W.S. Appleton, Gatherings Toward a Genealogy of the Coffin Family (Boston: David Clapp and Son, 1896), p.7 [She and all of her siblings have birth dates but no place of birth, and no explanation as to where the birthdates come from. A search for an existing vital record has so far come up empty.].
New England Historical and Genealogical Register, (Boston: NEHGS, 1846-), "The Coffin Family" by Sylvanus J. Macy, 24 (1870):311. A source was not stated in the book and no primary source has yet been located to prove this marriage so perhaps the author was in contact with descendants who had family information.
James Palmer died after 1830. His last known residence was Sandwich, NH.4
Citations
John Calvin Palmer, A Genealogical Record of the Descendants of William Palmer of Hampton, New Hampshrie, 1638 (Decorah, IA: Anundsen, 1998), p.144.
John Calvin Palmer, A Genealogical Record of the Descendants of William Palmer of Hampton, New Hampshrie, 1638 (Decorah, IA: Anundsen, 1998), o,144. This genealogy only identifies his wife as Mary, but as they were living in Sandwich, NH in 1830 two years before Mary Palmer of Sandwich deposed in her brother Benjamin York's pension case, it seems logical that his wife was Mary York. Date of marriage comes from the genealogy and is probably based on them having four children under 10 in the 1800 census, but they also were enumerated with two females 16-26 so would have been married much earlier if those were their children. Mary would have turned 35 in 1794 so quite old for a first marriage.
Marriage proven by her brother Benjamin's pension records in which Mary Palmer deposed.
John Calvin Palmer, A Genealogical Record of the Descendants of William Palmer of Hampton, New Hampshrie, 1638 (Decorah, IA: Anundsen, 1998), o,144.
Benjamin York
M, b. 14 January 1761, d. 6 June 1845
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
There is no certainty that Benjamin is the son of Benjamin York. He may actually be the son of Benjamin's brother Josiah, who also apparently moved to Middleton, NH. Two of the older Benjamin's children's births were recorded in Newmarket for 1752 and 1759, and if Benjamin Jr. was another child born a few years later why was he not recorded there either? Other birth records post 1759 were included in these Newmarket records. But we also have a brother Josiah for him, who also wasn't recorded, so it might only be a matter of incomplete recordkeeping. The senior Benjamin named this Benjamin, then of Meredith, N.H., as the executor of his 1803 will, so it seems unlikely that he would have named a nephew his executor when he was living so far away. More research is necessary to prove the connection but for now it seems the most likely scenario.
He was living in Middleton, NH when he enlisted for less than a year's service during the Revolutionary War. In his pension papers many years later he states that he entered the service in Feb of 1775, but as that was before the war started he must have the date wrong. Another soldier who served with him also says 1775, without mentioning a month, so it might have been later in the year. Benjamin was stationed at Fort Washington in Portsmouth in Capt. Benjamin Sias's company and Col. Dam's regiment. After 3 1/2 months he was promoted from private to sargeant, at which rank he served for another 5 months and 9 days before his enlistment was up and he went home. His date of birth in 1761 comes from a deposition he made in his own pension case, which means he was only 14 years old at the time. He stated that he didn't participate in any battles but did assist with the capture of a schooner. [U.S., Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900 for Benjamin York on ancestry.com]
On 28 May 1785 Benjamin York Jr., as well as three other Yorks who are probably his father and two brothers - Benjamin, John, and Josiah - all were of Middleton, NH when they signed a petition opposing setting off the northern section of the town to a new town. The Town of Brookfield was eventually set off from Middleton in 1794. [NH Provincial and State Papers, 12:599]
On 21 Mar 1788 Benjamin York of Middleton, yeoman, sold for 90 pounds to William Hill of Middleton, yeoman, a half lot of land in Middleton in the first division being number 30 and to be taken of the north east part of said lot of land. Witnessed by George Burnham and Nathaniel Wentworth. Benjamin York made his mark and appeared and acknowledged the deed on 31 Mar 1788. [Strafford Deeds, 9:305-6] This might apply to his father Benjamin, who also lived in Middleton at this time, although the fact that this Benjamin was apparently in New Durham Gore in 1790 argues for it him selling land at this time.
He is probably the Benjamin York recorded in the 1790 census of New Durham Gore (now Alton) with 1 male over 16, 2 males under 16 and 3 females. He appears in the 1798 Direct Tax living in Middleton with 50 acres of land but not a dwelling house. [1798 Direct Tax New Hampshire District #13 by John S. Fipphen, p.54-5]
It seems likely that he is the Benjamin York recorded in the 1800 census of Sanbornton. That census for Middleton was lost so it's not possible to determine whether he was still there. But the Sanbornton family age breakdown closesly matches his 1790 census grouping. There were 3 males under 10, 1 male 10-15, 1 male 16-25, 1 male 45 and older, 2 females under 10, 1 female 10-15, 1 female 16-25, and 1 female 45 and over. What does not match is the age of Benjamin himself, who would be age 39 in 1800 if we have his birthdate right. In addition, his pension papers state that he later lived at Meredith, N.H., and then moved to Holderness, N.H. where he was living in 1832 when his pension papers were filed. Those towns are closer over towards Sanbornton than Middleton, and he is clearly one who moved around a lot. He also appears on the NH Pension Roll of 1840 as a 79-year-old living in Landaff, NH. [NH Provincial and State Papers, 30:412]
When his father died intestate in 1803 Benjamin was made excecutor on 6 May 1803, at which time he was referred to as a husbandman living in Meredith. He gave bond with Stephen Mead, gentleman, and Daniel Smith, Esq., both of Meredith. On 6 Nov 1804 the probate papers state that the estate was not sufficient to pay off its debts so the executor, now called Benjamin York, yeoman, of New Holderness in Grafton County, was given permission to sell land at auction in order to raise $150. [Strafford Co. Probate 9:313-15, viewed on familysearch.com, , images 449-50 of 597] "New Holderness" was the original name of what is now Holderness, N.H.
In 1810 his family is found in the town of New Holderness, NH with 2 males under 10, 2 males 10-15, 2 males 16-25, 1 male 45+, 1 female 16-25, and 1 female 45+. The 1820 census was missing but in 1830 he was still in Holderness, this time with just he and apparently Rebecca living there, although Rebecca's age was tallied in the wrong column if it was her, as it said the household consisted of 1 male 60-69 and 1 female 50-59, when she would have been about 67 years old.
One secondary source states that he was a Free Will Baptist Minister, which if true would explain why he and his family moved around so much. <
https://mhollick.typepad.com/slovakyankee/2010/04/surname-saturday-york-family.html>. His daughter Diadama's death record states that her father was a preacher. His death was recorded in the Freewill Baptist publication "Morning Star" and mentioned that he was formerly of Middleton, NH. It didn't say anything about him being a preacher.
FamilySearch Family Tree page: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LH5F-TD3.
Ancestry, www.ancestry.com, (U.S., Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900 for Benjamin York of Holderness, NH, 1832, in which Benjamin deposed and gave his date and place of birth.).
Ancestry, www.ancestry.com, (U.S., Revolutionary War Pensioners, 1801-1815, 1818-1872, T718: 1818 - 1872 > 08: Revolutionary War, 1831-1848, p.222, <https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1116/images/T718_8-0216>. This may be for a different Benjamin York as it wasn't included in his pension papers but was in a different file with records of all NH pensioners. But as we know he was alive in 1832 and no other Benjamin in NH seems to have pension papers, it seems reasonable that it is him. Also on FamilySearch.com here: <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9WB-3R1P>).
David C. Young and Robert L. Taylor, Death Notices from Freewill Baptist Publications, 1811-1851 (Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 1985), p.374 [From the "Morning Star" of 20 Aug 1845].
David C. Young and Robert L. Taylor, Death Notices from Freewill Baptist Publications, 1811-1851 (Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 1985), p.374 [From the "Morning Star" of 8 Jul 1846. Stated that he was buried at Holderness].
Josiah York
M, b. say 1749
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
FamilySearch Family Tree page: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/GDQF-VXK.
There is no certainty that Josiah is the son of Benjamin York. He may actually be the son of Benjamin's brother Josiah, who also apparently moved to Middleton, NH. Two of Benjamin's children's births were recorded in Newmarket for 1752 and 1759, and if Josiah was another child born a few years earlier why was he not recorded there either? But we also have a brother Benjamin for him, who also wasn't recorded, so it might only be a matter of incomplete recordkeeping. More research is necessary.
Josiah eventually moved to the town of Middleton, NH with his father and brothers Benjamin and John. It appears likely that his uncle Josiah, his father's brother, also lived in Middleton so it is difficult to ascertain which records in that town apply to which Josiah. On 28 May 1785 a Josiah, as well as three other Yorks - Benjamin, Benjamin Jr., and John - all were of Middleton, NH when they signed a petition opposing setting off the northern section of the town to a new town. The Town of Brookfield was eventually set off from Middleton in 1794. [NH Provincial and State Papers, 12:599] This may refer to his father's brother Josiah, as there was a Josiah who was a Selectman of Middleton in 1783 who is unlikely to be the younger Josiah. Benjamin, Josiah and John York all signed other Middleton town petitions to the NH Legislature in Dec 1786 and Feb 1790. Benjamin Jr. did not sign this one. [NH Provincial and State Papers, 12: 600, 602] It's noteworthy that all three of these petitions mentioned just one Josiah, and not a Josiah Jr. like one of them did with Benjamin Jr. Studying the records it appears likely that the elder Josiah died at some time in the 1780s. There is an Elizabeth York in the 1790 census who might be the widow of the elder Josiah, in which case the latter of the three petitions would likely pertain to the younger Josiah. Signatures on the original documents should be checked to see if they differ from one another.
Josiah was "of legal age" on 17 Nov 1788 when he deposed in a Strafford County court case between Jonathan Yeaton and Mussey Gould regarding a delivery of hay he had made in Sep 1787. He transported it from Charles Baker of Middleton to Jonathan Yeaton's barn in Rochester. [Strafford County Superior Court, case 1788-33] The statement that he was of "legal age" might imply that he was young and the court was verifying that he was old enough to testify. If that is the case it puts doubt on the 1749 guesstimate for his year of birth.
On 29 Jun 1789 Josiah York of Middleton, husbandman, deeded land to Nicholas Austin of Middleton, yeoman, for 90 pounds. This land was described as being lot number 36 in the second division of Middleton. The acreage was not mentioned. His wife Hannah gave up her right to her dower thirds. Witnesses were Thomas and Charles Baker. Josiah signed and Hannah made her mark and they acknowledged their deed on 22 Dec 1789. [Strafford Deeds, 12:52-3] Which Josiah this pertains to is uncertain, but the 1790 census only has one Josiah in town, and his wife's name was Hannah, so does seem likely that this applies to him and the older Josiah had since died.
His probable family in the 1790 census of Middleton consists of 2 males over 16, 5 males under 16 and 3 females.
The 1798 Direct Tax of Middleton records two Josiah Yorks, one called Jr. The elder had lands worth a lot more than the younger - $400 vs. $130. If his probable uncle Josiah did indeed die before this point, which his absence from the 1790 census suggests, then our Josiah would be the elder of the two. The identify of "Jr." would likely then be his son. The elder Josiah had a dwelling house and 90 acres of land. [1798 Direct Tax New Hampshire District #13 by John S. Fipphen, p.54-5] The 1800 census of Middleton was lost.
He was still living in Middleton at the time of the 1810 census and his household consisted of 1 male 26-44, 1 male 45+, 2 females under 10, 1 female 10-15, 1 female 16-25, and 1 female 26-44. Assuming that his wife was around the same age as he was [of which there is no evidence, so it is just speculation] that would put them both in their mid-40s at the time, on either side of 45.
The 1820 census of Middleton is missing.
The name of his wife Hannah is taken from the 1789 deed, but as already mentioned is not definitive. It has not been found in any other source to this point. The Family Search Family Tree lists his wife as Sarah, but without any evidence.
He was age 45+ in the 1810 census of Middleton while his wife was age 26-44. If they were about the same age it means he was likely either age 45 or not much older, which would suggest a birth around 1763. But in the 1790 census there was another male in the household aged over 16, which could be the purported son George, whose age at death has him being born about 1769. Plus with a son Josiah born about 1776 a 1763 birth for Josiah Sr. seems unlikely. So we'll guesstimate a birth 20 years before George was born, meaning 1749. It is a very rough guess and could be way off, especially if George isn't actually his son.
Rebecca Coffin
F, b. circa 1763, d. 16 January 1842
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
David C. Young and Robert L. Taylor, Death Notices from Freewill Baptist Publications, 1811-1851 (Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 1985), p.374. [From the "Morning Star" of 16 Feb 1842]
Abner Coffin
M
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
William Ward York died before 28 May 1822, at which time his residence was in Nobleboro, Lincoln County, MaineG. His widow Lydia was administrix of his estate by this date.3
FamilySearch Family Tree page: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KHD3-3VX.
In 1810 the census found his family in New Holderness consisting of 2 males under 10, 1 male 26-44, 1 female under 10, and 1 female 16-25. At the March Town Meeting of New Holderness that same year William was granted the permission to sell "Spiritous Liquers in Small Measures" by the Selectmen. [Holderness, NH Town Records, State Copy, 1:205, ] He also appears on the Town tax list for 1810. [1:218] He was granted a liquor license in 1811 and 1812 as well. [1:224, 225]
Guesstimated date from FamilySearch record, place from the 1904 death record of his son Joseph.
They had three children under the age of 10 in the 1810 census so were probably married around 1804. Lydia's name comes from the marriage and death records of their son Joseph.
Benjamin Coffin York was born circa 1791 in New HampshireG. His family was living in New Durham Gore (now Alton, NH) in the 1790 census so he might have been born there. They had moved to Sanbornton by 1800.1
He served in the War of 1812 in Capt. John Willy's Co. of the New Hampshire Militia. [Ancestry.com, U.S., War of 1812 Pension Application Files Index, 1812-1815, , scan of original record]
At the New Holderness Town Meeting of 9 Mar 1813 "Benjamin Coffin York" was elected as one of the town's four hog reaves. [Holderness Town Records, State copy, 1:238, ]. He was again elected a hog reave in 1816, one of three this time. [1:268] At the 9 Mar 1819 Town Meeting he was chosen as a surveyor of highways along with 15 other men. [1:315] In June 1817 the Town of Holderness laid out a new road that cut across a corner of Benjamin's land, for which he was paid $1. [1:363-4] He appears on the town's 1819-1821 tax lists. [1:330, 368, 422] At the Town Meeting of March 1821 he and another man were chosen as town tything men. [1:395] The 1822 Town Meeting chose him as a fence viewer. [1:447] The following year he became a field driver. [1:466]
The 1820 census for Holderness has been lost, which is unfortunately as it would help to determine whether he had children such as Horace born before 1820. (See Horace's record for more discussion of this.) It would also help give a beter estimate of when his first marrigae took place. He does appear in the 1830 census of Holderness, although his middle initial there is cleaerly an E when it should be a C. But there is no other Benjamin in the area it could be, and the demographics fit. The family consisted of 3 males under 5, 2 males 10-14, 1 male 30-39 and 1 female 30-39. This does imply that he had two son born before 1820, so if Horace is one of those two sons there is still one missing, and only one of the three youngest sons is accounted for.
The 1840 census of Holderness has the family made up with 3 males 15-19, 1 male 40-49, 1 female under 5, and 1 female 40-49. In 1850 he was still in Holderness with his wife and two youngest children, farming on land valued at $1000. Their 1860 census entry in Holderness has just Benjamin C. and Martha in their family group but it doesn't include any occupation or financial info for them. In 1870 they are enumerated in Holderness next door to Benjamin's son by his first wife Oscar F. York with his wife and five children. Benjamin's occupation is listed this time as farmer.
By the time the 1880 census was taken Benjamin was dead and his widow was living with his son by his first wife Edward L. York and family in Lowell, Mass. where she died seven years later.
He was 58 in the 1850 census, 68 in 1860 and 78 in 1870, born in NH. According to his gravestone he as age 79 when he died in Feb 1871. His Find a Grave record and several Ancestry family trees give a date of birth as 3 Jul 1791 in Cornish, NH but this is a different Benjamin from the Connecticut Yorks who moved to the Cornish area.
Approximate date determined from the birth of Horace in 1816 and the fact that there were two sons aged 10-14 in the 1830 census, meaning one likely born after Horace leaving Horace as the eldest.
Stephen York was born in 1794. His Find a Grave record states that he was born in Holderness, NH on 20 Jul 1794 but the evidence for that hasn't been located yet.1
According to the history of Windham, N.H., written in 1883 while Veranus was still alive and likely the source of the information, he was a blacksmith. He lived in Landaff, N.H. for 30 years, as well as Sandwich, N.H. for 15 years before moving to Windham in the spring of 1874. His second wife may have been a sister to his first wife but the History does not state her parentage. After his third marriage he lived on the farm of his new wife's former husband Simon Wilson. Census records call him a farmer. The History states that he had three children by his first wife.
Leonard A. Morrison, The History of Windham in New Hampshire (Rockingham County), 1719-1883 (Boston: Cupples, Upham & Co., 1883), p. 831. Information likely supplied to the author by Veranus himself. Hereinafter cited as History of Windham, NH.
He was age 73 when married in Apr 1877, born in Meredith.
David C. Young and Robert L. Taylor, Death Notices from Freewill Baptist Publications, 1811-1851 (Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 1985), p.374. [From the "Morning Star" of 14 Oct 1840]
Simeon Dana York
M, b. 8 September 1804, d. 7 January 1875
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
FamilySearch Family Tree page: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LH5F-TW1.
He was noted in the History of Windham as having studied medicine in Plymouth, N.H. and at the medical school in Hanover, N.H. He practiced medicine in Lowell, Mass. and then moved to Windham where he lived for many years. He initially bought the David Armstrong farm but eventually sold that and built a suite of buildings later owned by his daughter. "He was a genial, affable man, and in the debating societies of the town he took an active part, and was very entertaining." He was president of the Fire Insurance Company in Windham from its organization to his death in 1875.8
Leonard A. Morrison, The History of Windham in New Hampshire (Rockingham County), 1719-1883 (Boston: Cupples, Upham & Co., 1883), p. 831. Information likely supplied to the author by Simeon himself or his brother Veranus. Hereinafter cited as History of Windham, NH.
He was age 70 when he died in Jan 1875, born in Holderness.
Leonard A. Morrison, The History of Windham in New Hampshire (Rockingham County), 1719-1883 (Boston: Cupples, Upham & Co., 1883), p. 832. Information in this book likely came from the family.. Hereinafter cited as History of Windham, NH.
Leonard A. Morrison, The History of Windham in New Hampshire (Rockingham County), 1719-1883 (Boston: Cupples, Upham & Co., 1883), p. 832 (says the 7th). Hereinafter cited as History of Windham, NH.
Gravestone for date.
Deaths, New Hampshire Vital Records, Concord, NH,<https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DTJF-24>, scan of State record. Says he died on the 27th and that his mother's maiden name was Rebecca Copp, both of which are probably transcription errors.
Leonard A. Morrison, The History of Windham in New Hampshire (Rockingham County), 1719-1883 (Boston: Cupples, Upham & Co., 1883), p. 831-2. Hereinafter cited as History of Windham, NH.
Joseph Wallace
M, b. 1781, d. 11 June 1861
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
He was buried in the York Burying Ground in Lee Hook in Lee.6
He was a soldier in Company D of the 15th NH Regiment for a year during the Civil War, enlisting on 13 Aug 1862 and mustering out on 13 Aug 1863.
His death record states that he was a married farmer who lived his entire live in N.H. In the 1880 census it listed "lung difficulty" in the Sick column.7
Deaths, New Hampshire Vital Records, Concord, NH,for place of birth, age at death (41), and parentage. He was also age 39 in the 1880 census of Lee, NH.
The 1880 census of Lee has their eldest child as age 16 so born ca. 1864.
Lulu B., Martha B. Walker, Mae E. Burpee Walker, Burial Places in the Town of Lee, N.H. Including Old Parish Cemetery on Mast Road & Town Cemetery on Lee Hill, N.H. (Elsie Cilley Chapter D.A.R., 1938), p.80. [Gives date of death as 21 Apr which is probably a misreading of the stone by the authors of the typescript]
She married second Richard York, son of Richard York and Sarah (?), 14 Sep 1757 or 58 in Kensington, Rockingham County, New HampshireG. The NH vital records card says September 14, 1757 or 8 so apparently the original Kensington record is unclear, and those original records were missing from the Kensington Public Library where they were supposed to be in 2023. This may have been a second wife as he seems to have had a number of children before this marriage took place, although there is no definitive proof of that as the records are so sparse. No earlier wife has been named in any records found to date.3
In her father's will dated 10 May 1755 she was left one hundred pounds old tenor to be paid her within two years after his death.4
John S. Wadleigh, Wadleigh Family Genealogies [manuscript] : presented to the New Hampshire Historical Society by his daughter , Edna Wadleigh., n.d., NH Historical Society, Concord, N.H.. 1:25b.
Donald E. Wadleigh, The Wadleigh Chronicle (Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 1992), p.33.
Marriages, New Hampshire Vital Records, Concord, NH.
Ancestry, www.ancestry.com, (Jonathan Wadleigh in New Hampshire, Wills and Probate Records, 1643-1982).
Judith York
F, b. circa 1732
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
Judith York was born circa 1732. She was baptized "in private" in Exeter, N.H. at the age of ten on 5, 15, or 25 Feb 1742. [The original record has an ink blot in front of the 5.] This may indicate she was expected to die soon. It is only speculation that the father Richard mentioned in the baptism is the father listed here. He lived in the western area of Exeter that became Brentwood or Epping at the time so perhaps the Kingston church was closer for him than the Exeter one but he wasn't a member of an Epping or Brentwood church.1,2
Citations
Kingston, N.H., Kingston Second Church of Christ Records, 1739-1772, p.4.
AmericanAncestors, https://www.americanancestors.org, (Kingston, NH: Records of the Second Church of Christ, 1739-1777 (Unpublished typescript compiled by the New Hampshire Historical Society. "Church Records of Kingston, N.H." 1931)).
