I am looking for the parents of Langdon BROWN who was of Rye when he married Augusta MARSTON (1833-1872) in Hampton on 22 December 1854. When was he born and where? Thanks. -- Dick Marston Owner: NHROCKIN mail list (313 subscribers).

Rockin' Rooters: Those of you with ties to ancestors and cousins in Merrimack county, the "capital county" of New Hampshire, may be pleased to learn a mail list has been established for queries and research there. If you'd like to join, send the single-word command "subscribe" (withOUT the quotation marks) to NHMERRIM-L-request@rootsweb.com (for the "list" mode) or to NHMERRIM-D-request@rootsweb.com (for the "digest" mode). Same ol' whiner in charge, however. -- Dick Marston, Marston Manor, [ http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/1638/ ]; Rockingham County, NH, GenWeb County Coordinator, [ http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/1706/ ]; Owner: NHMERRIM, NHROCKIN and MARSTON mail lists.

Oops, I need to change some of the rules. The response to my post on Tuesday has been overwhelming. What a thirst for knowledge. I also know more about New England stone walls - their in all of our trees! This 4 volume reference set is over 2000 pages. I don't think that there are any "complete" genealogies, but perhaps a direct line from an immigrant ancestry to a prominent business person in Eastern Massachusetts at the turn of the century (1900). One lookup went back to the Norman Conquest in 1066, while others start in the early 18th century. What I need to do a lookup is 1. <YOUR SURNAME - Boston Lookup> in the subject line. You don't need the brackets. That will help me track research better. 2. a location, if known is helpful. NH, ME, MA, RI, CONN, NY, VT are all states that I have found. A town name, if available is even better. 3. Any other surnames, wife's, mother maiden name, etc. We were able to connect a family from the distaff side through traditional naming methods. 4. If it is a very common name, it doesn't mean that it is listed. However, get as much of the above information as possible. 5. sibling names and children names have proven helpful A lot of the information is narrative and may include land grants, military service, ministry, indian raids, kind of work, trade, names of ships....just a bunch of information. In some instances there is the wife's family history in the middle of a paragraph with no reference in the index. It is definitely not a dry, annotate Vital Records book. These are the stories of truly remarkable people! In the INDEX, there is often the SURNAME Ancestry first, followed by Christian names. The Christian names apparently are those of the most recent family member or this end of the branch, so I have to almost read the entries backwards. Just because the book is titled Boston & Eastern Massachusetts, don't hesitate to contact me. For example, our family - LANG. It starts with where the Lang's are thought to be from (Devonshire, because he named one of his son's DEVON) and how he settled in Portsmouth, NH. 7 generations later (direct line) we get to William Alfred Lang, who was a banker in Reading, MA, 32nd degree Mason, Republican and member of the Congregational Church (Not our direct line, but interesting reading). We had never heard of any of these people and not only found a branch but the whole forest! I hope that this makes it a bit easier for the Rooter out there. I look forward to hearing from all of you.

Hi folks, On 27 Jul 1748, Zachariah CROSS witnessed the will of William ROBBINS in Portsmouth NH. I am interested in knowing more about Zachariah CROSS, but I am also curious as to what being chosen to be a witness meant in 1748 in NH. Is he a friend of the family? Is he someone they can count on finding again? Does he have to be literate? Does he have to be a notary public? Is there a minimum age? In the unlikely chance anyone knows more about Zachariah, please tell me. Assuming he was a friend, what can you tell me about William ROBBINS' family? Where and when they lived, etc. -Jay

I now have another generation of my Davis family in Portsmouth so I have decided to post again in case the names now ring a bell with someone. Clement M. DAVIS b.1 Sept. 1795 in Portsmouth, NH. d.15 Jan. 1877 in Durham, NH. his father:- John M. DAVIS b. in Portsmouth, NH. I know nothing about Clements mother except that she is listed on the transcript of his death certificate as being born in Portsmouth, NH. Regards Peter

Help! Nathanel and Eleanor had at least 5 children and probably more. I Have no information on Eleanor Wallis (parents? b.? d.?) and only a birth date for Nathaniel. I have read someplace but can't seem to find it now that they moved to Londonderry (Derry) NH where they lived and died. If this is the case can someone out there fill in any of the blanks above. Next: Edward Berry of Londonderry, NH b. 8 Apr 1744, moved to Saco and m. Margaret Gilpatrick. Does anybody know who his parents were? Zachariah son of Nathaniel & Eleanor b. Abt 1713 Rye d. ???? m. Oct 23, 1734 Rye, Charity Webster b. Apr 2 1706 Hampton d. ???? Where did they go ? Can't seem to find either of them after 1747 when John was born. Did they go to Londonderry???? Thanks George C. Horne ghorne@clinic.net

Trying to identify LYDIA BERRY who married Thomas Noble at Portsmouth, NH 20 June 1739 (Second Church Records) She was his second wife. I know this about Thomas: b. Abt 1704 Portsmouth, m. 1st 28 Dec 1728 (South Church Records) Margaret Miller b. as early as 1711 daughter of Joseph and Bridget (Clark) Miller. He moved to Somersworth after 1743 and both he and Lydia were apparently dead by 1760 "Tate's Diary" Thanks for your help. George C. Horne ghorne@clinic.net

I received a 4 volume set of books called "Genealogical and Personal Memoirs relating to the Families of Boston and Eastern Massachusetts" Prepared under the editorial supervision of William Richard Cutter, AM, Historian of the New England Historic Genealogical Society; Librarian of Woburn Public Library; Author of "The Cutter Family," "History of Arlington," "Bibliography of Woburn," etc.etc. Published in New York by the Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1908. The INTRODUCTORY says..." The present work, "Genealogical and Personal Memoirs relating to the Families of Boston and Eastern Massachusetts", presents in the aggregate an amount and variety of genealogical and personal information and portraiture unequalled by any kindred publication.... The object, clearly defined and well digested, was threefold: First: To present in concise form the history of established families of Boston and its immediate vicinity, and Eastern Massachusetts. Second: To preserve a record of their prominent present-day people. Third: To present through personal sketches, linked with the genealogical narrative, the relation of the prominent familes of all times to the growth, singular prosperity and widespread influence of the historic old City of Boston and the region belonging to it by historical association and community interest..." Will be happy to do lookups. Please note "Look up-Early Families of Boston" in the subject line. Will do one family name at a time and will advise you of how much information is available. Will copy and mail information if more than a few paragraphs for the costs of copying and mailing. A lot of the families started in Maine and New Hampshire. Sue Lang Anchorage, Alaska kglangls@alaska.net

Looking for information on my 4th great-grandfather, Joseph CRAM b.24 Jun 1750 d.17 Apr 1841 and wife Deborah BATCHELDER b.30 Nov 1752 d.31 Dec 1829. Is anyone doing research on the CRAM family of Rockingham county. Being born in Exeter and raised in Raymond I know there are still CRAM's living in the area. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Richard A. Robinson | TMC(SS) USN Retired 713 New Brooklyn Road | Phone 609-728-3359 Williamstown, NJ 08094-3707 | Fax 609-728-4708 shuggie@cyberenet.net | WFT Submitter #4820, Vol 2

Will fwd your latest to Portsmouth Lodge Of Elks. Contact them at ELK@ AOL.COM If you need more help, call me. John Colliton

Here's an update on my search for Mary FERNALD, who married Daniel FIELD in Kittery, ME on 10 Jan 1773. I studied Jonni Sue Schilaty's FERNALD data base, at <http://members.aol.com/jsjs418/RFernald.html>. [Warning: AOL is case-sensitive; one must use jsjs418, not JSJS418.] There are a bunch of Mary FERNALDs in that data base, and several about the right age. I set up three "reasonableness" criteria to help me decide what the right age should be. (1) At least 16 at time of marriage, which means born before Jan 1757. (2) No more than 30 at time of marriage, which means born after Jan 1743. (3) Somewhere near her husband's age (Daniel FIELD was born 23 May 1749). The Mary FERNALDs who were married to someone else during the time when Mr. and Mrs. Daniel FIELD were raising their family are easily excluded. They were (using their father's name to identify them): NAME PARENTS (FERNALD omitted) DOB HUSBAND DOM MaryJoe Joseph and Anna Moore 16 May 46 Benj Gunnison 9 Aug 70 MaryTom Thomas and Mary Scriggins 46 George Rogers 30 Aug 70 MaryToby Tobias and Lucy Lewis 2 May 51 John Fernald 25 Nov 72 MaryJim James and Mary Fernald 20 Jun 53 John Rogers 10 Nov 76 MaryJohn John and Margaret Fernald 10 Apr 54 William Pierce 16 Nov 83 All of these ladies meet the reasonableness criteria, but they were all married to someone else, so they are irrelevant. The following Mary FERNALDs have no husbands in Jonni's data base, and one of them could have been Daniel FIELD's wife: NAME PARENTS (FERNALD omitted) DOB MaryAbe Abraham and Mary Trickey 21 May 1757 MaryHerc Hercules and Mary Tucker 29 Mar 1742 MaryNat Nathaniel and Mary Weeks 22 Aug 1741 Using the reasonableness criteria cited above, I would judge MaryAbe to be the most likely, but I have no supporting facts to make that call. Two Mary FERNALDs were widows of FERNALD men, and could have remarried as [Mrs.] Mary FERNALD. Mary LEWIS (DOB not given) married Joseph FERNALD (b. 25 May 1738) on 6 Oct 1759; Joseph died after 1763 in Ellsworth, Hancock, ME. Mary HAMMATT (DOB not given) married Tobias FERNALD (b. 7 Nov 1736) on 27 Nov 1760; Tobias died 1767 in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess, NY. I'd guess that Mary LEWIS and Mary HAMMATT were both older than MaryNat, judging from their husbands' birth dates. Also, given the locales where their husbands died, I have to question whether either was living in Kittery as a widow. Does anyone out there have any info to cut through this Gordian knot? Thanks for your help. Bruce Bardes

Confused....would like suggestions..... Looking for further information on the following person: Stanley P. BAILEY b. Aug 1889 Boston, died 27Feb1979 in Portsmouth. SSDI indicated that his previous residence was Epping. Does anyone have any info on this individual? My direct descendent [Howard L. BAILEY b. 2 JUN 1884 BOS] is not able to be found, I believe [I hope, I pray]Stanley to be his younger brother. Stanley's obituary lists no family : ((. However it does state that he was a WW I veteran and belonged to the Elks. Do the Elks keep any family records? What information would his service records contain? I checked the Portsmouth City Directory and in 1972-1975 Stanley BAILEY was listed as living with a Thelma E. BAILEY, I though his wife, BUT the 1964 Directory has no listing of Stanley and Thelma E. BAILEY is listed as wid Harry. The 1957 directory has Thelma E. BAILEY wid. Harry and Marcia M. BAILEY wid of James residing together.......Relatives???? Would it be unusual for male / female In-laws to become roommates??? OR Perhaps they married, but if that was the case why was she not listed in the obit. As per the Boston census's Frank L. BAILEY b. Aug 1844 BOS and Emily [Jenkins] BAILEY b 1846 Bath ME had only three children: Arthur G [1883], Howard L. [1884], and Stanley [1889]. I am lost and confused anyone have a suggestion on my next best step??? I am planning to do alot of tracking this week...... Thank you all in advance...... Elaine BAILEY MEB5977@fiam.net

Hi, I am hoping to find my Cromwell connection in Candia. I'll try to explain this clearly but it is kind of confusing so please bear with me. Elizabeth Cromwell was born in New Hampshire, according to the 1850 census of Liberty ME. She was 105 at that time, so was born c 1746. This is the only document I have found to date giving her place of birth. Her daughter Abigail, married James Bagley of Candia in 1799. James and Abigail were married in Montville, ME. I am wondering if it is possible that they met in Candia. The 1850 census mentioned above says that Abigail was born in Maine, HOWEVER, a Thomas Cromwell was listed on the 1800 Montville census as coming from Balltown, NH. It is rumored that he may be Abigail's brother. Now the confusing part. Montville town records show Abigail's surname as Tollbrid at her marriage to James. She was in her late 20's so it could be a married name. HOWEVER, the History of Liberty, ME (and other evidence) says that Elizabeth Cromwell is her mother. A family legend says that Cromwell is Elizabeth's maiden name and that she and her children used the name after being abandoned off the coast of Maine by her husband, with him returning to England (he was supposedly a British naval officer) and remarrying, claiming his former family was dead. The legend had the officer's name as Tollard or some derivation-possibly Tollbrid?? This same legend had Eliz. born in England, but as mentioned earlier she may have been born in NH. No one in the family has any proof at all of any of this abandonment story. My theory, or rather wishful thinking is this: Elizabeth Cromwell (dau. of James, part of unverified family legend) is born in NH, meets and marries a British officer named Tollbrid, bears her children in Maine, goes back to NH with her children, follows Abigail and Thomas to Montville ME where Abigail marries James using her legal name Tollbrid rather than Cromwell like the rest of family. This would be much easier to trace than an unamed British officer, Abigail having been married before (of which we've found no record), or even Cromwell being a second married name for Eliz. I've put this whole long story here hoping the names and/or circumstances sound familiar to someone. I have researched the Bagley's in Candia, et al but am just starting to search for a connection to the NH Cromwell's. Any help would greatly appreciated (as you can well imagine)!! One last note, many thanks to George Sanborn, I got the info from the Bagley book you recommended from a correspondent. It was great! Lianne Mitchell

Rockin Rooters: I just learned this afternoon of a website for Newton. I've added it as a link from the Rockingham GenWeb page, but if you are interested, you can go to it directly by pointing your web browser at: http://www.newtonnh.com/town/ The site includes a further link to Newton's Gale Library. If any of you know of, or should learn about, other Rockingham town or library pages presently missing, I'd appreciate it if you'd let me know about it. Thanks! -- Dick Marston, Rockingham County GenWeb Project (309 subscribers): URL: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/1706/; Owner: NHROCKIN mail list.

Hello, Folks -- Earlier today I posted a query about Mary Fernald, who married Daniel Field 10 Jan 1773 in Kittery, ME. I had given a birthdate of 20 Jun 1753. Several researchers have pointed out that (1) there was a Mary Fernald born on that date, but (2) she married John Rogers. It's obvious that I have given you folks bad information in my query. My query, as amended, refers to Mary Fernald, birthdate unknown, but probably born between about 1745 and about 1757. Yes, our Mary Fernald did marry Daniel Field. My apologies to all concerned. Bruce Bardes

I have just learned a little bit more about my g-g-grandmother , Pamelia P.C. Page , who married John A. Sinclair in 1869. The 1870 Census has John and Pamelia living in Exeter . Pamelia is 19 . Also living with them is Lucy C. Page , 55 and a nurse , and Harriet E.S. Page , 10 . Lucy would have been born abt. 1815 . The 'C' in their names may stand for Cualty. They were all born in NH. If this rings a bell with anyone , I would be most appreciative. Mahalo-Kevin

I have almost finished transcribing the new TILTON document and find, in checking my work, that I didn't list 4 other NH names - various towns and counties. (I also neglected to list Tilton NH in the list of localities - a great error as there are many, many references to Tilton). Names: HUNTRESS SWAIN GOODHUE JENKINS Happy to do lookups, Magdalena

Hello, NH Researchers -- Mary FERNALD had been a stone wall in our research into my wife's ancestry. Information we have on Mary is: Born 20 Jun 1753 in Kittery, York, ME Married 10 Jan 1773 in Kittery, York, ME to Daniel FIELD Four children, Jane, James Fernald, Stephen and Daniel. Although there were numerous Fernald families in Kittery, we have not been able to tie Mary to any of them. Our next step is to check out neighboring New Hampshire. This post is part of that effort. Specifically, does anyone have a record of the birth of Mary FERNALD in New Hampshire, possibly in the Portsmouth area? Thanks in advance for your help. Bruce Bardes Montgomery, Ohio

Dear List, I saw the two postings yesterday morning concerning the whereabouts of the early Exeter, N.H., Land Grants. As luck would have it, I just recently finished inventorying those very records as part of my research for an upcoming article on early Exeter settlement and surviving records for The Great Migration Newsletter [Jan.-Mar., 1999, issue]. The Exeter land grants, as those of any other early New England town that I have ever dealt with, were Proprietors' Grants, and as such were recorded in the Proprietors' Books. Sometimes the Proprietors' books survive and can be easily found, and sometimes not. Sometimes they turn up in the strangest places, nowhere near the place whose records they contain. They are not in any county registry (even if there was such a thing at the time), and in the case of Exeter are definitely not in Salem or Plymouth, Massachusetts, as was suggested. The grant records, from 1639-1739, are to be found on pp. 1-287 of Volume 2 of Exeter records [GSU microfilm #15783]. This is a refilming, in much better order, of another GSU microfilm which I will not bother to tell you about since its arrangement was chaotic and contains nothing, as far as town grants are concerned, not found here in a much easier-to-read order. I hope that everyone on the list is aware that the WPA index to names found in New Hampshire Town Records, on cards at the New Hampshire State Library, and on microfilm elsewhere, does NOT contain any reference to Exeter. For some unfortunate reason, when the WPA prepared that wonderful index, they forgot to include Exeter. So, the only way to find anything in Exeter records is to search page by page through them, which I have just finished doing. I hope this is of help to the list. Regards, George Sanborn

Would someone please let me know the address for the Clerk of the Superior Court of Rockingham County? The letter I sent to #10 Route 125 , Brentwood NH was returned to me . Mahalo-Kevin