My William The Conqueror of England Descent

Only 960 years ago in 1066, my ancestor, William the Conqueror, the Duke of Normandy invaded England.  Landing at Penvensey, England, he began a march towards Hastings where after a day long battle, William emerged as the victor over King Harold.   In early late October or early November he mounted a seige of London which forced the last Alnglo-Saxon heir to surrender.  William was crowned King of England on December 25, 1066. He was the first Norman King. Along with William were several more of my ancestors who were awarded titles, property and manors.  The was quite a feat for a 37 year old man who had been born a bastard child of Duke Robert I of Normandy and his mistress, Harlette of Falaise.

1. William the Conqueror, King of England, Duke of Normandy, was born in September 1028 in Falaise, France as the first child of Duke Robert I of Normandy and Harlette of Falaise. He died on 9 September 1087 in Rouen, Haute-Normandie, France. When he was 22, he married Countess Matilda of Flanders, daughter of Count Baldwin V of Flanders and Countess Adele of France, about 1051 in Eu, Seine-Maritime, Haute-Normandie, France. King William the Conqueror of England was buried in Caen, France.

2. King Henry I of England was born in 1068 in Selby, Yorkshire, England and died on 1 December 1135 in Rouen, Haute-Normandie, France. When he was 32, he married Matilda of Scotland, daughter of King Malcolm III of Scotland and Queen consort Margaret of England, on 11 November 1100 in Westminster Abbey, London, England. When he was 53, he married Adeliza of Louvain, daughter of Duke Godfrey I of Lower Lorriane and Ida of Chiny, on 29 January 1121 in Windsor, Lincolnshire, England.  He was buried in Reading Abbey, Berkshire, England.

3. Matilda of England, Holy Roman Empress, was born on 7 February 1102 in Winchester, Hampshire, England and died on 10 September 1169 in Rouen, Haute-Normandie, France. When she was 11, she married by contract to King Heinrich V of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor, son of King Henry IV of Germany and Queen consort Bertha of Savoy, on 7 January 1114 in Mainz, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. When she was 25, she married Count Geoffrey V Plantagenet, son of Count Fulk V of Anjou and Countess Eremburge of Maine, on 22 May 1127 in Le Mans, Sarthe, Pays de la Loire, France. Matilda of England was known sometimes known as Lady of the English.  She was buried in Rouen Cathedral, Normandy. France.

4. King Henry II of England was born on 5 March 1133 in Le Mans, Sarthe, Pays de la Loire, France and died on 6 July 1189 at Chinon Castle, Indre-et-Loire, Centre, France. When he was 19, he married Duchess Eleanor of Aquitaine, daughter of Duke William X of Aquitaine and Countess Eleanor of Chaterault, on 18 May 1152 in Bordeaux, Gironde, Aquitaine, France. King Henry II of England was buried in Fontevrault Abbey, Maine-et-Loire, Pays de la Loire, France.

5. King John of England was born on 24 December 1167 in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England at Beaumont Palace and died on 19 October 1216 in Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, England. When he was 21, he married Lady Isabella of Gloucester, daughter of William Fitz Robert and Hawise de Beaumont, on 29 August 1189 in Marlborough, Wiltshire, England at Marlborough Castle. When he was 32, he married Isabella of Angouleme, daughter of Count Aymer of Angouleme and Countess Alice de Courtenay, on 24 August 1200 in Bordeaux, Gironde, Aquitaine, France. King John of England was buried in Fontevraud Abbey, Pays de la Loire, France.

6. King Henry III of England was born on 1 October 1207 in Winchester, Hampshire, England and died on 16 November 1264 in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England. When he was 27, he married Jeanne de Dammartin, daughter of Simon de Dammartin, in 1235 (By Proxy). When he was 28, he married Eleanor of Provence, daughter of Count Ramon Berenguer IV of Provence and Countess Beatrice of Savoy, on 14 January 1236 in Canterbury, Kent, England at Canterbury Cathedral.  He was buried in London, England at Westminster Abbey.

7. King Edward I of England was born on 17 June 1239 in Westminster, London, England and died on 7 July 1307 in Burgh by Sands, Cumberland, England. When he was 15, he married Eleanor of Castile and Leon, daughter of King Fernando III of Castile and Leon and Queen consort Jeanne de Dammartin, on 18 October 1254 in Burgos, Castilla-Leon, Spain at the Monastery of Las Huelgas. When he was 60, he married Marguerite of France, daughter of King Philippe III of France and Queen consort Marie of Brabant, on 8 September 1299 in Canterbury Cathedral, Kent, England.  He was buried in London, England at Westminster Abbey.

8. King Edward II of England was born on 25 April 1284 in Caernarfon, Caernarvonshire, Wales and died on 21 September 1327 in Berkeley, Gloucestershire, England at Berkeley Castle. When he was 23, he married Isabella of France, daughter of King Philip IV of France and Queen consort Joan of Navarre, on 25 January 1308 in Boulogne, Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France. He was buried in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England at St. Peter's Abbey.

9. King Edward III of England was born on 13 November 1312 in Windsor, Berkshire, England at Windsor Castle and died on 21 June 1377 in Richmond, England at Sheen Palace. When he was 15, he married Philippe of Hainaut, daughter of Count William III of Hainaut and Countess Joan of Valois, on 24 January 1327/28 in Yorkshire, England.  He was buried in London, England at Westminster Abbey.

10. Sir Thomas of Woodstock, 1^st Duke of Gloucester, was born on 7 January 1354/55 in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England and died on 8 September 1397 in Calais, Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France. When he was 21, he married Lady Eleanor de Bohun, daughter of Sir Humphrey de Bohun and Lady Joan Fitz Alan, before 24 August 1376 in England.  He was buried in London, England at Westminster Abbey.

11. Lady Anne of Gloucester, Countess of Eu, was born on 30 April 1383 in Pleshey, Essex, England and died on 16 October 1438 in Llanthony, Monmouthshire, Wales. When she was 6, she contracted by marriage to Sir Thomas de Stafford, son of Sir Hugh de Stafford and Philiipe de Beauchamp, about 1390 in England. When she was 15, she married Sir Edmund Stafford, brother to Sir Thomas de Stafford, on 28 June 1398 in England. When she was 28, she married Sir William Bourgchier, Count of Eu, son of Sir William Bourgchier and Eleanor de Lovaine, before 1412. She was buried in Llanthony, Monmouthshire, Wales.

12. Sir John Bourgchier, 1^st Lord Berniers, was born about 1415 in Little Easton, Essex, England and died on 16 May 1474 in England. When he was 27, he married Lady Margery Berners, daughter of Richard Berners and Philippe Dallingridge, before 1442 in England.  He was buried in Chertsey, Runnymede Borough, Surrey, England.

13. Sir Humphrey Bourgchier, 1^st Lord Bourchier of Cornwall, was born about 1440 in England and killed on 14 April 1471 at the battle of Barnet, Herefordshire, England, during the War of the Roses. When he was 11, he married by contract to Lady Elizabeth Tilney, daughter of Sir Frederick Tilney and Lady Elizabeth Cheyne, on 11 April 1451 in England.  He was buried in London, England at Westminster Abbey.

14. Lady Margaret Bourgchier, Baroness Bryan, was born about 1468 in Beningborough, Yorkshire, England and died on 1551/52 in Leyton, Essex, England. When she was 10, she married by contract to John Sandys on 11 November 1478 in England. When she was 19, she married Sir Thomas Bryan, son of Sir Thomas Bryan and Margaret Bowsey, on 1 June 1487 in Yorkshire, England. When she was 51, she married David Zouche before 1519 in England.

15. Lady Elizabeth Bryan was born about 1496 in Cheddington, Buckinghamshire, England and died before 17 Jul 1546 in London, City of London, England. When she was 18, she married Sir Nicholas Carew, son of Sir Richard Carew and Malyn Oxenbridge, in 1514 in Surrey, England.  Lady Elizabeth Bryan was buried in London, England at St. Boloph without Aldgate Church.

16. Lady Mary Carew was born about 1518 in Beddington, Surrey, England and died on 15 January 1568 in Surrey, England. When she was 13, she married Sir Arthur Darcy, son of Sir Thomas Darcy and Dowsabel Tempest, in 1531 in Beddington, Surrey, England. She was buried in London, England at St. Bololph without Aldgate Church.

17. Sir Edward Darcy was born about 1543 in Dartford, Kent, England and died on 28 October 1612 in City of London, England. When he was 32, he married Lady Elizabeth Astley, daughter of Thomas Astley and Mary Denny, about 1575 in Dartford, Kent, England.  He was buried on 30 October 1612 in London, England at St. Bololph without Aldgate Church.

18. Isabella Darcy was born about 1600 in Dartford, Kent, England and died before 4 August 1669 in London, England. When she was 20, she married John Launce, son of Robert Launce and Susan Tubbe, on 13 June 1620 in Isleworth, Middlesex, England. When she was 38, she married Rev Sidrach Simpson, son of Henry Simpson, on 23 July 1638 in Exeter, Devon, England at St. Thomas the Apostle Church.

19. Mary Launce was born about 1625 in England and died on 9 March 1709/10 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. When she was 20, she married Rev. John Sherman, son of Edward Sherman and Joane Makin, about 1645.  She immigrated to Massachusetts in 1644.

20. Mary Sherman was born on 5 March 1656/57 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA and died after 24 December 1712 in Groton, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. When she was 22, she married Ellis Barron, son of Ellis Barron and Hannah Hawkins, on 26 May 1679 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA.

21. Samuel Barron was born about 1683 in Groton, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA and died on 9 June 1771 in Groton, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. When he was 23, he married Abigail Woods, daughter of Samuel Woods and Alice Rushton, about 1706. Samuel Barron was buried in Groton, Massachusetts.

22. Hannah Barron was baptized on 10 April 1709 in Groton, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA and died about 1743 in Groton, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. When she was 19, she married Aaron Farnsworth, son of Benjamin Farnsworth and Mary Prescott, on 24 March 1728 in Groton, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA.  She was buried in Groton, Massachusetts.

23. Eunice Farnsworth was born on 26 November 1735 in Groton, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA and died on 8 November 1822 in Skowhegan, Somerset, Maine, USA. When she was 20, she married Joseph Weston, son of Stephen Weston and Hannah Flagg, in April 1756 in Groton, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. When she was 43, she married John Moor in 1779. She was buried in Bloomfield-Weston Cemetery, Skowhegan, Maine.  The DAR chapter in Skowhegan was named after her.

24. Benjamin Weston was born on 4 February 1765 in Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA and died on 7 April 1851 in Madison, Somerset, Maine, USA. When he was 23, he married Anne Powers, daughter of Levi Powers and Mary Chase, in March 1788 in Canaan, Somerset, Maine, USA. He was buried in Madison Bridge Cemetery, Madsion, Maine.

25. Mary Weston was born on 28 May 1800 in Madison, Somerset, Maine, USA and died on 14 July 1874 in North Anson, Somerset, Maine, USA. When she was 20, she married Ephraim Spaulding, son of Merari Spaulding and Betsey Heald, on 26 December 1820 in Madison, Somerset, Maine, USA. She was buried in Sunset Cemetery, North Anson, Somerset, Maine, USA.

26. Susan Church Spaulding was born on 2 May 1836 in North Anson, Somerset, Maine, USA and died on 13 April 1903 in Corinna, Penobscot, Maine, USA. When she was 32, she married William Penn Mower, son of John Robinson Mower and Eleanor Osborn Buxton, on 24 September 1868 in North Anson, Somerset, Maine, USA.  She was buried in Weymouth Cemetery, Corinna, Penobscot, Maine, USA.

27. Emily May Mower was born on 9 May 1871 in Corinna, Penobscot, Maine, USA and died on 30 April 1905 in Greenville, Piscataquis, Maine, USA. When she was 23, she married Julius Clifford Smith, son of Joseph Smith and Arminda H. Devereaux, on 24 November 1894 in Corinna, Penobscot, Maine, USA.  She was buried in Weymouth Cemetery, Corinna, Maine.

28. Donald Clifford Smith was born on 4 March 1897 in Corinna, Penobscot, Maine, USA and died on 11 November 1967 in Corinna, Penobscot, Maine, USA. When he was 22, he married Ethelyn Violet Skinner, daughter of Myron Leslie Skinner and Edna Estelle Southard, on 30 May 1919 in Corinna, Penobscot, Maine, USA.  He was buried in Village Cemetery, Corinna, Maine.

29. Glenn Stanton Smith was born on 27 December 1940 in Hartland, Somerset, Maine, USA and died on 28 June 1996 in Gorham, Cumberland, Maine, USA.  He married Shirley Ann Buzzell on 31 August 1962 in Corinna, Penobscot, Maine, USA.  He was buried in Morse’s Corner Cemetery in Corinna, Maine.

30. Peter Michael Smith

America's 250th celebration of my Revolutionary War ancestors

Spirit of '76 by Archibald Willard

It's America's 250th Birthday this year.  In honor of my ancestors who fought in the American Revolutionary War for Independence.  I wanted to make a list of those who fought and served.  I did find it strange that in my direct line of male Smith ancestors, the first ancestor who actually served during a war was my grandfather, Donald Clifford Smith during World War I.  I have no direct Smith ancestor who served in the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 or the Civil War.   I have cousins who served in the military since World War II, it seems that age wise during these conflicts, my Smith ancestors were either too old to serve or too young.  Neither the less, I have many other ancestors who fought for Independence either serving months or years.   

My Dad's Paternal Revolutionary War ancestors:

1. Nathaniel Wiggin, Stratham, New Hampshire
2. Nicholas Rollins, Stratham, New Hamphsire
3. Ralph Devereux, Castine, Maine
4. Joseph Hibbert, Penobscot, Maine
5. Elijah Winslow, Penobscot, Maine
6. George Parkhurst, Stockbridge, Massachusetts
7. Isaac Cottle, Tisbury, Massachusetts
8. Thomas Manchester, Tisbury, Massachusetts
9. Joseph Spaulding, Chelmsford, Massachusetts
10. Ephraim Heald, Temple, New Hampshire
11. Joseph Weston, Skowhegan, Maine
12. Levi Powers, Hollis, New Hampshire
13. Roger Chase, Hallowell, Maine

My Dad's Maternal Revolutionary War ancestors:

1. John Skinner, Durham, Maine
2. Jeremiah Jordan, Falmouth, Maine
3. Ebenezer Shaw, Standish, Maine
4. William Wood, Falmouth, Maine
5. Ebenezer Atwood, Eastham, Massachusetts
6. Daniel Dow, Epping, New Hampshire
7. Constant Southworth, Duxbury, Massachusetts
8. Nathaniel Ambrose, Moultonborough, New Hampshire
9. Richard Sinkler/Sinclair, Moultonborough, New Hampshire
10. Benajmin Mooar, Andover, Massachusetts
11. James Ames, Oakham, Massachusetts
12. Ezekiel Wiley, Concord, New Hampshire
13. John Tucker, Portsmouth, New Hampshire

My Mom's Paternal Revolutionary War anestors:

1. Enoch Strout, Cape Elizabeth, Maine
2. Daniel Small, Falmouth, Maine
3. Joseph Cobb, Falmouth, Maine
4. Peter Bither, Cape Elizabeth, Maine
5. Abraham Tyler, Scarborough, Maine
6. Josiah Libby, Scarborough, Maine
7. John Bickmore, Friendship, Maine
8. Prince Hatch, Scituate, Massachusetts
9. Phinneas Carter, Leominster, Massachusetts
10. Nathaniel Sawyer, Lancaster, Massachusetts
11. John Ball, Westborough, Massachusetts

My Mom's Maternal Revolutionary War ancestors:

1. Noah Moulton, Rye, New Hampshire
2. Jonathan Weymouth, Berwick, Maine
3. James Labree, Georgetown, Maine
4. Thomas Paine, Falmouth, Maine
5. Robert Plummer, Cape Elizabeth, Maine
6. Peter Woodward, Brunswick, Maine
7. Israel Damon, Woolwich, Maine
8. William Douglass, Albion, Maine
9. Jonathan Woodman, Freeport, Maine

 

 

 

The Cochecho Massacre and The Otis Family

The Cochecho Massacre as it is referred to by early English settlers took place in Dover, New Hampshire June 27-28, 1689.  An online search will detail the massacre by the native people and the historical events that preceded it and the aftereffects.  In tracing my family history, I found several of my ancestral families were living in Dover during this time. My Otis family line appears to be the most impacted by this attack.

The night of June 27, 1689, the Abenaki Indians sent two native women to each of the garrison houses at Dover, NH.  There only being 6 or 7 in the area known then as “Cocheco.”  They were allowed in at the Waldren’s, the Otis’ and the Heard’s.

Old photo of a Garrison house

During the night the native women opened the doors and gates the garrisons to allow the native men waiting outside.  They killed Mr. Waldren and his family and set his garrison house on fire.  They also attacked the Coffin Garrison. Mr. Tristram Coffin went out to see what was going and was captured.  His son inside the garrison would not let the Indians in, but as the native men threatened to kill his father unless he let them in, he relented to spare his father.  The natives ransacked the garrison, taking money and weapons and valuables, left the family and both Coffin garrisons.  

➡➡➡

THE OTIS FAMILY

Richard Otis, age 64 was living in Cochecho with his third wife Grizet (Warren) Otis.  His children including his son, Stephen Otis, age 37 and his family.  As the natives were being let in, Richard Otis was either shot getting out of bed to see what was going on or looking out a window to see the commotion.  Also killed was his son, Stephen and Richard’s young daughter, Hannah Otis. Richard’s wife and three daughters and two sons were captured to be taken to Canada as well as the wife and children of Stephen Otis.   The next morning after the attack, others from the surviving garrisons all gathered together.  A small group of men set out after the natives.  It was the native custom to split up into smaller groups as they traveled different routes back to Canada.  One group was overtaken at Conway, New Hampshire and some were rescued.

Below are the details of the Otis family members:

Richard Otis, age 64, killed in the attack on June 28, 1689.  He had married 3 times before his death.  His 1^st wife was Rose Stoughton.  His 2^nd wife was Shuah (Starbuck) Heard and his 3^rd wife below.

Grizel (Warren) Otis, age 29, 3^rd wife of Richard, was captured and taken to Canada where she was baptized in Montreal as Madeleine Hotese on May 9, 1693.  She married Philippe Robitaille and said to have had 5 more children. She died October 26, 1750, in Montreal, Canada.  She never returned to New England.  Many of the captives were given their freedom for converting to Catholicism but could never cross the border into the states. She became accustomed to living in the city of Montreal. She was quoted to saying to her daughter who wanted to return later in life to New England, “What do you know about living off the land, making butter, and caring for chickens?”  When all these things were provided in Montreal. 

Richard Otis Jr., age 39, son of Richard Otis and his 1^st wife, Rose Stoughton, escaped the 1689 attacked unharmed.  The 2^nd attack in Dover on July 26, 1698, when people were returning Church, he was wounded and died before January 1, 1700, when administration was granted on estate.

Stephen Otis, age 37, son of Richard Otis and his 1^st wife, Rose, was killed in the attack on June 28, 1689.  His wife and children were captured and taken to Canada. [see below]

Martha Otis, age 35 daughter Richard Otis and his 1^st wife, Rose, was the last of the daughters of Richard who captured and rescued.  She married John Pinkham.

Ann Otis, age 32, daughter of Richard Otis and 1^st wife, Rose, was captured and taken by a group of Indians who split up and were heading to Canada but overtaken by a group of men from Dover and rescued around Conway, NH and returned to Dover with two more of her sisters.  She married Thomas Austin in 1678.

Nicholas Otis, age 24, son of Richard Otis and his 1^st wife Rose, escaped the attack of 1689 by hiding in the nearby woods.  He was killed in the 2^nd attack on Dover, NH on July 26, 1698.  His son Nicholas was captured and taken to Canada and escaped around Penobscot County, Maine.

Experience Otis, age 23, daughter of Richard Otis and his 1^st wife, Rose, had married Samuel Heard, who died in 1687 and was returning from Portsmouth with her mother-in-law, Elizabeth (Hull) Heard and saw what was happening and escaped.  After her husband Samuel died, she married 2^nd Rowland Jenkins.  Experience unfortunately was scalped during the attack of July 26, 1698, but survived.  She lived to give birth to her last child but died from her wounds on February 8, 1699.

Judith Otis, age 22, daughter of Richard Otis and his 1^st wife, Rose, was one of the three daughters of Richard who were taken captive and being taken to Canada and rescued.  She married John Tuttle of Dover.

Rose Otis, age 10, daughter of Richard Otis and his 2^nd wife, Shuah, was captured and taken to Montreal, Canada and baptized in 1693 as Francoise Rose Otis.  She married Jean Putevin of Beauport, Canada on November 21, 1696, and never returned to New England and died in 1729.

John Otis, age 8, son of Richard Otis and his 2^nd wife, Shuah, he was captured on June 28, 1689, and said to have been tortured by having his ears cut off and his fingernails pulled out.  He was taken in by an elderly native woman, who had lost her own son in an attack and was given the boy to make up for the loss of her son who would have cared for her.  She healed him and kept him to provide for her until she got quite elderly and abandoned him when he was about 20 years old in Canada.  He made his way to Quebec and was baptized as Jean Baptiste Otis.  He joined the Seminary in Quebec in 1702 but married on November 4, 1703, to Cecile Poulin and later married 2^nd Marie Francoise Gagne on February 9, 1737, in Baie St Paul, Quebec, Canada.  He died on September 15, 1760, in Baie-Saint-Paul, Quebec, Canada.

Hannah Otis, age 2, daughter of Richard Otis and his 3^rd wife Grizel, was killed on June 28, 1689, and when a native dashed her head against a stairway.

Marguerite Otis, daughter of Richard Otis and his 3^rd wife Grizel, was an infant when she was taken with her mother to Canada on June 28, 1678.  She was baptized as Christine Otis on May 9, 1693.  She was placed in a nunnery in Montreal and educated until she was fifteen years old.  The Nun tried to force her to take the veil, but she refused.  She was then married to Louis Lebeau on June 14, 1707, in Montreal.  He died in 1713 leaving her a young widow with three children.  Also in 1707, she met another captive from Deerfield, Massachusetts, Thomas Baker.  A Frenchman intervened paid his ransom and Thomas was released to return home.  In 1714, now Capt. Thomas Baker returned to Canada with a commission to arrange ransom for English prisoners. Christine then desired to return to native land in New England.  Unable to take her children as the French would not allow it, she left them behind with her mother as well as her husband’s estate in Montreal.  She married 2^nd Thomas Baker in 1715.  She returned to Canada in 1718 to retrieve her children, but the priests would not allow it.  They instead encouraged her to return and embrace her Catholic faith which she would not. Christine and her husband moved to Dover, NH in 1734. Christine was granted permitted to operate a Public House of Entertainment or a Pub in Dover.  Thomas died in 1753 and Christine died February 23, 1773.

Family of Stephen Otis:

Martha (Pitman) Otis, age 32, wife of Stephen Otis, whose fate is unknown.  She may have been carried off to Canda or killed the night of the attack of June 28, 1689.  As there is no record of her of her after the attacked it is assumed she was killed.

Mary Otis, age 14, daughter of Stephen Otis and Martha Pitman, was born about 1675 in Dover, New Hampshire.  She was fourteen and carried away with other captives on June 28, 1689, but a posse formed with a nineteen-year-old Ebenezer Varney overtook a group of the captives around what is now Conway, New Hampshire.  Two years later they married in Dover, New Hampshire.  Her husband took control of Otis estate in 1696.  She died after 1725. [my 8th great-grandmother]

Stephen Otis, age 9, son of Stephen Otis and Martha Pitman, was captured in the raid on June 28,1689 and taken to Canada where he was sold and baptized at the Abenakis Mission at Saint Francois of Sales as Joseph Marie Hotesse.  He married in 1712 to Louise [Hubbard] Walbert, who was taken captive in the raids of June 27 & 28, 1689.  He was said to have lived with other captives in Lorette, Manitoba, Canada where his descendants remained.  His sons marrying Huron native women.  He did return to visit his sister, Mary in 1725 in Dover, New Hampshire, but preferred to remain in Canada with his family.

Nathaniel Otis, age 5, son of Stephen Otis and Martha Pitman was taken captive in the raid of June 28, 1689, and taken to Canada and sold to the French where he was baptized as Paul Hotesse with his brother.  Paul Hotesse applied for naturalization in Canada on October 30, 1706, and moved to Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1708 remaining there as a Catholic. He married 1) Elizabeth Hubbard, sister to above Louise on October 31, 1710, in Montreal.  It was during this time that the brothers signed deeds to give their rights to their father’s estate to their sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Ebenezer Varney.    Elizabeth died September 9, 1721, in Montreal.  He married 2) Madaline Toupis, October 20, 1721, at Montreal.  She died on August 28, 1722, in Montreal.  He married 3) Marie Ann (Caron) Pare on September 22, 1722, in Montreal.  He died on December 26, 1730, in Montreal, Canada. He never returned to Dover.  

In the aftermath, 52 colonists were killed or captured.  Several homes were burned as well as the mills on the river.

Revolutionary War Ancestors: Nicholas Rawlings and Enoch Strout

With 2026 being the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution series by Ken Burns playing on PBS.  I wanted to start adding some of my ancestors who fought in America's War for Independence.  Many of them, I had done some research on their service and others when I began to look at my ancestral lines, I realized I had not been aware of their involvement.

NICHOLAS RAWLINGS (ROLLINS) - 6th Great-Grandfather

Nicholas Rawlings was born on June 15, 1743, in Stratham, New Hampshire, the son of Joshua and Mary (Clark) Rollins.  His father was a farmer like many of the settlers of the town, and it was here that Nicholas was raised with his six siblings.  When he was 19, he married a neighbor, 16-year-old, Abigail Tilton, daughter of Abraham and Abigail (Sanborn) Tilton in 1762.  They would have 11 children over a period of 26 years.

In 1775, Nicholas was 32 years old and father of 6 children.  In the Fall of 1775, there were fears that the town of Portsmouth, New Hampshire might be attacked seaward.  Then defenses were doubled.  Twenty-eight units were stationed at various points around Portsmouth.  Nicholas was put in command of the 10th New Hampshire militia on Pierce's Island at Fort Washington in Portsmouth harbor.

Pierce's Island and Fort Washington

He served as Lieutenant in one of the companies that was sent to Winter Hill in Somerville, Massachusetts (Then part of Charlestown, Massachusetts) to reinforce General John Sullivan in December 1775.  

from Wikipedia Winter Hill

The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere crossed over Winter Hill in April 1775 to alert the Patriots that the British were coming.  It is re-enacted every year from Winter Hill.  

In 1777, Nicholas was made a Captain in Col. Abraham Drake's Company, General William Whipple's Regiment of the 4th New Hampshire Militia.  He was participated in the Battles of Stillwater and Saratoga between September 19th to October 7th which resulted in the surrender of General Burgoyne which he was present.  

Portrait of the surrender of Burgoyne painted in 1822 at
U.S. National Rotunda

Nicholas served until January 1778 and returned home to Stratham, New Hampshire.  He would have five more children and served as Selectman for the town for 26 years.  He would serve six years in the New Hampshire legislature representing Stratham.  He was commissioned Justice of the Pease by Governor Gilman in 1795.  Esquire Nicholas Rawlings died November 29, 1826, in Stratham, New Hampshire at age 84.

(Source: John R. Rollins, Records of the Families of Rawlins or Rollins in the United States in two parts, [1874] p. 45)

ENOCH STROUT - 4th Great-grandfather

Enoch Strout was born on December 25, 1761, in Cape Elizabeth, Maine the son of Elisha and Bathsheba (Small) Strout.  His father died when he was about eight years old.  His mother quickly remarried to William Johnson, and he was raised by his stepfather.

Signature of Enoch Strout taken from a Land Deed to his son,
Gilbert for land in Wales on March 27, 1822

When he was 18, he enlisted as a private from Cape Elizabeth in Capt. Joshua Jordan's Company, Col Jonathan Mitchell's Regiment with service from July 7, 1779, to September 25, 1779, of two months and eighteen days on the Penobscot Expedition.  He then enlisted in Isaac Parson's Company, Col. Prime's Regiment on May 4, 1780, and was discharged on December 7, 1780, with of service of 7 months and 4 days under Brigadier General Peleg Wadsworth on the Eastward defense. (Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the Revolutionary War, p. 201)

After the War, Enoch purchased land in the town of Limington, Maine.  When he was 22, he married Mercy Small, daughter of Daniel and Joanna (Cobb) Small on September 23, 1784, at the Congregational Church in Buxton, Maine.  

1st Church of Buxton, Maine

They settled in Limington and had ten children over 20 years, all born in Limington.  Enoch Strout was living in Little Ossipee, Maine (now Limington) on the 1790 census.   By 1800, Enoch and his family and several other relatives has moved to Wales, Maine where he became Deacon of the Church of the Baptist in Wales.  He was then known as Deacon Strout.  He appears on census records for Wales between 1800 and 1830.

Baptist Church of Wales, Maine

He remained in Wales until his death on April 1, 1832, at age 70.  His widow, Mercy died on 20 October 18, 1842.  Enoch and Mercy were buried in Pond Road Cemetery, Wales, Maine.  After their mother's death, the surviving children of Enoch and Mercy Strout applied for a Widow's Pension through their late mother in 1851.  The survivors listed were Ebenezer Strout, Elisha Strout, Joanna Warren, Daniel Strout, Enoch Strout, William Strout, Gilbert Strout and Isaac Strout.  They received their mother's portion of a widow's pension.  They divided $32.66 their mother would have received per year between March 4, 1836, to March 4, 1842, totaling 195.96 and would have received about $24. (Pension #W25077)

Gravestone of Enoch and Mercy Strout, Wales, Maine

Two of Enoch and Mercy's sons, Elisha and Daniel settled in Penobscot County, Maine where Elisha's son Morrill Strout married Mary Strout the daughter of Daniel Strout.  They were my maternal great-great-grandparents.

The Famous and Infamous Descendants of my Ancestor Rev. John Lothrop

Have you ever used Google to look up information on your ancestors? I recently searched for my 10th great-grandfather, Reverend John Lothrop [Lathrop] of Barnstable, Massachusetts, and most of the biographical details were things I had already discovered about him.

Photo from Ancestry.com

John was baptized on December 20, 1584, in Etton, East Riding, Yorkshire, England, the son of Thomas Lothrop and Mary Howell. He attended Queen’s College, Cambridge, earning his master’s degree in 1609. Ordained in the Church of England, he later renounced his orders in 1623 to join the “Independents,” who favored congregational control over religious matters rather than political or ecclesiastical interference. The group met privately until they were discovered in 1632, leading to Lothrop and others being arrested and jailed. In 1634, he was offered a pardon if he, his family, and as many of his congregation as possible left for New England. He arrived in Boston, later settling in Scituate, Massachusetts. In 1639, he petitioned Governor Thomas Pence for land for his congregation and was granted the area now known as Barnstable, Massachusetts. A strong advocate for the separation of church and state, he died on November 8, 1653, in Barnstable.

A Google search revealed many famous descendants as well the website "Famous Kin."  He was the ancestor of 6 Presidents of the United States, George H Bush, Franklin D. Roosevelt, George W. Bush, Ulysses S. Grant, James A. Garfield, and Millard Fillmore.

He was the ancestor of 14 Governors and numerous well-known people.  For example, Poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

The founder of the Morman Church, Joseph Smith 

Actress Sissy Spacek who has won numerous awards for her acting as well as Grammy.

One of my favorite actors, Clint Eastwood from the

films The Outlaw Josey Wales and Pale Rider!

So many other famous people from history and current events

But then there are those more notable relatives for other reasons

Benedict Arnold, who was at one time a hero in the American Revolutionary War and became a Major General, until he defected to the British side in 1780

Another notable relative Tonya Harding whose ex-husband took part in attack on her rial figure skater, Nancy Kerrigan.  Her part in covering up the assault resulted in her being banned from figure skating for life.

Then you have that relative that you wish you had never known about: Jeffrey Dahmer.  

It can be interesting discovering your connections to famous people from history or who made history but be prepared to find that you may be related to someone more infamous.

[all photos taken from Wikipedia]