I am looking for the marriage date of my fifth generation grandparents were William DENNIS and Elizabeth SHERMAN. Elizabeth born 24 Apr. 1759 in Dartmouth, MA and died 14 Aug 1816 Easton, Washington Co., NY. She was the daughter of Benjamin SHERMAN and Elizabeth LAPHAM. William Dennis born 11 Apr 1757 in Dartmouth, MA and died 27 Dec 1805 in Easton, Washington Co., NY. He was the son of Thomas DENNIS and Hannah WILCOX. I am not able to find a marriage date for them. Supposedly they had 12 children, the first, Sarah Jane born 1776 in New Bedford, MA. But according to the Quaker Meeting Minutes below it appears they did not marry until sometime in 1789. These minutes lead me to believe that William Dennis may have had a first wife and the first seven children were with her. In the Quaker Meeting Minutes is the following: "6 day 11 month 1789. Complaint came to this meeting by way of the Preparative Meeting of Saratoga by one of the overseers against Elizabeth Dennis, formerly Shearman for keeping company and marrying out of the unity of Friends after being precautioned therefore this meeting thinks propper to refer this case to next meetings consideration. I am hoping someone has a marrige date for them or information on William Dennis' having a previous marriage. Thanks Carolyn Dennis Kress

C D Kress: They may be saying that the Quakers had no previous record of a marriage. These folk may have married Congregational elsewhere and decided to become Quakers later at this location. They would have a hard time living in any town unmarried. Out in Pennsylvania or Ohio country, maybe. In a civilized town, hardly. If Elizabeth married in 1777, this land was often called Vermont. The Massachusetts colony also claimed jurisdiction. You have a major research project ahead. Been there, done that. Best of luck. JC3 On Sun, Apr 12, 2009 at 11:54 AM, Carolyn Kress <ckress1737@windstream.net> wrote: > I am looking for the marriage date of my fifth generation grandparents were William DENNIS and Elizabeth SHERMAN. > > Elizabeth born 24 Apr. 1759 in Dartmouth, MA and died 14 Aug 1816 Easton, Washington Co., NY.  She was the daughter of Benjamin SHERMAN and Elizabeth LAPHAM.   William Dennis born 11 Apr 1757 in Dartmouth, MA and died 27 Dec 1805 in Easton, Washington Co., NY. He was the son of Thomas DENNIS and Hannah WILCOX.   I am not able to find a marriage date for them.  Supposedly they had 12 children, the first, Sarah Jane born 1776 in New Bedford, MA.  But according to the Quaker Meeting Minutes below it appears they did not marry until sometime in 1789.  These minutes lead me to believe that William Dennis may have had a first wife and the first seven children were with her. > > In the Quaker Meeting Minutes is the following: > > "6 day 11 month 1789.  Complaint came to this meeting by way of the Preparative Meeting of Saratoga by one of the overseers against Elizabeth Dennis, formerly Shearman for keeping company and marrying out of the unity of Friends after being precautioned therefore this meeting thinks propper to refer this case to next meetings consideration. > > I am hoping someone has a marrige date for them or information on William Dennis' having a previous marriage. > > Thanks > Carolyn Dennis Kress > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to NYWASHIN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >