S-D-22-Lewis-4

LINE OF JONATHAN DUNHAM/alias SINGLETARY, of WOODBRIDGE, NEW JERSEY

FORTH GENERATION IN AMERICA

22. LEWIS 4 DUNHAM (David-3, Jonathan-2 Dunham alias Singletary, Richard-1 Singletary) b. in Woodbridge, Middlesex, NJ say 1706-7; d. before 2 Feb. 1750 when Mary Dunham of Woodbridge called herself “Widow”.

The Dunham family of Woodbridge, New Jersey is very confusing and has been difficult to put together due to the fact that many records were destroyed during the Revolutionary War period. I have worked for years to compile this family and I’m certain that there are still errors in it. However, in order to get the known facts assembled so that others may be able to add information, I have placed Lewis Dunham here.

We do not know for certain if Lewis was the father of the following 4 children named in the will of Mary (Dennis) Dunham; but I believe it is possible for the following reason. The given name, Lewis, was used by several descendants of David-3 Dunham to the extent that it had to have special meaning within that family. We know for certain that Lewis was the name given to the youngest son of (unknown, but possibly Lewis) and Mary (Dennis) Dunham.

The will of Mary Dunham, given below, does not name her children. However these children are named in the administration of that will, which occurred over 10 years later. From: New Jersey Colonial Documents, Calendar of Wills Page 155, Lib. E p. 480:

1750, Feb. 2. Dunham, Mary, of Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., Widow

Int, Adm’r Jonathan Dennis, her father, of Woodbridge, Yeoman,

Reuben Porter, of Woodbridge, Yeoman, fellow bondsman.

From the administration of the will of Mary (Dennis) Dunham:

Mary Dunham; of Woodbridge, Middlesex New Jersey

Inv: 74:18:8. By Timothy Bloomfield, Filed Sept. 12, 1760. . .Feb. 23, 1761.

Account by Jonathan Dennes, Dec’d. The Administrator,

signed by Robert Dennes, who charges 26:0:0.

For support, of Lewis Donham, 3 years 9 Months old, when his mother died 12:0

For Jonathan’s schooling, 2 quarters, and nothing for Phoebe Donham.

Analysis of Inventory/AccountAdministration of Mary Dunham of Woodbridge, by Gratia Dunham Mahony:

Any children over the age of 14 did not need to have a court appointed guardian, so while Robert Dennes paid for support of Racheal, Lewis, Jonathan, and Phoebe, he does not seem to be called “guardian” of these four children.

Mary (Dennis) Dunham died before 2 Feb. 1750, so if we analyze the ages of the children in the 12 Sept. 1760 account it looks like:

Phoebe Donham (for whom nothing was paid) was probably over age 14, so she was probably born say 1735-36.

Jonathan Donham received “2 quarters of schooling” so he was probably almost 14 when his mother died and was probably born about 1736.

Racheal Donham was age 11 yrs. 9 months old when her mother died, so she was born about April-May of 1738, died before 23 February 1761.

Lewis Donham was 3 yrs. 9 mos. old when his mother died so he was born April-May 1746.

Children of (probably) Lewis 4 and Mary (Dennis) Dunham:

i. Phoebe 5 Dunham b. say 1735-6

42. ii. Jonathan 5 Dunham b. abt. 1736

iii. Racheal 5 Dunham b. abt. 1738

43. iv. Lewis 5 Dunham b. abt. 1746

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