FIRST GENERATION

1. Thomas Dennis + was born in 1638 in England. Thomas Dennis was a joiner (furniture maker) who lived in Ipswich, Ma. in the mid-to late 17th Century. He and William Searly worked together, and on Searle's death Dennis married Searle's wife, Grace ( Cole ). Furniture and other items made by Dennis and Searle are available in several museums, including the Henry Francis Dupont Winterthur Museum in Maryland and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. A 6-part series of articles by Irving P. Lyon in Antiques magazine ( Vol 32:230, 298; Vol.33:73,198, 322, ; Vol.34: 79 ) describes some of these pieces. Homer E. Keyes, in a subsequent article ( Antiques 34 : 296 ), suggested that many of these were made by joiners with similar styles; those that remained in the family are, however, considered authentic. He died on May 23 1706 in Ipswich, Ma.in the County of Essex est. 1643.

He was married to Grace Cole Searle on Oct 26 1668 in Ipswich, Ma.in the County of Essex est. 1643. Grace Cole Searle was born in 1636 in Maybe England. She died on Oct 24 1686 in Ipswich, Ma.in the County of Essex est. 1643. She was buried on Oct 25 1686 in Ipswich, Ma.in the County of Essex est. 1643. Thomas Dennis + and Grace Cole Searle had the following children:

+2 i. Thomas Dennis +.
+3 ii. Capt. John Dennis.
+4 iii. Elizabeth Dennis.