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273. Daniel Dunham (Married: perhaps Rebecca Norton (#274) about 1703 in Massachusetts, an LDS source says 1680 in Plymouth) (ca 1702) . Banks states there is no authority for calling her Rebecca Norton, nor is it known for certain if she was the mother of any or all of his children, or if she was his only wife. All that is known about her is that she was named in Daniel's will. [Note: If the 1702 marriage date is correct, Daniel was 46 when he married if he was born in 1656.] According to North American Family Histories, 1500-2000: Dunham Genealogy: Deacon John Dunham of Plymouth, Massachusetts: 1589-1669 p. 80, posted at ancestry.com, Daniel married Rebecca Norton, who died February 3, 1783, in Easthampton , Connecticut.)

Born: ? 1656 (Source: Russell Leach's research), 1656, (Susan Williams (Dunham genealogist) says 1677 in Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard, Dukes, Massachusetts), ca 1677/8 probably at Middleboro, Massachusetts) (An LDS source says in Plymouth Massachusetts) (another says in Falmouth, Barnstable County, Massachusetts) of Jonathan Dunham (#545) & Mary Cobb (#546).

Died: 1742, 5 March 1742, between 1 August 1741 - 5 March 1741/2 [will & probate] in Edgartown (in Tisbury, Dukes County, Massachusetts). [Note: Daniel would have been 86 when he died if he was born in 1656 as the Dunham Genealogy: Deacon John Dunham of Plymouth, Massachusetts: 1589-1669 information states, and Rebecca (Norton), his wife at the time of his death, did not die until Feb. 3, 1783...41 years later. Rebecca must have been much younger than Daniel.]

 

[His siblings included: According to Susan Roser's research, "it has been difficult to determine the years of the children's births and their birth order because they have not been found in the vital records. Added to the dilemma is the fact that different sources list them in different order. History of Marth's Vineyard gives them as Hannah, Jonathan, Eleazer, Samuel, Gershom & Daniel; while Dunham Family lists them as Daniel, Jonathan, Eleazer, Gershom, Samuel & Hannah. The first four sons were named collectively, in order, in Jonathan's will therefore these are the easiest to place but although Daniel was the first son named, his approximate marriage date suggests he was not the eldest son. He would appear to be the youngest son, remaining at home to care for his aging parents. After careful consideration of the known data. I have chosed to list the children in the order given in TAG as this seems the most reasonable." [This webmaster, Susan Snyder, has chosed to use the order as determined by Susan Roser.]

a) Jonathan Dunham: Married #1:(Jonathan probably married his first wife while his family resided in Falmouth. He moved to Edgartown about 1684 with his father and family. His first wife (unknown name) died after March 6 1686/7 when their son Gideon was born. Married #2: Jonathan married again in Edgartown after 8 June 1690 to Esther (Norton) Huxford. She was the daughter of Nicholas and Elizabeth ? Norton, and the widow of Samuel Huxford (#549) [Note: Samuel Huxford is Sarah Huxford's grandfather. Sarah Huxford (#138) was Daniel Dunham's (#137) wife; therefore, it seems that Jonathan Dunham married his nephew Daniel's wife Sarah's grandmother Esther Norton (#550).] She was born ca. 1662 and died shortly before 8 April 1724 when inventory of her estate was taken by her son Samuel Huxford.) Born: ca.1658-9, 1658, in Plymouth Died: Before 5 October 1711, 1724, (Source of blue information about Jonathan is Gratia Dunham Mahoney via e-mail to <dunham-donham@rootsquest.com> on 7 August 2002. Her references are History of Martha's Vineyard and Dukes Co. Court Records)

b) Eleazer Dunham: Married: at Middleboro, given land in Middleboro on May 10, ~1717 by his father Born: (ca 1662/3) probably at Plymouth, Massachusetts Died: ? Miscellaneous: He was unmarried between 20 October 1703 - 10 October 1710. [the date he sold parcels of land & the date the deed was recorded].

c) Gershom Dunham: Married: Mary Clark; Born: (ca 1664/5) probably at Plymouth, Massachusetts Died: 1738-39; will probated Nov 2, 1739

d) Hannah (Hanah) Dunham: Married #1:James Pease; Married #2: ___ Parker; Born: (ca 1666/7) probably at Middleboro, Massachusetts Died: November 1722; Miscellaneous: she was admitted to the church July 13, 1717

e) Samuel Dunham: Born: (ca 1668) probably at Middleboro, Massachusetts Died: 15 June 1689, Miscellaneous: He was unmarried between 15 June 1698 - 30 December 1701 [deeds] He was given land at Middleboro by his father.] (Source: Friends of the Pilgrims Series...Early Descendants of Henry Cobb of Barnstable, Massachusetts, 2008 `by Susan E. Roser). (Source: North American Family Histories, 1500-2000: Dunham Genealogy: Deacon John Dunham of Plymouth, Massachusetts: 1589-1669 p. 79-81, posted at ancestry.com.)

 

Miscellaneous: Daniel was the Executor of his father’s estate. He inherited the home at Edgarton, Massachusetts. According to North American Family Histories, 1500-2000: Dunham Genealogy: Deacon John Dunham of Plymouth, Massachusetts: 1589-1669: Dunham Genealogy: Deacon John Dunham of Plymouth, Massachusetts: 1589-1669 posted at ancestry.com, it is confirmed that he was the executor of his father's estate, and was willed by his father dwelling house and lands in Edgartown and debts due.

[Note: If Daniel was born in 1656, he was ~47 when he fathered his first child and no less than ~63 at the time of his last child's birth. Whoever was the mother of his children had to have been much younger that he was.] Daniel had 12 children: Matilda, Zephaniah, Rebecca, Sarah, Daniel (#137), Persis, Mary, Eleazer, Samuel, Dinah, Silas, and Jacob.

According to North American Family Histories, 1500-2000: Dunham Genealogy: Deacon John Dunham of Plymouth, Massachusetts: 1589-1669, p 80 posted at ancestry.com, Daniel's will was made at Chilmark, on August 1, 1741, and probated in Tisbury, March 5, 1742. Rec. Vol. 3, page 127.

Daniel's will, dated 1 August 1741 and proved 5 March 1741/2, mentions wife Rebecca and the following children, viz sons Zephaniah, Daniel, Jacob, Silas, {Eleazer} and Samuell; and daughters Matilda Vinson, Rebecca Pease, Dinah Dunham, Sarah Pease, Persis Dunham and Mary Curtis. [Note: Daniel's will below was copied from pages 133-135 of Susan Roser's book.]

 

Will of Daniel Dunham Senr. In the Name and fear of god amen: I Daniel Dunham Senr. of Edgartown in Dukes County on Marthas Viineyard in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England yeoman: being very weak & low in body but of Perfect mind and memory Thanks be to god for itt: and calling to mind the mortality of my Body That itt is appointed for all men once to Dye. I make & ordain this my Last Will & Testament: In manner and forme as follows: and first of all I Recommend my soul into the hands of almighty god who gave itt; and my body to the Earth to be Decently Buried at the Discretion of my Executor hereafter named: and as concerning these Temporall Blessings wherewith it hath Pleased god to endow me with: I give & bequeath in manner as follows: First my minde is that all my Just Debts & funerall Expences be duely paid by my said Executor. Item: I give to my true & loving wife Rebecca Dunham the one third of my estate Reall & Personal: Item. I give to my son Jacob Dunham my now Dwelling house & barn also the one halfe of the Lott with one halfe of meadow & Meadowish Land swamps with one half of the fencing & brush & one halfe of all the appurtinences thereto belonging: Item: I give to my two sons Daniel & Jacob Dunham all my other lands as common land Lotts or any other Lands or meadows which may be found belonging to me in sd Edgartown or Elsewhere to be Equally Divided between them & their heirs or assigns forever. Also my mind is that my Right in the fishing creek in sd Edgartown be equally Divided amongst my three sons Zephaniah Daniel & Jacob Dunham: Item I give to my son Silas Dunham Twelve pounds which is due to me by contract now in the hands of William Dunham if I should not live to want it: Item: I give to my two sons {Eleazer} & Samuell Dunham ten shillings each to be paid by my Executor within two years of my Decease: Item my minde and will is that my said Executor pay as a legacy to my three daughters Matilda Vinson Rebecca Pease & Dinah Dunham four Pounds Each in money within two years after my Decease. Item: my mind is that my sd Excr pay as a Legacy to my Daughters Sarah Pease Persis Dunham & Mary Curtis two Pounds Each within two years after my decease; only my mind is that the part of Legacys which my said son Jacob Dunham is to pay as his part is to be paid out of the Out Lands & not out of the homestead and I do hereby appoint & ordain my Loving son Daniel Dunham Junr. (#137) to be my sole Executor of this my Last Will & Testament utterly Disanulling all other Wills gifts & grants & writings by me at any time hertofore made & own this and only this to be and contain my Last Will & Testament: In Presence & witness whereof I have to these Presents sett to my hand & seal this first Day of August annoque Domini 1741. Daniel Dunham Witnesses: Mary Daggett Mary Norton, John {Mires}

 

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