Dunham Surname

Richard Singletary was born circa 1599 in England. He died on October 25, 1681 in Haverhill, Essex Co., Massachusetts.

I do not know much of the details of Richard's life, but he came as a young man to Massachusetts. He was married there in about 1639 to Susannah Cooke. They had 6 children: Jonathan (see next generation), Eunice, Nathaniel, Lydia, Amos, and Benjamin. Richard first settled at Salisbury, Massachusetts, but eventually settled at Haverhill, Mass., where he died on October 25, 1681.

They had the following children:

1	Jonathan Singletary/Dunham
2	Eunice Singletary was born on January 7, 1640/1.
3	Nathaniel Singletary was born on August 28, 1644.
4	Lydia Singletary was born on April 30, 1648.
5	Amos Singletary was born in April 1651.
6	Benjamin Singletary was born on April 4, 1656.

Jonathan Singletary/Dunham was born on or about January 17, 1638/9 in Salisbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He died on September 6, 1706 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., New Jersey.

Father: Richard Singletary
Mother: Susannah Cooke

Jonathan was raised in Massachusetts and would have moved with his family to Haverhill, Massachusetts. Sometime in his youth, Jonathan moved and settled in Woodbridge, New Jersey. He was married there to Mary Bloomfield and had about 8 children: Mary, Ruth, Eunice, Esther, Jonathan, David, Nathaniel, and Benjamin.

Sometime in his adulthood, Jonathan changed his name to Dunham. In 1670, Jonathan built the first grist mill in Woodbridge and received a bonus of 203 acres for erecting this. That same year he built his brick house in Woodbridge, which supposively is still standing today and is the rectory of the Trinity Episcopal Church in Woodbridge. Jonathan was a farmer and held many civic and religious positions. He died in Woodbridge, New Jersey on September 6, 1706.

They had the following children:

1	Mary Dunham was born on February 3, 1662/3.
2	Ruth Dunham was born circa 1666.
3	Eunice Dunham was born circa 1667.
4	Esther Dunham was born circa 1669.
5	Jonathan Dunham was born on September 24, 1672.
6	David Dunham
7	Nathaniel Dunham was born on April 10, 1679.
8	Benjamin Dunham was born circa 1686.

David Dunham was born on March 10, 1673/4 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., New Jersey. David died between 1753-1758 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., New Jersey.

Father: Jonathan (Singletary) Dunham
Mother: Mary Bloomfield

David was raised in Woodbridge and was married in about 1699 to Mary Ilsley. Together they had at least 3 children: Joseph (see next generation), David, and Daniel. David died between 1753 and 1758 in Woodbridge, New Jersey.

They had the following children:

1	Joseph Dunham
2	David Dunham was born circa 1705.
3	Daniel Dunham was born circa 1715.

Joseph Dunham was born on October 7, 1700 in Woodbridge, New Jersey. He died before December 27, 1771 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., New Jersey.

Father: David Dunham
Mother: Mary Ilsley

There is not much known of Joseph's life. He apparently lived in Woodbridge for his entire life and his wife's name was Elizabeth. His children were: Daniel, Abigail, Phebe, James, Moses, Jonathan, Sarah, Elisha (see next generation), and Joseph. Joseph died before December 27, 1771 in Woodbridge, New Jersey.

They had the following children:

1	Elisha Dunham
2	Joseph Dunham was born circa 1735.
3	Daniel Dunham
4	Abigail Dunham
5	Phebe Dunham
6	James Dunham
7	Moses Dunham
8	Jonathan Dunham
9	Sarah Dunham

Elisha Dunham was born on October 11, 1732 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., New Jersey. He died in March 1783 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., New Jersey.

Father: Joseph Dunham
Mother: Elizabeth

Elisha appears to have spent his entire life in Woodbridge, New Jersey. Some records indicate that besides Elizabeth Freeman, he was also married to a woman named Mary Ferguson. This marriage would have had to have occurred briefly during the late 1740's to early 1750's. Other records indicate that his son Amos was married to Mary Ferguson. Elisha is said to have served in the Revolutionary War as a Captain. One record indicates that he died March 6, 1783. That date though is probably associated with the probation of his will, which would mean he died in about January-February, 1783. Some family files also indicate that Elisha and Elizabeth had another unnamed daughter.

They had the following children:

2	Josiah Dunham was born on April 1, 1753 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., New Jersey. He died in March 1816 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., New Jersey. He married Anna Williams circa 1774. (She was born circa 1755 and died on March 20, 1829 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., New Jersey.) They had the following children: Joseph Dunham (c. 1775-???) Azariah Dunham (1776-1807) md. Phebe S. Blackney Elizabeth Dunham (c. 1780-???) md. Joseph Dunham John Dunham (c. 1780-???) Elijah Dunham (c. 1782-???) Samuel Dunham (1787-1822) md. Ann V. H. Mezeroll Josiah Dunham (1788-???)
1	Freeman Dunham was born circa 1755 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., New Jersey. We can find no further information on this person.
3	Amos Dunham was born circa 1759 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., New Jersey. He may have been married to a Mary Ellison or Ferguson.
4	David Dunham was born on March 2, 1762 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., New Jersey. He died on September 20, 1840 in Anderson Twp., Madison Co., Indiana. He is buried in the Nelson Cemetery, Richland Twp., Madison Co., Indiana. He married first Eleanor Hollinshead on August 14, 1796 in Essex Co., New Jersey. (She was born on August 14, 1772 in New Jersey and died on February 13, 1802 in Monongalia Co., Virginia (now West Virginia.) They had the following children: Ira Hollinshead Dunham (1797-1863) md. Elizabeth Holland Elisha Dunham (1798-1865) md. Frances S. Hunter Elizabeth Dunham (1801-bef. 1821) infant Dunham (1802-1802) He married second Hannah Brummage on September 1, 1802 in Monongalia Co., Virginia (now West Virginia). (She was born on October 21, 1783 in Virginia and died on September 21, 1844 in Anderson Twp., Madison Co., Indiana. She is buried in the Nelson Cemetery, Richland Twp., Madison Co., Indiana.) They had the following children: John Brummage Dunham (1803-1865) md. Sarah Willis Quinton Dunham (1804-1804) Eleanor Olive Dunham (1805-1868) md. Richard Arnold Quentin Dunham (1808-1839) David Freeman Dunham (1810-1851) md. Eleanor Shepherd Valentine O. Dunham (1812-1882) md. Cynthia Ann Crist Azwell Dunham (1814-1841) md. Eliza Jane Henry Dunham (1817-1867) md. Mary Jane Walker Elizabeth Dunham (1821-aft. 1870) md. Marcus Bonner Olean Dunham (1824-???) md. Henry Macy Wesley Dunham (1826-1910) md. 1st. Lucinda Elizabeth Longacre md. 2nd. Nancy
5	Eunice Dunham was born on July 28, 1765 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., New Jersey. She died on February 3, 1834 in New Garden Twp., Wayne Co., Indiana. She is buried in the Chester Cemetery, Wayne Twp., Wayne Co., Indiana. She married Jacob Hampton on March 2, 1783 in Essex Co., New Jersey. (He was born on February 5, 1769 in Essex Co., New Jersey and died on April 20, 1842 in New Garden Twp., Wayne Co., Indiana. He is buried in the Chester Cemetery, Wayne Twp., Wayne Co., Indiana.) They had the following children: Andrew Hampton (1785-1859) md. 1st. Sarah Mills md. 2nd. Rachel Miller Crampton Mary Hampton (1787-1827) md. Daniel Votaw Abarham Hampton (1789-1877) md. Rebecca Harlan Anna Hampton (1791-1851) md. Samuel Crampton Jehiel Hampton (1793-1859) md. Mary Haines David Dunham Hampton (1795-1855) md. Jane Moon Elizabeth Hampton (1797-???) md. 1st. Jonathan Votaw md. 2nd. Benjamin Samms Jacob Hampton (1800-1848) md. Sarah Henderson Elisha Hampton (1803-???) md. Elizabeth Jessop Eleanor Hampton (1805-???) md. Moses Rhodes Eunice Hampton (1809-???) Sarah Hampton (1809-???)
6	Henry Dayton Dunham

Henry Dayton Dunham was born in May 1774 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., New Jersey. He died on September 7, 1833 in Centerville, Wayne Co., Indiana. He is buried in the Old Centerville Cemetery, Centerville, Wayne Co., Indiana.

Father: Elisha Dunham
Mother: Elizabeth Freeman

Henry appears to have been orphaned as a child and his whereabouts during the 1780's and 1790's are questionable. He is absent from the 1793 Woodbridge, New Jersey militia census when he would have been of the right age to be included. His older sister and possibly other relatives moved to Pennsylvania in the late 1780's before going on to what is now West Virginia. In the 1790 census in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, there is two unidentified males over 16 in the family of Henry's sister Eunice. One of them may have been Henry. In the mid 1790's, Henry married a woman named Sarah Ellison, who was probably a native of New York City. They settled at his hometown of Woodbridge, New Jersey. There, Henry was a member of the First Presbyterian Church where he served as a sexton.

Sometime during the mid to late 1810's, Henry moved with his family out west to Union County, Indiana. They settled in a part of Union County that became Wayne County in 1821. Apparently, the family lived in Wayne Township, at the edge of Center Township, just east of the village of Centerville.

Sarah was probably born in New York City, but unfortunately the baptism records of the Reformed Dutch Church of New York are missing for that brief time period. One family record indicates that Sarah was the daughter of John Ellison and Rachel Wessels. Unfortunately, that couple was too old to have been Sarah's parents. They had six children between 1745-1760 that were baptized at the RDC of New York. Their son John Ellison Jr. may have been Sarah's father. If it is true that a Mary Ellison married Amos Dunham (brother of Henry D.) then it is safe to assume that Mary and Sarah were sisters.

1	Elizabeth Dunham was born on January 3, 1797 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., New Jersey. She died after 1860 in Center Twp., Wayne Co., Indiana. She married first William Pugh on March 20, 1822 in Wayne Co., Indiana 3. (He was born circa 1795 and died between 1825-1839 in Wayne Co., Indiana. They had one child: John E. Pugh (c. 1825-1877) md. 1st. Elvonia Railsback md. 2nd. Louisa Irvin She married second David Jenkins on October 10, 1839 in Wayne Co., Indiana 3.(He was born circa 1796 in Newberry Co., South Carolina and died between 1839-1850 in Centre Twp., Wayne Co., Indiana.) They had no children.
2	Azel Dunham was born on January 31, 1798 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., New Jersey. He died on April 21, 1856 in Orange Co., Indiana.
3	John Ellison Dunham
4	Cyrus Dunham was born on October 2, 1801 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., New Jersey 6. He died on September 2, 1803 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., New Jersey 6. He is buried in the First Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., New Jersey.
5	Mathias Dunham was born on January 2, 1804 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., New Jersey 6. He died on August 25, 1805 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., New Jersey 6. He is buried in the First Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., New Jersey.
6	Alanson F. Dunham was born on November 10, 1808 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., New Jersey. He died on June 23, 1884 in Richmond, Wayne Co., Indiana 7. He married Hannahretta Cheesman on April 8, 1830 in Wayne Co., Indiana 3. (She was born circa 1814 in New Jersey and died on August 24, 1894 in Richmond, Wayne Co., Indiana.) They had the following children: Sarah Ellen Dunham (1832-???) md. Alfred W. Conningham Henry F. Dunham (c. 1839-1860's) Eliza Pugh Dunham (c. 1843-1870's) md. Moses James Grooms
7	Mary Jane Dunham was born on November 10, 1808 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., New Jersey 5. She died on March 3, 1888 in Brownstown, Jackson Co., Indiana. She married Giles C. Smith on April 11, 1832 in Richmond, Wayne Co., Indiana 3. (He was born circa 1807 in South Carolina and died on April 12, 1870 in Brownstown, Jackson Co., Indiana.) They had the following children: Matilda J. Smith (1835-1917) md. George L. Curtis Hamlin Smith (1838-1913) md. Phebe Ann Brenton Leslie Smith (c. 1840-aft. 1850) Elnora Smith Giles was a Methodist minister and the family frequently moved to different locations in Indiana so that he could preach gospel. Apparently, Mary (and hence Giles) was buried in the "new" cemetery at Brownstown, Indiana.
8	Rufus Dunham was born on November 18, 1811 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., New Jersey 6. He died on October 21, 1812 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., New Jersey 6. He is buried in the First Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., New Jersey.
9	William Dunham was born on September 26, 1813 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., New Jersey 6. He died on October 9, 1813 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., New Jersey 6. He is buried in the First Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., New Jersey.
10	Dayton Francis Dunham was born on November 12, 1814 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., New Jersey. He died on September 5, 1894 in Decatur, Macon Co., Illinois. He is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery, Decatur, Macon Co., Illinois. He married Marilla Robinson on July 9, 1837 in Macon Co., Illinois 8. (She was born on December 20, 1817 in Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont and died on November 10, 1897 in Decatur, Macon Co., Illinois. She is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery, Decatur, Macon Co., Illinois.) They had the following children: Henry Dayton Dunham (1838-1934) md. Emma Kramer Sarah Elizabeth Dunham (1840-1928) md. William Dailey Amos R. Dunham (1843-1862) Orrin Dunham (1846-1846) Orvis Dunham (1846-1847) Caroline Elizabeth Dunham (1849-1932) md. James Asbury Bullard Hannahretta Dunham (1851-1926) md. 1st. Robert Lee Perry md. 2nd. Isaac F. Pharo Marietta Dunham (1851-1924) Charles Edward Dunham (1854-1917) md. Anna Phillips Hartwell Robinson Dunham (1856-1916) md. Nellie Outes
11	Hiram Dunham was born circa 1816 in New Jersey or Indiana. He died after 1830.

John Ellison Dunham was born on January 26, 1800 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., New Jersey. He died after 1871 in New Mexico.

Father: Henry Dayton Dunham
Mother: Sarah Ellison

John was probably named after his maternal grandfather, John Ellison. John was raised in Woodbridge, New Jersey and as a young man moved with his family out west to Wayne County, Indiana. John was married there, on September 26, 1826 to Miss Vashti Willits. John and Vashti settled on a farm near Centerville, Indiana, and had 7 children: Mary, Margaret, William, Peyton, Lydia (see next generation), John, and Robert.

After 1850, John must have grown tired of his life in Indiana. It was sometime between about 1852 and 1855, that John moved with his whole family out west settling at Henry County, Iowa, near the town of Salem. They remained there for several years until about 1858-1859, when they moved once more to Linn County, Kansas, where they lived near the town of Potosi. Their prospects there must have failed them because they only remained there about a year and sometime before 1862, had moved back to Henry County, Iowa. They were still not settled down yet though and between about 1863 and 1865, moved back to Kansas, this time settling at Delaware Township, Leavenworth County, Kansas.

Although John was becoming quite elderly by this time, he still had a drive for adventure. Sometime between 1865 and 1870, John left by himself and went out west to New Mexico to engage in silver mining. (We know that he was gone by the year 1869, more than likely though he left by 1867, which is when his wife and son moved from Kansas to Missouri). John lived in New Mexico for several years where he was in a silver mining operation and at one time was living at Fort Craig, Soccoro County, New Mexico, southwest of Santa Fe. His life must have been quite adventuresome there and there are letters referring to him having been "cheated and robbed" while there. By the year 1870, he was wanting to return home, but feeling somewhat disappointed he decided to stay. As late as February 1871, there is record of him still in New Mexico, trying to return home. Apparently, he never was able to make the trip. One source lists his death as in 1873 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which would have been a stop on his way returning home. There is a John Dunham who died on November 21, 1876 and is buried at the Fort Bayard National Cemetery in Fort Bayard, Grant Co., New Mexico.

They had the following children:

1	Mary Elizabeth Dunham was born on July 17, 1827 in Wayne Co., Indiana. She died before March 28, 1906 in Omaha, Douglas Co., Nebraska. She is buried in the Forest Lawn Cemetery, Omaha, Douglas Co., Nebraska. She married first Gilbert Moziena Dunn on December 11, 1851 in Wayne Co., Indiana. (He was born on May 26, 1825 in Poland, Androscoggin Co., Maine 2 and died between 1851-1857 in Indiana.) They had no children. She married second James P. Southard on July 22, 1857 in Putnam Co., Indiana 9. (He was born circa 1810 in Ohio 5 and died before November 8, 1893 in Omaha, Douglas Co., Nebraska. He is buried in the Forest Lawn Cemetery, Omaha, Douglas Co., Nebraska.) They had the following children: Clara Southard (1860-1950) Charles P. Southard (1864-1922) md. 1st. Delena A. md. 2nd. Blanche V. Allen
2	Margaret Ann Dunham was born on May 2, 1829 in Wayne Co., Indiana. She died between 1862-1866 in Illinois? She married William P. Hannah on November 20, 1850 in Wayne Co., Indiana 3. (He was born on August 23, 1827 in Indiana 2 and died on March 14, 1901 in Vermilion Co., Illinois 2. He is buried in the Mann's Chapel Cemetery, Vermilion Co., Illinois.) They had the following children: Eleanor Hannah (1851-1922) md. Irvin Bruce Peters Richard H. Hannah (1853-1919) md. Mary Wilson Samuel Hannah (1855-aft. 1900) md. Mary Ann Dees William Hannah (1858-aft. 1900) Anna Hannah (c. 1859-aft. 1880) James Hannah (1862-aft. 1920)
3	William Pugh Dunham was born on March 8, 1831 in Wayne Co., Indiana. He died on December 16, 1864 in Savannah, Chatham Co., Georgia. He married Catherine Elizabeth Murphy on January 14, 1856 in Henry Co., Iowa 2. (She was born circa 1836 in Ohio 5 and died on March 6, 1917 in Leavenworth, Leavenworth Co., Kansas 10.) They had the following children: Mary Elizabeth Dunham (1856-aft. 1930) md. Samuel Hale Kiser Charles E. Dunham (c. 1858-1904) Luella Dunham (c. 1861-aft. 1900) William Peyton Dunham (1862-aft. 1910) md. Susan Vermillion Whiteford
4	Peyton Randolph Dunham was born on February 17, 1834 in Wayne Co., Indiana. He died on December 11, 1903 in Perry, Noble Co., Oklahoma. He is buried in the Ceres Cemetery, Noble Co., Oklahoma. He married Almarinda Davis on September 28, 1858 in Van Buren Co., Iowa 4. (She was born on June 16, 1839 in Indiana and died in 1917 in Red Rock, Noble Co., Oklahoma. She is buried in the Ceres Cemetery, Noble Co., Oklahoma.) They had the following children: Margaret Ellen Dunham (1859-1932) md. Marion Washabaugh Peyton Randolph Dunham (1861-1950) md. Anna Saunders Henry Sherman Dunham (1863-1929) md. Dora Belle Ringer John James Dunham (1866-1941) md. Lura Sophronia Conner Katie Vashti Dunham (1868-1952) md. Orville Orr Mattie Eleanor Dunham (1872-1949) md. Elwood James Waltermuir Samuel Azel Dunham (1874-1956) md. Hally C. Saunders Mary D. Dunham (1877-1870's) Laura Cook Dunham (1878-1957) md. O.E. Lovelady
5	Lydia Ellen Dunham
6	John Henry Dunham was born on January 3, 1840 in Wayne Co., Indiana. He died on March 5, 1917 in Tennessee? He married Cynthia Rose Chadwick on December 28, 1861. (She was born on November 16, 1840 in Licking Co., Ohio and died on January 3, 1905 in Mammoth Springs, Fulton Co., Arkansas?) They had the following children: Irvin Henry Dunham (1862-1892) Lura G. Dunham (1872-1946) md. Edward J. French Robert F. Dunham (1877-aft. 1900) John enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War and served out of Iowa from 1862 to 1865.
7	Robert Field Dunham was born on May 19, 1847 in Wayne Co., Indiana. He died on February 23, 1864 in Vicksburg, Warren Co., Mississippi. He is buried in the Vicksburg National Cemetery, Vicksburg, Warren Co., Mississippi. He married Nancy E. Mendenhall on July 4, 1863 in Clark Co., Missouri. (She was born in May 1846 in Illinois and died sometime between 1910-1920 in Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa.) They had one child: Robert Luther Dunham (1864-1927) md. Lenora Addie McIntire Robert enlisted in the Union Army out of Iowa in the Civil War and died one month later of measles.

Lydia Ellen Dunham was born on February 15, 1837 in Centerville, Wayne County, Indiana. She died on July 29, 1869 in Garden City, Blue Earth Co., Minnesota ¹. She is buried in the Garden City Cemetery, Garden City, Blue Earth Co., Minnesota.

Father: John Ellison Dunham
Mother: Vashti Willits

Lydia was raised in Wayne County, Indiana, but in the early 1850's, she moved with her family out west to Henry County, Iowa. While living there, she was married to Irvin Thurston, a doctor, on February 15, 1856 in Salem, Iowa. Lydia and Irvin lived in Iowa for about a year then in the spring of 1857 she moved with her husband to Garden City, Blue Earth County, Minnesota.

Lydia and Irvin lived in Garden City, Minnesota, and there had 5 daughters: Minnie, Cora, Nettie, Julia, and Anabel. From 1862 to 1865, Irvin was serving in the Civil War and was gone for the majority of the time. In 1867, her 8-year old daughter Cora died then on July 29, 1869 at her home in Garden City, MN, Lydia died of an unknown, but apparently lengthy illness at the age of 32. She was buried in the Garden City Cemetery, Garden City, Minnesota.

For information on their children, see his page.

1. Thurston, Brown. Thurston Genealogies, 1635-1892, Second Edition. Brown Thurston: Portland, ME, 1892.
2. International Genealogical Index
3. Marriage records, Wayne Co., IN
4. Marriage records, Van Buren Co., IA
5. Assorted US Federal Census records
6. Online cemetery index, First Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Woodbridge, NJ
7. Wayne County, Indiana Death Records, 1882-1920. Ancestry.com
8. Illinois Marriages to 1850. Ancestry.com
9. Indiana Marriage Collection, 1800-1941. (Ancestry.com)
10. Leavenworth Co., Kansas Death Records. (Ancestry.com)

Links:

Dunham - Singletery Research by Audrey Hancock