By Muriel Bristol | September 28, 2025
James Y. Pinkham was born in Rochester, NH, circa 1795, son of Otis and Hannah (Young) Pinkham.
Otis Pinkham 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 [Hannah (Young) Pinkham], one female aged 10-15 years, one female aged under-10 years, and one male aged uner-10 years [James Y. Pinkham].
Father Otis Pinkham signed the Rochester Division Petition of May 1802. (Future father-in-law Francis Nute signed too).
Father Otis Pinkham was assessed in the Milton School District No. 5 of John Fish in 1806. (Future father-in-law, Francis Nute, was assessed in the same district). (See Milton School Districts – 1806).
Otis Pinkum [Pinkham] headed a Milton household at the time of the Third (1810) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 26-44 years [himself], one female aged 26-44 years [Hannah (Young) Pinkham], one male aged 16-25 years [James Y. Pinkham], one female aged 16-25 years, one female aged 10-15 years, two males aged under-10 years, and two females aged under-10 years.
Otis Pinkham of Milton made his last will, October 26, 1812. He devised one-third of his real and personal estate to his wife, Hannah Pinkham, during her widowhood. He bequeathed the other two-thirds of the real estate, stock and utensils to his son, James Pinkham, with his mother’s one-third also after her decease. He bequeathed a cow, bed, and bedding to his daughter, Elizabeth Downs. He bequeathed also a cow, bed, and bedding to each of his other daughters, Sarah Pinkham, Mary Pinkham, and Hannah Pinkham, when they reached the age of eighteen years. They were also to have board and a place of residence, until they reached the age of eighteen years. He bequeathed $60 each to his sons, William Pinkham and Ezra Pinkham, when they reached the aged of twenty-one years. He named his son, James Pinkham, and Daniel Wingate, Esq., of Middleton, NH, as executors. Ebenr Wingate, Dudley Burnham, and Jeremiah Cook signed as witnesses (Strafford County Probate, 13:327).
The last will of Otis Pinkham was proved in a Strafford County Probate Court held in Rochester, NH, January 25, 1814 (Strafford County Probate, 13:329).
James Y. Pinkham signed the Milton Anti-Division Remonstrance in June 1820, (Future brothers-in-law John C. Nute and Moses Nute signed too). He signed also the Milton Militia Division Petition of November 1820. (See Milton Militia Dispute – 1820).
James Y. Pinkham married (1st), circa 1822, Elizabeth Nute. She was born July 15, 1798, daughter of Francis and Mary (Clements) Nute. (Her father, Francis Nute, had died in Milton, July 21, 1812, when she was aged fourteen years, and her mother, Mary (Clements) Nute, had died in Milton, November 12, 1816, when she was aged eighteen years).
(The known children of James Y. and Elizabeth (Nute) Pinkham were: James Hanson Pinkham (1824-1853), Hannah E. Pinkham (c1829-1851)).
Hannah [(Young)] Pinkham headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifth (1830) Federal Census. Her household included one female aged 60-69 years [herself], one female aged 30-39 years [Hannah Pinkham], two males aged 20-29 years [William Pinkham and Ezra Pinkham], and one female aged 5-9 years. Her household appeared in the enumeration between those of Jas Y. Pinkham and Sarah Burnham.
Jas Y. Pinkham 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 [Elizabeth (Nute) Pinkham], one female aged 10-14 years, two males aged 5-9 years [James H. Pinkham], and one female aged under-5 years [Hannah E. Pinkham]. His household appeared in the enumeration between those of [his brother-in-law] John C. Nute and Hannah Pinkham.
Elizabeth (Nute) Pinkham died July 5, 1835. James Y. Pinkham married (2nd) Mary M. Twombly [?]. She was born in Milton, circa 1800, daughter of John and Abigail (Meserve) Twombly.
The Milton Selectmen of 1838 were Jas. Berry, J.H. Varney, and J.Y. Pinkham. The Milton Selectmen of 1839 were J.H. Varney, J.Y. Pinkham, and Chas. Swasey.
James Y. Pinkham 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 40-49 years [Mary M. (Twombly) Pinkham], one male aged 15-19 years [James H. Pinkham], and one female aged 10-14 years [Hannah E. Pinkham]. Three members of his household were engaged in Agriculture. His household appeared in the enumeration between those of Stephen Twombly and Sarah Pinkham (one female aged 40-49 years).
Notice. PURSUANT to an act of the Legislature of New-Hampshire, passed June 3d A.D. 1827, empowering religious associations to assume and exercise corporate powers, we, Ezekiel Nute, David Nute, Joshua Jones, Daniel M. Plumer, James B. Downs, James Pinkham, Thomas Coarson, Enoch W. Plumer, and our associates,, have this day formed ourselves into a Society under the name of the Milton First Congregational Society. ENOCH W PLUMER, Clerk. Milton, Jan. 4, 1841. 33 (Dover Enquirer, January 26, 1841).
Son James H. Pinkham married in Milton, December 2, 1846, Pamelia N. Davis, both of Milton. Rev. Edward F. Abbott performed the ceremony. She was born in Alton, NH, in 1829,daughter of Rev. Jacob and Lois (Kelly) Davis.
James Y. Pinkham died before December 1847.
To the Hon. Judge of Probate for the County of Strafford, RESPECTFULLY represents HANNAH E. PINKHAM, of Milton, in said county, daughter of James Y. Pinkham, late of Milton, in said county, deceased, and a minor over fourteen years of age, that she does hereby make choice of Ichabod H. Wentworth, of Milton in said county to be her Guardian. Wherefore she prays that letters of Guardianship may issue to the said Ichabod H. Wentworth accordingly. Dated the 5th day of July, 1847. HANNAH E. PINKHAM.
Strafford, SS – The foregoing petition being presented, it is ordered by the Judge that the same be taken into consideration at a Court of Probate to be holden at Farmington in said county on the first Tuesday of October next, and that the said petitioner notify all persons interested therein by publishing an attested copy of the same with an attested copy of this order thereon three weeks successively in the Dover Enquirer, a newspaper printed at Dover, the last publication whereof to be thirty days previous to said day of hearing. ENOCH BERRY, Register. I certify the foregoing is a true copy of the original. ENOCH BERRY, Register. (Dover Enquirer, July 27, 1847).
Administrator’s Notice. THE subscriber hereby gives public notice that he has been duly appointed administrator of the Estate of JAMES Y. PINKHAM, late of Milton, deceased. All persons indebted to said Estate are requested to make immediate payment, and all having claims to present them for settlement. JOSEPH PEARL, Admr. Milton, Sept. 6, 1847 (Dover Enquirer, September 28, 1847).
Daughter Hannah E. Pinkham married in Wolfeboro, NH, November 18, 1849, Thomas K. “King” Emery, both of Milton. Rev. J.T.G. Colby performed the ceremony.
Mary M. [(Twombly)] Pinkham, aged fifty years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. Her household included William B. Twombly, a shoemaker, aged thirty-one years (b. NH), Eliza Twombly, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH), Stephen Twombly, a farmer, aged forty-seven years (b. NH), Mary A. [(Goodwin)] Twombly, aged thirty-seven years (b. NH), Mary J. Twombly, aged nine years (b. NH), James H. Twombly, aged four years (b. NH), John S. Twombly, aged two years (b. NH), Abigail [(Meserve)] Twombly, aged seventy years (b. NH), Martha [(Rines)] Emery, aged eighteen years (b. NH), and Horace Emery, a shoemaker, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH). Stephen Twombly had real estate valued at $3,000. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of [her stepson] James H. Pinkham, a shoemaker, aged twenty-six years (b. NH), and Henry Downs, a shoemaker, aged thirty years (b. NH).
James H. Pinkham, a shoemaker, aged twenty-six years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Pamela M. Davis [Pinkham], aged twenty-one years (b. NH), Eri W. Pinkham, aged two years (b. NH), Frank L. Pinkham, aged five months (b. NH), Michael O’Lary [O’Leary], a shoemaker, aged nineteen (b. Ireland), George H. Cook, a shoemaker, aged eighteen years (b. NH), Timothy Emery, a shoemaker, aged twenty-three years (b. NH), Hannah [(Pinkham)] Emery, aged twenty-one years (b. NH), and Martha West, aged eighteen years (b. NH). James H. Pinkham had real estate valued at $1,200. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Sarah Burnham, aged eighty years (b. NH), and [his stepmother] Mary M. Pinkham, aged fifty years (b. NH).
Hannah E. Emery of Milton, wife of Timothy K. Emery, made her last will, August 26, 1851. She devised her real estate to her beloved husband, Timothy K. Emery. It consisted on eleven acres of land in Milton from the estate of her grandfather, Francis Nute [(1770-1816)], late of Milton, deceased, which she owned in common and undivided with her brother, James H. Pinkham. Also a one-quarter undivided common share of of another piece of land in Milton, which had been part of the homestead estate of her father, James Y. Pinkham, late of Milton, deceased. It laid on the southwesterly side of the main road from Middleton to Rochester, adjoining the crossroads between that main road and the house of Stephen Twombly and property of said Twombly and Ebenezer Wentworth, after the decease of her stepmother, Mary M. Pinkham. She bequeathed also her household furniture, wearing apparel, and the rest and residue of her estate. John E. Goodwin, Stephen Twombly, and James H. Goodwin signed as witnesses (Strafford County Probate, 66:53).
Son James H. Pinkham died of consumption in Milton, December 21, 1853, aged twenty-nine years, five months. D.T. Parker, M.D., [of Farmington, NH,] signed the death certificate.
To the Judge of Probate for the County of Strafford, in the State of New Hampshire. RESPECTFULLY shews Pamelia N. Pinkham of Milton in the County of Strafford, that she is Guardian of Eri W. Pinkham, by the appointment of the Judge of Probate for the County of Strafford; that her said Ward is seized and possessed of a certain tract of land situated in said Milton, bounded northerly by land of Luther Nute, easterly by land of Stephen Maine, southerly and westerly by land of Wm. W. Cook, containing twenty two acres more or less in common and undivided with eleven acres belonging to the estate of the late Hannah E. Emery of Milton, deceased, and commonly known as the Nute lot. That it is necessary for the support of her said ward and will be conducive to his interest to have the premises sold. Wherefore she prays that she may be licensed and authorized to sell the same at public auction, according to the statute in such cases made and provided. PAMELIA N. PINKHAM (Dover Enquirer, April 12, 1855).
The last will of Hannah E. Emery was proved in a Strafford County Probate Court held in Rochester, NH, in July 1856 (Strafford County Probate, 66:54).
Mary M. [(Twombly)] Pinkham married November, 5, 1858, Samuel Sanborn. He was born in Acton, ME, December 18, 1796, son of John and Sarah (Veasey) Sanborn.
Samuel Sanborn, a farmer, aged sixty-three years (b. NH [SIC]), headed a Milton household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Mary M. [((Twombly) Pinkham)] Sanborn, aged fifty-nine years (b. NH), and William Pinkham, a house carpenter, aged fifty-four years (b. NH). Samuel Sanborn had real estate valued at $1,500 and personal estate valued at $1,000. William Pinkham had personal estate valued at $200. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of R.W.L. Pike, a shoemaker, aged fifty-six years (b. NH), [with Stephen Twombly, a famer, aged fifty-seven years (b. NH), just beyond,] and William J. Edwards, a farmer, aged forty-four years (b. England).
Pamelia N. [(Davis)] Pinkham, a domestic, aged thirty years (b. NH), and Sarah E. Davis, a domestic, aged sixteen years (b. NH), were resident staff in a boarding-house in Concord, NH, at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. They were employed by George Dame, a boarding-house keeper, aged fifty years (b. NH). Apart from the Dame family, and the two domestic servants, there were twelve boarders.
Widowed daughter-in-law Pamelia N. (Davis) Pinkham married (2nd) in Concord, NH, May 7, 1862, John E. Goodwin, she of Milton and he of Concord, NH. He was a shoemaker, aged forty-one years, and she was aged thirty-three years. Rev. E.E. Cummings performed the ceremony. He was born in Middleton, NH, circa 1821, son of Joseph and Anna G. Goodwin.
Samuel Sanborn, a farm laborer, aged seventy-four years (b. ME), headed a Milton household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Mary M. [((Twombly) Pinkham)] Sanborn, keeping house, aged sixty-nine years (b. NH). Samuel Sanborn had real estate valued at $1,000 and personal estate valued at $470. They shared a two-family residence with the household of William H. Minot, a farm laborer, aged twenty-six years (b. NH). Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Stephen Twombly, a farmer, aged sixty-six years (b. NH), and Ebenezer Wentworth, a farmer, aged seventy-two years (b. NH).
John E. Goodwin, a shoe manufacturer, aged forty-seven years (b. NH), headed a Dover, NH, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Pamelia [((Davis) Pinkham)] Goodwin, keeping house, aged forty-two years (b. NH), Henry Goodwin, a bookkeeper, aged twenty-four years (b. NH), Alice Goodwin, attending school, aged seventeen years (b. NH), Fremont Goodwin, attending school, aged thirteen years (b. NH), Erie Pinkham, works in shoe factory, aged twenty-two years (b. NH), and Lovey Ricker, teaching school, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH).
LARGE FIRE IN DOVER. N.H. Dover, N.H., 1st. John E. Goodwin’s large shoe manufactory was discovered on fire about half-past two this morning, and was totally destroyed with its contents. The fire next caught a smaller shoe factory, occupied by the same firm, which was also burned. The old Catholic church was next burned, and a building occupied by C.E. & S.C. Hayes. From the old Catholic church the fire caught the new Catholic church, now building, and the priests’ residence which was also burned. The high wind carried the cinders a long distance, and roofs of buildings were repeatedly on fire. Had it not been for the rain of yesterday the fire would have been much more disastrous. Goodwin & Co. were insured for $27,000 on their stock. The building was owned by Benjamin Pray, and was insured for $4000. There was no insurance on the Catholic churches (Boston Evening Transcript, November 1, 1870).
Grandson Eri W. Pinkham married in Dover, NH, November 4, 1871, Emma D. Smith. She was born in Sandwich, NH, circ 1855, daughter of John and Charlotte (Dodge) Smith.
MARRIAGES. In Dover, Nov. 4, Mr. ERI W. PINKHAM, and Miss EMMA D. SMITH (Portsmouth Daily Chronicle (Portsmouth, NH), November 20, 1871).
Samuel Sanborn, at home, aged eighty-three years (b. ME), headed a Milton household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included Mary M. [((Twombly) Pinkham)] Sanborn, keeps house, aged eighty-one years (b. NH). They shared a two-family residence with the household of Perkins F. Mott, a farmer, aged forty-two years (b. NY). (His household included a boarder, William Pinkham, aged seventy-two years (b. NH)). Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of George Eastman, works on shoes, aged forty years (b. ME), and George F. Shortridge, a farmer, aged forty-six years (b. NH).
John E. Goodwin, works in shoe factory, aged fifty-eight years (b. NH), headed a North Brookfield, MA, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Pamelia N. [((Davis) Pinkham)] Goodwin, keeping house, aged fifty-one years (b. NH), his son, John F. Goodwin, works in shoe factory, aged twenty-three years (b. NH), his daughter-in-law, V. Belle Goodwin, at home, aged eighteen years (b. NH), and his boarder, Robert Batcheller, a clerk in shoe factory, aged eighteen years (b. MA).
Eri W. Pinkham, a shoe-cutter, aged thirty-eight years (b. NH), headed a Dover, NH, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Emma D. [(Smith)] Pinkham, aged twenty-three years (b. NH), and his mother-in-law, Charlotta [(Dodge)] Smith, aged fifty-eight years (b. NH). They resided on Grover street.
Samuel Sanborn died of old age in Milton, [in the year ending] March 31, 1883, aged eighty-four years. He was a married farmer.
John E. Goodwin died in Malden, MA, May 31, 1893, aged seventy-two years, eight months, and seventeen days. He was a married shoe manufacturer.
Henry C. Goodwin, a druggist. aged fifty-seven years (b. NH), headed a Malden, MA, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-seven years), Emma [(Horne)] Goodwin, aged fifty-four years (b. MA), his daughters, Maria B. Goodwin, a teacher, aged twenty-six years (b. NH), and Elizabeth Goodwin, aged twenty years (b. NH), his mother, Amelia M. [Pamelia N. ((Davis) Pinkham)] Goodwin, aged seventy-one years (b. NH), and his boarders, Minna [(Ballard)] Parker, a bank clerk, aged thirty-nine years (b. Japan), and Marjorie G. Parker, at school, aged eight years (b. MA). Emma Goodwin was the mother of two children, of whom two were still living. Amelia M. Goodwin was the mother of two children, of whom one was still living. Minna Parker was the mother of one child, of whom one was still living.
Eri W. Pinkham, a shoe cutter, aged fifty-two years (b. NH), and [his wife of twenty-eight years] Emma D. [(Smith)] Pinkham, aged forty years (b. NH), were roomers in the Nashua, NH, rooming house of George Haden, a shoemaker, aged forty-one years (b. NH), and his wife, Lizzie [(Farley)] Haden, aged thirty-eight years (b. NH). There were thirty-five roomers overall. Haden rented their household at 66 East Pearl Street.
Grandson Eri W. Pinkham died of pneumonia in Nashua, NH, September 11, 1902, aged fifty-four years, seven months, and twenty-five days. He was a married shoe-cutter.
Daughter-in-law Pamelia N. ((Davis) Pinkham) Goodwin died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Malden, MA, October, 11, 1904, aged seventy-five years, six months, and twenty-three days. Godfrey Ryder, M.D., signed the death certificate.
Pamelia N. Goodwin, widow of John E. Goodwin of Malden, died yesterday at the home of her son, Henry C. Goodwin, in the seventy-sixth year of her age. She was a native of Alton, N.H., and the daughter of Rev. Jacob Davis of Gilmanton (Boston Evening Transcript, October 12, 1904).
References:
Find a Grave. (2008, August 25). Pamelia N. Davis Pinkham-Goodwin. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/29287220/pamelia-n-pinkham-goodwin
Find a Grave. (2014, November 1). Eri W. Pinkham. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/138151762/eri-w.-pinkham
Find a Grave. (2008, August 25). J.H. Pinkham. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/29287191/j-h-pinkham
Milton Observer 