Francis Dunnington (1746 – 1820)
Contributed by Compatriot Asa Dunnington
Francis’ grandfather, Francis Dunnington, came here from the United Kingdom to Baltimore in 1685. He was a bonded servant to Lady Mary Chandler (the sister of Lord Baltimore). To pay for his passage Francis had to serve Lady Chandler for three years after which he was given 50 acres of land where the U. S. Naval Yards are today. Not long after settling there Francis was warned by a friendly Penobscot Indian that another Penobscot Indian intended to kill him for some unknown reason. Due to the warning Francis and the one that warned him plotted to kill the would be assailant and did. Francis decided afterward the family of the decedent would be seeking revenge so he should relocate. So, he traded his 50 acres for 50 acres in Charles County, Maryland at Port Tobacco. Which is how we became tobacco farmers.
His grandson, Francis, signed the Certificate of Freedom and joined the Maryland Volunteer Militia, 3rd Maryland Regiment in 1780. He served under Captain Marbury from that time until the end of the war at Yorktown. His father, William, also served in the Revolutionary War. His service began a long family tradition as there have been Dunningtons serving in every conflict since. Of which I am very proud. I served in the U. S. Army Reserve as a tanker from 1956-1959 and in the U. S. Air Force as an automatic tracking radar specialist from 1959-1963. While stationed at Edwards AFB, Ca. I was honored to serve under Col. Chuck Yeager who was the greatest pilot I ever saw.