DAR #A034856

Elinor Brewster Dunn was the daughter of James Brewster of Coleraine, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland and Eleanor Williamson Brewster of Scotland. Both of her parents died in Jessamine County, Kentucky. Elinor was born 25 January 1754, in Augusta County, Virginia, and died 3 November 1841, in Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana. She was the wife of Samuel Dunn, born 1750, County Down, Northern Ireland. He passed in Danville, Boyle County Kentucky, 17 August 1802. Elinor and Samuel had at least six children, Mary, John, Sarah, Nathaniel Alexander, Martha Long and Eleanor Brewster.

When the Revolutionary War arose James Brewster was beyond the age of military service regardless he and his family gave generous service to the cause. For the time he was considered to be well off and he owned many sheep that would help the female of the household busy, spinning wool, weaving and creating the uniforms needed. Elinor, Jennet and Agnes Brewster contributed to these efforts through their skills. They also knitted, cooked and provided many supplies for the soldiers. The Brewster household also endeavored to create bullets for the cause, by melting down household pewter. At one point during the war Washington’s army was very near to the Brewster home and benefited greatly from the loyal aid of Eleanor and her family.

Elinor and her two sisters were recognized as DAR Patriots by the Indiana Chapter of the DAR. Following the revolution the Brewsters and Dunn families would eventually settled in Bloomington, Indiana, where the Dunns would acquired the land that was donated to build Indiana University. Elinor and most of the Dunn and Brewster families are buried in the Dunn Cemetery on the campus, in the shadows of the student union. The University is not allowed to tamper with, or move any of the graves. All of the Dunn descendants can be buried there, if they so choose.

Although Elinor’s husband, Samuel Fowler Dunn was a private during the war, a female patriot was one of many women who contributed to the cause, though rarely noted.

Samuel’s service was to Virginia, HARDING, GEORGE ROGERS CLARK & HIS MEN, PP 42, 79; LEVINSON, ROCKINGHAM CO, VA MINUTE BOOK, PT 1, P 18, and his Service Description was 1) GRAND JURY, 11‐23‐1778; CAPTS JOHN ALLISON, JOSEPH KINKEAD, COL JOHN BOWMAN, 1780, 1781