Father: John? Dunn
Mother: *****
Spouse: Elizabeth Drake
m: 17/Dec/1670 - Middlesex Co., East Jersey Prov.
Child-1: Mary
2: Francis
- b: 5/Mar/1673(1674) - Middlesex Co., East Jersey Prov.
3: Elizabeth
4: Hugh,
Jr. - b: 18/Nov/1678 - Middlesex Co., East Jersey Prov.
d: 1736/1737 - Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., East Jersey Prov.
m: Elizabeth Martin - 29/Aug/1697 - Middlesex Co., East Jersey Prov.
5: Martha
6: Samuel
- b: 22/Mar/1683(1684) - Middlesex Co., East Jersey Prov.
d: ~1744 - NJ
m: Esther Martin - 1704
7: Jonathon
- bp: 13/Jun/1687(1688) - Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., East Jersey
Prov.
8: Joseph
- b: 20/Jan/1688(1689)
d: Dec/1748 - Essex Co., NJ
m: Hannah Drake - 1711
9: Benjamin
- b: 1/Aug/1694 - Middlesex Co., East Jersey Prov.
m: Sarah Johnson - 14/Aug/1719 - Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., East
Jersey Prov.
Biographical Details:
The origin of the surname "Dunn" is most likely English, although Irish and Scottish etymologies have been proposed.1 Accordingly, in its original meaning it probably denoted someone with dark hair or a dark complexion. Even so, it has also been asserted that the surname is derived from an Irish-Gaelic word meaning a "small hill" or "mound"; however, this is not supported by standard etymologies (although such a usage might be related to the Scots-Gaelic term for a "fort"). The spelling of the name "Dunn" is quite varable in early colonial records and is found as "Dun", "Donn", "Dune", "Dunne", among others.2 Within this context, there are those that assert that the Dunn family was of Irish ancestry and, thus, presumably Roman Catholic. This seems quite unlikely since, upon immigration they evidently settled in the Puritan colonies of New England, which were ardently anti-Catholic and would not have tolerated Catholic practices of any kind. Even so, because of upheavals associated with the Irish Rebellion of 1641 and the English Civil War (1642-1651), between 1652 and 1659, as many as fifty thousand Irish men, women, and children were sent to the West Indies, Virginia, and Bermuda. These people were almost certainly indentured servants and likely supported tobacco and sugar production as laborers, but it does not appear that any were sent to New England. (Of course, Maryland had been chartered as a colony tolerant of Catholics by George Calvert, the First Baron Baltimore, himself a Catholic and an Irish peer; hence, if the Dunn family had been Irish Catholic it would seem more likely that they would have settled there.) Nevertheless, at present many citizens of the United States affirm Irish ancestry, most particularly in, New York, Chicago, New England, e.g., Boston, and other places. However, their ancestors typically immigrated to America much later, viz., during the nineteenth century, to escape the well-known potato famine and oppressive British policies toward Ireland in general. Alternatively, the Dunn family might have been Scots-Irish and, therefore, Protestant. Historically, beginning in 1609, Scots began emigrating from Scotland to English sponsored settlements, which were part of the Plantation of Ulster, viz., Northern Ireland. This was an element of official policy intended to confiscate all the lands of the Gaelic Irish nobility in Ulster and to settle the province with Protestant Scottish and English colonists. Subsequently, these policies were continued by successive British governments with further Protestant settlement and oppression of native Irish. As might be expected, the result was violence and a deep enmity that has still has not entirely dissipated. Accordingly, to escape such disorder, many Scots-Irish immigrated to North America throughout the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries and it may be supposed that the Dunn family could have been among them.Source Notes and Citations:The parentage of Hugh Dunn is not known; however, it has been reported that he was born November 1, 1635, presumably in New England, perhaps, the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The source for this date is not clear and others have proposed an approximate birth year of 1640 to 1642. Within this context, Savage indicates three individuals with the name Dunn, viz., Richard, Thomas, and William, living in Massachusetts during the seventeenth century.3 In addition, other sources also report Ephraim Dunn, John Done, and John Dunn, the last of whom immigrated in 1633 or 1634 on the ship "Bonaventure".4 It is possible that one of these individuals was the father of Hugh Dunn; however, there is no convincing evidence of this. (Even so, many researchers attribute John Dunn as the father of Hugh without any credible justification.) It is known that Hugh Dunn was granted twenty acres of land in Dover Township in the Province of New Hampshire in 1656.5,6 (Savage indicates "Hugh Donn" as a resident of Dover in 1664.) At this time, New Hampshire was on the frontier of settlement and, as such, was effectively separated from political and religious authorities in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Accordingly, religious non-conformists, e.g., Baptists and Quakers, that suffered persecution in Massachusetts frequently chose to live there. Indeed, Hugh Dunn was evidently a devout Baptist and it is a plausible speculation that he had broken with the Puritan Congregational Church and then settled in New Hampshire to avoid persecution. "Hew Donn" at Oyster River, was reportedly on the Tax List of 1662 for Dover Township. Subsequently on July 18, 1664, he was received as a freeman of Dover and granted ten acres of land for a house lot located below Lamprey River Lower Falls in Durham. Even so, perhaps in reponse to the "Concessions and Agreements" published in 1664 by the Lords-Proprietors, Sir John Berkeley and Sir George Carteret, which among other things promised religious freedom, many residents of Dover relocated to New Jersey. Of course, the climate was more moderate further south and, moreover, New Hampshire was subject to disputed land claims among the English, French, and Native Americans, which eventually resulted in violence and bloodshed. Accordingly, in 1666 and afterward, Hugh disposed of his real estate in New Hampshire and on December 18, 1666, he, John Martin, Charles Gilman, Hopewell Hull and Robert Dennis all from Dover, were granted a large parcel (reportedly 40,000 acres) in the Province of New Jersey. Consequently, Piscataway Township was formed on this land grant and is the fifth-oldest municipality in the State of New Jersey. Hugh Dunn married Elizabeth Drake on December 17, 1670, in Middlesex County and nine children have been attributed to them. It is possible that Hugh and Elizabeth may have first settled in Woodbridge Township, but by 1678 they had evidently settled permanently in Piscataaway. Indeed, many civil records include the name of Hugh Dunn.7,8 Moreover, as asserted previously, Hugh was a devout Baptist and was one of the six original founders of the Baptist Church in Piscataway.9 Hugh Dunn made his will on October 7, 1691, and died November 16, 1694.10,11 No burial place is known.
1. Patrick Hanks (ed.), Oxford Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK, periodically updated.
"1. Irish: reduced Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Duinn, Ó Doinn 'descendant of Donn', a byname meaning 'brownhaired' or 'chieftain'."
"2. English: nickname for a man with dark hair or a swarthy complexion, from Middle English dunn 'dark-colored'."
"3. Scottish: habitational name from Dun in Angus, named with Gaelic dùn 'fort'."
"4. Scottish: nickname from Gaelic donn 'brown'."
back to bio.2. Orra Eugene Monnette, First Settlers of ye Plantations of Piscataway and Woodbridge, olde East New Jersey, 1664-1714, a period of fifty years, The Leroy Carman Press, Los Angeles, CA, 1930-35: Part 3, pg. 415.
"Variously spelled, Dun, Done, Donn, Dunne, Dunn, of which the latter seems to be more frequent. One of the four original grantees of New Piscataqua or Piscataway, HUGH DUNN figured prominently, from 1666 to his death in 1694 in all provincial matters as a planter, militiaman, civil official, churchman, and leader. The colonial records disclose his name and activities in manifold phases, always with force and credit."
back to bio.3. James Savage, A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England - Vols. 1-4, Little, Brown and Co., Boston, MA, 1860-1862: Vol. 4, pgs. 59, 82-3. (Reprint available from Genealogical Publishing Co., 1001 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD, 21202-3897)
"DONN, HUGH, Dover 1664."
"DUNN, RICHARD, Newport, freem. 1655, Westerly 1661."
" THOMAS,Weymouth, freem. of Mass. 1647, rem. to Rehoboth, and soon to New Haven, there sw. fidel. in Mar. 1648, new yr. bot. est. at Fairfield, there d. 1660, without w. or ch. and gave his prop. to Rev. John Jones."
" WILLIAM, Salem, m. 6 June 1684, Elizabeth Haskett, perhaps d. of Stephen, had John, b. 23 May 1686; and William, 1 Aug. 1689."
back to bio.4. Howard Eugene Bonham and Jean Allin, Bonham and Related Family Lines, Bonham Book(s), 5104 Bridlington Ln., Raleigh, NC, 27612, printed by Genie Plus, Bradenton, FL, 1996: pgs. 473-6.
"An early mention of the Dunn name in America was in 1647. The reference was to Thomas Dunn of Weymouth who went to Rehoboth and New Haven in 1648 and died in 1661 at Fairchild, Conn. There was a Richard Dunn of Newport in 1655. Ephraim Done married Mercy Knowles 5 Feb 1667. William Dunn was one of the first purchasers of land at Tauton in 1675. A John Done was made a freeman at Plymouth, MA in 1632-33; he was later made a member of the Council and then chosen a deacon of the Pilgrim Church there. One of the passengers on the vessel 'Bonaventure' in 1633-34 was John Dunn."
"Our progenitor is Hugh Dunn. Whether there is any relationship to the above mentioned Dunns is unknown.
Hugh Dunn, Sr. was born in 1640; died 16 Nov 1694 at Piscataway, MIddlesex Co., NJ. He married there 19 Dec 1670, Elizabeth Drake, who was born ca 1653-4, NH, daughter of Capt. Francis & Mary (Walker?) Drake. Elizabeth died ca 1711, the only sister of Rev. John Drake."
"1663. Hugh Dunn was a landowner in New Hampshire as early as 1663.
1664 July 18. Hugh Dunn was received as a freeman in Dover and received a ten acre grant for a house lot located below Lamprey River Lower Falls in Durham. He also received a grant of 20 acres up the river at Sandy Bank, a short distance above the falls in New Market Township."
"1666-72. Hugh Dunn disposed of his real estate in the Piscataqua region of New Hampshire and removed to New Jersey, as did many of his neighbors.
1666 December 18. A deed for 40,000 acres was issued in the names of Hugh Dunn, John Martin, Hopewell Hull and Charles Gillman. These men were the original grantees and they settled a township on the Raritan River 'which they at once called New Piscataqua, after the name of the district they came from.' [Princess Eleanor, p. xiii.]
Hugh Dunn, as one of the original grantees of New Piscataqua, or Piscataway, figured prominently from 1666 to his death in 1694, in all provincial matters as a planter, militiaman, civil official, churchman, and leader. [First Settlers of Piscataway and Woodbridge, p. 416.]
New Piscataqua subsequently evolved into Piscataway, becoming one of the larger townships in East Jersey."
"1678. Hugh Dunn made his permanent home in Piscataway. Here he had a patent for 138 acres of land and the following year took title for additional real estate."
"1686. Cattle marks were recorded for Hugh Dunn in the Old Town Book in that year."
"NOTE: George Drake: brother of Elizabeth (Drake) Dunn, widow of Hugh. Edward Slater: brother-in-law to Hezekiah Bonham, (married Hezekiah's sister, Elizabeth Bonham). Hezekiah, son-in-law of Hugh Dunn, is mentioned in Hugh's will as husband of daughter Mary Dunn."
back to bio.5. Mary Pickering Thompson, Landmarks in Ancient Dover, New Hampshire, Concord Republican Press Association, Durham, NH, 1892: pg. 225.
"Sandy Bank. Mentioned the 8th, 5 mo., 1664, when 20 acres of land were laid out to Hugh Dunn1 at 'a place called Sandy Banke up lampril river,' granted him in 1656, beginning at a marked tree by the river side at a deep gully."
"1Hugh Dunn went to New Jersey as early as 1666, and was one of the first settlers of Piscataqua in that state."
back to bio.6. George W. Tibbetts, "The New Hampshire Genealogical Record: An Illustrated Quarterly Magazine Devoted to Genealogy, History, and Biography", New Hampshire Genealogical Society, Vol. I, No. 4, 1904, pgs. 148-50.
"The first definite trace of Hugh Dunn, the subject of this genealogical sketch, is met among the landowners of New Hampshire as early as 1663. In that year Hugh Dunn was received a freeman in Dover and had a 10 acre grant for a house lot located for him below Lamprey River lower falls July 18, 1664. He also received a grant of 20 acres up the river at "Sandey Bank" a short distance above the falls. The former was in present New Market township and the latter in the town of Durham. On account of the disquietude in property holdings and unsettled land titles, Hugh Dunn disposed of his real estate in the Piscataqua region of New Hampshire and transferred his citizenship to New Jersey 1666-1670. Aside from his interest as one of the original patentees in 1666 of the large township of New Piscataway in East Jersey, Hugh Dunn became owner 1670-72 of 92 acres in adjoining township of Woodbridge. His permanent home he made in Piscataway and here in 1678 he had a patent for 138 acres of land and the following year took title for additional real estate."
"Among the first public notices of his name are the cattle marks recorded for him in the Old Town Book 1686. About the same date his name is found with five other men as forming the constituency of the Piscataway Baptist church. His active associates in this religious movement were Edmund Dunham, John Drake, John Smalley, Nicholas Bonham and John Fitz Randolph, all New England acquaintances. From the first Mr. Dunn, Mr. Drake and Mr. Dunham acted as exhorters or lay preachers, encouraging the early settlers in a life of consistent christain living. Hugh Dunn lived for several years after the public organization of the Baptist Church. He saw this religious society well established under the first official pastorate of John Drake his brother-in-law. He died November 16, 1694, his last Will and Testament being dated October 7, 1691 and probated December 10, 1694. This early document is on file in the Prerogative Court at Trenton, N. J."
back to bio.7a. William Nelson (ed), New Jersey Archives - First Series (alt. title Calendar of Records in the Office of the Secretary of State, 1664-1703. Part I: East Jersey Records. Part II: West Jersey Records), New Jersey Historical Society, Trenton, NJ, The Press Printing and Pub. Co., Paterson, NJ, 1899: Vol. 21, pgs. 3-4.
Jul. 7, 1668. "Agreement betw. Daniel Pierce of Woodbridge, of the one part, and John Martin, Hugh Donn, Charles Gilman, Hopewell Hull and Robert Dennis, of the other part, for the division of one-third of a tract of land, purchased by said Pierce from Govr Carterett, John Ogdon and Luke Watson, which third John Martin, Hugh Donn et. al. have bought of Pierce Dec. 18, 1666. Marginal Note: Robert Dennis and Samuel Moore for themselves and the other people of Woodbridge protest against this agreement April 6, 1669."b. ibid.: Vol. 21, pg. 12.
Mar. 18, 1669 (1670 N. S.). "Do. to Hugh Dunn of Woodbridge for: 1, a houselot of 11 acres betw. John Tayler, the highway, John Gilman and Tho. Blumfeild jun.; 2; 4½ acres of meadow on Vanquellin's Neck; 3, 60 a upland N. of John Scotchman; 4, 16½ a. of meadow, bounded N. by Stephin Kent jun., S. by Henry Lessenby, W. Benjamin Parkis and Robert Rogers, E. by the meadow left for the accomodation of the Minister and the free school."c. ibid.: Vol. 21, pg. 13.
Mar. 18, 1669 (1670 N. S.). "Do. to Thomas Blumfeild junior of Woodbridge for: 1, a houselot of 11½ acres, bounded W. by Samuel Dennis, S. and N. by the highway, E. by John Martin, Hopewell Hull, Charles Gilman, Hugh Donn and John Tayler; 2; three acres of meadow W. of Papiack Creek and E. of Crane Neck; 3, 60 a upland at the foot of Barren Plain, along William Compton's; 4, 15 a. of Raratan's meadows betw. the Great Saltpond on the North and Raratans R. on the S."c. ibid.: Vol. 21, pg. 15.
Dec. 30, 1670. "Do. to Stephen Kent junior of Woodbridge for: 1, a houselot of 10 acres West of his father's house; 2, four acres of meadow on the Westside of Papiack Creek, bounded W. by the Meeting house green; 3, sixty acres of upland at the N. E. end of Langsters Farm; 4, fifteen acres of Raratan's meadows, bounded S. by Hugh Dunn, W. by Robert Vauquellin and Benj. Parkis."d. ibid.: Vol. 21, pg. 16.
Dec. 30, 1670. "Do. to Henery Lessenby of Woodbridge for: 1, a houselot of 8 acres at the East end of Crane Neck; 2, four acres of meadow on the south side of Crane Neck; 3, sixty acres of upland adjoining undivided territory; 4, fifteen acres of Raratans meadows adjoining Hugh Dunn."e. ibid.: Vol. 21, pg. 16.
Dec. 30, 1670. "Do. to John Tayler of Woodbridge for: 1, a houselot of 7 a. adjoining Hugh Donn; 2, sixty acres of upland at Langsters Plain, next to John Watkins; 3, fifteen acres of Raratans meadow N. of Robert Vauquellin; 4, four acres belonging to his houselot and lying on Papiack Creek."f. ibid.: Vol. 21, pg. 19.
Jun. 15, 1675. "Do. to Charles Gilman for do. land vizt: 1, a houselot of 10 a., bounded S. by the houselot of Hopewell Hull, now in possession of Samuel Dennis, N. by the lot of Hugh Donn, now Wm Cotter; 2, sixty acres of upland on the Barren Plain; 3, five acres of meadow S. of Vauquellin's Hill; 4, seventeen acres of Raratans meadows."g. ibid.: Vol. 21, pg. 102.
Oct. 4, 1686. "Do. Stephen Kent of Woodbridge to Israel Thornehill of the same place, carpenter, for 30 acres of Raraton meadows, bounded 15 a. thereof S. by Hugh Dunn, W. by Robert Vauquelline and Benjamin Parkis, N. by his father Stephen Kent, E. by a salt pond, the other 15 acres bounded W. by Robert Vauquelline and John Tailer, N. by upland, E. by Nathan Webster, S. by a salt pond."h. ibid.: Vol. 21, pg. 113.
Jan. 2, 1687 (1688 N. S.). "Patent to John Gillman senior of Piscatawy, for 18 acres there, S. Hugh Dune, E. N. and W. highways; also 24 acres, E. Benajah Dunhame, S. Andrew Wanden and unsurveyed land, W. and N. unsurveyed land; and 35 a. of upland, W. Edward Slatter, S. meadows, E. Hopewell Hull, N. Eliakim Higgines; 213 acres at Ambrose Brook, W. Vincent Runyon and unsurveyed land, N., E. and W. unsurveyed land; 10 acres of meadow, S, Raraton R., E. Benjamin Hull and _____, N. Samuel Walker, W. John Langstaff."i. ibid.: Vol. 21, pg. 290.
Feb. 4, 1687 (1688 N. S.). "Do. Hopewell Hull of Piscataway to Edmond Dounham of the same place, for 20 acres there, E. Heugh Dun, S. a road, N. W. said Dun, N. E. a swamp."j. ibid.: Vol. 21, pg. 259.
May 30, 1688. "Do. Hugh Dun and wife Elizabeth of Piscataway to John Molleson of New Perth, for 30 acres in Piscataway, S. Benjamin Dunham, E. and N. roads, W. grantor. The same deed is also signed No. 15, 1684, according to entry."k. ibid.: Vol. 21, pg. 123.
Jun. 20, 1688. "Do. to John Langstaff of Piscataway, for the following tracts there, in all 200 acres, vizt: 1, a houselot of 8 a., N. James Godfrey, E. his first division, S. Nicholas Munday, W. a road; 2, 60 acres of upland, N. a small spring and Nicholas Munday, W. a road, S. a swamp, E. unsurveyed land; 3, 120 acres, on Raraton R.; 4, 3 acres, adjoining Bottle Meadow, W. and S. Hopewell Hull, E., John Gillman, N. a small swamp; 5, 1½ acres of meadow, N. the fence, E. John Gillman, S. a small creek, W. the Mill Creek; 6, 5 acres of meadow, S. Raraton R., N. Capt. Drake, E. James Godfrey, W. Hugh Dunne, Andrew Wooden and John Martine; 7: 2½ acres of meadow, S. Raraton R., N. Samuel Dotty, E. John Smally junior, W. Mr. Higgins."l. ibid.: Vol. 21, pg. 269.
Feb. 23, 1688 (1689 N. S.). "Do. John Gillman of Chohansy River, West Jersey to Jediah Higgens of Piscataway for 33½ acres in Piscataway, W. Edward Slater, S. the meadow, E. Hopewell Hull, N. Thomas Higgens; 1½ a. of meadow betw. Hopewell Hull and Hugh Dun."m. ibid: Vol. 21, pg. 204.
Mar. 28, 1690. "Do. Thomas Collier and Elizabeth, widow of Moses Collier, to Samuel Dennes, for a piece of meadow in Woodbridge, N. and W. Robert Vakland or Vauquillin, E. the Sound, S, Huegh Dun."n. ibid: Vol. 21, pgs. 190-1.
May 24, 1690. "Confirmation to Thomas Gordon of Amboy Perth, of the following tracts in Monmouth Co., vizt: 1, 300 acres, N. Swiming R., W. Thomas Leonard, S. W. and S. E. the pines, E. Lewis Morris; 2, 50 a., below Leonard's saw mill; 3, 130 acres on Assandpink Cr. adjoining William Watson; 4, 50 acres on Manasquan R. adjoining Richard Stout junior; 5, 90 acres betw. John Leonard and Lewis Morris; 6, 15 acres, S. John Wilson, E. John Rockman, N. Robert Hamilton, W. Strohorn's Brook; 7, 10 a., S. Midletown lots, E. and N. Robert Hamilton, W. John Pearce; 8, 80 a., betw. Thomas Morford on Horse Neck, George Mount and Elisha Lawrance; 9, 25 a. on Bog Pond Neck; 10, 170 a. betw. Mordecai Gibons and John Crawford; 11, 30 a., S. W. Mordecai Gibons, N. W, John Vaughn, N. E. Samuel Spicer, S. E. Thurloe Swing; 12, 110 a. in Middlesex Co., N. Ben. Hull, W. Rariton lots, S. E. Edward Slaughter, N. E. George Drake; 13, 20 a. of meadow at the Roundabout, N. John Johnston, E. Rariton R., W. and S. unsurveyed meadow; 14, 4½ a. on Botle Meadow, W. Edward Slater, N. the same and Jedidiah Higgins, E. Hopewell Hull, S. Rariton R.; 15, 1½ a., N. said Higgins, E. said Hull, S. said R., W. Hugh Dun; 16, a town lot in Amboy Perthy, 4½ chains on High St., 5 ch. on Water St., N. unsurveyed lots; 17, 9 a. in Amboy bounds, on the W. side of and along High St., opposite Gordon's St.; 500 a. of the preceding in right of 1-20 share, the other 570 a. in right of headland, bought of Rober Cole and wife, Mary, Richard Dason, John Luffborrow, Gartrit Holland, James Walker and wife Isobell, William Tynant and wife Marie, Margrat Gentleman, Andrew Craig, John Geddis, Thomas Grub and wife and two servants of Dr. John Gordon, vizt William Peddie and William Davidson."o. ibid: Vol. 21, pg. 233.
Jun. 5, 1693. "Do. John Gillman of Cohansey, West Jersey, to John Langstafe of Piscataway, for: 1, a houselot in Piscataway, S. High Dun, E., W. and N. roads, 18 acres; 2, 24 a., E., Benajah Dunham, S. Andrew Wooden and unsurveyed land, W. and N. unsurveyed land; 3, 11 a. N. the first lot, S. Hopewell Hull, E. and W. roads."p. ibid: Vol. 21, pg. 233.
Dec. 26, 1694. "Do. Hugh Dun to John Gilman, both of Piscataway, for a houselot of 11 acres there, N. grantee, S. Hopewell Hull, E. and W. road."q. ibid: Vol. 21, pg. 233.
Feb. 27, 1694 (1695 N. S.). "Do. Thomas Gordon of Perth Amboy to Edward Slater of Piscataway, for two small pieces of Battle meadow, Piscataway, the first 1½ acres, S. Rariton R., E. Hopewell Hull, N. upland, W. Hugh Dun, the other of 3 a., S. said river, W. Isak Smalie, N. upland, E. Hopewell Hu;;, as per patent of May 24, 1690."r. ibid: Vol. 21, pg. 239.
Oct. 1, 1695. "Patent to Andrew Woodden of Piscataway, for: 1, a houselot there of 20 acres, N. a swamp, S. Jeffery Manning, E. and W. roads; 2, 42 a. by Stony Hill, adjoining John Smallie jun; 3, 5. a. of meadow, S. John Martin junior, W. Hopewell Hull, E. John Langstaffe, N. Hugh Dun."
back to bio.8. William Nelson (ed), New Jersey Archives - First Series (alt. title Calendar of New Jersey Wills. Vol. I: 1670-1730), New Jersey Historical Society, Trenton, NJ, The Press Printing and Pub. Co., Paterson, NJ, 1901: Vol. 23, pgs. 144-5.
Dec. 10, 1683. "Duke, Francis, of Piscataway, weaver. Inventory of the estate (£37.15, incl. debts due by John Martin, ... John Drake, ... , Thomas Farnsworth and Vincent Rugnion, out of which are to be paid debts due to Jediah Higgins, ... Hugh Dun, Micaell Symons and John Martin junior, in all £21.7.8); made by Edward Slater and Hopewell Hull."
Dec. 23, 1683. "Administration on the estate, granted to Jediah Higgins."
Sep. --, 1685. "Account of the estate, as rendered by the administrator Jediah Higgins, showing payments to hopewell Hull, ... Hugh Dun, ... Jonas Wood, and other payments, in all £38.4.6."
back to bio.9. Oliver B. Leonard, History of the First Baptist Church of Piscataway, Pakenham & Dowling, Steam Printers, New York, NY, Stelton, NJ, 1889: pgs. 19 & 111.
"We know not in what month of the year 1689 this Church was constituted, nor is it indispensible we should know, however, gratifying it would be to our curiosity to know not only the month, but the day, and the time of day, and all the circumstances attending so memorable an event. Reliable records inform us that of the settlers up to 1689, (the names of some of whom have already been given), and the larger part of whom were doubtless baptists in sentiment, only six men formed the constituency of the Church. Their names were:HUGH DUNN, EDMUND DUNHAM, JOHN SMALLEY, JOHN DRAKE, NICHOLAS BONHAM, JOHN RANDOLPH.
All these names, except one, are now on the Register of the Church, showing that all through the generations following, in the place of the fathers have come the children."
"HUGH DUNN, the founder of this family name in New Jersey, was devoutly religious, and encouraged the early settlers by exhorting them to a holy living. His advocacy of an untrammeled conscience in the worship of God, greatly aided in the enjoyment of the Gospel in purity and peace. He lived through all the trying times of establishing a new colony, and died in 1694. This was five years after the public organization of the Baptist Church of which he was a constituent member, and for the realization of which he toiled and prayed. His descendants have always been prominent members in the faith of their mother Church, and that of the sister branch observing the seventh day as their Sabbath."
back to bio.10a. op. cit. (W. Nelson): Vol. 21, pg. 217.
Oct. 4, 1691. "Will of Hugh Dun of Piscataway. Wife Elizabeth; sons---Hugh, Samuel, Joseph; daughters Mary, wife of Hezekiah Bonham, Elizabeth, Martha. Real and personl estate, (part of land bought of Peter Bollu). The wife sole executrix. Witnesses---George Drake, Edward Slater. Proved Dec. 10, 1694."
Jan. 23, 1694 (1695 N. S.). "Letters testimonial with preceding will attached, issued to the widow Elizabeth Dun."b. ibid.: Vol. 21, pg. 277.
Jan. 6, 1697 (1698 N. S.). "Do. to Hugh Dunn of Piscataway, for 336 acres there, as follows: 1, 120 a., S. W. Hopewell Hull, N. W. unsurveyed, N. E. a great swamp, S. E. a small one or a road; 2, 40 a. S. E. of the first, N. W. Widow Mannen, E. John Langstaff and John Drake, S. W. (sic) the first tract; 3, 160 a., E. Woodbridge line, S. unsurveyed, S. W. Dismall Brook, N. Wm. Frost; 4, 5 a. of meadow, N. Rehoboth Gannett and Capt. Drake, S. Rariton R.; 5, 5 a. of the great meadow, N. Capt. Francis Drake, S. E. Andrew Wooden, N. E. John Langstaffe, S. W. John Martine senior; 6, 5 a., W. Samuel Dotie, S. Rariton R.; E. John Langstaffe, N. Andrew Wooden; 7, 1½ a. in the Bottle Meadow, N. upland, S, Rariton R., E. John Gillman, W. Benjamen Hull." Of course, Hugh Dunn, Sr., had already died, therefore this deed must refer to Hugh Dunn, Jr. Moreover, seven parcels are identified and it may be supposed that these might be part of the settlement of the estate of Hugh Dunn, Sr.
back to bio.11. op. cit. (W. Nelson): Vol. 23, pg. 145.
Oct. 10, 1691. "Dun, Hugh, of Piscataway; will of. Wife Elizabeth. Children---Hugh, Samuel, Joseph, Mary, wife of Hezekiah Bonham, Elizabeth, Martha. Real and personl property. The wife sole executrix. Witnesses---George Drake and Edward Slater. Proved December 10, 1694."
Nov. 24, 1694. "Inventory of the personal estate (£54.2.6); made by Edward Slater and Geo. Drake."
Jan. 23, 1694 (1695 N. S.). "Dunn, Hugh, Bond of Elizabeth, widow of, as executrix of his will. George Drake of Piscataway fellow bondsman."
Additional Citations:
12. Samuel Smith, History of Nova Caesarea, William S. Sharp, pub., Trenton, NJ, 1890: pg. unk. (reprint of the original 1765 version)13. Ethan Allen Doty, Doty-Doten family in America: descendants of Edward Doty, an emigrant by the Mayflower, 1620, privately published, Brooklyn, NY, 1897, pg. 287.
14. William Nelson (ed), New Jersey Archives - First Series (alt. title Calendar of New Jersey Wills. Vol. I: 1670-1730), New Jersey Historical Society, Trenton, NJ, The Press Printing and Pub. Co., Paterson, NJ, 1901: Vol. 23, pg. 170.