By Muriel Bristol | March 15, 2026
Shadrach Hurd was born in Rochester, NH, July 24, 1776, son of Joseph and Sarah (Dore) Hurd.
Shadrach Hurd married September 7, 1797, Lydia Hoyt. She was born in Rochester, NH, in 1778, son of Benjamin and Sarah (Downing) Hoyt. (Her father, who died in Rochester, NH, in March 1794, had served as a Corporal in Capt. John Brewster’s Company, in Col. Pierce Long’s NH Regiment, in 1776-77).
(The known children of Shadrach and Lydia (Hoyt) Hurd were: Samuel Hurd (1798-1886), Lydia Hurd (1804-1891), Caroline Hurd (1806-1834), Mary Hurd (1809-1885)).
Son Samuel Hurd was born January 1, 1798.
Shadrach Heard headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Second (1800) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 16-25 years [himself], one female aged 16-25 years [Lydia (Hoyt) Hurd], and one male aged under-10 years [Samuel Hurd]. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Pelatiah Hanscomb and Robert Hart. (See Northeast Parish in the Second (1800) Federal Census).
Shadrach Hard signed the Rochester Division Petition of May 1802.
[Shadrach Hurd resided in the Northeast Parish of Rochester, NH, at the time of the Second (1800) Federal Census and when he signed the Rochester Division Petition, i.e., he resided then in that part of Rochester that became Milton, but he was living in Rochester proper by the time of the Third (1810) Federal Census].
Daughter Lydia Hurd was born in Rochester, NH, June 11, 1804. Daughter Caroline Hurd was born in Rochester, NH, in 1806. Daughter Mary Hurd was born in Rochester, NH, in 1809.
Shadrach Herd headed a Rochester, NH, 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 [Lydia (Hoyt) Hurd], one male aged 101-5 years [Samuel Hurd], and three females aged under-10 years [Lydia Hurd, Caroline Hurd, and Mary Hurd].
Daughter Lydia Hurd married in Rochester, NH, in 1823, Benjamin Jellerson. He was born in Rochester, NH, March 16, 1802, son of Mary Earl.
Son Samuel Hurd married in Rochester, NH, in 1824, Mehitable D. Trask. She was born in Rochester, NH, December 1, 1795, daughter of Capt. David and Mehitable (Dwight) Trask.
Benj. Jelerson headed a Wakefield, NH, household at the time of the Fifth (1830) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 20-29 years [himself], two females aged 20-29 years [Lydia (Hurd) Jellerson], one male aged under-5 years, and one female aged under-5 years.
Daughter Mary Hurd married (1st) in Rochester, NH, November 7, 1830, Thomas C. Thurston, she of Rochester, NH, and he of Brookfield, NH. Rev. Samuel Norris performed the ceremony. Thurston was born in 1808.
MARRIED. In Rochester, Mr. Thomas C. Thurstin, of Brookfield, to Miss Mary Hurd, of Rochester (Dover Enquirer, November 23, 1830).
Shada Hurd headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Fifth (1830) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 50-59 years [himself], one female aged 50-59 years [Lydia (Hoyt) Hurd], and one female aged 20-29 years [Caroline Hurd].
Mother-in-law Sarah Hoyt, widow of Sgt. Benjamin Hoyt, appeared on the Revolutionary War Pension Roll, and received a semi-annual pension payment of $27.837, between March 4, 1831 and September 1843.
Daughter Caroline Hurd died in Rochester, NH, January 17, 1834.
Son-in-law Thomas C. Thurston died in Dover, NH, in 1839.
Died. In this town, Mr. Thomas C. Thurston, of Wakefield (Dover Enquirer, December 17, 1839).
Sarah [(Downing)] Hoyt headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census. Her household included one female aged 90-99 years [herself], and one female aged 60-69 years [daughter Sarah Hoyt]. Revolutionary War pensioner Sarah Hoyt, i.e., she herself, appeared in her household.
Shadrach Hurd headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 60-69 years [himself], one female aged 60-69 years [Lydia (Hoyt) Hurd]. One member of his household was engaged in Manufacture and Trade.
Samuel Hurd headed a Leicester, MA, 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 [Mehitable D. (Trask) Hurd], one female aged 15-19 years, one female aged 10-14 years, two females aged 5-9 years, and one male aged under-5 years. One member of his household was engaged in Manufacture and Trade.
Mother-in-law Sarah [(Downing)] Hoyt of Rochester, NH, made her last will, August 2, 1840. She devised all her property, both real and personal, to her daughter, Sally Hoyt, whom she named also as executor. She left nothing to her other children, Benjamin Hoyt, Lydia Hurd, wife of Shadrach Hurd, George Hoyt, John D. Hoyt, Charles Hoyt, and Samuel Hoyt, and the children of her son, Dennis Hoyt, and daughter, Temperance Haynes.
I do not think it proper to give any thing to the amount of my property being very small and property belonging to my said daughter Sally Hoyt, who has taken care of me in my old age.
She signed with an “X.” Noah Tibbets, Sally Hoyt, 2d, and John D. Hoyt witnessed her signature (Strafford County Probate, 59:541).
Daughter Mary (Hurd) Thurston married (2nd) in Somersworth, NH, February 18, 1841, David P. Hartford. He was born in Lebanon, ME, April 7, 1817, son of Eliakine and Charity (Cook) Hartford.
Mother-in-law Sarah [(Downing)] Hoyt died in Rochester, NH, December 31, 1843, aged ninety-five years.
Sister-in-law [daughter of mother-in-law Sarah (Downing) Hoyt, and her executor] Sarah “Sally” Hoyt of Rochester, NH, single-woman, made her own last will, January 6, 1844. She sought to have a gravestone placed at her grave and placed also at the graves of her Father and Mother, her sister Polly, and her brothers Benjamin and Israel, as well as fencing the family plot in Charles Hoyt’s Field. She devised on one-half of her “meat” of every kind to her brother, John S. Hoyt, and $10 to his wife, Sarah Hoyt. She devised $1 to her brother, Charles Hoyt. She devised one cow to Mary Hartford, daughter of Shadrach Hurd, and one bed to Mary Caroline Thurston, daughter of said Mary Hartford. She devised all the rest, residue and remainder to Lydia Hurd, wife of Shadrach Hurd, whom she named as executor. She signed with an “X.” John F. McDuffee, Benjamin Horne, and Charles Dennett witnessed her signature (Strafford County Probate, 59:543).
Sister-in-law Sarah “Sally” Hoyt died soon afterwards in Rochester, January 11, 1844, aged seventy years.
DEATHS. In Rochester, Dec. 31st, widow Sarah Hoyt, aged 95 years. – Jan. 11, Miss Sarah Hoyt, aged 7o (Dover Enquirer, January 20, 1844).
The last wills of mother-in-law Sarah (Downing) Hoyt and her daughter, Sarah “Sally” Hoyt, were proved in a Stafford County Probate Court held in Rochester, NH, February 6, 1844 (Strafford County Probate, 59:542-4).
Shadrach Hurd, a carpenter, aged seventy-three years, headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Lydia [(Hoyt)] Hard, aged seventy-one years. Shadrach Hurd had real estate valued at $400.
Samuel Hurd, a card maker, aged fifty-two years (b. NH), headed a Leicester, MA, household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included M.D. [(Trask)] Hurd, aged fifty-five years (b. MA), Ellen D. Hurd, aged eighteen years (b. MA), Abby D. Hurd, aged sixteen years (b. MA), Albert L. Hurd, aged thirteen years (b. MA), and James Murphey, a laborer, aged seventeen years (b. Ireland). Samuel Hurd had real estate valued at $5,000.
Benjamin Jelerson, a farmer, aged forty-eight years (b. NH), headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Lydia [(Hurd)] Jelerson, aged forty-six years (b. NH), and Samuel Jelerson, a farmer, aged nineteen years (b. NH). Benjamin Jelerson had real estate valued at $1,500.
David P. Hartford, a wood turner, aged thirty-three years (b. NH), headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Mary [((Hurd) Thurston)] Hartford, aged forty-one years (b. NH), and John G.C. Thurston, a wood turner, aged seventeen years (b. NH), Mary C. Thurston, aged fourteen years (b. NH), Sarah F. Hartford, aged eight years (b. NH), David F. Hartford, aged six years (b. NH), and Thomas F. Hartford, aged four years (b. NH). David P. Hartford had real estate valued at $800.
Lydia (Hoyt) Hurd died August 9, 1850.
PROLIFIC PUMPKIN SEED. SAMUEL HURD, Esq., of Leicester, exhibited at the horticultural exhibition in this last fall, 19 sweet pumpkins weighing 110 pounds, which, with two that were not ripened, grew upon a vine measuring with its branches, 190 feet in length – and the whole is the product of one seed. I purchased the above pumpkins of Mr. Hurd, and have used them through the winter, eating the last of them, last week. They were of the most delicious flavor. I have saved the seeds, and they number 10,341 good seeds. E.H. Worcester, March 12, 1859 (New England Farmer (Boston, MA), March 26, 1859).
Shedrick Hurd, aged eighty-four years (b. NH), headed a Rochester (“Farmington P.O.”), NH, household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included David P. Hartford, a bobbin maker, aged forty-three years (b. NH), Mary [((Hurd) Thurston)] Hartford, aged fifty years (b. NH), Mary [(Thurston)] Folsom, aged twenty-four years (b. NH), Charles G. Horney, a shoe cutter, aged thirty-three years (b. NH), Sarah F. Horney, aged eighteen years (b. NH), David F. Hartford, a bobbin maker, aged sixteen years (b. NH) (b. NH), Thomas T. Hartford, aged fourteen years, and George E. Folsom, aged three years (b. NH). David P. Hartford had real estate valued at $1,000 and personal estate valued at $460. Charles G. Horney had personal estate valued at $200.
Samuel Hurd, a card maker, aged sixty-one years (b. NH), headed a Leicester, MA, household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Mehit. D. [(Trask)] Hurd, aged sixty-four years (b. MA), Abbie L. Hurd, aged twenty-four years (b. MA), Albert S. Hurd, a card maker, aged twenty-three years (b. MA), John B. Morse, a domestic, aged seventeen years (b. MA), and Bridget Johnson, a domestic, aged eighteen years (b. Ireland). Samuel Hurd had real estate valued at $3,100 and personal estate valued at $1,400.
Benjamin Jelerson, aged fifty-eight years (b. ME), headed a Rochester (“Farmington P.O.”), NH, household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Lydia [(Hurd)] Jelerson, aged fifty-six years (b. NH), Lydia Drew, aged twenty-four years (b. NH), and Abby Betson, aged twenty-six years (b. MA). Their household appeared in the enumeration next to that of Samuel Jelerson, a farmer, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH).
Shadrach Hurd died in Rochester, NH, August 19, 1860.
Daughter-in-law Mehitable D. (Trask) Hurd died in Boston, MA, November 9, 1866.
DEATHS. [In this city,] 9th inst. at 127 Newton street, Mehitable D., wife of Samuel Hurd, of Leicester (Boston Evening Transcript, November 10, 1866; New England Farmer (Boston, MA), November 17, 1866).
Son Samuel Hurd married (2nd) in Leicester, MA, August 17, 1868, Emily Boyden, both of Leicester, MA. He was a card manufacturer, aged seventy years, and she was aged fifty-five years. Rev. John Nelson performed the ceremony. She was born in Paris, ME, December 26, 1812, daughter of Alvan and Mary H. (Woodward) Boyden.
Samuel Hurd, a farmer, aged seventy-two years (b. NH), headed a Leicester, MA, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Emily B. [(Boydon)] Hurd, keeping house, aged fifty-seven years (b. ME). He shared a two-family residence with the household of Wm. F. Halman, a card manufacturer, aged forty-three years (b. MA), Ellen D. [(Hurd)] Halman, no occupation, aged thirty-eight years (b. MA), Hattie S. Halman, at school, aged nine years (b. MA), and Katie Sullivan, a domestic servant, aged fifteen years (b. MA). Samuel Hurd had real estate valued at $8,000 and personal estate valued at $7,500. Wm. F. Halman had personal estate valued at $7,300.
Benj. Jellerson, a farmer, aged sixty-eight years (b. ME), headed a Rochester (“Gonic P.O.”), NH, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Lydia [(Hurd)] Jellerson, aged sixty-six years (b. ME), and Charles Dockham, aged four years (b. ME). They shared a two-family residence of Samuel Jellerson, works for shoe mfy., aged thirty-nine years (b. NH). Benj. Jellerson had personal estate valued at $600.
Thos. T. Hartford, shoe pattern[s], aged twenty-four years, headed a Boston, MA, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Mary C. [(Richardson)] Hartford, at home, aged twenty-three years (b. MA), Winnie C. Hartford, at home, aged three years (b. MA), Mary [((Hurd) Thurston)] Hartford, keeping house, aged sixty-two years (b. NH), Geo. E. Furbush, wholesale grocery, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH), Mary C. [((Thurston) Folsom)] Furbush, no occupation, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH), Geo E. Furbush, attending school, aged twelve years (b. NH), Mary A. Furbush, at home, aged three months (b. NH), Agustus Zaddock, clerk in clothing store, aged twenty-six years (b. Canada), and Sarah F. [(Hartford)] Gallop, no occupation, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH).
LEICESTER. Samuel Hurd has sold the Zolva Greene farm for $1500 (Springfield Daily Republican (Springfield, MA), April 10, 1872).
Samuel Hurd, a farmer, aged eighty-two years (b. NH), headed a Leicester, MA, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Emily B. [(Boyd)] Hurd, keeping house, aged sixty-six years (b. ME), his daughter, Ellen D. [(Trask)] Holman, school committee, aged forty-eight years (b. MA), his son-in-law, William F. Holman, a nurse, aged fifty-two years (b. MA), and his granddaughter, Hettie L. Holman, aged nineteen years (b. MA). They resided “On Main Road in Village of Leicester Going From West to East.”
Benjamin Jellerson, a farmer, aged seventy-eight years (b. ME), headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Lydia [(Hurd)] Jellerson, aged seventy-six years (b. ME). They shared a two-family residence of Samuel Jellerson, works in shoe shop, aged forty-eight years (b. NH). They resided on Wakefield Street.
Zadoc S. Gallup, a clothier, aged thirty-eight years (b. Canada), headed a Salem, MA, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Sarah [(Hartford)] Gallup, keeping house, aged thirty-seven years (b. NH), his mother-in-law, Mary [((Hurd) Thurston)] Hartford, aged seventy years (b. NH), and his servant, Mary Kelley, a servant, aged eighteen years (b. MA). They resided on St. Peter’s Street.
Daughter Mary [((Hurd) Thurston)] Hartford died of la grippe in Salem, MA, February 28, 1885, aged eighty-six years.
General News. Benjamin Jellerson of Rochester, N.H., 83, patronized a barber Saturday for the first time (North Star (Danville, VT), June 19, 1885).
Son Samuel Hurd died in Leicester, MA, November 2, 1886.
Son-in-law Benjamin Jellerson died in Rochester, NH, October 16, 1889, aged eighty-seven years.
SOMEWHAT PERSONAL. Benjamin Jellerson of Rochester, N.H., died Tuesday morning, Oct. 16th, after a short illness at the advanced age of 87 years. He was one of the oldest and most respected citizens of Rochester. He leaves a wife and two sons, one of whom is Mr. Chas. T. Jellerson of Lewiston (Lewiston Sun-Journal (Lewiston, ME), October 16, 1889).
Son-in-law David P. Hartford died in Lebanon, ME, April 17, 1891.
Daughter Lydia (Hurd) Jellerson died of asthenia of old age in Rochester, NH, December 25, 1891, aged eighty-seven years, six months, and fourteen days. She was a widow.
Daughter-in-law Emily (Boyden) Hurd died in Newfane, VT, February 26, 1893, aged eighty years.
NEWFANE. The deep snow in our village has been unbroken this winter until the cemetery burial of Mrs. Emily B. Hurd on Tuesday. Mrs. Hurd was for several years before her marriage connected with the boarding house department of Leicester academy, where she developed a good business capacity and was much respected. For a few years past, since her widowhood, her home has been with her sister, Mrs. Nancy Sibley, on Newfane hill. Death released her at the age of 80 from the rapid decline of years. The funeral service was attended Rev. Mr. Wiswell of Hartford Theological seminary. Mrs. Lee of Boston, one of last summer boarders at Worster’s hotel, was a step-daughter of Mrs. Hurd (Vermont Phoenix (Brattleboro, VT), March 3, 1893).
References:
Find a Grave. (2018, December 19). Mary Hurd Hartford. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/195453919/mary-hartford
Find a Grave. (2009, November 19). Benjamin Hoyt. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/44559097/benjamin-hoyt
Find a Grave. (2022, August 19). Caroline Hurd. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/242795955/caroline-hurd
Find a Grave. (2014, August 23). Samuel Hurd. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/134786726/samuel-hurd
Find a Grave. (2018, September 25) Shadrach Hurd. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/193401194/shadrach-hurd
Find a Grave. (2017, October 4). Lydia Hurd Jellerson. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/184002580/lydia-jellerson
Milton Observer 