Rochester

Rochester was incorporated as a town, May 10, 1722. The present towns of Farmington and Milton were formerly a part of Rochester. Farmington was set off and incorporated December 1, 1798, and Milton was set off and incorporated June 11, 1802. A part of the farm of Rufus C. Varney was severed and annexed to Barrington, July 10, 1846. Rochester was incorporated as a city, March 31, 1891. It is commonly said that Capt. Timothy Roberts, formerly of Dover, was the first settler in Rochester, and that he moved into that town, December 26, 1728. We have no confidence, however, in this statement; there are good reasons for believing that settlements were made in what is now Rochester at least sixty-five years before the town was incorporated. Rev. Amos Main was the first settled minister, he became pastor of the church at Rochester in 1737.

South Main Street, Rochester, New Hampshire

First Congregational Church Records, Rochester, NH

Strafford County NH

Early town records for Rochester are scant and genealogists need to access private church records performed by their early ministers in order to access many baptism/birth, marriage, and death/burial records. Supplemented by Bible, cemetery, land, and court records, one may form an informed analysis of early Rochester families. Rochester was incorporated as a town, May 10, 1722. The present towns of Farmington and Milton were formerly a part of Rochester. Farmington was set off and incorporated December 1, 1798, and Milton was set off and incorporated June 11, 1802. A part of the farm of Rufus C. Varney was severed […]

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South Main Street, Rochester, New Hampshire

Marriages By Rev. Joseph Haven, 1776-1785

Strafford County NH

Rev. Joseph Haven was the third minister of the First Congregational Church in Rochester New Hampshire. He was elected to his position after the death of Rev, Samuel Hill in 1776. These marriage records were kept from his initial election for 10 years, or 1785. The First Congregational Church moved it’s location during the tenure of Rev, Haven, relocating and improving their existing building at Haven Hill to the Rochester Common, the new center of activity. Marriages By Rev. Joseph Haven 1776 Febr 29th Robert Walker with Dorothy Leaghton, both of RochesterMarch 7th Joseph Tucker with Abigail Heard both of

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The Square in Rochester New Hampshire showing the statue of Parsons Main

Marriages By Rev. Amos Main, 1745—1757

Strafford County NH

Rev. Amos Main was the first settled minister in Rochester and arrived in 1737. Rochester as a township, however, was formed in 1722, fifteen years earlier, and had likely been settled since 1657. What happened to Rev. Main’s marriage records prior to 1745 is not known, and the existence of other ministerial records for Rochester prior to this collection of marriage is extant if any ever existed. In the listings below, the town of Towow references Lebanon Maine and Summersworth references Somersworth New Hampshire. There appears to be early interaction between families in these communities and certain families in Rochester,

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Durham Village New Hampshire

Genealogy of the Buzzell Family of Durham New Hampshire

Strafford County NH

A genealogy of the Buzzell family of Durham New Hampshire as extracted from the History of Durham New Hampshire and other sources. First Generation 1 Family of John Buzzell of Oyster River New Hampshire John Buzzell (Samuel2, Isaac1 of Salisbury, Mass.), born 7 Aug. 1659, had a grant of forty acres, 19 March 1693/4, laid out to him 13 June 1694, on the south side of the mast path that goes from John Knights to Newtowne. He was baptized at Oyster River, New Hampshire 1 April 1722. His will, 24 Nov. 1737-28 Feb. 1738/9, names wife, Sarah, and children as

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Durham Village New Hampshire

Genealogy of the Bunker Family of Durham New Hampshire

Strafford County NH

A genealogy of the Bunker family of Durham New Hampshire as extracted from the History of Durham New Hampshire and other sources. 1 Family of James Bunker of Oyster River, New Hampshire James Bunker, born about 1628 according to a deposition, is incidentally mentioned in the court records of York County in 1648. In 1652 he bought land below Johnson’s Creek, on the north side of Oyster River. His will, 14 Oct. 1697-24 June 1698, names wife, Sarah, and three sons. 2. James Bunker m. prob. (1) Anne Thomas, (2) Martha Downes. 3. Joseph Bunker m. _______ _______. 4. John

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Durham Village New Hampshire

Genealogy of the Bodge Family of Durham New Hampshire

Strafford County NH

A genealogy of the Bodge family of Durham New Hampshire as extracted from the History of Durham New Hampshire and other sources. 1 Family of Henry Bodge of Kittery, Maine Henry Bodge and wife, Elizabeth, were living in Kittery, near the head of Spruce Creek, as early as 1669. He died in 1696, leaving wife, Rebecca. He had six children, of whom: Henry went to Charlestown, Mass. 2. Benjamin Bodge, m. Sarah. Second Generation 2 Family of Benjamin Bodge of Oyster River, New Hampshire Benjamin Bodge settled at Oyster River about 1714. He and wife, Sarah, and their children were

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Durham Village New Hampshire

Genealogy of Benjamin Bickford of Durham, New Hampshire

Strafford County NH

A genealogy of the Benjamin Bickford family of Durham New Hampshire as extracted from the History of Durham New Hampshire and other sources. 1 Family of Benjamin Bickford of Newington, New Hampshire Benjamin Bickford, in 1694, had a grant of thirty acres next to his house on the highway leading from Bloody Point to Greenland, over against John Hudson’s house. He was constable about this time. Dec. 7, 1702, he and wife Sarah, deeded to John Knight sixteen acres now in his actual possession, formerly the land of the said Benjamin Bickford ‘s father, lying betwixt Pine Point and Bloody

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Durham Village New Hampshire

Genealogy of John Bickford of Durham New Hampshire

Strafford County NH

A genealogy of the John Bickford family of Durham New Hampshire as extracted from the History of Durham New Hampshire and other sources. Family of John Bickford of Oyster River, New Hampshire John Bickford of Oyster River Point, according to two depositions made in 1669, was then sixty years of age. There are depositions of a John Bickford which make him to have been born in 1609, 1612, and 1615. There may have been several John Bickfords, and perhaps John, or the clerk, did not know just how old John was. Old depositions show that many persons varied in age

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