Nathaniel Denton

Detached Sarah Denton as wife June 2017

Biography

Updated 17 January 2025.

Nathaniel Denton, son of Rev. Richard Denton (d. abt 1662) and his wife, was born in March 1628/9 Turton, Lancashire, England; christened 09 Mar 1628/1629, St. Peter's Parish Church, Bolton, Lancashire, England. He died on Wednesday, 18 October 1690 at Jamaica, Queens County, New York. He was a substantial land-holder in Jamaica, Long Island.

As a child, he probably migrated with his father to New England in about 1640.

Nathaniel Denton married Sarah (b. 1634-?) in c. 1652 in Hempstead on Long Island, New Netherland Colony. (England took over the Colony in 1662, but settlements on Long Island were often with Puritans from England, who had come to Connecticut first.)

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Denton-142 "As the oldest surviving son, Nathaniel probably married by 1653 in Hempstead, Long Island. His wife is identified in 1664 and 1689 records with the name of Sarah, no surname. See (BDC 73 and JTR 1:316, 319). Combs added a last name, "Smith" citing the will of Nathaniel Jr, who referred to one "Nathaniel Smith" as his "cousin." According to Krumm in Descendants of the Rev. Richard Denton, "Solid evidence is lacking for Combs' conjecture since there may be another explanation for Nathaniel, Jr.'s reference."[1] (See comment with sources here: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Denton-127)"

Children of Nathaniel Denton and Sarah are:

1. Nathaniel Denton, born about 1653 at Hempstead, Long Island. In his will he named "brother Foster," and Richard "brother . . . John Foster," as overseer.[1]died in Jamaica, Queens, Long Island, New York; married (1) Deborah Ashman 1679; married (2) Elizabeth Smith 1690.[citation needed]
2. Samuel Denton, born 1655 at Hempstead,[1]died 1699; married Mary Clement 1676; born 1656.[citation needed]
3. Richard Denton, born 1658 in Jamaica, Long Island;[1]died Aft. Apr 16, 1699 in Hempsted, Long Island, New York; married Mary Jane Thurston 1686 in Hempsted, Long Island, New York.[citation needed]
4. Phebe Denton, born 1662; married John Foster[1]
5. Maria Denton, born about 1664 and baptized at Jamaica on June 18, 1664.[1]
6. Nathaniel Jr. b. 1652 d. abt 1719 Jamaica NY m. Deborah Ashman
7. Samuel b. abt. 1655 m. Mary Brush?
8. Richard b. abt. 1658 d. abt. 4/1699 m. Mary Thurston
9. Maria abt. 1660
10. Phebe b. abt. 1662 m. John Foster
11. Maria Birth : 1664 Death : Jamaica, LI, NY (assume this is Maria 2)

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Notes: Nathaniel applied for land at Elizabethtown, NJ in 1664 but probably died at Jamaica.

Nathaniel was the first Town Clerk of Jamaica, LI, NY: "Records of the Town of Jamaica, Long Island, vol. I, Page 1. A Town Meeting head of ye Town ye 18th of February 1656. Daniel Denton chosen to write & enter all acts and orders of public concernment of ye Town and is to have a daie's work a man for ye said employment. It is voted & concluded by ye Town y whosoever shall fell any trees in yue highways shall take both top and body out of ye highway. It is further voted and agreed upon by ye Town y whosoever shall kill a wolfe within ye boundary of ye Town shall have feiveteen shillings for every woolf. Likewise it is agreed upon by ye Town that whereas they have the Little plains by purchase and patent within their limits to maintain their rights & privileges in ye said place from any such as shall goe to deprive y off it & soe to make use off it as they shall se cause. These taken out of ye ould towne book by me, Nathaniel Denton, Clerk."

Nathaniel Denton was born in England about 1629. He married about 1652, possibly to Sarah Smith, daughter of William and Magdalen Smith. He resided at Jamaica, Long Island and was one of the earliest settlers there in 1656. In 1665 and 1686 he was a Patentee at Jamaica, Long Island.

Nathaniel Denton's Signature (1674)

Source: New York State Archives. New Netherland. Council. Dutch colonial administrative records, 1673-1674. Series A1881. Volume 23, box 2, item 335, p. 2. < link > (Public domain). Description: Letter (May 9, 1674). Nathaniel Denton to secretary Bayard, respecting the maintenance of the minister, to which Humphrey Underhill and William Crede refuse to contribute.

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References

1. Baptism record confirms Rev. Denton a preacher at Turton, Lancashire in 1627. 1629 Mar 9 (Gregorian) - Nathaniel baptised at St Peter in Bolton, Lancashire.
2. Combes, George Dawson Aylesworth, 1889-1941.Genealogy of the descendants of Rev. Richard Denton of Hempstead, Long Island, for the first five generations. Prepared from manuscript notes of Wm. A. D. Eardeley, deceased, by George D. A. Combes. (1936). Birth of Nathaniel, son of Richard Denton1, page 5 < Archive.Org > 4. Nathaniel2, Born/ 1629, died Oct. 18, 1690. Bapt. March 9, 1628-9 Married 1652, Sarah.
3. ibid, page 14-15 < Archive.Org > Family and biography.
4. https://www.yorkshire-dales.com/bolton-abbey.html Bolton Abbey [N.B. Strictly speaking the name "Bolton Abbey" should be used to refer to the village here, though it is often used (incorrectly) to refer to the priory ruins instead!]
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turton,_Lancashire Turton is a historical village in the North West of England. ... Although no longer used as an administrative area, the name of Turton is still used as a historical area.
6. On p. 11 from Lancashire Parish Register Society Publications 50:107,114 "Tymothie Denton, son of Mr. Denton, preacher at Turton baptised 23 July [1627]. Nathaniell Denton of Turton, son of Mr. Denton 9 March, baptised [1628/9]
7. The Origins of Reverend Richard Denton (1601-c.1662) (20 September 2018, R. Riegel.) < link > accessed 17 January 2025
8. WikiTree contributors, "Nathaniel Denton (1629-bef.1690)," WikiTree: The Free Family Tree, (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Denton-142 : accessed 17 January 2025).
   1. Dr. Walter C. Krumm. "Descendants of the Rev. Richard Denton" October (1986). New York Genealogical Biographical Register Vol. 120, # 1 pp. 10-14. membership required.
   2. Lancashire Parish Register Society Publications 50:107, 114.
   3. Josephine C Frost, ed., Records of the Town of Jamaica, Long Island, New York: 1656-1751. (Brooklyn, NY: The Long Island Historical Society, 1914), 1:20.
   4. Frost, ed., Records of the Town of Jamaica, Long Island, New York: 1656-1751, 1:36.
   5. Frost, ed., Records of the Town of Jamaica, Long Island, New York: 1656-1751, 1:20.
   6. E. B. O’Callaghan, ed., Calendar of Historical Manuscripts, in the office of the Secretary of State, Albany, N. Y.: Part II, English Manuscripts 1664-1776. (Albany, NY: Weeds, Parsons and Co., 1866), 186.
   7. Frost, ed., Records of the Town of Jamaica, Long Island, New York: 1656-1751, 1:141-142.
   8. Berthold Fernow, ed., “https://archive.org/details/calendarofcounci00newy_0 Calendar of Council minutes 1668-1783.]” (Albany: University of the State of New York, 1902), 58.
   9. Berthold Fernow, ed., “https://archive.org/details/calendarofcounci00newy_0 Calendar of Council minutes 1668-1783.]”, 89.See also:
   10. Caution: FAG biography is incorrect... https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/44549816/nathaniel-denton comment: incorrect parents, what else?
9. Frank J Doherty, Settlers of The Beekman Patent Dutchess County, NY:(Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2016), (Orig. Pub. by Frank J. Doherty, Pleasant Valley, NY. Frank J. Doherty, The Settlers of the Beekman Patent, Dutchess County, New York: An Historical and Genealogical Study of All the 18th Century Settlers in the Patent, ten volumes. 1990–2003). (NEHGS $$) https://www.americanancestors.org/DB409/i/12174/239/137593057; specifically, Vol IV, Page 235-236. < AmericanAncestors >; (document attached).