Birth: John Dunham was born about 1587.Death: He died in Plymouth on March 2, 1668/9.Ship: Unknown, 1632Life in England: John Dunham has been tentatively identifiedas the son of Richard Dunham of Langford, Bedfordshire.Life in Holland: John Dunham and three children were listedas inhabitants of Zevenhuysen in Leiden in the October 15,1622, census.Life in New England: John Dunham first appeared in thePlymouth records in 1633, being listed in both the 1633 list offreemen and in the March 25, 1633, tax list for Plymouth.During his life, he served on many juries and committees. Hewas a deputy to the Plymouth court for many years, beginningin 1639, and a selectman from 1644. He was also chosen as adeacon of the Plymouth church. By occupation, he was a weav-er, a craft he may have learned in England. He was described athis death as a deacon in the Plymouth church, but it is notknown when he was chosen.Family: John Dunham married (1) Susan Kaino in Clophill,Bedfordshire on August 17, 1612, and had three children. Hemarried (2) Abigail Balliou in Leiden on October 22, 1622, andhad eight children. She was still living in 1669.Children of John and Susan Dunham: John was baptized on February 19, 1614/5, at Henlow,

Bedfordshire. He married Mary _____ about 1642 and hadseven children.

Humilty was born about 1617. She was living in 1622 butthere is no further record.Thomas was born about 1619. Hedied by 1677, apparently unmarried.

Children of John and Abigail Dunham: Samuel was born about 1623. He married Martha (Beals)

Falloway oin Plymouth on June 29, 1649, as her second hus-band and had four children. He died in Plymouth on January20, 1711/2.

Jonathan was born about 1625. He married (1) Mary Delanoin Plymouth on November 29, 1655, but had no children. Shedied before October 15, 1657. He married (2) Mary Cobband had six children. He died in Edgartown on December 18,1717.

Abigail was born about 1627. She married StephenWood/Atwood in Plymouth on November 6, 1644, and hadtwo children.

Joseph was born about 1631. He married (1) Mercy Mortonin Plymouth on November 18, 1657. She died in Plymouthon February 19, 1666. He married (2) Esther Wormall inPlymouth on August 20, 1669.He had seven children by thesetwo wives.

Hannah was born about 1634. She married Giles Rickard inPlymouth on October 31, 1651, and had ten children. Shedied on April 1, 1708.

Persis was born about 1635. She married (1) Benajah Pratt inPlymouth on November 29, 1655, and had eleven children.He died in Plymouth on March 17, 1682/3. She married (2)Jonathan Shaw in Plymouth in August 1683. He died beforeJuly 30, 1701.

Benajah was born about 1637. He married Elizabeth Tilson inPlymouth on October 25, 1660, and had seven children. Hedied in Piscataway, New Jersey, before August 12, 1680. Shemarried (2) Jonas Wood before January 14, 1684/5. Danielwas born about 1639. He married Hannah ____ by 1670.Nothing further is known.

For Further Information:Robert C. Anderson. The Great Migration Begins. Boston: NewEngland Historic Genealogical Society, 1995.Robert C. Anderson. The Pilgrim Migration. Boston: NewEngland Historic Genealogical Society, 2004.Mrs. John E. [Florence] Barclay. Jonathan2 Dunham ofPlymouth and Edgartown, Massachusetts. The AmericanGenealogist 36 (1960): 24349.Mrs. John E. [Florence] Barclay.Notes on the Dunham Familyof Plymouth, Massachusetts. The American Genealogist 30(1954): 14355.Robert Leigh Ward.The English Origin and First Marriage ofDeacon John1 Dunham of Plymouth, Massachusetts. TheAmerican Genealogist 71(1996): 13333.

A collaboration between PLIMOTH PLANTATION and the NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

Supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services

www.PlymouthAncestors.org

A genealogical profile of John Dunham

I M P O R TA N T G E N E A L O G I C A L R E S O U R C E S

New England Historic Genealogical SocietyFounded in 1845, NEHGS is the countrys oldest and largestgenealogical society.The library contains over 200,000 books,plus significant manuscript and microfilm collections, and a cir-culating library by mail. NEHGS members receive two peri-odicals, the Register and New England Ancestors, and can accessvaluable genealogical data online.NEHGS, 101 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116;888-296-3447; www.NewEnglandAncestors.org.

Plimoth Plantation: Bringing Your History To LifeAs a non-profit, educational organization our mission is: to offerthe public powerful experiences of history, built upon thoroughresearch of the Wampanoag and Pilgrim communities.We offermultiple learning opportunities to provide a deeper understand-ing of the relationship of historical events to modern America.Members have access to our Research Library.Plimoth Plantation, 137 Warren Avenue, Plymouth, MA 02632;508-746-1622; www.plimoth.org

R E C O M M E N D E D W E B S I T E S

www.PlymouthAncestors.org www.CyndisList.com www.FamilySearch.org www.USGenWeb.org

G E N E A L O G I C A L L I B R A R I E S I N P LY M O U T H

General Society of Mayflower Descendants LibraryA collection focused principally on the genealogies of thedescendants of the Mayflower passengers.4 Winslow St., Plymouth; 508-746-3188; www.mayflower.org

Plymouth Collection, Plymouth Public LibraryOver 1200 items relating to the descendants of the Pilgrims, aswell as the many other immigrants who settled in the area.132 South St., Plymouth; 508-830-4250;www.plymouthpubliclibrary.org

R E C O M M E N D E D B O O K S

The Complete Idiots Guide to Genealogy by Christine Rose andKay Germain Ingalls,Alpha Books, 1997.Genealogists Handbook for New England Research by MarciaMelnyk, NEHGS, 1999.Shaking Your Family Tree:A Basic Guide to Tracing Your FamilyHistory by Ralph J. Crandall, NEHGS, 2001.Unpuzzling Your Past by Emily Croom, Betterway Books, 2003.

A collaboration between PLIMOTH PLANTATION and the NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

www.PlymouthAncestors.org

Researching your familys history can be a fun, rewarding, and occa-

sionally frustrating project. Start with what you know by collecting infor-

mation on your immediate family. Then, trace back through parents,

grandparents, and beyond.This is a great opportunity to speak to relatives,

gather family stories, arrange and identify old family photographs, and

document family possessions that have been passed down from earlier

generations.

Once you have learned all you can from family members, you will

begin to discover other sources. A wide variety of records can help you learn more about the lives of your ancestors.These

include birth,marriage, and death records; immigration and naturalization records; land records; census records; probate records

and wills; church and cemetery records; newspapers; passenger lists; military records; and much more.

When you use information from any source an original record, a printed book, or a website always be careful to doc-

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be sure to record the authors sources for the information. If the authors sources arent provided, you will have to try to find

the original source. Many genealogical works contain faulty information, and the Internet also contains many inaccuracies. In

order for your work to be accepted by lineage societies and other genealogists it must be properly documented.