DJD-281-Nathaniel-4

LINE OF DEACON JOHN DUNHAM OF PLYMOUTH

FOURTH GENERATION IN AMERICA

281. NATHANIEL 4 DUNHAM (Joseph 3,2 John 1), was born before 1721, a son of Joseph 3 and Bethia (Chase) Dunham.[1] This is the Nathaniel Dunham known as Nathaniel 1st of Norton, Bristol, MA and Mansfield, Bristol, MA. We do not have a death date or place for this Nathaniel 4 Dunham 1st. There was a Nathaniel Dunham who died in Mansfield, 14 March 1796., but that date is for Nathaniel Dunham, Jr. [2]

While we do not have an exact birth or death date for Nathaniel Dunham 1st of Norton he would have been born before Nathaniel 5 Dunham, Jr. son of Nathaniel 4,3, Joseph 2 John 1 Dunham). This Nathaniel 5 Dunham, Jr. was born in Norton 20 June 1722. [3] Also see TAG Vol. 62 p. 15 for discussion by Dr. David Green and the author of the article, Rosemari Finter of the fact that “if Nathaniel Dunhan 1st was older than Nathaniel Jr. – and I’m sure that he was, Gratia Dunham Mahony, it follows that Nathaniel 1st was born before 1722.” [4]

We know from land records that Joseph 3 Dunham, house carpenter, was living in Norton between about 1711/12 to about 1724 when he is living in Edgartown. It is likely that several of his children were born in Norton. Please refer to the narrative under #48. Joseph 3 Dunham, father of Nathaniel 4 Dunham 1st. If Nathaniel 4 Dunham 1st was born in Norton before 1722, then it is logical that he would be called Nathaniel Dunham 1st of Norton.

Nathaniel Dunham 1st married (probably as his second wife), and probably in Raynham (given on Norton Vital Records as Nathaniel Dunham 1st intent 21 December 1757 m. 6 January 1757/8 Esther Partridge of Raynham. [5] They resided in that part of Norton which became the district of Mansfield, Ma. in 1770, and the town of Mansfield Ma. in 1775.

Esther (Partridge) Dunham died 15 May 1807 age 77 years and is buried in Brier Cemetery, Savoy, Berkshire County Massachusetts. [6] Nathaniel Dunham 1st would have been between 36 and 42 years old at the time of his marriage to Esther Partridge, thus we should consider that he may have had an earlier (unknown) wife and may even have had children by her.

This is the Nathaniel referred to as Nathaniel 1st of Mansfield. There were four children from this marriage, (only three are given in TAG 62:18) [7]

Children of Nathaniel 1st and first (unknown) wife: Possible children, not recorded on Vital Records

Children of Nathaniel 1st and Esther (Partridge) Dunham:

281.1 i. Caleb 5 Dunham, b. 27 March 1760 [8]

281.2 ii. Isaac 5 Dunham, b. 10 December 1761 [9]

281.3. iii. Daniel 5 Dunham, b. 8 January 1764 [10]

281.4. iv. Job 5 Dunham, b. in September 1768 probably in Mansfield, MA [11]

References:

1. TAG Vol. 62 p. 15]

2. TAG Vol. 62 p. 16 and Mansfield VR p. 190

3. TAG Vol. 62 p. 17

4. TAG Vol. 62 p. 15

5. Norton VR p. 227; Raynham VR p.87

6. Corbin Collection of Records from Savoy Massachusetts.

7. TAG Vol. 62 p. 18

8. Norton VR p. 51

9. Ibid.

10. Ibid.

11. From gravestone in Brier Cemetery, Savoy, MA; Corbin Collection of Records