, 28 head of livestock, and an estate valued at £87, more than half that of his father (DHNY 1:152). He continued his land transactions in the Jamaica area throughout his life, with a marked increase of activity after he inherited property from his father in 1690. The division of Nathaniel2's estate was not settled for almost two decades. His two younger sons, brothers of Nathaniel3, both died in spring 1699, leaving minor male Children; under their wills Nathaniel3 acted as custodian until his nephews came of age. His other land transactions have little genealogical interest.
His occupation is most frequently identified as "yeoman" (a farmer or a free-holder under the rank of gentleman), but on 23 March 1692/3, he is called "shoomaker" (JTR 2:216-7). In his will he refers specifically to his "shop and smith tools" as a special legacy.
Nathaniel's first public office seems to have been as constable in 1682 and 1685 (JTR 1:86,185), and he is undoubtedly the Nathaniel Denton who acted as overseer in taking inventory of the estate and house of Robert Ashman (his late father-in-law) in 1683 (QCDW A:42). Later civic assignments included assessor, fence-viewer "that fences are adequate:' townsman, among others, as well as to serve on special commissions. One such searched for a minister, beginning 3 April 1688; he and eleven others (including "Danll Denton Junr") contributed expense money to bring a new minister to Jamaica. They arranged for a parsonage, and by 1694 assessed a town tax to pay the minister's salary (JTR 2:374-5; Nathaniel's quarterly subscription was ₤0-01-10; other Dentons contributing were Samuel, Daniel, and "Widdow" [Nathaniel's mother]). Other projects included evicting land encroachers, investigating moneys gathered by town collectors, and reporting on town surveying work.
Death was already upon him when he drew his will on 29 May 1719, proved two days later. First admitting to being "very weak and sick of body:' he listed his heirs and his property holdings (New York Wills 9:176f.; WNYHS 2:219-20):
"to son Nathaniel: houses and house lot he now lives on; half the land on my Neck below Jonathan Waters; half my lot at end of lane at rear of Home Lotts; piece [of land] lying by John Messingers; piece [of land] between Little Plains and land that was Benjamin Denton [identity uncertain]; all my meadow on Long Neck; 10-acre right of Commonage; 10-acre right on plains; my brown horse.
'to son James: land in hollow near his house; my meadow on further East Neck if he pays his brother Robert £10 within a year; 25 acres right of pasturage; 5 acres right on the plains.
"to son Robert: house and lot where he now lives; land he bought called Freemans Farm; land on hills he bought of Wait Smith; half the land that was Widow Ashman's; all his right of parsonage in Jamaica; 5 acres rights of commonage & 5 acres rights of plains if he pays "my" son Nehemiah £20 within a year.
"to sons Timothy and Nehemiah: my own house and lot; lot at rear of Thos. Smith & Capt. Carpenter home lot; lot in hills on East side path and piece on west side.
"to Timothy: my shop and smith tools; £10.
"to wife Elizabeth: best bed and furniture and west room; use of all land given youngest Sons till Timothy is 21.
"to daughter Deborah: the East room; liberty of the cellar and well and orchard ~o long as she remains single.
"to wife and two daughters Deborah and Martha: remainder of movables divided equally. to son-in-law Samuel Dean [widower of daughter Catherine]: 10sh.
"to the five Sons: all his land in the Jerseys; they share the expense of securing better title.
"Executor: son Nathaniel.
"Overseers: Brother Foster [sister Phebe's husband] and Cousin Nehemiah Smith [first wife's nephew]. Witnesses: Samll. Smith, John Carman, Jekemiah Denton [a nephew].
On 3 October 1727, the two youngest sons received their portions (JTR 3:231-2), but the puzzling "land in the Jerseys," not mentioned earlier, never reappears in the records. The will leaves no doubt, however, that the eldest grandson of the Rev. Denton had prospered exceedingly.
Children of Nathaniel Denton and his two wives Deborah (Ashman) and Elizabeth (___), all born at Jamaica, Long Island (which if any of the children were by Elizabeth is not clear):
i. Nathaniel3, b. say 1685.
ii. James, b. say 1687.
iii. Catherine, b. say 1691, d. c. 1718 [she is not mentioned in her father's will of 1719, but her husband is]; m. 8 Oct. 1716 at Jamaica by the Rev. Thomas Poyer to Samuel Dean (REC. 19:55); they had one daughter, Deborah, bap. 1 Sept. 1717 at Jamaica (REC. 19:8).
iv. Robert, b. say 1695.
v. Nehemiah, b. say 1697.
vi. Timothy, b. say 1699.
vii. Deborah, b. say 1701; she was mentioned in the wills of her father and brothers. On 20 July 1751 letters of administration on her estate were issued to her brother James (WNYHS 4:486); perhaps she lived as a spinster in his household.
viii. Martha, b. say 1703; m. say 1722 to Solomon Smith, son of Amos Smith; four children: Amos, Solomon, Martha, and Anne (Eardeley, 12; TAG 25:67)."
2. Miscellaneous comments from Worldconnect accessed 14 Feb 2010:
"Nathaniel's Will: "In the name of God, Amen. I, Nathaniel Denton, of Jamaica, in Queens Co, being very sick and weak. I leave to my son Nathaniel the house and lots, the home lot he now liveth on, and one half of the land in my neck below Jonathan Walters. Also one half of my lot of land at the end of the lane, lying at the rear of the Home lots. Also that piece of land lying by John Messengers. Also a piece of land lying between the Little Plains and the land that was Benjamin Dentons. Also all my meadow lying on the Long Neck and a 10 acre right of Commanage. Also a 10 acre right on the Plains, with all the appurtenances. I leave to my son James all my land lying in the Hollow near his house and all my meadow lying on the further East Neck and he shall pay to his brother Robert 10 Pounds. I also give to my son James 25 acres right of Commanage. Also 5 acres of right on the Plains, with all the privileges. I leave to my son Robert, the house he now lives in with the lot of land whereon the house standeth. Also all the land I bought of Jonathan Whitehead, which is known by the name of Freeman's Farm. Also a lot of land lying on the Hills, which I had of Wait Smith and one half of the lot that was the widow Ashmuns, and all my right of parsonage lying in the town of Jamaica. Also five acres right of Commonage and a five acres right of Plains, with all the privileges. And he shall pay to my son Nehemiah 20 Pounds. I leave to my two sons Timothy and Nehemiah my house and land that I live in and also my lot lying at the rear of Thomas Smith's and Captain Carpenter's home lots. Also a lot of land on the Hills, lying on the east side Path. And also a piece of land lying on the west side of the said path. I also give to my son Timothy my shop and smith tools and 10 Pounds out of my book debts. I leave to my wife Elizabeth my best bed and furniture and my west room and the use of all the land that I have given to my youngest sons till my son Timothy comes of age. My daughter Deborah shall have the east room and the liberty of the cellar and well. I leave all the moveables to my wife and daughters Deborah and Martha. I leave to Samuel Deanny, my son-in-law 10 shillings. I leave to my five sons all my land lying in the Jerseys, each paying his share towards procuring a better title. I make my son Nathaniel executor, requesting my friends, brother Foster, and cousin Nehemiah Smith to be overseers. Dated May 29, 1719. Witnesses: Saul Smith, John Corman, Jeckoniah Denton. Proved before Peter Schuyler, Esq. March 16, 1719/1720."
3. Mentioned in brother's will per miscellaneous comments from Worldconnect accessed 14 Feb 2010: "Richard was living in Foster's Meadow, LI before 1658. He left a will recorded at Jamacia Deeds A-137 dated April 16, 1699 and proved May 18, 1699. Wife Mary, sole exec. 2 brothers, Nathaniel Denton and John Foster overseers of the children."
4. Citation Information: Judd, Peter H. "Genealogical and Biographical Notes: Haring-Herring, Clark, Denton, White, Griggs, Judd, and Related Families." New York: P.H. Judd, 2005. (Online database. NewEnglandAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2005.) The statements are sourced, but I did not copy them yet:
"Nathaniel3 Denton Jr. (Nathaniel2, Richard1), first child of first wife of Nathaniel Denton, b., say, 1653 in Hempstead, L.I. d. ____; m. (1), say, 1679, Deborah Ashman, dau. of Robert Ashman who "is last listed on a land transaction on 3 Jan. 1695/6, perhaps dying shortly thereafter"; m. (2), say 1700, Elizabeth ____.
Krumm notes that land purchases made by Nathaniel Denton Jr. in Jamaica indicate numerous holdings and a process of acquisition that extended throughout his life, "with a marked increase after he had inherited property from his father in 1690." He also notes that "his occupation is most frequently identified as 'yeoman' (a farmer or freeholder under the rank of gentleman), but on 23 March 1692/3, he is called 'shoomaker… In his will he refers to his 'shop and smith tools' as a special legacy."
Nathaniel3 frequently served in civic offices: constable, assessor, fence-viewer, and others in addition to serving on special commissions.
Children of Deborah Ashman and Nathaniel3 Denton, all born Jamaica, Queens:
i. Nathaniel4 Denton, b., say, 1685.
ii. James4 Denton, b., say, 1687.
iii. Catherine4 Denton, b. ca. 1691; d. ca. 1718; was m. 8 Oct. 1716, at Jamaica, by the Rev. Thomas Poyer, to Samuel Dean; one dau., Deborah Dean, bp. 1 Sept. 1717 at Jamaica.
iv. Robert4 Denton, b., say, 1696.
v. Nehemiah4 Denton, b., say, 1699.
vi. Deborah4 Denton, b., say, 1701; she was mentioned in the wills of her father and brother; on 20 July 1751.
vii. Martha4 Denton, b., say, 1703; m., say, 1722 to Solomon Smith, son of Amos Smith; four children."
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Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
Abt 1653 - 1719 (~ 66 years)