Added by E. C. Nickerson about this Great Grandfather: Ministered to the Native American People: Jonathan Dunham was the son of Deacon John Dunham and Abigail Barlow. He married first Mary Delano and then Mary Cobb, daughter of Henry and Patience (Hurst) Cobb. Children of Rev Jonathan Dunham and Mary Cobb Dunham were Hannah, Jonathan, Eleazer, Samuel, Gershom and Daniel Dunham. Rev Jonathan was a lay preacher at Falmouth, Cape Cod from 1679 to 1684. Matthew Mayhew, an agent for Edgartown, Massachusetts, negotiated with Jonathan in 1684 to come there at a salary of 35 pounds per year. He was not ordained until October 11, 1694 when he was installed as 'teacher' of the church at Edgartown. He preached there until 1711 when infirmities caused him to give up the pulpit. He died December 18,1717 and is buried in Tower Hill Cemetery, Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, Dukes' County, Massachusetts. Epitaph on gravestone: HERE LYES YE BODY OF YE REVD MR. JONATHAN DONHAM WHO DIED DECEMBER 18TH ANNO DOMI 1717 AGED ABOUT 85 YEARS PASTOR OF YE CHURCH OF CHRIST AT EDGARTOWNdmitted a freeman on June 3, 1657. On June 7, 1665 was granted 30 acres of land at Major's Purchase (Middleboro, MA.). A Selectman of Middleboro 1674/5. Lay preacher in Falmouth, MA. before moving to Edgartown. Jonathan was pastor of the church in Edgartown (county seat of Martha's Vineyard, MA.) in 1684-1717; receiving 30 lbs. of payment for the first year. Ordained Teacher Oct. 11, 1694. /ECN/

Epitaph: 'With Toil and Pains at first He tell'd the Ground - Call'd to Dress god's Vine Yard and was faithful found, Full thirty years the Gospel He did Despence-His work Being done christ Jesus call'd Him Hence.' 'Here lyes ye Body of Rev. mr. Jonathan Dunham, who Died Dec. 18, 1717, aged about 85 years, Pastor of Church of Christ at Edgartown'.

Sources:

Records from the Plymouth Colony

The book, 'Martha's Vineyard', by Henry F. Norton, p. 29.

Info from Isaac Watson Dunham -------------------- Jonathan settled in Piscataway, New Jersey, south of Woodbridge, His Uncle Benajah followed him and took an active interest in the affairs of the colony and in 1673 was appointed captain of the militia, and as such was one of the committee of safety and council of war. It was under this board that Jonathan Singletary, from Haverhill, who had assumed the name of Jonathan Dunham, was condemned for his vagrancy. That Jonathan (Singletary) Dunham is an ancestor of President Barack Obama