Beeks line: Mary Smith Dunham, one feisty lady

It's been awhile since I've had anything to say about any of the Beeks ancestors.  But I came across one sentence about one lady that I think is noteworthy.  Actually, finding anything about a woman in the 18th century is noteworthy, as for the most part women are hidden in their husband's identity.  Ah, but what is husband dies at a young age?  Remarriage was the norm, but sometimes a widow chose a different road. 

Mary Smith was the daughter of Shubael and Prudence Fitzrandolph Smith.  (The Fitzrandolph family traces back to English and Scottish royalty but that is a story for sometime in the future, if I decide to expand the scope of this blog.)  She was born December 27, 1717, probably in Woodbridge, Middlesex County, New Jersey.  She was one of eleven children, and that's about what I know of her childhood.  I would love to know her religion, but I don't know that at this time. 

Mary married Jonathan Dunham (sometimes spelled Donham), the son of Benjamin Dunham and Mary Rolph, probably in 1737 although I haven't pinned that date down yet.  Their first son was born at the end of 1738, and they had five additional children.  Unfortunately, Jonathan died in 1748, although I've not yet found records that mention a cause of death.  This left Mary with 6 children under the age of 15.  What's a widow to do?

Well, what she did not do was marry again.  We are given a clue as to what she may have done because her name is found (along with some other people by the name of Fitzrandolph and Dunham) on a petition to the New Jersey House stating that the rate for housing soldiers had been 5 shillings, 4 pence but had been reduced to 4 shillings, and the petitioners asked that it be increased to the original level. 

This was during the French and Indian War.  Woodbridge may have been close enough to the frontier that the citizens felt threatened, and apparently at least a few soldiers were stationed there or near there to protect civilians.  My strong suspicion is that Mary ran a boarding house or inn to support her family.  That would explain why some of her late husband's relatives would have signed the same petition.  They wanted her to be able to support herself, so they would not be obliged to do so. 

I've not learned whether the petition was successful or not.  I don't know what Mary looked like, whether she was short or tall, plain or attractive, but I can imagine the determination in her mind and body that showed her a way to support her family without re-marrying.  Signing a petition to the state was not a common thing for a woman to do.  I think she was a feisty lady. 

Mary died in 1791.  Her will, written in 1784, disposed of mostly personal property, but she made cash bequests to two sons.  Samuel, the Beeks ancestor (and also Barack Obama's ancestor) was absent from home and if he did not return within ten years,  his son Jacob was to receive 10 pounds with the remainder of Samuel's share to be divided among her three children.  It's possible that Samuel was already in what became West Virginia at that time, making a life for himself and his several children. 

One other detail.  One of her sons, Asher, was a Tory and fought on the British side in the Revolutionary war.  Daniel Dunham followed the same path.  He may or may not be Mary's son.  Her birth date is given as 1717 and Daniel's as 1730.  I suspect Daniel belongs to another Dunham, or might just possibly be Jonathan's from an earlier relationship.  He would have been family of some kind, however.  Asher seems to have returned to New Jersey by the time Mary wrote her will.  Samuel may have stayed away because his were not Tory views.  

That's what is known about Mary, plus I've thrown in some speculation that may or may not be accurate (that she ran an inn or boarding house of some sort).  I like Mary.  I admire her spunk and her grit that allowed her to raise five children without the benefit of a husband.  I like that she was willing to sign a petition.  I like that she wanted Samuel to return home, as most parents would.  I just like Mary, and I hope you do, too. 

The line of descent is:

Jonathan Dunham-Mary Smith
Samuel Dunham-Hannah probably Ruble
Jacob Dunham-Catherine Goodnight
Samuel G. Dunham-Eliza Matilda Reese
Margaret Catherine Dunham-Harvey Aldridge
Gretta Cleo Aldridge-Wilbur Beeks
Mary Margaret Beeks-Cleveland Harshbarger
Their descendants