Jonathan Dan was born in North Stamford,CT, 1752. During the revolutionary war, he served two enlistments in the army, serving both times in the area of Albany and Fort George. He was later a resident of Stanford, Dutchess County NY, and also resided in Green County NY. His wife is identified only as Rachel. All their children except Miranda were born before moving to Norwich.

Jonathan and his family, as well as several others relocated to Chenango County NY in 1792. According to the county historian, all of them settled initially at the site of today's Sherburne 4-corners, northwest of North Norwich. Most of then subsequently resettled on better land closer to North Norwich.Jonathan was about 40 years old when he settled in North Norwich, and died "after 1833"; he spent 40 years in the area. His sons Philip and Seth relocated to the Town of Abington, Luzerne, PA about 1810.


Jonathan owned all of the section noted as "21" (looks like "27") in the upper left corner of this close-up map. His residence was where "J.W.Sturgiss" is noted. Much of his property is presently owned by Robert and Rita Decker. Rita is the town historian, and has reported "a large rectangular area of very black dirt" on the property. It was conjectured that it was an area where wood was burned into charcoal, an early-times activity that provided fuel for iron working and for various chemicals and in gunpowder.


The stone of Francis Dan, a son of Jonathan. 1950s correspondence in the historian's office suggests that Jonathan and Rachel are buried near this stone.


The monument marking the Poyer plot in the North Norwich cemetery. Miranda, noted in the photo is the youngest child of Jonathan, and the Poyer family was another of the original settlers.


An August 2011 photo of the Sherburne 4-corners.