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Jonathan Dunham
1632-1717
Rev. Jonathan Dunham was a very interesting ancestor who's name occurs throughout the records of Colonial Massachusetts and many historical books. There is so much written about him that I will not attempt rewrite his story here. Below, I have listed references to some of the books where more can be learned about him and where to find the books on the internet for free download.
VI.—JONATHAN 2 (John1) b. 1632; 1655 lived at Plymouth; 1670, at Eastham, later at Barnstable and Middleboro;1685 moved to Edgartown; m. (1) Nov. 29, 1655, Mary De La Noye (Delano), dau. of Philip and Hester D. Delano, who came in the Fortune, 1621, and was in Duxbury, 1645-50; Delano was an ancestor of Gen. U. S. Grant; m. (2) Oct. 15, 1657, Mary Cobb; b. March 24, 1637, dau. of Elder Henry Cobb, who came from England, in 1629; 1633, founded church at Scituate; 1633, made deacon and held the office thirty-four years. Elder Cobb lived in Barnstable, in 1639; 1645, representative at general court; 1670, made ruling elder. He m. (1) 1631, Patience Hurst, who d. May 4, 1648, at Barnstable. She was dau. of James Hurst, deacon, who m. (1) Patience, dau of John Faunce and (2) Sarah Hinckley, sister of Thomas, the last governor of Plymouth Colony. Elder Cobb d. 1679. In 1673 Jonathan was constable for Middleboro; 1675, selectman; 1689, deputy at general court. At an early date, Jonathan Dunham became a missionary among the Indians along the coast of Massachusetts, going as far north as Saco, Me.; in 1659 and in 1687, he went to Martha's Vineyard, and in 1694 he was ordained at Edgartown by Elder Gibson. He was a resident of Plymouth, Eastham, Middleboro, and was an owner of real estate. It is stated in the Land Records, Vol. I, page 48, he deeded land to Jonathan, Eleazer and Samuel. Vol. I, page 136, that he granted land to Samuel, Jan. 15th, 1698, in Middleboro ; Vol. I, page 403, he made division of land in Middleboro to Daniel Gersham and Eleazer, Dec. 30th, 1701. In his will, June 28th, 1717, he refers to gifts of land to the above named sons and bequeaths to his oldest son, Daniel, the homestead and makes mention of his daughters, Persis and Hannah. He died Dec.,18th, 1717. His will was probated Jan.15th,1718. Plymouth Col. Records, Vol. 4, page 370. Deed from Jonathan Dunham of Middleboro, for 25 Pounds to brother Joseph Dunham, for "land bought of Churchill near unto land which my Dear Father, John Dunham died possessed of Nov. 4, 1679." Recorded Jan. 3,1680. Shows connection of Jonathan Dunham and Joseph to Deacon John Dunham. JONATHAN DUNHAM'S WILL. In the name of God, Amen. The 28th of June, in the year of our Lord Christ, 1717, I Jonathan Dunham of Edgartown in Dukes Co., America, late minister of said town, being very old and weak in body, but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given unto God therefore, calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed unto man once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament, that is to say principally and first of all, I give and recommend my soul unto the hands of God who gave it, hoping that through the uncertainty of death, and passion of my Savoir, Jesus Christ, to have full and free pardon and forgiveness of all my sins, and to inherit everlasting life, and my body I commit to the earth, to be decently buried at the directions of my son Daniel, nothing obtaining but at the last resurrection. I shall receive the same again, by the might and power of God, and as astonishing. Said worldly estate I appoint Daniel, sole executor, next considering that I have given to my sons, Jonathan, Eleazei, Gershom and Samuel, land at Middleboro, I leave them nothing except oxen to Gershom. To my daughter, Pease widow, six £, or pair of oxen. 3rd on consideration of great kindness of Daniel and his wife, to have dwelling house and land at Edgartown, also the debts due. D the mark of Jonathan Dunham. Witness, John Butler, Benjamin Hawes—mark of Sarah Hawes Jan. 15, 1718, probated Benj. Skiffe. Gravestone Edgartown, Eastern part of cemetery inscription. "Here lyes ye body of Rev. Mr. Jonathan Dunham, who Died December 18, Anno Don. 1717, aged about 85 years, Pastor of Church of Christ at Edgartown. With toils and pains at first he tilled ye ground to dress God's Vineyard & w's faithful found. Full Thirty years ye Gospel he did dispense. His work being done, Christ Jesus called him hence." * Dunham Genealogy by Isaac Dunham Compiled by Isaac Walton Dunham, A. M., Member of Connecticut Historical Society, Etc. Hartford, Conn.,1907.
9. Jonathan 2 Dunham, (John 1), b. 1632, was
pastor of the church in Edgartown 1684-1717 and a biographical sketch of his
life and labors may be read in Vol. II (Annals of Edgartown p. 151) and nothing
additional need here be recorded. He married (1) Mary Delano, daughter of
Philip, 29 Oct. 1655, who died without issue; (2) Mary Cobb, daughter of
Henry and Patience (Hurst) Cobb of Scituate, 15 Oct. 1657. She was the mother of
all his children, but nothing is known of her life or death. He died 18 Dec.
1717, and his will, 28 June 1717, was prorated on 15 Jan. 1718-19.
The following children are named in the testament: 40. Hannah,3 b. (1658); m.
(1) James Pease (60); (2) Elisha Parker.
Jonathan Dunham was married unto Mary Delanoy the 29"' of November,1655. p.17, * Records of the Colony of New Plymouth, Miscellaneous Records 1633-1689, Boston 1857.
Mary Cobb, (Henry^) b. Mar. 24, 1637 at Scituate. She married Jonathan Dunham, a widower. Jonathan Dunham was married unto Mary Delanoy the 29th of November, 1655. Jonathan Dunham married to Mary Cobb the fifteenth of October, 1657. (Plymouth Col. Rec. VIII 17) He removed to Middleboro, was sometime minister to the Indians at the islands but was in 1694 ordained at Edgartown. p.34, * A History Of The Cobb Family,
Our Brother Jonathan Dunham sent letters to the
church desiring our advice about gathering a church at Edgartown upon Martha's
Vineyard, where he was employed in Teaching the word, these letters were read to
the church, April, 8, (1694) & left to their consideration. Apr. 22, the Pastor
having prepared an answer, read it to the church, they approved of it, and voted
it should be subscribed by those 2 brethren with the Pasteur and sent in their
name to Brother Dunham. Letters were sent to us from the brethren of the
vineyard and others who offered to join with them in that work to desire us by
our Pastor and messengers to be present and assist them to gather a church and
settle a Teaching officer, the church agreed that either of the nominated Elders
or of the Deacons or any other of the brethren should accompany the Pastor in
that service; the Pastor and Mr. Samuel Fuller went to the vineyard, the church
was gathered, Mr. Dunham was ordained Teacher, October, 11, (1694). Jonathan Dunham, a native of Plymouth, was at this date 52 years of age, past middle life, and came to Edgartown ripe with the experiences of half a century in temporal affairs, and now chosen to be a guide in spiritual concerns. He was not an educated minister, nor a college graduate. "With toil and Pains at first he tilled the ground," his epitaph states He had been for some time "employed in preaching the good word of God amongst us for our edification," according to the statement of a committee representing the settlement at Succonnessitt [Falmouth] in 1679, but he was only a lay preacher in reality. The choice however proved to be a happy one, and for a generation of years, laboring with ever increasing satisfaction to the church until he had reached the ripe age of eighty-five, this pastoral relation in our town was continued. Infirmities incident to his years however, in 1711, made it necessary that he receive some assistance in his work, and on May 15th of that year, at a special town meeting, it was voted to obtain "some able minister of the Gospel to be helpful to Mr. Dunham in the ministries." Early in 1713, the church had unanimously selected Rev. Samuel Wiswall as coadjutor, and on March 10th of that year the town unanimously voted to endorse that action in behalf of the proprietors. The town voted him a salary of £7,0 per annum for the first year and raised this to 40 the next year, at the same time paying Mr. Dunham his regular salary, although he had through age and other infirmity desisted preaching for the two years last past. Mr. Dunham died Dec.18, 1717.*History of Martha's Vineyard Volume 2, pp.151-152, by Charles Edward Banks, Dukes County Historical Society 1925
3 Jun 1657, Jonathan is sworn before the
court of Plymouth as a freeman, pp.117 7 June 1659, Jonathan is sworn to
inquisition on court records, pp.162
7 Nov 1636, land allotted to Jonathan. Dunham
the younger, six acres, adjoining the land of his father John Dunham. Ordained
in Edgartown by church in Plymouth, 11 Oct 1697,pp.175.
1670, Jonathan was a resident of Middleboro: pp.41, 517-518 *History of the Town of Middleboro, Massachusetts, by Thomas Weston
Jonathan is buried in Tower Hill Cemetery, Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, Dukes' County, Massachusetts. Headstone front, Headstone back)
Notes: * These books are available for free download at American Libraries
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