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Jonas was the son of the Rev Thomas Dennis of Wiltshire, a descendant of Sir Thomas Dennys of Bicton, and brother of the Rev John Dennis B.A. (5), who lived in Budleigh Salterton in 1822 and was married to Elizabeth.  

Following his father he was destined for the Church, educated at Oriel College, Oxford he matriculated on the 21 Feb 1793 age 17.  He gained his Bachelor of Cannon Law in 1800. He was the Prebendary of the Carswell at Exeter Castle from 29th July 1799 until his death (1). 

In 1813 on 18th May he married Juliana Susanna the daughter of the Rev. Thomas Shore and his wife Juliana at Otterton Parish Church by Licence.   Attended by Arabella Ann Shore her sister, Martha Shore her cousin and Eliza Jane Webber? (2). 

They had at least four children:  

Susanna Juliana, Maria born 1815 - died Mar 21st 1832 age 17 years, buried at Otterton.

Phoebe born 12 Feb 1821 and Baptised at Littleham 11th Mar.1821

Fontelautus born 23 July 1823 and baptised by total submersion, a Trine baptism, on Sep 14th 1823 by his father at Littleham Parish church (3). 

Lautus, the much beloved only son, died unexpectedly just before his second birthday. His father ordered a post mortem be carried out, much to the distress of his mother, the procedure involved removing the child’s head.  He was eventually laid to rest in a plot in the garden of the family home at Belmont House, Bicton Street, Exmouth, but was exhumed after a short time to re-assure his distraught sister, Maria, that he was actually dead, as she was suffering terrifying nightmares in which he was standing at the foot of her bed. He was re-buried in the garden after all the children had been shown the body.(4) 

Jonas considered his son had inherited “bad-blood” and other defects from his mother’s side of the family, and wrote a book laying down his evidence.  

The Rev. Dennis died 1847 aged 70 and was buried at Otterton.  Juliana his wife died 15th March 1861 age 65 and was also buried at Otterton (2). 

On his Death he held the title deeds to a large part of the High Street, Exeter.

(D7/1294/12 and 51/24/64/2a-c at DRO)  

Compiled, written and researched ©  Roz Hickman  2004 

References 

1 Alumni Oxonienses

2 Otterton Parish Registers

3 Littleham Parish Registers

4 Subversion of Materialism by Rev Jonas Dennis published 28th Oct. 1825

5 Visitations of Devon (Royal College of Heralds)

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