Barnabas Morton Dunham
“There will be sweetness in Heaven“. <- The inscription on Barnabas’ headstone.
There is very little known about Barnabas. Even the spelling of his first name has had a bit of controversy (for me) during this research. At times his name was spelled – Barnaba, Barnabas, or Barnabee. The spelling of HIS name appeared to be a matter of his own contention, because during his later years, he presented himself on legal records as B. Morton Dunham.
Looking at the inscription on Barnabas’ headstone, I reflect on who put it there…and why. I know that his wife, Sarah, had that written, but the real question is why? Barnabas didn’t seem to have much notoriety in his life. His name is seldom seen in records. My “gut” tells me that these two things together mean that he was a simple man who never attempted to achieve material things beyond his family and his farm. He was chosen Tax Collector of Carver for one year (1827). My guess is that if his wife intentionally had placed on his grave stone the phrase, “There will be sweetness in Heaven”, it was was because Barnabas Morton Dunham was a decent man and took care of his family. The lack of great achievement outside his home is not a bad thing at all, but rather the measure of a man who clearly showed what was important to himself – family. A probate record or even a town death record has not yet been found for Barnabas Morton Dunham (as of 2022), but that search goes on as there are still many records that have not be indexed, so they have to be searched one page at a time looking for his name.
Barnabas Morton Dunham left behind several children under the age of 18.
Arad Richmond Dunham – Civil War Soldier, who enlisted briefly in the Confederate Army in order to escape a North Carolina shoe factory Confederate military takeover, then devised and undertook a thrilling plan to evade capture in the deep south in order to return to Massachusetts and join the Union Army. He was promoted to Lieutenant. Member of the Grand Army of the Republic.