Around 1839 or 1840, orators Wm Dunn and Rice Cauthorn complained to Essex County Chancery Court: That on 1 November 1838, Lilly Harper of the County of Essex died, leaving your orator Wm Dunn and Mildred his wife who was Mildred Harper, your orator Rice Cauthorn and Lucy his wife who was Lilly Harper, John Hardy and Polly his wife who was Polly Harper, Thomas Harper, James Harper, George Franklin Minter infant child of Nancy Minter deceased who was Nancy Harper, James Francis Harper and Virginia A. Harper infants of George Harper deceased. [Essex County, Box Chancery No. 39, item 39-Q-29.]

1850 U.S. Census, Essex County, Virginia
Dwelling 535, Family 535
Dunn, William, 50, male, carpenter, $230 real estate, born in Virginia
Dunn, Mildred, 36, female, born in Virginia
Dunn, Margaret, 18, female, born in Virginia
Dunn, Frances, 16, female, born in Virginia
Dunn, Mary, 14, female, born in Virginia, attended school
Dunn, Louisa, 12, female, born in Virginia, attended school
Dunn, Franklin, 10, male, born in Virginia, attended school
Dunn, William, 8, male, born in Virginia
Dunn, John, 6, male, born in Virginia
Dunn, James, 3, male, born in Virginia

Mildred Harper is listed as the mother of John Dunn in his marriage to Lucy A. McKendree. [Essex County, Virginia, Marriage Register 1, page 31.]