| Notes |
- DENNEHILL is another seat in Kingston, Kent, on the same side of Barham downs, at the eastern boundary of them, which took its name from the family of Dene, or Denne, of eminent note in this county, the possessors of it in very early times. One of them, Ralph de Den, held much land in Romney Marsh, and at Buckhurst, in Sussex, in the 20th year of William the Conqueror, as appeared by an old roll in the earl of Dorset's possession, being written in the record, son of Robtus Pincerna, a name probably given him from his being butler or sewer to one of our kings before the conquest. Sir Alured de Den was chief steward of the priory of Christ-church in the 29th year of king Henry III. and was a person so singularly esteemed for his wisdom, that when the laws and ordinances of Romney Marsh were compiled, by that venerable judge Henry de Bath, in the 42d year of that reign, this Sir Alured and Nicholas de Handloe were joined with him for that purpose; and what is remarkable, he at that early time sealed with three leopards faces, the antient paternal coat of this family, which afterwards continued owners of this seat, and resided here with much reputation as justices of the peace and other honourable employments of public concern, down to Michael Denne, esq. who lived here in the reigns of king Edward IV. and king Henry VII. being descended by the marriages of his ancestors from the families of Apulderfield, Earde, Arderne, and Combe, among others, whose posterity spread in several branches resident not only in Canterbury and the several neighbouring parishes, but in West Kent likewise. But after this seat had continued in an uninterrupted descent to him from Sir Alured de Denne above-mentioned, and from him again down to Thomas Denne, esq. who was recorder of Canterbury, and died possessed of it in 1655, it went by Mary, his youngest daughter and coheir, in marriage to Vincent Denne. esq. of Canterbury, sergeant-at-law, descended, as has been above-related, from the same stock of ancestry, but he bore for his arms, Argent, on two flaunches, sable, two leopard's faces, or, being the bearing of this younger branch of this family. The elder branch, of Dennehill, bore Sable, three leopards faces, or. (fn. 4) He died possessed of it in 1693, leaving four daughters his coheirs, viz. Dorothy, married to Mr. Thomas Ginder; Mary, to Mr. Stephen Nethersole; Bridget, to Mr. Robert Beake; and Honywood, to Gilbert Knowler, esq. who the next year vested their several interests in this seat by sale in Mr. Robert Beake before-mentioned, who died possessed of the whole of it in 1701, whose heirs, Thomas, Robert, and William Beake, in 1725 sold it to lady Hester Gray, whose husband Sir James Gray had, in 1707, been created a baronet of Scotland
[Source: Hasted, Edward. "Parishes: Kingston." The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent: Volume 9. Canterbury: W Bristow, 1800. 338-349. British History Online. Web. 20 March 2016. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol9/pp338-349.]
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Denne: A Saxon Origin
The "dennes" were the areas of land bounded by the transhumance routes in Kent in Saxon times, so the Denne name may be of Saxon origin. These "dennes" which threaded through the woodlands of the Kentish Weald in the 6th and 7th centuries were the low-lying clearings which gave free passage to the livestock between areas of pasturage. They also served as woodland pasture for swine, but that was not their primary function.
. . . condensed from Gelling and Cole: The Landscape of Place names, 2000.
Thus, Robert de Dene, the first Denne to appear in history, may have been of Saxon ancestry. He may have been a descendant of a Saxon retainer who had accompanied the family of King Æthelred of England and his queen, Emma of Normandy, into exile almost thirty years before.
Denne: A Danish Origin
The Denne name may come from the Norman French "Dene" meaning "the Dane"; thereby suggesting a Scandinavian or Viking origin for the Denne Family. Perhaps the first of the Denne Family came to Normandy circa 911 with Rolf the Ganger who became Robert, 1st Duke of Normandy.
The following account appears on a Denne Family Tree dated 1832
"This Ancient Family was Norman as believed, and settled in Normandy with Rollo the Dane which may be inferred even from the Christian Names Robert, and Ralph, alias Rolo, or Rolloph, at this period much in Fashion in Normandy and France; also by the particle De: farther-more the two Roberts first in this Pedigree, as also Ralph, had large possessions in Normandy, (as see Collins His) besides if they had been Anglo Saxons it is not probable they would have retained their estates when those of the English throughout the Country were confiscated, and given to Normans by William the Conquerer; nor is it likely that they were of the Danes at this period settled in England, as Edward the Confessor would not surely have taken a Dane into his service and Household so soon after Massacre & Banishment of the Danes by his father Ethelred in 1002.
"There is every reason to believe that Robert De Den came over with Edward the Confessor, and his Brother Alfred, from Normandy, where they had been taken by their Mother Emma Daughter of Richard 1st Duke of Normandy, and widow of Ethelred to protect them against Canute, who had put their brother to death, and at which they resided some years, during which Robert De Den (whose family at that period were it 'appears' Noble and there from of some note wealth and influence) was probably taken into Edward's service it seems further probable that this family were amongst those to whom Estates and Honors were granted to his Countrymen by Rollo the Dane, first Duke of Normandy who was a Prince of Denmark and to whom Charles of France ceded the Country of Normandy Ella Daughter of Ralph marrying De Sackwell a Norman confirms the opinion in some measure."
Regardless of his exact ancestry, Robert de Dene was a Norman who held large estates in Sussex and Kent as well as in Normandy. He was "pincerna", a household official in charge of wine and beverages, to King Edward the Confessor.
The shield and Coat of Arms was authenticated at
the Heralds College from the original manuscript by the personal inspection of, and copied by, Frederick Slater on December 8th 1880.
[Source: http://www.robertsewell.ca/dennename.html]
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Pincerna, butler or sewer to Edward the Confessor. Large estates in Sussex and Kent, also in Normandy. Vide Dorset Manuscripts, Collins's Peerage, and Harris's History of Kent.
DENNE of Kent and Sussex
Arms - Argent, two flances sable, each charged with a leopard's face or.
[Conoess p Claren. CAMDEN. - Harl 6138.]
The following account has been condensed and highlighted from John Burke: A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland, London (1838) Vol III, pp. 19-21
The Dennes were established in Kent, antecedently to the Conquest, by a Norman,
ROBERT DE DENE, who held large estates in Sussex and Kent, as well as in the duchy, and was Pincerna or butler to Edward the Confessor. His son and heir,
ROBERT DE DENE, was father of
RALPH DE DENE, living in the time of William, the Conqueror, lord of Buckhurst, in Sussex, who wedded Sybella, sister of Robert de Gatton, and had a son, Robert, his heir, and a daughter, Ella,* m. to Sir Jordan Sackville, ancestor of the dukes of Dorset.
* This Ella, who inherited by will from her father Buckhurst and other estates in Sussex, in her widowhood endowed Bayham Abbey. See charter in the British Museum, by which she gives permission to the abbot and community to remove their establishment from their convent at Otteham, founded by her father Ralph Dene, to Bayham.
This Ralph de Dene, who possessed large estates in Kent and Sussex, founded Otteham Abbey, for monks of the Premonstratensian order. His son and successor,
ROBERT DE DENE, inherited the Kentish estates. He married, and had, with two daughters, Alice, who endowed Bayham Abbey, and Agnes, wife of -- De Icklisham, was s. by his son,
WILLIAM DE DENN, of Denn Hill, in the Parish of Kingston on Barham Downs, Kent, who was s. by his son,
SIR ALURED DE DENN, of Denn Hill, a person of great learning, seneschal of the Priory of Canterbury, and escheator of Kent Anno 1234, who was appointed by Henry VII. to enforce, in conjunction with Sir Henry de Bath, the laws of Romney Marsh. He was s. by his son,
WALTER DENNE, of Denne Hill, living in 1256, whose son, another
WALTER DENNE, of Denne Hill, alive in the 9th EDWARD I. [1281] was father of
JOHN DENNE, of Denne Hill, in 1308, who was s. by his son,
SIR WILLIAM DENNE, knt. of Denne Hill, who sat in Parliament for the city of Canterbury 19th Edward II. [1326] and for the county of Kent in the 14th of the following reign [1341]. Sir William espoused Elizabeth, daughter and co-heiress of Hamo de Gatton, of ??oughton, and left a son and successor,
RICHARD DENNE, of Denne, living in the (?)6th Richard II. [1383?]who m. Agnes, daughter of -- Apuldrefield, of Challock,* and had four sons, THOMAS, Michael, John, and Robert; of whom the eldest,
* “This ancient family,” says Philpot, “descended from Henry de Apuldrefield, of Apuldrefield, in Coudham, who was in the catalogue of those eminent Kentish gentlemen who were engaged with Richard I. at the siege of Acre, in Palestine.”
THOMAS DENNE, of Denne Hill, wedded Isabel, daughter and heir of Robert de (?)arde, and had (with a younger son, Thomas, who died issueless in 1468), his successor,
JOHN DENNE, of Denne Hill, who m. Alice, daughter of Richard Arden, and had issue,
IMICHAEL, his heir.
IIThomas, of Kingston, who m. Agnes, daughter of William Eshehurst, and had an only daughter and heiress,
1.Avis, m. to John Crispe, of Quicks, in the Isle of Thanet.
IIIParnell, m. to William Keale.
The elder son,
MICHAEL DENNE, esq. of Denne Hill, living in the reigns of Edward IV. and Henry VII. [1461-1483 and 1485-1509] espoused Christiana Coombe, of Lymne, an heiress, and had issue,
I THOMAS, his heir.
IIWilliam.
IIIJohn, of Lymne, Kent, who m. and had four sons, viz.
1.Michael, of Lymne, who d. in 1559, leaving issue.
2.Henry, mentioned in his brother Michael's will.
3.John, m. and had issue.
4.Peter, m. and had issue.
IVIsabella, m. to Simon Quilter.
The eldest son,
THOMAS DENNE, esq. of Denne Hill, left by Alice Eshehurst, his wife, three sons, viz.
IThomas, of Denne Hill, who m. Alicia, daughter of Thomas Mett, esq. left issue.
IIWILLIAM, of whom presently.
IIIJames, of Marley, who d. at Kingston in 1574, leaving issue, by Agnes his wife.
The second son of Thomas Denne, of Denne Hill, by Alice Eshehurst his wife,
WILLIAM DENNE, esq. of Kingston, in Kent, proprietor of extensive estates in that county, espoused Agnes, daughter of Nicholas Tufton, esq. of Northiam Place, in Sussex, great grandfather to the first earl of Thanet, and by her, who d. in 1588, had issue,
IVincent, of Kingston, LL.D. m. Joan Kettel, of London, and dying in 1591, left issue
IIThomas, esq. a bencher of Lincoln's Inn in 1590, who m. Jane, daughter of John Swift, esq. of Essex and London, and left issue
IIIMary, m. first, to John Coppin, esq.;and, secondly, to Thomas Boys, esq. of Eythorne.
IVCATHERINE DENNE, m. to THOMAS GOOKIN, esq. of Ripple Court, Kent.
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Denne: A Danish Origin
The Denne name may come from the Norman French "Dene" meaning "the Dane"; thereby suggesting a Scandinavian or Viking origin for the Denne Family. Perhaps the first of the Denne Family came to Normandy circa 911 with Rolf the Ganger who became Robert, 1st Duke of Normandy.
The following account appears on a Denne Family Tree dated 1832
"This Ancient Family was Norman as believed, and settled in Normandy with Rollo the Dane which may be inferred even from the Christian Names Robert, and Ralph, alias Rolo, or Rolloph, at this period much in Fashion in Normandy and France; also by the particle De: farther-more the two Roberts first in this Pedigree, as also Ralph, had large possessions in Normandy, (as see Collins His) besides if they had been Anglo Saxons it is not probable they would have retained their estates when those of the English throughout the Country were confiscated, and given to Normans by William the Conquerer; nor is it likely that they were of the Danes at this period settled in England, as Edward the Confessor would not surely have taken a Dane into his service and Household so soon after Massacre & Banishment of the Danes by his father Ethelred in 1002.
"There is every reason to believe that Robert De Den came over with Edward the Confessor, and his Brother Alfred, from Normandy, where they had been taken by their Mother Emma Daughter of Richard 1st Duke of Normandy, and widow of Ethelred to protect them against Canute, who had put their brother to death, and at which they resided some years, during which Robert De Den (whose family at that period were it 'appears' Noble and there from of some note wealth and influence) was probably taken into Edward's service it seems further probable that this family were amongst those to whom Estates and Honors were granted to his Countrymen by Rollo the Dane, first Duke of Normandy who was a Prince of Denmark and to whom Charles of France ceded the Country of Normandy Ella Daughter of Ralph marrying De Sackwell a Norman confirms the opinion in some measure."
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