The Dewes Family

The Dewes family came to the area from Yorkshire, England. The family had a long history of farming in Yorkshire spanning over 300 years.

John Dewes married Elizabeth Ann Dawson on 15 October 1901 in Marton cum Grafton, York, England. Their seven children were born in Yorkshire.

I. John Dewes, b. 7 September 1802, d. 22 October 1802
II. Ann Dewes, b. 1 October 1803, m. 22 November 1823 to George Heslington in Marton cum Grafton
III. John Dewes, b. b. 31 January 1806
IV. Elizabeth Dewes, b. 26 February 1811, m. 1 July 1830 to Thomas Jefferson in Marton cum Grafton
V. Jane Dewes, b. 13 March 1914, m. 4 Sep 1834 to Thomas Webster in Marton cum Grafton
VI. Robert Dewes, b. 13 August 1816
VII. William Dewes, b. 21 August 1819

The Dewes came to the area in two groups and were among the earliest pioneers of Cook County.

George and Ann (Dewes) Heslington & family arrived first in 1833. They lived in Fort Dearborn until they could claim their 160 acres in Niles Center. The Heslingtons settled on a farm on the Deerfield moraine just north of a Potawatomie Village. Their daughter was the first white child born in the area.

The George and Ann (Dewes) Heslington Family:

I. John Heslington, b. in Yorkshire
II. Ann Heslington, b. in Yorkshire, wife of William Blann
III. Isabel Heslington, b. in Yorkshire, wife of George Langrehr
IV. Elizabeth Jane Dewes Heslington, b. in Yorkshire, wife of George Millen
V. Margaret Ella, b. Cook County, Illinois
VI. Thomas W. b. Cook County, Illinois
VII. Sophia Amelia, b. Cook County, Illinois
VIII. Maria Antoinette, b. Cook County, Illinois, wife of Otto Linemann of Northfield Township

Ann (Dewes) Heslington’s parents and three siblings arrived in New York on 1 June 1836 aboard the SS Sylvanus Jenkins: John & Elizabeth (Dawson) Dewes with their children: John, Robert and William. They settled on a farm near the Heslingtons on land that would one day become the Glen View Country Club. The Glen View Club has maintained the family cabin with the family cemetery intact.

John Dewes, son of John & Elizabeth (Dawson) Dewes died shortly after arriving in Cook County. Little is known about their son, William Dewes, b. 1819.

Son, Robert, married Mary Ann Henley date unknown. Their eight children were born in Cook County, Illinois.

I. Elizabeth Ann Dewes, b. 1825, m. 1870 Alfred Oldfield
II. John Dawson Dewes, b. 1849, m. 1873 Fannie Fern Appleyard
III. William Dewes, b. 1851, m. 1875 Elizabeth C. Appleyard
IV. Edwin Dewes, b. 1857
V. Robert Dewes, b. 1858
VI. Jane Annie Dewes, b. 1860
VII. Emilia Sophia Dewes, b. 1864, m. 1886 William Tinen
VIII. Mary Snowden Dewes, b. 1866, m. 1889 Joseph Olinger

Dewes Graves located at The Dewes Cemetery on the Glen View Club’s property, 100 Golf Road, Golf, IL:

John Dewes, d. 19 August 1838 aged 61 years
Elizabeth Dawson Dewes, d. 5 April 1864 aged 81 years
Ann Dewes Heslington, d. 4 Sep 1881 aged 77 years
George Heslington, d. 7 August 1799 aged 79 years
Thomas W. Heslington, d. 26 January 1919 aged 79 years
John Dewes, d. 28 June 1836 aged 30 years
Robert Dewes, d. 7 May 1868 aged 51 years

Please refer to the Glenview Public Library Local History File for The Dewes Family and the book, Glenview: The First Centennial page 20.

The Village of Glenview website contains a brief history of the Heslington and Dewes families. Please note discrepancy: Robert Dewes was the brother to Ann (Dewes) Heslington. Her parents were John Dewes and Elizabeth Dawson Dewes.

For information regarding the Heslington Family, please visit here.