JONATHAN SINGLETARY's, MOTHERs Scenarios





JONATHAN SINGLETARY
(aka Jonathan Dunham)
   BIOLOGICAL MOTHER POSSIBILITIES   

Their Scenarios

Much speculation and possibilities at this time.




The Mystery of Jonathan Dunham's Biological Mother

At this time the biological mother of Jonathan Singletary (later Jonathan Dunham) is under question by some of our seasoned researchers. Susanna Cook(e), as most records lead us to conclude, appears to be his biological mother. However, the death date of a "Goodwife Singletary" in Massachusetts, the birth of Jonathan (1639/40), and the marriage of Richard Singletary to Susanna Cook(e) all within a year to two of each other [as recorded] suggests that there may be more to the story. All of this is complicated from the use of the Julian Calendar, Vital Records, and written accountings by others. Then we have the thinking by Patricia Junkin that his mother was named Humility Dunham, and then there is the affidavit signed by a Susanah Singletary and a Susan Singletary.

All these scenarios creep into play as the result of Jonathan Singletary adopting the surname of DUNHAM in later years to become Jonathan Dunham (alias Singletary) when his siblings (sons of Richard Singletary) continued to use the SINGLETARY surname. This suggests to some researchers that he may have had a different mother than his siblings. Did he wish to honor his perhaps DUNHAM ancestors and to separate himself from those children of Susanna Cook(e), or was there another yet unknown reason for adopting the DUNHAM surname?

In an attempt to lay out what others have theorized, I have created 4 scenarios that show what I believe others are thinking. Others' thoughts/theories and corrections would be greatly appreciated. I welcome all input. Audrey.





Mother Scenario #1
Mother may have been an unknown first wife.

Richard Singletary is believed by some researchers (Patricia Judkin, Audrey Hancock, Gratia (Dunham) Mahoney, and others) to have married perhaps between 1635-1638 or earlier a first wife. It would seem that Richard certainly would have married by the time of his 35th birthday if he was born in 1599, but then perhaps not. If born in abt. 1618 he would have been of normal marrying age for that time period. His marriage to Susanna Cook(e) did not take place until 1639 [Was this 1638/1639 or 1639/1640 when Julian Calendar was in use?  ash] Some believe the marriage between Richard and Susanna did not occur until even later.

Jonathan Singletary's birth is recorded according to the Julian Calendar:
"SINGLETARY, Jonathan, s. Ric[hard] and Susanah, 17: 11 m: 1639" (Courtesy of David M. Shields, 2004, who indicates this would have been 1639/1640 according to the Julian Calendar.)





Mother Scenario #2
Mother may have been Humility Dunham.

Patricia Junkin [14 Mar 2004] believes:
Richard Singletary married perhaps Humility Dunham, daughter of John Dunham & #1 Susan/Susanna Kaino. She was perhaps the "Goodwife Singletary" whose death is recorded in Vital Records of Massachusetts, and thus perhaps the first wife of Richard Singletary.

According to Gratia Dunham Mahony, Humility Dunham, dau/o John Dunham (immigrant to Plymouth, MA), & his first wife, Susan/Susanna Kaino, was born 1616-1618. Humility apparently was still living at the time of her father's 2nd marriage in Lyden, Holland on 22 Oct 1622 to Abigail Ballou. Gratia believes that Humility probably died in Holland before 1629-30 when John Dunham and #2 Abigail (Ballou) Dunham came to Plymouth, but there is no documented source at this time to validate her death date. Thus, according to Gratia, Humility could not have been "Goodwife Singletary."]

Patricia Junkin believes Richard Singletary & "Goodwife Singletary" perhaps Humility (Dunham) Singletary possibly had these children:

  • Susan Singletary [according to naming patterns of the day, Susan, if a daughter, could have been named for her maternal grandmother who may have been Susan/Susann (Kaino) Dunham....ash]
  • Jonathan Singletary (aka Jonathan Dunham)

    Patricia cites: "Copies of depositions of Susan Singletary and Susana Singletary sworn, Nov. 22, 1662." [Court Records: Excerpt below...pj]



    Excerpt from University of Virginia: Salem: Witchcraft: Essex: Vol. 3

    "Copy of evidence in the action, John Godfry v. Jonathan Singletary, taken from Salem court records of 25:9:1662, made by Hillyard Veren, cleric.

    John Wooddum, Theophilus Wilson and Robert Lord, marshal, testified that when Jonathan Singletary and John Godfry were in said Wilson's house, Singletary was answering the said Godfry for the executions for which he was put into prison and agreed to end all, but Jonathan said, 'if I answer for all it may be when I com to haverell the counstable will serve them.' Godfry said he would give him an acquittance for them, so when the goods were delivered to John Godfry, Singletary put an attachment upon them in an action of review. Sworn in court.

    Richard Singletary and Susanah, his wife, deposed 20:1:1662-3, that John Godfre being occasionally at their house said, concerning the corn in controversy, that he thought he should never get it of Goodman Clarke for he would pay him in papers as he did the last year. Godfry said several time, 'I would rather it were in a heape in ye street & all ye towne hogges should eate it then he should keepe it in his hands.' Sworn 27:1:1663 before Simon Bradstreete

    Copies of depostions of Susan Singletary and Susana Singletary, sworn, Nov. 22, 1662, before Simon Bradstreet, taken from Salem court records by Hilliard Veren, cleric."

    [NOTE: It would appear that there are two depositions, one signed by a Susanah Singletary and one signed by a Susan Singletary. However, could these have been two different depositions given by the same person and signed by that same person spelling her name two different ways?  ASH]





    • Mother Scenario #3
    Mother may have been "Goodwife Singletary."

    Again, Richard Singletary is believed by some researchers (Patricia Judkin, Audrey Hancock, Gratia (Dunham) Mahoney, and others) to have married perhaps between 1635-1638 or earlier a first wife.

    On 22 Feb 2004, Patricia Judkin wrote:
    "1638 From the Newbury Vital Records, Volume 2, page 721: Singletary, ____, Goodwife, ____, 1638 or 9." According to Hoyt, the record reads "1638 or '9." David M. Shields believes the dating should read 1638/39 [Julian Calendar].

    However, David M. Shields wonders if "Goodwife Singletary" could have been the wife of yet another Richard Singletary. Another thought could place "Goodwife Singletary" as the widowed mother of Richard Singletary, the immigrant, father of Jonathan. Or...is she Humility (Dunham) Singletary as suggested by Patricia Junkin? Or...is she "Goodwife Singletary" of unknown parentage as suggested by Gratia Mahoney and Audrey Hancock?

    Since there appears to have been a "Goodwife Singletary" who died 1638/1639 or 1639/1640, plus the marriage to Susanna Cook(e) in 1639 [1638/1639 or 1639/1640], Jonathan's biological mother comes into question by some researchers, with the thought perhaps "Goodwife Singletary" was the mother of Jonathan, having died in childbirth. Jonathan Singletary's birth is recorded according to the Julian Calendar: "SINGLETARY, Jonathan, s. Ric[hard] and Susanah, 17: 11 m: 1639"





    Mother Scenario #4
    Mother may have been Susanna Cook(e).

    Most records give Jonathan's biological mother as Susanna Cook(e). Susanna Cook's marriage date to Richard Singletary is placed as 1638/1639 or 1639/1640 and Jonathan's birth recorded as "SINGLETARY, Jonathan, s. Ric[hard] and Susanah, 17: 11 m: 1639" [Julian Calendar-1639/1640 according to David M. Shields.] The death of "Goodwife Singletary", the marriage of Richard Singletary to Susanna Cook(e), and the birth of Jonathan take place within the years 1638 to 1640 according to the Julian Calendar dating. What is the chronology of these three events? Further research needs to be done to validate a true picture before we can truly place Jonathan with his biological mother. Could he have been honoring a DUNHAM side of his family...perhaps taking his biological mother's maiden name?

    Jonathan Singletary's birth is recorded according to the Julian Calendar: "SINGLETARY, Jonathan, s. Ric[hard] and Susanah, 17: 11 m: 1639"



    E-mail:  Audrey (Shields) Hancock


    Webpage Created: 6 April 2004
    Webpage Revised: 7 April 2004


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