Beeks line: The family of Samuel Dunham 1742-1824

 I've written previously about Samuel's life, but before I write about his family, I'd like to clear up one point and muddy the waters on another.  First, there are some claims out there that Samuel was a Loyalist.  I have found no evidence to support that.  There were other Samuel Dunhams in New Jersey by the time of the Revolutionary War, and it is possible that the two or more Samuels were conflated.  

The other item that I'm wondering about is his marriage.  When Mary Smith Dunham wrote her will in 1784 (not probated until 1791), she left a bequest to her son Samuel (subject of this post), if he returned, and if he did not return, to go to his son Jacob when Jacob turned 21.  So Samuel had a son Jacob born before 1784, and the Jacob that was born in 1794 in Berkeley County, now West Virginia, was the second son he named Jacob.  We don't know if Samuel had married before his marriage to Hannah probably Ruble in West Virginia, but it appears that he at least had an earlier relationship.  I'd sure like to know more about this!  

What we do know is that Samuel Dunham, the son of Benjamin and Mary Smith Dunham, left New Jersey and settled in Back Creek Valley, Virginia by 1778.  We don't know why his son didn't go with him, but perhaps Samuel had intended to send for him at some point.  He settled in Berkeley County, and married Hannah, who was likely the daughter of David and Sarah Malin Ruble.  The birth dates for the children are not specified, and the location I've seen, showing them all born in Virginia, may not be correct, but the names, general order of birth, and subsequent information about each seem to be pretty well documented.  

The first child, born in New Jersey, was probably Jacob.  Nothing further is known of him and he may have died young.

Mary Sarah Dunham was born possibly about 1773.  She married Jacob Gossett, son of Matthias and Mary Littler Gossett.  Their children were Samuel, Hannah, Matthias, Mary, Jacob, John, and Luke.

Samuel was born about 1773 and married Elizabeth Pickerill, whose parents are not known.  They had at least two children, John and Elizabeth, and may have had a second daughter named Rebecca.

Next born was David, about 1776, who married Catherine Buckhamer/Buckhammer/possibly Berkheimer.  Her parents may have been Henry and Anna Rosina Schwenk Berkheimer, but I think the just is still out on that.  David and Catherine had Samuel, Hannah, Amos, Mary, David, Benjamin, and possibly another daughter, Emma, Mary Sarah and Rosanna. (The last four are not certain, but certainly possible.)

Hannah was born about 1779 and married William Watson, possibly the son of David and Mary Jane Hamilton Watson.  Their children were Sarah or Sallie, Sina, Lydia, Hannah, Rachel, Samuel, Andrew Jackson, Mary, and William.

Amos was born June 14, 1781 and married Sarah or Sallie Colliver, daughter of Joseph and Sarah Duncan Colliver.  Their children were George Washington, Elijah, Samuel, Frances, and Margaret.  

Aaron was born about 1782 and married Mary Gano, daughter of James and Rebecca Noland Thatcher. It was her second marriage, and she apparently brought children to the marriage. The children of Aaron and Mary are listed as Samuel and Naomi. 

Sina was born about 1784 and married Matthew Garard, son of David and Margaret Last (?) Gerrard.  Their children were David, Maria, Sarah Jane, Margaret, Sina Ellen, David, Matthew, and Mary Isabella.  

Benjamin Washington was born about 1785 and married Elizabeth Manor, daughter of Benjamin and Martha Holmes Manor.  Their children were William, Catherine, Hannah, Margaret, Martha, Samuel, Amelia, Benjamin, Hester, Mary Elizabeth, and another daughter Hannah.  

Then there is a gap of about 9 years, and one wonders what happened.  Are some of the above birth years "off"?  Were there other preganancies and children who may have died young?  Was Jacob, born August 1, 1794, when his mother was about 41 years old a welcome "surprise"?  I'd sure like to know what story we are missing here!

Jacob married Catherine Goodnight, daughter of Samuel and Magdalena Berkheimer Goodmight.  They had an unknown daughter, then Jacob Mackey, Anna, Samuel Goodnight, Mary Ellen, and David.

There families ended up in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri, but at least some stayed in West Virginia, where 9 generations of Dunhams have lived on part of Samuel Dunham's farm. I have undoubtedly missed some of the children, because Samuel is supposed to have had 82 grandchildren.  By my count, this list accounts for 61 of them.  I hope someone can help with additional information!