Exit of the Day: The Pilgrim Ancestors of Barak Hussein Obama

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I-95 EXIT 11 To: Garden State Parkway to Woodbridge, New Jersey

 
Nearby is the colonial era Home of a  recent President's English ancestors.  This President's family came to America not long after the Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving. And no, it was not a Roosevelt, a Clinton, a Bush or a Trump.


President Barak Hussein Obama's American Roots run deep.  While his Dad was from Kenya, Obama's mom's side can trace roots directly to English immigrants arriving at the time of the Pilgrims. ​

​In fact, maybe his ancient American heritage might have something to do with his interest in law, morals as well as politics. His Ancestors were leaders in the Anglican Church in North America and -- not surprisingly -- colonial era politicians.


Jonathan Singletary Dunham (1640–1724), Obama’s first American born ancestor was born in Massachusetts. He moved to Woodbridge, New Jersey where by 1670 he started a grist mill. It was the first grist mill in New Jersey.  And like his presidential descendant, he was a politician elected as a Member of the New Jersey Provincial Congress. Dunham is President Barack Obama’s direct ancestor; he is the president's eighth great-grandfather.   


Nearly 400 years ago, John Dunham thrived and died in Woodbridge. The house the Dunhams built in 1671, the Jonathan Singletary Dunham House, still stands and currently serves as the Rectory of the Trinity Episcopal Church.  That's because Obama's 7th great grandfather, Benjamin Dunham, generously built the first of three church buildings at that location.

​​Members of the Dunham family then drifted out West.
Generations passed. Ultimately Obama’s mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, was born in Wichita, Kansas.


Here in Woodbury, the oldest portions of the building are still in use today as the rectory where the presiding minister lives.  She spoke to the webpage, mycentraljersey.com.  Said the Reverend Angela Cipolla, the head priest at Woodbridge's Trinity Episcopal Church. “The connection with the president is absolutely something that the parish is incredibly proud of,”

​Not surprising, the Rector extends a warm invitation to the President's family to come visit Woodbury.  In effect it's  an invitation for President Obama to come home.


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