Abraham was the 6th of 11 children (7 sons and 4 daughters) born of Michael Dunning (1732-1811) and his 1st wife Abiah Kimberly. Abram's siblings were: Amos (1750-1750), Amos (b. 1752), Betty (bapt. 1754), Josiah (1755-1842), Abel (1763-1841), John, Martin, Huldah, Patty, and Polly.

Abraham's (Abram as listed in some records) father Michael moved his family from Newtown, Fairfield County, Colony of Connecticut to the New Hampshire Grants (Pownal, Bennington County, Vermont) about 1762.

Abraham served as a Private in Captain Charles Parker's Company in Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Herrick's Regiment of volunteers (2nd Regiment of Vermont Militia) from October 12th to November 7th, 1780 (26 days) and received a monthly wage of one Pound 14 Shillings 10 Pence and 4d per mile for traveling 63 miles from his respective home. Colonel Herrick's Regiment was called into service at this time in response to an alarm created by the British raid led by Major Christopher Carleton into the Lake Champlain valley and beyond in October 1780.

Abraham also served as a Private in Captain William Hutchin's Company in the Battalion Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Fletcher Esq. was Commandant, in the State of Vermont from the beginning of the campaign, 1781, to the 12th of November 1781. For his service from the beginning of the campaign to the 30th of June, Abraham received 2 Pounds 16 Shillings. For the 132 days served from July 1st until his discharge on November 12th, he received a total of 9 Pounds 6 Shillings 10 Pence or 1 Shilling 4 Pence pay per day and for traveling 65 miles, he receiving 2d per mile or a total of 10 Shillings 10 Pence.

Abram married Tryphena Jewett (1767-1843) by whom he had 12 children (6 sons and 6 daughters): Samuel (1786-1854), Fanny (1788-1788), Fanny (1790-1874), Clarissa (1792-1875), John (1794-1858), Loan J. (1795-1865), Abram (1798-1841), Frederick (1800-1800), Frederick (1802-1859), Erasmus Darwin (1803-1847), Tryphena (1806-1847), and Tryphosa (1809-1899).

References:

(1) "Genealogical Notes of the Dunning Family in America" 1915, pages 12, 13 and 27

(2) "The State of Vermont Rolls of the Soldiers in the Revolutionary War 1775 to 1783" by John E. Goodrich, 1904, pages 298-299, 397, and 567-569