William Dunn Jr1

b. circa 1790, d. before 7 February 1865
FatherWilliam Dunn2 d. 1819
MotherLydia Musgrave3 d. aft 1819
Birthcirca 1790 William Dunn Jr was born circa 1790.1 
Devisee14 Jan 1819  William's father, William Dunn Sr., wrote his will in early 1819. In it he left his son, William Jr., a one half interest in a tract of land in Kentucky. Although William and his brother John were deeded this land instead of a share of the Washington County plantation, their father requested that they live with their mother and sisters in Virginia and take care of them.2 
Marriage8 Dec 1825 He married Catherine Smith, daughter of George Smyth and Sarah Halfacre, on 8 Dec 1825 in Washington County, Virginia.4 
Land-Sell13 Aug 1830 On 13 Aug 1830 William and Catherine sold 58 acres of land on the waters of the North Fork of the Holston River to Joseph Miller for $300. Catherine had inherited the land from her father, George Smith. It abutted land belonging to Tobias Smith.5 
  Lydia Dunn's 1820 census enumeration suggests that after the death of William Dunn Sr., William Jr. and John remained on the family farm with their mother and younger siblings. Both William and John married between 1820 and 1830 however it was William's 1830 household that appears to include his younger unmarried sisters. Lydia does not appear to be present. William's sisters Jane and Lydia both married in the early 1830s but William's 1840 household appears to include his sister Rebecca.6,7,8 
Devisee  Rebecca died in 1842. She left William her 1/6 share in the land "on which he lived" suggesting that William and his family resided on the old William Dunn land with Rebecca.9 
Land-Sell23 Sep 1843 On 23 Sep 1843 William and Catherine and three of his siblings (or their heirs) sold their 4/6 interest in the land owned by their father William Dunn Sr. to Jonas Smyth. The deed clarified that William Jr.'s 1/6 share was not left to him by his father but was bequeathed to him in the will of his sister Rebecca Dunn.10 
MigrationSep 1843 Following the execution of this deed, William and Catherine migrated to Missouri by covered wagon with their eight young sons.11 
Residence  They settled briefly near Springfield in Greene County before buying land to the northwest in Dade County. 
Cens-Sum  There they were enumerated in both 1850 and 1860. The latter census clarified that they were farming land in Polk township valued at $2,000. William also owned personal property worth $800. The 6 youngest children were still at home in 1860, including 25 year old John, whose occupation was listed as physician. He owned land valued at $400 and personal property of an equal amount. John and his two younger brothers Thomas and Alpheus both owned personal property valued at $75.12,13 
Deathbefore 7 Feb 1865 William died before 7 Feb 1865 in Carthage, Hancock County, Illinois.3,14,1 

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Family

Catherine Smith b. 20 May 1800, d. 13 Feb 1872
Children
  • Lysander S. Dunn1 (1827 - )
  • Joseph M. Dunn1 (29 Sep 1828 - after 3 May 1916)
  • William Franklin Dunn1,15 (3 Mar 1831 - 15 Jan 1916)
  • John Moffett Dunn1 (25 Jun 1833 - 19 May 1914)
  • Thomas N. Dunn1 (1835 - circa 1915)
  • Alpheus Theodore Dunn1 (21 Jun 1837 - 27 Jan 1923)
  • Samuel L. Dunn1 (1839 - after 11 Aug 1861)
  • George Dunn1 (1842 - 28 Jun 1874)
  • Mary J. Dunn1 (1846 - 21 Dec 1915)
Last Edited21 Nov 2013

Citations

  1. [S87] "Dunn Family Reunion Booklet," compiled for the 3rd Dunn Family Reunion, 7 Aug. 1988 by Eva Dunn Counts, Knoxville, TN, p. 16. Family group sheet for William Dunn, Jr. and Catherine Smith.
  2. [S131] William Dunn will (1819), Washington Co., Virginia, Will Book 4: 284. Will mentions wife Lydia, daughter Elizabeth Logan, wife of Wm S. Logan, daughters Rebecca, Polly, Jane and Lydia Dunn and sons Samuel, John and William Dunn; also grandson William D. Logan.
  3. [S30] Audrey Honegger, "William Dunn/Lydia Musgrave Family," e-mail to Diana Powell, 11 Jan 2001.
  4. [S2390] William R. Wheeler, Minister's Returns 1785-1832 Washington Co., Virginia Vol. 1A, p. 9. Book contains scanned images of the ministers returns (to the county) for the weddings at which they officiated. The return of William Patton dated 14 May 1827 and covering marriages performed between Dec. 1825 and April 1827 was too fragile to be scanned however Mr. Brown transcribed it as: William Dunn and Catherine Smith 8th Der 1825.
  5. [S2290] Jack Hockett, Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 10, 1829-1831, abstracting WCV Deed Bk 10: 272.
  6. [S621] Lydia Dunn household, 1820 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, p. 204 (stamped on lower corner of right hand side of page), viewed online at Ancestry.com, April 2008, image 212 of 48. Household includes: 1 male 10-15; 2 males 16-25; 1 Female 10-15; 2 Females 16-25; 1 Female 45+; 8 slaves.
  7. [S578] William Dunn household, 1830 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, p. 240 (added script), viewed online at Ancestry.com, April 2008, image 31 of 150. Household includes: 2 males under 5; 1 male 30-39; 1 male 50-59; 3 females 20-29; 1 female 30-39.
  8. [S679] William Dunn household, 1840 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, p. before 210 stamped, viewed online at Ancestry.com, April 2008, image 23 of 115. Household includes: 1 male under 5; 3 males 5-9; 2 male 10-14; 1 male 40-49; 1 female 30-39; 1 female 40-49; 1 female 50-59.
  9. [S268] Rebecca Dunn will (1842), Washington Co., VA Will Book 9: 248.
  10. [S2524] Jack Hockett, Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 16, 1842-1844, abstracting WCV Deed Bk 16: 386.
  11. [S30] Audrey Honegger, "Smyth Family-Gen #3 Con't.," e-mail to Diana Powell, 20 May 2001. Source is cited as Smidt/Smith/Smyth Family of New Castle Co., DE and Washington Co., VA, 1991, by Dorothy Tuttle. It states that the family migrated in Sept. 1843.
  12. [S2514] William Dunn household, 1850 U.S. cens, Dade Co., MO, pop. sched., District 25, dwelling 426, family 437, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2010. Household includes: William Dunn, 60, farmer, owns real estate valued $600; Catharine 50; Joseph 21, farmer; William 19, farmer; John 16, farmer; Thomas 15, farmer; Alfius, 12; Samel 11; George 8; Mary 4 (b. MO; all others b. VA).
  13. [S2520] William Dunn household, 1860 U.S. cens, Polk Co., MO, pop. sched., Polk township, p. 62 (original script), dwelling 420, family 420, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2010. Household includes: William Dunn, 66, owns land valued at $2,000 and personal property of $800; Catherine, 59; John, 25, physician, owns land worth $400 and personal property worth $400; Thomas, 23, farmer, owns pers. prop worth $75; Alphius P., 21, farmer, owns pers. prop. worth $75; Samuel 19; George, 17; Mary, 15, b. MO (all others b. VA).
  14. [S87] "Dunn Family Reunion Booklet," compiled for the 3rd Dunn Family Reunion, 7 Aug. 1988 by Eva Dunn Counts, Knoxville, TN, p. 7. Year only.
  15. [S1513] "Missouri Death Certificates, 1910-1955", index with selected images, Missouri Digital Heritage (http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/resources/deathcertificates : downloaded March 2010), William Franklin Dunn data; personal information contributed by B. Wills.