Chris_Dunn's Blog

     I had heard that one of the top uses of the internet is for researching family history.  I recently did just that and came away with some amazing discoveries about my family and their role in the earliest development of this country!

I was able to trace my family name in this country before it was even a country...all the way back to  as early as 1663.  That is the date of the first record of one HUGH DUNN in New Hampshire.  Here is what I found:

     Hugh Dunn was born in England.  It is not know when or how he emigrated.  In 1663, he settled in Dover, New Hampshire and was given a 10 acre lot on the Lamprey River.  Being made a free man indicates that he had either completed an indenture or an apprentice ship.

    On July 18, 1664, he received a 20 acrey lot on the Lamprey River.  In 1666, Hugh sold his land in New Hampshire and moved to Piscataway, NJ, where he married Elizabeth Drake in 1670 or 1671.   Elizabeth Drake, a daughter of Francis and Mary (Walker) Drake, was born in England in 1648 and came to America with her family.  Elizabeth was grand-neice of the famous navigator/explorer Sir Francis Drake.

     As well as being a planter, Hugh DUNN was also a militiaman, civil officer and churchman. He served on the first Grand Jury in 1684 of which there were 17 members. Along with five other men, and was instrumental in organizing the Baptist Church in Piscataway, where his brother-in-law, John DRAKE was minister for 50 years. He, himself, was one of three lay preachers.