Timeline: Samuel Dennis in Davidson & Stewart Counties, Tennessee

I’ve been heavily researching my fourth great-grandfather, Samuel Benjamin Dennis. He started out somewhere in Maryland, moved to Davidson County (Nashville), Tennessee, then on to Stewart County, Tennessee. I’ve compiled a timeline of records below for fellow Dennis researchers.

8 Jun 1809 – Samuel Dennis is listed in Davidson County, Tennessee as a bondsman for the marriage of William Feelin and Mary Famborough

15 Sep 1810 – Samuel Dennis – Signs an early land register survey – Davidson County

1811 – Samuel Dennis, tax list in Davidson County – next door to a Henry Dennis

30 May 1811 – “Samuel Feland Dennis” is listed as the grandchild of Samuel Feelin/Feland in his will & given 40 acres; Feland’s will also lists daughter, Sinthey; Will is witnessed by Henry Dennis

17 July 1811 – Samuel Dennis is comissioned as “Ensign” in the 19th regiment during the War of 1812. He is in Captain Haile’s Militia Co. (From the book “Pioneers of Davidson County” by Edythe Johns Rucker Whitley, a complete copy available on Ancestry.com)

20 May 1815 – Samuel Dennis is listed as one of the buyers at the estate sale of William Feeland, dec’d.

1820 – Davidson County Tennessee Census lists Samuel Dennis
Enumeration Date August 7, 1820
Free White Persons – Males – Under 10 2
Free White Persons – Males – 26 thru 44 1
Free White Persons – Females – Under 10 2
Free White Persons – Females – 10 thru 15 1
Free White Persons – Females – 26 thru 44 1
Number of Persons – Engaged in Agriculture 1
Free White Persons – Under 16 5
Free White Persons – Over 25 2
Total Free White Persons 7
Total All Persons – White, Slaves, Colored, Other 7

11 Dec 1822 – Samuel Dennis purchases 25 acres from the heirs of Silas Bandifield on Sam’s Creek, Davidson County, TN

13 Dec 1823 – Samuel Dennis is bondsman when James Feland marries Sarah Shaw in Davidson County, TN

16 Jul 1824 – Samuel Dennis sells to Nicholas Hail 25 acres on Sam’s Creek. Recorded 21 Aug 1824. (Book Q, page 575, Davidson County, TN Deed Office)

1 Sep 1825 – Samuel Dennis witnessed the will of Jacob Hunter in Davidson County, TN. Jacob Hunter was the father of Elizabeth Hunter, who married Thomas Williamson (Feland) Fielding.

1830 – Census, Samuel Dennis, Davidson, Tennessee
Free White Persons – Males – Under 5 1
Free White Persons – Males – 5 thru 9 1
Free White Persons – Males – 20 thru 29 1
Free White Persons – Males – 40 thru 49 1
Free White Persons – Females – Under 5 1
Free White Persons – Females – 5 thru 9 2
Free White Persons – Females – 10 thru 14 1
Free White Persons – Females – 15 thru 19 1
Free White Persons – Females – 30 thru 39 1
Free White Persons – Under 20 7
Free White Persons – 20 thru 49 3
Total Free White Persons 10
Total – All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored) 10

30 Nov 1831 – Filed 6 Oct 1833 – Samuel Dennis and Samuel Feland Dennis sell 40 acres to Washington G. Shelton. Land is located in Davidson County, TN, present-day Cheatham County, TN. Source: Book V, Page 461, Davidson County, TN Deed Office

4 Mar 1832 – Daughter, Mary Ann Jane Dennis, marries John Etherage [Etheridge] in Davidson County, Tennessee

2 Nov 1835 – Ordered that these jurors review and make out road from Dover to Brandon’s Ferry on the Tennessee River and make return: Samuel Wofford, Elisha Mills, William Hicks, Nathaniel Parker, John Fletcher, Samuel Dennis (Source: Stewart County Court Minutes: Extracts from 1835)

1837 – Tax list in Stewart County, Tennessee

1838 – Tax list in Stewart County, Tennessee

1840 – Samuel Denis, Stewart, Tennessee – Next door to son-in-law, John Etheridge, and daughter Mary Ann Dennis Etheridge
Free White Persons – Males – Under 5 1
Free White Persons – Males – 10 thru 14 1
Free White Persons – Males – 20 thru 29 2
Free White Persons – Males – 50 thru 59 1
Free White Persons – Females – Under 5 3
Free White Persons – Females – 10 thru 14 1
Free White Persons – Females – 15 thru 19 1
Free White Persons – Females – 20 thru 29 1
Free White Persons – Females – 40 thru 49 1
Persons Employed in Agriculture 4
No. White Persons over 20 Who Cannot Read and Write 2
Free White Persons – Under 20 7
Free White Persons – 20 thru 49 4
Total Free White Persons 12
Total All Persons – Free White, Free Colored, Slaves 12

1841 – Samuel Dennis is listed on the tax list in Stewart County. He owns 100 acres valued at 200.

1844 – John Etheridge & Samuel Dennis granted to Nathan Skinner 100 acres on the “Middle Fork of Barrett’s Creek, where Dennis lives”. (Source: Stewart County Deed Index, Book 15, page 115)

1850 CENSUS – LISTED TWICE
1. Name Benjn Denniss [Samuel]
Age 63
Birth Year abt 1787
Birthplace Maryland
Home in 1850 Stewart, Tennessee, USA
Gender Male
Family Number 816
Household Members
Name Age
Benjn Denniss 63
Ceyrtha Denniss 56
Thomas Denniss 31
Jane Denniss 25
Narcissy Denniss 23

2. Name Saml Dennis
Age 64
Birth Year abt 1786
Birthplace Maryland
Home in 1850 Stewart, Tennessee, USA
Gender Male
Family Number 418
Household Members
Name Age
Saml Dennis 64
Lilly [Silly] Dennis 61
Jane Dennis 28
Narcissey Dennis 26

1860 Census – In Stewart County, TN, the 1860 census skipped some families, including Samuel’s.

1865 – Samuel’s (S. Dennis) residence is listed on the 1865 map of Stewart County/Middle Tennessee by Wharton. [1865 Army Corps of Engineers map that the National Archives calls Record Group 77, Records of the Office of Chief of Engineers, Headquarters Map File, T 84 ½ – 1, -Part of sheet 1, Stewart County TNGenWeb]

1865 – Samuel is not on the Stewart County tax list. I assume he died around this year.

1870 – Samuel is not listed with his wife and family. Presumed he died before 1870.