Some thoughts about a possible reason for Jonathan Dunham/alias Singletary assuming the Dunham surname, by Deborah Byrd
The following is a note from Deborah Byrd; a researcher on the Singletary Dunham connections in South Carolina.
“I think I have a possible line of research on this. I have been reading
about the religious "wars" in South Carolina and their background in England
from the Cromwellian rebellion through the Restoration. Off and on during
this time period, English marriages performed by ministers of out of power
religions (i.e. Roman Catholic) and sects (High Church of England vs. Low
Church or Presbyterians, or Quakers, etc.) were not recognized and children of
those marriages were not recognized as legitimate offspring.
If the first marriage of Richard Singletary had been to a Miss Dunham and
solemnized by a minister of the sect not in power, their marriage would not
be recognized by the civil authority. Therefore any children born of her
would be registered under her name only. The child would be a Dunham, even
if Richard legally recognized the child. The child would have the right to bear
the Dunham name.”