Peter A. Dennis was born on 8 Aug 1777, likely in Wilkes County, Georgia (831). He was a son of Jacob Dennis, Sr. and his wife Sarah. At Peter’s birth, Jacob Dennis was about 29 years old. Little is known about Peter’s mother Sarah. By 18 Jul 1799, Peter Dennis was living in Hancock County, Georgia where at age 21, he was appointed an Ensign in the Third Battalion of the Hancock County Regiment of Georgia Militia (998).
Before Jun 1800, Peter Dennis married Elizabeth Boswell of Hancock County, Georgia. At their marriage, Peter Dennis was 22 years old, and Elizabeth Boswell was 20. Elizabeth Boswell was a daughter of James Boswell and his wife Susannah (Boreland) Boswell. A daughter, Matilda Dennis, was born to Peter and Elizabeth on 22 Feb 1801, and a daughter, Marina Dennis was born on 9 Jul 1802 (831). A son Jacob Dennis was born to Peter and Elizabeth in Hancock County on 13 Apr 1805, and a son John Dennis was born in Hancock County on 22 Jul 1807 (831).
Peter Dennis appears on an 1807 tax list for Hancock County, Georgia (1289). In Hancock County, Georgia on 12 Mar 1808, Peter A. Dennis prepared an inventory of the estate of his father-in-law, James Boswell (908). Peter Dennis purchased a number of items from the estate.
Before 1820, three additional children were born to Peter Dennis and Elizabeth (Boswell) Dennis (831): Jane Boswell Dennis on 1 Jul 1809, William T. Dennis on 19 May 1814; and Amanda C. Dennis on 21 Jul 1816. Presumably, all three children were born in Hancock County, Georgia.
Peter Dennis migrated to Putnam County, Georgia before 1817 when he was listed for property tax on 297 and 1/2 acres of land on Rooty Creek (999). The 7 Aug 1820 federal census of Putnam County, Georgia enumerates the household of Peter Dennis, 26–44 years old (843). A 26–44 year-old female living in the Peter Dennis household was almost certainly Elizabeth (Boswell) Dennis. Two males, 10–15 years old, were likely Jacob and John Dennis, and a 10–15 year-old female was likely Jane Dennis. A male and female, both less than 10 years old, were likely William T. Dennis and Amanda C. Dennis. A second female, 10–15 years old, has not been identified; she may have died young.
The 1820 Georgia Tax Digest lists Peter Dennis in Captain John Kinbrick’s Militia District of Putnam County, Georgia for 398 acres of land on Rooty Creek, two town lots in Eatonton estimated to be worth $400, and a two-wheel carriage (1000). Rooty Creek forms the eastern boundary of Putnam County with Hancock County. The 1824 tax list for Putnam County includes Peter Dennis in Captain John Kendrick’s District for 400 acres of land in Putnam County and for 101 and 1/4 acres in Monroe County (1200). In Putnam County on 13 Jan 1830, Peter Dennis was appointed guardian for John M. Hill (1290).
In about 1821, a son Peter Early Dennis was born to Peter and Elizabeth Dennis, likely in Putnam County, Georgia.
The 1 Jun 1830 federal census enumerates the Peter Dennis household in Putnam County, Georgia (877). Peter Dennis was 50–59 years old, and a 50–59 year-old female living in the household was very likely Elizabeth (Boswell) Dennis. Also living in the Dennis household were: a 20–29 year-old male, likely John Dennis; a 15–19 year old male, likely William T. Dennis; a 10–14 year-old female, Amanda C. Dennis; and a 5–9 year old male, likely Peter E. Dennis.
On 26 Jul 1830, Peter Dennis began purchasing land in Talbot County, Georgia, buying Lott 44 containing 202 and 1/2 acres from John B. Gorman (128, Page 395). Presumably, the Peter Dennis family migrated to Talbot County at about that time. Nine additional purchases, with the last on 23 Mar 1837 from William Towns for Lot 43 containing 202 and 1/2 acres (128, Page 396), leaving Peter Dennis with a large plantation of about 2,044 acres.
Living in Talbot County, Georgia, Peter Dennis was successful in the 1832 Georgia Cherokee Land Lottery as number 24 in the 4th District, 2nd Section of Cherokee County (77). He was a soldier. A Peter Dennis also drew number 127 for land in the 9th District, 3rd Section of Cherokee County.
The 9 Mar 1844 federal census of Talbot County, Georgia enumerates the household of Peter Dennis, 50–59 years old (940). Also living in the household were a female, 40–49 years old, very likely Elizabeth (Boswell) Dennis; a 20–29 year-old male, likely Jacob Dennis; and two 15–19 year-old males, likely Peter E. Dennis and Thomas Dennis.
Peter A. Dennis made a will in Talbot County, Georgia on 9 Mar 1844 (305). He died in Talbot County on 19 Dec 1844 (831). The Will of Peter Dennis was filed in Talbot County, Georgia on 13 Jan 1845.
Notes and Comments
The Will of Jacob Dennis, made in Jones County, Georgia on 30 Oct 1816, names sons: John Dennis, William Dennis, and Peter Dennis (304). The will names John, William, and Peter Dennis as well as James Jones, Esq. as executors. Peter Dennis was 39 years old when his father signed this will. The 2 Oct 1817 Will of John Dennis, son of Jacob Dennis, of Jones County, Georgia names a brother Peter (1198).
The first known child born to Peter and Elizabeth Dennis, Matilda Dennis, was born on 22 Feb 1801 (831). Presumably, Peter married Elizabeth Boswell before about Jun 1800.
Geographic Boundary History
Hancock County, Georgia was created on 17 Dec 1793 from parts of Greene and Washington Counties.
Putnam County, Georgia was created on 10 Dec 1807 from parts of Baldwin County.
Sources
77. Smith, James F. The Cherokee Land Lottery Containing a Numerical List of the Names of the Fortunate Drawers in Said Lottery with an Engraved Map of Each District. Harper and Brothers, New York, 1838.
128. William H. Davidson. A Rockaway in Talbot: Travels in an Old Georgia County. Vol. 2. 4 vols. West Point, Georgia: Hester Printing, 1983.
304. Will of Jacob Dennis, Sr., Jones County, Georgia Will Book A, 30 Oct 1816. (Print and images on file.)
305. Will of Peter Dennis, Talbot County, Georgia, 9 Mar 1844. Will Book A (1930 – 1856), Talbot County, Georgia. (Print and images on file. Box 3)
831. Transcription of Dennis Family Bible Pages. (Print and images on file. Box 3)
843. Peter Dennis Household, 1820 U.S. Federal Census, Putnam County, Georgia, 14 Mar 1820. Page 77, NARA Roll M33_9, Image 123. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)
877. Peter Dennis Household, 1830 U.S. Federal Census, Putnam County, Georgia. Series M19, Roll 20, Family History Library Film 0007040, Page 212. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)
908. Settlement of the Estate of James Boswell. Hancock County, Georgia Will Book F, Page 85. 12 Mar 1808. (Transcription: Linda Jenkins, Hancock County, Georgia USGenWeb Archives Project.)
URL: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/hancock/wills.html
940. Peter Dennis Household, 1840 U.S. Federal Census, Talbot County, Georgia, 1 Jun 1840. Roll 5, Page 192, Image 396, Family History Library Film 0007047. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)
998. Peter Dennis, Appointed Ensign, Third Battalion, Hancock County Regiment of Georgia Militia, 18 Jul 1799. (Image on file.)
999. Peter Dennis, 1817 Property Tax, Putnam County, Georgia. Georgia Tax Digests, Georgia Archives, Morrow, Georgia. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)
1000. Peter Dennis, 1820 Property Tax, Putnam County, Georgia. Georgia Tax Digests, Georgia Archives, Morrow, Georgia. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)
1198. Will of John Dennis, Jr., Talbot County, Georgia, 2 Oct 1817. Butts County, Georgia Wills—Administration of Estates 1826-1841. Pages 256–257.
1200. Peter Dennis, 1824 Property Tax, Putnam County, Georgia. Georgia Tax Digests, Georgia Archives, Morrow, Georgia. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)
1290. Peter Dennis, Guardian of John M. Hill, Putnam County, Georgia, 13 Jan 1830. Guardian Bonds, Book AA, 1830–1852, Page 2. Putnam County, Georgia. Abstract: Putnam County GAGenWeb Project.
URL: https://sites.rootsweb.com/~gaputna2/court/courtrec.htm