In a message dated 98-06-11 14:17:15 EDT, you write: << I have quite a bit on the Runyon family, though not a direct descendant. I am, however, descended from the Dunns of the Piscataway, NJ area (and lived in Dunellen, next to Piscataway, for 40 years). You also mention Dunham -- which is quite a surname to research. You are probably aware that there were two Dunham families in the Woodbridge/Piscataway NJ area -- the "real" one from Plymouth, and that of Jonathan Singletary, who married a Bloomfield, moved to N.J., and changed his name to Dunham (mainly, I think, to confuse us). >> Hi Harman! Two items--first off, what's your connection to the Dunns? I'm a Dunn descendant myself, from Hugh Dunn, who married Elizabeth Drake daughter of Francis Drqke the captain. Second of all, somewhere in my files is a statement that Jonathan Singletary, alias Dunham, was originally a Dunham who had changed his name to Singletary and then changed it back. Here's what I have on that, copied from a note that someone sent me over a year ago on the subject: <Thomas DUNHAM, son of Deacon John DUNHAM, did not marry, contrary to many of the histories of Nathaniel DONHAM Jr. that claim him as their ancestor. He did not marry Martha KNOTT, daughter of George KNOTT and Martha. In his will George promised a coat to Thomas DUNHAM if he married his daughter, but it turned out that he never did. This caused a lot of confusion in many early DUNHAM genealogies such as those written by SAVAGE and by Isaac Watson DUNHAM. It is correct that Nathaniel DONHAM Sr. was the son of Jonathan DUNHAM, but a closer look at the records shows that Jonathan was actually born as Jonathan SINGLETARY, son of Richard SINGLETARY and Susanna COOKE. He was not the son of Thomas DUNHAM and Martha KNOTT. Jonathan, born 17 Nov 1639/1640 Salisbury, Essex, MA, got into some court trouble with a John GODFREY when he was in his twenties. At one point in their disputes over land Jonathan even accused John of being a witch! Jonathan also had some run-ins with the Plymouth government. He was arrested for some sort of rebellion and was described in government records as being a "ranter" and "disseminating corrupt religious principles among his neighbors" (from Olive B. LEONARD's "First Settlers of Piscataway and Woodbridge: Dedication to Five Notable First Settlers"). Presumably, it was because of all these troubles that Jonathan decided to move his family to New Jersey. What is not so easy to figure out is why he changed his name also. His name-change was never a secret. All the records of him in New Jersey say either "Jonathan Donham, alias Singletary" or "Jonathan Singletary, alias Donham". The explanation for this might lie in a family legend among SINGLETARY descendents today. Their story tells about their immigrant ancestor, Richard SINGLETARY, Jonathan's father. They believe Richard was born in England, not a son of Francis SINGLETARY (who is presumed to be the father after narrowing out the other possible SINGLETARY families), but a son of the heirs to the House of DUNHAM. Various accidents or female births resulted in his being the only one left to inherit the wealth. Since he was only a few years old, the Lower House decided they would try to take that chance to seize the estates. They plotted to have the nanny murder the child so they wealth would transfer to them. The nanny could not do it and instead brought the child to America where she gave him the new name SINGLETARY because, in America, he would be "single" or alone, and he would "tarry" or remain. One description of this claimed that there was some documentation back in England, such as an affidavit by the nanny, but I have not attempted to find anything yet. This would explain, though, why Jonathan chose the name DUNHAM or DONHAM -- he was reclaiming his father's ancestral surname. He might have heard many stories of their ancestry and being thus proud of the name, he changed his to DONHAM, instead of a "fake" name like SINGLETARY. Anyway, he also changed his ways in New Jersey, and the same book above also says about him, "was a respected and reputable citizen... and commanded the esteem of his fellow townsmen." Another common misconception among the descendents of this line involved the two Nathaniels. Nathaniel DONHAM Sr., son of Jonathan SINGLETARY, married Joannah THORNELL and had at least nine children. But Nathaniel DONHAM Jr. (m. Mary SUTTON and Keziah CROSLEY) was not one of them. This has always been assumed because of the Sr. and Jr. Nathaniel was actually the grandson of Nathaniel DONHAM Sr. He was the son of John DONHAM. This theory was first developed by my friend Brent SCHLOTTMAN of Arizona (on Prodigy). Remember that in the 1700s and before, Jr. and Sr. were mostly used to distinguish between two family members of the same name. Nathaniel DONHAM Jr., son of John, was called that because he had an uncle who was also a Nathaniel DONHAM. This Nathaniel (b. 17 Oct 1726) married an Elizabeth WILSON and went to New York.> I'm interested in that business not because I'm descended from the Dunhams (I'm not), but because Edward Dunham and his brother-in-law, my own ancestor Hezekiah Bonham, had quite a set-to over whether the Sabbath should be kept on Sunday or Saturday. Old Hez, a Seventh-Day Baptist, finally convinced Brother- in-Law Edward that the Scriptures backed his interpretation. My understanding is that Quibbletown acquired that nickname because of that little spat in the Baptist church in Piscataway. Love to hear more from you on the doings in Piscataway and thereabouts; you seem to be a real fountain of info! Doris Stanford (of the Stouts, Bonhams, Dunns, Drakes, Bollens, Doolhagens, and Fullers)