By Muriel Bristol | September 7, 2025
Nathaniel Dearborn was born in Greenland, NH, March 8, 1767, son of Abraham and Abigail (Marston) Dearborn.
Father Abraham Dearborn and other inhabitants of Greenland, NH, petitioned the NH Governor to have militia officers commissioned for them, June 26, 1775. [It being shortly after the Battles of Lexington and Concord]. They were aware of
… the Importance of Being instructed in the military arts in this Alarming crisis & willyng to be taught the same that We may be prepared to defend the libertys of our Country, which we hold dearer than out lives …
They sought commissions for Thomas Berry, as Captain; G. Clark, as 1st Lt., David Simson, as 2nd Lt., and Thomas Johnson, as Ensign.
Abraham Dearborn was one of the inhabitants of Greenland, NH, and surrounding towns that petitioned the NH legislature, December 24, 1789, seeking a lottery to raise fund to rebuild the Little Harbor bridge to Great Island, i.e., Newcastle, NH.
Abraham Dearborn headed a Greenland, NH, household at the time of the First (1790) Federal Census. His household included two males aged 16-plus years [himself, and Abraham, Dearborn, Jr.], one male aged under-16 years [Joseph Dearborn], and three females [Abigail (Marston) Dearborn, Mary Dearborn, and Eleanor M. Dearborn].
Brother Joseph Dearborn married in Portsmouth, NH, in November 1794, Sarah “Sally” Seavey, he of Greenland, NH, and she of Portsmouth, NH. Rev. Samuel Haven performed the ceremony.
Nathaniel Dearborn married in Portsmouth, NH, in January 1795, Mary Whidden, he of Greenland, NH. Rev. Samuel Haven performed the ceremony. She was born April 6, 1774, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Haines) Whidden.
(The known children of Nathaniel and Mary (Whidden) Dearborn were: William Dearborn (1796–1879), Sarah “Sally” Dearborn (1799-1888), Abigail M. Dearborn (1807-1890), Nathaniel Dearborn (-1808), Olive Perkins Dearborn (1814-1866), Rowena Spinney Dearborn (1814-1900)).
It does not appear that any settlement was made east of the West Branch river prior to about 1785 or 1786, and among the earlier settlers there may be named, among others, Reuben Jones, Paul Jewett, Amos Witham, the Berrys, the Millers, Ephraim Twombly, Paul Wentworth, Caleb Wingate, David Coursan, John McDuffee, and soon after Hatwell Nutter, Thomas Applebee, William Applebee, John Hart, John Remick, Jr., Nathaniel Dearborn, Joseph Dearborn, and many others (Hurd, 1882).
Son William Dearborn was born 1796. Daughter Sarah Dearborn was born 1799.
Nathaniel Dearborn headed a Northeast Parish, Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Second (1800) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 26-44 years [himself], one female aged 26-44 years [Mary (Whidden) Dearborn], one male aged under-10 years [William Dearborn], one female aged under-10 years [Sarah Dearborn], one male aged 45-plus years [Abraham Dearborn], one female aged 45-plus years [Abigail (Marston) Dearborn], and two females aged 16-25 years. (See Northeast Parish in the Second (1800) Federal Census).
Joseph Dearborn headed a Northeast Parish, Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Second (1800) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 26-44 years [himself], one female aged 26-44 years [Sarah (Seavey) Dearborn], one male aged under-10 years, one female aged under-10 years, and one female aged 45-plus years. (See Northeast Parish in the Second (1800) Federal Census).
Nathaniel Dearborn, as well as his father, Abraham Dearborn, and his brother, Joseph Dearborn, all signed the Rochester division petition of May 28, 1802.
Nathl Dearborn, and Joseph Dearborn were assessed in Paul Jewett, Esq.’s School District No. 3, in December 1806. (See Milton School Districts – 1806).
Daughter Abigail M. Dearborn was born in Milton, in 1807. Son Joseph Dearborn.
Nathl Dearborn headed a Milton household at the time of the Third (1810) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 26-44 year [himself], two females 26-44 years [Mary (Whidden) Dearborn], one male aged 10-15 years [William Dearborn], one female aged 10-15 years [Sarah Dearborn], two females aged under-10 years [Abigail M. Dearborn], and one female aged 45-plus years. (See Milton in the Third (1810) Federal Census).
Daughter Olive Perkins Dearborn was born in Milton, April 1, 1814. She was a namesake for her aunt, Olive (Perkins) Dearborn. Daughter Rowena S. Dearborn was born in Milton, April 1, 1814.
Father Abraham Dearborn died in Milton, in 1814. Mother Abigail “Ruth” (Marston) Dearborn died in Milton, in 1814.
Son William Dearborn married in Berwick, ME, August 30, 1822, Evelina B. Drew, he of Milton and she of Somersworth, NH. She was born in 1799.
Nathl Dearbon [Dearborn] headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifth (183o) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 60-69 years [himself], one female aged 50-59 years [Mary (Whidden) Dearborn], one female aged 30-39 years, and one female aged 15-19 years [Olive P. Dearborn]. Their household appeared in the =enumeration between those B.U. Simes and John Remick. (See Milton in the Fifth (1830) Federal Census).
Daughter Abigail M. Dearborn married in Milton, May 30, 1830, William B. Wallis, both of Milton. John Remick, J.P., performed the ceremony. Wallis (or Wallace) was born in Berwick, ME, circa 1805, son of Lucy Libbey [Wallis].
MARRIED. In Milton, May 30th, by John Kenrick [Remick], Esq., Mr. William Wallis, Miss Abigail Dearborn, daughter of Mr. Nathaniel Dearborn, all of Milton (Dover Enquirer, June 22, 1830).
Daughter Rowena S. Dearborn married in Milton, in April 1835, David Farnham. John Remick performed the ceremony. He was born in Acton, ME, 1808.
Married. In Milton, by John Remick, Esq., Mr. David Farnham, of Acton, Maine, to Mrs. Roena [Rowena] S. Dearborn, of Milton, N.H. (Dover Enquirer, April 28, 1835).
Nathaniel Dearborn headed a Milton household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 70-79 years [himself], one female aged 60-69 years [Mary (Whidden) Dearborn], one female aged 40-49 years, and one female aged 20-29 years. One member of his household was engaged in Agriculture. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Jeremiah Goodwin and David Farnham.
William Dearborn headed Middleton, NH, household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 40-49 years [himself], one female aged 40-49 years [Evelina B. (Drew) Dearborn]], one male aged 15-19 years, two females aged 5-9 years, one female aged 50-59 years, one female aged 60-69 years. Two members of his household were engaged in Agriculture.
David Farnham headed Milton household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 30-39 years [himself], one female aged 20-29 years [Rowena S. (Dearborn) Farnham], one male aged uner-5 years [Washington Farnham]. One member of his household were engaged in Agriculture.
Sister-in-law Sarah (Seavey) Dearborn died in Milton, October 23, 1840.
Brother Abraham Dearborn, Jr., died in Biddeford, ME, July 1, 1847.
Daughter Olive P. Dearborn married in Wakefield, NH, December 25, 1849, Moses Hanson, both of Milton. Rev. Joseph Spinney performed the ceremony.
Nathaniel Dearborn, a farmer, aged eighty-one years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Mary [(Whidden)] Dearborn, aged seventy-six years (b. NH), Sally Dearborn, aged forty-nine years (b. NH), Olive Dearborn, aged thirty-six years (b. NH). Nathaniel Dearborn had real estate valued at $1,000. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of David Farnham, a farmer, aged forty-two years (b. ME), and Jonathan Berry, aged forty-six years (b. NH).
William Dearborn, a farmer, aged fifty-four years (b. NH), headed a Middleton household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Evaline B. [(Drew)] Dearborn, aged fifty years (b. NH), Elizabeth Dearborn, aged seventeen years (b. NH), Ellen A. Dearborn, aged fifteen years (b. NH), and Joana H. Tuck, aged seventy years (b. NH). Joana H. Tuck had real estate valued at $1,000.
William Wallace, a farmer, aged forty-five years (b. NH), headed a Wakefield, NH, household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Abigail [(Dearborn)] Wallace, aged forty-three years (b. NH), Linsey Wallace, a farmer, aged twenty years (b. NH), and Sarah A. Wallace, aged seventeen years (b. NH), and Mary A. Wallace, aged fourteen years (b. NH). William Wallace had real estate valued at $3,000.
David Farnham, aged forty-two years (b. ME), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Rowena S. [(Dearborn)] Farnham, aged thirty-six years (b. NH), Washington Farnham, aged eleven years (b. NH), Mary A. Farnham, aged nine years (b. NH), and Elbridge Farnham, aged two years (b. NH). David Farnham had real estate valued at $1,500. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Moses Page, a trader, aged twenty-two years (b. NH), and Nathaniel Dearborn, a farmer, aged eighty-one years (b. NH).
Sister Eleanor M. Dearborn died in Portsmouth, NH, January 31, 1855, aged eighty-four years.
DIED. In this city, Miss Eleanor Dearborn, aged 84. Funeral this afternoon at 2 o’clock, from her late residence, 25 Washington street (Portsmouth Daily Chronicle, February 2, 1855).
Mary (Whidden) Dearborn died February 22, 1856.
Nathaniel Dearborn of Milton made his will, February 7, 1857. He devised $1 each to his son, William Dearborn, and his daughters, Abigail M. Wallis, Rowena S. Farnham, and Olive P. Hanson. He devised all his estate, real, personal, or mixed, to his daughter, Sally Dearborn. He named his son-in-law, David Farnham, as sole executor. Joseph Page, Jonathan N. Berry, and Edward A. Hussey signed as witnesses (Strafford County Probate, 70:43).
Nathl Dearborn, aged ninety years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton Mills P.O.”) household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Salley Dearborn, aged fifty-five years (b. NH). Nathl Dearborn had real estate valued at $1,500 and personal estate valued at $100. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Thomas L. Pickering, a farmer, aged forty years (b. NH), and Joseph Page, farmer, aged sixty-four years (b. NH).
Wm Dearborn, a laborer, aged sixty-five years (b. NH), headed a Dover, NH, household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Evelina [(Drew)] Dearborn, aged sixty years (b. NH). They shared a tow-family residence with the household of Mary J. Tibbetts, aged thirty-four (b. NH).
William Wallace, a farmer, aged fifty-five years (b. NH), headed a Wakefield, NH, household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Abby M. [(Dearborn)] Wallace, aged fifty-two years (b. NH), Lindsey Wallace, aged twenty-nine years (b. NH), Sarah A. Wallace, housework, aged twenty-three years (b. NH), John Copp Wallace, a farmer, aged fifty-one years (b. NH). William Wallace had personal estate valued at $125. John Copp Wallace had real estate valued at $4,500 and personal estate valued at $900.
Olive [(Dearborn)] Hanson, aged forty-six years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. Her household included John Hanson, aged ten years (b. NH), Daniel Thompson, a harness maker, aged sixty years (b. NH), Mary Thompson, aged nine years (b. NH), and H.D. Thompson, aged three years (b. NH). Olive Hanson had personal estate valued at $500. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Joseph Dearborn, a farmer, aged sixty-five years (b. NH), and Nicholas H. Roberts, a farmer, aged fifty-eight years (b. ME).
David Farnham, aged fifty-two years (b. ME), headed a Milton (“Milton Mills P.O.”) household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Rowena S. [(Dearborn)] Farnham, aged forty-six years (b. NH), Washington Farnham, aged twenty-one years (b. NH), Mary A. Farnham, aged nineteen years (b. NH), E.D. Farnham, aged twelve years (b. NH), and Eliza Farnham, aged fourteen years (b. NH). David Farnham had real estate valued at $2,000 and personal estate valued at $1,000. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Joseph Page, farmer, aged sixty-four years (b. NH), and J.N. Berry, aged fifty-seven years (b. NH).
Son-in-law William B. Wallace died by suicide in Wakefield, ME, July 31, 1860, aged fifty-five years, seven months, and twenty-two days. He was a married farmer.
Nathaniel Dearborn died April 27, 1861. His last will was proved in a Strafford County Probate Court held in Somersworth, NH, June 4, 1861 (Strafford County Probate, 70:44).
Daughter Olive B. (Dearborn) Hanson died of apoplexy in Milton, March 25, 1866, aged forty-nine years, eleven months, and twenty-four days.
Sally Dearborn, keeping house, aged seventy-one years, headed a Milton household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. Her household included Mary J. Hanson, aged nineteen years (b. NH). Sally Dearborn had real estate valued at $1,000 and personal estate valued at $500. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Bathsheba Goodwin, keeping house, aged seventy-six years (b. ME), and Joseph Page, a farmer, aged seventy-four years (b. NH).
John Copp, a farmer, aged sixty-one years (b. NH), headed a Wakefield, NH, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Abby [(Dearborn)] Wallace, keeping house, aged sixty-two years (b. NH), Linsey Wallace, a farm laborer, aged forty years (b. NH), and Sarah A. Wallace, at home, aged thirty-three years (b. NH). John Copp had real estate valued at $5,000 and personal estate valued at $485.
David Farnham, a farmer, aged sixty-two years (b. ME), headed a Milton household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Rowena S. [(Dearborn) Farnham, keeping house, aged fifty-six years (b. NH), and Washington Farnham, a farm laborer, aged thirty-one years (b. NH). David Farnham had real estate valued at $2,500 and personal estate valued at $405. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Joseph Page, farmer, aged seventy-four years (b. NH), and Jonathan N. Berry, a farm laborer, aged sixty-seven years (b. NH).
Daughter-in-law Evelina B. (Drew) Dearborn died in Milton, August 28, 1871, aged seventy-two years, five months.
DIED. IN Rollinsford, Aug. 29, Mrs. Evelina B. Dearborn, wife of Mr. Wm., Dearborn, aged 72 years, 5 months. She was a good Christian, and possessed a most genial and pleasant disposition, a fond, confiding wife, a kind and affectionate mother, and was beloved and respected by a large circle of friends and acquaintances she has gone to reap the reward of the faithful (Dover Enquirer, August 31, 1871).
Son William Dearborn died of general debility in Rollinsford, NH, July 8, 1879, aged eighty-two years.
Hiram H. Berry, a farmer, aged twenty-six years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Mary J. [(Hanson)] Berry, keeping house, aged twenty-nine years (b. NH), and [further down the page] his aunt[-in-law], Sally Dearborn, aged eighty years (b. NH). Sally Dearborn had phthisis. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Jonathan Berry, a famer, aged sixty-two years (b. NH), and Edward R. Hussey, a farmer, aged sixty years (b. NH).
David Farnham, a farmer, aged seventy-two years (b. ME), headed a Milton household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Rowena S. [(Dearborn)] Farnham, keeping house, aged sixty-six years (b. NH), and his sons, Washington Farnham, a stone mason, aged forty-one years (b. NH), and Eldridge D. Farnham, a carpenter, aged thirty-one years (b. NH). Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Jonathan N. Berry, a farmer, aged seventy-seven years (b. NH), and Josiah E. Paige, a farmer, aged forty-six years (b. NH).
Son-in-law David Farnham died in Milton in 1882. He was a married farmer.
Daughter Sarah “Sally” Dearborn died in Milton, June 9, 1888.
Daughter Abigail B. (Dearborn) Wallace died December 1890, aged fifty-nine years, three months, and twenty days.
Eldredge D. Farnham, a farmer, aged fifty-two years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his mother, Rowena [(Dearborn)] Farnham, aged eighty-six years (b. NH). Eldredge D. Farnham owned their farm, free-and-clear. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Elmer D. Hanson, a farmer, aged thirty-two years (b. MA), and Haven R. Jewett, a farmer, aged forty-three years (b. NH).
Daughter Rowena S. (Dearborn) Farnham died of paralysis in Milton Mills, September 6, 1900, aged eighty-six years, five months, and six days. She was a widowed housewife. W.E. Pillsbury, M.D., signed the death certificate.
References:
Find a Grave. (2021, January 17). Abraham Dearborn. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/221190500/abraham-dearborn
Find a Grave. (2013, July 27). Sally Dearborn. retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/114462328/sally-dearborn
Find a Grave. (2013, July 27). Rowena S. Dearborn Farnham. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/114461311/rowena_s-farnham
Find a Grave. (2013, July 27). Olive P. [Dearborn] Hanson. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/114461922/olive-p-hanson
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