DT-4-Daniel-2

DUNHAM FAMILIES of TENNESSEE

SECOND GENERATION IN AMERICA

4. DANIEL 2 DUNHAM (Joseph 1 Dunham) b. say 1735; killed by Indians near Nashville bef. 3 July 1787. [1] He m. SARAH (unknown). She m.2 bef. 14 April 1794, Joseph Hopkins. [2] On 14 April 1794 Joseph Hopkins was named guardian of Polly, Daniel and Rebecca, orphan heirs of Daniel Dunham deceased. [3]

On 8 May 1784 Daniel 2 Dunham was issued a land grant by the state of North Carolina for a square mile of land on the waters of Richland Creek, the tract being bordered by James Thompson, Isaac Johnson, William Fletcher and Samuel Martin. [4] On his preemption Daniel Dunham built a log fort. Known as Dunham’s Station, it was located west of Johnson and Joslin’s Fort and is on the present site of Belle Meade Mansion. [This is located on Rt. 70S south west of Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee just north of Richland Creek]

From Hoobler, James A., A Guide to Historic Nashville Tennessee, p. 20, in reference to the Dunham Cabin at 5015 Harding Pike;

“The Dunham and Harding Cabin at Belle Meade Mansion is a double crib log cabin. Half of it might date to around 1784. One of the last Indian raids in the settlements took place here in 1792. Daniel and John Dunham had settled on the banks of Richland Creek in 1784, and built a log fortification known as Dunham’s Station. Daniel and two of his sons were killed in an Indian raid in 1787 on Richland Creek. John Dunham was killed in 1790. . .The Dunhams lived in their cabin until 1807, when they sold it to John Harding. A second log cabin was built near the Dunham cabin, and the two were joined by a common roof. This is known as a dogtrot cabin. The common open area between the two cabins was a cool place to work from in warm weather, (and of course dogs would find it to be a comfortable place to sleep as well.)”

Children of Daniel 2 and Sarah (unknown) Dunham:

i. son 3 DUNHAM, b. say 1770-72, killed in Indian raid in 1787. (Possibly Joseph who was a witness to the grant of 640 acres in Davidson Co., TN, granted to John 2 Dunham 17 April 1786.)

ii. son 3 DUNHAM, b. say 1775, killed in Indian raid in 1787. (Possibly William, killed 1787)

16. iii. POLLY 3 DUNHAM, b. say 1780

One day when Mrs. Dunham sent Polly outside the fort for an armload of firewood, the Indians caught and scalped her while she screamed for her parents. Although the anxious mother was shot by the savages, she managed to drive them off with a hoe. The mother recovered from her injuries. Polly survived the scalping and her mother sewed a little cap for her which she wore to cover her bare scalp. [5]

17. iv. DANIEL 3 DUNHAM, b. say 1784

18. v. REBECCA 3 DUNHAM, b. say 1786

References:

1. Fischer, Marjorie Hood, Tennessee Tidbits 1778-1914, Vol. 1, p. 107, Davidson Co., TN Court Minutes, A/177, Sarah Dunham appointed administratrix.

2. Ibid. p. 181.

3. Ibid. p. 107.

4. North Carolina Land Grant #173, dated 15 Jan. 1784 issued to Daniel Dunham, Grant Book 66, p. 191.

5. Draper Manuscripts; #32S318.