John Crane, who lived originally near Elizabeth(town), built a grist mill and sawmill in 1720 in the area that became known as Crane's Ford or Cranesville and eventually Cranford. John was the father of Esther Crane who would become the wife of David Dunham.
Crane's Ford was in close proximity to Westfield, New Jersey. In early 1800s, it was then Union Township, Essex County, New Jersey, being a part of the all encompassing outskirts of the area of Elizabethtown known as the West Fields. Essex County did not become Union County until 1857. [Source: David M. Shields]
In 1830 the DUNHAM homestead was located in Union Township, Essex County, New Jersey (now known as Cranford, Union County, New Jersey when it became its own municipality). [Source: David M. Shields]
The DUNHAM family came from Woodbridge, Middlesex County, New Jersey. (Middlesex County contained Woodbridge, Piscataway, and Rahway.) [Source: David M. Shields]
Pictured on a booklet cover entitled "300 Years at Crane's Ford" written for the Cranford Historical Society by Dr. Homer J. Hall, President, are drawings of the locations of pioneer homesteads in the area of Cranford, New Jersey. "Craneville Homestead Map of 1800" pictures the homestead locations of Joseph Dunham, Moses Dunham, John Grant Crane, and others. It also shows the location of Crane's Saw Mill and Crane's Grist Mill. This booklet was prepared for the Tercentenary of NJ in 1964 according to Mr. Bill Curtis who gives his permission to use the cover photo and "any parts" of the booklet for genealogical purposes.
One Joseph6 Dunham married #1 Elizabeth Munday and #2 Sarah Ryno; and he comes from the line of David5 (wf, (2) Nancy "Anna" Crane married 25 Jan 1785 Westfield Presbyterian Church), David4 (wf, Esther Crane), Nathaniel3 (wf, Johanna Thornell), Jonathan2 Dunham (alias Jonathan Singletary) (wf, Mary Bloomfield), Richard1 Singletary. (David5 was the widower of #1 Freelove DeCamp.)
Another Joseph (1736-1776) was Joseph5 Dunham. He also comes from the line of David4, Nathaniel3, Jonathan2 Dunham (alias Singletary), Richard1 Singletary. He and David (5) above were brothers. This Joseph married abt. 1763 to Hannah ???. Joseph and Hannah were communicants of the Westfield Presbyterian Church, Westfield, NJ where their children were baptized, and where they lie buried in the cemetery. Hannah (aka as "the Widdow Dunham" died 1781.
The identity of Moses7 Dunham listed on the above map has up to now (January 2003) been a mystery. Gratia Mahoney, an avid DUNHAM researcher, has recently helped me break through this "brick wall." [Thank you, Gratia.] It appears Moses7 Dunham, was the son of another Joseph6 Dunham who married 1785 Presbyterian Church, Westfield, Union County, NJ to Mary "Polly" Miller, dau/o Enoch Miller and Sarah Ross. Joseph6 (Joseph5, David4, Nathaniel3, Jonathan2 Dunham (alias Singletary), Richard1 Singletary) & Mary "Polly" (Miller) Dunham left the area of Westfield, New Jersey for Hamilton County, Ohio with most of their family, except for Moses7. Moses 7 Dunham was born about 1786, married in 1806 at Westfield Presbyterian Church to Sarah Baker, and apparently spent his entire life in Westfield area (later Cranesville, Crane's Ford, Cranford). Thus both Joseph6 Dunhams [of David M. Shields line and my line, Audrey (Shields) Hancock] were first cousins with Moses [on the map] being s/o my Joseph6 Dunham and Mary "Polly" Miller, and Joseph5 on the map being a son of David4 and Nancy "Anna" Crane.
Rev. Madsen said, "At one time it held two street numbers as it was split into two residences as can be evidenced by the interesting set up of locks on various doors inside the house!"
According to different GEDCOMs on WorldConnect, Henry Norris came from either Roxbury, MA or Southold, Long Island, NY and died at Elizabethtown. David M. Shields could not find any OAKEYs, but did find OAKLEY's in the area at this time. There was no Elizabeth OAKLEY found who may have married Amos CRANE; and no OAKLEYs who could have tied into DUNHAM or CRANE families.
"Revolutionary-era farmhouse with c1820 ad-
dition, located at 1117 Orange Avenue. Home
of one of the Dunhams, and later occupied
by Civil War veteran William Oakey."
"During the Revolution, Grandma Dunham
sat by the window of another Dunham house
(site: Orange Ave., opposite Manor Ave.)
and defied a British raiding party with
a smallpox sign!"
Articles copied from the Cranford Chronicle microfilms. Issue Date (Wednesdays) Courtesy of: William J. Curtis
Cranford Historical Society
12/27/1893 Mrs. Sarah Dunham the oldest resident of Cranford Township died at her residence on Orange Ave. last Thursday noon. She was 92 years old. The funeral services were conducted by the Rev. George F. Greene of the Presbyterian Church of which Mrs. Dunham was a member. Two daughters survive her.
(Source: David M. Shields: newspaper article)
(Source: David M. Shields: Sarah (Ryno) Dunham was the 2nd wife of Joseph Dunham, and Emeline Dunham was issue of this marriage.)1894 The Dunham Farm went up for auction 1894.
(Source: David M. Shields: newspaper article)6/27/1894 Late Joseph Dunham property, 44 acres for sale, both sides of Orange Ave. Apply to Emeline Dunham on premises.
1905 The Dunham Farm was transfered to Manor Realty in 1905 for developing.
(Source: David M. Shields: newspaper article)1906 The map/atlas listing Emeline Dunham's house 301 Orange Ave., was dated 1906.
12/01/1910 Last Friday night after an illness of two years duration, Miss Florence Peterson died at the residence of Miss Emeline Dunham on Orange Ave. While still a little child she had been adopted by Miss Dunham who filled a mother�s part in her life. Miss Peterson was only 32 years old and her premature demise is mourned by her family and a large circle of friends. The funeral took place on Monday afternoon from her mother�s home on 116 South Ave, she was interred in Fairview cemetery.
(Source: David M. Shields)12/05/1912 Miss Emeline Dunham died at her home 301 Orange Ave yesterday, Wednesday afternoon. Pneumonia being the cause of death. Miss Dunham was taken sick on Sunday, her first serious sickness for many years and owing to her age was unable to withstand the attack. She was born in Cranford in the old Dunham homestead 82 years ago and was probably the oldest native of Cranford at the time of her death. The family was one of the oldest here-abouts having settled on the property known as the Dunham farm in 1730.
Miss Dunham in her earlier years was an active church worker, her connection with the Presbyterian here dating from 1871. The service will be held at her late home on Saturday.
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DUNHAM (alias SINGLETARY) Line 1 DESCENDANCY Richard Singletary and perhaps Humility ???(aka Goodwife Singletary on gravestone) or Susanna Cooke Jonathan Singletary/Dunham and Mary Bloomfield Nathaniel Dunham and Joanneh Thornell David Dunham and Esther Crane David Dunham and 2nd Anna (Nancy) Crane Joseph Dunham and 1st Elizabeth Mundy David M. Dunham and Elizabeth 'Betsey' Roll (1st cousins) Sarah Ann Dunham and John Leber Charles Henry Leber and Rose Ann McManus Rosemary Elizabeth Leber and David Malcolm Shields David Malcolm Shields, Jr. and Pamela Townsend Davis |
DUNHAM (alias SINGLETARY) Line 2 DESCENDANCY Richard Singletary and perhaps Humility ???(aka Goodwife Singletary on gravestone) or Susanna Cooke Jonathan Singletary/Dunham and Mary Bloomfield Nathaniel Dunham and Joannah Thornell David Dunham and Esther Crane David Dunham and 2nd Anna (Nancy) Crane Catherine 'Caty' Dunham and James Roll Elizabeth 'Betsey' Roll and David M. Dunham (1st cousins) Sarah Ann Dunham and John Leber Charles Henry Leber and Rose Ann McManus Rosemary Elizabeth Leber and David Malcolm Shields David Malcolm Shields, Jr. and Pamela Townsend Davis |
DUNHAM (Plymouth, MA Family) Line 3 DESCENDANCY Deacon John Dunham and 2nd Abigail Billiou Benajah Dunham and Elizabeth Tillson Rev. Edmund Dunham and Mary Bonham Benajah Dunham and Dorothy Martin Elizabeth Dunham and Samuel Mundy Samuel Mundy, Jr. and Elizabeth Griffith Benajah Mundy and Lovicy Frazee Elizabeth Mundy and Joseph Dunham David M. Dunham and Elizabeth 'Betsey' Roll (1st cousins) Sarah Ann Dunham and John Leber Charles Henry Leber and Rose Ann McManus Rosemary Elizabeth Leber and David Malcolm Shields David Malcolm Shields, Jr. and Pamela Townsend Davis |
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DUNHAM (alias SINGLETARY) Audrey's Lineage DESCENDANCY Richard Singletary and perhaps Humility ???(aka Goodwife Singletary on gravestone) or Susanna Cooke Jonathan Singletary/Dunham and Mary Bloomfield Nathaniel Dunham and Joannah Thornell David Dunham and Esther Crane Joseph Dunham and Hannah C. ??? (not Hannah Conger) Joseph Dunham and Mary "Polly" Miller Ross Dunham and Sarah "Sally" Roll/Rall [Ross, bro/o Moses on above map] James Dunham and #1 Anna Sands James Dunham, Jr. and Margaret Elizabeth Slonaker Mary Jane Dunham and Gideon Winfield Creager Sarah Margaret Creager and Raymond Dale Shields Dale Caleb Shields and Rita Marie Lehmann Audrey Ann Shields and David Edward Hancock, Sr. |
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