Family memorial. Contributor is direct descendant.

Gregory's father, also named Gregory, was the Lord of Knightley's Manor in the parish of Old, Daventry District, Northamptonshire, England.

Memorial is actual gravesite Memorial. He has a Cenotaph (non burial tribute monument) for him at North Burial Ground, which is Find a Grave #15705521. A Cenotaph is a monument to someone who is buried somewhere else. Cenotaph here Ashlynn Rickford, Director of City Cemeteries in Providence Rhode Island, has confirmed with me through correspondence "I can tell you that we do not have a record of Gregory's interment here (at North Burial Ground). The cemetery websites will be undergoing the correction. The North Burial Ground monument has many Dexter names inscribed on it, a few names are non-burial (Cenotaph only)". Gregory was *not* buried in a 'family plot' on his land, he is the *only burial on his own private property as proven in the 1859 book by author S.C. Newman 'Dexter Genealogy: Being a Record of the Family Descended From Reverend Gregory Dexter, with Notes and Biographical Sketches' .

Source Citation for gravesite burial: 'Dexter Genealogy Being A Record of the Families Descended From Rev. Gregory Dexter', by S.C. Newman, 1859, pages 12 and 13:

"Mr. Dexter died in the year 1700, lamented throughout the colony, and was interred in his own private burying ground, where he had desired- a short distance easterly from the present junction of North Main and Benefit streets (Constitution Hill). This was his 'home lot' in the ancient divisions of the town. Such was the character of the Rev. Gregory Dexter; such was his home through his long earthly pilgrimage, and such was his final resting place; yet, much as he was beloved and respected in his life and at his death, through the mutations of time "not a stone tells where he lies". Yet living descendents of this venerable Patriarch shall this nameless grave much longer thus remain?"

Bio: Reverend Gregory Dexter was born in the year 1610 in Old, Northamptonshire, England to Gregory and Isabel Dexter. He was a stationer, and around 1637, he was secretly printing for Puritan authors, and was imprisoned with his wife Abigail for printing pamphlets that were subversive. He came to America, joining his friend Roger Williams, and was one of the signers to form a government. He was given a five acre parcel at Providence Plantations in Rhode Island. Around 1643 he returned to England, printing and publishing Roger Williams book 'A Key to the Language of America'.

'Among the manuscript papers of President Stiles, of Yale College, as copied into Thomas' History of Printing, occurs the following: "Mr. Dexter quitted printing, left his native country and joined Williams at Providence, where he became a distinguished character in the Colony. He was one of the parties named in the second Charter, by Charles 11 in 1663, and for a number of years was one of the Assistants, under the authority granted in that charter. He was one of the Town Clerks of Providence; wrote an uncommonly good hand; possessed handsome talents, and had been well educated. From him descended the respectable family of Dexters in Rhode Island." In addition to this testimony of Dr. Stiles, it may be remarked that Mr. Dexter held various other civil offices under the institutions of the young but growing community, as may be seen by examining the archives of the Town and Colony.... Nor were his public labors confined to civil life. He was the fourth Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Providence, having been called to succeed Rev. Mr. Wickenden about 1650. While in this position, amid all his other duties, he won the name of an effective, able and successful preacher. This forefather in our Colony lived to be over ninety years of age, enjoying for a long period the blessings of health and mental soundness; and he enjoyed the satisfaction of witnessing his descendants, down to his great grandchildren, growing up around him in virtue and.respectability. He died in 1700; was buried on his house lot, but his grave cannot now be found". - 'A Note on Gregory Dexter', Rhode Island History, 20 (1961) pages 125-126

Gregory is NOT the son of a Joseph Dexter. His baptism record clearly states Gregory and Isabel as his parents. Gregory's parentage is as follows, and has been validated by historian Douglas Richardson:

7. Elizabeth Middlemore=George Agard

6. Stephen Agard=Elizabeth Raynsford

5. Katherine Agard=Harold Kinnesman

4. Elizabeth Kinnesman=Thomas Dexter

3. Stephen Dexter=Anne Turland

2. Gregory Dexter, Sr.=Isabel

1. Reverend Gregory Dexter=Abigail Fuller (Fullerton)

BIRTH source citation of Old, Northamptonshire was recorded in Gregory's own family Bible which was handed down through our family and we still have. It has the names of his parents, where he was born, when he was baptized and other biographical notes.

View Cenotaph at HERE.