John Dennett

Capt. John Dennett, 2nd Regiment, New Hampshire Continental Line

John Dennett was born October 15, 1716 in Stratham, New Hampshire. He was the son of Ephraim Dennett. John married Phoebe Bartlett, daughter of Nathan Bartlett and Shuah Heard on February 19, 1739. 

             John Dennett was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 3rd Regiment, New Hampshire Continental Line on November 8, 1776. 

            During the Continental Army’s encampment at Valley Forge, John Dennett is listed as Second Lieutenant in Captain Zachariah Beal’s company of the 3rd Regiment, New Hampshire Continental Line. John Dennett was promoted to First Lieutenant on May 1, 1778. He is further marked as “Present” from December 1777-June 1778.

            First Lieutenant Dennett was promoted to Captain-Lieutenant on July 19, 1779. He was further promoted to Captain with duties as a Company Commander on July 1, 1780. In 1780, the Continental Congress reorganized the Continental Army. According to this reorganization, the Third Regiment of the New Hampshire Line was to be disbanded effective January 1, 1781 and those retained transferred to either the 1st or 2nd New Hampshire. As such, Captain John Dennett was transferred to the 2nd New Hampshire on January 1, 1781 and served in that unit until March of 1783.

He died May 11, 1787 Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Sources: Francis B. Heitman, Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army, (Baltimore, 1914), 193; Pension of Captain John Dennett; The State of New Hampshire, State Papers, Volume XIV, (Concord, 1885), 555, 649; The State of New Hampshire, State Papers, Volume XVI, (Manchester, 1887) pp. 7, 11, 195, 232, 480; Selected Wartime Service Records for Captain John Dennett.