The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-14
In Memoriam

Seldom occurs the opportunity of re-
cording the passing away of one whose
venerable years have so rounded up
that he had become almost a centen-
arian. Such is the record made by one
who was lately a citizen of this city, a
native born resident of Worcester
county the late Henry A. Denny,
whose death occurred at the residence
of his youngest daughter, Mrs. John
Anderson, in Belchertown, Dec. IL, 1893
aged 81 years, months, / day.
Mr.. Denny was born in Leicester,
Oct. 10, 1902. His father was Joseph
Denny and his mother was Phoebe
Henshaw, the daughter Of Col William
HenshaW, who commanded a regiment
of Massachusetts, soldiers in the war of
the revolution, and who served upon
the staff of Gen. George Washington,
when in command of the army at Cam
bridge. The father of Joseph Denny
was Col. Samuel Denny, another Off
Ger in the revolutionary army, com
manding a Massachusetts regiment.
Col, Samuel Denny was the son of
Daniel Denny one of the early settlers
in Leicester immigrating to this courr-
try from Suffolk county, England, in
Ills, and coming to Leicester in 17t7
His brother Samuel came to Boston
soon after the arrival of Daniel, and
settling in Maine became AN eminent
judge, and gave his name to the town
in which he resided. With Samuel
came the sister, Deborah, who became
the wife of Rev. Thomas Prince, for
many years minister of the Old South
parish in Boston. From such ancestors
and the lineal descendants of the sixth
generation from John and Priscilla AL
den of the Mayfower pilgrims, came
the subject of our notice with numerous
brothers and sisters, who have made a
mark in Leicester and elsewhere.
Mr.. Denny had an education such as
was afforded in the early years of the
18th century. In 1925 he married Eliza
the youngest daughter of Capt. VIM.
Sprague, she also being a Ineal de-
scendant from John Alden.
In september, 1924 the institution of
a Masonic lodge known as Leicester
lodge, A. F. & A. M, was an event of
great interest in the town.
Nearly all it's members became the
most noted and active Of Leicester citi-
zens. In Sept, 1924, Mr. Denny re-
ceived his Masonic degrees. Hon. Ma
thaniel P. Denny, a postmaster of
Morning Star lodge, Worcester, was the
first master of the new Leicester lodge.
Capt. Joshua Lamb succeeded him in
the chair, and the next and last master.
SNi Flil5 ool 1llS tic -NldSOIl1C DeIS6-
cutions instigated for political pur-
poses, was the subject of our notice.
Henry A. Denny. For a number of
years these prosecutions became so vio-
lent that a large number of lodges re-
tired from the field of benevolent fra
ternity among these being Leicester
lodge. It's membership at that time
comprised Leicester's best known clti-
zens. among them, Hon. N. P. Denny,
Capt Joshua Lamb. James Smith, the
first secretary, Joseph A. Denny, the
succeeding secretary, Henry A. Denny
DR.. Edward Flint Capt. Silas Gleason,
Cheney Hatch, John Loring, Alphonso
Beers, Col. Joseph d. Sargent, Josephus
Woodcock. Capt, Isaac Southgate, JOS
iah @. Lamb. Samuel Watson, William
Henshaw and others. Several of these
affiliated with other lodges for some
years, and the subject of this notice
Immediately united with Morning Star
lodge of Worcester, in which his uncle
N. P Denny, and several other charter
members had been affiliated Mr. Dem
NY the subject Of our notice, main
tanned his utilization with Morning Star
lodge through ife. The records show
that at his death he was the Oldest
affiliated Free Mason and the oldest
past master in the state.
Early in life Mr.. Denny engaged in
mercantile business and afterwards in
the manufacture of machine card
clothing. He manufactured the first
diamond pointed, card clothing made in
this country, importing an English dia-
mond point machine which was CON
cealed in a large hogshead of wax dis
solved about the machine, thus evading
the English customs officers, who were
required to prevent the expectation of
English machinery. 1t would take
long probe to discover the nice and
elaborate steel card machine concealed
in the wax. For several years with this
machine composition with the English
manufacturer was made a success.
In 1898, his sons, Capt ]. Waldo of
Boston and William S. of Portland, Me-,
were associated with him in business,
Mr. Denny having been elected presi-
dent of a fire insurance company in
Worcester, and also being the general