Mary Ann (Parnall) Dennis
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Mary Ann (Parnall) Dennis (abt. 1837 - 1917)

Mary Ann Dennis formerly Parnall
Born about in Davidstow, Cornwall, England, United Kingdommap
Ancestors ancestors
Daughter of and
Sister of , , , , , and
Wife of — married 22 Mar 1855 in St Gennys, Cornwall, England, United Kingdommap
Descendants descendants
Mother of , , , , , , , , , , , , , and
Died at about age 80 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canadamap
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Profile last modified | Created 14 Feb 2022
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Biography

Flag of Cornwall (St Piran's Cross, pre-1838)
Mary Ann (Parnall) Dennis was born in Cornwall, England.

Mary Ann was born the daughter of ironmonger, scale and machine maker Henry Parnall and Mary Luxon, in Cornwall before 1838. She attended a school that put the students in the stocks for doing unladylike things like crossing your legs. Mary Ann joked that her shoulders were very straight because she had spent much time in the stocks.[1]

John Dinnis and Mary Ann Parnall were married on 22 Mar 1855 in St. Gennys, Cornwall when he was 21.[2] They had 16 children over a 24-year period, beginning in 1856. In 1861, they had four sons; William, Thomas, Henry and John. There were also two servants living with them.[3] William's father ran a large farm that employed agricultural labourers.[4] After their son John died, [5] two more sisters and one more brother were added to the family; Mary, John (Albert), and Louisa. Then the family began the journey that would bring them to Canada. Another son, George, was born in Week St. Mary in 1866. Then George died also. The next baby, born in 1868, was also called George to honour the George that they had lost.

Entreprenneurialship was encouraged for John and Mary Ann's children. William was sent to Canada in about 1868,[6] where Rev. Dr. Clay had indicated there were jobs for boys.[7] Similarly, William's brother Thomas sailed to Germany with the "armament manufacturer" Frederick Krupp who educated him.[8] A daughter, Bessie, was born in Edginswell in 1871. Maude was born in Torquay in 1873.[9]

The Dinnis family made the voyage to Nova Scotia around 1874.[10] Another sibling was born and lost soon after they arrived in Canada.[11] In Canada, John and Mary Anne had a farm in Stewiacke.[12] John also worked as a merchant.[13]

John and Mary Anne were devoutly Presbyterian. John Dennis, wrote and published a book entitled, "A Revelation from God". It was published by his son John Albert at the Enterprise Publishing Company, New Glasgow in 1895.[14] Mary Ann required all work, including cooking and shoe-shining to be done on Saturdays so that Sundays were strictly for worship.[15]

Life was more difficult and more fragile before antibiotics were discovered. Four of their children died very young. They also lost a number of young grandchildren including; Jean in 1881, William in 1889 and John in 1893.[16] John Dinnis died at the age of 70 on January 20, 1904 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The cause of death was broncho-pneumonia. Although his regular residence was in Stewiacke, Colchester County, his burial took place in Brookfield, Colchester.[17] Mary Ann was said to have raised one of her daughter Mary's daughters.[18] It was likely Elizabeth Fields as she was not with her parents during the 1911 census and was only 7 at the time.[19] Mary Ann moved in with her eldest son William sometime between 1912 and 1917.[20] She lost two more children, Louisa and Bessie and two more grandchildren, Helen and Eric, before her own death in 1917.[21] She died on 19 April at the age of 79 from "old age".[22]

Research Notes

According to the 1861 census, Mary Ann was born in the latter half of 1836 or the first half of 1837 (before the census). She is not visible living with her parents and siblings (who were identified by Dennis, W. Alexander) in either 1841 or 1851; nor was she listed in the homes of either grandmother. Like her brothers who were also missing from the 1851 census, she was sent to private school. If she was already away at school in 1841, it is unlikely she was born in 1837 or later. She may have been born in 1836 or perhaps 1834 or 1835. She was married in 1855 which also supports a birth year that is earlier than 1837.

Sources

  1. ↑ Dennis, W. Alexander, "Genealogies and Sagas"
  2. ↑ Cornwall OPC Database, Marriages
  3. ↑ John Goodman, a Carter, and Ann Panter, a housemaid.
  4. ↑ "1861 Census Returns"
  5. ↑ "Genealogies and Sagas" Page 7.
  6. ↑ William was not at home for the 1871 census and a Truro newspaper made reference to him as a 12-year-old delivery boy. (Dennis, W. A.)
  7. ↑ Dennis, W. A., "Genealogies and Sagas" Page 52.
  8. ↑ It is not clear when this "young boy", left but he was also not at home for the 1871 Census. Thomas became the proprietor and Manager of resort hotels and later recruited his sister Lily to assist with their management.
  9. ↑ "Genealogies and Sagas," Pages 7-9.
  10. ↑ “Genealogies and Sagas," Pages 7-9
  11. ↑ “Genealogies and Sagas," Page 6.
  12. ↑ “Genealogies and Sagas," Page 6.
  13. ↑ "Nova Scotia Births, Marriages and Deaths"
  14. ↑ "Genealogies and Sagas" p.4.
  15. ↑ "Genealogies and Sagas" p.6
  16. ↑ Dennis, William Alexander, “Genealogies and Sagas 1718-1960,”
  17. ↑ "Nova Scotia Births, Marriages and Deaths, John Dennis"
  18. ↑ "Genealogies and Sagas" p.6
  19. ↑ The Fields girls were born between 1891 and 1904. There is no granddaughter with Mary Ann in the 1901 Census. The 1911 Census information for Mary Ann is missing. Both Charlotte and Elizabeth were not with their parents during the 1911 Census. Charlotte would have been 20, whereas Elizabeth would have been 7, so it was likely Elizabeth who was with Mary Ann.
  20. ↑ "Nova Scotia Births, Marriages and Deaths, Mary Ann Dennis" shows her residence as 45 Coburg Rd. but she was not there during the 1911 census.
  21. ↑ Dennis, William Alexander, “Genealogies and Sagas 1718-1960,”
  22. ↑ "Nova Scotia Births, Marriages and Deaths, Mary Ann Dennis"




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Images: 5
1900 John and Mary Ann Dinnis/Dennis
1900 John and Mary Ann Dinnis/Dennis
Mary Ann Parnall with he children Tom and Lily
Mary Ann Parnall with he children Tom and Lily
Mary Ann with William and Margaret holding Agnes
Mary Ann with William and Margaret holding Agnes
Marion and Jean with four Grandmas
Marion and Jean with four Grandmas
Dinnis Homestead in England
Dinnis Homestead in England


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Categories: Poundstock, Cornwall | St Gennys, Cornwall | Stewiacke, Nova Scotia