Rev. Jonathan Dunham

Other Events and Attributes:

• Freeman: 1653
• Married: 29 Nov 1655, Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts; Mary Delano, the daughter of Philip and Hester (Dewsbury) Delano. She was born in Duxbury, Massachusetts. She died before 16 October 1657 when her husband remarried.
• Freeman: 3 Jun 1657, Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts
• Married: 15 Oct 1657, Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts; Mary Cobb, the daughter of Elder Henry and Patience (Hurst) Cobb. She was born on 24 March 1637 in Scituate, Massachusetts. Issue: 1. Jonathan Dunham (c1659-1745) 2. Eleazer Dunham (c1663-____) 3. Gershom Dunham (c1665-____) 4. Hannah Dunham (c1667-1722) 5. Samuel Dunham (c1668-1689) 6. Daniel Dunham (c1678-____)
• Offices Held: 5 Jun 1671; The Court ordered "yt some two or three men be appointed in every town of this jurisdiction to have the inspection of the ordinaries or in any other places suspected, to take notice of such abuses as may arise in reference to the premises or otherwise and make report thereof to the Court: appointed for Middleberry: Jonathan Dunham.
• Offices Held: 3 Jun 1674, Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts; He was elected a Selectman and served for two years.
• Religion: 1679; He was a lay preacher in Falmouth according to the following statement of the Committee Representing the Settlement of the Town: "[He was] employed in Preaching the Good word of God amongst us for our edification."
• Land/House: 13 Jul 1681, Falmouth, Barnstable County, Massachusetts ; He was granted land in Falmouth consisting of ten acres.
• History: 1684; The Town of Edgartown sought him as a Preacher, however the negotiations, conducted by Matthew Mayhew, were drawn out. Edgartown passed the following on 27 October 1684: that if Mr. Mayhew cannot Prevail with Mr. Dunham the Town desire that to Treat with some other man who he shall think fitt and is ordered to give 35 pounds a year." This provided the need stimulation and, and shortly thereafter the following was recorded: I Matthew Mayhew being employed by Edgartown in the year of our Lord 1684 to procure Mr. Dunham or some other minister for them did agree with Mr. Dunham as minister of the gospel in the said Town vis: to allow Thirty Pounds per annum was excepted by them which I now for the Better satisfaction do declare to said Town to have been my return to them."
• Will: 28 Jun 1717, Edgartown, Dukes County, Massachusetts; He mentions his children: Hannah, Jonathan, Eleazar, Gershom, and Samuel.
• Probate/Proved: 15 Jan 1718, Dukes County, Massachusetts

Notes:

Buried:
Here lyes ye Body of
Rev. Mr. Jonathan Dunham
who Died December 18
Anno Don. 1717
ages about 85 years
Paster of Chruch of Christ
at Edgartown
With Toils and Pains at first
he tilled ye ground to dress
God's Vineyard & w's faithful Found
Full thirty yeas ye Gospel
he did dispense
His work being Done
Christ Jesus called him hence

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: say 1620; He was a weaver.
• Immigration: About 1630; He came from Leyden, Holland to Plymouth Colony.
• Freeman: 1633, Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts
• History: 2 Jan 1632/33, Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts; He was taxed 9 shillings,
• Ordained: 1639, Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts; He was ordained as a deacon.
• Military: Aug 1643, Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts; He was Listed as able to bear arms.
• Will: 25 Jan 1668, Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts; He mentions his wife, Abigail, and his sons: John, Benajah, and Daniel.
• Inventory: 2 Mar 1668/69, Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts
• Complier's Note: 1907; Isaac Dunham (1907) puts forth the opinion that the John Goodman, who signed the Mayflower Compact was in fact John Dunham He believed that John did not wish to use his real name on account of previous activities against the crown. John Goodman supposedly died during the first winter, however his name resurfaced on several occasions up to 1638. The lot assigned to John Goodman was next to that of William Brewster, who was a life long friend of John Dunham. A nice theory but totally unsupported by fact and has been disproven.

John married Abigail Balliou on 22 Oct 1622 in Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands. Abigail (daughter of Thomas Balliou) was born about 1600; died on 20 Mar 1698/99 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

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