Desire Denison

Desire3 Dension (George2, George1) was the daughter of George Denison, Jr and his wife Mercy Gorham. She was the granddaughter of Capt. George Denison and Lady Ann Borodell and Capt. John Gorham and his wife Desire Howland. It is probably a safe assumption that she is named for her Howland grandmother, however, Desire was the second baby with this name in the children of George and Mercy Denison. The first Desire, was baptised on 15 July 1688 and all records say she died young. This naming pattern is not uncommon in New England families.

As you might surmise, Desire Howland (1623-1683) was the daughter of the Pilgrim John Howland and his wife Elizabeth Tilley.

Desire Denison's birth is unrecorded in the vital records of either Connecticut or Rhode Island. It is known that George Denison, Jr and his wife Mercy Gorham lived in Westerly, RI. This couple died in Westerly, RI and are buried in a cemetery called Denison Ground (#WY042). George and Mercy had their children baptised (some on the same day) in Stonington, CT at the First Church of Stonington. Desire was baptized 16 April 1693. [1693 Apr 16 George Jr had dr Desire bapt Baptism]

Desire had nine siblings including the first sister named Desire. (Edward, Joseph, Mercy, Samuel, Desire (I), Elizabeth, Thankful and George III). She was the seventh child.

Her sister Thankful married Thomas Stanton, grandson of the famous Thomas Stanton. This couple was known for their meanness and mistreatment of Venture Smith. [It is hard to love everyone in your collateral family.]

Desire, was the first wife of Col John WILLIAMS. She married him on 19 Feb 1712 when she was about 18 years old and most likely spent the rest of her life in Stonington. She was the mother of nine children. Desire died on 13 Aug 1737 and is buried at the Whitehall Cemetery in Stonington.