Benjamin married Mary SCULLARD before 1706. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Benjamin married Mary ROLPH before 1706. Mary was born in in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

NOTE 1./
After moving to Woodbridge, NJ, Jonathan used the surname Dunham and signed numerous legal documents as Jonathan Dunham alias " Singletary". I have found no reason for the change of name. His descendants continue to use the surname of Dunham. He built the first grist mill in NJ, and received 213 acres in land for building it. In 1670 he was chosen "Overseer of Highways". In 1672 and 1675, he was Township Clerk,1674 and 1684, he was " Ratemaker" (Tax Assessor).He was an attorney and represented Woodbridge over disputed land with Piscataway, NJ. He was a member of the Assembly of New Jersey under the Propriety Government in 1673, and, in 1701 represented Woodbridge under Governor Carteret. Jonathan was a respected citizen in NJ and served his community.

NOTE 2./
JONATHAN SINGLETARY by Audrey (Shields) Hancock April, 2000 at Roots Web.com ; JONATHAN SINGLETARY-DUNHAM FAMILY LINE : <>
<>

Jonathan DUNHAM of Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., NJ started out life as Jonathan SINGLETARY, eldest son of Richard SINGLETARY and Susanna COOKE of Haverhill, Massachusetts. He was no relation to the "Mayflower" DUNHAM Family of Plymouth, Massachusetts, even though attempts to connect him have been made at times. Previous books and genealogies often allude to this connection, and plant him among the descendants of Deacon John DUNHAM. Our Jonathan ended life as Jonathan DUNHAM (alias SINGLETARY). He appears to have had a dual personality having led a stormy life in Haverhill, Massachusetts...perhaps a scoundrel, a notorious vagabond, an antagonizer of the Puritan leaders, etc..

Jonathan SINGLETARY, s/o Richard SINGLETARY and Susanna COOKE, was born 1639/40 at Salisbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts where he appears to have been living at the time of his marriage. Jonathan married about 1660-1661 to Mary BLOOMFIELD, daughter of Thomas and Mary BLOOMFIELD.

At about age 23 in 1662, Jonathan got into court trouble with John GODFREY, accusing John of witchcraft. In return, John GODFREY sued Jonathan for defamation and slander. This was followed by Jonathan being found guilty and having to pay a fine or having to make a public apology.

Jonathan SINGLETARY, appears to have been placed in prison for his erring ways. He evidently had disputes with the Plymouth government for some sort of rebellion. In government records he was described as being a "ranter" and "disseminating corrupt religious principles among his neighbors."

Also, in 1662, Richard and Susanna SINGLETARY conveyed to 150 acres of land in Haverhill to Mary, wife of Jonathan SINGLETARY...not to Jonathan. Perhaps this reflected the fact that Jonathan was not yet settled due to his erring ways, and his parents felt it best to place the land in the hands of his wife, Mary.

Then around 1665/1666, Jonathan and Mary removed to Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., NJ with the BLOOMFIELD family. With the move came a surname change to DUNHAM, perhaps for anonymity and a different way of life. Perhaps it was to re-establish or reclaim the DUNHAM surname of his ancestors. However, even after marriage he appears to have continued to lead a separate life at times when he returned to Massachusetts temporarily.

In New Jersey, Jonathan erected a grain mill in 1670, and here he appears to have led a respectable life. His brick home is said to have been built in 1671 which after some renovation now [2000] serves as a church rectory. His home and a millstone can be see at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~grannyapple/NJCh-Cem/MiddlesexCoNJWoodbridgeHOME/TrinityEpiscopalChHOME.html .

Stephen Kent, Jr. of Woodbridge deeded on 20 Jul 1673 to Jonathan DUNHAM "alias SINGLETARY of the same place, for part of his house-lot meadows of Papyack Creek, adjoining grantee, S. of the road to grantee's mill etc." Again, we note that Jonathan is referred to as being "alias SINGLETARY," and records of him in New Jersey appear to always indicate an alias.

According to Kenneth Royal DUNHAM in his "DUNHAM-SINGLETARY GENEALOGY," Jonathan was not just an "ordinary miller," but one of the founders of Woodbridge, a New Jersey legislature representative, and a community and church leader. However, with his infamous background his respectably lies in question. Perhaps as time elapsed Jonathon mellowed in his attitudes and behaviors, and became a man of respectability.

On 16 Apr 1702, Jonathan was given Power of Attorney by his wife and children to dispose of lands held in Haverhill, Massachusetts. It appears that this was land given to them by Jonathan's parents, Richard & Susannah SINGLETARY, as they are mentioned in the Power of Attorney letter. All sons and one daughter signed "DONHAM alias SINGLETARY" and one daughter signed "Mary ELLISON."

There seems to be overwhelming evidence that for whatever reason, Jonathan SINGLETARY of Massachusetts, was, in fact, the one and same Jonathan DUNHAM of Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., NJ.

NOTE 3./

Dunham descendant needs help

I am a direct descendant of Jonathan Singletary Dunham, who built a grist mill in Woodbridge in 1670. Our research group found the long-lost site.
The Army Corps of Engineers hired the Hunter Archaeology team, and they verified the site. The Army Corps spokeswoman, at a meeting with us, said it is definitely the site and the Hunter Research Team will terminate the search because they are no longer going to build on the site.
Then they had a secret meeting. We were not invited. Then they had a meeting at Woodbridge Town Hall last Thursday, which we heard of by word of mouth. We went to the meeting and found out that they plan to build a canoe dock on top of one of the oldest historical sites in New Jersey.
What can we do, who can we turn to? This must be stopped.

RICHARD E. CROWLEY
Manville: from the Courier News website www.c-n.com

Dunham married Mary BLOOMFIELD in 1660 in Haverhill, Essex Co., MA. Mary (daughter of Thomas BLOOMFIELD and Mary WITHERS) was born on 14 Jan 1642 in Newbury, Plymouth, Massachusetts; died in 1681 in Woodbridge, Somerset County, New Jersey. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Roots Web.com: JONATHAN SINGLETARY-DUNHAM FAMILY LINE; by Audrey Shields Hancock at
<>

Children of Mary BLOOMFIELD and Jonathan SINGLETARY-DUNHAM are: i. Richard Singletary DUNHAM was born 1657, and died 16 OCT 1711.
ii. Esther DUNHAM was born 1659, and died 14 AUG 1689 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., NJ. She married Samuel SMITH 1680 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., MA. He was born 20 OCT 1644 in Barnstable, Barnstable, MA.
1. iii. Mary (#1) DUNHAM was born 29 DEC 1661.
iv. Mary (#2) DUNHAM was born 3 FEB 1662/63.
v. Mary Sarah DUNHAM was born 23 FEB 1662/63 in Haverhill, Essex Co., MA. She married William ELLISON.
vi. Ruth DUNHAM was born 1666 in Haverhill, Essex Co., MA.
vii. Eunice DUNHAM was born 1668, and died 5 DEC 1684.
viii. Jonathan DUNHAM was born 24 SEP 1672 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., NJ, and died 6 SEP 1706 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., NJ. He married Esther ROLPH BET. 5 - 15 FEB 1694/95 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., MA, daughter of John ROLFE and Mary SCULLARD. She was born 1676 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., NJ, and died 11 SEP 1742 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., NJ.
ix. David DUNHAM was born 10 MAR 1673/74 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., NJ, and died 1758 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., NJ. He married Mary ILSLEY 14 AUG 1699 in New York City, New York, daughter of John ILSLEY and Ann (wf\o John ILSLEY) ???. She was born 13 APR 1680 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., NJ, and died BET. 1715 - 1717 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., NJ.
x. Joanna Singletary DUNHAM was born 1675. She married Samuel PARKER.
xi. Nathaniel (#1) DUNHAM was born 8 FEB 1676/77, and died 14 MAY 1678.
xii. Nathaniel (#2) DUNHAM was born 10 APR 1679 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., NJ, and died AFT. 1727 in Westfield, Union Co., NJ. He married Joannah THORNELL 20 OCT 1703 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., MA.
xiii. Benjamin DUNHAM was born 22 AUG 1681 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., NJ, and died 31 DEC 1715 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., NJ. He married Mary SCULLARD BEF. 1706. He married Mary ROLPH 1706 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., MA.

Notes:

NOTE 1./ SINGLETARY FAMILY

Richard Singletary is documented as residing in Salisbury, Mass. from 1644 to 1652, where he was a planter and received land in the "First Division". He was elected a "Select Man" in 1650 and reportedly "taxed decently".
In 1653, he moved back to Haverhill, Mass. where he became a planter and proprietor.
He was again elected a "Select Man" in 1655. He lived there until his death on October 25, 1687. Richard outlived his wife, Susannah, by five years as her death is listed as Aprill 11, 1682. Richard was well educated by the standards of the day and a prominent member of the communties in which he lived. His children married into other prominent families of the era.
By the early 1700's a number of Richard's sons and grandsons migrated to other areas of New England and the Carolinas. They migrated primarily to obtain land which was abundant and cheap at the time. Interestingly, Jonathan, eldest son of Richard (d.1687) and his family members changed their name to Dunham after moving to Woodbridge, New Jersey. Descendants of Jonathan continue to use the Dunham name today. Jonathan signed numerous legal documents as Dunham alias Singletary. The family is well documented in the early period in New England, but after the third generation, research becomes very difficult due to the lack of records and the duplication of names in the family.

NOTE 2./ The Descendants of Francis Singletary Compiled By Dorothy Courtney Saunders - 1997
E-Mail - [email protected] <>

Information for Richard follows:
Family tradition, that has for many, many years been handed down from generation to generation, tells that in the last quarter of the 16th century there was in England a family of title and large estates by the name of Dunham (Donham in Massachusetts records). There were two branches and in case of the death of the last male heir the title and estates would pass to the nearest make relative in the younger branch. The unexpected did occur and every male of the elder branch died except one small boy and one day he was missing. On investigation it was found that his nurse was also missing. Extensive searching, even with bloodhounds, produced no trace of the missing heir so the property was held for some years in abeyance. Eventually the heir apparent of the younger branch instituted a lawsuit to gain possession but he decision of the courts is unknown. At any rate, many years afterward the nurse, on her deathbed, confessed that she had been employed to destroy the child, but that her heart failed when the test came, and she decided to procure him a home in the new world. Kowing a search would be made she hid with the child in a dense hazel thicket and was in mortal terror when she heard the hounds. They failed to pick up the scent, however, so the nurse with the child remained there a day and a night, fearing that they would be discovered on emerging. They finally escaped, however, and almost expiring of hunger and fatigue, succeeded in reaching a ship in which she embarked for America. On reaching whose shores she deserted the child and shortly afterward returned to England. She added that in view of the fact that the child was now alone, separated from all kindred ties and likely to remain so, she had given him the doubly significant name of Single Tarry. The circumstances under which this written and sworn confession was made lent such force to the probability on it's truth detectives were immediately sent to America to investigate the matter and a young man was found bearing the name whose age corresponded with that of the lost heir of the Dunham estates and who could give no account of his antededents. The Captain of the ship on which the child was deserted had adopted him under the name the nurse had given, having no idea of his real name and lineage, but he was now dead. Indeed the number of years that had passed, and the surroundings evidently chosen at the time with reference to destroying all trace of name and ancestry, were such that no one could positively testify that this was the person sought; and while he was believed to be the heir the evidence was not sufficient to satisfy the English Court and put him in possession of the property. This tradition has been passed down for generations and it assumes the dignity of truth when we consider that in a legal document that appears in the archives of Massachusetts, recorded in 1702, the whole family is referred to as "Donham, alias Singletary.

Another legend concerning the origin of the family is of two Dunham/ Donham/ Denham/ DuNoe/ DuNom/ brothers, Huguenot refuges from La Rochelle, France, who came to America in early 1700's. Later one slipped back to France to see what he could recover of the family estates. Upon his return to America he announced to his brother that all was lost the Crown and the Church had taken it all. The unbelieving brother denounced the rascality of the returnee's report and refused to bear the family name any longer, taking his mother's family name of Singletary.

Richard was in Massachusetts by Sept. 11, 1637. See the book Singletary/Curtis Family written by Lou SingletaryBedford in 1907 for background and many descendents. Ms. Bedford wrote "Among the earliest records of him he is simply mentioned as Richard Singletary of Salisbury and Amesbury. He was a great rover for we find him in Salem in 1637, where he received a grant of land; removed to Newbury, where he joined the church in 1645; was selectman in 1650; removed to Haverhill in 1653; where he received a grant of land and became a proprietor; was selectman in 1655.

Many other descendents were in Bladen Co., NC and can be followed through deeds in the possession of some of their descendents of families that traveled on to Mississippi.

An updated book THE SINGLETARY FAMILY HISTORY by Yvonne Miller Brunton, c. 1989 and published by Heritage Papers, Danielsville, GA 30633, has been used to correct some of the information that Ms Estabrook originally submitted to Colonial Dames. She has done extensive research and states that her notes have been deposited with the Thomasville (GA) Cultural Center Library.

SOURCE NOTES for Richard follow:
He was born between 1585-1599. Records say that he died at age of 102.
Membership to National Society of Colonial Dames XVII Century has been established for his descendents. National #10567 member Thelma Courtney Estabrook.
Some descendents moved to NJ and sometimes used alias of Dunham. A descendent Scott Trimble of San Rafael, CA has traced many other descendents and he has several Dunham/Donham lines. Jonathan's son Nathaniel changed his name to Donham and it is from this person that Scott is descended

NOTE 3./ As a historical time frame point of reference; In 1585, Sir Francis Drake, the English explorer, rescued the 1st English attempt at colonizing the New World. This was at Roanoke Island North Carolina
NOTE 4./ Genealogical Dictionary of New England Settlers : Source information found at <>

Volume 4 : page 102
Singletary, or Singletery, Amos, Haverhill, perhaps s. of Richard, took o. of alleg. Dec. 1677. BENJAMIN, Haverhill, s. of Richard, perhaps his youngest, sw. alleg. the same day with Amos, m. 4 Apr. 1678, Mary Stockbridge, had Susanna, b. 27 Jan.foll.; Richard, 16 Mar. 1681; Jonathan, 28 Aug. 1683; John, 6 July 1686; Broughton, 25 Mar. 1689; Joseph, 9 Feb. 1693; and Mary, 14 July 1695. JONATHAN, Haverhill, prob. br. of the preced. in 1663 had w. Mary. NATHANIEL, Haverhill, br. of Benjamin, sw. allg. the same day with him, m. 22 Dec. 1673, Sarah Belknap, perhaps d. of Abraham the first, had John, b. 7 May 1675; Jonathan, 18 Nov. 1678, d. in few days; Sarah, 23 Oct. 1679; Susanna, 19 Sept. 1681; Richard, 5 Aug. 1683, perhaps that one k. by the Ind. 19 Aug. 1707, at Lancaster; Hannah, 23 May 1685; Ebenezer, 18 June 1687; and ano. 20 Aug. 1689; but the f. was k. by the Ind. 7 days bef. RICHARD, Salem 1637, rem. bef. join. the ch. to Newbury, there was freem. 7 Sept. 1638, may have had sev. ch. b. there ef. rem. to Salisbury in 1645 or aft. but there are rec. by w. Susanna, Jonathan, b. 17 Jan. 1640; Eunice, 7 Jan. 1642; Nathaniel, 28 Oct. 1644; Lydia, 30 Apr. 1648; and Amos, Apr. 1651. He was a selectman in 1650, tax. decently for the supp. of min. yet gone in 1652 to Haverhill, there, by w. Susanna Cooke, says Barry, had Benjamin, b. 4 Apr. 1656. Coffin says, he had John, that is perhaps the same as Jonathan. Eunice m. at Andover, 6 Jan. 1659, Thomas Eaton. His w. d. 11 Apr. 1682, and he d. 25 Oct. 1687, in the 102d yr. if the repts. may be accept. RICHARD, New London 1686, wh. may have been s. or gr.s. of the preced. d. 16 Oct. 1711, leav. nine ch. some of wh. were in Carolina, but the only kn. names are Richard, William, Waitstill, and beside a d. wh. m. Samuel Latham.

NOTE 5./ from Descendants of Richard Singletary: <>

Notes for Richard Singletary:
Richard was living in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts in 1637. On 7 September, 1638 he was listed as a freeman, and member of the church in Newbury, Massachusetts. In 1645 the family moved to Salisbury, Essex County, Mass. where Rechard werved as a selectman in 1650. By 1652 the family had moved yet again, this time to Haverhill in Essex County. At the time of his death Richard was 102 years of age, an extreamely long lived person for that time and location.

Richard was born in England to family of title. He was to receive the title but another member of the Dunham Family, which was Richards family, hired Richard's nurse to kill him so that he would become the next one to receive the title. She could not do this so she took him aboard a ship to America. She gave Richard a new name, Singletarry to hide his name of Dunham. She placed the child in the care of an American family and went back to England but on her death bed she told what she had done. Richard chose to keep his new name of Singletary and rejected any efforts to regain his title.

Richard married Susannah M. COOK in Feb 1639 in Haverhill, Mass.. Susannah (daughter of Johanis COOK and Martha Susan COOKE) was born on 17 Mar 1616 in Bayton, England; died on 11 Apr 1682 in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Susannah Cook was a sister to Col. George Cook, Joseph Cook and Phillip Cook of Cambridge, Mass.

Col. George Cook was a Colonel in the service of Oliver Cromwell's Army prior to his immigration to America.

Record of her death refers to her as "goodwife" this is a term that could mean her husband was a church official .

Thomas married Mary WITHERS in England. Mary was born in in England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(From Margaret Gardner-Cannefax's: Cannefax-Gardner and Related Lines pp83-84 pub.1972)

There is a very old tradition about the Singletary family in the United States. In the last quarter of the sixteenth century there was living in England a family of title and large estates by the name of Dunham (Massachusetts records have it Donham). Of this family there were two branches; and in case of death of the last male of the elder branch the title and estates would pass to the nearest male relative of the younger branch. Now "it came to pass" that the "unexpected" did occur. Every male of the elder branch died except one small boy, and one morning he was missing. On investigation it was found his nurse was also missing. A thorough search was made at once, even nglish bloodhounds were used, but nothing could be found. Time passed and the heir did not appear. There was no evidence that he was dead; and so for some years the property was held in abeyance.

Many years afterward the nurse lay on her death-bed, and there made affidavit that she had been hired to destroy the child. Her heart failed when the test came and she decided to take him to the New World. They finally obtained passage on a ship for America. When they reached the shore she deserted the child and shortly returned to England. She added that she had given the child the name of Single-tarry. Detectives were immediately sent ot this Country to investigate the matter; and a young man was found bearing the name of the lost heir of the Dunham estates; and who could give no account of his background. The captain of the ship on which the child was deserted had adopted him under the name she had given, but the Captain was now dead. The number of years that had passed and other evidence were such that no one could positively testify that this was the person sought. While he was believed to be the heir the evidence was not sufficient to satisfy the English court and put him in possession of the property.

Such was tradition that has been handed down through nine or ten generations of the Singletary family. Whenever the name is found in Massachusetts to Teaxas and Louisiana the bearer of it is familiar with the tradition concerning his or her English antecedents and the founding of the family in America. In a legal document that appears in the archives of Massachusetts recorded in 1702, the whole family is referred to as "Donham alias Singletary."

The name is first noted in the "Domesday Book" as the first tax census made by William the Conqueror was called shortly after he completed his subjegation of England in 1066 A.D. The name also appears in the Book of Hundreds and members of the Singletary family may be found in the vaults of Bury Saint Ives Chapel dating back to the sixteenth century. A coat of arms was granted to the family in the 15th century. From England the family branched out into Scotland and the "Isles." It is now found in almost all parts of Great Britain. It is not known what is the connnection of the Singletarys of England and Richard, the first in America.

Richard Singletary in the earliest records is simply mentioned as "Richard Singletary of Salisbury and Amesbury." His birth antedates the earliest New England settlements. He was a great rover, for we find him in Salem in 1637, where he received a land grant; removed to Newbury where he joined the church in 1638. He moved to Salisbury in 1645, to Haverhill in 1653. In 1638/9 he married Susannah Cook and the had nine children.

Benjamin, youngest son of Richard Singletary married Mary Stockbridge 4 April 1678 at Haverhill, Mass. In 1695 they left Mass. and emigrated to the Carolinas. By this move he became the founder of the Carolina branches of the family.

Francis married Agnes COOK about 1578 in Salem, Massachusetts. Agnes (daughter of Henry COOK and Lydia UNKNOWN) was born about 1563 in Norfolk Co. England; died about 1618 in Salem, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Johanis married Martha Susan COOKE about 1598 in England. Martha (daughter of M.R. COOKE) was born about 1584 in England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]