Samuel Dunham1,2

M, b. 1624, d. 20 January 1712
     Samuel was born in 1624 in Leyden, South Holland, Netherlands. He was the son of John Dunham and Abigail Barlow. Samuel married Martha Beal on 29 June 1649 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. Samuel and Martha had children: Sarah [4/10-/1650-4/23/1738] [m. Samuel King Jr. - s/o Samuel Sr. and Ann Finny], twin sons [12/29 1651 -did not survive], Samuel [1653-1718] [m. 6/341/1680 Mary Harlow d/o Sergt. Williasm Harlow & Mary Faunce]. Samuel's wife, Martha, died on 26 April 1690 in Plymouth leaving him a widower. Samuel married 2nd Sarah (?) on 15 January 1693/94 in Plymouth. Samuel's wife, Sarah, died on 12 November 1706 in Plymouth leaving him a widower. Samuel departed this life on Wednesday, 20 January 1712 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.

Citations

  1. [S293] Issac Watson Dunham, Dunham Genealogy: English & American Branches of the Dunham Family 1907, Norwich, Connecticut, Samuel was one of those Plymouth townsmen found fit to bear arms in Aug., 1643 [Plym. Col. Rec., 8:188]. He served as a juryman between the years of 1657 and 1672. On June 7, 1665 he was granted thirty acres of land on the westerly side of the Namasskett River [Plym. Col. Rec., 4:94]. He was appointed a deputy in Plymouth June 3, 1668, a position that his father had held for many years [Plym. Col. Rec., 4:180]. He was sworn in as constable on June 3, 1674 [Plym. Col. Rec., 5:145]. On June 1, 1675 he was appointed a surveyor of highways [Plym. Col. Rec., 5:166]. On Mar. 7, 1676 Samuel and Sarah Fallowell, widow, were granted
    administration of the estate of John Fallowell [Plym. Col. Rec., 5:188]. On Oct. 30, 1675 it was reported to the court in Plymouth that John Fallowell "was accessory to his own death, by willful going into a deep pond, called Loute Pond, and drowned himself" [Plym. Col. Rec., 5:182]. John may have been Martha's son with William Fallowell; the deceased had m. Feb. 13, 1668 Sarah Wood (John) [Plym. Col. Rec., 8:31].
    Samuel and Martha may have moved to Middleboro', Mass. about 1678, for a Samuel Dunham from that town served on an inquest panel in Plymouth Jan. 6, 1679 along with John and Joseph Dunham, Samuel's brothers [Plym. Col. Rec., 6:7-8]. A "Samuell Dunham, of Middlebery" appeared at court Oct. 30, 1678 [Plym. Col. Rec., 5:272]. These records could, though, refer to the son or nephew of
    Samuel Dunham, Sr. In Dec. of 1681 Samuel was excommunicated from the Plymouth church for two years for intemperance (or, as Pastor John Cotton would elsewhere write, for being an "old drunkard" [Cotton Papers, 6, #6]) [Plym. Ch. Rec., 1:157]. On Mar. 7, 1682 Samuel Dunham, Sr. of
    Plymouth was fined five shillings by the Plymouth court "for being overtaken with drink" [Plym. Col. Rec., 6:82]. On June 17, 1683 Samuel was "called forth to manifest his repentance publicly in order to his reconciliation with the church" [Plym. Ch. Rec., 1:252]. The members of the church found his speech satisfactory, and he was reconciled to the church on July 1, 1683.
    On Nov. 20, 1689 Samuel Dunham was accused of taking the Lord's name in vain, having been heard to say "the curse of God is upon the head & pluck, with many other unsavory speeches; partly by intemperance in drinking which sister Jackson testified against him before the elders to his face" [Plym. Ch. Rec., 1:267]. He was laid under
    admonition and told not to come to the Lord's Supper until he had fully repented. He was accepted again to communion Sept. 8, 1690 [Plym. Ch. Rec., 1:270]. [Note: For more information on this family member see the Dunham Family's American Heritage].
  2. [S2098] Mrs John E. Barclay, Notes on the Dunham Family of Plymouth, Mass., page 151 - He died in his 89th year.