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Jonathan Dunham alias Singletary
©2010-2024 Doug Wilson

Jonathan Dunham alias Singletary and Mary Bloomfield are born just two days shy of two years apart. During their childhood, he lives in Salisbury and Haverhill and she in Newbury, of Essex County, Massachusetts. This is likely where he learns something of construction and milling as there is considerable mill construction and operation along the rivers there. At the age of 19 and 17, respectively, he and Mary start their family in Haverhill with Esther and Mary. They move briefly to Connecticut where they have two more girls, Ruth and Eunice, and where he may have built a house and mill. Upon their move to Woodbridge, New Jersey, he builds the house and mill for which he is known, serves as town clerk, and has some of his more controversial exploits. It is in Woodbridge that their four boys are born - Jonathan, David, Nathaniel, and Benjamin. Mary dies there in 1705 at age 63 and he in 1724 at age 84, survived by just three of their eight children.

To me, he seems the embodiment of the American character. At various times throughout the many decades of his life he demonstrates courage, faith, fortitude, loyalty, industriousness, perseverance, and determined independence. Yet he is but one representative of the ingenious, self-reliant yeomen, women, and their children that made colonial America the birthplace of a great democracy. He is also someone several puritans, researchers, historians, and genealogists have most unfairly characterized. I trust an objective review of the documentation offered helps to set the record straight on the extraordinary and exemplary character of this individual.

For a possible explanation of his name change to Dunham alias Singletary, please see the discussion on the origins of Jonathan's father, Richard Singletary.

Select a title below to explore some of the events and controversial episodes of his full life or open all sections and browse.

1640-1649: Childhood in Salisbury

1650-1659: Adolescence in Haverhill of Puritan New England

1660-1669: Young Adulthood, the Trials of John Godfrey and a Move to Connecticut

1670-1679: Early Woodbridge Years and the Dutch Council of War Episode

In 1670, the East Jersey Governor, Philip Carteret, imposes annual quit rents (taxes) on all land holders by order of the Proprietors, Sir George Carteret and Lord Berkeley. A dispute arises with some of the Elizabethtown residents, perhaps led by John Ogden, because they claim rights to their land by purchase from the natives for goods worth £36 14s and confirmation from the New York Governor Nicholls prior to Carteret's arrival. The Duke of York had given Nicholls governship of New York and settlements on lands to the west of New York, as well. Captain Phillip Carteret was a relative of Sir George, Baronet of the Isle of Jersey, by whom he is appointed Governor of New Jersey, the same lands west of New York. When he arrives in August, 1665, he names the place at which he landed, Elizabethtown, some say, after Sir George's lady. (Whtehead, p.30) Hatfield's account describes Governor Philip and Sir George as cousins. (Hatfield, p.110) Coincidently, this is also about the time Jonathan Dunham alias Singletary receives a promise of a grant of 210 acres to establish the first grist mill in Woodbridge and moves there from Connecticut, builds the tide mill and his home. (Troeger, p.28)

A committee is formed at the town meeting of March 1, 1670, to choose the site for a grist mill. (Dally, p.46) According to Dally (p.17), the mill was built along the main road of Woodbridge at the crossing of the "Papiak", now known as "Woodbridge Creek." At that time, it is more a river than the creek and adjacent wetland it is today. He writes "The town agreed to give Jonathan £30 for the improvement and all the sod out of the meadow he might need for damming. His toll was to be one-sixteenth, and tradition gives him credit for turning out the most beautiful meal; and we are assured that his toll was so light that a man who brought a bag of grain to him took back two bags of flour. This old mill stood for many years, grinding for the comfort of several generations, and [in 1873] the timbers which once supported it are lying on the ground and mark the site of the ancient building, on the west side of the stream."

Hunter Research, Inc., for an Army Corps of Engineers' wetland study, conducted a survey of the wetlands in this location in 2005-2006. View location on Google® Maps. They conclude that this is indeed the site of Dunham's Mill, later owned, operated, and, perhaps, improved by William Stone and, then, Isaac Prall; and that it was a tide mill. A 1781 Middlesex County map available from the Library of Congress marks the location as *Stone's (highlighted right). They found "timber remains of a mill dam/causeway (and possible sluice gate/bridge) in the banks and bed of Woodbridge Creek immediately upstream of the modern Port Reading Avenue crossing. ... The core of the mill site, which would likely include remains of a mill building, is projected to lie on the west bank of Woodbridge Creek beneath and just to the south of the Port Reading Avenue crossing ..." Additional remains of dam/causeway, sluice gate/bridge, wharfage, and bulkheading may yet exist "in the wetland to the east of the creek" and "on the west bank immediately downstream of the core mill site." (Starbuck, p.12)

At a town meeting "on the 7th of February, 1671, it was ordered that a houselot and 'other accomodations,' equal to those of other inhabitants, should be reserved for the use of a minister. Permission was given to Jonathan Dunham in June to mow the grass on the parsonage meadow for four years, provided he would put up a good fence to keep the cattle out, and surrender it if a minister should chance to come - the town paying for the fence in the latter case." (Dally, p. 78) By December 28, Robert Vauquellin alias La Priere, Surveyor General, returns a survey of land for Jonathan Donham of Woodbridge. (NJ Archives, 21:39) Robert La Priere, or La Praire, is an alias of Robert Vauquellin, a native of Caen in France, who emigrated to this country and was appointed Surveyor-General and one of the Governor's Council in New Jersey, in 1668. (Whitehead, p.45) La Priere was a title meaning "Lord of the Prairie" in French, which was likely attributed to Vauquellin as a surveyor. (Brodhead, p.600)

In 1672, Jonathan Dunham begins a decade-long service as Woodbridge Township Clerk of Courts. (Whitehead, p.358) Also this year, Sir George's son, Captain James, is sent to the colonies to govern Sir George's Carolina holdings, stopping in East Jersey on his way. While there, he involves himself in the dispute on the side of the Elizabethtown residents and exacerbates the troubles. He is regarded by these residents as their "President" to advance their cause. (Hatfield, p.147) By July, 1672, Governor Phillip returns to England to make some representation on the state of the Province, in consequence of the disaffection of a portion of the settlers. (Brodhead, p.607)

Then on August 10, the Lord Proprietors patent to Jonathan Donham of Woodbridge carpenter 170 acres comprised of: 1) a houselot of 9 acres E. of the Meeting House Green; 2) 8 acres W. of the parsonage lands, N. of Thomas Lenard; 3) 120 acres of upland N. of Wilyam Cotter; 4) 36 acres of meadows not yet laid out. (NJ Archives, 21:19) And on September 24, 1672, a first son, Jonathan, is born to Jonathan and Mary. (Dally, p.327)

Come December 6, the quit rent dispute escalates as the Lord Proprietors issue these Declarations:

...
"the Power of the Governor and his Council to admit of all Persons to become Planters and free Men of the said Province, without the General Assembly; but no Person or Persons whatsoever shall be counted a Freeholder of the said Province, nor have any Vote in electing, nor be capable of being elected for any Office of Trust, either Civil or Military, until he doth actually hold his or her Lands by Patent from us, the Lord Proprietors.
...
"the Power of the Governor and his Council to appoint the Times and Places of meeting of the General Assembly, and to adjourn and summon them together again when and where he and they shall see Cause.
...
"the Power of the Governor and his Council to constitute and appoint Courts in particular Corporations already settled, without the General Assembly; but for the Courts of Sessions and Assizes to be constituted and established by the Governor Council and Representatives together: And that all Appeals, shall be made from the Assizes, to the Governor and his Council, and thence to the Lords Proprietors; from whom they may appeal to the King ...
...
"all Officers Civil and Military (except before excepted) be nominated and appointed by the Governor and Council, without the General Assembly, unless he the said Governor and Council shall see occasion for their Advice and Assistance.
...
"For such as pretend to a Right of Propriety to Land and Government, within our Province, by virtue of any Patent from Governor Colonel Richard Nichols, as they ignorantly assert, we utterly disown any such thing. A Grant they had from him upon such Conditions which they never performed: For by the said Grant they were obliged to do and perform such Acts and things as should be appointed by His Royal Highness, or his Deputies; the Power whereof remains in us by Virtue of a Patent from his said Royal Highness, bearing Date long before these Grants; which hath been often declared by our Governor (an now ratified and owned under the sign Manual of his said Royal Highness to Colonel Lovelace, bearing Date of 25th of November 1672) who demanded their submission to our Authority, and to Patent their Land from us, and pay our Quit Rent according to our concessions; which if they shall enjoy the Tract or Tracts of Land they are settled upon, and to have such other Privileges and Immunities as our Governor and Council can agree upon; but without their speedy compliance as above said, we do hereby Order our Governor and our Council to dispose therefore in whole or in part, for our best Advantage to any other Persons. And if any Person or Persons do think they have injustice or wrong done by this our positive Determination, they may address themselves to the King and Council; and if their Right to that Land or Government appears to be better than ours, we will readily submit thereunto." ... (Whitehead, pp.99-102)


On June 7, 1673, Jonathan and his father-in-law, Thomas Bloomfield are elected representatives to the East Jersey legislature along with Adrian Post and Elias Michilson for Bergen. (NJ Archives, 21:34) By July, Sir George instructs his son, Captain James Carteret, to leave New Jersey for his lands in the Carolinas. James, his wife, and Samuel Hopkins, planter of Elizabethtown and one of several residents upset with the Proprietors' quit rents, sail into the James River and are taken by a Dutch fleet. James and his wife are set ashore. The Dutch ask the English ship's Captain Davis about fortifications in New York and are dissuaded to raiding there until Hopkins counters Davis's claims and reports that "New Yorke was in no condicon to defend itselfe." (McConville, 2006)

On July 20, Jonathan expands his houselot under the Proprietors. Stephen Kent junior of Woodbridge deeds to Jonathan Dunham alias Singleterry of the same place, for part of his homelot on Papyack Creek, adjoining grantee, South of the road to grantee's mill, 2 acres on the Northside of said road. (NJ Archives, 21:277) By the 31st, the Dutch fleet attacks and captures Manhattan Island and its stronghold, Fort James. August 8, Nathan Gould of Stanford reports to British authorities in Boston that, Samuel Hopkins volunteered details of the limited troop strength at Fort James on Manhattan to the Dutch prior to their successful attack July 31. (Doyle, p.137; Hatfield, p.155; Sainsbury, #1138-IV) It will soon be clear this news quickly reaches Carteret's Council in New Jersey, as well.

On August 12 at New Orange (formerly Fort James), Manhattan Island, New Netherland, the Dutch Council of War met composed of

They first heard "John Baker, Jacob Melyn, John Ogden, cum socius, Deputies from the village of Elizabethtown, Niew-worke, Woodbridge and Piscataway, situate in the Province heretofore called New Yarsey, praying, by petition, that they may be allowed to send some Delegates from their said villages to treat with the Admirals and associate Council of war respecting the surrender of their towns under the obedience of their High Mightinesses, the Lords States of the United Netherlands, and his Serene Highness, the Prince of Orange, and that no audience be granted to their late Governor, Capt. John Berry, before and until the same be granted to the said Delegates." (Brodhead, p.571)

On the 18th, "Captain John Berry, William Sandfort, Samuel Edsall and Lorenens Andriessen, appearing before the Council request that they and their plantations may be confirmed in the privileges which they obtained from their previous Patroons, and furthermore possess unobstucted their houses, lands and goods, and enjoy such further privileges as are granted and accorded to all other inhabitants of Achter Coll, lately called New Jersey." (Brodhead, p.576)

Here the Dutch resurrect a name from their previous colonization effort in the area. Achter Kol Colony was the name the Dutch used in the first half of the 17th century when referring to their settlements around the Hackensack River of, what are now named, Bergen and Hudson Counties. "In 1643 relations between the Dutch, led by the inept Governor Kieft, and the Native Americans became strained to the breaking point. This was reached when Kieft's soldiers massacred 80 men, women and children as they were sleeping on the night of February 25 in Pavonia (Jersey City)." The tribes of the area retaliated with the destruction of all the villages, and lastly, the village of Achter Kol within the year. The Dutch withdrew permanently from these settlements as a consequence. (Bogota, 2000)

September 1, the "Schout John Ogden and Secretary Samuel Hopkins are this day ordered to take an Inventory of the Estate of the late Governor Carteret, and to report the result." (Brodhead, p.595) Then, on September 7, "Schout John Ogden and Secretary Samuel Hopkins appearing, complain that Robert Lapriere hath removed divers goods from the house of Phillip Carteret which he refuses to restore; also that one John Singletary refuses to obey their commands; whereupon 'tis ordered to arrest said persons and bring them hither, to which end some soldiers are furnished. They are furthermore ordered to summon James Bollen, late Secretary of the Province of New Yersey, to deliver up, agreeably to former order the Governor's papers within the space of 10 days after this date, or in default thereof, his property shall be at the disposal of the Honorable Council of War." (Brodhead, p.600) Later in that same, September 7, session of the Council, Captain Berry, Acting Governor of New Jersey under the English, and William Sandford entering and requesting, in substance, "the Records and Papers of the late Province of New Yarsey, may, for divers reasons be delivered to and remain in the office of the Secretary of this Government, and not with Mr. Hopkins individually." (Whitehead, p.19) It would seem the Proprietors' reprentatives are aware of Hopkins' activities and intentions.

Then, on September 9, Robert Lapriere and Jonathan Singletary being arrested by the Sheriff of Achter Coll and pursuant to previous order sent hither, are examined in Council on the charges brought against them, all which were denied by them. Whereupon ordered, that John Ogden, the Sheriff, be summoned hither to prove his complaints against those persons. (Brodhead, p.603)

September 12, "James Bollen, Captain Berry, Samuel Edsall and some inhabitants of Woodbridge, again request that the books and papers concerning the province called New Yarsie, may be delivered into the hands of Secreatry Bayard, and not to Samuel Hopkins, as they have great reasons to suspect said Hopkins of having away with some of them." Their request is granted and allowed. (Brodhead, pp.605-6)

September 13, the "Honorable Council of War having heard and examined the complaints of John Ogden, Schout, against Jonathan Singletary, for not only refusing to obey the orders sent him by said Schout, but moreover for answering very rudely and discourteously in writing, in contumely and disrespect of his authority, which being sufficiently proved, partly by admission and further by evidence on oath, the Honorable Council of war, by virtue of their commission administering justice, have therefore condemned and sentenced, as they do hereby sentence and condemn said Jonathan Singletary to pay a fine of Five Pounds Sterling, to be applied to the behoof of the poor of this city, with further warning that strict orders be given to the magistrates of Achter Coll to have a strict eye over his behavior, and that he shall, on the first complaint made de novo against him, be punished as a mutineer and disturber of the public peace, and as an example to others. Further to pay costs of court. The Honorable Council of War having heard and examined the complaint of John Ogden, Schout, against Robert Van Quelen, alias Lapriere, who refuses not only to obey the orders sent to him by the Schout to restore the goods removed by him from the house of the late Governor Carterett, but moreover publicly with threats that the Duke of York had still an interest in Fort James, and that there would be another change within half a year. All which being sufficiently proved under oath, the Council of War therefore administering justice by virtue of its commission, have hereby condemned and sentenced said Robert Van Quelenm to restore the removed goods of Capt. Carterett, and furthermore, to be banished as an example to others." (Brodhead, pp.606-607; Hatfield, pp.159)

So there is a dispute between parties over the legitimacy of land ownership and the taxing of same. Notably, the only actions that could be viewed as dishonorable are taken by John Hopkins, who betrays the current English government by giving the Dutch an opportunity to briefly retake New York. (Sainsbury, #1138-IV; Hatfield, p.155) Hopkins, Ogden, et. al., are likely operating on what they see as their best interest. The "stolen" papers likely are the survey maps, deeds, and records of meetings that the Proprietors wanted to document their proprietorship and the disaffected settlers would want to destroy. Captain Berry is Acting Governor with his secretary, James Bollen. Robert Vauquillen is the Surveyor General that drew the map of taxable properties for the Governor, and Jonathan Dunham alias Singletary is Woodbridge Township Clerk at the time. It is in their interest to preserve the authority of the Proprietors. Each of these men owe their land grants and loyalty to the Governor and Proprietors. Therefore, these men together are working in the interests of the Governor, entrusted with the task of preserving his records rather than having stolen them or anything else. Furthermore, Jonathan is never accused by the Dutch Council of War of "stealing" anything, being a "notoriuos vagabond", or "punished as a mad-man." (Dunham, p.42) Rather, the Council of War seems most disturbed by, what they see as, the presumptuousness of Singletary and Vauquillen to question their authority; albeit, short-lived, as predicted by Vauquillen.

March 10, 1674, David is born to Jonathan and Mary (Dally, p.327), indicating Mary was pregnant throughout Jonathan's troubles with the Dutch and early Elizabethtown colonists. The Piscataway residents were also taking advantage of the Dutch rule as an opportunity to settle a dispute with Woodbridge over some meadow land that lay on their shared border. Dally's description of the events, below, notes Jonathan Dunham is called upon to represent Woodbridge's interests.

In the meeting of July 2d, 1674, the Piscataway trouble came up again. Daniel Denton and John Gilman, in behalf of that town, had begun a suit against the Woodbridge settlers in order to obtain the upland and meadow in dispute between them. The boundary line which separated the one Township from the other had been drawn by Voquillen, so that the coveted territory was thrown in the corporation of Woodbridge. The Piscataway people regarded this as unjust, and bitter feeling grew up between the sister towns in consequence, manifesting itself in acts of petty spite — as we have previously related. This suit was the culmination of the Piscataway wrath. The Court for the trial was to be held at Elizabethtown, on the 7th of July, and this special Town Meeting was occupied in getting ready for it. Capl. John Pike, Lieut. Samuel Moore, and Jonathan Dunham were appointed by the Magistrates (and approved by the Freeholders) to be the attorneys for defending the interests of Woodbridge. But the trial never came off. The Dutch had possession of the country when the suit was begun; but on the very day the trial was to take place, July 7th, orders were received from the Board of Admiralty at Amsterdam to surrender the forts and restore the country to England. Of course, all legal processes were abandoned. Under English rule there was no hope for Piscataway, for Carteret had frowned upon its aspirations; but, under the Dutch, favor was expected. The Court was constituted by Deputies from all the towns in the Province (except those interested in the case) and three men chosen by the Government, of whom one, John Lawrence, was made President. In the New York Colonial Records the contested lands are mentioned as "Valleys in dispute," but no other description of them is given; and they remained in the possession of the Woodbridge men. (Dally, p. 51)

Phillip Carteret is re-commissioned Governor, July 31st, 1674, and returns to New Jersey the following November. He remains undisturbed in his government until 1680, when Sir Edmund Andros lays claim to it, ordering Governor Carteret to be seized on the night of the 30th April, 1680, and carried prisoner to New York, where he is tried and acquitted. He remains, however, virtually deposed until March, 1681, when orders are received from England to have him restored to his government and to forebear further interference with him. (Brodhead, p.607)

By 1675, life in Woodbridge settles down. On February 1, Jonathan Dunham is named one of the executors of the will of Obediah Winter alias Grabum of Woodbridge. (NJ Archives, 21:37) Also about this time, a map of Elizabethtown shows Bollen property (transferred to John Martin this year) on future sites of government buildings amidst Carteret property and near Ogden Mill. One piece is acquired by Thomas Blumfield from Abraham Shotwell in 1675 and transferred to Carteret the same year. (Wheeler, 1907) Then, on June 7, Jonathan's brother-in-law, Thomas Bloomfield [junior], is one of the elected Representatives to the General Assembly for Woodbridge with Samuel Dennis for the year 1675. (NJ Archives, 21:34; NYGBR, 68:58)

alias Dunning? Some say that in 1675 Jonathan Dunham may have been a soldier in King Phillip's War along side his brother, Amos Singletary, because the name Jonathan Dunning is found along with Amos in Captain Turner's company. While Savage (p.80) identified Jonathan as Jonathan Dunen alias Singletary during his residence in Connecticut (1665-1669), he is not likely the Dunning referred to by Hoyt (p.317). There is also a Dunning family living in Connecticut at that time. A George of that family was referenced in the will of his father-in-law as Dunham or Denham. (Savage, p.82) These four surnames are easily confused with their similar sound.

On February 8, 1677, Nathaniel Dunham is born Jonathan and Mary. Just 15 months later, on May 14 of the year following, Nathaniel Dunham dies. Hoyt merely gives one Nathaniel. (Dally, p.327; Hoyt, p.317) The next year, 1678, Barclay writes his Apology. (Barclay) Could this be the inspiration for Jonathan's religious beliefs and evangelical activities in the next decade of his life?

February of 1679 brings the death of Mary's brother, Thomas Bloomfield. Jonathan and Samuel Dennis inventory the estate. (NJ Archives, 21:43-44) Come April 10, 1679, Nathaniel is born to Jonathan and Mary. (Dally, p.327)

References

A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Vol. 2: D-J, James Savage, John Farmer, and Orrando Perry Dexter, 1860.
America and West Indies: August 1673, Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies, Volume 7: 1669-1674, W. Noel Sainsbury, Editor, 1889.
An Apology for the True Christian Divinity, Robert Barclay, 1678.
Contributions to the Early History of Perth Amboy ..., William Adee Whitehead, 1856.
Council for the Northeast Historical Archaeology Newsletter, Number 65 , David Starbuck, Editor, October 2006.
Documents Relating to the Colonial History of New Jersey, Vol. I, 1631-1687, William A. Whitehead, et. al., 1880.
Documents Relating to the Colonial History of New Jersey, Vol. XXI, 1664-1703, William Nelson, 1899.
Documents Relative to the Colonial History of New York, Vol. II, Brodhead, et.al., 1858.
Dunham genealogy: English and American branches of the Dunham family, Isaac Watson Dunham, 1907.
East Jersey Under the Proprietors, Volume 1, William Adee Whitehead, 1846.
History of Elizabeth, New Jersey, Edwin Francis Hatfield, 1868.
New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society.
Old Families of Salisbury & Amesbury, MA, David Hoyt, 1917.
The English in America, Volume 4, John Andrew Doyle, 1882.
The King's Three Faces: The Rise & Fall of Royal America, 1688-1776, Brendan McConville, 2006.
The Ogden Family in America, William Ogden Wheeler, 1907.
The Story of Bogota, New Jersey, Township of Bogota, 2000.
Thomas Bloomfield of Woodbridge, N.J., and Some of his Descendants, William Jones, .
Woodbridge and Vicinity, Rev. Joseph W. Dally, 1873.
Woodbridge: New Jersey's Oldest Township, Virginia B. Troeger, 2002.

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1680-1689: Jonathan, the Quaker Preacher, On the Road with Case's Crew

1690-1699: Retirement in Woodbridge

1700s: The Twilight Years and Beyond

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