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?-1805 William Dunbar is James Forten's brother-in-law. Records reveal nothing about where and when he was born, whether or not he was enslaved or free, or how he met Abigail. We do know that he married Abigail Forten at St. Paul's Episcopal Church on April 10, 1784. He left Philadelphia April 21, 1784 (11 days later) with James on the ship Commerce bound for London. He was often away from home for months at a time as a sailor. William died in 1805. His crewmates had left him behind sick in a New York Hospital because he was not well enough to sail. William's family learned of his death by reading his name in the April 10, 1805 Poulson's listing of the names of Philadelphians who died in New York City during the previous few weeks. |
