John Bickford (aft. 1609 - bef. 1697)

Born after 1609 in Devon, England

Husband of Temperance (Hull) Bickford — married 1647 in Oyster River, Strafford, New Hampshire

Descendants

Died before Sep 1697 before age 88 in Oyster River, Durham, Strafford, New Hampshire

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Biography

Biography of John Bickford of Oyster River Durham, New Hampshire

"Consideration for Temperance Hull as the wife of a son of John rather than the wife of the father."

The Portsmouth Athenaeum library has a record for a son of John and Temperance Hull b. in 1624 and d. 1697. Could this son be the husband of Temperance Hull? John , the father, would have close to 70 when Benjamin was born.

Facts separating John Bickford-120 of Oyster River from the "other" John Bickford-148 of Bloody Point (Newington) N.H.

From: "Record of that branch of the New Hampshire Bickfords from one John Bickford of Bloody Point (Newington) N.H. down thru Harriet Elenor Bickford Mueller of Council Bluffs, Ia." p. 4^[1] RICHARD CATOR "Although, he is not a Bickford, we begin with Richard Cator because he is in all probability the oldest forebear in the line of whom a record will ever be found. His name is variously spelled, Cator, Cater, Catter, and some authorities think that possibly some of the early records under the name Carter are of the same family."

"The date of Richard's birth is unknown and was probably about 1620. One record states he was dead in 1681. A Bloody Point tax list of August 25, 1684 lists "Widow Catter." He was an early settler at Bloody Point, N.H. and his name appears on the Grand Juries of 1656, 1657, 1659, 1660, 1663 and 1670; and on the Dover tax lists from 1649 to 1677. He is listed as a freeman about 1653-54, and was of Dover June 24, 1648, as he deeded land to one Mathew Giles on that date. His wife is nowhere mentioned, although it is known he was married as early as 1650. Probably his wife died early, as servants are named, James in 1651; James Muche more 1655; Tho Hayes ("my dame Mary") 1682. He made a marriage contract (2nd marriage) on April 16, 1672 with Mary Ricord of Portsmouth, who outlived him. He had a grandson, John Bickford Jr., at the date of this marriage settlement."

"Richard is on record as taking the oath of fidelity on a list without date but before 1655. From ^[2]Scales History of Dover "Rate maed the 12, 8, 1658 for Mr. Reyner, his prevetione" (provision for the minister). Under Bloody Point this list gives "Richard Catter 1 lb. 1s Id." His name further appears on a Declaration for Massachusetts Government Oct. 9, 1665."

"The facts enumerated above regarding Richard Cator are not particularly interesting, but with an ancestor dating that far back one must make use of such scant facts regarding his life as may be found in the records. "

"Richard Cator, by his first wife, had two children. One, a son Richard, who was admitted to the North Church of Portsmouth, April 20, 1693; baptized April 23, 1693, "having not been baptized in infancy." The diary of the Rev. John Pike of Dover says:- "Land was given to this son 1693-4, in addition to his 'father's plantation'. Richard Cator Jr. died of small pox Dec. 23, 1702.

The second child of Richard Cator by his first wife was Elizabeth, who married John Bickford of Bloody Point, N. H.

^[3] p. 2 On p, 51, Part I of the "Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire"^[4] there appears a Dover Tax List, No, 23 of July, 1677. This list is in three divisions; (1) Dover Neck and Cochecho, (2) Bloody Poynt and (3) Oyster River. Under Oyster River John Bickford is listed. Under Bloody Poynt John Bickford No. 2 is listed. This would seem to point conclusively to the fact that there were two John Bickfords, contemporaries, one of Oyster River and one of Bloody Poynt, That they were not father and son is indicated by the fact that the second was indicated as "No, 2" and not a Junior. It is true that John of Oyster River had a son John, but we have a separate record of this son who married Temperance Furber, while John of Bloody Poynt married Elizabeth Cator.

In Scales History of Dover,^[5] p, 237 appears:- "Rate maed the 12th, 8th, 1658 for Mr. Reyner his prevetione" (a collection for the minister). Under Bloody Point this list gives: Richard Catter 1 lb. Is 1 d John Bickford 0 lb. 13s 10 d

Again on ^[6] p. 238 "Oyster River provition maed the 22:9:1659", This list gives:- John Bickford 1 lb. 6s 8d (presumably for the (minister) followed by "The great rate", 2 lb. 13s 4d.

The above two entries again prove that there was a John Bickford of Bloody Point and a John Bickford of Oyster River, living contemporaneously.

Again in the ^[7]History of Durham, p. 17 it states:- "Thirty acres more were granted to John Bickford senior at Fox Point in 1653, showing that there was another John Bickford in Dover at that time, perhaps the Bickford who married a daughter of Richard Cator of Bloody Point*"

It seems quite definitely established then that there was a John Bickford Senior and a John Bickford Junior at both Oyster River and Bloody Point, Thirty acres more were granted to John Bickford senior at Fox Point in 1653, showing that there was another John Bickford in Dover at that time, perhaps the Bickford who married a daughter of Richard Cator of Bloody Point.

From: "History of the town of Durham, New Hampshire" pp. 16, 17^[8] "John Bickford of Oyster River Point, according to two depositions made in 1669, was then sixty years of age. There are depositions of a John Bickford which give him a birthdate of 1609, 1612, and 1615. There may have been several John Bickfords, and perhaps John, or the clerk, did not know just how old John was. Old depositions show that many persons varied in age from time to time. John Bickford from Darby Field, 16 July 1645, a house and lot between Little Bay and Oyster River (except the breadth of a lot in the possession of Thomas Willey) and a piece of marsh at Long Point in the Great Bay, containing seven or eight acres, with a point of adjoining land. The first lot was already occupied by John Bickford. The second lot was at Fox Point, in what is now Newington. Thirty acres more were granted to John Bickford senior at Fox Point in 1653, showing that there was another John Bickford in Dover at that time, perhaps the Bickford who married a daughter of Richard Cator of Bloody Point. John of Bloody Point (Newington) was on the grand jury in 1664.

" John Bickford of Oyster River was freed from training in 1671 by reason of age. According to the first deposition he would then be 62 years old. He had a wife named Temperance, and I suspect she was daughter of the Rev. Joseph Hull, born 1626. John Bickford's will, dated 12 Feb. 1685, names only his wife, Temperance and daughter, Joanna. Temperance, died sometime before 1 September 1697 when her son-in-law John Redman petitioned the court regarding her estate. She had left a will but not named an executor.^[9] In the settlement of Temperance Bickford's affairs allusion is made by Thomas Bickford to "brother Smith," to "brother Burnham" and to "brother Bickford."

From: "The Isles of Shoals in the Year 1653" ^[10]

“To the much honored Court held at Boston, ye 18th of ye 3d, 53. The humble petition of the Inhabitants in the Isles of Shouldes Sheweth

"That whereas wee the said Inhabitants living so remote from the neighbor-townes upon the maine and having thereby already sustained much vexing through want of a power deputed amongst our selves to helpe, whom it may concerne to their due debts, and finding alsoe by unsutable wind and weather, that wee cannot (upon occasion) visit the Court that we might enjoy the benefit of the Law, to recover our owne, in a way rightouseness. Wee therefore upon such like reasons doe think it our dutie to make petition to this much honored general Court that you mought be pleased to take our condition into your serious and sage consideration and to grant us the privilege of a township, as farre as your wisdoms shall us capable, as that we may have amongst us a Clarek of the Writts & some others authorized to have the hearing & issuing of such causes as may fall out under the summe of Ten pounds, wee finding as wee under your favor, more neede of such a prevelege than our neighbor-townes, forasmuch as some of our transient ones as it may fall out, they cannot tarrie until their causes may be issued elsewhere."

"Also, may it please the honored Court to take notice that our situation is such, as many times we necessarily shall not be able to joyne with our neighbours in militarie affaires through unseasonable weather, without great hazard or damage to ourselves. Our request is therefore that, you would be pleased to make us a distinct company in that respect, wee being upwards of a hundred men at this time, & that our loving friends John Arthur Lieut : & William Sealy Ensign so chosen amongst us, to beginner that service, they mought be installed into such places, for the benefit of the rest, according to your order."

"Thus wee nothing doubting, but yee will be pleased to pass by any of these our unsuitable expressions, & grant us whatsoever your discretion shall see mostly conducing to our best good. Wee for your fatherlie ceare already enjoyed, & yet expected doe account our selves in bounded dutie to be ready, to doe you any service to our abilities, & to make supplications yet in your behalf, for the further influences of the holie ghost upon your hearts, in that approaching & all after agitations, for his own glory, with his churches welfare. We now humblie take our leave, & subscribe in the name & with general consent… John Bickford… Benjamin Bickford”

From: "Landmarks in Ancient Dover, New Hampshire" ^[11]

"On May 13, 1677, John Bickford and Temperance his wife, "out of love and affection to their daughter Mary, wife of Nicholas Harryson of Oyster River," conveyed to her "twenty acres of land in Dover, bounded on one part by the river of Piscataqua where it leads into Little Bay, said land known by the name of ffox poynt, granted unto said Bickford by the town of Dover." Nicholas Harrison, in his will of March 5, 1707, ¹ gives his son-in-law John Downing and wife Elizabeth, as his eldest daughter, "all his housing, orchards, and lands, at ffox pointe," given him by his father-in-law John Bickford . James Burnam of Oyster River, and Temperance, his wife, July 8, 1713, conveyed to John Downing of ffox point in ye township of Dover, two lots at or near ye head of broad Cove at ffox point, one containing 11 acres, and the other 19 acres, which lots were granted by Dover to Mr. Nicholas Harrison, and bequeathed by him to Temperance his daughter."

From: ''Early Records of New Hampshire Families" ^[12] "Dr. Farmer wrote on the first page of an old book of records in the NH Historical Society “An original record of births, &c., for the towns of Portsmouth, Dover, and Hampton commencing 1643… Hannah Bickford, daughter of John Bickford Temperance his wife, born 5th of November, 1665… Benjamin, son ofJohn Bickford by Temperance his wife, born October 20th, 1672”

Family of John Bickford of Oyster River Durham, New Hampshire

Spouse:

m.1. Temperance Hull (bpt. 20 Mar. 1625/6 Northleigh, Devon, d. before 7 Oct. 1697)

Children:

• I. Elizabeth- m.c.1668 Joseph Smith

• II. Lydia- m.c.1673 Francis Drew

• III. Mary- m. before 13 May 1677 Nicholas Harrison. The Rev. John Pike says, "Nicholas Harrison died strangely insensible of any spiritual good," Ap. 11, 1708.

• IV. Thomas- b. 1660, m. Bridget Furber, will 31 Oct. 1705- 4 Mar. 1706/7 Durham Point

• V. John- m.c.1684 Susanna Furber (b. 5 May 1664 Newington, will 8 Nov. 1731-13 Nov. 1732), admin. 1715

• VI. Hannah- b. 5 Nov. 1665 “Hannah Bickford, daughter of John Bickford by Temperance his wife, born 5th of November, 1665”^[13]

• VII. Joanna- b. 1669, m.1. John Redman of Hampton, 2. Samuel Healey

• VIII. Temperance- m.c.1689 Jeremiah Burnham

• IX. Benjamin- m. Sarah Barsham, Will 4 Apr. 1724- 2 June 1725 Bloody Point

John Bickford died 1697. married Temperance Hull Oyster River 1646. daughter, Lydia m. Francis Drew.

Sources

1. ↑ "Record of that branch of the New Hampshire Bickfords from one John Bickford of Bloody Point (Newington) N.H. down thru Harriet Elenor Bickford Mueller of Council Bluffs, Ia." p. 4. by Mueller, Ralph Scott, 1877-

   Publication date 1934

   Publisher Cleveland, Ohio, 1934.

   Contributor Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center

   Digitizing sponsor Internet Archive

   [1]
2. ↑ "History of Dover, New Hampshire" by John Scales Pub: J.B. Clarke Company, 1923 - Dover (N.H.)
3. ↑ "Record of that branch of the New Hampshire Bickfords from one John Bickford of Bloody Point (Newington) N.H. down thru Harriet Elenor Bickford Mueller of Council Bluffs, Ia." p. 2. by Mueller, Ralph Scott, 1877-

   Publication date 1934

   Publisher Cleveland, Ohio, 1934.

   Contributor Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center

   Digitizing sponsor Internet Archive

   [2]
4. ↑ "Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire" by Noyes, Sybil, Libby, Charles T. (Charles Thornton), 1861-1948 Davis, Walter Goodwin, 1885-1966 Pub: The Southword Press Portland Maine 1928. Digital Publisher FamilySearch International [3]
5. ↑ "History of Dover, New Hampshire" by John Scales Pub: J.B. Clarke Company, 1923 - Dover (N.H.) p, 237
6. ↑ "History of Dover, New Hampshire" by John Scales Pub: J.B. Clarke Company, 1923 - Dover (N.H.) p. 238
7. ↑ Stackpole, E. Schermerhorn., Meserve, W. S. (Winthrop Smith)., Thompson, L. (1913). 'History of the town of Durham, New Hampshire:' (Oyster River Plantation) with genealogical notes. [Durham? N.H.]: Pub. by vote of the town.
8. ↑ [4] History of the Town of Durham, New Hampshire- Everett S. Stackpole, Lucien Thompson, Winthrop S. Meserve, New Hampshire Publishing Co., Somersworth, 1973- pp. 16-29
9. ↑ State of New Hampshire, (Batchellor, Albert Stillman, ed). State Papers Series, Vol. XXXI (Probate Records of the Province of New Hampshire, Vol. I). Concord, NH: Rumford Printing Co., 1907.
10. ↑ The Isles of Shoals in the Year 1653-Charles Tuttle, NEHGR- Vol. 25, p. 164 (Apr. 1871)
11. ↑ "Landmarks in Ancient Dover, New Hampshire" by Mary P. Thompson, Durham, N.H. ©1892, Printed by the Republican Press Association, Concord, N.H.
12. ↑ Early Records of New Hampshire Families" - NEHGR- Vol. 7, p. 115 (Apr. 1853)
13. ↑ Early Records of New Hampshire Families- NEHGR- Vol. 7, p. 116 (Apr. 1853)

• NH Marriage Records
• NH Death Records
• Martha Butterfield The Land in Our Hands - Burley-Demeritt Farm in Lee, NH: Its History Lulu.com, Jun 17, 2016 - History - 292 pages
• Morrill, C. S., Morrill, N. J., & Fahnestock, C. B. (1985). Three hundred fifty years of Bickfords in New Hampshire by Catherine Bickford Fahnestock: Index, errata, addendum. Place of publication not identified: publisher not identified.

• Stackpole, E. S., Thompson, L., & Meserve, W. S. (1913). History of the town of Durham, New Hampshire: (Oyster River Plantation) with genealogical notes. Durham? N.H.: Pub. by vote of the town.

• Marriage confirmed to Bickford: Brown-Duncan and associated families, Kittery, Maine, compiled by Hazel Standeven, 1981
• [5]
• Dover History for dates. Names and places from Drew Family Compilation by Elaine D. Adjutant, compiled with Keith Henney of Eaton, NH, Ruth Ayers, Gorham, ME, and John A. Downs of Conway, NH. History of Durham, NH, by Stackpole, pages 134-157 and vitals from Dover records.
• Tibbets, Charles W. (1904) The New Hampshire genealogical record : an illustrated quarterly magazine devoted to genealogy, history, and biography Volume I, pg 178 [6] (Tax list for Dover, NH 1648)