Figuring It Out

Figuring It All Out presented by Don R. Hender THERE has been some degrees of misunderstanding and falsification of information concerning the connections between the Strout, Davy, Peter, Hender, and Dennis families. This is an attempt to debunk some of those incorrectly prescribed connections of these family connections. In order to do this in an orderly logical manner, the starting point here will be that of the family/families already named will be with the 1851 census grouping. Now in 1851 the household was on this wise: Normally the relationships of the members of the household are stated as they are determined to be related to the head of house. In the above house Thomase Dennis is the 'Head' of house. Next to him comes Mary Dennis his wife which is fairly straight forward and understandable. Next there is John Strout, who is identified as being in relation to the head of house the son-in-law, that is normally the husband's and wife's son-in-law married to their daughter. But then comes the twisting rub in this set up. Next come Mary Strout, who would seem to be John Strout's wife and the 'daughter' of the Thomas and Mary Dennis, but wait. She is specifically stated not just as Daughter but as Daughter-in-law. How is Mary Strout the Daughter-in-law when her husband is also the son-in-law? Now in relationship specically to the Head of house, Mary Strout is being set down as the Daughter-in-law to Thomas Dennis the head of house. That means that she is not his bloodline daughter, so whose bloodline daughter would she be left to be but to Mary Dennis, and that most properly by a former marriage of Mary Dennis to someone else other than Thomas Dennis, who she is the daughter-in-law to. Now keep that in mind. Mary Strout is the daughter of Mary Dennis nee _____, some other husband's name, but who? Continuing on, Mary Hawke Dennis it a grandaughter, as is also Charles and James Dennis. That would be children's children of Thomas Dennis the head of house. And Anthony Ball is a Servant not immediatley related thankgoodness for that. In a simple line pedigree it would play out as follows: To begin with, if Thomas Dennis' present wife previously married and had a duaghter Mary who is now 25 and married, then there is also a change that Thomas Dennis was also previously married in order to have grandchildren of ages 16, 14, and 12. So we draw it up like this with some blanks to be filled in for the prior spouses for both Thomas Dennis and Mary Dennis nee _______ nee _______. And we provide Mary Dennis with both a prior married surname other than Dennis and also with whatever original maiden name she would have had. Miss _________ = Thomas Dennis = Mary ______ nee ______ = Mr. ________ \| ______\| \| \| son(s) Mary ________ = John Strout ________\|_______________________ \| \| \| Mary Hawke Dennis Charles Dennis James Dennis At this point we have one or more sons born to Thomas Dennis and his previous wife from whom the three grand children Mary, Charles and James Dennis have descended from. And we have a daughter Mary ______ of Mary ______ nee _____ and her prior husband, who married John Strout. It also seems to present the fact that Thomas Dennis and Mary _____ nee ______ do not have any children from their own present marriage. And being ages 70 and 61 that would seem quite acceptable. Let us know attempt to fill in the blanks of the two prior spouses of Thomas and Mary Dennis are and also further just what Mary's maiden name might be. And this will be done by first consulting the marriage record of John Strout and Mary ________, that is whatever her maiden name just happens to be; because it is not Dennis for she is a daughter-in-law to Thomas Dennis the 'Head' of house. More information about record* ###### in the Marriages database Day Month 17-Sep Year 1850 Parish Or Reg Dist Lewannick Groom Fn John Groom Sn STROUT Groom Age Full Groom Residence Treween in Altarnun Groom Condition Bachelor Groom Rank Pro farmer Grm Sign/Mark(S/M) S Groom Father Name John Grm Fthr Rank Pro farmer Bride Fn Mary Bride Sn DAVEY Bride Age Full Bride Residence Poliphant Bride Condition Spinster Bride Rank Pro Brd Sign/Mark(S/M) S Bride Father Name William Brd Fthr Rank Pro farmer Banns/Licence(B/L) Witness Fn1 Saml Witness Sn1 Peter Witness Fn2 J Witness Sn2 Braine Other Information Transcriber Notes Transcriber Sue Mutton We are in luck with this marriage event for both the husband and wife have their stated father's name given upon the record. In the case of John Strout, his father's name is also John Strout, which would make John the younger at least John Strout Jnr. In the case of Mary, John Strout's bride, it gives her maiden name, for she is a spinter, as being Mary Davey. And it gives her father's name as William Davey. So now here we can fill in some of the blanks of the simple line pedigree as follows: Miss _________ = Thomas Dennis = Mary Davey nee ______ = William Davey \| b abt 1781 b abt 1790 ______\| \| (1851-70) (1851-61) \| son(s) Mary Davey = John Strout ________\|_______________________ b abt 1826 b abt 1821 \| \| \| (1851-25) (1851-30) Mary Hawke Dennis Charles Dennis James Dennis b abt 1835 b abt 1837 b abt 1839 (1851-16) (1851-14) (1851-12) Now we are ready to see if we can find the missing son(s) who fathered the Dennis grandchildren. One approach would be to try to find the 1841 census record concerning the Dennis family and determine what information that can tell us. Now as we look at the 1841 Census from the already transcribed OPC source, we do get some more information, but not the kind that will fill in the blanks. Browse through what is to be had from the decade snapshot and consider just what is there to be found. 1841 Census - Lewannick, Polyphant area: . . . Strayerpark,1,Thomas Dennis,60,,Farmer,In county, Book 4 Folio 10 Page 12 ,,Mary Dennis,,51,,In county, ,,Thomas Dennis,23,,,In county, ,,Mary Dennis,,7,,In county, ,,Charles Dennis,5,,,In county, ,,James Dennis,2,,,In county, ,,Mary Davey,,16,,In county, ,,Robt Warring,16,,Male Srvnt,In county, ,,Ann Sleep,,17,Female Servant,In county, ,,Thomas Gregory,15,,Male Srvnt,In county, ,,James Doney,9,,Male Srvnt,In county, While there is not the break through to the first marriage of Thomas Dennis to be found here, what there is to be found is that the second marriage between Thomas Dennis and Mary Davey nee ____ did occur before 1841 as Thomas Dennis age 60 is there and Mary Dennis his second wife is there at age 51, both 10 years younger than in 1851. But they are still too old to expect any children from thenm at their ages. In addition, there is one son named Thomas Dennis age 23 who is from the first marriage of his father Thomas Dennis. Perhaps he is the youngest son of Thomas Dennis. But his age is such that he is not likely the source of the grandchildren listed, 7, 5 and 2/3, which appear in a birthing order of separation. But he does help narrow the window of time between the first and second marriage and the listed of Mary's daughter Mary Davey age 16 even narrows it further to from 1825 to 1841. Yes it is obvious that the Mary Davey age 16 is the same Mary who was married to John Strout and she helps to finish that picture that she was the child of William Davey and the current wife of the elder Thomas Dennis. Mary we added previously Thomas Dennis, age 23, would have been born about 1819 and the wife of the first marriage would still be living then. Thomas Dennis snr. would have been about age 38 at this younger son. So lets put him in and see how it effects the growing picture. Line Pedigree with 1841 Census Information Included: Miss _________ = Thomas Dennis = Mary Davey nee ______ = William Davey ________\| b abt 1781 b abt 1790 ______\| \| (1851-70) (1851-61) \| Thomas Dennis son(s) Mary Davey = John Strout b 1819c ________\|_______________________ b abt 1826 b abt 1821 \| \| \| (1851-25) (1851-30) Mary Hawke Dennis Charles Dennis James Dennis b abt 1835 b abt 1837 b abt 1839 (1851-16) (1851-14) (1851-12) With the census records no longer available before 1841, it is next best to consult the parish records to find the missing peices. But records in the Lewannick parish are known to have children baptism without stating who their parents where. But it is worth a go.
More information about record* ####### in the Baptisms database Day Month 08-Aug Year 1813 Parish/Reg Dist Lewannick Forename James Hawke Surname DENNIS Sex Father Forename Thomas Mother Forename Mary Residence Hix Mill Father Rank Pro landlord Notes Trans Notes Transcriber Sue Mutton More information about record* ####### in the Baptisms database Day Month 26-Jun Year 1816 Parish/Reg Dist Lewannick Forename Mary Ann Surname DENNIS Sex Father Forename Thomas Mother Forename Mary Residence Hix's Mill Father Rank Pro labourer Notes Trans Notes Transcriber Sue Mutton More information about record* ####### in the Baptisms database Day Month 26-Aug Year 1818 Parish/Reg Dist Lewannick Forename Thomas Surname DENNIS Sex Father Forename Thomas Mother Forename Mary Residence Hix's Mill Father Rank Pro farmer Notes Trans Notes Transcriber Sue Mutton More information about record* ###### in the Burials database Day Month 13-Jan Year 1828 Parish/Reg Dist Lewannick Forename Mary Surname DENNIS Age 43 Residence Polyfont Notes Trans Notes Transcriber Sue Mutton More information about record* ####### in the Baptisms database Day Month 28-Dec Year 1834 Parish/Reg Dist Lanivet Forename Mary Hawk Surname DENNIS Sex dau Father Forename James Hawk Mother Forename Eleanor Residence Church Village Father Rank Pro Labourer Notes Trans Notes Transcriber Pauline Pickup	More information about record* ####### in the Baptisms database Day Month 06-Nov Year 1826 Parish/Reg Dist Lewannick Forename Mary Surname DAVY Sex Father Forename William Mother Forename Mary Residence Straypark Father Rank Pro farmer Notes Trans Notes Transcriber Sue Mutton	More information about record* ###### in the Marriages database Day Month 25-Feb Year 1830 Parish Or Reg Dist Lewannick Groom Fn Thomas Groom Sn DENNIS Groom Age Groom Residence OTP Groom Condition Groom Rank Pro Grm Sign/Mark(S/M) S Groom Father Name Grm Fthr Rank Pro Bride Fn Mary Bride Sn DAVEY Bride Age Bride Residence OTP Bride Condition Bride Rank Pro Brd Sign/Mark(S/M) S Bride Father Name Brd Fthr Rank Pro Banns/Licence(B/L) Banns Witness Fn1 Edward Witness Sn1 GARLAND Witness Fn2 Henry Witness Sn2 DENNIS Other Information Transcriber Notes Transcriber Sue Mutton More information about record* ####### in the Baptisms database Day Month 20-Nov Year 1780 Parish/Reg Dist Lewannick Forename Thomas Surname DENNIS Sex Father Forename William Mother Forename Catharine Residence Father Rank Pro Notes Trans Notes Transcriber Sue Mutton More information about record* ####### in the Baptisms database Day Month 08-Jan Year 1790 Parish/Reg Dist North Hill Forename Mary Surname PETERS Sex Father Forename Richard Mother Forename Elizth. Residence Father Rank Pro Notes Trans Notes Transcriber Sue Mutton
Parish Information Added: Mary [Hawke] = Thomas Dennis = Mary Davey nee [Peter] = William Davey b 1785c \| cb 20 Nov 1780 b abt 1790 \| \| Lewannick (1851-61) \| db 13 Jan 1828 \| m 25 Feb 1830 \| Lewannick a43 \| Lewannick \| ________\|___________________________________ \|______ \| \| \| \| James Hawk Dennis = Eleanor Mary Ann Dennis Thomas Dennis Mary Davey = John Strout \| b 1819c b abt 1826 b abt 1821 cb 8 Aug 1813 \| cb 26 Jun 1816 cb 26 Aug 1818 cb 6 Nov 1826 (1851-30) Lewannick \| Lewannick Lewannick Lewannick m 17 Sep 1850 __________\|_____________________ Lewannick \| \| \| Mary Hawke Dennis Charles Dennis James Dennis b abt 1834 b abt 1837 b abt 1839 (1851-16) (1851-14) (1851-12) cb 28 Dec 1834 Lanivet Now there are at least two more items to be considered here. The marriages of Thomas Dennis to his first wife Mary has not been located or identified, so her maiden name is not known. Also the first marriage of Mary Davey nee [Peter(s)] is not found and/or identified. Only one child Mary Davy/Davey is found of the marriage between William Davey and Mary [Peter]. Only three children are found of the first marriage of Thomas Dennis to a Mary ___?___. Since Thomas Dennis the younger does not seem to be the father of the grandchildren, they have all been subscribed to James Hawk Dennis. The only matter left to consider now is the 1861 Census of the family group where John Strout has become the 'Head' of house and a number of others are residing in his household. 1861 Census - Lewannick, Polyphant: Folio 59 Page 3 12,Polyphant,1,John Strout,Head,M,40,,Farmer Of 70 Acres,Altarnun Cornwall,, ,,,Mary Strout,Wife,M,,34,,Lewannick Cornwall,, ,,,Mary Peter Strout,Dau,,,8,Scholar,Lewannick Cornwall,, ,,,Grace Jane Northy Strout,Dau,,,4,,Lewannick Cornwall,, ,,,Samuel Peter,Uncle,U,76,,Retired Farmer,North Hill Cornwall,, Relationship given as Uncle in law ,,,Mary Dennis,Ma-Law,W,,71,Farmer's Widow,North Hill Cornwall,, ,,,Jane Hender,Aunt,W,,61,Farmer's Widow,North Hill Cornwall,, Relationship given as Aunt by law ,,,Joseph Congdon,Serv,U,20,,Carter,Altarnun Cornwall,, ,,,John Palmer,Serv,U,16,,Ag Lab,St Thomas Apostle Cornwall,, ,,,James Hawke,Serv,U,9,,Farm Serv,Lewannick Cornwall,, Notice here the original 1861 census that was transcribed further above. In one sense there are two families represented here who are related by one of the second group being the mother of the wife, Mary Strout. The Strout family is that of John Strout of Trewen, Altarnun and it consist of father, mother and two daughters. Mary Peter Strout caries the middle name of her grandmother's maiden name, Peter. Grace Jane Northy Strout carries as one of her middles names a name likely associated with her father's ancestors of the lands of Altarnun surrounding. That name is Northy. Now the second group consists of three elderly siblings. There is Samuel Peter, Uncle to Mary Strout, as he is Mary's mother's brother who is a confirmed bachelor. Then of course there is Mary Strout's Mother, Mary Dennis the widow of Thomas Dennis and also previously the widow of William Davy. Her maiden name is also Peter. Last there is Jane Hender or Jenney/Jenny Peter sister of Samuel and Mary. The three are children of Richard Peter and Elizabeth Turner. The rest of the story of Jenny/Jane Peter is that she married a Mr. Garland and when he died she married my 3rdgg uncle John Hender who was a saddler of the Polyphant area. The parents of my distance uncle are my 4th great grandparents Thomas Hender and Sarah Adams. This can further be investigated on the pages dedicated to Jenny's Story and to the Peter—Turner Family. Appendix - The Strout Family
1841 Census - Altarnun, Trewen: . . . Treween,1,John Strout,45,,Farmer,In county, ,,Grace Strout,,50,,In county, ,,John Strout,20,,,In county, ,,Jane Strout,,15,,In county, ,,Ann Strout,,15,,In county, ,,Elizabeth Strout,,20,,In county, ,,Digory Strout,14,,,In county, Book 2 Folio 9 Page 11 ,,George Strout,12,,,In county, ,,Mary Strout,,10,,In county, ,,Grace Strout,,8,,In county, ,,Thomas Climo,20,,Ag. Lab.,In county, For those interested, on the Strout family here is a bit of a headstart. Above in the 1841 census is the Strout family with John Strout as the son of John Strout and his wife Grace. At the right is the parish mariage entry for this couple. They were married in 1819 and their son John Strout was baptized in 1821. His age of 20 on the 1841 census means that he was at least 20 years old at the time of the 1841 census and their general practice to round adult ages in intrims of 5. On the 1861 parish census up above, the two Strout daughters are named Mary Peter Strout and Grace Jane Northy Strout. That is evidence of the ancestral families of John and Mary Strout being Peter and Northy/Northey. And they do as John Strout's mother's maiden name is Grace Northey and Mary's mother's maiden name is Peter, even Mary Peter daughter of Richard Peter(s) and Elizabeth Turner. And the Peter's daughter Mary Peter first married a William Davy, who by she had her daughter Mary Davy who married John Strout. Then Mary [Peter] Davy married second her next husband Thomas Dennis. Thus her current widowed name is Mary Dennis as also seen up above.		John Strout & Grace Northey Marriage More information about record* ####### in the Marriages database Day Month 06-Apr Year 1819 Parish Or Reg Dist Altarnun Groom Fn John Groom Sn STROUT Groom Age Groom Residence Altarnun Groom Condition Groom Rank Pro Grm Sign/Mark(S/M) S Groom Father Name Grm Fthr Rank Pro Bride Fn Grace Bride Sn NORTHEY Bride Age Bride Residence Altarnun Bride Condition Bride Rank Pro Brd Sign/Mark(S/M) S Bride Father Name Brd Fthr Rank Pro Banns/Licence(B/L) B Witness Fn1 George Witness Sn1 Burnard Witness Fn2 James Witness Sn2 Mitchell Other Information Transcriber Notes Transcriber M Gabriel /K Halley

rev. 29 August 2016