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APPENDIX B
AMERICAN DUNHAMS.
T is suggested that members of the Dunham family insert in this appendix a memo of their known ancestry. It may be of assistance to a later generation.
The descendants of Deacon John Dunham of Plymouth, Mass., are easily traced, many of them appearing in the Plymouth Colony Records. It may be of interest to give the publisher's ancestry as a typical outline of nine generations of American Dunhams, bringing the records of a single line of the family down to the present. 1st generation. Deacon John Dunham, Pilgrim, of Plymouth, Mass., was born at Scrooby, Nottinghamshire, England, in 1588-9; joined Separatist Church there; removed to Leyden, Holland, and there married Abigail Wood, October 17, 1619. Their first child, John, was born in Leyden in 1620. He went to Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1620. Mother and child did not accompany him, and at first he was listed as "John Goodman," singleman.
In 1623 garden plots were assigned to "Married men of the Plantation" and a plot on "the south side of the street (Leyden Street) was assigned to "John Goodman". Apparently his wife and child joined him soon after 1620. His second child, Abigail, was born at Plymouth in 1623. He was a weaver by trade, but soon became a dealer in cattle. In 1632 land was granted to him for pasturing cattle. In 1632 John Dunham was taxed nine shillings for military service, Myles Standish on the same list being taxed for eighteen shillings.
OTIS EMERSON DUNHAM
Plymouth was incorporated in 1633. The second entry in the town records fixed the bounds of the town as follows: "The town should be considered as extending from the land of William Pontus and John Dunham on the south to the outside of New Street on the north". Historian Davis in "Landmarks of Plymouth," says "The lands of Pontus and Dunham were in the neighborhood of the present farm of Thomas O. Jackson, and New Street is now North. These limits undoubtedly bounded the settlement in 1624 at the time of the gift" (of a sum of money to the poor of Plymouth by a London merchant named Sherley.)
In 1633 he was chosen Deacon in the Plymouth Church, under Elder Brewster. A deacon named John Cook had caused some dissensions. He was dismissed, and John Dunham elected his successor. He continued as deacon for the rest of his life.
He continued to sell cattle for several years, sometimes under the name of "Goodman," sometimes as Dunham. In 1638 his cattle were advertised as "Goodman's cattle".
In 1638 he was chosen a Deputy of the Colony. The Plymouth Colony Records say of him in this connection "He was a man of strict honesty and sterling character, quite prominent in the growth and prosperity of the Colony". He was a deputy for seventeen years, representing Plymouth in the General Court in 1639, 1640, '43, '44, '47, '52, '53, '54, '55, '56, '57, '58, '59, '60, '61, '62 and '64.
His son John was granted land by an act of the General Court in 1662. "To give to the first born of the Early Comers". In 1642 he represented Plymouth at a Court to consider the war against the Indians. He served on many important committees with the Governor and was a member of the committee that revised the General Laws of the Colony in 1650. He was one of the thirty-six original proprietors of Dartmouth in 1652 with William Bradford, Captain Standish, John Alden, Mr. Collyer, George Morton, Manesseh Kempton and others. In 1654 he represented Plymouth at a convention of the colonies in Connecticut relative to a confederation of the colonies. He served on various juries and is frequently mentioned in grants of land and transfers of property. His grand-daughter, Hannah, married a grandson of John and Priscilla Alden.
Deacon John Dunham's residence was southwest of Plymouth Village. A swamp called Slaughter House Pond, to the west of his land, had an outlet to Town Brook. This outlet is still called Dunham Brook, and a strip of land separating Billington Sea from Little Pond to the west is called Dunham Neck. This strip was a part of his land. (See Plymouth Colony Records).
Deacon John Dunham died at Plymouth March 2, 1(568-9. The Plymouth Colony Records say, with reference to his death, "He was an approved servant of God and useful man in his place, heing a deacon in the Church at Plymouth".
His will was dated January 28, 1668, and is listed among the earliest wills in the colony. It was witnessed by Thomas Southworth, John Cotton and Thomas Cushman.
On June 1, 1669, letters of administration were granted to his widow, Abigail. His property was appraised March 16, 1660, by Tho. Southworth and Tho. Cushman.
The following notes are taken from Plymouth Colony Records 1620-1692, published by authority of Massachusetts Legislature, including Criminal Court Records .
1. John Dunham, Senior. 1633—One of incorporators of Plymouth, assessed 9s. 1634—Oct. 1. One of committee appointed by Governor and
Council to consider trade. 1636—March 7. On list of freemen. 1636—June 7. On jury. 1636—March 7. On grand jury. 1638—June 5. On grand jury.
1639-40—Jan. 12. Witness to bill of sale of bull.
1639—May 15. Elected by townsmen of Plymouth as one of committee to be added to Governor's Council to enact laws.
1639—June 4. Deputy to Court for Plymouth.
1639-40—March 3. On jury.
1640—Oct 5. Granted upland lying at head of his lot, and to highway southeast of woods, on southwest, and William Pontus' land on northwest.
1640—Oct 5. On jury.
1640—June 2. Deputy for Plymouth.
1640-41—Feb 1. Highway laid out to John D. and Pontus' meadow.
1640—March 2. On jury.
1641—June 1. On grand jury.
1641—June 1. On jury.
1641—July 6. On jury.
1641—Aug. 3. On jury.
1641—Sept. 16. Granted three acres of upland lying at Swan Holt on north side thereof and 8 acres of meadow there.
1641-2—Jan. 4. One of committee to lay-ont highway for cattle.
1642—Sept. 27. Deputy at court to consider war against Indians.
1642-3—March 7. On grand jury.
1643—June 6. On grand jury.
1643—Oct. 10. Deputy for Plymouth.
1642—Nov. 1. On jury.
1643—On list freemen of Plymouth.
1643—Listed between ages 16-60 and able to bear arms.
1644—June 5. Deputy for Plymouth.
1644—Aug. 20. Deputy for Plymouth.
1644-5—March 3. One of three with Miles Standish to audit account of Tho. Prince.
1647—June 1. Deputy for Plymouth.
1650—June. Attended the general court of freemen holden the fifth of June, 1650. "Whereas a comittie was chosen by the court, viz.: Mr. Tho. Prence, Mr. William Collyare, Mr. Tho. Dimocke, Mr. James Cudworth, Mr. Josias Winslow, John Dunham Senr., Gorg Soule and Constant Southrouth to consider of the proposition propounded by the comitties at the last October court concerning the maior pt of the court to order the aiornments and desolutions of the generall courts and the making and repealling of lawes they the said comittie declared theire minds to bee that things in respect of the aforesaid particular doe rest unalltered as they are and yt for the futuer as formerly in the making and repealling of lawes and aiornments of courts wherein comitties are requeset, the magestraits and comitties or deputies bee considered together a one body.'' (This is also part of the Booke of Generall Lawes and Liberties of the Inhabitants of the Jurisdiction of New Plymouth published at New Plymouth by Gen. Court, Sept. 29, 1658.)
1652—June 3. Deputy for Plymouth.
1652-3—March. On jury.
1653—June 7. Deputy for Plymouth.
1653—Dec. 6. On jury.
1654—June 6. Deputy for Plymouth.
1654—Aug. 1. Deputy for Plymouth to meet at Connecticut relative to confederation of United Colonies.
1654—Oct. 3. On jury.
1655—June 8. Deputy for Plymouth.
1655-6—March 5. On jury.
1655—Oct. 4. On jury.
1656—June 3. Deputy for Plymouth.
1656—Oct. 5. On jury.
1657-8—March 2. On jury.
1658—June 1. Member of committee to view land.
1658—On list freemen of Plymouth.
1659—May 3. On jury.
1659—June 7. Deputy for Plymouth.
1659—Aug. 2. One of committee to view land.
1659—Dec. 6. Complained against assessors.
1660—June 6. Deputy for Plymouth.
1660—Oct. 2. Deputy for Plymouth.
1660-1—March 5. On Joseph D's bond for £10.
1661—June 4. Deputy for Plymouth.
1661—July 23. On coroner's jury.
1658—On list freemen of Plymouth.
1662—June 3. Deputy for Plymouth.
1664—June 8. Deputy for Plymouth.
2nd generation. Joseph Dunham, eighth child of Deacon John Dunham, was born in Plymouth in 1636. He married, Nov. 18, 1657, Mercy, daughter of Nathaniel Morton, Secretary of the Colony, and Lydia (Cooper) Morton. Nathaniel Morton was son of George Morton and Julian Carpenter. Julian Carpenter was sister of Alice, wife of Governor Bradford. She died Feb. 19, 1667. Joseph Dunham was admitted freeman at Plymouth June 1, 1658. He was on the lists of freeman in 1658, 1670 and 1683, and listed as having taken the oath of fidelity prior to 1657, and in 1658. He served on various juries (See Plymouth Colony Records). On August 20, 1669, he married Hester, daughter of Joseph Warmall of Rowley, Mass., who moved to Boston in 1649 and then to Scituate. Joseph Dunham was one of the original proprietors of Rochester, Mass. Jonathan Dunham, his brother, deeded to him on June 3, 1680, for £25, "land near unto the land bought of Churchill" which his father (Deacon John Dunham) deceased, died possessed of. In March, 1703, Joseph made a will giving one third of his rents and profits and household goods to Hester, his wife. He died at Plymouth in 1703. His will was probated June 16, 1703, and appears on page 21, book II, of Plymouth Colony Records. "Joseph Dunham, son of John, Plymouth, I, being at present weak of body, and not knowing the Day of my death, yet being of Right mind to dispose of that Little worldly Estate which God hath given me, 1. After my decease my will is, I having done for and given to my two eldest sons, Eleazor Dunham and Nathaniel Dunham to the utmost of my ability, and have given them double to what I am able to give to the rest of my children formerly, therefore to Nathaniel 10 acres belonging to my meadow at South meadow, 2. to my son Micajah 20 acres which he now lives on with ½ acre on S. E. corner of lot I now live on. 3. to son Joseph 20 acres eastward of pond called John's Pond. 4. to two youngest sons Benajah and Daniel 40 acres of land I now live on which is my homestead, when they reach 21 years to be equally divided between them —allowing their mother Esther 1/3 rents and profits during her life. 5. to wife Esther goods chatties and other estate for her life, homestead to her till two youngest sons are 21 years, then 1/3 income to her for life. 6. wife Esther sole executrix. 7. request James Warren and William Shurtleff to be helpful to my wife in administration. March 1703. Joseph Donham's Est.
Witnesses: James Warren, Nathaniel Morton, William Shurtleff.
June 16, 1703, probated.
Inventory of estate of Joseph Dunham, 1703. Plymouth County, Mass., book II, page 21. Wearing clothes 48/; his arms 40/ £4-8; books 7/; money 10/17; bedding & lining 5-5; pewter 24/; iron & brass 28/ 2-12; dishes, spoons & other household ware, 14-; chests and boxes 10-; tables, chairs, barrels & other lumber 1-; wheels, card, wool, flax, 1-; carpenter tools 2-; cart, plow, plowirons, chains 3-12-; cart tackling, hose & other small tools 10-; horse and tackling & some other necessary things belonging to the horse 12-; a piece of meadow lying 12- pine knots and shingles 18-; yoke of oxen 6-10-; 4 cows, 3 calves 11-; 2 sheep, 1 horse 4-; 1 horse 30/6; sheep and lams 32/ 3-2-; s shoats 12-; debts due the estate 5-18-; debts due from estate £28-15. May 31, 1703.
The following notes are taken from Plymouth Colony Records, 1620-1692, published by authority of the Massachusetts Legislature, including Criminal Court Records.
9. Joseph Dunham
1657—On list of those who had taken oath of fidelity to crown.
1658—On list of freemen of Plymouth.
1658—June 1. Admitted freeman.
1668—Oct. 25. On jury.
1672-3—March 4. Joseph vs. Samuel Mylam, action on case for £5 on bargain for parcell of cedar bolts that Mylam should have procured for Joseph. Verdict for Pltf. for bolts and 30s.
1675—Oct 30. On coroner's jury.
1677-8—March. Fined in court £1.
1678-9—March 5. On jury.
1678-9—March 8. On coroner's jury.
1678—June 5. On coroner's jury.
1681—Oct. 27—On jury.
1681—Oct. 28. On jury.
1683-4—On list of freemen of Plymouth Colony.
1685-6—March 2. On jury.
'' Joseph Dunham complained against Hester, wife of John Rickard, in an action of slander and defamation, to the damage of an hundred pounds. The above said action was re-speted by order of the court, att the earnest desire of Giles Rickard, Sr., in the behalf of the above Hester Rickard, in regard that her husband was from home when this suit was commenced.''
3rd generation. Benaiah Dunham, sixth child of Joseph, was born at Plymouth in 1683 and moved to Edgartown, Mass. He was married in Edgartown May 7, 1708, by his brother, Rev. Jonathan Dunham, the second pastor of the "Mayhew Church," to Sarah Covell, who was born April 13, 1689. She was a daughter of Philip and Elizabeth (Atwood) Covell. She died in 1742. Benaiah enlisted in 1699 under Warren. He entered full communion July 22, 1744, and died at Edgartown Feb. 8, 1766. His house stood on the south shore of Katama Bay, Edgartown, in front of the '' Old Settlers' Burying Ground" (and was visited by the publisher) until about the year 1910, when it was torn down to make room for a summer residence.
4th generation. Benaiah Dunham, first child of Benaiah (above) was born at Edgartown, Feb. 7, 1709. He entered full communion March 19, 1738, and married Jan. 2, 1733, Lydia, daughter of Nathan Pease. She died Oct. 3, 1769, aged 55. He married again Oct. 7,1772, Mrs. Anna (Harper) Merchant. She died Dec. 20, 1819, aged 92 years. Benaiah was a boat builder and had a residence on the shore of Katama Bay next to his father's. During the Revolutionary War, when the British sailors landed from the fleet on Martha's Vineyard to get provisions, etc., he sank his lioats in Kahuna Bay to keep them from the British. Menaiah died .Ian. 27, 1802. His house was still standing as late as 1914, (it was visited by the publisher) when it was used as a summer residence, the big oak beams showing in the ceilings.
5th generation. Jesse Dunham, fifth son of Benaiah, was born at Edgartown March l(i, 1747. He waw baptized Aug. 2, 1747. He was married March 23, 1767, by Rev. Andrew Boardman of Chilmark, Mass., to Dinah Tilton. he became a sea captain and made his home at New Bedford. He was lost at sea off Cape Hatteras in 1782.
6th generation. Josiah Dunham, second child of Jesse, was born March 1, 1776, at New Bedford. He moved to Boston and was married July 18, 1802, by Rev. Samuel Parker to Mary Potter. She died April 7, 1813. He was a member of the Massachusetts Militia in the War of 1812 and did duty in the defense of Boston at that time. He retained his uniform and accoutrements with some of the ammunition as late as the '50's. He was married again Sept. 20, 1813, by Rev. Thomas Baldwin to Mary Elms. She was born June 19, 1797, on Salutation Street, Copp's Hill, Boston, daughter of Captain William and Mary Elms. They lived later at Middle-boro. Josiah Dunham represented South Boston in the Boston Common Council in 1833, and was an Alderman of Boston in 1834, 1835 and 1836. When a young man juit arrived from New Bedford, he worked at a ropewalk in Boston owned by a Mr. Richardson, where Pearl Street now is. Later he entered into business for himself, his ropewalk being erected on piles over the Back Bay, where is now the Boston Public Gardens. In 1807 he purchased land off B Street, South Boston, and built an extensive ropewalk there. He continued to manufacture cordage until 1853 (See history of South Boston, Gillespie). The site of his ropewalk is now called Dunham Park. He was president of the Old Savings Bank on the Dorchester Turnpike, and was a note broker, with an office on Doane Street, Boston. He also engaged extensively in the real estate business, owning about sixty houses at the time of his death. He built or owned all of the houses on Gold and Fifth Streets, South Boston, and many on Fourth and B Streets. He was active in church work and a charter member of Phillips Church. He built a hall on Fourth Street for the use of the congregation. At his own expense he set out the trees still standing along Broadway, South Boston. He died April 27, 1857, aged 82. His widow died Feb. 16, 1868, aged 61. His will left two-thirds of his property in trust for any descendants who might become destitute. The will was contested and the case became celebrated as one of the most protracted on record. It was finally settled in 1897. During this time many prominent lawyers participated in the litigation, including Justice Gray, later of the United States Supreme Court, Justice Endicott of the Massachusetts Supreme Court, Seth Ranney, U. H. Crocker and Rufus Choate.
7th generation. Thomas Harrison Dunham, third child of Josiah, was born in Boston June 30,1815. He graduated from the old Hawes School and was a medal graduate of the Boston English High School. In 1835 he engaged in the dry goods business at the corner of Fourth Street and Dorchester Turnpike. On April 11, 1839, he married Eliza Ann West of St. Johnsbury, Vermont. In 1846 he engaged in importing and wholesaling of hemp at a store on India Street, and began the manufacture of cordage, first at Plymouth, Mass., and later at Providence, R. I. In 1858 he had a shoddy mill on Harrison Avenue, Boston, and during the Civil War manufactured rope for the navy, and lint and cotton for the army. He also manufactured carpet linings and other cotton goods. In 1870 he sold the property as part of the site of St. James' Catholic Cathedral. In 1875 he returned to the manufacture of cordage at Plymouth, and obtained a patent for a process of making cotton rope. He was active in church work and occasionally preached on Boston Common. He died Dec. 14, 1899, at Boston. His first wife, Eliza Ann West, sang for many years in the choir of the old Hollis Street Church in Boston, and also in Starr King's Church in Chicago. She also sang for many years with the Handel & Haydn Society of Boston. She died January 15, 1859. Thomas H. later married Alsa R. Burgess. 8th generation. Thomas H. Dunham, first child of Thomas H. Dunham, was born at Boston July 30, 1840. In 1856 he went to Chicago and at one time was shipping clerk for Potter Palmer. Upon the breaking out of the Civil War he returned to Boston, and after declining a second lieutenancy in another regiment, enlisted as a private in the 11th Volunteer Regiment of Massachusetts Infantry. This was the second Massachusetts regiment to reach Washington. He served through the war, was shot three times, and was promoted through the ranks of corporal, sergeant, sergeant major, second lieutenant, first lieutenant, captain, major, lieutenant-colonel, colonel and brigadier-general by brevet. He also served as judge advocate general, assistant adjutant general and as chief of staff of the Hooker Brigade. At the conclusion of hostilities he led his original regiment back to Boston and turned over its flags at the Massachusetts State House. He was mustered out July 14, 1865. He was brevetted brigadier general by President Johnson on the recommendation of General Hooker "for gallant and meritorious action on the field of battle". In 1866 he married Helen M. Griffin, daughter of William P. and Susan (Emerson) Griffin of Boston. Soon after the war he went to the west coast of Africa, and, making his headquarters at Sierra Leone, traded up and down the coast, and in the interior. With a caravan in which he was the only white man, and entirely without weapons, he travelled through the Mandingo country and into the Southern Soudan. Upon his return to Boston he entered the U. S. Customs Service, and was Deputy Appraiser of the Port of Boston upon his retirement from office in 1896. He now lives at Beverly, Mass.
9th generation. Otis Emerson Dunham, fifth child of Thomas H., Jr.. is the publisher of this book.