---EARLY HISTORY OF TOWN OF ROLLINSFORD, STRAFFORD COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE---

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From: The Statistics & Gazetteer of New Hampshire, compiled by Alonzo J. Fogg, Concord NH, D.L. Guernsey, 1875 

page 319
ROLLINSFORD, Strafford County, New Hampshire
Rollinsford is a very small township, taken from Somersworth and incorporated July 3, 1849.  The soil is of the best quality, and produces excellent crops of various kinds of grain, grass, etc. With one exception, the orchard productions, are more valuable than those of any town in the county.  The farmers find a good market for their surplus products at Salmon falls, Dover, or Great Fals.  At Salmon Falls, in this town, is a large manufacturing village. In this village are three churches, two banks, ten or fifteen sotres, of various kinds, the Salmon Falls Manufacturing Works, and two or three hundred dwellings.

RIVERS
The Salmon Falls River washes the eastern border of the town, and afford excellent water privileges.

EMPLOYMENTS
Manufacturing and mercantile trade are the principal employments of the people, although in proportion to its territory, there is not a better farming district, in the State.  The Salmon Falls Manufacturing Company, have a capital of $600,000. They employ about 150 males, and 430 females who annually receive for their labor over $160,000. They manufacture about 6,000,000 yards of cotton cloth, valued at $768,337.  There are several other small manufactories.

RESOURCES.
Productions of the soil, $60,500; mechanical labor, $186,359; stocks etc, $25,000; money at interest, $16,507; professional business, $50,000; deposits in savings banks, $197,520; stock in trade, $61,875.

CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS
Congregational, Rev. Selah merrill, pastor; Catholic, J.T. Sullivan, priest; Episcopal, ---. There are six school distrcits and eight schools in town; average length for the year, thirty-one weeks; amount of money annually appropriated for school purposes, $3,354.50; average amount appropriated for each scholar, $11.11. Rollinsford High School principal, Milton C. Hyde.

BANKS
Salmon Falls State Bank and Salmon Falls Savings Bank (tables in same book)

LIBRARY. 
Salmon Falls Library, 1,000 volumes.

HOTEL.
Franklin House.

BOUNDARIES
North by Somersworth, east by South Berwick, maine and south and west by Dover.  Acres of improved land, 2,813.

DISTANCES.
Forty miles south east from Concord, and two miles east from Dover.

RAILROADS.
Boston and Main, and Portsmouth, Great Falls and Conway Railroads pass through Rollinsford.

==============================
From: History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men - Hurd, D. Hamilton, Philadelphia 1882   EXCERPTS ONLY

ROLLINSFORD: (page 660 )
http://archive.org/stream/historyofrocking00hurd#page/660/mode/2up/search/rollinsford

Rollinsford, in the southeastern part of Strafford County, adjoins South Berwick, Me., from which it is separated froM Concord.  Its territory was formerly a part of Somersworth, from which it was separated at a very early date, being incorporated July 3, 1849.  With Somersworth it was originally a part of Dover, and was settled at a very early date, being occupited by the settlement made as early as 1630.  At the falls here certain persons sent over by Mason "built a saw-mill" and a "stamping-mill for corne" about 1634, but the mills were burned before 1644. Prior to 1700 the falls came into possession of Judge Thomas Tuttle, of Dover, who owned large tracts of lands adjoining and resided there, and who erected mills.

There is one village in the town situate in the south-eastern part, called Salmon Falls.  It received its name from the fast that before manufacturing was extensively carried on there some small quantities of salmon were caught near the falls. It is now a village of about one hundred houses, a great part of which are owned by the Salmon Falls Manufacturing Company ... [more in original document].

[description of various farms]

"Old Wentworth House"--In this town, at what is called Salmon Falls, stands an old mansion house, located a little northwest of the Boston and Maine depot, which was built about the year 1710 by Col. Paul Wentworth, a very wealthy and enterprising citizen of the town.  This is the oldest house in Rollinsford, and quite a history is connected with it especially during the Revolutionary period. [include spoem written about it]

***NOTE: In 1936 this house was removed and rebuilt in Dover MA; In 2002 it was donated to the town of Rollinsford, and dismantled.  It was transported back to within sight of its original lot and rebuilt.
http://www.paulwentworthhouse.org/

"Old Pike House" -- on the road leading to Dover, a few rods west of the Boston and Main Railroad depot, stands  another old mansion-house kept in good repair, buitl by the Rev. James Pike, first minister of the town, in the year 1730. At one time this house was used as a garrison, and many trusting families slept securely within its walls.  It is also made memorable from the fact that Whitefield, during one of his visits to this country, chose it as his residence for many days.  Directly in front of it stood three gigantic elms, planted there at the time the house was erected, but time and the lightning's stroke has destroyed two of them, and one still lingers, though the electric fluid has dealt heavy strokes on it many different times. It is now owned and occuped by Amos W. Pike, the great-grandson of the Rev. james and has come down to him direct through three generations... [more info in original book].

Salmon Falls Manufacturing Company--This company was incorporated June 17, 1822 when James Rundlett, Jeremiah Mason, John Haven and others, were empowered by the Legislature of the State of New Hampshire to carry on the manufacture of cotton, woolen and other goods at Salmon Falls, in the town of Somersworth. [more information on this company in original document].

PHYSICIANS [excerpts only]
 John E. Tyler, M.D. was born in Boston, Dec 9, 1819. He entered Dartmouth College in 1838, and after graduation opened a private school in Newport, RI...In 1858 he was elected superintenent of McLean Asylum for Insane... He died in April 1878...
  John G. Pike, MD, son of Nathaniel G., grandson of John, and great-grandson of Rev. James Pike was born in Rollinsford NH on August 17, 1817....He studied at Bowdoin College, graduating in 1847. He moved to Boston MA until 1871 when he removed to Dover NH.
  Jonathan S. Ross, MD was born in Lisbon NH April 12, 1822.  He studied at Holmes Academy in Plymouth NH and graduated froM Dartmouth in the class of 1943, when he began the study of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, where he received his degree of MD. From 1846 to 1852 he was in Bath NH, 1852-1855 in Rollsinford NH. He represented the town in the State Legislature in 1855.  In August 1862 he was appointed surgeon of the Eleventh Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteers (Civil War), and afterwards Brigade Surgeon of the Second Brigade, Second Division, Ninth Army Corps, Gen. S.G. Griffin.  In 1865 he was stations post-surgeon at Concord NH.
  Alphonso Severance, MD was born in orrington, Maine March 27, 1825. He begin in the study of dentistry at age nineteen...He practiced dentistry in South Berwin Maine, Salmon Falls, NH until his death in 1881. 
  William H. Horr, MD was born at Lancaster, Coos Co NH July 3, 1845. He commenced the study of medicine with his brother Dr. O.A. Horr of Lewiston, Maine in September 1867. In 1869 he was appointed assistant superitendent of the Maine State Reform School at Cape Elizabeth; he took the degree of medicine at Bowdoin College in June 1872. He died 1881. 
  Edwin D. Jacques MD was born in Machias Maine March 9, 1841, received his education at Wesley Seminary, Kent's Hill, Maine and graduated from Bowdoin Medical College June 8, 1869.  He began practice in Norway, Maine; moved to Salmon Falls NH in 1869 until 1872 when he went to Boston, and for 2 years was connected with the hospitals in that city. In 1874 he settled in South Berwick Maine.
  George O. Robbins MD, was born in Lee, MA April 18, 1855, prepared for college at Thomastone Academy in CT, entered Yale in 1872, graduating 1876. He received his degree of MD from Yale in 1879. His first practice was in Alstead NH in 1879 until 1800, when he removed to Salmon Falls NH.
  William B. Mach, MD, son of W.F. Mach was born at Bellows Falls VT Jan 26, 1852, studied medicine with S.H. Currier of Norwich VT and Prof. C.P. Frost of Hanover Nh. He graduated from the Dartmouth medical College in 1877 and practiced in Dover Nh in 1878. He left Dover in 1880 and settled in the town of Salmon Falls NH.
 [other physicians only mentioned by name].

****BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES****
http://archive.org/stream/historyofrocking00hurd#page/664/mode/2up/search/rollinsford

JOSEPH TATE, school master in Somersworth NH; he wrote "Names of Families, Children's Names, and time of birth in the Town of Somersworth, March ye 26th 1767..."  [this book states his date of death is unknown, however NEHGS shows: Memorial stone: Joseph Tate/schoolmaster in/Somersworth/ 1749-1784/died 1802/aged about 90 years/Erected by the/Northam Colonists/1915.[Hobbs-Tate plot].

Mr. Moses Carr b Nov 25, 1715 in Newbury MA; Medical doctor and judge. died March 30, 1800; his son James Carr, b. Somersworth NH April 22, 1747, served during the American Revolution.  Died Rollinsford March 11, 1829. [more in book]

Capt. Nathan Lord, son of Gen. Lord b in South Berwick Maine in 1760, d. 1808. [much more in book]  

John Pike, son of the Rev. James Pike was born at Somersworth March 11, 1747.

Capt. Ebenezer Richer, b. Somersworth (now Rollinsford), d. 3 Nov 1815; master of a ship.

Amos Wallingford, son of Ebenezer Wallinford, b. Rollinsford NH March 6, 1762; 

Joseph Doe, father of Charles Dow (Chief Justice of the State of NH) b at Newmarket NH Nov 15, 1776. He married a daughter of Capt. Ebenezer Richie.  

Hon. Ichabod Rollins [town named after him]. He died Jan 31, 1800.

Nicholas Pike, son of Rev. James Pike, b. Rollinsford NH Oct 6, 1743; graduated harvard in 1766; taught school; author of "Pike's Arithmetic."

James Pike, grandsom of Rev. James Pike, and son of John Pike born at Somersworth NH on March 26, 1777.  He died Sept 19, 1842, age 65 years.

Andrew Rollins, b 29 Oct 1770; he d. March 13, 1832.

Capt. Ichabod Rollins, brother of Andrew, sea captain. Died Nov 1843.

Paul Wentworth, known as "Col. Paul." He died June 24, 1748.

Hon. Williams W. Rollins, son of Daniel Rollins, b. Feb 15, 1794. He died in Rollinsford, Dec 3, 1879.

John B. Wentworth, son of Andrew Wentworth, b. Feb 27, 1794. Lived in his grandfather's house. He died Nov 3, 1869.

George W. Roberts, son of Thomas Roberts, b. Sept 1798. 

"Riverside" the estate of the late Hon. Samuel Hale. He was born at Barrington NH and d. in Rollinsford Dec 1869. He was the son of Judge Hale and a grandson of Portsmouth's schoolmaster, Mayor Hale (Samuel). 

Hon. Hiram Roberts.
Hall Roberts, b. Nov 7, 1813, d. Oct 13, 1862

Hon. Edward H. Rollins, b. Oct 3, 1824. 

Charles Doe, son of Joseph, b. in Derry NH April 11, 1830; grad Dartmouth, 

HOUSES OF WORSHIP
http://archive.org/stream/historyofrocking00hurd#page/668/mode/2up/search/rollinsford
.. Up to the year 1780 had three houses of worship, the first of which was erected in the year 1730

Rev. James Pike was the first minister of this parish...
[bio in original book]

[several churches and their ministers are described here]

CATHOLIC SOCIETY
In 1857 a Catholic Church edifice was erected in the village of Salmon Falls....The cost of the church was about ten thousand dollars. The number of Catholics then attending was about six hundred.  Rev. Michael Lucy was the first priest....

SCHOOLS
Early schools described in original document.

SALMON FALLS LODGE, No. 3, I.O. of O.F., was instituted by Grand Master Timothy G. Senter, assisted by other grand officers of the Grand Lodge of New hampshire September 5, 1849 with ten charter members: viz, Samuel Hidden, Robert C. Fernald, William W. Twing, Charles S. Fogg, John Raitt, Masterson Young, Joseph Yealon, Thomas H. Card, Nathan Guild and Ebenezer Worster. [more in original book].

MASONIC
THe first meeting of Granite Lodge No. 65, F. and A.M. was held March 2d, Al.L. 5858, A.D. 1858 [more in original book including Masters].

LIST OF ROLLINSFORD NH TOWN CLERKS AND REPRESENTATIVES 1849 to 1882 [in original books]

BANKS of ROLLINSFORD NH -- The Salmon Falls Bank and the Rollinsford Savings-Bank. [Bank histories in original document]

MILITARY RECORD [CIVIL WAR] 1861-65 .. A list of men from the town is located in the original document:

****BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES WITH LIKENESSES***

BARTHOLOMEW WENTWORTH
http://archive.org/stream/historyofrocking00hurd#page/n1091/mode/2up/search/rollinsford
Bartholomew Wentworth, great-great-grandson of Elder William Wentowrth, b. Rollinsford, Jan 7, 1788; m. Nancy Hall, dau of Capt. William and Sarah (Roberts) Hall.  Children: Arioch Wentworth, Catherine Wentworth (m. Charles Ela); Ruth Wentworth (m. John B. Griffiths); William Hall Wenworth; Selucus Wentworth; Sally Wentworth; Rebecca Wentworth.  [much more genealogy in original document].


HIRAM R. ROBERTS, b. Somersworth NH (now Rollinsford) May 16, 1806. Judge.  He m. Nov 1831 to Ruth Ham, daughter of John Ham of Dover NH.  9 children: John Ham Roberts, Stephen Roberts, Elizabeth Roberts, Edward H. Roberts, Walter S. Hall Roberts, and Frank W. Roberts who reside in Iowa; Susan J. Roberts who m. Samuel H. Rollins; Joseph Dow Roberts.

Hon. EDWARD H. ROLLINS, [extensive genealogy of the Rollins family], was b Oct 3, 1824; he m. Feb 13, 1849 to Ellen E. West, dau of John West of Concord NH; they had five children--Edward W. Rollins b Nov 25, 1850; Mary Helen Rollins b Sep 4, 1853; Charles Montgomery Rollins b Feb 27, 1856; Frank West Rollins b Feb 24, 1860; Montgomery Rollins b Aug 25, 1867. 

AUGUSTUS ROLLINS, son of Hiram Rollins, b. in Rollinsford NH Aug 29, 1797. He m. May 24, 1824 to Abiah Winkley of Barrington NH, and their children were: Samuel Winkley Rollins, Oliver E. Rollins, Augustus W. Rollins, Mary Rollins, Ellen Rollins and Lydia Hale Rollins.  


WILLIAM H. MORTON, son of William and Sarah Griffith Morton was born in Portsmouth NH Feb 14, 1814 ... In 1841 he m. Sarah P. Merriam, of Grafton MA.  Children--Etta Morton, who m. John Merrimam.  William Morton m2) Armine Leavitt and had children: Frederich H. Morton; William A. Morton and Sarah J. Morton.  He m3) Mary Shackford.

JOSHUA CONVERSE, son of Joshua & Polly (Piper) Converse was b. in Rindge NH June 15, 1813; he m. Oct 18, 1835 to Jane B. Damon, dau of Galen & Jane (Barker) Damon. Children: Mary Jane Converse, who m. James A Place of South Berwick Maine.

WILLIAM R. GARVIN, son of Samuel & Susan (Roberts) Garvin, b. in Rollinsford NH March 15, 1830. He m. April 2, 1862 to Frances H. Yeaton;  Seven children: 3 sons and 4 daughters: Annie Bertha Garvin, Clara W. Garvin, William R. Garvin, Susie Garvin, Homer Garvin, Gertrude Garvin and Samuel R. Garvin.


LORENZO STACKPOLE, a descendant of Joshua Stackpole, son of Tobias Stackpole a sea captain.  Lorenzo was b. Sep 21, 1824 and m. Nov 7, 1849 Elvira C. Wentworth of Rollinsford NH. They settled in South Berwick Me, and had children: Annie Wentworth Stackpole (b 1850), Edgard C. Stackpole (b 1852, d. 1852).  Annie W. Stackpole m. Joshua H. Lane of New Jersey July 6, 1869.  She m2) Bernhard Baer of Germany Jan 3, 1872.  They had Lorenzo E., b. January 10, 1876 in Rollinsford NH.


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