verifies and adds to information on Richard Denton already gathered from numerous sources over the past 20 years.
"Rev. Richard Denton 1603-1662. A graduate of St. Catherine's Cambridge in 1623, and acknowledged by many as the founder of Presbyterianism in America, Rev. Richard Denton came to New England in 1635. Before coming he was a preacher in Halifax, England. From England, the Cambridge University listing for Richard Denton says: 'Sizar of St. Catherine's Easter, 1621, b. 1603 in Yorks, B.A. 1622-3, priest 8 June 1623. Deacon at Petersborough 9 March 1622-3. Curate of Coley Chapel, Halifax for some years.' <"Sizar is defined as an undergraduate student.> A picture is shown in the text of Coley's Chapel.
From an unnamed history of the Denton family: The general opinion among members of the Denton family is that all fo the Dentons in the United States are descendants of Rev. Richard Denton. Our research seems to substantiate this, for we have found only two instances where other Dentons lived in America and neithers of these left heirs named Denton. From New England Genealogical Register 11/241: Rev Richard Denton came to America from the Parish of Owram, North England on the ship "James". (Note: Some say his ship was the "Arabella") He lived in Wethersfield and Stamford Connecticut. The J. S. Denton papers show baptismal rcords of Nathaniel and Timothy sons of Rev. Richard Denton 'in Parish Church of Bolton, England'.
Rev. Richard worked first with the famous preacher, Cotton Mather. Rev. Mather speaks of Rev. Denton in his early memoirs: "Rev Denton was a highly religious man with strong Presbyterian beliefs. He was a small man with only one eye, but in the pulpit he could sway a congregation like he was nine feet tall."
In his book, "The History of the Clergy in Middle Colonies" author Weiss makes reference to the religious conflict of early Connecticut which resulted in Rev. Richard Denton moving on to Hempstead, Long Island, New York in 1644. He settled there in the midst of a large Dutch colony. However, there were also many English settlers living in the area without benefit of religious guidance. With these scattered members for a church, Rev. Denton established the first Presbyterian Church in America. This church was so successful that soon the Dutch neighbors began attending services there. History shows some controversery developed when Rev. Denton began to baptize some of the younger children of the Dutch who did not agree with all the Presbyterian beliefs.
From "Narratives of New Netherland, 1609-1664" a letter to the Classis of Amsterdam from Johannes Megapolensis and Samuel Drisius dated August 5, 1657: 'At Hempstead, about seven leagues from here, there live some independents. There are also many of our own church, and some Presbyterians. They have a Presbyterian preacher, Richard Denton, a pious, godly and learned man, who is in agreement with our church in everything. The Independents of the place listen attentively to his sermons: but when he began to baptize the children of parents who are not members of the church, they rushed out of the church."
From another letter dated Oct 22, 1657 the same writers continue: "Mr. Richard Denton, who is sound in faith, of a friendly disposition, and beloved by all, cannot be induced by us to remain, although we have earnestly tried to do this in various ways. He first went to Virginia to seek a situation, complaining of lack of salary, and that he was getting in debt, but he has returned thence. He is now fully resolved to go to old England, because of his wife who is sickly will not go without him, and there is a need of their going there on account of a legacy of four hundred pounds sterling lately left by a deceased friend, and which they cannot obtain except by their personal presence."
Rev. Richard Denton, and his wife, Helen Windlbake never returned to America although their children remained in New York.
His tombstone bears the following inscription in Latin:
"Here lies the dust of Richard Denton. O'er his low peaceful grave bends the perennial cypress, fit emblem of his unfading fame. On earth his bright example, religious light, shown
forth o'er the multitudes, in heaven his pure rob'd spirit shines like an effulgent star."
"The history of Hempstead, Long Island makes many references to the Dentons and their marriages and big families. The men were active in the local militias fighting the Indians and they developed excellent military experience that prepared them for officer commissions when they moved on to the Virginia frontier.
He married Helen Windlbank in Marden Parish, Wiltshire, England. They had the following children. Sarah, Daniel, Timothy, Nathaniel, Richard III, Admiral Samuel, and John Denton.
Richard Denton (1586-1662) came from Outram, Yorkshire, England with Governor Winthrop in the 'Arabella' to Boston in 1630. He was at Watertown, Mass in 1634, at Wethersfield, Conn in 1635, at Stamford, Conn in 1641 to 1644. Later he was at Hempstead, L.I. He was a graduate of Cambridge University in 1623. He founded the Congregational Church at Stamford, and is said to have been the founder of Presbyterianism in America. He returned to England where he died.
"Rev. Richard Denton 1603-1662. A graduate of St. Catherine's Cambridge in 1623, and acknowledged by many as the founder of Presbyterianism in America, Rev. Richard Denton came to New England in 1635. Before coming he was a preacher in Halifax, England. From England, the Cambridge University listing for Richard Denton says: 'Sizar of St. Catherine's Easter, 1621, b. 1603 in Yorks, B.A. 1622-3, priest 8 June 1623. Deacon at Petersborough 9 March 1622-3. Curate of Coley Chapel, Halifax for some years.' <"Sizar is defined as an undergraduate student.> A picture is shown in the text of Coley's Chapel.
From an unnamed history of the Denton family: The general opinion among members of the Denton family is that all fo the Dentons in the United States are descendants of Rev. Richard Denton. Our research seems to substantiate this, for we have found only two instances where other Dentons lived in America and neithers of these left heirs named Denton. From New England Genealogical Register 11/241: Reverend Richard Denton came to America from the Parish of Owram, North England on the ship "James". (Note: Some say his ship was the "Arabella")
He lived in Wethersfield and Stamford Connecticut. The J. S. Denton papers show baptismal rcords of Nathaniel and Timothy sons of Rev. Richard Denton 'in Parish Church of Bolton, England'.
Rev. Richard worked first with the famous preacher, Cotton Mather. Rev. Mather speaks of Rev. Denton in his early memoirs: "Rev Denton was a highly religious man with strong Presbyterian beliefs. He was a small man with only one eye, but in the pulpit he could sway a congregation like he was nine feet tall."
In his book, "The History of the Clergy in Middle Colonies" author Weiss makes reference to the religious conflict of early Connecticut which resulted in Rev. Richard Denton moving on to Hempstead, Long Island, New York in 1644. He settled there in the midst of a large Dutch colony. However, there were also many English settlers living in the area without benefit of religious guidance. With these scattered members for a church, Rev. Denton established the first Presbyterian Church in America. This church was so successful that soon the Dutch neighbors began attending services there. History shows some controversery developed when Rev. Denton began to baptize some of the younger children of the Dutch who did not agree with all the Presbyterian beliefs.
From "Narratives of New Netherland, 1609-1664" a letter to the Classis of Amsterdam from Johannes Megapolensis and Samuel Drisius dated August 5, 1657: 'At Hempstead, about seven leagues from here, there live some independents. There are also many of our own church, and some Presbyterians. They have a Presbyterian preacher, Richard Denton, a pious, godly and learned man, who is in agreement with our church in everything. The Independents of the place listen attentively to his sermons: but when he began to baptize the children of parents who are not members of the church, they rushed out of the church."
From another letter dated Oct 22, 1657 the same writers continue: "Mr. Richard Denton, who is sound in faith, of a friendly disposition, and beloved by all, cannot be induced by us to remain, although we have earnestly tried to do this in various ways. He first went to Virginia to seek a situation, complaining of lack of salary, and that he was getting in debt, but he has returned thence. He is now fully resolved to go to old England, because of his wife who is sickly will not go without him, and there is a need of their going there on account of a legacy of four hundred pounds sterling lately left by a deceased friend, and which they cannot obtain except by their personal presence."
Helen Windebank and Rev. Richard Denton III had the following children:
1667 i.
John Denton was born in 1618 in Yorkshire, England. He died before 1636
in Young- before 1636 when 2nd John was born.
+1668 ii.
Sarah Denton.
+1669 iii.
Daniel Denton Sr..
+1670 iv.
Timothy Denton.
+1671 v.
Nathaniel Denton.
+1672 vi.
Richard Denton IV.
+1673 vii.
Samuel Denton I.
1674 viii.
Phebe Denton was born on 29 Sep 1634 in England....Bolton?. She died
on 18 Oct 1658 in Hempstead, Long Island, Queens, Nassau County, New York.
1675 ix.
John Denton was born in 1636 in Hempstead, Long Island, Queens, Nassau
County, New York.
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