James Deneen (abt. 1755 - abt. 1841)

This is for Roger Wehr! I am a direct descendent of James Deneen and his son Alexander. James was NOT married to anyone other than Esther Criswell. One of his brothers is who's first wife died on their way west to Ohio. He turned around and went back to NJ to raise his child.

The children were raised by Peter Roddenbaugh after their parents died. He felt he could give the young men a chance for a trade since he was well acquainted with the children's father.

There is a James Deneen in the 1790 U.S. Census for Northumberland, Pennsylvania.

On 30 July 1832, James Deneen filed an application and was granted a pension for his Revolutionary War Service. His sworn statement of that date in the Court of Common Pleas for Butler Co. follows:

"That in the year 1769 he volunteered as a Minute Man in the company commanded by Capt.Thomas Jones of Hunterdon Co.,NJ which said company formed a part of a regiment commanded by Col. Taylor of the same county--that as a member of this company he was on an expedition from said county to Amboy(sic) and from there to Staten Island which lasted only 16 days--that afterwards he belonged to Capt. Hazlett's company also of Hunterdon Co. under whom he served on an expedition to Elizabethtown, NY--at which place he was detained one month--after which he was dismissed-that afterwards he was again called upon to service in the militia of said state under Lt. Bray also of the same county by who he was marched to Brumbrook (sic) where he remained for a period of one month after which he was again discharged--that he was again called out under said Capt. Bray and was under (General or George) Maxfield by whom the forces under said Maxfield command were marched to a post on Raritan River." "...states he was born on the 11th day of Nov. 1755 in the County of Hunterdon, State of New Jersey."

JAMES DENEEN was born 11 Nov. 1755 in Hunterdon County, NJ. The identity of his parents has not been established, perhaps the James Deneane mentioned above was his father. His mother died when he was a child and he was reared by a Peter Roddinbough (see above) who had emigrated to America about 1738-39 to Lebanon, Hunterdon County. Peter's wife was named Anna. James enlisted early in the Revolution and served at various times as a private. During his service he had camp fever and pleuisy, after which he was unable to endure the hardships of camp life, and went to work in a continental shoe factory. The length of his entire military service was about 2 years. After the Revolution, James started his westward migration, first settling in Maryland, close to the Pa. border. His brothers, Joseph and Samuel Hackett, had settled a short distance North in Bedford (now Fulton) County. Around 1800 he and Samuel pushed west to Ohio. Joseph remained in Pa. On 12 Oct. 1804, James Deneen, of Hamilton Co. Ohio purchased land in Range 1, Twp 4, Section 23 (Reily Twp, Butler Co.) in the Miami River Survey. On 12 Oct. 1810 he purchased another parcel in section 27. Purchasers paid no taxes for 5 years after purchase.

James Deneen came from New Jersey about 1800 and his wife died soon thereafter, leaving a child. This child was the first white child born in Buck Valley. After his wife's death, he took the child to New Jersey and then returned to the area and married Miss Amy Bishop. The settlement known as Deneen's Gap was named for him.

Born in Hunterdon, New Jersey, USA on 14 Aug 1756 to James Deneane. James married Esther Criswell and had 7 children. He passed away on 26 Sep 1841 in Butler, Ohio, USA.

James had two brothers and two sisters - Naomi and Margaret. The family that James lived with is Peter and Ann Roddenbaugh/Roddinbaugh/Rodenbach. It is thought that the Deneen family could have been indentured after their parents died to guarentee that they learn a trade. James was a shoemaker in the Continental Army after he was release of his duties as a Minute Man. The hardship of camp life caused him to be ill. The Deneen brothers left New Jersey to go westward. Joseph stopped in Pennsylvania so that his wife could deliever a baby. She died during childbirth. He returned to New Jersey where he met Amy Bishop and married her. They traveled back to Pennsylvania (when Joseph had built a house on his first trip) and decided to stay there. The others journeyed on to Ohio, where they settled in Butler County.