DJD-175-Jonathan-4

LINE OF DEACON JOHN DUNHAM OF PLYMOUTH

FOURTH GENERATION IN AMERICA

175. JONATHAN 4 DUNHAM (Jonathan 3,2 John 1) [first son of Jonathan 3 named Jonathan] born probably at Falmouth, Plymouth County Massachusetts before his father went to Martha’s Vineyard say 1684, [1] died in Sharon, Litchfield Co. Connecticut, 28 February 1744/5 in 59th year. [2] He is buried in the Sharon Burying Ground and his stone is the oldest in the churchyard. [3] Jonathan married ca. 1707 MARY SPENCER, daughter of William and Sarah (Ackley) Spencer of East Haddam, CT. She was born in East Haddam CT 1 September 1687, [4] died in Dutchess Co. NY after 17 April 1750 when she (called “of Nine Partners”) and son Daniel acting as administrators of her husband’s estate sold land. [5]

The first record of Jonathan in Connecticut is when he bought land in Colchester [Colchester Deed 1:387, dated 12 December 1707] and was called “now resident in East Haddam”, (after 1832 in New London County). Jonathan Dunham was in the records of the town meetings held in Colchester in 1725 and 1726. [6]

The History of Litchfield County regarding the Town of Sharon, p. 577 says, “Capt. Jonathan Dunham was from Colchester, and was a leading man in the first settlement of the town. He lived opposite Richard Smith’s and there kept the first tavern in the town. He was the agent to the Assembly to procure the incorporation of the township, and was appointed to call the first town meeting.”

Children of Jonathan 4 and Mary (Spencer) Dunham: [7]

326. i. MARY 5 DUNHAM, b. say 1708 m. 6 Aug. 1729 to Samuel Brown, remained in Colchester CT

327. ii. JONATHAN 5 DUNHAM, b. say 1709-10; d. 29 Oct. 1740 in Sharon CT VR p. 37

328. iii. SAMUEL 5 DUNHAM, b. 1711 res. Amenia, Dutchess Co. NY-on tax lists

329. iv. DANIEL 5 DUNHAM, b. say 1713 res. Amenia, Dutchess Co. NY-on tax lists

330. v. WILLIAM 5 DUNHAM, b. say 1715 remained in Colchester CT

331. vi. HANNAH 5 DUNHAM, b. say 1718 m. John Pettit in Sharon CT

332. vii. MARTHA 5 DUNHAM, b. say 1725 m. 30 June 1755 John Gillett in Sharon CT

333. viii. ABIGAIL 5 DUNHAM, b. April 1727 m. 24 Sept. 1752 Samuel Hitchcock in Sharon CT VR p. 37

References:

1. TAG 44:218-19.

2. Sharon Ct. VR p. 37; L. Van Alstyne,“Burying Grounds of Sharon, CT, Amenia and North East, NY, pub. 1903.

3. Charles F. Sedgewick’s History of Sharon (1842); L. Van Alstyne, Burying Grounds of Sharon Ct., Amenia and North East, NY, 1903.

4. “The Four Spencer Brothers” by Donald Lines Jacobus; TAG 27:169; 39:198.

5. Litchfield Co. LR 2:506; Sharon probate #1907.

6. Records of Colchester Ct. transcribed by C. M. Taintor, Hartford, 1864, p. 28, 32.

7. TAG 44:222.