Dennis Marshall was born enslaved in 1761 in Williamsburg, Virginia and worked for Robert Carter. As a slave, Dennis was close in age to the Carter children and was allowed to attend school sessions with Robert Carter's private tutor, Philip Fithian. Dennis was friends with many people, including Francis Carter, Lydia Broadnax, Aggy, Eve, Gaby, Johnny, Judith, Gowan Pamphlet, Robert Carter, Nicholas, Anthony Hay, Christiana Campbell, Elizabeth Randolph, and Catherine Blaikley. Dennis seemed undecided, possibly scared to go to war like her family or knowing they had gone to war.