Hannah Dunham

Biography

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Unknown-452472

Disputed Name: Mehitable Hayward

The 1907 Dunham Genealogy states, without providing any source or explanation, that Daniel Dunham was married to a woman named Mehitable Hayward, who was the daughter of Thomas Hayward of Bridgewater.[1] Unfortunately, Dunham Genealogy is not a reliable source. As stated by Barclay in her 1954 TAG article on the Dunham, Dunham Genealogy "contains a vast amount of material poorly arranged and much that is confusing and misleadings. In fact, there are several serious errors and some statements that are absolutely impossible."[2] It is most likely that Dunham Genealogy somehow confused the name of Daniel Dunham's wife with that of his daughter, Mehitable (Dunham) Hayward, who was the wife of Joseph Hayward (the grandson of Thomas Hayward of Bridgewater).[3][4]

Yates U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 includes entries that state that her name was "Mehitable Haywood,"[5] "Mehitable Hayward,"[6] or "Hannah Hayward."[7] Yates U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 is, however, not a reliable source, as it was compiled from a variety of sources, including family group sheets, pedigree charts and manuscript genealogies, many of which are themselves very unreliable. It is likely that Yates and/or the sources used by Yates themselves relied on the unreliable Dunham Genealogy.

The entry for Daniel Dunham's marriage in Torrey's New England Marriages to 1700 (which is itself based on secondary sources) states that his wife's name was Mehitable or Hannah and puts her maiden name as Hayward in brackets with a question mark next to it, which indicates that Torrey was less than certain or had reason to doubt the credibility of the source.[8]

Correct Name: Hannah Unknown

The only direct evidence of Daniel's wife is his will and the inventory of his estate, which clearly establish that her first name was Hannah.[9][10] No evidence has been found that establish Hannah's maiden name. There is no evidence that his wife was a daughter of Thomas Hayward of Bridgewater or that Thomas Hayward of Bridgewater had a daughter named either Mehitable or Hannah.[11] The conclusion of Barclay in her 1954 TAG article was that "[Daniel's will and estate inventory] refute statements that Daniel Dunham married Mehitable Hayward. The wife shown by the records was named Hannah, but her parentage is unknown."[10]

Children

Daniel Dunham's will indicates that he had two living children at the time of his death:[9][10]

1. Hannah, m. about 1690 Joseph Alden[12][10]
2. Mehitable, m. May 30, 1700 Joseph Hayward[3][4][10]

Date of Death

The date and place of death of Hannah, the wife of Daniel Dunham, are unknown. No record of her has been found after the record of the inventory of her husband's estate mentioned above, which was taken on February 18, 1677/8.[10] Since her husband was "of Plymouth" at the time he made his will, it is most likely that she died there.[9]

Old Biography

Daniel Dunham was born about 1639 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.1 He died on Thursday, 18 February 1677 in Dorchester, Suffolk County, Massachusetts.2,4,1

He was the son of Deacon John Dunham and Abigail Balliou.2,3,1,4

On 1 January 1668 Daniel, married Mehitable Hayward, daughter of Thomas Hayward.2,1

Made a Freeman of Plymouth May 19, 1670. He was a surveyor of highways in 1671. The 'Dunham Genealogy' states that he married in 1670 a mehitable Hayward (daughter of Thomas of Somersetshire, England & MA.), born about 1643, but no record of this marriage has been found.

TGMB say he was b say 1639 m say 1670 Hannah _____ (Named in his will) [PCPR 3:2:102]) Mehitable not indicated. TGMB page 603.

Children

From Dunham genealogy: English and American branches of the Dunham family By Isaac Watson Dunham. Page 301:

DANIEL DUNHAM'S CHILDREN'S:

• 2. I.—Hannah, named in honor of his sister, b. in 1671; m. in 1690; Joseph Alden, b. in 1669. He was the son of Joseph Alden and Mary Symmonds and grandson of John Alden and Priscilla Mullins. John Alden d. Sept. 12, 1687, when Joseph was 18 years old. Hannah d. in 1747.
• 3. II.— Mehitable, named after mother, was b. in 1672; m. May 30, 1700, Joseph Hayward, who was b. Nov. 23, 1669. He was the son of John Hayward and Sarah Mitchell, dau. of Thomas and Experience Mitchell, who in 1638. resided in Duxbury. Joseph Hayward, d. in 1750.
• 4. III. —Daniel, b. 1675; m. Elizabeth in 1695; resided in Dorchester. She was b. in Rhode Island