Eleanor Dean
Wife of Walter Dean of Taunton, Massachusetts, named only in a deed of 1693 that she made with him, and possibly the mother of his son Benjamin Dean. By tradition she was a Strong, a sister of Elder John Strong, whom Walter called his brother in deeds of 1691; her parents and dates are not known.
Family
- Parents
- Spouse
- Walter Dean
Savage says he married "it is said, Eleanor"; the Deane memoir finds "his wife in 1693" named Eleanor in a conveyance of 20 Aug 1693 (Bristol Deeds 7:351). Whether she was a Strong is open (tradition); see her page.
1 child
Pedigree
Notes
Wife of Walter Deane of Taunton. Savage says he married “it is said, Eleanor,” and that “with his w.” he was living “so late as 1693.” The Deane memoir (1849) found her in the deeds: “His wife in 1693, was named Eleanor. She joins with him in making a conveyance, August 20th of that year” (citing Bristol Deeds 7:351).
A Strong? Gov. Caleb Strong’s 1777 account of Elder John Strong, as printed by Dwight (p. xxvi), says: “A sister of his came with him from England, who afterwards m. a person by the name of Dean.” It gives no first name. The Deane memoir adds older evidence: “We were before aware that Walter Deane and John Strong were brothers-in-law, as the former in two different deeds, dated 1691, calls the latter his ‘brother’” (citing Bristol Deeds 1:152 and 3:390). “Brother” alone does not show on which side the kinship ran (inference). Dwight (1871) names her Eleanor, daughter of Richard Strong of Taunton; that is his elaboration (tradition). Mollie Pfeiffer’s “Strong of Caernarvon” descent for her is tradition too.
Open questions
- Was she a Strong, Elder John Strong’s sister?
- Was she Walter’s wife from the start, and so the mother of his son Benjamin? Only the deed of 1693 names her.
Mollie's typescript
Mollie makes her Eleanor Strong, daughter of Richard Strong of Taunton, England, and sister of Elder John Strong (a tradition, though deeds of 1691 do show Walter Dean calling John Strong "brother").
His wife was Eleanor Strong, daughter of Richard Strong of Taunton, England (Walter probably named Taunton, Mass) and the sister of Elder John Strong who came to N.E. with the Deans.
p. 164 →Mollie says she and her husband Walter came in the Mary and John in 1630.
Walter and Eleanor Dean came on the Mary and John in 1630. The way through their farm in Taunton is still known as Dean Street.
p. 165 →