Lucius R. Paige, History of Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1630-1877, with a genealogical register

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[538] drawn up by his predecessor, Rev. John Marrett, a lineal descendant of this family, it is said that President Dunster was son of Henry, of Balehoult, England, a man liberally educated and living 20 Mar. 1640, as appears by a letter from him of that date; that he had three brothers, Thomas, Richard, and Robert, and two sisters, Faith, who m. Edmund Rice of Sudbury, and had many children, and Dorothy, who m. [Simon] Willard and had children. The marriage of Faith to Edmund Rice I have not been able to verify; nor have I found evidence that Dorothy was the name of Mrs. Willard. In the Amer. Quar. Reg., 1839, it is stated that Major Willard m. two of Mr. Dunster's sisters; but their names are given as Elizabeth (or Isabel), and Mary. Mr. Dunster, in his will, speaks of his sister Willard, and also of sister Hills, understood to be the w. of Joseph Hills of Malden; but Mr. Hills m. Helen Adkinson (or Atkinson) in Jan. 1635-6, who was prob. living at the date of the will, 1658; she may, however have, been a widow, at the time of this marriage, or she may have been sister to Mrs. Dunster, and sister-in-law to the testator. He also speaks of his cousin Bowers (the wife of Benanuel), and cousin Faith Dunster. It is singular that so much obscurity should rest on such a distinguished family, even the name or origin of his wife not being known. The only clue which the most diligent search has obtained, is a bequest to her, in his will, of ‘twelve or sixteen books brought by her out of England.’

2. Jonathan, s. of Henry (1) m. Abigail Eliot, prob. dau. of Francis of Braintree. 5 Dec. 1678; she d. and he m. Deborah, dau. of Maj. Jonathan Wade of Medford (by his first wife), 5 Ap. 1692; after her death he in. Ruth, wid. of Joshua Eaton of Reading,—marriage contract signed 23 Nov. 1719. His children were (by first wife), Heny, b. 17 July, 1680; Elizabeth, b. 22 Feb. 1681-2, d. young; and by second wife, Jonathan, b. 1695, d. unm. 11 April 1742, aged 47; Elizabeth, b. about 1699, m. Philip Carteret (or De Carteret), and d. 25 Jan. 1787, aged 87, as inscribed on her gravestone; Thomas, b.——, d. unm. between 3 Ap. 1726 and 1 Ap. 1728; Dorothy, b. 1702, m. Solomon Page of Hampton, N. H. (prob. the graduate H. C. 1729), 13 Ap. 1732, and d. 13 Oct. 1741, leaving five children; David, b. 1705. Jonathan the f. d. 1725. his w. Ruth m. Lieut. Amos Marrett 22 Nov. 1732, and after his death, Peter Hayes of Stoneham, pub. 30 Sept. 1742.

3. Henry, s. of Jonathan (2), m. Martha, dau. of Jason Russell, 25 Feb. 1707-8, and had Martha, b. 7 Feb. 1708-9, m. Edward Dickson 18 Mar. 1730-31; Maryb. 7 July, 1712, m. Amos Marrett 21 Sept. 1732; Abigail, bap. 21 Mar. 1713-14, m. James Cutler (pub. 29 Oct. 1737); Elizabeth, b. 7 July 1717, d. 7 Nov. 1717; Isaiah, b. 21 Oct. 1720, grad. H. C. 1741, ordained in the north parish of Harwich (now Brewster) 2 Nov. 1748, and d. 18 Jan. 1791, a. 70; Henry, b. 13 Feb 1722-3; Elizabeth, bap. 10 May 1724, d. young; Jason, )bap. 18 July 1725; Eunice, bap. 26 May 1728, d. young; Jonathan, bap. 1 June 1729, d. young; Ruth, bap. 7 Oct. 1733, d. 30 June 1735. Henry the f. d. 28 Jan. 1753, a. 72; his w. Martha m. Francis Locke 15 Mar. 1759.

4. David, s. of Jonathan (2), m. Mary, dau. of Hubbard Russell, and had Elizabeth, bap. 25 Ap. 1731; Mary, bap. 4 Mar. 1732-3; Margery, b. 1739; and others. Mr. Dunster resided in Menotomy; but removed to Westminster (being dismissed from the Church 17 Oct. 1742, to help forum a Church at Narragansett No. 2), where he d. 1758, leaving w. Mary, and chil. Hubbard: Thomas; Elizabeth, w. of James Taylor; Mary, w. of David Bemis; Margery; Ruhamah; Carteret; Henry.

5. Henry, s. of Henry (3), m. Abigail Moore 27 Ap. 1748, and had (posthumous), a daughter, b. and d. 4 Mar. 1748-9. He d. 13 Oct. 1748, a. 25; his w. Abigail, m. Jonathan Harrington of Lex. (pub. 9 June 1750).

6. Jason, s. of Henry (3), m. Rebecca, dau. of Samuel Cutter 26 Oct. 1749, and had Ruth, . 10 Aug. 1750; Rebecca, b. 17 Aug. 1752, d. 5 July 1753; Henry, b. 4 Aug. 1754; Rebecca, b. 18 June 1756; Martha, b. 28 Aug. 1758; Josiah, b. 10 Ap. 1761; ,Jason, b. 27 Mar. 1763; Samuel Cutter, b. 20 Ap. 1766. Before 5 Aug. 1769 Mr. Dunster removed to Mason, N. H., and d. 1805, a. 80.