Jonathan Rumney

Spelled and referred to variously, Jonathan Rumney lived in Albany during the mid-1760s. Perhaps he was the descendant of English soldier Jonathan Rumney who died in Albany in 1722. Was he born early in 1744 and christened in New Brunswick, New Jersey as the son of Benjamin and Maria Rumney?

A number of same-named individuals are at risk during his lifetime.

In 1766, this particular individual was among those city people who signed a constitution for the Albany Sons of Liberty. In 1767, he was identified as an "enlisted man" in an Albany militia company. However, his name was not found on available lists of assessment rolls and other surveys for the 1760s.

During the War for Independence, his name appeared on the muster roll of a New York Regiment of Levies. However, his name was absent from a list of those who afterwards qualified for a land bounty right in conjunction with the Albany militia regiment.

Perhaps this John Rumney married one "Rachel Meinersse" on August 28, 1784 at the Albany Dutch church. Children were christened by them in 1785 and 1787. In 1786, "Jno. G Rumney" subscribed 8 shillings toward the salary of a second Dutch Reformed minister. Later, in the document the notation "remov'd" followed his name.

A "Mr. John Rumney" died in Geneva, New York in October 1808 at the age of sixty-three. That individual would have been born during the 1740s.

This page most significantly organizes available information on the signer of the Sons of Liberty constitution of 1766. We seek defining information on the origins, life, and passing of one-time Albany area resident Jonathan Rumney. With many outstanding questions, we move on for now.

Sources: The life of Jonathan Rumney has not been assigned a CAP biography number. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.