Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2023 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Mary Smith for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Vital Records of Rockingham, Vermont From the Beginning of the Records to January 1, 1845 Compiled from the Town Records by THOMAS BELLOWS PECK pub. George E. Littlefield, Boston, 1908 [transcriber note: transcribed exactly as it appears with no attempt to correct spelling or punctuation.] [pg 1] VOL. 1., PAGE 67 Cerficate dated Nov. 28, 1786, that Stephen Stearms, of Rockingham, attends the Baptist Church. VOL. 1., PAGE 67 Warterborough March 22 1769 These may certify any person or persons who it may concern that William Minard of Warterborough has joined to the Church and doth admin- ister thereto to the support of the gospel in this place. Elisha [ILLEGIBLE) pastor GEORGE N. [ILLEGIBLE] Committee the above is as near a Coppy of the original as I can write ELIJAH KNIGHT T Clerk VOL. 1., PAGE 69 At a Legal meeting held on the Last Tuesday of March 1781 2ly Voted on the Second Article of the Warrent to Raise the 13 men sent for to Guard the frontiers the Insuing Summer by a Rate Equaly assest on the poles and estate according to Law. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [pg 3 & 4 - pgs 2 & 3 are list of freemen] The names and birth of the Children of Jonathan White & Rhoday his wife Simeon White born March ye 13th 1770 Phebe White born April ye 15 1772 Jonathan White Jur August ye 1775 the above recorded Decbr ye 17th 1790 pr me JEHIEL WEBB Regr VOL. 1, PAGE 57 In town meeting held March 3 1778 ly voted unanimously and Exepted of the Constitution. [Under the record of above meeting is the following list] The Number of persons of those that Took the oath agree- able to the Constitution. Ebenezer fuller John pulsipher Joshua Webb Elisha Knight Colburn preston fairbank Moore Reuben Jones Nathan Earll Joseph Wood Ezra Whittney Josiah White Wm. Sterns Nathl. Davis John Titus Elijah Knight Lemuel Sargent Nichols Abener Wright Timo. Glousen Saml. Burr Benjm. Larrabee Timo. Walker David Stoel philip Sanford Jonathan holton Timo. Clark Elisha Gustin Saml. Richardson Levi Davis Wm. Simonds Luke Hitchcock, Jur. Lt. Charls Richard John Roundye John Whittney John Rounye, Jur. Nathanel Whitcomb Syr. Gusting Jonathan White Note: in the records of the town meeting held in Rockingham, May 18 1773 is the following vote: "13ly. Voted on ye 4th Article of the Warrant that the book bought be sufficient to Record the Records of ye Town both Births and Deths and any other thing found beneficial to said town." In accordance with this vote, records of all kinds were kept for many years in one book, so that records of town meetings, deeds, surveys of roads, births, marriages, and deaths follow each other, although not in strict chronological order. At times vital statistics were recorded wherever a blank space was found under the record of a deed. Consquently Rockingham records are very hard to search, and items of interest are likely to be overlooked, unless each page is examined by itself. It has been thought desireable to bring together the many personal items scattered through the early volumes. - T. B. P. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [pg 5] Charles Richards Josiah White Samll Richardson philip Safford James How John Whitney Elisha Knights Wm Sterns fairbanks Moors Jur Samll Taylor benjm Larrabee James Campbell Thos Dutton Elias Olcott Elijah Knight Jonathn Burtt Jeheal Webb Josiah Read Ebenezer fuller jur Elisha Walker Levi Davis Isaac Read John Lovell Elijah Lovell Eli Evens Asa White Salvanus Kingsly John fuller Peter Evens Jur Oliver Lovell all those Inroted on the Left hand personally appeared on ye Twenty third Day of this Instant June 1777 and took the oath of fidelity to be true to the United States of America. Sworn to me WM SIMONDS Chairman VOL. 1, PAGE 51 You sware by the Name of the Ever Living God that you will be true and faithfull to the United States of America as free and Independent States and in all things Do Your Deauty as a faithfull Subject of said States in Supporting the Right Liberties and privileges of the Same - So help you God. Mathew Lain Ebenezer Allbee John Whittney Timo. Clark June ye Twenty third 1777 then those Inroted on the Left hand personaly ap- peared and took the oath of fidelity to be tr to the United States of America Sworn before me WM SIMONDS VOL. 1, PAGE 51 I Do Solemnly sware by the Everlasting God {or affirm in presence of almight God} that I will be true and faithful to the State of Vermont and that I will not Directly or inDirectly Do any act or thing Prejudicial or Injurious to the Constitu- tion or Government thereof as Established by Convention - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [pg 6] State of Vermont June 1777 the Names of those who have taken the Oath of Alegance or affirmation formed by the Late Convention held at Windsor in the above State. Wm Simonds Joseph Wood Jonathan Burr Colburn Preston Joshua Webb Nathll Davis Isaac Stoel John Titus Timo. Walker Samll Bentley Ebr fuller John Pulsipher Gardner Simonds David Pulsipher Dr. Reuben Jones fairbanks Moor Thos Dutton Silas Dutton Samll Burr John Baker John Archer VOL. 1, PAGE 52. Of those that had Reed powder that Marcht for Ticon- derouge. LEAD Capt. Joseph Wood one pound of powder 2 Lieut Richard - Dito - one pound 2 Lieut Preston - Dito - one pound 2 Insign Ebenezer fuller - one pound from Capt. Wood 2 John fuller Dito - one pound 2 Nathan Wright Dito - one pound 2 Wm Sterns Dito one pound - one flint Two pounds Lead John pulsipher - one pound - 2 John titus - one pound - 2 John Whitney ye 2d - one pound - Dito 2 Isaac Stoel - one pound - Dito 2 Nathan Arll - one pound - Dito 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [pg 7] John Whitney Senior one pound Dito 2 Jonathan Burr - one pound Dito 2 fairbanks Moor Junr one pound Dito 1-2 Gardnes Simonds - one pound Dito 1-2 Gardner Simonds - one pound Dito 1-2 Wm Tagert - one pound - Dito 1-2 Elish Knights - one pound Lead 2 Abijah White - one pound Dito 1-2 Doctr Reuben Jones - one pound Dito Dito 2 Timo. Clark - one pound Dito Dito 2 total 21 p; 30 Lead Of those that Marcht to Manchester Insign Ebenezer fuller Jonathan Burr had Rec'd as above Levi Davis half a pound powder - one pound of Lead 1 Josiah White half a pound Dito 1 Ebenezer fuller - half a pound Dito 1 Ebenezer pulsipher - half a pound Dito 1 Charles Richard junr half a pound Dito 1 Abel White half a pound Dito 1 Nathan Arll - half a pound Dito 1 John pulsipher - half a pound Dito 1 Samll Burr half a pound Dito 1 Zadoc Sipo half a pound Dito 1 Isaac Stoel Junr half a pound Dito 1 Solomon Wright half a pound Dito 1 philip Safford half a pound Dito 1 Joseph Dutton half a pound Dito 1 Silas Dutton half a pound Dito 1 fairbanks More Junr one Quarter pound Dito 1 John Wait half a pound Dito 1 Andrew Simonds half pound Dito 2 Gardner Simonds one pound Dito 2 James How Dito 1 Capt Joseph Wood half pound powder Dito 1 Timo Walker one pound Lead half powder 1 Elisha Walker one pound Lead half 1 John Lovell one pound Lead half pr Josiah White one pound Lead half pr 13 one quarter .26 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [pg 8] September the first - those of ye 3d Draught Reed the ame- nition. Samll Richardson Lead one pound - powder quarter pound Lenard Read half pound Lead one Quarter pound powder David Campbell half pound Lead, one Quarter of powder James Campbell half pound Lead, one Quarter of powder Josiah Read half pound Lead one Quarter of powder Thos Dutton half pound Lead - one Quarter of powder VOL 1, PAGE 55 Rockingham, March 9th 1792 these may Certify whom it may Concern that Solomon petty is of and Belongs to the Universalist Society in this town and Contributes to the Suport of the same. WM FARWELL Jr Elder the above is a trew coppy and was Recorded March 8th 1794 pr me JEHIEL WEBB Regr Rockingham Decr 2 1793 this is to Certify all persons whom it may Concern that John Parker is of and belongs to the Universalist Society in this Town and Contrubuts to the Support of the Same. WILLIAM FARWELL Jr Elder Springfield June ye 1st 1794 these may Certify whom it may Concern that Ebenezer Albe Jr is of and Belongs to the Universalist Society in Rockingham and contributes to the Suport to the same. WM FARWELL Elder VOL 1, PAGE 78 Jeduthan Wiman and Dorcas his Wife, with Lorancy Timothy Oliver and Betty their children were warned out of town April 25 1787 Note: The certificates of membership in various religious societies other than the Church supported by the town, which appear frequently in the town records of Vermont in the latter part of the eighteenth century, were filed with the town clerk in order that the persons mentioned might be excused from payment of the minister's tax. The same is true of the "religious test," so called, which was a statement that the signer did not agree in religious opinion with a majority of the inhabitants of the town. The principle involved was stated a little later in Article 3 of the Constitution of Vermont, established July 9, 1791, as follows; " * * And that no man ought to, or of right can be compelled to attend any religious worship, or erect or support any place of worship, or maintain any minister, contrary to the dictates of his conscience." - T. B. P. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [pg 9] VOL. 1, PAGE 156 John fleamond [Fleming?] and Persis with Jonathan Zilpha Rhoda Prudence Joseph James Lydia their children were warned out of town 30 March 1785. VOL. 1, PAGE 138 Rockingham February the 6 1789 Stephen Hymes and Hanah his wife the age of their children Abigal was Born the 31 Day of March 1780 Hannah was Born the 27 Day of March 1783 Recorded this February the 6 Day 1789 Pr me JONTH. HOLTEN Register VOL. 1, PAGE 163 Dudley October the 27th 1788 This may certify whom it may Concern that Elisha Sabin now Living in Rockingham is a member of a Baptist Church in Dudley in full fellowship and good Standing Signed by order and in Behalf of the Church JOHN WARREN Church Clerk a true Coppy of the above Certificate and was Recorded the 10th Day of December 1788 Pr me JONTH. HOLTEN T Clerk VOL. 1, PAGE 171 Rockingham Decr 9th Anno Domini 1787 We hereby Certify that the following persons belong to the Church of England (viz) Capt. Moses Wright, Capt. Timothy [Note. The unhospitable custom of "Warning out of town" which pre- vailed in Vermont and New Hampshire in the latter part of the eighteenth century was in conformity with the state law, and was intended to pre- vent new comers from obtaining a settlement and possibly becoming charges upon the town. As the law was applied to all new comers alike, it did not constitute any reflection upon their character. As a warning out was not effective later than a year after the arrival of a new family, and as an entry was always made on the town records, these entries are often serviceable in fixing the date of the arrival of a family in town, and are also valuable as giving the names of all the children. - T. R. P. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [pg 10] Lovell John Wait Cyrus Davis Frederick Barney Wm. Hazelton Reuben Bingham RANNA COSSIT} Presbytn Deacon TILLOTSON BRUNSON} Church OLIVER LOVELL } Wardens the above is a true Coppy of the Original Certificate Recorded Decr 15th 1787 pr me ELIJAH KNIGHT Town Clerk VOL 1, PAGE 182 Claremont Augt 21 1785 To Oliver Lovel Esqr Reposing Special Confidance in you as a Gentl. of honour and Religion I beg leave by virtue of my Eclesiastical office wich I hold by a Lineal Succession from our Lord Christ and his Apostles to appoint you a Wardean of the Church of England for the Towns of Rockingham Westminster Chester and Thomlinson in Vermont State and accordingly you be appointed for said Towns and are desired to take care of the Intrest of the Chur. acording to the Cannons of the Ch. Sr I am your most obedt humble servt and affectionate Brother RANNE COSSET Clark the above is a trew coppy and was recorded December the 8th 1785 JEHIEL WEBB Regr VOL 1, PAGE 183 Certificate dated Claremont Aug 21 1785 that Mr. Elijah Lovell is a member of the Church of England. Signed RANNA COSSET Clerk Certificate dated Marlow April 29 1783 that Asaph Mathers once of Marlow now of Rockingham did join himself to the Baptist Church in Marlow - Signed ELEAZER BECKWITH Elder. Certificate dated Foster February 25 1783 that Daniel Weaver is of the Baptist persuasion Signed NATHAN YOUNG Elder ================================================================================