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Richard Denton, Reverend

Richard Denton, Reverend

Male 1601 - 1663  (62 years)


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  • Name Richard Denton  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15] 
    Title Reverend 
    Suffix Sr. 
    Birth 5 Apr 1601  Yorkshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 16] 
    Gender Male 
    FSID LCXT-HB3  [1, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24] 
    Burial 1662  Essex, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 14, 15] 
    Death 6 Dec 1663  Essex, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 16] 
    Person ID I45244  footsteps
    Last Modified 1 Jul 2025 

    Family Maria Duerden,   b. Abt Oct 1604, Yorkshire, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
    +1. Samuel Denton,   b. Bef 29 May 1631, Yorkshire, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Jamaica, Queens, New York, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [Father: natural]  [Mother: unknown]
    Family ID F24938  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 1 Jul 2025 

  • Notes 


    • Denton was a crucial element in the early development of religious pluralism in colonial America and in American Presbyterianism, specifically.
      Richard Denton was born in Warley, West Yorkshire, England to Henry Denton and Maria Duerden. He was baptized April 19, 1601 at the parish church in nearby Halifax.

      Denton matriculated from St. Catherine's College, Cambridge. He was ordained a Deacon in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire on March 9, 1623 and a Priest on June 8, 1623. He first became pastor in Turton, Lancashire and later Curate of Coley Chapel in Halifax, West Yorkshire.
      It is not known exactly when or why Denton split from the Church of England to profess and preach Reformed theology, but it was at a time of much religious upheaval. It may have had something to do with the "Book of Sports" controversy. The "Great Migration" of the Puritans to New England had been underway for several years when Richard Denton and his young sons led a large group of Presbyterians to Massachusetts circa 1635, possibly on the ship "James."

      He arrived abt 1638/39 to America before soon removing to Wethersfield, Connecticut and even later to Stamford in 1641, probably due to friction with local Puritans. This friction may have been political, rather than religious, in nature.

      As early as 1644, Denton relocated his congregation to Hempstead, Long Island, situating themselves under Dutch rule and law. All inhabitants were allowed to vote in New Netherland, and the Denton congregation made it a requirement to do so; they were likely barred from voting in Puritan territory. However, this was not the end of Denton's interactions with his own people, for he is said to have preached to English soldiers at the military fort in New Amsterdam during the Indian wars.

      Denton was well received in New Netherland, as evidenced by two letters sent to Holland by Johannes Megapolensis and Samuel Drisius, the former being the leader of the Dutch Reformed Church in New Netherland and the latter being a pastor who could minister in French as well as Dutch.

      These letters also inform us that the Puritan Independents in Hempstead attended Denton's services, but left his church when he baptized children of parents who were not members. Nonetheless, he was respected by prominent Congregationalists - notably, Cotton Mather - for his theological treatise "Soliloquia Sacra."
      Despite flourishing in Hempstead, Rev. Denton became dissatisfied with his salary and departed Long Island for Virginia in 1657 "seeking remedy." Gov. Stuyvesant himself had appealed to Denton to stay in New Netherland, to no avail. Apparently no remedy was found in Virginia, for in 1658 he was again contracted to minister at Hempstead, the same place he had left one year earlier. This return to normalcy, however, would be short lived for Richard and his wife returned to England in 1659 to settle a deceased friend's estate and collect a legacy of 400 Pounds Sterling.
      Richard Denton died in Hempstead, Essex in 1663. The church he founded and pastored in Long Island - Christ's First Presbyterian - still exists at 353 Fulton Ave.
      http://www.christianforums.com/threads/the-rev-richard-denton-c-1635.7619647/

  • Sources 
    1. [S273] FamilySearch.org, FamilySearch FamilyTree, "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 07 March 2025, 19:56), entry for John Smith V (PID https://ark.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:G72P-5H4 ); contributed by various users.
      https://ark.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:G72P-5H4

    2. [S273] FamilySearch.org, FamilySearch FamilyTree, http://www.analent.com/Denton/OriginsOfRichardDenton.pdf.
      Provides the best analysis to date of the origins of the immigrant and reverend Richard Denton and a more complete family. Highly documented with documentation attached. The link above is a problem. See at
      https://www.familysearch.orgphotos/artifacts/74709596

    3. [S273] FamilySearch.org, FamilySearch FamilyTree, Stephen, Sir Leslie, ed. Dictionary of National Biography, 1921–1922. Volume: Craik - Drake (Vol 05). London, England: Oxford University Press, 1921–1922. Vol 05; Page: 830.
      https://www.worldcat.org

    4. [S273] FamilySearch.org, FamilySearch FamilyTree, West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records; New Reference Number: WDP53/1/1/5.
      Name: Richard Denton
      Event Type: Marriage
      Marriage Date: 21 Jan 1633
      Marriage Place: Halifax, St John the Baptist, Yorkshire, England
      Parish as it Appears: Halifax, St John the Baptist
      Spouse: Mary Duerdon

    5. [S281] FamilySearch.org, England, Yorkshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1547-1957, "England, Yorkshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1547-1957", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68ZD-XMR5 : Fri Apr 12 19:15:19 UTC 2024), Entry for Denton and Richardi, 11 March 1633.
      https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68ZD-XMRY

    6. [S281] FamilySearch.org, England, Yorkshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1547-1957, "England, Yorkshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1547-1957", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68ZH-5H3M : Sun Mar 10 20:43:48 UTC 2024), Entry for Maria Duerden and Richus Denton, 21 January 1625.
      https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68ZH-5H39

    7. [S281] FamilySearch.org, England, Yorkshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1547-1957, "England, Yorkshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1547-1957", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68ZH-5H9H : Sun Mar 10 20:43:37 UTC 2024), Entry for Richus Denton and Maria Duerden, 21 January 1625.
      https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68ZH-5H9H

    8. [S281] FamilySearch.org, England, Yorkshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1547-1957, "England, Yorkshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1547-1957", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68K1-N4YZ : Sat Apr 13 19:04:04 UTC 2024), Entry for Daniel Denton and Richardi, 10 July 1632.
      https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68K1-N4Y8

    9. [S281] FamilySearch.org, England, Yorkshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1547-1957, "England, Yorkshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1547-1957", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68K1-JMZQ : Fri Mar 08 16:32:36 UTC 2024), Entry for Mary Denton and Richard, 21 June 1638.
      https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68K1-JMZ7

    10. [S281] FamilySearch.org, England, Yorkshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1547-1957, "England, Yorkshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1547-1957", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68ZD-49Q7 : Fri Apr 12 20:05:20 UTC 2024), Entry for Petrus Denton and Richardi, 5 June 1637.
      https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68ZD-49QW

    11. [S281] FamilySearch.org, England, Yorkshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1547-1957, "England, Yorkshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1547-1957", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68ZD-NNB5 : Sat Apr 13 17:32:17 UTC 2024), Entry for Timothius Denton and Richardi, 28 July 1631.
      https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68ZD-NNBY

    12. [S281] FamilySearch.org, England, Yorkshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1547-1957, "England, Yorkshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1547-1957", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68K1-RD7F : Sun Mar 10 10:17:03 UTC 2024), Entry for Richard Denton and Henry, 19 April 1601.
      https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68K1-RD7F

    13. [S281] FamilySearch.org, England, Yorkshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1547-1957, "England, Yorkshire, Bishop's Transcripts, 1547-1957", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68K1-N46V : Sat Apr 13 17:30:41 UTC 2024), Entry for Samuel Denton and Richardi, 29 May 1631.
      https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68K1-N462

    14. [S283] FamilySearch.org, England, Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991, "England, Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JDHV-B56 : Fri Mar 08 07:54:38 UTC 2024), Entry for Denton, 6 12 1658.
      https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JDHV-B56

    15. [S321] FamilySearch.org, England, Essex, Parish Registers, 1538-1997, "England, Essex, Parish Registers, 1538-1997", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XKZP-WX8 : Fri Aug 30 22:22:27 UTC 2024), Entry for Denton, 06 Dec 1658.
      https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XKZP-WX8

    16. [S273] FamilySearch.org, FamilySearch FamilyTree, London, England: Oxford University Press; Volume: Vol 05; Page: 830.
      https://search.ancestry.com/collections/1981/records/18636

    17. [S273] FamilySearch.org, FamilySearch FamilyTree, Prepared from manuscript notes of Wm. A. D. Eardley, deceased by George D. A. Combes, 123 Lincoln Avenue, Rockville Centre; N.Y.This presentation has been prepared by GenealogyCDs.com - 2004.
      http://www.longislandgenealogy.com/Denton.pdf

    18. [S273] FamilySearch.org, FamilySearch FamilyTree, Website: Clergy of The Church of England Database [CCED] lists Ordination and appointment events for Clergy of the Church of England from 1540-1835.
      Provides information in entry for: Denton, Richard (Ordination and appointment events, 1622 - 1628) CCEd Person ID: 33942
      EDUCATION EVENTS lit. : Cambridge / St Catherines BA
      ORDINATION EVENTS: deacon : 09/03/1622 (Dove, Thomas/Peterborough 1601-1630); priest : 08/06/1623 (Dove, Thomas/Peterborough 1601-1630)
      APPOINTMENT EVENTS Curate : Bolton le Moors, Turton chapel (07/03/1628 )

    19. [S273] FamilySearch.org, FamilySearch FamilyTree, Book Title: Thomas Stevenson of London, England and his descendants.
      https://search.ancestry.com/collections/61157/records/1342929

    20. [S273] FamilySearch.org, FamilySearch FamilyTree, West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records; New Reference Number: WDP53/1/1/4.
      https://search.ancestry.com/collections/2256/records/8909843

    21. [S273] FamilySearch.org, FamilySearch FamilyTree, West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records; New Reference Number: WDP53/1/1/5.
      https://search.ancestry.com/collections/2256/records/158954769

    22. [S273] FamilySearch.org, FamilySearch FamilyTree, Yorkshire Parish Register Section; Leeds, England, United Kingdom; Yorkshire: Sheffield Parish Register, 1560-1635 Part One.
      https://search.ancestry.com/collections/61630/records/15366367

    23. [S273] FamilySearch.org, FamilySearch FamilyTree, Walter C. Krumm, "Descendants of the Rev. Richard Denton," New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, volume 120, no. 1, (January 1989): 10–12.
      Rev. Richard Denton did not marry Helen "Windebank" and had NO daughter Rebecca Denton.
      Children proven: Timothy, Nathaniel, Samuel, Daniel and Phoebe.
      Of the alleged marriage to Helen Wildebank, Dr. Krumm states under the heading "Disputed Marriage." "The identity of the wife of Rev. Richard Denton is not known. The marriage register at St. Church, Southwark (now Southwark Cathedral), London, records the marriage on 16 November 1611 of Richard Denton to Helen Windebanke. Based on this record, Helen Windebanke has been identified as the wife of Rev. Richard Denton who emigrated to New England and settled at Hempstead, Long Island, in New Netherland. This is an error. This is too early for Rev. Richard Denton to have married. The Helen Windebanke who married in 1611 must have married some other Richard Denton."
      Krumm, Ph.D., Walter C. Krumm, "Who Was the Rev. RIchard Denton?" In The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 163-166, 211-219. Vol. 117. New York, N.Y.: New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, 1986.

      Wife is "unidentified" [ page 12]. This article suggest he was married about 1625.
      The children christened at St. Peter's Parish Church, Bolton were only two:
      "TYMOTHIE Denton, son of Mr. Denton, preacher at Turton baptized 23 July [1627].
      NATHANIELL Denton, of Turton, son of Mr. Denton 9 March, baptized [1628/9]."
      The author writes: "Denton's predecessor at Turon, Gilbert Ashley, was buried at Bolton on 27 Jan 1625/6 suggesting that his own term began there soon after." Dr. Krumm continues:
      "The next baptisms show that by 1631 the family had moved to Coley Chapel in Halifax Parish, Yorkshire, 25 miles east of Bolton..." These 3 baptisms were:
      "SAMUEL, son of Richard Denton, Minister of Coley, 29 May, 1631
      DANIEL, son of Richard Denton, Curate of Coley, 10 July 1632
      PHOEBE, dau. of Richard Denton, minister of Coley, 30 Nov 1634."

    24. [S273] FamilySearch.org, FamilySearch FamilyTree, Krumm, Ph.D., Walter C. Krumm, "Who Was the Rev. RIchard Denton?" In The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 163-166, 211-219. Vol. 117. New York, N.Y.: New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, 1986.
      Of the alleged marriage to Helen Wildebank, Dr. Krumm states under the heading "Disputed Marriage." "The identity of the wife of Rev. Richard Denton is not known. The marriage register at St. Church, Southwark (now Southwark Cathedral), London, records the marriage on 16 November 1611 of Richard Denton to Helen Windebanke. Based on this record, Helen Windebanke has been identified as the wife of Rev. Richard Denton who emigrated to New England and settled at Hempstead, Long Island, in New Netherland. This is an error. This is too early for Rev. Richard Denton to have married. The Helen Windebanke who married in 1611 must have married some other Richard Denton."
      Krumm, Ph.D., Walter C. Krumm, "Who Was the Rev. RIchard Denton?" In The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 163-166, 211-219. Vol. 117. New York, N.Y.: New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, 1986.
      THINGS TO CONSIDER:
      Rev. Denton's age at college would make his proposed birth record in 1603 much more likely. The birth of his first documented child in 1627. Logic would not support a marriage in 1611 and no PRIMARY source record corroborates or suggests that it would belong to him.


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