William Denison (1767 - 1838)

Born 15 Jul 1767 in Augusta Colony of Virginia

Husband of Margaret (Dunlap) Denison — married 19 Mar 1793 in Fayette, Fayette, Kentucky

Descendants

Died 30 Nov 1838 at age 71 in Lawrence, Lawrence, Illinois United States

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Biography

William Denison served with Continental Army Command during the American Revolution.

William Denison 1757-1838 & Margaret Dunlap 1770-1851 (information on their parents, grandparents, etc. is at the bottom of this document)

Information about William Denison and Margaret Dunlap

William was born in 1767 in what was Augusta County, Virginia. His family lived on 300 acres on Lewis Creek which was a branch of the Middle River of the Shenandoah Valley. His family sold this land and moved to 330 acres of land lying on both sides of Muddy Creek, a branch of the North River of the Shenandoah Valley. In 1778, when William would have been about 11, Rockingham County was formed out of part of what had been Augusta County, Virginia. So from that point, they were living in Rockingham County, Virginia.

William’s father, Daniel, helped in the Revolutionary War by selling beef to the government.

His father also sat on the Grand Jury of Rockingham County, Virginia from 1782-1785.

In 1787, his father and mother sold their land in Rockingham County, Virginia and moved to Fayette County, Kentucky. William was one of 15 children, all born in Virginia. His parents both passed away in Fayette County, Kentucky.

William married Margaret Dunlap in Kentucky prior to 1794 as their first child, Robert Denison, was born in 1794 in Fayette County, Kentucky.

Margaret was born in 1770 in Augusta County, Virginia. Her mother supported the Revolutionary War by supplying beef to the army. Her father was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and died in 1781 at the Battle of Guildford Court House. After her father died, her mother married James Coursey who also fought in the Revolutionary War.

How did Margaret Dunlap end up in Kentucky where she met and married William Denison? Her older sister, Ann, married David McKee, and they settled in Jessamine County, Kentucky. Since Jessamine County, Kentucky is right next to Fayette County, Kentucky (where William Denison lived with his family before they moved to Lawrence County, IL), it seems reasonable that the connection may have been through this area. We also have to remember that the Dunlop and Denison ancestors were in Augusta County, Virginia at the same time in the late 1700s. I suspect Dunlaps moved to Kentucky with the Denisons and others. There were other Dunlaps in Lawrence County early on as well - likely relatives (cousins or siblings?) of Margaret Dunlap Denison.

William and Margaret had nine children (cemetery is in parentheses if buried in Lawrence/Richland/Clay Counties in IL) (all were born in Fayette County, Kentucky)

Robert Denison 1794-1863 married 1) Nancy Eastham 1792-1836 and 2) Sally Mars Brown (with whom he had a daughter, Harriet Sophia Denison who married my 3rd great-granduncle); (Robert and his first wife are buried in Denison Cemetery, it isn’t clear where Sally Mars Brown is buried.)

Daniel Denison 1795-1868 married Sally Riggs and they settled in Wapello County, Iowa.

Elizabeth Denison 1797-1870 married John C. Christy in Lawrence County, and they settled in Greene County, Illinois.

John Denison 1798-1879 married Isabella Underwood 1810-1852 (she was married to his brother George Madison Denison first - see below); Lived and died in Lawrence County. (Denison Cemetery)

Catherine Denison 1802-? Married James Gadd; we think they lived and died in Lawrence County.

Mary “Polly” Denison @1805-? Married James Buchannan. Not sure if they stayed in Lawrence County or not.

William Denison Jr. @ 1805-1840 married Elizabeth Craven; we think they lived and died in Lawrence County.

Alexander Denison 1807-1871 married Mary Ann Crane 1811-1892; lived and died in Lawrence County. (Denison Cemetery)

George Madison Denison 1809-1846 married Isabella Underwood 1810-1852; they lived and died in Lawrence County, IL. (Denison Cemetery)

Sources

Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash Counties, Illinois, 1883 - William Denison immigrated from Fayette County, Kentucky in 1818 with a family of eight children:

Daniel,

John, 1798-

George Madison, 1809–1846

Alexander, 1807–1871

William, 1805–1840

Elizabeth,

Catherine,

Mary.

His newly married son Robert came at the same time. Died on his farm. 1794–1863

William Denison Birth 15 Jul 1767 Death 30 Nov 1838 (aged 71) Burial Denison Cemetery, Lawrence County, Illinois, USA Memorial ID Find A Grave: Memorial #20097896 Has a photo of gravestone.