Jonathan Singletary Dunham House
Encyclopedia
The Jonathan Singletary Dunham House, located in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey
(the first Township
of New Jersey
, chartered on June 1, 1669 by King
Charles II of England
), is a house that was built around 1700 by Jonathan Singletary Dunham
(January 17, 1640 – September 6, 1724), a prominent early American
settler and freeholder who also built the first gristmill
in New Jersey.
Jonathan Dunham was born in Newbury, Massachusetts
and married Mary Bloomfield with whom he later moved to New Jersey. Bloomfield is a relative of Joseph Bloomfield
, Governor of New Jersey, for whom the township of Bloomfield, New Jersey
is named after. After building the first gristmill
in New Jersey, he went on to serve the community in a variety of ways and was elected to the New Jersey Provincial Congress
in 1673.
Jonathan Singletary Dunham
is President Barack Obama’s
eighth great-grandfather and the first of Obama’s ancestors to be born in North America
.
were built was granted to Jonathan Dunham by the newly appointed Governor of New Jersey. The Dunham house is the oldest building in Woodbridge Township, and among the oldest buildings in Middlesex County. Originally a two-story, four room home, the house was built with Flemish bond brickwork, also known as Dutch bond, that makes a distinctive checkerboard
pattern that is visible on the first and second floors of the façade
. As Dunham's allegiance
was with the American
Continental Army
, the house was used as a garrison
by American
soldiers during the American Revolution
. The mill, a tidal mill, was located just south of the home, along the Woodbridge River, which was then known as Papiack Creek, at the intersection of the Port Reading Road.
, listed on the New Jersey and national registers of historic places. Jonathan’s youngest son, Benjamin Dunham, is recognized as a founder of the church, and the house his father built now serves as the Rectory. One of the original circular
millstones used by Dunham in his grist mill operations still exists and is displayed on the property.
Woodbridge Township, New Jersey
-Communities:Many distinct communities exist within Woodbridge Township. Several of these communities have their own ZIP codes, and many are listed by the United States Census Bureau as census-designated places, but they are all unincorporated areas and neighborhoods within the Township that,...
(the first Township
Township
The word township is used to refer to different kinds of settlements in different countries. Township is generally associated with an urban area. However there are many exceptions to this rule. In Australia, the United States, and Canada, they may be settlements too small to be considered urban...
of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, chartered on June 1, 1669 by King
King
- Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:...
Charles II of England
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
), is a house that was built around 1700 by Jonathan Singletary Dunham
Jonathan Singletary Dunham
Jonathan Singletary Dunham was a prominent early American politician and settler of Woodbridge Township, New Jersey. He is President Barack Obama’s eighth great-grandfather and the first of Obama’s ancestors to be born in North America.-Life:Jonathan Singletary Dunham was born to Richard...
(January 17, 1640 – September 6, 1724), a prominent early American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
settler and freeholder who also built the first gristmill
Gristmill
The terms gristmill or grist mill can refer either to a building in which grain is ground into flour, or to the grinding mechanism itself.- Early history :...
in New Jersey.
Jonathan Dunham was born in Newbury, Massachusetts
Newbury, Massachusetts
Newbury is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 6,666 at the 2010 census. Newbury includes the villages of Old Town , Plum Island and Byfield, home of The Governor's Academy , a private preparatory school.- History :Newbury Plantation was settled and incorporated...
and married Mary Bloomfield with whom he later moved to New Jersey. Bloomfield is a relative of Joseph Bloomfield
Joseph Bloomfield
Joseph Bloomfield was a Governor of New Jersey. The township of Bloomfield, New Jersey is named for him.-Birth:Joseph Bloomfield was born in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey to Moses Bloomfield, a physician, and Sarah Ogden...
, Governor of New Jersey, for whom the township of Bloomfield, New Jersey
Bloomfield, New Jersey
Bloomfield is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 47,315. It surrounds the Bloomfield Green Historic District.-History:...
is named after. After building the first gristmill
Gristmill
The terms gristmill or grist mill can refer either to a building in which grain is ground into flour, or to the grinding mechanism itself.- Early history :...
in New Jersey, he went on to serve the community in a variety of ways and was elected to the New Jersey Provincial Congress
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
in 1673.
Jonathan Singletary Dunham
Jonathan Singletary Dunham
Jonathan Singletary Dunham was a prominent early American politician and settler of Woodbridge Township, New Jersey. He is President Barack Obama’s eighth great-grandfather and the first of Obama’s ancestors to be born in North America.-Life:Jonathan Singletary Dunham was born to Richard...
is President Barack Obama’s
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
eighth great-grandfather and the first of Obama’s ancestors to be born in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
History
The 213 acre (0.86198118 km²) of land upon which the house and gristmillGristmill
The terms gristmill or grist mill can refer either to a building in which grain is ground into flour, or to the grinding mechanism itself.- Early history :...
were built was granted to Jonathan Dunham by the newly appointed Governor of New Jersey. The Dunham house is the oldest building in Woodbridge Township, and among the oldest buildings in Middlesex County. Originally a two-story, four room home, the house was built with Flemish bond brickwork, also known as Dutch bond, that makes a distinctive checkerboard
Checkerboard
A checkerboard or chequerboard is a board of chequered pattern on which English draughts is played. It is an 8×8 board and the 64 squares are of alternating dark and light color, often red and black....
pattern that is visible on the first and second floors of the façade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
. As Dunham's allegiance
Allegiance
An allegiance is a duty of fidelity said to be owed by a subject or a citizen to his/her state or sovereign.-Etymology:From Middle English ligeaunce . The al- prefix was probably added through confusion with another legal term, allegeance, an "allegation"...
was with the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
, the house was used as a garrison
Garrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soldiers during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. The mill, a tidal mill, was located just south of the home, along the Woodbridge River, which was then known as Papiack Creek, at the intersection of the Port Reading Road.
Today
Since 1873, the home has been part of the grounds of Trinity Episcopal Church (Woodbridge Township, New Jersey)Trinity Episcopal Church (Woodbridge Township, New Jersey)
Trinity Episcopal Church is a historic church at 650 Rahway Avenue in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey....
, listed on the New Jersey and national registers of historic places. Jonathan’s youngest son, Benjamin Dunham, is recognized as a founder of the church, and the house his father built now serves as the Rectory. One of the original circular
Circular
Circular is a basic geometric shape such as a Circle.Circular may also refer to:-Documents:*Circular note, a document request by a bank to its foreign correspondents to pay a specified sum of money to a named person...
millstones used by Dunham in his grist mill operations still exists and is displayed on the property.