Nathaniel Dunham of Wrentham, Massachusetts and Hebron, Connecticut has been called a son of Nathaniel 3 (Nathaniel 2 John 1) and Mary (Tilson) Dunham of Plymouth, and thus descended from the line of Deacon John Dunham. This is not true because the Nathaniel who married Mary Tilson was born about 1662, and he died in Norton, Massachusetts after 1734. Nathaniel Dunham of Wrentham and Hebron was born about 1665. In fact there is no evidence that Nathaniel Dunham of Wrentham and Hebron was a descendant of Deacon John Dunham.
Instead we must look elsewhere for the parents of the Nathaniel Dunham who, with his wife Mary, had children born in Wrentham, Massachusetts between the years 1690 and 1704. This is the Nathaniel Dunham who died at Hebron, Connecticut 12 May 1751, aged 85 years. He was the progenitor of a large family of Dunhams who lived in Hebron Connecticut for several generations.
The father of Nathaniel Dunham of Hebron was likely the Rev. Thomas Denham/Dunham, who was a Puritan clergyman. This Thomas is of record in Manchester, Essex Co. Massachusetts in November 1651; at Saco Maine in 1659; and at York Maine in June of 1664. Thomas Denham was apparently planning to settle as minister in Rye (then in Connecticut, now in New York) in June of 1677 when a house lot was provided for him. Thomas Denham did not settle in Rye, but by January 1687/88 he was appointed the new minister at Bedford, New York. He made a will in Bedford, New York on 2 May 1688, and died in Bedford by 5 August 1689. His six children named in this will were: Isaac, Nathaniel, Josiah, Rebecca Hinckson/Hinkson, Sarah Palmer, and Hannah Dunham. [1]
Isaac Dunham (son of Thomas) inherited the house lot in Rye (then Connecticut, now New York), which he sold in 1696. Isaac Dunham was married twice but there is no evidence of issue by either marriage. In the will of Isaac Dunham, dated 22 February 1723/4 [NY Wills: 2:285] he gives “to loving brother Nathaniel Denham £90 of Connecticut money.” The third brother, Josiah Dunham, must have died before the date of Isaac Dunham’s will as neither Josiah nor any surviving issue are named.
Based on the fact that Nathaniel Dunham, who inherited the £90 of Connecticut money from his brother Isaac Denham, and was likely the Nathaniel Dunham living in Hebron, Connecticut in 1723, I have placed him as the son of Rev. Thomas Denham/Dunham. I have begun this genealogy with Thomas 1 Dunham, and thus Nathaniel 2 Dunham of Wrentham, Massachusetts and Hebron, Connecticut is generation two in America.
Reference:
1. McCracken, George E., Ph.D., F.A.S.G., Mr. Thomas Denham, Puritan Parson, p. 229-242 (Vol. 36, No.4, 1960)
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