Father: Thomas Runyon
Mother: Martha Dunn

Spouse: *****

Child-1: Isaac?
          2: Peter - b: 5/Nov/1740
                d: 1793 - Hunterdon Co., NJ
               m: Catherine Quick
          3: John - b: 4/Apr/1747
          4: Henry - b: 1749
          5: William - b: 1751
          6: Elijah - b: 1757

Biographical Details:

Joseph Runyon was a son of Thomas and Martha Dunn Runyon and was born about 1704 in Hopewell Township, Burlington (later Hunterdon) County, New Jersey.  It is not known who Joseph's wife was although her first name has been reported as "Rachel".  Alternatively, some researcers believe that she was Elizabeth Trembley.  However, Howard E. Bonham presents rather convincing evidence that this is not so and that Elizabeth Trembley was married to Joseph's cousin, also named Joseph Runyon, son of Peter and Providence Blackford Runyon, who was born April 1, 1710, and died March 16, 1760, leaving underage children.^1,2  Concomitantly, only two children, Peter and John, can be reliably attributed to Joseph, son of Thomas.  Nevertheless, a number of researchers believe that he may have had as many as four more sons, viz., Isaac, Henry, William, and Elijah (as well as having additonal likely spurious children attributed to him); however, there is no definite confirmation of this.³  It is also reported that Joseph Runyon served in the Continental Army and was taken prisoner by the British.  Again, there is no known documentary support of this assertion and, moreover, if Joseph was born in 1704, he would have been more than seventy years old at the time of the Revolutionary War; hence, it seems quite unlikely that he would have served.  Likewise, Joseph Runyon reportedly moved to Frederick County, Virginia, where he died in 1780.  Indeed, individuals having the surname "Runyon" were numerous in the Shenandoah Valley during the late eighteenth century and afterward; however, family lineages remain unclear and it is likely that Joseph's identity has been conflated with someone else (although, perhaps, a relative).  Concomitantly, it is known that Joseph's putative son, Isaac, moved from New Jersey to Frederick County, Maryland.  Accordingly, it would seem more likely that Joseph would have also moved to Maryland instead of Virginia; however, it is perhaps even more likely that he never left New Jersey.

1. 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. 562-3.
      "One of the earliest records of Joseph Runyon, and probably the most correct is The Record of the Runyon and Skillman Families by Hannah Clark Fitzgerald, who is related to the Runyons.  (Hannah m (2) Mr. Ascough.)
      A copy of this book is in the Library of Congress and it shows Peter Runyon, who married Catharine Quick, as a son of Joseph Runyon and Rachel (____?).   NOTE: Some researchers claim that Joseph (born 1704) married Elizabeth Trembley, however, Elizabeth Trembley married Joseph Runyon in Piscataway, born 1 Apr 1710, who was the son of Peter & Providence (Blackford) Runyon.  Joseph died 16 Mar 1760, leaving underage children.
      During this period, a Jonas Sutton, a native of Piscataway, married and moved to Sand Brook, Hunterdon Co., NJ.  By 1763 Jonas Sutton was a widower with children.  In the church records of the Seventh Day Baptist Church of Piscataway, 27 Sep 1764, Elizabeth Trembley, using her married name of Elizabeth Runyon, married Jonas Sutton of Hunterdon Co., NJ.  They removed to Sand Brook, Hunterdon Co., NJ.  Elizabeth (Trembley) Runyon Sutton took her underage daughters with her to Hunterdon Co., NJ where they appear later in marriage records.  Elizabeth left all of her 'almost of age' sons in Piscataway, NJ.
      It might be argued that after Elizabeth (Trembley) Runyon married Jonas Sutton in 1764, she then took her son Peter Runyon with her to Hunterdon Co., NJ and he [is the Peter Runyon who] married Catherine Quick.  However, by 1763, Peter Runyon of Hunterdon Co., NJ already had two children with Catharine Quick.  They, apparently, were married by 1761 when Peter Runyon, the son of Elizabeth Trembley was a minor in Piscataway, NJ.
      Further, Joseph Runyon, the son of Elizabeth Trembley & Joseph Runyon, born 1 Apr 1710 of Piscataway is said to be the oldest child in Joseph's will of 16 Mar (sic - May) 1760.  The Piscataway birth register shows Joseph, Jr. was born 7 Dec 1742.  Thus, Peter Runyon, son of Joseph and Elizabeth Trembley was born after 1742.
      Also, papers in the Library of Congress reveal that Peter Runyon, born 5 Nov 1740, had a brother John Runyon born exactly 4 Apr 1747.  Joseph Runyon and Elizabeth Trembley of Piscataway had no son John!
      In conclusion, in 1740 Elizabeth Trembley was married to Joseph Runyon of Piscataway - not Joseph Runyon of Hunterdon Co., NJ.  [Source: Marvin Shepherd.]"
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2. Abraham Van Doren Honeyman (ed), New Jersey Archives - First Series (alt. title Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Adminstrations, Etc. Vol. III: 1751-1760), New Jersey Historical Society, Trenton, NJ, The Unionist-Gazette Assoc., Printers, Somerville, NJ, 1924: Vol. 32, pg. 276.
     May 16, 1760.  "Runyon, Joseph, of Piscataway, Middlesex Co., yeoman; will of.  Wife (not named, but otherwise known to be Elizabeth).  Children---Peter, Joseph (oldest son), Philipp and daughters, names not given, all under age except Joseph.  Real and personal estate.  Executors---the wife and brothers Peter and Benjamin Runyon.  Witnessess---Elijah Pound, Jeames Gielles and Elias v. Court.  Proved July 14, 1760."
     July 2, 1760.  "Inventory, £883.17.4, incl. cash £263.0.4; bonds and notes, £234; a Bible and other books, 20s.; a looking glass 12s.; 3 deerskins, £2.15; taken by the executors and appraised by George Marlett and Elijah Pound."
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3. Robert Runyon, Supplement to Runyon Genealogy, United Printers and Publishers, Harlingen, TX,  1962, pg. 195.
      "Col. Calvin I. Kephart, an authority on the genealogy of the Runyon-Runyan familes of New Jersey, in a letter to Amos Runyon of Belfry, Kentucky stated that Isaac Runyon who settled in Montgomery County, Virginia about 1780 was a son of Joseph who was born circa 1705.  Joseph was a son of Thomas and Martha (Dunn) Runyon.  No substantiating evidence has been found."  Calvin Ira Kephart (1883-1969) was a noted professor and lawyer as well as a genealogist.  It is not known on what evidence he concluded that Isaac was a son of Joseph; however, Mr. Kephart was a thorough and careful researcher and his opinion cannot be discounted.
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