Hugh "the younger", Knight of Hanley Castle, Worcestershire. King's Chamberlain, Constable of Odiham Castle, Keeper of the Castle and town of Dryshwyn and Cantref, Carmarthenshire. Keeper of the castle and town of Portchester, Keeper of the castle, town and barton of Bristol. Keeper of the castles, maanor and lands of Brecknock, Hay, Cantref, Brecon and Huntingdon, Leicestershire, Brimpsfield, Glouchestershire. Lord of Glamorgan, allowing him possesion of Cardiff Castle. Given Wallingofrd Castle, although it had been given to Queen Isabella for life.
First son and heir of Hugh le Despenser and Isabel de Beauchamp. He married Eleanor de Clare, daughter of Gilbert de Clare and Joan of England, daughter of Edward I, King of England. They had four sons and four daughters; Sir Hugh, Sir Edward, Sir Gilbert, John, Isabel (married Richard de Arundel), Joan (nun at Shaftesbury Abbey), Eleanor (nun at Sempringham Priory), Margaret (nun at Whatton Priory) and Elizabeth (married Maurice de Berkely).
Hugh would become one of the most powerful barons of his time, and thenthe most greedy, forcing others to give up their lands, and had earned himself countless enemiesin every corner of the kingdom. The barons pressured Edward for his banishment in 1321. His father fled to France, Hugh became a pirate in the English channel. The barons fought among themelves, Edward called the Despensers back to court, and defeating Roger de Mortimer and the Earl of Lancaster, reinstalling the Despenser as the King's favorites, leaving the depsensers to do as they pleased. Mortimer escaped from the Tower and fled to France, while Hugh's greed and tyranny increased.
Edward's queen, Isabella, was in France talking to the king when she formed an alliance with Roger de Mortimer against Hugh, who might have raped Isabella. Mortimer and Idsabella invaded England in 1326, placed Edward in captivity, forced him to abdicate to his son, hung Hugh Senior and tried Hugh junior. Hugh was sentenced to a public execution. Immediately after the tiral,he was dragged to a huge fire by four horses, stripped naked, biblical verse were carved into his skin, hung but cut down, tioed to a laddter in full view of the public, his genitals cut off and burned inn his sight, entrails slowly pulled out, heart cut out and thrown to the fire, then beheaded and quartered. Froissart desribed the ordeal in detail, including Hugh's last cry described as a ghastly, inhuman howl. His head was mounted at the gates of London. Isabella and Mortimer feated and laughted during the proceedings.
Four years later, Eleanor was allowed to gathe and bury his remains at the Abbey Hulton, Staffordshire, family estate, but only the head, a thigh bone and a few vertebra were returned to her. His image on the stained glass window of the Banqueting Hall of Cardiff Castle, shows his coat of arms inverted - a symbol of disgrace
1306 - knighted
1306 - married Eleanor de Clare
1313 - Hugh accompanied the King Edward II to Pontoise
1314 - Eleanor inherited the lordship of Glamorgan in Wales, the castles of Llanlethian, Kenfeg, Neath, Llastrisant, Caerphilly, Whitchuch, manor of Stanford inthe Vale, Berkshire. Her brother was killed at the Battle of Bannockburn
1314 - Hugh was summoned to Parliament 29 July 1314 to 10 Oct 1325 as Hugoni le Despenser juniori
1315 - seized Tonbridge Castlem thinking it belonged to his mother-ilaw, actually it belonged to the Archbishop of Canterbury. Ooops.
1317 - his influence over the king in court increased dramatically
1318 - murdered Llyywelyn Bren.
1318 - became royal Chamberlain to Edward II
1321 - forced into exile by the King under pressure of the Barons,
1322 - Despensers return and run amok
1326 - Mortimer and Isabella invade England from France, Despensers were hung
Passage listed on page 127, 128 of Banks Topographical Dictionary, which states George and William departed from the British parish Strotford Bishop, Hertfordshire bound for the Roxbury colony with the notation "NEGR 46/127 genealogy"
Came to America on the Lyon, 1631
"The tradition that George served in Cromwell's army is thus verified. The
story is also told that he was wounded and was nursed at the home of John
Borodell, a cordwainner (leather merchant) of Cork, by his dau. Ann whom
he married for his second wife." p. 1.
"Denison Genealogy: Ancestors and Descendants of Captain Georgi Denison"
by E. Glenn Denison, Gateway Press, Baltimore 1978
~~~
George Denison died in Hartford, Oct. 23, 1694, while there on some special business, being 76 years old. His wife, Ann Borodel1, died Sept. 26, 1712, aged 97 years. They were both remarkable for magnificent personal appearance, and for force of mind and character. She was always called "Lady Ann." They held a foremost place in Stonington. At the time of their marriage, in 1645, she was 30 years old and he 27. He has been described as "the Miles Standish of the settlement," but he was a greater and more brilliant soldier than Miles Standish. He had no equal in any of the colonies, for conducting a war against the Indians, excepting, perhaps, Captain John Mason. Miss Calkills, in her history of New London, says of him :
"Our early history presents no character of bolder and more active spirit than Captain George Denison ; he reminds us of the border men of Scotland." In emergencies he was always in demand, and he was almost constantly placed in important public positions.
Denison Society Web Page
~~~
George's brother, General Daniel Denison wrote in 1672: " My Brother George buried his first Wife in the year 1643, went into England, was a souldier ther above a year, was at the Battle of York or Marston Moor where he did good service, was afterward taken prisoner, but got free, and having married a second Wife, he returned to New England the year before our Mother died, and not long afterward removed himself to New London, near whereunto at Stonington he now liveth."
The story is that George met his second wife, Ann Borodell, when he was wounded and took shelter in her father's house. He married her in England and returned to Massachusetts about 1644. George did not stay in Roxbury long. He became offended after not being elected to a position he wanted and moved with his family to New London, an area claimed by both Massachusetts and Connecticut. Here he got himself into trouble again, by encouraging settlers to accept the authority of Massachusetts. When the land was at last assigned to Connecticut, he was ordered to pay a fine. He refused to pay, and fortunately, had enough influence and connections, for the fine to be eventually forgiven.
The New London/Stonington area was first settled by William Chesebrough in 1649. Some of the other early settlers of the area were Thomas Stanton, Thomas Minor, Governor Haynes, Walter Palmer, Capt. John Gallup, and Robert Park; the children and grandchildren of George Denison married into many of these families. In 1675-1676, George (now almost sixty) was a successful captain in King Philip's War. George's first wife was Bridget Thompson, 1640? She died in August of 1643, leaving two daughters under the age of three. After her death, George returned to England to fight on the side of Cromwell in the English Civil War. Children of George and Bridget (born at Roxbury): Sarah, baptized 20 March 1641/1642, married Thomas Stanton, Jr. Hannah, baptized 21 May 1643, married first Nathaniel Chesebrough, second Joseph Saxton. Children of George and Ann: (first two born at Roxbury, rest at New London or Stonington, CT) John, baptized 16 June 1646, married Phebe Lay. Ann, baptized 20 May 1649, married Gershom Palmer. Borodell, born about 1651, married Samuel Stanton. GEORGE Jr., born about 1653, married Mercy Gorham. William, born about 1655, married Sarah Prentice. Margaret, born about 1657, married James Brown, Jr. Mercy, born about 1659, died 10 Mar 1670/1671. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~robinsgenealogypage/
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In 1652 New London granted 200 acres to each of several other inhabitants: George Denison in Pequotsepos; where he later built a small palisaded house. Thwarted in their ambitions by Connecticut, the inhabitants of Mystic and Pawcatuck petitioned Massachusetts for the privilege of a township, twenty families now being settled in this place. This petition was backed by Captain George Denison, who had influential friends in Boston. This also failed. A second application was made and denied, with the suggestion that the matter be referred to the Commissioners of the United Colonies and that in the meantime they manage their own affairs. In 1658 the Massachusetts General Court resolved that the territory between the Mystic River and the Pawcatuck River be named Southertown and belong to Suffolk County, Massachusetts. The plantation was to extend into the interior eight miles from the mouth of the Mystic River. Captain George Denison and five others were appointed to manage prudential affairs; Captain Denison, William Chesebrough, and Thomas Minor were appointed commissioners to handle small causes. Walter Palmer was appointed constable. Some are buried under large wolfstones, granite slabs to protect their bodies from the ravages of wild animals. The cemetery was enclosed by a stone wall in 1828. In 1899 the cemetery association dedicated a large stone to the memory of the four settlers, Thomas Minor, George Denison, John Chesebrough and Thomas Stanton. http://www.stoningtonhistory.org/archiv4.htm
~~~
George bapt. Dec. 20, 1620. He brought 3 children to N. E., all sons, Daniel, Edward and George. These sons became very prominent citizens of the colony. 2
John Denison (Denyzon)
Purchased home and land in Thorley, England, from John and Joan Chandler 1563.
Died of the plaque
He was bapt. in 1683. His head stone says that he died Feb. 18, 1724, aged 42. He was married to Prudence Minor Feb. 7, 1705, daug. of Joseph and Mary Avery Minor.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~nyterry/conncems/Taugwonk.html
Children:
Joseph Denison b: 21 SEP 1707 in Stonington, New London, CT
Prudence Denison b: 28 NOV 1709 in Stonington, New London, CT
Borodell Denison b: 14 FEB 1712 in Stonington, New London, CT
Amos Denison b: 18 FEB 1714 in Stonington, New London, CT
Nathan Denison b: 20 FEB 1716 in Stonington, New London, CT
Joanna Denison b: 28 JAN 1718 in Stonington, New London, CT
Elizabeth Denison b: 15 FEB 1720 in Stonington, New London, CT
Thankful Denison b: BEF. 7 APR 1723 in Stonington, New London, CT
Anna Denison b: BEF. 3 MAY 1724 in Stonington, New London, CT
Served on the Committee of Correspondence of Westmoreland, Commanded a part of the forces at Wyoming, Pa at the 1778 massacre.
Baptism: 3 Feb 1571 Place: Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, England
1607 - Church Warden
Emigration: 1631 Place: came to Roxbury, MA on ship Lion
Freeman: 3 Jul 1632 Place: Took oath
deacon and civic leader,
deacon of Roxbury Church
University of Cambridge, Master of Arts _
1634 Place: Massachusetts General Court deputy and constable
1637 Place: disarmed for seditious libel as a follower of Anne Hutchinson
1632 Place: First Church of Roxbury, Massachusetts, founder and early deacon
William Denison of Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, England, left that country for the New World in April of 1635, with his wife Margaret Chandler, and three teenage sons: Daniel, Edward, and George. John, the oldest son, stayed behind in England where he was a minister, and another son, William, had disappeared years before to fight in Holland. George was the youngest, only thirteen when he left England. The older sons had been educated at Cambridge; this was not possible for George, so his father hired John Eliot to be his tutor.
William settled in Roxbury, MA where he was a merchant, and later became deacon of the First Church of Roxbury. He died January 25, 1653, at the age of eighty two or eighty three. Margaret died eight years earlier, at age sixty seven, February 3, 1645. They were buried in Old Eliot St Cemetery in Roxbury.
~~
WILLIAM DENISON, born in England about 1586, came to America in 1631, and settled in Roxbury, Mass., having with him his wife Margaret, his three sons, Daniel, Edward and George, and John Elliott , who seems to have been a tutor in his family. Mr. Elliott became pastor of the church in Roxbury, and did missionary work among the Indians. Mr. Denison was a deacon of the Roxbury church. He had been liberally educated, and his sons were carefully educated. He died in Roxbury, Jan.25, 1653; his wife died there. Feb.23, 1645.
Denison Society Web Page
~~~
Mr .William, Roxbury, frm. July 3, 1632. He was n. at Bishop's Strotford co., Hertford, Eng; m. Nov. 7, 1603, Margaret Chandler Monck. Ch. John, Daniel bapt. Oct 18, 1612. Edward bapt. Nov. 3, 1616, George bapt. Dec. 20, 1620. He brought 3 children to N. E., all sons, Daniel, Edward and George. These sons became very prominent citizens of the colony. He was chosen by the Court constable of Roxbury, Nov. 5, 1633. Authorized to press men for the building of a bridge 27 (8) 1647. Deputy. He signed the inv. of Joseph Wled in 1646. He was bur. Jan. 25, 1653. His wife Margaret was bur. Feb., 1645. His son, Maj. Gen. Daniel, left a sketch of the family history which was given in Reg. XLVI, and a pedigree is printed in same vol. 2
William, son of John, born abt 1586 Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, England, came to New England 1631 and settled in Roxbury MA 55
First and last Earl of Winchester, 2nd Lord Despenser 04 Aug 1265, 1st Lord Despenser 24 Jun 1295.
In 312 he represented Edward II in treaty negotiations with his nobles at the time the nobles had murdered Piers Gaveston.
Fought in the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. He was banished by the court in 1315, disinherited in Aug 1321, then exiled in perpetuity for acts against Edward II. Jan 1321 his exile was reversed, created Earl of Winchester 10 May 1322. Edward II fled to Wales, his queen Isabella and her lover Roger Mortimer caught Hugh, convicted him as a traitor and all honours forfeited. He was hung immediately in his armor at Bristol, then beheaded, body cut up and fed to the dogs. His head was sent to Winchester for display, where Edward was still supported. Queen Isabella lunched as she watched the executions.
His son went through the worst sort of death, stripped naked and inked with verses denouncing evil, hung but cut down before death, tied to a ladder and his genitals cut off and burned within his sight, entrails slowly pulled out, finally his head cut off and thrown into the fire. His body parts were mounted on the gates of London. His widow received permission to bury him in 1330, but only his head and a few bones remained.
He was invested as a Knight circa 1244. He held the office of Constable of Horston Castle in 1255. In June 1258 he was one of twelve representatives selected by the barons at the Parliament (a convention rather than full Parliament as recognised today) of Oxford to press for action by King Henry III to right the wrongs done them and negotiate with the King's Council. He held the office of Justiciar of England from 1260 to 1261, nominated by the barons and appointed by King Henry. He held the office of Justiciar of England in 1263. He held the office of Constable of the Tower of London in 1263. He held the office of Constable of Oxford in 1264. He held the office of Constable of Nottingham Castle in 1264. He held the office of Constable of Orford Castle in 1264. He held the office of Constable of Devizes in 1264. He was created 1st Lord Despenser [England by writ] on 24 December 1264, as recognised by peerage law doctrine of 1604. He fought in the Battle of Evesham on 4 August 1265, for Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester against King Henry III. He has an extensive biographical entry in the Dictionary of National Biography. the peerage.com
He was slain by Roger Mortimer, 1st Baron Wigmore; this caused a feud to begin between the Despencer and the Mortimer families.
Sir Hugh le Despenser (died 1238) was a wealthy landowner in the East Midlands of England, and served as High Sheriff of Berkshire. He was probably the son of a Thomas Despencer, and brother to both Thomas, who died before October 1218, and Rohaise, who married Stephen de Segrave. It is said that he married a daughter of Saier de Quincy (died 1219) and Margaret de Beaumont (died 1234). Hugh and his unidentified wife probably had at least three children: Pernell, who married Geoffrey Savage; an unknown daughter, who married Roger St. John; and Hugh le Despencer, 1st Baron le Despencer (died 1265). He was a descendant of a noble family who came to England from the same location as William the Conqueror and at the same time. This family, surnamed De Albetot, became William's Stewards. Sir Hugh was appointed High Sheriff of Staffordshire and Shropshire in 1222 and High Sheriff of Berkshire in 1226 and 1238. He held eleven manors in England: in Leicestershire, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Rutland. He is reported to have been instrumental in the repairs of 1232 to Porchester Castle in Hampshire, a site first used by third-century Romans. Sir Hugh had this ever-evolving castle updated to include a new forebuilding to the keep and portcullises for the gatehouses, and completed repairs to the wall and hall. Among his descendants were the infamous Despensers that became favourites of Edward II. Wikipedia
Thomas had been made Knight of the Garter, Baron Despenser, receiving titles from Richard II for his support. Then supported Henry Bolingbroke (John Gaunt's son) in becoming king after routing out Richard II, son of Edward the Black Prince, Son of Edward III. He took place in the Epiphany Rising (designed to kill of Henry but failed due to betrayal by Edward, Duke of York for Henry) and the conspirators fled, only to be caught and killed by the mobs loyal to Henry. This family was plagued by hangings for generations.