(Read Part 1 | Discussion of Facts: Dennis Manuscript by R.A. Dennis)
(Read Part 2 | The Dennis Brothers?)

Part 3
Last updated May 5, 2020

The earliest record for Henry Dennis in Cannon County, Tennessee is the 1840 census.

Name: Henry Dennis
Home in 1840 (City, County, State): Cannon, Tennessee
Free White Persons – Males – 10 thru 14: 1
Free White Persons – Males – 15 thru 19: 1
Free White Persons – Males – 50 thru 59: 1  [HENRY]
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 – 40 thru 49: 1

As you can see, in 1840, Henry was between the ages of 50 – 59. His life was not just starting then, so there has to be records before 1840. A lot of family trees pick up on Henry’s life starting here, but I’ve created a records-based timeline starting at his birth in Maryland.

Now, is it possible this is NOT the same Henry Dennis as the one in Cannon County? Sure. But, I would bet that this is the same Henry. In Part 2 of my series on Henry, I talked about how my grandfather has a strong DNA connection to descendants of Henry. Also, the Samuel Dennis who lived beside Henry Dennis is my fourth great grandfather. Henry even witnessed Samuel’s wife’s father’s will. (See below.)

The timeline does not include births of his children. I also do not have a firm date for Henry’s marriage to Lafatia “Patience” Parker.

If you have any edits or additions to this timeline, I would love to receive an email from you at downhomegenealogy@gmail.com.

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Proposed Timeline of Henry Dennis

1780 – Henry was born around this time in Maryland. Not 1771. His age consistently reflects the birth year of 1780 on the 1830, 1840, 1850 and 1860 census. On the 1850 and 1860 census, he lists his state of birth as Maryland. (Source: Ancestry.com)

1811 – Henry appears on the tax list in Davidson County, Tennessee. (Source: Ancestry.com) His next door neighbors are William Feland, Samuel Dennis, and James Feland. This establishes his residence on Sam’s Creek in present-day Cheatham County, Tennessee. Sam’s Creek is where the Felands and Samuel Dennis lived. It is named after Samuel Feland.

1811, May 30 – The will of Samuel Feland in Davidson County, Tennessee is witnessed by Henry Dennis. (Source: Photograph of will that lives at the Nashville Archives)

1812 – Henry appears on the 1812 tax list. He is in Captain Haile’s Militia Company. His name is next to Samuel Dennis’ name. (Source: “Ansearchin’ News” by The Tennessee Genealogical Society, Volume 26, Winter 1979, Number 4) *I’d like to note that early tax lists are broken into companies. This doesn’t necessarily indicate he was in the war of 1812.

1830 – Henry, his wife, and children appear on the 1830 census in Wilson County, Tennessee. (Source: Ancestry.com)

1834 – Henry sells 200 acres on the Big Harpeth River in Davidson County, Tennessee to Henry Poach. (Source: Nashville Register of Deeds Office Index)

1836 – Henry is on the tax list in Wilson County, Tennessee. (Source: Ancestry.com)

1836, January 31 – Cannon County is established from portions of portions of Rutherford, Smith, Wilson, and Warren counties. (Source: Wikipedia)

1838 – Henry is on the tax list in Cannon County, Tennessee. (Source: Ancestry.com)

1839 – Henry is on the tax list in Cannon County, Tennessee. (Source: Ancestry.com)

1840 – Henry is on the census living in Cannon County, Tennessee. (Source: Ancestry.com)

1850 – Henry is on the census living in Cannon County, Tennessee. (Source: Ancestry.com)

1860 – Henry is on the census living in Cannon County, Tennessee. (Source: Ancestry.com)

1860, July 27 – Henry is on the Agriculture census in Cannon County, Tennessee. (Source: Ancestry.com)

1862 – Henry appears on the tax list in Cannon County, Tennessee. (Source: Ancestry.com)

Henry died between 1862 and 1870, as he does not appear on the 1870 census.

Henry’s FindAGrave page lists his death as March 1863 and burial unknown. With no tombstone or burial records, we cannot be sure he died in 1863. The source of this information is not credited.