DJD-329-Daniel-5

LINE OF DEACON JOHN DUNHAM OF PLYMOUTH

FIFTH GENERATION IN AMERICA

329. DANIEL-5 DUNHAM was b. in Edgartown, Dukes, MA, say 1713, died at or before the Revolutionary War. It is probable that Daniel-5 was married prior to migrating to Sharon, Litchfield, CT, and later Great Nine Partners, Dutchess Co., NY, as a child named Jonathan was b. about 1739 and was probably his son.

From Early Settlers of NY State by Foley Vol. 2:776; Re: Amenia Church of Christ in the Nine Partners, Dutchess Co. NY:

“Col. Roswell Hopkins, born in CT. 8 May 1733 went to the Nine Partners with his father, Stephen Hopkins. Stephen Hopkins gave the land for the “Red Meeting House” located in Nine Partners on the east side of the mountain. Among the subscribers to the cost of building the meeting house on 6 Feb. 1758 was Daniel Dunham.”

Daniel-5 Dunham was listed on Dutchess Co. NY Tax Lists 1718-1787, by C. M. Buck; in Nine Partners/Crum Elbow.

Daniel Dunham appears on the tax lists in Amenia until 1757 when the next extant list is dated 1763. Daniel was on the tax list June 1762-June 1763, but not on the list after that date, and that indicates that he moved north to Fort Edward shortly after 1763.

Daniel Dunham was a carpenter when settlement began in Ft. Edward in 1765. In 1768 Seth Sherwood was mentioned as a character witnesses for Samuel and Daniel Dunham.

From: “Old Fort Edward before 1800” by William Henry Hill, Ft. Edward, NY, 1929, p. 243;

“George Mc Intosh, at Ft. Edward, sent to Col. Bradstreet under date of June 14, 1765. . .During July (some kind of certificates) for various services were given concerning Martin Van Alstyn, John Feather, Solomon Pitcher & Daniel Dunham.” NOTE: I have no proof as to what these certificates were, but the paper notes promising payment to the soldier/rangers during the French and Indian War were called certificates) - Gratia Dunham Mahoney. Thus, the above mentioned certificate dated 1765 may have been a payment for work done at Fort Edward. That would be proof that Daniel was there at that date.

One reason for confusion in this family is because the children of Daniel-5 Dunham are not given in any vital record and no will has been found for Daniel-5 Dunham which might name his children. We deduce their names from deed records and from service records for the Revolutionary War. Samuel-5 Dunham, brother of Daniel-5 Dunham did leave a will naming his children, so we know the identity of those sixth generation Dunhams.

Children of Daniel-5 and (unknown) Dunham:

329.1 Jonathan-6 Dunham b. 1739 in Colchester, Delaware Co., NY.; d. 5 Apr. 1813, Etna, Tompkins Co. NY in his 75th year. They resided in Etna/Dryden, Tompkins Co., NY

329.2 Samuel-6 Dunham b. 1741 in Nine Partners who is the one in Fort Edward, Washington Co., NY in 1765. Samuel-6 Dunham born in Nine Partners/Amenia, Dutchess Co. NY about 1741. This is probably the Samuel Dunham who was given as a character witness in the land claim of Seth Sherwood in Fort Edward New York in 1768.

A brother of Samuel, who was Edward-6 Dunham, states in his pension application that they resided at Kingsbury, Washington Co. NY, at the time of the Revolutionary War; moved to Lanesborough, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts during war, and then later moved back to Fort Edward. Sharon, Litchfield Connecticut Vital Records contain a marriage record of Samuel Dunham of Lanesborough to Dorothy Hamlen of Sharon, 3 October 1780.

329.3 Daniel-6 Dunham b. say 1742 m. Isabella Gilles,(went to Canada after the Revolutionary War)

329.4 Sarah-6 Dunham b. about 1744 in Amenia, NY, m. Philip Bessey in Amenia in 1764

329.5 Joseph W.-6 Dunham b. abt. 1745-6, d. near the end of April 1800. He married 13 February 1772 Mary Parks. The marriage record states, “he of Amenia, she of Sharon.” (Sharon Connecticut Vital Records)

329.6 Thomas-6 Dunham (witness to deed in Danby VT, possibly a son) Thomas-6 Dunham is probably also a son of Daniel-5 Dunham.

I place him here on the basis of the following data from Vermont History Magazine, by Abby Hemmenway Vol. 3, p. 577, in reference to Danby Vermont: “The proprietors of the township of Danby, held their first meeting at the Great Nine Partners, Crumelbow Precinct, Dutchess Co., Sept. 22, 1761. Daniel Dunham was the “6th Comm”, and the committee set out from home the third Monday in October next, in order to make division of the land.” This committee member was surely Daniel-5 Dunham.

Thomas Dunham, who witnessed a deed in Danby Vermont, was perhaps a son of Daniel-5 Dunham.

The deed was a deed of sale of David Alger of “Spencertown, in the County of Great Barrington, Massachusetts” to Jeremiah (Franck?) of Batman’s Patent New York, for one whole share in the Township of Danby, it being the original right of my honored father Joseph Alger… dated 29 May 1764.

Witness: Daniel Griswald & Thomas Dunham” signed David Alger

329.7 Edward-6 Dunham b. 24 July 1753 Great Nine Partners, Dutchess Co. NY

From Abstracts of Rev. War Pension Application Files re: Edward Dunham: “Edward, Mary, W1158, Ma. & NY Line, sol. was b. 24 July 1753 at Great Nine Partners in Dutchess Co., NY. Sol. Lived at Kingsbury in Washington Co., NY at enl. and later moved to Lanesborough Ma., & also enl. there, then moved to Fort Edward NY and also enl. there.

329.8 Silas-6 Dunham b. say 1755 (had 2nd child in 1781)

Silas 6 Dunham born say 1755, may be the one recorded as giving a mortgage for 105 acres in Penfield on 23 January 1802, in which he is listed, “of Claverack, Columbia County, NY.”

329.9 Elijah-6 Dunham b. prob. 1757 (member of Masons in 1787)

The “History of Washington Co. NY” states that Edward and Elijah were the first settlers at Clark’s Corners, Town of Moreau.

References:

For more information about this family see article in the 15 January 2026 DGRA newsletter “Confusing Cousins”. Also see article in the 15 April 2026 DGRA newsletter “Seneca Dunham of New York and Michigan”. Index to Newsletter: Volume 21 to Present