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JAMES DANA, b. at Cambridge, 11 May 1735 and baptized 18 May 1735[1] son of Caleb and Phebe (Chandler) Dana; d. at New Haven, 11 Aug 1812;[2] m. at Wallingford, 8 May 1759,[3] KATHARINE WHITTLESEY, b. 26 Dec 1728[4] daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Chauncey) Whittlesey; Katharine d. at New Haven, 28 Aug 1795. James m. 2nd at Wethersfield, CT, 10 Oct 1796,[5] ABIGAIL PORTER (widow of Thomas Belden), b. 1737 daughter of Ezekiel and Mary (Marsh) Porter;[6] Abigail d. 17 Mar 1798. James m. 3rd 21 Sep 1798,[7] MARY MILES (widow of James Rice), b. 1740 daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Woodward) Miles; Mary d. 21 Dec 1831.
Rev. James Dana graduated from Harvard in 1753 and remained in residence continuing studies in theology. He received a doctorate in theological studies from Edinburgh University in 1768. He was ordained in October 1758 and made pastor of the Congregational church in Wallingford. He succeeded his father-in-law Rev. Samuel Whittlesey. The ordination of Rev. Dana was controversial as he was considered of a too liberal branch of religious thought at the time. The ruling body of New Haven ruled against the ordination and severed relations with the church with a “sentence of non-communion.” Rev. Dana and his ordaining clergy formed a new association and he continued as pastor at Wallingford. The conflict between the factions was resolved about 1772. Rev. Dana was installed as pastor of first church at New Haven on 29 April 1789. He continued there until 1805 when he was removed from his post by the ecclesiastical council.[8]
In his will written 4 November 1799 (proved 7 September 1812), James Dana bequeathed to beloved wife Mary use of one-half of the dwelling house and house lot while she is a widow. She receives the chaise and the furniture she brought to the marriage and the principal amount only of the notes and securities that bear her name as well as James’s. Niece Mary Comstock[9] wife of Daniel Comstock receives half the household furniture. Mary’s son Eleutheros Dana Comstock receives three hundred dollars to be used for his education. Son Samuel Whittlesey Dana receives the remainder of the estate and is named executor. Personal estate was $2,021.05 and real estate $3,975.[10]
James Dana and Katharine Whittlesey were parents of two children born at Wallingford.
i SAMUEL WHITTLESEY DANA, b. 13 Feb 1760; d. at Middletown, CT, 21 Jul 1830; m. 13 Jul 1821, MARY POMEROY (widow of Richard Alsop), b. 1767 daughter of Ebenezer and Mary (Willys) Pomeroy; Mary d. 20 Oct 1861. Samuel W. Dana graduated from Yale at age 15. He was an attorney and politician. He served from Connecticut in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1795 to 1810 and then served as U. S. Senator from 1810 to 1821. He was a member of the Federalist party.[11]
ii ELEUTHEROS DANA, b. 15 Oct 1761; d. at Walterboro, SC, 10 Jul 1788. The following is inscribed on his gravestone: “Mr. Eleutheros Dana was born at Wallingford in Connecticut October 15 1761 and died after a short illness July 10 1788. This stone is erected to his memory by his father The Reverend Doctor James Dana of New Haven.”[12]
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