DJD-200-Silas-4

LINE OF DEACON JOHN DUNHAM OF PLYMOUTH

FOURTH GENERATION IN AMERICA

200. SILAS 4 DUNHAM (Daniel 3 Jonathan 2 John 1) born ca. 1723, [1] baptized 27 October 1723. Silas married at Westchester, New London Co. CT 17 November 1754 DEBORAH (--). She died at Easthampton, Middlesex Co. CT 21 January 1780.

Silas 4 Dunham lived at Edgartown and prob. moved to East Hampton, Ct. before 1768. His mother, Rebecca Dunham died in East Hampton, CT and she may have been living with her son Silas. Silas 4 Dunham is of record in Chatham, CT in the Will of Joseph Cook, Jr., dated 25 Jan. 1768, who names “Friend Silas Dunham, executor”. [2] Chatham was incorporated by the General Assembly in 1767 and included all of the parish of East Hampton.

From: “Centennial Address, with historical sketches of Cromwell, Portland, Chatham, Middle-Haddam, Middletown and its parishes” by David Dudley Field, (1781-1867), pub. 1853, p. 70;

“Blood was shed at Lexington in April 1775, and then the war commenced. Return Jonathan Meigs and others of Middletown, on petition, had been constituted a company of light infantry the preceding year, and Mr. Meigs became their captain. Comfort Sage commanded a company of light horse. Immediately upon the news of the battle at Lexington, Capt. Meigs marched his company; completely uniformed and equipped’, to the environs of Boston. Capt. Sage was there with his troop, and Capt. Silas Dunham with a military company from Chatham.”

From the Connecticut State Library, Revolutionary War Records 1774-84, file 973.3-R326, part 1, Capt. Silas Dunham in Chatham, CT, recruiting officer.

Silas Dunham is listed as a Representatives to the General Assembly from Chatham: [3]

Silas Dunham Oct. 1772

Silas Dunham May 1773

Silas Dunham May 1774

Silas Dunham Oct. 1778

Silas Dunham Oct. 1780

It is not certain when Silas 4 Dunham died or that this Silas 4 Dunham had any children.

References:

1. Dukes Co. Probate 3:137; Banks, History of Martha’s Vineyard Vol. 3:154-5.

2. Mayflower Families, Cooke, Vol. 12:157.

3. Field, Centennial Address…cited in text above.