USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > Dover > Landmarks in ancient Dover, New Hampshire > Part 33
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35
Somersworth. May 19, 1743, it is called Varney's Great Hill. It is called " Varney's Hill" on Philip Carrigan's map of N. H., in 1816, and on Whitehouse's map of Dover in 1834. (See Garrison Hill. )
VINCENT'S WINDMILL. See Mount Hungry.
VINEYARD. Mentioned in 1653, in a grant to Wm. Follet and James Bunker. (See Jonas' Creek. ) And again March 28, 1707, when Nicholas Follet of Portsmouth conveyed to James Bunker one half of ten acres called ye Vineyard at the head of Johnson's creek, granted Wm. Follet and James Bunker (Senior ) in 1653.
WADLEIGHI'S FALLS. These were the uppermost falls in Lamprey river within the limits of ancient Dover. They were originally granted by the authorities of Massachusetts Bay to Samuel Symonds of Ipswich, together with 640 acres of land, which he took possession of June 3, 1657, in the presence and with the consent of Mo- harimet, the Indian sagamore of this region. Robert Wadleigh acquired possession of these falls and had a saw-mill here as early as April 21, 1668, and in 1669 his right was con- firmed by a grant from the town of Dover of the " uppermost falls in Lampereel river, commonly called ye Ileland falls." They are called " the upper falls in Lamprey river" in a survey of the Dover bounds in 1701. Ezekiel Gilman of Exeter conveyed to Samuel Doe, Nov. 9, 1730, one sixteenth part of a 640 acre grant in Dover, at a place com- monly called Wadley's Falls, upon Lamperell river, lying on both sides of the river, formerly granted by the General Court of Boston to Samuel
263
Landmarks in Ancient Dover.
Simonds of Ipswich, deceased, which sixteenth part said Gilman had by deed from Robert Wadley Sept. 1, 1730. Also one sixteenth part of the saw-mill and dam upon Lamper- ell river at Wadley's falls, with all privileges. Bartholomew Thing con- veyed to Joshua Brackett of Strat- ham, March 7, 1733-34, 59 acres of land at " a place called Wadly's ffalls, otherwise Symond's grant."
Symond's grant and Wudley's grant are repeatedly mentioned in the old records. Walter Bryant of Newmar- ket conveyed to Samuel Watson of Durham, June 22, 1751, fifty-four acres " in that tract commonly called Symond's grant, being a grant of one mile square ; which 54 acres begin at a stump a little above ye north end of ye mill dam, by ye side of Lam- perel river, then run south by said river," etc. And that same day Jer- emiah Folsom of Newmarket con- veyed to Samuel Watson 12 acres " in that grant of land commonly called Symond his grant," adjoining the land said Watson bought of Water Bryant.
Wadleigh's Falls are in the south- ern part of Lee. A saw-mill is still in operation here, belonging to the Messrs. Glidden ; and a grist-mill, owned by Dr. Edgerly. Here also is Wadleigh's Falls post-office, with a cluster of houses that can hardly be styled a village.
Wadleigh's Plains are mentioned in the Durham records Dec. 25, 1761, and again in a deed from Joseph Smith to Nathaniel Watson, Jr., of 34 acres in the parish of Lee, on the north side of the way from Wad- leigh's mill towards Little river, run- ning east by the land John Davis
bought of Joseph Sias, Esq., about 97 rods to a spotted hemlock in a swamp on the west side of Wad- leigh's plains, so called, then southerly to the N. E. corner of John Cromit's land.
Wadleigh's path from Newmarket to Wadleigh's mill is mentioned in 1745. Benjamin Smith had 25 acres of land laid out in 1757 on the south side of Wadley's way. A road from the Spruce Hole (on Lee Hill) to Wad- ley's road is mentioned June 26, 1765. According to the Durham records, £177, 10s. were, in 1764, " Pd sundry men for Building Wad- ley's Bridge."
WAKEHAM'S CREEK. This name was given to the creek below Drew's Point, on the lower side of Oyster river, from Edward Wakeham, who, May 2, 1695, bought " Giles' old field, lying between two creeks." He was still living here July 25, 1715, when " neighbor Wakeham " is spoken of in a petition from James Langley that a road might be laid out from his place to the highway, as he was penned up by Bartholomew Steven- son. Edward Wakeham and his wife Sarah were admitted to the Oyster River church Oct. 18, 1719. * Their son Caleb Wakeham, July 8, 1757, sold Samuel Smith his " homestead plantation " of thirty-two acres, be- ginning at a small elm tree in ye range of ye fence at ye Bank of ye upland by ye marsh in Wakeham's creek, then running S. 68 deg. W. 18 rods to the road leading from Oyster River Point to Oyster river or Durham falls, then Easterly by sd road to land in posses- sion of Valentine Mathes, and by this land north to the channel of ye brook or run of water between his * Edward wake home married to
Sarah Meades March 16, 1691-2
264
Landmarks in Ancient Dover.
land and that of sª Mathes, and through the middle of said channel to Oyster river, and up the river to Wakeham's creek, then to the elm tree first mentioned. Samuel Smith conveyed this land to Benjamin Mathes Jan. 8, 1759. It is now in the tenure of Mr. Jonathan Carr. (See Giles's creek. )
WALDRON'S FALLS. See Cochecho Falls.
WALDRON'S HILL. Mentioned in the Madbury records of 1798, when a road was proposed from Pascataqua bridge to Waldron's Hill. This hill is in the central part of Barrington, where the town-house now stands. The old stage road from Dover through Barrington was formerly called the Waldron Hill road.
WALDRON'S LOG SWAMP. Men- tioned in 1658, when Thomas Nock's land on the south side of Capt. Wal- dron's logg swamp is spoken of. (See Nock's Marsh. ) Capt. Richard Wal- dron in 1652 had a grant of two thirds of all the timber between Co- checho first falls and Bellamy Bank freshet. A mast path led into this logging swamp, afterwards known as the road to Littleworth.
WALDRON'S PLAINS. These plains are in Dover, west of Gage's Hill. They are so called in 1822, when the Dover Sun announced that the Sec- ond regiment, under Col. Dudley, would parade on Waldron's plains on the 13th of October, that year.
WALL'S CREEK. This is apparently the same as Wale's Cove, mentioned Sept. 12, 1701, when the Exeter line is stated to extend from a marked tree at Wales' cove S. and by E. to Hampton bounds. The inhabitants of the Squamscot Patent, living on
the E. side of the line running from Wall creek to Hampton bounds, were joined to the Parish of Greenland Jan. 3, 1716. (N. H. Prov. Pap., 3 : 623-4.) The name of this creek may have been derived from James Wall, a member of the Exeter Com- bination of 1639, who afterwards went to Hampton.
WARNER FARM. This name is given to the tract of land in Durham bequeathed to the state of New Hampshire by the late Benjamin Thompson, in his will of Feb. 12, 1856, for the purpose of establishing thereon a College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts. It was so named by his father, Benjamin Thompson, Esq. (grandfather of the present writer), who purchased the greater part of it from the Hon. Jonathan Warner of Portsmonth. It was pre- viously called the Hill farm, which name is given it by Jonathan Warner himself in his deed to Benjamin Thompson, Sr. It was originally a part of a five hundred acre grant from the town of Dover to Valentine Hill, adjoining his mills at Oyster River, the 14th, 5 mo., 1651. Jon- athan Hill of Durham, great grand- son of Valentine, conveyed to Daniel Warner of Portsmonth, Dec. 1, 1763, a tract of 107 acres, " part of that land commonly called ye Five Hun- dred acres, beginning at Thomas Chesley's, by ye mast road, and ex- tending up said road 96 rods," etc. Also 18 acres on ye north side of said mast road, bounded east by John Woodman's land, and north and west by Thompson's land, together with the dwelling house thereon, being the same land conveyed to said Jona- than, Feb. 23, 1757, by his father
265
Landmarks in Ancient Dover.
Samuel Hill, to whom it had been conveyed, Nov. 4, 1729, by Capt. Nathaniel Hill, father of said Samuel.1 (See Hill's Five Hundred Acres.)
This land was inherited by Jona- than Warner, son of Daniel, who also acquired 100 acres more of the Hill grant, conveyed to him by Ben- jamin Partridge May 19, 1778. Jon- athan Warner of Portsmouth, and Eliza his wife, conveyed to Benjamin Thompson of Durham, March 17, 1794, " a certain tract of land in Durham, called and known," says the deed, " by the name of the Hill farm, in two separate parcels, laying on each side, and adjoining the mast road, so called, the whole containing 220 acres, more or less, and contains the whole land conveyed by one Jon- athan Hill to my Hond father Daniel Warner, Esq., deceased, Dec. 1, 1763, and also all the land conveyed to me by Benjamin Partridge May 19, 1778."
The tract on the south side of the mast road is described in this deed as bounded E. by Benjamin Chesley's land, S. by Oyster river, so called, W. by the lands of John Thompson and Benjamin Chesley, and that formerly belonging to Ichabod Chesley, and N. in part by the Mast road. The other tract was bounded southerly by the Mast road, easterly by the land of Jonathan Woodman, Jr., northerly in part by the land of Timothy Em- erson, and on every other side by that of Ebenezer Thompson. This was Judge Ebenezer Thompson, father of Benjamin Thompson, Sr.
Benjamin Thompson, Esq., Dec. 8, 1828, conveyed to Benjamin
Thompson, Jr., 220 acres of land in Durham, lying on each side of the turnpike road, being the same he purchased of Jonathan Warner, Esq., March 17, 1794 ; also another tract of eleven acres in said Durham, bounded southerly by the mill road, so called, northerly by the river (Oyster river), and easterly by land purchased of Joseph Coe, being the same purchased of Joseph Chesley 3d, guardian of Abigail Young ; also an- other tract of five acres, purchased of Joseph Coe, bounded northerly by the mill road, westerly by the afore- said land purchased of Joseph Ches- ley 3d, and easterly by land in pos- session of Elijah Willey ; " all which lands aforesaid," says the conveyer, " compose what I call my Warner farm, and which I have improved for many years." Certain rights were reserved by Benjamin Thompson, Sr., during his lifetime.
WARREN'S BROOK. This brook flows through the old Warren lands in Rollinsford, and empties into Twombley's brook on the east side, a little below the Boston and Maine Railroad. Joseph Roberts sold Benj" Warren, Ap. 29, 1749, a house and quarter of an acre of land S. E. of Dr. Moses Carr's dwelling-place, which land Dr. Carr had previously purchased of Zachariah Nock and conveyed to said Roberts. James Nock also conveyed to Benjn Warren, Dec. 20, 1762, a tract of land on the southerly side of the highway from Dover to Quamphegan, begin- ning at the N. E. corner of Lt. Sam- uel Rendall's land and running E. by the highway to that of Moses
1 Samuel Hill, youngest son of Capt. Nathaniel, was Daniel Warner's brother-in-law. He married the great aunt of Benjamin Thompson, Sr.
266
Landmarks in Ancient Dover.
Stevens, then S. to the road lead- ing to Fresh Creek.
WASHUCKE. Mentioned Jan. 17, 1660, when " Wadononamin, alias John Johnson, ye Indian and Saga- mere of Washucke and Piscataqua," for the love he bore to Englishmen, "especially to Edward Hilton, eldest son of Edward Hilton of Piscataqua," conveyed to said Edward, Jr., all his neck of land between two branches of Lamprell river called Washucke, being about six miles in length, and in some parts six miles in breadth, reserving the use, if need be, of one half of the convenient planting- ground during his natural life. This, of course, was the neck between the Pascassick and Lamprey river itself. On some maps the name of Wushuck is still given to the Pascassick river. Hitchcock in his Geological Atlas, calls it Watchet. Richard York, March 1, 1748-49, conveyed to his son Richard ten acres of land in Ep- ping, bounded on one side by Watchick river, so called, and on the other by land belonging to the heirs of Major Bartholomew Thing, Esq., deceased.
WATERING GUT. Mentioned Ap. 25, 1699, when a highway, 4 rods wide, was ordered to be laid out " as the way now goes from huckleberry hill to the Watering gutt, and so along, as the path now goes, over the hill to the westward of Joseph Roberts his house till it comes to the cross way that leads to belemies bank." Another road, two rods wide, was laid out, Feb. 20, 1702-3, from the road to Little John's creek through to ye watering gutt way, be- ginning at a white pine by Little John's creek road, thence running
easterly on the S. side of the gully at the S. W. corner of Thomas White- house his land, to a maple in the N. W. corner of (Thomas) Beard's lot, and so on to the S. E. corner of Sam- uel Tibbet's land, and through that to the Watering gut way. Abigail Broughton of Portsmouth conveyed to Samuel Tibbets, Feb. 4, 1709-10, one third part of a 20 acre grant to John Reyner, Jr., then in the tenure of said Tibbets, bounded east by ye path that leads from Kenney's toward Thomson's poynt, westerly by the way from whortleberry hill, and north running along the north side of the watering gutt swamp till it comes to a stump 4 or 5 rods from the watering gutt. The deeds of the other § of said land to Samuel Tib- bets state that it was bounded W. by " the way that leads from hurtleberry hill to the watering gutt." John Tuttle and wife Mary conveyed to Nathaniel Austin Feb. 1, 1713-14, ten acres on Dover Neck bought of John Hall, bounded N. by the land of Thomas and Joseph Hall, E. by the way from Huckleberry hill to the watering gut, S. by John Canney's land, and W. by the road from Huck- leberry hill to Little John's creek. John Canney conveyed to Elijah Tuttle, March 31, 1740, ten acres on Dover Neck, on the easterly side of the road from Cochecho down to Dover Neck, bounded northerly by Nathaniel Austen's land, easterly by the highway from Huckleberry hill to the watering gut, and southerly by Howard Henderson's land and a strip of the common fenced in by Benjamin Roberts. The Watering Gut is evidently the brook that emp- ties into Little John's creek.
267
Landmarks in Ancient Dover.
Another public WATERING PLACE is mentioned Dec. 3, 1709, when James Mussey conveyed to Otis Pink- ham a parcel of meadow ground on the west side of Dover Neck, between the lands of John Pinkham and James Mussey, on the north side of a small gutter and the lot laid out by the town for a watering place. This is apparently the same as the Long Gut, mentioned in the division of the Calves' Pasture Ap. 18, 1722, when nine shares were measured for Otis Pinckham, " beginning att or near the Spring below John Pinekham's house-32 Rod att the head by the Low street and 36 Rod by the water side, beginning att the Run of water that Comes from the Spring. And att ye same Time wee hane mesured 8 shares for Thomas Caney from otis Pinekham's hed Line by the Low street 33 Rod to a Stake by the fence on the west Side of sd street, and also 33 Rod by the waterside to a fence on the south Side of the Long Gutt soe called."
WATSON'S BROOK. Mentioned Sept. 10, 1750, when Joshua Weeks con- veyed to his son John Weeks of Hampton, physician, 5 acres of land in Greenland, running N. E. by a path to Watson's brook, then W. to land of Robert Goss. This land was part of Joshua Weeks' homestead, and is now owned by the heirs of Wm. Weeks. Watson's brook emp- ties into Great Bay on the west side of Mr. J. C. Weeks' farm, between that and the land of Wm. Weeks' heirs.
WATSON'S FALLS. See Cochecho Falls.
WATSON'S POINT. Whitehouse, on his map of Dover, gives this name to
a point on the west side of the river Cochecho, between the Gulf and the Narrows.
WEBB'S CREEK. Mentioned in a grant to Thomas Canney, apparently before 1650, of nine acres of marsh on the S. W. side of the Great Bay, " bounded on ye south running into ye marsh of George Webb's Creek." This appears to be the inlet after- wards called Canney's creek, on the shore of the Weeks land in Green- land. "Georg Webb" is mentioned as early as the 10th, 9 mo., 1643, when he was "presented for living idle like a swine.". (See Branson's Creek.)
WECANA COHUNT. This was the Indian name of Dover Point, men- tioned in Hilton's patent of March 12, 1629-30. It is otherwise written the 14th, 4 mo., 1641, when reference is made to the patent purchased of Edward Hilton and some merchants of Bristol, " called Wecohannet or Hilton's point, commonly called or knowne by the name of Dover or Northam." (N. H. Prov. Pap., 1 : 155.) And it is called Winnicha- hannat May 22, 1656, when Capt. Thomas Wiggin surrendered his claims to the Hilton Point lands.
The settlement at Hilton's Point was long called "Dover" in a re- stricted sense, to distinguish it from other settlements within the town- ship, particularly at " Cochecho." (See Cochecho.) And here might be mentioned what was omitted in the proper place, that Dover, though ap- parently never formally chartered as a township, was recognized as a town by the General Court of Mass. in 1642. (N. H. Prov. Pup., 1; 162, 164, 203.)
268
Landmarks in Ancient Dover.
WEDNESDAY BROOK. This is a stream of clear, sparkling water that rises at Wednesday hill, in Lee, and goes winding toward the east,-" a marvel of crookedness,"-fed on its way by several springs of remarkable purity-one in particular of mineral qualities, which, perhaps, give lustre and tone to its waters. It crosses the road near Mr. George Chesley's, where it is a favorite watering-place for horses, and empties soon after into Oyster river.
This brook is mentioned Nov. 13, 1713, when Joseph Davis conveyed to Job Runnels three score acres of land " on the west side of Wensday Brook." John Willams had a grant of "three score acres in ye woods on ye south side of Wensday swamp," March 19, 1693-4, laid out Jan. 2, 1712-13, " on the south side of wens- day brook." Wednesday Brook is spoken of June 13, 1720, as running through a tract of land sold by James Bassford of Oyster River to Wm. Pitman and Wm. Willey, originally granted to Edward Vrin. Willey sold his part of this land to John Laskey, May 15, 1722. It is now owned by C. W. Bartlett, Esq., whose paternal grandmother was a Laskey.
A highway was laid out Oct. 12, 1737, from Wednesday brook to Joshua Woodman's land, beginning at this brook, and running along by a great hill, then over the south side of said hill to a gutter be- tween Thomas Stevenson's land and Thomas Footman's, and between their lands till it comes to Nicholas Mead- er's at the east, and by sd Meader's till it comes to the turn, then between Meader's and Smith's till it comes to Joshua Woodman's land.
Woodman's land was on the upper side of Lamprey river, in the Packer's Falls district, Durham. It is now chiefly owned by the Dames.
WEDNESDAY HILL. This hill is in Lee, on the upper side of Lamprey river. It is east of Lee Hill, in " District No. 3." Mention is made of it Nov. 4, 1723, when 30 acres of land were laid out to Samuel Purk- ings on the south side of Wednesday hill. Capt. Nathaniel Randall's grant of 30 acres on this hill is men- tioned in the division of liis estate, Ap. 25, 1750. An old tradition asserts that this hill derived its name from a skirmish that took place with the Indians in its vicinity on a Wednes- day. Another tradition says it was so named by the early surveyors, who were laying out grants of land on this hill on a Wednesday, and suspended their labors to lunch on the top. The name, however, may have been given it by one of the early settlers in memory of some hill in England, where there are a great number of elevated places that have a similar name-derived from an Anglo-Saxon word signifying a hill or mound sacred to
" Woden, God of Saxons,
is From whence comes Wensday; Wodnesday."
Among them may be mentioned Wednesbury, and Wednesfield in Staffordshire, Woodnesborough, and Wodnesdie (now Wansdike) in Wilts, Wendeshough in Lancashire, Wend- nesham in Cheshire, etc. (See Tay- lor's Words and Places.)
WELLAND Or WILLAND'S POND. This pond, 200 rods long and 120 wide, is on the line between Dover and Somersworth. The name is de- rived from Wm. Welland, whose
that
Landmarks in Ancient Dover. 269
land, partly in Dover, and partly in Somersworth, was at the head of this pond. He died about 1801. It was called the Great Pond as early as 1650, and at a later period, Cochecho Pond. In Merrill's N. H. Gazeteer of 1817 it is called Humphrey's Pond. The same name is given it in the Somersworth records. It is often called Hussey's Pond, from the fam- ilies of this name in its vicinity. It is called Messenger's Pond in 1859. (See Great Pond.) According to a survey of this pond for the city of Dover, it covers a surface of 782 acres, with a depth in some places of 65 feet. It has a steady capacity of 514,000,000 gallons of water, derived almost entirely from springs beneath the surface. This water is of excel- lent quality, as proved by repeated analyses. The Dover water-works on Garrison Hill, being partly sup- plied from this pond, an Act was passed by the N. H. Legislature Feb. 25, 1891, " to prevent the pollution of Willand's Pond, situate in the city of Dover and the town of Somers- worth, the water of which is used by the city of Dover for domestic pur- poses."
WELSH COVE, otherwise WELSH- MAN'S. This cove is on the Newing- ton shore of Little Bay, between Furber's Pt. and Dame's Pt., and still retains its ancient name. It is mentioned in the Dover records the 15th, 4mo., 1646, when Thomas Lay- ton had a grant of "a plott of marsh at the head of Welshman's Coue." And again in 1656, when John Dam's grant of 40 acres at Welshman's Cove was laid out. (See Dame's Point.) Thomas Roberts, June 17, 1658, con- veyed to Richard Row, fisherman,
" my now dwelling-house and all my upland " (30 acres ) " lying and being in Weishman's Coue in Pascataqua river."
The name of Welsh Cove appears to have been given in early times, not only to the cove itself, but to the neighboring district. Samuel Moody of Boston, Sept. 25, 1704, conveyed to Alexander Hodgdon a tract of 30 acres at or near Welch Core, in ye town of Portsmouth, beginning at a white oak stump which stands 8 rods from ye little brook or freshet (the trout brook) in ye said Hodgdon's fence, which joins to ye highway that leads from Welch Cove to Ports- mouth, etc., which land formerly belonged to the Rev. Joshua Moody of Portsmouth, deceased.
The origin of the name does not appear, but several of our early colo- nists were of Welsh origin, such as George Vaughan, sent over by Capt. Mason in 1631, but afterwards re- turned to England ; Thomas Roberts of the Dover Combination of 1640, Wm. Williams, and doubtless Wm. Jones. Likewise the Gilman family, prominent in the history of Exeter, from which the township of Gilman- ton, incorporated in 1810, derived its name, and from which sprang John Gilman, member of the Provincial Council in 1680, and John Taylor Gilman, governor of N. H. in 1813. And the early Vaughans of Ports- mouth (where Vaughan street still commemorates their name), among whom may be mentioned Major Wm. Vaughan, who was a member of the Council under President Cutt in 1680, and his son George Vaughan, who was appointed Lieut. Governor of N. H. in 1715. They sprang
.
270
Landmarks in Ancient Dover.
from an ancient family in Wales, which, in their day, furnished two members of Parliament, viz : Edward Vaughan, Esq., of Cardigan, and Lord John Vanghan of Carmarthen, both members in 1676. The Vaughan family of England, it might be added, has been freshly illustrated this very year by the elevation of the Rev. Dr. Herbert Vaughan to the archiepisco- pal see of Westminster.
WENTWORTH SWAMP. This was part of the Great Ash swamp, between Salmon Falls river and Cochecho, where Paul Wentworth's grant of 30 acres was laid out in 1718. In his will of Feb. 3, 1747-8, he speaks of his swamp as "a little below the pitch-pine plains." Fourteen acres were ordered to be laid out to Thomas Wallingford, Sept. 8, 1727, " on the upper side of Indego Hill, as near to the swamp called Wentworth swamp as it may be." Ten acres were laid out to said Wallingford, March 3, 1728-9, on the N. E. side of Went- worth's swamp, adjoining Samuel Downs' land ; and five acres more on the south side of said swamp, adjoin- ing the land of Maturin Ricker, Jr.
WHEELWRIGHT'S POND. This pond is between Lee Hill and Newtown, and is noted for an encounter with the Indians, July 6, 1690, known as " the battle of Wheelwright's pond." It is said to have taken place on the south-east side. Our scouts came upon the Indian trail near Turtle pond, and two companies, under Cap- tains Wiswall and Floyd, drove the enemy to the borders of Wheel- wright's pond, where, after several hours' fighting on a hot July day, three officers and twelve privates were left dead on the field, with seven
others who were wounded. In the accounts of this battle one item is omitted of special interest to the people of Durham, within the ancient limits of which this encounter took place : James Smith, a volunteer from Oyster River, died of a surfeit produced by running to join Capt. Floyd's company-a rare instance of a man's voluntarily hastening to take part in a battle. His widow, the daughter of Ensign John Davis, and two of her sons, were killed by the Indians July 18, 1694.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.