By Muriel Bristol | August 25, 2024
John Clement Varney was born in Rochester, NH, July 17, 1796, son of Moses Jr. and Mercy (Cloutman) Varney.
John C. Varney marched to Portsmouth, NH, in September 1814, with Capt. William Courson’s Milton militia company. They were responding to Gov. Gilman’s alarm regarding possible attacks by the British navy. (See Milton in the War of 1812).
Father Moses Varney, Jr., died in Dover, NH, February 3, 1818.
John C. Varney married in Milton, October 14, 1819, Hannah Varney. She was born in Milton, January 25, 1801, daughter of John and Mary (Wentworth) Varney. (Her father died in Milton, July 11, 1806).
(The children of John C. and Hannah (Varney) Varney were: Seth W. Varney (1819–1893), Mary A. Varney (1823–1883), George W. Varney (1825–1854), Hannah A. Varney (1828–1917), Eli Varney (1831–1894), Charles L. Varney (1835–1901), and Laura Ellen Varney (1844–1851)).
Son Seth W. Varney was born in Milton, December 23, 1819.
John C. Varney signed the Milton Anti-Division Remonstrance of June 1820. (See Milton Militia Dispute – 1820).
Daughter Mary A. Varney was born in Milton, November 9, 1823. Son George W. Varney was born in Milton, October 14, 1825.
Daughter Hannah A. Varney was born in Milton, November 30, 1828.
John C. Varney, Jr., headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifth (1830) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 30-39 years [himself], one female aged 30-39 years [Hannah (Varney) Varney], one male aged 10-14 years [Seth W. Varney], and two females aged 5-9 years [Mary A. Varney and Hannah A. Varney]. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Saml Varney and Jas. Varney.
John C. Varney appeared in a sequence of deacons of the Milton Christian Church, which was founded in March 1827. (See Milton’s Christian Church Elders – 1827-1845).
Son Eli Varney was born in Milton, March 30, 1831. Son Charles L. Varney was born in Milton, September 21, 1835.
Mother-in-law Mary (Wentworth) Varney died in Milton, October 2, 1836.
John C. Varney headed a Milton household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 40-49 years [himself], one female aged 30-39 years [Hannah (Varney) Varney], one male aged 20-29 years [Seth W. Varney], one female aged 15-19 years [Mary A. Verney], one male aged 10-14 years [George W. Varney], one female aged 10-14 years [Hannah A. Varney], one male aged 5-9 years [Eli Varney], and one male aged under-5 years [Charles L. Varney]. Three members of his household were engaged in Agriculture. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Eliphalet P. Horn and Ira Varney.
Son Seth W. Varney married, December 23, 1842, Abby M. Varney. She was born in Rochester, NH, circa 1818, daughter of Joel and Mehitable (Waldron) Varney.
Daughter Laura Ellen Varney was born in Milton, September 7, 1844.
Daughter Hannah A. Varney married, January 18, 1845, Simon French. He was born, circa 1825, son of Simon and Hannah French.
The Milton Selectmen of 1846 were Asa Fox, D. Wallingford, and J.C. Varney. The Milton Selectmen of 1847 were D.P. Warren, Chas. Swasey, and J.C. Varney.
Mother Mercy (Cloutman) Varney died in Rochester, NH, in 1848.
John C. Varney, a farmer, aged fifty-four years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Hannah [(Varney)] Varney, aged fifty years (b. NH), Mary Varney, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH), Eli Varney, a farmer, aged nineteen years (b. NH), Charles L. Varney, a farmer, aged sixteen years (b. NH), Laura E. Varney, aged six years (b. NH), and Charles Furber, a farmer, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH). Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Ira Varney, a farmer, aged forty-seven years (b, NH), and Daniel Hayes, a farmer, aged sixty-nine years (b. ME).
Seth W. Varney, a shoemaker, aged thirty years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Abby M. [(Varney)] Varney, aged thirty-one years (b. NH), Alonzo M. Varney, aged seven years (b. NH), Melissa M. Varney, aged five years (b. NH), Leander Varney, aged one year (b. NH), John S. Garland, a shoemaker, aged twenty-five years (b. NH), and Joseph C. Garland, a shoemaker, aged twenty years (b. NH). Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of James Hayes, a farmer, aged sixty-four years (b. NH), and Calvin S. Horn, a farmer, aged fifty years (b. NH).
Simon French, a shoemaker, aged twenty-five years (b. NH), headed a Farmington, NH, household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Hannah [(Varney)] French, aged twenty-two years (b. NH), Irwin S. French, aged two years (b. NH), H.P. Copp, a shoemaker, aged sixteen years (b. NH), and John Collomy, a shoemaker, aged sixteen years (b. NH). Their household shared a two-family house with the household of Peace W. French, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH). Peace W. French had real estate valued at $3,000.
Daughter Laura Ellen Varney died in Milton, June 6, 1851.
Son Eli Varney married (1st) in South Berwick, ME, February 10, 1853, Susan H. Place, he of Milton and she of Farmington, NH. Rev. B.R. Allen performed the ceremony. She was born in Farmington, NH, circa 1829, daughter of Aaron D. and Mary R. (Stevens) Place.
Son George W. Varney died in Milton, July 22, 1854, aged twenty-nine years. Son-in-law Simon French died in Farmington, NH, in 1854.
Daughter Mary A. Varney married in Somersworth, NH, February 6, 1858, George W. Glines, she of Milton and he of Dover, NH. Rev. S. Holman performed the ceremony. He was born in Moultonborough, NH, August 5, 1828, son of Nathaniel S. and Elizabeth (Richardson) Glines. (Birthplace give also as Wolfeboro, NH, in other sources).
John C. Varney, a farmer, aged sixty-four years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“West Milton P.O.”) household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Hannah [(Varney)] Varney, aged fifty-nine years (b. NH), Charles L. Varney, a shoemaker, aged twenty-four years (b. NH), Hannah A. [(Varney)] French, aged thirty-two years (b. NH), Erven S. French, aged twelve years (b. NH), and Ellen B. French, aged nine years (b. NH). John C. Varney had real estate valued at $1,000 and personal estate valued at $500. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Seth Varney, a farmer, aged forty years (b, NH), and Eli Varney, a farmer, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH).
Seth W. Varney, a farmer, aged forty years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“West Milton P.O.”) household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Abba M. [(Varney)] Varney, aged forty-one years, A.M. Varney, a farmer, aged seventeen years, L.M. Varney, aged eleven years (b. NH), W.L. Varney, aged seven years (b. NH), and John F. Varney, aged five years (b. NH). Seth W. Varney had real estate valued at $1,000 and personal estate valued at $300. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Jacob Nure, a farmer, aged sixty-nine years (b. NH), and [his father,] John C. Varney, a farmer, aged sixty-four years (b. NH).
Nathl S. Glines, aged seventy-one years, headed a Dover, NH, household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Elisabeth [(Richardson)] Glines, aged seventy-two years (b. NH), George W. Glines, a shoemaker, aged thirty-two years (b. NH), Mary [(Varney)] Glines, aged thirty-six years (b. NH), and Laura E. Glines, aged two years (b. NH). George W. Glines had real estate valued at $1,500 and personal estate valued at $200.
Eli Varney, a farmer, aged twenty-eight years, headed a Milton household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census, His household included Susan H. [(Place)] Varney, aged thirty-one years, and George W. Varney, aged six years. Eli Varney had real estate valued at $1,000 and personal estate valued at $100. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of John C. Varney, a farmer, aged sixty-four years (b. NH), and William J. Tibbetts, a farmer, aged twenty-three years (b. NH).
Son Seth W. Varney of Milton, a shoemaker, aged forty-three years, registered for the Class II military draft in Milton, in June 1863.
Son Seth W. Varney of Milton, aged forty-four years, enlisted for a one-year term in the First NH Heavy Artillery Regiment, August 25, 1864. Millett Blaisdell, Robert Brown, John S. Corson, Albert F. Downs, Andrew R. Hayes, John C. Hayes, Horace H. Moulton, William H. Randall, James H. Tebbetts, Hiram Wentworth, and John H. Witham, all of Milton, enlisted also in this regiment. He mustered out in Washington, DC, June 15, 1865.
John C. Varney, a farmer, aged seventy-three years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Hannah [(Varney)] Varney, keeping house, aged sixty-nine years (b. NH), and Charles L. Varney, works in shoe fact., aged thirty-three years (b. NH). John C. Varney had real estate valued at $1,000 and personal estate valued at $300. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Gilbert Shorey, a farmer, aged forty-three years (b, NH), and Eli Varney, a farm laborer, aged thirty-nine years (b. NH).
George W. Glines, a laborer, aged forty-two years (b. NH), headed a Dover, NH, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Mary A. [(Varney)] Glines, keeping house, aged forty-six years (b. NH), Laura G. Glines, attending school, aged twelve years (b. NH), and Nathaniel S. Glines, a blacksmith, aged eighty-one years (b. NH). George W. Gines had real estate valued at $2,000 and personal estate valued at $400.
Eli Varney, a farm laborer, aged thirty-nine years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Susan [(Place)] Varney, keeping house, aged forty-one years (b. NH), George W. Varney, works in shoe factory, aged sixteen years (b. NH), and Elmore S. Varney, at school, aged eight years (b. NH). Eli Varney had real estate valued at $600 and personal estate valued at $430. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of John C. Varney, a farmer, aged seventy-three years (b. NH), and Charles E. Ricker, works in shoe factory, aged thirty-seven years (b. NH).
Daughter-in-law Susan H. (Place) Varney died of consumption in Milton, May 28, 1871, aged forty-three years, two months. She was married. (“Meet me in the better land”).
Son Eli Varney married (2nd), circa 1871, Abby M. (Ellis) Moore. She was born in Middleton, NH, October 20, 1839, daughter of Robert and Hannah (Wentworth) Ellis. She was the widow of Samuel Moore.
NEW HAMPSHIRE. Mrs. Annie [Hannah] Varney, wife of John C. Varney of West Milton, fell on the floor by stepping her heel on a stick of wood, and fractured her hip and bruised her shoulder. Doubts are entertained of her recovery. Her age was seventy-two years (Boston Evening Transcript, May 17, 1873).
John C. Varney, a farmer, aged eighty-three years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census His household included his wife, Hannah [(Varney)] Varney, at home, aged seventy-nine years (b. NH), and his son, Charles Varney, at home, aged forty-four years (b. NH). Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Albert Wallace, a farmer, aged twenty-nine years (b. ME), and Eli Varney, a farmer, aged forty-nine years (b. NH). John C. Varney was said to be “Feeble from Age,” and Hannah Varney to have been “Injured by a Fall.”
Seth W. Varney, works in shoe shop, aged sixty-one years (b. NH), headed a Farmington, NH, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Abbie M. [(Varney)] Varney, keeping house, aged sixty-two years (b. NH), and his servant, Eliza W. Whitehouse, a servant, aged sixty years (b. MA).
George W. Glines, a shoemaker, aged fifty years (b. Wolfeboro, NH), headed a Dover, NH, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Mary A. [(Varney)] Glines, keeps house, aged fifty-five years (b, Milton, NH), his son-in-law, Charles L. Chapman, works shoe factory, aged twenty-three years (b. Dover, NH), his daughter, Laura E. [(Varney)] Chapman, aged twenty-two years (b. Dover, NH), and his boarder, Mary E. Hodge, works cotton mill, aged twenty-four years (b. Dover, NH). They resided on Spring Street.
Eli Varney, a farmer, aged forty-nine years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Abbie [((Ellis) Moore)] Varney, keeping house, aged forty years (b. NH), and his children, John Varney, aged eight years (b. NH), and Lena Varney, aged three years (b. NH). Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of John C. Varney, a farmer, aged eighty-three years (b. NH), and Ira Varney, a farmer, aged seventy-seven years (b. NH).
Hannah (Varney) Varney died in Milton, March 18, 1882, aged eighty-one years, two months.
DEATHS. In Milton, May 18, Hannah Varney, aged 81 years and 2 mos. (Farmington News, March 24, 1882).
John C. Varney died in Milton, November 26, 1882, aged eighty-six years, four months.
DEATHS. In Milton, Nov. 26, John C. Varney, aged 86 years, 4 months (Farmington News, December 1, 1882).
Daughter Mary A. (Varney) Glines died in Milton, September 30, 1883.
Daughter-in-law Abby M. (Varney) Varney died of rheumatism & consumption in Haverhill, MA, December 29, 1886, aged sixty-eight years, eight months. She was a widow.
LOCALS. The remains of Mrs. Seth Varney, a former resident of this place, but lately of Haverhill, Mass., where she died, passed through here Friday, enroute for Milton where they were interred (Farmington News, January 7, 1887).
Seth W. Varney appeared in the surviving Veteran’s Schedule of the Eleventh (1890) Federal Census, as a resident of Lee, NH. He had served as a Private in Co. D of the First NH Heavy Artillery Regiment, for nine months and twenty-one days, between August 25, 1864, and June 15, 1865. He rated as disabled, due to his “Loss of Hearing and Teeth.”
Son Seth W. Varney, now of Dover, NH, a farmer, made his last will in Dover, NH, April 17, 1893. He devised $1 each to his sons, Alonzo M. Varney, Leader Varney, and Walter Varney. He requested that his niece, Laura E. Holley, pay his just debts and funeral expenses from his account in the Dover Two Cents Savings Bank, with any remainder to be paid over to his son, Walter Varney. James H. Davis, George W. Glines, and William L. Holley signed as witnesses (Strafford County Probate, 107:514).
Son Seth W. Varney died of a protracted debauch in Dover, NH, April 19, 1893, aged seventy-four years, three months, and twenty-seven days. He was a widowed farmer. John R. Ham, M.D. signed the death certificate.
The last will of Seth W. Varney was proved in a Strafford County Probate Court held in Dover, NH, on the first Tuesday in May, 1893 (Strafford County Probate, 107:515).
NUTE’S RIDGE. Eli Varney is able to go out of doors (Farmington News, May 12, 1893).
Son Eli Varney died of heart disease in Milton, November 29, 1894, aged eighty-three years, eight months, and nine days.
LOCALS. Eli E. Varney of Milton, died suddenly of heart disease, Thanksgiving day. He was the father of Elmore E. Varney, who was killed in a shoe shop in Manchester last October (Farmington News, December 7, 1894).
DIED. In Milton, Nov. 29, Eli Varney, aged 83 years, 8 months, 9 days (Farmington News, December 7, 1894).
Son-in-law George W. Glines died of chronic bronchitis in Dover, NH, February 9, 1894, aged sixty-five years, six months, and four days. He was a widowed farmer.
Abby [(Ellis) Moore)] Varney, a farmer, aged sixty-two years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. Her household included her son, John C. Varney, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH), and her brother-in-law, Chas. L. Varney, a bar tender, aged sixty-four years (b. NH). Abby Varney owned their farm, free-and-clear. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Robert M. Peacock, a clergyman, aged fifty-one years (b. Canada), and William U. Pulsifer, a farmer, aged thirty-seven years (b, NH).
Son Charles L. Varney died of Bright’s Disease in West Milton, March 2, 1901, aged sixty-five years, six months, and nineteen days. He was an unmarried shoemaker, and lifelong resident. M.A.H. Hart, M.D., signed the death certificate. (B.F. Perkins of Farmington, NH, was the undertaker).
LOCALS. B.F. Perkins was at Nute Ridge, Tuesday, to take charge of the funeral of Charles Varney, whose death had taken place last Saturday. The deceased had been lame from childhood and was unmarried. He had made his home with the family of his brother, the late Eli Varney (Farmington News, March 8, 1901).
Abby Varney appeared in the Milton directory of 1902, as the widow of Eli Varney, with her house at J.C.V., on Nute Ridge. Her son, John C. Varney appeared as a farmer at Nute Ridge, near South Milton.
WEST MILTON. Mr. Moore and family of New York, who have been spending the summer with his mother, Mrs. Eli Varney, for his health, have returned home (Farmington News, October 9, 1903).
Daughter-in-law Abbie M. ((Ellis) Moore) Varney died of myocarditis at Nute Ridge in Milton, May 19, 1908, aged seventy years, six months, and twenty-nine days. She was a widowed housewife, who had resided in Milton for forty years, i.e., since circa 1868. M.A.H. Hart, M.D., signed the death certificate.
WEST MILTON. Mrs. Abbie Varney, widow of the late Eli Varney, passed away at her home on Nute’s Ridge Tuesday of last week and was buried from the home. Kind words were spoken by Rev. R.M. Peacock to the loved ones. Burial was in the family lot near Nute chapel. Her life had been a busy and useful one, living for the benefit and needs of her family. She leaves two sons and one daughter (Sanford Journal-Tribune (Biddeford, ME), June 5, 1908).
Daughter Hannah A. (Varney) French died in 1917.
References:
Find a Grave. (2016, July 22). Mary A. Varney Glines. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/167299817/mary-a-glines
Find a Grave. (2021, July 16). Charles L. Varney. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/229635714/charles-l-varney
Find a Grave. (2012, April 24). Eli Varney. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/89089603/eli-varney
Find a Grave. (2017, July 15). George W. Varney. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/181374271/george-w-varney
Find a Grave. (2021, June 3). John C. Varney. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/228127230/john-c-varney
Find a Grave. (2012, April 24) Laura Ellen Varney. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/89089861/laura-ellen-varney
Find a Grave. (2021, June 4). Seth W. Varney. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/228146612/seth-w-varney
Milton Observer 