Peter Rawlinson of Wigan parish had married Hannah Dennis of Runcorn parish by licence granted on 24 April

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1 DENNIS of MOORE On 22 August 1726 Thomas Mather, 35, attorney and gentleman of Billinge chapelry in Wigan parish (south-west Lancashire) married by licence at Farnworth (Prescot), Hannah Rawlinson ( ), daughter of Peter Rawlinson of Farnworth and Newton (Winwick) and of his wife Hannah Dennis. Peter Rawlinson of Wigan parish had married Hannah Dennis of Runcorn parish by licence granted on 24 April It seems clear that Hannah Dennis was the second child of John and Elizabeth Dennis of Moore, baptised at Daresbury on 8 June Moore is four miles west of Warrington, but on the Cheshire bank of the Mersey and within the chapelry of Daresbury and parish of Runcorn. John Dennis of Moore had married Elizabeth Byrom at Warrington by licence on 29 April ORIGINS The surname Dennis derives simply from the saint's name Dionysos, popular in medieval England. 2 The family of Dennis (Denys) were settled at Moore by , when John Denys occurs in the court roll. 3 John occurs frequently thereafter until In John Dennys de More occurs in a plea of debt and Henry Denys de Norton also appears. 5 In 1487 Henry Denys was admitted to the messuages at Moore, formerly the holding of his father John Denys. 6 Henry Denys occurs as a juror from 1488 to John Dennis was a juror in and occurs until One John Dennis of Moore was aged c. 40 on 14 October 1538, when as one of certen aged men, he gave evidence at Daresbury in a dispute over the Harper family s lands. 9 William Dennis occurs as constable of Moore in the court roll of Adam and Elizabeth Dennis Adam Denys/Dennis occurs regularly in the court rolls from 1559 until his death in Married to Elizabeth, Adam s children were John; John the younger; Robert; Margarett; Ellen; and Alice. 12 Adam Denys made his will on 13 May 1591, leaving his whole house, lands and tenements in Moore according to the customs of Moore to his son John and his heirs for ever and appointing as overseers Thomas Hayward of Keckwick and Richard Hayward of Latchford. He asked to be buried in Daresbury churchyard, nere to the alley betwene the yaite and the ewes. He mentioned the six burgesses of Moore, his wife Elizabeth, John s wife Ann and his five other children. An inventory was taken on 16 May and the will was proved on 22 May. The Moore halmote roll of 1591 records the death of Adam Dennis and the admission to his lands at Moore of John, his son and heir. 13 Thomas Harper was cited in the Halton court in 1597 in a plea of debt against Elizabeth Dennis, widow. 14 John and Ann Dennis After the death of Adam Dennis in 1591 his son John was admitted to his copyhold and immediately began to act as a juror in the Moore court. 15 John Denys was one of the appraisers of the inventory of Richard Crosby of Moore in John Dennis, yeoman of Moore made his will in June 1617, bequeathing his tenement at Moore to his son John. The tenement was to be charged with payments to all the children of John, senior ( 28 to Ales, 18 each to all the rest). The remainder of his estate was to be divided equally 1

2 between his children John, Richard, Adam, Thomas, Ales and Anne. There was a further bequest of a three-year-old heifer to John Dennis, godson of John, senior. Yet another John was the brother and namesake of John, senior, who with John, junior was to be executor of the will. Thomas Sutton of Daresbury and William Brock of Moore were to be overseers and there were no less than seven witnesses: Thomas Rutter, George Cheshyre, Thomas Richardson, Thomas and Richard Harpur and Thomas and John Harrison. The court roll of 1618 reported that John Dennis, senior had died on 19 July and that John, junior his son and heir had been duly admitted. 16 John senior was buried at Daresbury on 22 July and his inventory was appraised in the sum of 187 on 24 July 1617 by Rutter, Cheshyre, Thomas Harrison and John Crosbye of Moore, husbandmen: it was noted that debts owing to the deceased included 40s by John Dennis. 17 The will was eventually proved on 4 January 1617/18. Dennises various John Dennis, junior died little more than two years after his father: he was without direct male heirs and his brother Richard was admitted (with his wife Alice) to the family messuage and cottage in , at a rent of 20s 10d. 18 There were bequests in the will of John Crosbie of Moore (made on 7 February 1624) to his sonin-law Denys (12d) and Crosbie s grandchildren John Denys and Elizabeth Denys: the will was proved in The will of Richard Crosby of Moore (made on 28 October 1623 and proved in 1624) mentioned his brother-in-law Richard Dennis. In 1629 Richard Dennis was one of those petitioning for the sale of the manor of Moore. The sale when it occurred in 1630 included one messuage now or late in the tenancy of Richard Dennis. 19 In May 1633 John Dennis was an appraiser for Henry Porter of Moore: there was a debt due to Porter from Richard Dennis of Moore. John Dennis was also an appraiser for Thomas Rutter of Moore in In 1640 interrogatories were presented to Thomas Dennis and Nicholas Biron, in respect of land at Moore. 20 Thomas (aged 30) said that he had had little to do with Moore lordship until he had to take tuition of his brother s children two or three years since (c. 1637). 21 Richard Dennis of Moore made his will on 6 September 1636, making reference to his uncle John Dennis; his brother Thomas Dennis; his brother-in-law Richard Jackson; his son and heir Thomas; all my children, including his little son Robert and his daughters, including Ellen. His children were all minors at this time. An inventory was taken on 19 November. Probate of the will of Edward Dennis of Daresbury was granted in 1648 to his wife Elizabeth. In 1661 Thomas Dennis was an appraiser for George Cheshire of Moore. Thomas Dennis was constable of Moore in and duly delivered up 4 9s he had collected in hearth tax. 22 At Lent 1664 Widow Dennis was listed twice at Moore, paying the charge for three hearths and being excused for another. 23 At Michaelmas 1671 Thomas Dennis was charged for three new hearths in Daresbury. 24 Thomas and Margaret Dennis Thomas Dennis was born c. 1610, probably the third son of John Dennis. Thomas married Margaret c Children of Thomas Dennis of Moore baptised at Daresbury were John (July 16??); Margaret (31 March 1659, buried 27 December 1659); Ann (17 February 1660/1). Thomas became guardian to the orphan children of his brother Richard in November Giving evidence in the enclosure case of 1640, Thomas (then 30 ) testified that he had had little to do in the lordship until he came to have the tuition of his brother s children. 25 2

3 Richard Dennis married Alice Crosby by licence granted on 13 February 1620/1. 26 Alice Dennis of Moore was buried at Daresbury on 27 March Richard died in debt seven months later and was buried on 10 November. By his will proved in 1638 he entrusted to his brother Thomas his messuages in Moore for the benefit of his heir Thomas (a minor) and all his children, including Robert and Ellen. In 1661 Thomas Dennis appraised the inventory of George Cheshire of Moore. Thomas Dennis of Moore, yeoman made his will on 10 April 1663, with provision for his wife Margaret and for his minor children: there was also provision for for Robert Dennis, a nephew; and for the children of Robert Rayland, a cousin. 27 Thomas was buried at Daresbury on 16 April An inventory was appraised on 6 May by George Cheshyre, John Richardson, Thomas Dutton and Thomas Trevis and the will was proved on 24 March 1663/4. It was perhaps John s widow Margaret Dennis who married Henry Rose at Daresbury on 7 April John Dennis and Elizabeth Byrom Among the very few baptism entries in the Daresbury parish registers in the civil war period is that of John, son of Thomas Dennis de Moore in July 16?? [c. 1647]. John was under 21 when his father died in We have seen that five years later (on 29 April 1668) he married Elizabeth Byrom. John and Elizabeth Dennis had children baptised at Daresbury: Joanna (Joan) (27 February 1668/9); Hannah (Ann) (8 June 1671); John (11 March 1674). There was another daughter Elizabeth. Hannah Rawlinson s father John Dennis of Moore died in 1679 and was buried at Daresbury on 2 October. The guardianship of his children Joan, Ann, John and Elizabeth (then 10, 8, 5 and younger) was provided for by a tuition granted that year. 28 Elizabeth Dennis de Moore, vid. was buried at Daresbury on 5 November Hannah Rawlinson s sisters and brothers Joanna, daughter of John Dennis of Daresbury was baptised on 27 February 1668/9: Joan Dennis of Moore (by then c. 24) married Ralph Bate of Croft by licence at Warrington on 2 October We have seen that Hannah Dennis was baptised on 8 June John, son of John Dennis was baptised on 11 March 1674/5. Elizabeth Dennis married Sam Radley, schoolmaster of Clutton [?Claughton] by licence at Warrington on 8 January 1695/6. Samuel made his will on 8 November 1728 and died at Wrenbury: the will was proved in 1731, making provision for Elizabeth and for their children Richard and Elizabeth. Hannah Rawlinson s father John Dennis, senior died in 1679 and her brother John Dennis, junior must have inherited his father s property in 1695, on attaining the age of 21. John, junior occurs at Moore in 1708 and He married one Sarah by 1703 and had children John ( , baptised at Daresbury 7 November 1703); William (30 May 1707); Samuel ( , 16 December 1714); and Ranulph/Randle Dennis (20 June 1718). John, junior made his will on 13 June 1728, leaving his ancient messuage in Moore to his [eldest] son John; to Samuel he left 110 and a leasehold in Penketh; to Randle he left 90 and Yates Tenement and Newfields, both in Moore: a lease of Newfields in 1780 speaks of it as heretofore in the tenancy of John Dennis. 30 John died at Moore and was buried at Daresbury on 21 July. An inventory was appraised by George Cheshyre and Thomas Fletcher on 12 November and the will proved that day. 31 John and Sarah Dennis son Samuel died in 1730 aged c On 31 March 1733 a licence was granted for the marriage at Childwall of Samuel s elder brother John Dennis with Ellen Woods of Sutton. 33 John died intestate at Moore in

4 Peter Rawlinson s wife Hannah died in 1723 and was buried at Winwick on 20 August wife of Peter Rawlinson of Farnworth. On 14 November 1729 a licence was granted for a marriage at Warrington or Grappenhall of Peter Rawlinson of Billinge, agricola and widower and Sarah Dennis of Moore, widow. The wedding did not take place at either parish church and probably did not take place at all. 34 In 1734 a licence was granted for the marriage at Warrington or Farnworth of Peter Deakin of Bold and Sarah Dennis. 35 Elizabeth, wife of Peter Deakin of Bold had been buried at Farnworth on 26 January 1732/3. Peter Deakin of Bold was buried at Farnworth on 29 November On 26 February 1742/3 a licence was granted for the marriage at Pulford (Cheshire) of John and Sarah Dennis son Randle Dennis of Warrington with Deborah. Randle Dennis died at Warrington in In his will made on 2 December 1746 Peter Rawlinson had mentioned no wife: he was buried at Winwick on 9 July 1749, but the will was not proved until In August 1749 there was entered in the consistory court a caveat forbidding the proving of any will or administration of Randle Dennis of Warrington, without the consent of Sarah Deakin, his mother : on 14 January 1750/1 there was a new lease of five closes in Moore at 20s rent per annum to Sarah Deakin, widow of Lancashire, adding the life of Catherine, daughter of Randle Dennis. 36 Both the Mersey and Irwell Navigation and the Bridgewater Canal were cut through Moore township. T.M. Steel (17/05/10) 4

5 Copy Documents 1. C.R.O., WS 1591 (Adam Denys, Moore)* 2. C.R.O., WS 1617 (Jn Dennis, Daresbury)* 3. C.R.O., WS 1663 (Thos Dennis, Moore)* Searches required Hearth tax 1660s Land tax 1781 Association oath rolls 1696 Canal plans Tithe award Will of Peter Deakin, Bold, 1743 L.R.O., WC6 Will of Thos Dennis of Moore, 1663/4 5

6 1 The international genealogical index suggests that the m. was at Chester. Note also m. of Anna Dennis & John Shaw at Runcorn after banns 19 Sept C.W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English & Welsh Surnames (London, 1901), p. 237; P.H. Reaney, A Dictionary of British Surnames (London, 1976), p The National Archives [hereafter T.N.A.], DL 30/5/64 (Moore court roll, Henry VI) 4 T.N.A., DL 30/5/76 (Moore roll, 1 Richd 3, ) 5 T.N.A., DL 30/5/75 (Moore roll, Edwd IV) 6 T.N.A., DL 30/6/77 (Moore roll, 3 Henry VII) 7 T.N.A., DL 30/6/78 79; (Moore rolls, 4 21 Henry VII). Adam Denys was fl. Congleton 15C 8 T.N.A., DL 30/6/87 7/94 (Moore rolls, 3 4 to Henry VIII) 9 T.N.A., DL 3/31/H2a (court of duchy chamber, pleadings, depositions & examinations, series 1, Henry VIII) 10 T.N.A., DL 30/10/121 (Moore roll, 5 & 6 Phil. & Mary & 1 Eliz.) 11 T.N.A., DL 30/10/122 13/144 (Moore rolls, 1 4 Eliz. to Eliz.) 12 For a discussion of the curious circumstances in which the same Christian name was given to 2 living children of the same parents (Jn, as in this case): H. Castor, Blood & Roses (London, 2004), p. 30. Castor s case is from E. Anglia 13 T.N.A., DL 30/13/144 (Moore roll, Eliz.) 14 T.N.A., DL 30/13/148 (Moore roll, Eliz.) 15 T.N.A., DL 30/13/145 6 (Moore rolls, Eliz.);/14/ (39 40 Eliz. 2 Jas I);/15/ (3 7 Jas I); /16/ (8-13 Jas 1) 16 T.N.A., DL 30/17/165 (Moore roll, Jas I) 17 For christenings, marriages & burials [hereafter cmbs] at Daresbury chapel (which served Moore township) from 1617 [ largely illegible until c. 1628]: Cheshire Record Office [hereafter C.R.O.], P 66/1/1-2; note gaps in the PR ? & c T.N.A., DL 30/17/170 (Moore roll, Jas I) 19 C.R.O., DCH/E/129, C.R.O., DCH/E/144, et seq., C.R.O., DCH/E/158 [answer of T.D.] 22 T.N.A., E 179/272/40: returns for Moore missing from schedule 23 T.N.A., E 179/86/ T.N.A., E 179/86/ C.R.O., DCH/E/ The will of Richd Crosbie of Moore (1624) mentioned his br.-in-law Richd Dennis & that of Jn Crosbie of Moore (1627) his s.-in-law... Dennys & grandchildren Jn & Eliz. Dennis 27 C.R.O., WS (1663) & L.R.O., WC6 (1663/4) 28 Tuition lost, but listed in: Lancashire Record Office [hereafter L.R.O.], WC/8 (act book): tuitions applied to orphaned minors (boys under 15 & girls under 13) 29 C.R.O., DBN [Brooke of Norton)]/D/2/1, 2 (1708, lease & release, unfit, 1993); D/2/? (1718, surrender) 30 C.R.O., DBN 31 C.R.O., WS (1728): wit. Wm Darbishire 32 See tuition, 1730: C.R.O. 33 C.R.O., EDC 7/11 (act book) 34 Further lic. 7 Feb for m. Lymm or Warrington of Peter Rawlinson, Warrington & Ann Thorp, Lymm 35 Not m. Farnworth 36 C.R.O., EDC 4/4 (caveat book); DBN/D/2/10 (lease for lives, Moore). Peter Deakin of Bold was lic to m. Sarah D[ennis], Warrington or Farnworth: EDC 7/12 (act book)