Christian (Unknown) Gunn (1610 - abt. 1690)

Born 1610 in England

Wife of Jasper Gunn — married 1636 in Connecticut Colony

Descendants

Died about 1690 at about age 80 in Milford, Connecticut

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Sara Patton [send private message] and John Putnam [send private message]

Biography

On 18 July, 1635, Jasper Gunn-aged 29 and "Ann Gonn" aged 25 were enrolled at London as passengers for New England on the ship DEFENCE. [Hotten 107] On 25 April 1641, Jasper "Gunne" and "Mary his wife" were dismissed from church of Harford and admitted to Milford church [Milford Church Records 2] Jasper also names his wife "Mary" in his will. But in her will, she signs her name as "Christian." Question is whether this is all the same woman.

Several of the same children are mentioned in both their wills: Jobamah, Abell, Daniell, Samuel, Mehitable Fenn Camp. So it can safely be assumed that Mary and Christian are the same woman. And others have suggested that Ann, listed on ship records, is either a sister or Christian, her name being abbreviated to Ann.

Her maiden is not found in any documentation. Base on her age on the ship list, Mary Christian was born about 1610 (aged 25 on 18 July 1635 [Hotten 107] in England. She died in 1690 in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut. Will is below.

Marriage

08 Oct 1635 in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut.

Issue

Children mentioned in wills of father or mother or both wills.

1. Nathaniel Pistole Gunn was born about 1637 in Roxbury, Suffolk, Conneticutt. He married Sarah Day on 17 Nov 1658 in Springfield, Mass. He died in 1662 in Suffolk, Conneticut.
2. Jobamah Gunn was born about 1639 in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. He married Sarah Lane on 30 Oct 1663 in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. He died in 1715 in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
3. Mehitable Gunn was baptized 2 May 1641 in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. She died in 1730 in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
4. Abel Gunn was baptized on 19 Jun 1643 in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. He married Mary Smith on 29 Oct 1667 in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. He died in 1668 in Derby, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
5. Daniel Gunn was baptized in 1645 in Milford CT.
6. Samuel Gunn was born about 1647-48 in Hartford, Connecticut, USA. He died in 1699 in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

Will

In her will, dated 6 May 1690 and proved 12 November 1690, "Christian Gun of Milford" bequeathed to "my son Jobamah Gunn," furniture; to "my son Daniell Gunn," thirty shillings, and clothing for his wife; to "my grandchild Sam[ue]ll Gunn, son of Jobamah Gunn, one acre of my homelot which he is possessed of half of it already & the other half is to join unto it, & in case he die without issue, then the said lot to return to his brother Nathaniell"; to "my grandchildren Benjamin & Joseph Fenn ten shillings apiece to buy two Bibles which I have done myself for them & delivered them"; to "my grandchild Sam[ue]ll Gunn son of Nathaniell Gunn of Hatfield," moveables, already delivered; to "my grandchild Christian Gunn, daughter of Jobamah Gunn," 40s. at age eighteen or at marriage, and "my least box"; to "my daughter Campe namely Mehetabell," moveables; to "my grandchild Mary Hine," moveables, including "my Bible"; to "my daughter Mary wife to Jobamah Gunn," moveables; to "my grandchildren Hannah Fenn, Martha Fenn & Susannah Fenn, some linen & other things which I shall lay by for their mother to distribute among them"; to "my grandchildren Elisabeth Gunn & Sarah Gunn each of them a sheet"; residue to "my son Samuell Gunn," he to be executor; if he die without issue, "the land which I have given him shall return to my son Jobamah's children, ... they paying out of it ten pounds to my daughter Mehetabell's children"; "whereas my son Daniell was by my husband's will to allow me a sum of money yearly, which he hath failed of payment, my will is that neither my executor nor no other shall come upon him nor trouble him for it during the said Daniell Gunn's life," but they are to use their discretion after his death [NHPR 2:1:69; New Haven County Court Records 1 (1666-1698):183].^[1]

The inventory of the estate of "Christian Gunn of Milford, taken 31 October 1690, totalled 56lb. 4s. 6d., including 20lb. in real estate: "a homelot," 20lb. [NHPR 2:1:70].^[1] Note: Her son, Daniel's inventory is recorded right after her inventory.

She died between 6 May 1690 (date of will) and 31 October 1690 (date of inventory).

RESEARCH NOTES: Controversy over her given and surnames:

Ken Gunn 7/5/96 I welcome any comments, additional information, etc.  The following is my opinion regarding the information that I have seen with regard to who was Jasper Gunn's wife. Anne, Mary or Christian.   The name Anne appears only once, the Ship Defence manifest. I believe that this is most likely an error by the recorder of the manifest, perhaps transposing Anne from Christian. This is also the opinion that I read once in another document regarding Jasper Gunns wifes' name. Also, I do not believe that Anne was his sister. This due to the birth of their first child in 1635, it is most likely that this person on the ship listed as Anne was expecting a child during the voyage. With this I eliminate the name Anne as a possibility.   The name Mary appears in several places including church records in Roxbury, MA, Hartford, CT and Milford, CT. And, it is also the name on the memorial bridge stone for Jasper in Milford, CT.   The name Christian appears in her Last Will and Testament. Clearly this is the widow of Jasper Gunn according to the document. But why the name Christian?   Comparing both Jasper's and Christian's wills, we see that both refer to the same children as their sons and daughters with two exceptions. Jasper does not make reference to Nathanial in his will, while Christian does not make reference to Abel. Jobamah, Mehetable, Daniel and Samuel are mentioned in both wills.   Abel died in 1688 and was not mentioned by Christian in her will while Nathanial died in 1662/1663 prior to Jasper or Christian's deaths, was not mentioned in Jasper's will, but was mentioned in Christian's will?   Christian makes reference to Nathanial twice, first where she gives land to Jobamah, but if Jobamah is deceased then the land is to go to his brother Nathanial. Second she gives several personal items to Samuel who is the son of Nathanial of Hatfield, MA (which is OUR Nathanial because that is where he lived).   Perhaps she meant that in case Jobamah was deceased that the land was to go to Nathanial's heirs? Best guess I have at the moment.   Christian also, I believe, clearly indicates in her will that she prepared it after Jasper's death. She indicates she is the "widow Gun" and also refers to a bed & bolster that she made since she was left a widow. Also, she also asks that other family members not be upset with Daniel who apparently did not follow Jaspers' wishes and provide her with some support after Jaspers death.   Despite a few puzzling items in the documents, this leads me to believe that they were married to one another ONLY and neither had another spouse. Some have said that perhaps Anne was his first wife, then he remarried. I don't think so. Samuel their first child was born in 1635 in Roxbury, MA. This is the year they landed in the US, records indicate they were in Roxbury and both Jasper and Christian reference their son Samuel in their wills. They did not land until Oct 1635 so it is very likely that Jasper and Christian were expecting a child during their voyage to the US.   As was the custom in those days, female children were often named after their mother first, then their grandmother. Jobamah had one daughter named Mary and another named Christian. Jobamah's wife was Mary Bristol, so a daughter named Mary and a daughter named Christian would have pleased both the mother and grandmother if this is true. And, it also is noted that in her will Christian seemed to favor Jobamah. Also noted in Christian's will is the fond reference she makes regarding Mary as she refers to her as "her daughter".   Our theory after reviewing all available documents is that Mary and Christian are ONE AND THE SAME. What we will probably never resolve is was it? MARY CHRISTIAN or CHRISTIAN MARY. Several things to consider are, perhaps she preferred to use the name CHRISTIAN. Noted in her will, she refers to her daughter Mehetabell as Campe.   So it appears others were referred to by other than their given name. And, note is taken of the way her will begins: "bequeath my soul into the hands of Jesus Christ my redeemer". Could she have preferred the name Christian because of her deep religious beliefs? Did Jasper refer to her as Mary rather than Christian.   The men were the keepers of the documents exclusively in those days, maybe Jasper is the source of this confusion. I can see my wife nodding her head yes about now. And, keeping in mind the name Anne that appeared on the ship manifest, surely Anne could not be mistaken for the name Mary?   But, one would think that on matters of importance such as Church records, and her Will, both which she should have been aware of as they were created while she was alive, that these documents would bear the correct name. The memorial stone though is another issue as I am not aware of when it was created. It may have been created after both Jasper and her deaths.   My personal opinion is that her given name was Christian Mary Gunn. A grandchild was named Christian and she signed her will, made out in the name Christian with the signature Christian. The will she alone had control over and in my opinion is the one true authentic document signed by her.   One piece of information in the documents we have does cause some confusion and will likely never be resolved. The reference that Mary left the church in Milford for Hatfield, MA which is where Nathanial lived. Of course this could be an error, or if true it was done for a period of time (for whatever reason (temporary separation from Jasper, needed in Hatfield by Nathanial and his family, or?) and maybe she later rejoined the church but no record has been found to indicate that she rejoined. Or she may simply have quit the church for other reasons.   Thank you for reading this. It was written simply to generate some interest in resolving this issue, offered as my opinion and as an open invitation to others to comment as they please. All of the documents, the article on Jasper Gunn in the Milford Medical Society book and both their wills are available at this site for review.

Stevens-2498 Some give her maiden name as Baldwin without documentation

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} “New Haven Probate Records, Vol. 1-2, 1647-1703”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L92K-G9JZ-9  : 12 March 2021), New Haven, Connecticut, FHL microfilm 007626739, image 298-299. New Haven Probate Record, 1668-1703, Vol. 2, Part 1, page 69-70.

Anderson, Robert Charles. Great Migration:Immigrants to New England 1634-35, Vol 3 p164-169.

• Descendents of Henry Gunn, p. 1; http://www.digginupfamily.com/documents/gunn.html

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