Introduction
Bernard Dennis, or Barnard Dennis, as he his recorded in the 1878–1879 Camden City Directory, was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on June 19, 1872. He served as an extra man with Engine Company 2. He was dismissed from duty on July 15, 1873. He was replaced by Charles Elfreth.
Bernard Dennis was born in Ireland in around 1842. He worked as a laborer. He was living at 222 Mickle Street when appointed to the Fire Department in June of 1872, and was still at that address when he was let go. The 1878–1879 City Directory shows that he was then living at 1 Fogarty Avenue. The 1880 Census shows him living with his wife Sarah and their three children, Edward, Margaret, and Thomas in Camden’s Seventh Ward, where exactly, is not known as the address is not legible on the microfilm. A daughter, Jane, was born in October of 1880.
Bernard Dennis was killed in an Industrial accident at the Browning Brothers sawmill on October 21, 1881. He and his family were then living at 1034 Line Street. When the Census was taken in 1900, Sarah Dennis and her children were living at 1043 Pine Street.
Firemen Dismissed
Philadelphia Inquirer —
John Gray, Jr., Thomas Grapewine, Henry Frost, Bernard Dennis and Elwood Cline have resigned from the Fire Department of Camden, and Daniel Sparks, Charles Elfreth, Joseph Neice, William Osler and Isaac Randolph have been appointed in their places.
Fatal Industrial Accident
Philadelphia Inquirer —
On Friday night a man named Bernard Dennis, employed in the logwood mill of Browning Brothers, on Cooper’s creek, was crushed to death by the machinery. He resided at No. 1034 Line street, and Coroner Jefferies will hold an inquest.