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Walter Dunham |
35. Walter Dunham (Married: Elizabeth __?_(#36) before 1815.(One of their children, Ann Mariah Dunham (#16), was born in 1815.)
Born: about 1788 (He was 62 when the 1850 Census was taken which confirms ~1788. That census confirms that he was born in Massachusetts.) (29 March 1787, according to LDS and correspondence with Susan L. Williams (A Dunham Family Genealogist). (LDS says he was born in Tisbury, Dukes, Massachusetts) of Jonathan Dunham (#69) & __?_ Atsatt Atsalt (Edget) (Adsit (#70).
Died: He died sometime after the 1860 Census, probably in Delaware County, Ohio. A map dated 1866 of Porter Township, Delaware County, shows that property previously owned by Walter is owned by Mrs. E. Dunham. Thus, Walter's death happened after the 1860 Census was taken, but before the 1866 map was drawn. His burial site is unknown.
1866 map (Click to enlarge.)
[His siblings included the following persons listed below: (Note: All black below was researched by Russell Leach. All blue additions about family members (unless otherwise indicated) are from correspondence with Susan L. Williams or from a no longer posted "History of the Dunham - Donham Family in America" website ---founded 20 March 1997, created and maintained by James A. Streeter.):
a) Infant (unnamed and gender unknown): Born: 9 May 1780. Died: 20 May 1780 in Conway, Hampshire Co. Massachusetts (cvr);
b) Harlock Dunham: (Married: Elizabeth Haskins on 15 November 1804 (cvr)) Born: 13 April 1781 in Conway, Hampshire County, Massachusetts. Died: 28 August 1868 in Albion, Marshall County, Indiana (Served in Captain Joab Norton’s Company, War of 1812 (as a Copr. according to "Roster of Ohio Soldiers in War of 1812"). In 1826, he owned 56 acres and 3 cattle in Delaware County, Ohio, according to Russell Leach's study of the family. According to the 1826 Auditor's Tax List Delaware County, Ohio p. 9; compiled by Florence and Carl Main, 1955, Ohio Historical Society, in 1826, Harlock owned two portions of land in Berlin Township, one 50 acre plot was valued at $52, another 6 1/3 acre lot was valued at $18. Page 12 of the 1826 Auditor's Tax List affirms that he owned 3 cattle worth $24. In Tombstone Inscriptions & Other Records of Delaware County Ohio Including Portions of Morrow & Marion Counties p. 368 by Esther Weygandt Powell, it states that in Peru Township [Morrow County] early settlers there by 1817 were Harlock & Walter Dunham. According to Tombstone Inscriptions and Other Records of Delaware County Ohio by Esther Weygandt Powell, 1972, Harlock Dunham with his wife Elizabeth (1786- 1856) are buried at Berkshire Cemetery in Delaware County. His son Thomas H. is also buried there (The burial sites for Elizabeth and Thomas H. have been confirmed by Susan Leach Snyder) ;
c) Jonathan Hamar ? Dunham: (Married: Lydia Butler...daughter of Rebecca Dunham and Jethro Butler. His wife was his first cousin. After Jonathan’s death, she married his brother, Thomas...issue on file) Born: 7 January 1783 in Conway, Hampshire County, Massachusetts. Died: 19 September 1858 in Delaware County. (Served in Captain Joab Norton’s Company War of 1812. (Jonathan was a drummer in Capt. Joab Norton's Company according to "Roster of Ohio soldiers in War of 1812.") Moved to Delaware County 1807, then to Berkshire Twp. In 1826, he owned 75 acres in Berkshire Township worth $129, 2 horses worth $ 80 and 4 cattle worth $32- Auditor’s List. The previous sentence was verified in the Auditor's Tax List Delaware, Ohio, pp. 1 & 6; compiled by Florence and Carl Main, 1955, Ohio Historical Society. The 1826 Auditor's Tax List Delaware County, Ohio p. 9; compiled by Florence and Carl Main, 1955, Ohio Historical Society, states that a Jonathan Dunham owned 65 acres in Liberty Township worth $45. Is this the correct Jonathan, or could it be his father(#65) or a cousin? The History of Delaware County, published by O.L. Baskin & Company, Historical Publishers, 1880, p. 698, states that Jonathan was born in 1783 in Northampton, Conn., married Lydia Butler, moved to Berlin Twp and subsequently to Berkshire Twp., he died in September, 1858, and Lydia died April 13, 1869). However, the History of Delaware County publication is incorrect in stating that Jonathan was born in Connecticut. Susan Williams (direct descendent of Jonathan) found documentation in the Conway Vital Records that Jonathan was born in Conway, Hampshire County, Massachusetts.
d) Unnamed: Born and Died: April 1784 (cvr),
e) Silas Dunham: (He married unknown person, but it looks like he left issue. Son, Spencer was the only one to survive to adult, and was Administrator of Silas’ Estate in 1843.) Born: 19 August 1785 in Conway, Hampshire County, Massachusetts. Died: ? Will probated 1843 in Delaware County, Ohio (In 1804, he came to Delaware County, Ohio, from Conway, Mass. He returned to Mass., and in 1807 returned to Delaware County with his brothers Harlock, Walter, Daniel and Thomas. Silas was the builder of one of the first houses in the City of Delaware and voted in the first election in Delaware County, 11 October 1808. (Both the house and election date are verified in History of Delaware County, published by O. L. Baskin & Company, Historical Publishers, 1880, p 321 & 318.) Silas served in Captain Joab Norton’s Company in War of 1812. (Silas was a fifer in Captain Joab Norton's Company according to "Roster of Ohio Soldiers in War of 1812".) In 1826, he owned 80 acres in Berlin Twp., Delaware County. This last sentence is verified in the 1826 Auditor's Tax List, Delaware County, Ohio p. 9; compiled by Florence and Carl Main 1955, Ohio Historical Society. The value of the 80 acres was $110. Page 22 of the Auditor's Tax List states that he owned two cattle worth $16. According to the History of Delaware County, p. 346, in 1840, the upper bridge on North Street was restored at an expense of $449.00, Silas and Spencer Dunham taking the contract. On page 366, Silas is listed as an advocate for the right of suffrage to be extended to females at a February 1, 1841 public discussion) ;
f) Anna Dunham: Born: 31 January 1789 (cvr), Died: ?;
g) Sarah Dunham: Born: 30 August 1790 (cvr), Died: ?;
h) Rebecca Dunham: Born: 8 November 1791 (cvr), Died: ?,
i) Deborah Dunham: Born: 6 July 1793 (cvr), Died: 19 February 1803 in Conway, MA , age 10 of measles (cvr),
j) Martha Dunham: Born: 15 January 1795 (cvr), Died: ?;
k) Daniel Dunham: (Married 1st: Lydia Pierce-issue; Married 2nd: Polly (Still) widow Triplett- no issue known, Married 3rd: Olive (Harris) widow of Morey and widow of -Hodgden- issue.); Born: 3 February 1796 in Conway, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, Died: After 1880 Census, probably in Oceana County, Michigan; According to Norwood Dunham <NrwdDnhm@aol.com>, Daniel (like Walter) served with Captain Aaron Strong’s Company in the War of 1812.
l) Thomas Dunham: (Married 1st: Caroline Abbott (DCMR); she died 29 November 1860. Had issue. Married 2nd: Lydia (Butler) Dunham, his first cousin and widow of his deceased brother, Jonathan. No issue. Lydia died 13 April 1869 in Delaware County, Ohio. Married 3rd: Mehalah (Mehala) (Beardsley) widow of Hawkins on 27 March 1870 (DCMR), no issue. She died in 1880.) Born: 29 June 1798 in Conway, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, Died: 5 October 1882 Delaware County, Ohio. (He is buried in the Berkshire Cemetery, Delaware County, Ohio according to research done by Russell Leach (#3). Also Tombstone Inscriptions and Other Records of Delaware County Ohio by Esther Weygandt Powell, 1972 states he is buried there with his wives Caroline and Mehala with a flag . (With Harlock, Thomas built a sawmill and grist mill just east of Alum Creek bridge on the Delaware-Sunbury Road. Daniel had a leather tannery further east. History of Delaware County published by O. L. Baskin & Company, Historical Publishers, 1880, p. 463 confirms that, “A tannery was built at an early date, on the Berkshire Road, by the Dunhams, but the time is uncertain.:” This would have been in Berlin Township.)]
Miscellaneous:
In 1804, as stated above, Silas, one of Walter's older brothers arrived in Delaware, Ohio from Conway, Massachusetts. He returned to Conway and in 1807 returned to Delaware, Ohio with Walter, Harlock, Daniel and Thomas. In 1807, Silas was ~22, Harlock was ~26, Walter was ~ 19, Daniel was ~11, and Thomas was ~8. (Note: It is unknown why these five boys would leave their father and mother behind and make the long trip to Ohio, or why Jonathan (~24) is not listed with the others, since he is also suppose to have also arrived in Delaware, Ohio in 1807).
Just five years after their arrival, three of the brothers were serving in Capt. Joab Norton's Company according to "Roster of Ohio soldiers in War of 1812." Harlock (~31) was a Corporal, Jonathan (~29) was a drummer, and Silas (~27) was a fifer. A fourth brother, Daniel ~16, may have served with Captain Aaron Strong’s Company in the War of 1812, but this webmaster cannot find his name in the roster of that company.
According to Russell Leach’s research, Walter served as a private in Captain Aaron Strong’s Company in the War of 1812 from October 7 until December 15, 1812. (Source Roster of Ohio Soldiers In War of 1812 p. 129). Walter would have been ~24 years old when the war began. Walter enlisted 1 May 1813 and served as a private in Captain George Sanderson’s Company (27th United States Infantry from 1813 -1814.) The 27th Regiment differed from most regiments because it was an enlistment of only one year. Walters enlistment in the 27th is verified in Roster of Ohio Soldiers In War of 1812 and in History of Franklin and Pickaway Counties, Ohio, published by Williams Bros, p. 107. In 1880, Page 106 states that Captain George Sanderson’s company was attached to the Twenty-seventh regiment United States infantry, commanded by Colonel George Paul, and formed a part of General William Henry Harrison’s army at the defense of Fort Stephenson, and was in the "disastrous Battle of the Thames, October 5, 1813." Defending Fort Stephenson and winning the battle of Thames were very important victories for the United States.
Located on the Sandusky River, where Fremont, Ohio is today, Fort Stephenson consisted of three blockhouses inside a rectangular stockade. In August 1813, just three months after Walter enlisted in Captain George Sanderson's Company, Walter was among the 150 troops protecting the fort when the fort was attacked by British troops. The men successfully held the fort, crippled the British forces, and forced the British to withdraw from the area.
Prior to the Battle of Thames, the U.S. Navy had re-gained control of Lake Erie. British troops, led by Major General Henry Proctor left Detroit and retreated north to the river Thames to be with tribal confederacy allies led by Tecumseh. On October 5, 1813, 3,500 infantry and cavalry led by future president William Henry Harrison drove off the outnumbered British troops. Among the U.S. troops were 120 regulars of the 27th United States Infantry (including Walter), infantry and five brigades of Kentucky militia and volunteer cavalry. As a result of this battle, American control of the Northwest frontier was re-established.
Sometime before October 1815 (when his first child was born), he married Elizabeth. (Note: Elizabeth's last name is unknown.)
Walter is listed in the following Federal Census Indexes: 1820 for Delaware County, Ohio, Kingston Township, p. 114, ID # OH320373434; 1830 for Knox County, Ohio, Bloomfield Township, p. 283, ID # OH56081488; 1840 for Knox County, Ohio, Bloomfield Township, p. 218, ID # OHS4a785727; 1850 for Delaware County, Ohio, Porter Township, p. 322, ID #s OHS6a907091 & OHS9a2494484; 1860 for Delaware County, Ohio, Porter Township, p. 149, ID # OH15336402.
(Note: By 1820, Walter and his wife are living in Kingston Township of Delaware, County Ohio. Walter was a farmer. They had two young daughters (ages 5 and 1) and a 10-16 year old boy living in the home. This is verified by the 1820 census information below).
The 1820 Census for Delaware County, Kingston Township shows there are 5 persons living in Walter's home. Listed as free white persons are 1 male age 10-16, 1 male age 26-45, 2 females under 10, 1 female age 16 - 26. The number of persons engaged in agriculture =1. The free white male of 10 and under 16 is unknown. It might be son George. George's birth date is unknown. If that person is George, then Walter and Elizabeth would have been married before 1810. At the time of the1820 census, Walter would have been about 32 so he is likely the white male of 26 and under 45 and the person engaged in Agriculture. The 2 free white females under 10 were likely daughters: Ann Mariah Dunham (#18) (age 5) and Susan L. Dunham (age 1). Elizabeth __?_(#36), Walter's wife, would have been about 22 according to her birth date at the top of this page calculated from the 1850 census, but it is possible that she was older and she is listed on this census as the free white female of 26 and under 45. The link to this census shows actual census page and the probable names of these family members.
(Note: By 1830, Walter is living in Bloomfield Township in Knox County, Ohio. He was likely a farmer, although the census does not indicate his profession. Besides having two daughters, he now had one son. The children's ages were ~ 15, ~11, and ~8. This is verified by the 1830 census information below).
The 1830 Census for Knox County, Bloomfield Township shows a total of 5 person's living in Walter's home. Listed as free white persons are 1 male age 5 - 10, 1 male 40 - 50, 2 females 10- 15, 1 female 30 - 40, 3 persons under 20, 2 persons 20 - 49. The link to this census shows the actual census page and the probable names of these family members. Walter is listed as a male 40 - 50 (Note: according to the 1850 census, Walter was born ~ 1788, making him 42 in 1830). Elizabeth is listed as a female 30 - 40, Ann Mariah Dunham (#18) (~ 15 years old) and Susan L. Dunham (~ 11 years old) are listed as females 10 - 15. Chancey C. Dunham (~ 8 years old) is listed as the male 5-10. (Note: A Dunham descendent, Susan Williams, indicated to this webmaster that another son, Samuel Huxford Dunham, was born ca 1828. If this is true, he would have been ~ 2 when this census was conducted, but he does not appear with the rest of the family. Perhaps Samuel was a nephew and not a son of Elizabeth and Walter).
(Note: By 1840, there are six people living in the house: Walter ~ 52, Elizabeth ~42, daughter (Ann Mariah Dunham (#18)) ~ 25, daughter (Almeda Dunham) 5 - 10 years old, son (Chancey C. Dunham) age 18, and a male listed as 60 -70. This older man's identity is unknown. There are three persons in the household employed in Agriculture. Daughter Susan L. Dunham had died three years earlier at almost 19 years of age. This is verified by the 1840 census information below).)
The 1840 Census for Knox County, Bloomfield Township shows 6 persons living in the home of Walter: a male aged 15-20, a male aged 50-60, a male aged 60-70, a female aged 5-10, a female 20-30, and a female 40-50. The link to this census shows the probable names of these family members.
As the map at left shows, in 1849, the family lived in Porter Township in Delaware County, Ohio. (Click on the map to enlarge it.) Walter lived in part of Porter Twp., Delaware County, Ohio, that became part of Morrow County about 1849. According to History of Delaware County, published by O. L. Baskin & Company, Historical Publishers, 1880, p. 582, Walter lived on the State road. According to Russell Leach’s research, one-half of Walter's farm was in Delaware County- the other half was in Morrow County. His farm adjoined that of Amos Leach. On 11 February 1841, Elizabeth's and Walter's daughter, Ann Mariah Dunham (#18), married Harvey Leach (#17), the son of their neighbors, Amos Leach (#33) and his wife Nancy Purdy Leach (#34) .
(Note: By 1850, there were three persons living in the home: Walter (age 62), Elizabeth (age 52), and daughter (Harriett M. Dunham age 6). If the census data is correct, then Elizabeth was ~46 years old and Walter was 56 when Harriett was born. The ages of Elizabeth, Walter, and Harriett are documented on the 1850 census information below).
The 1850 Census for Delaware County, Porter Township shows only 3 persons living in the home: Walter, his wife (Elizabeth) and daughter Harriett (age 6).Click on the link to see the actual census page. (Note: All of the other children appear to have left the home, or had died.)
(Note: In 1860, there were three persons living in the home: Walter (age 73), Elizabeth (age 60), and daughter (Harriett age 16). Elizabeth's age is questionable since in 1860 she is reported as only 8 years older than her reported 1850 census age. By 1860, Elizabeth must have assumed many of the tasks once performed by Walter because he is listed as "blind." This information is verified by the 1860 census below).
The 1860 Census for Delaware County, Porter Township shows 3 persons living in the home: Walter, his wife (Elizabeth) and daughter Harriett. Click on the link to see the actual census page.
[Note: There is no evidence that Walter was moving his family between Delaware and Knox County or between townships within Delaware County as shown by where the censuses were taken from 1820 - 1860. It is more likely that the County lines and Township lines were changed over time or that the census takers overlapped counties and townships. Kingston Township in Delaware County was established in 1813. Porter Township in Delaware is immediately east of Kingston and was established in the 1820s. South Bloomfield was established in 1817 in Knox County. Knox County gave land for the formation of Morrow County in February 1848 and the township of Bloomfield (aka. South Bloomfield) went to Morrow County. Today, South Bloomfield, Morrow County touches the northeast corner of Porter Township. As is explained above, Walter's land was situated in both Delaware and Knox (later Morrow).]
Walter and Elizabeth had 6 - 7 children: Almeda, Hattie, Ann Mariah (#18), Susan L., George, Chancey C., and Samuel Huxford. (Note: Samuel may not have been their son, as was explained earlier on this page.)
Below is a map of Delaware County, Ohio, dated 1849. It shows the location of Walter's Porter Township property at that time. It appears on the map that all of Walter's property was at the time in Delaware County if the dark line above his property represents the Delaware County/Morrow County line. When Susan Snyder superimposed the 1849 map on top of a present-day map, 1/2 of Walter's farm does fall within the borders of present-day Morrow County. So it appears that the boundary must have been changed after the 1849 map was drawn. Also, this map does not show Walter's farm adjoining Harvey's, but it does show part of Walter's land adjoined Amos' (Harvey's father). In a later map dated 1866, Harvey owned the land, but by that time, Walter had died. The border between Delaware County and Morrow County must have moved North before 1866 because the 1866 map shows only half of the previously owned acreage now belonging to Elizabeth. It has to be assumed that if a Morrow County map dated 1866 is located, that Dunham property will be shown.
Below: Maps of 1849 and 1866. (Click on the images to enlarge them.)
By overlaying the 1846 and 1866 maps on a modern map (1998) of Delaware and Morrow Counties, Walter's property can be located. On modern maps of Delaware and Morrow Counties, SR. 656 runs northeast at an angle identical to the diagonal line on the 1849 map. Based on this, the proximity of the Morrow County Line to Walter's property, and the location of a creek thought to be the "Long Run" waterway shown on the 1849 map, Susan Leach Snyder and her husband located the probable location of Walter's land on 20 August 2006. Directions to this location from Columbus, Ohio are as follows: Drive North from Columbus on I-71 to Rt. 36. Turn right toward Sunbury. In Sunbury, turn left at the first traffic light (Rt. 61.) Turn right at SR 656. Proceed to Peerless Rd. (It is on the Delaware County/Morrow County line.) Turn right on Peerless. At Trimmer, turn right. The land to the right or west is believed to be what was owned by Walter. By going down the hill, you will cross the creek, thought to be "Long Run". See the pictures below.
Below: Walter's land from Trimmer Road, facing Northwest toward the corner of SR. 656 and Peerless Rd.
Below Left: Walter's land along Trimmer Road, facing Southwest towards creek (notice trees adjacent to creek bed). Below Right: Creek bed, possibly dried up "Long Run."
Walter's additional 10 acres that adjoined Amos Leach is thought to be just South of Beechtree on the East side of Trimmer. (See the 1849 map.)
Below: Walter's 10 acres on the East side of Trimmer. This acreage was eventually purchased some time before 1866 by his son-in-law, Harvey Leach.
In 2015, Google Earth Satellite maps were copied that show aerial views of the approximate locations of the Dunham, Leach, and Kenney land in 1866. Note the position of Morrow and Delaware Counties today and the labels on the maps for SR 656, Peerless Rd., and Trimmer Rd.
Walter was blind in later years of life and it must have been very difficult for him to take care of his land. [Note: It is unknown what caused Walter's blindness, but it may have been glaucoma and/or cataracts. Both his great great grandson, Russell Leach and great great great granddaughter, Susan Leach were diagnosed with both problems as older adults.] The 1860 census reports Walter living in Porter Township, Delaware County, Ohio. It is unknown when he died or where he is buried. He was survived by his wife, who continued to live on part of the farm until at least 1866 as shown on the 1866 map.
Lifetime Events Summary for Walter Dunham:
Contact person for this website is Susan Snyder: susanleachsnyder@gmail.com
