By Muriel Bristol | April 12, 2025
Enoch Varney was born in Dover, NH, circa 1752, son of James and Abigail (Frye) Varney.
Strafford County historian Duane H. Hurd noted the settlements at Plummer’s Ridge in Milton, after 1772, of Benjamin Scates, Beard Plumer and his brother Joseph Plumer. He noted further that they were followed by James C. Hayes, David Wallingford, William Palmer, Elijah Horn, Moses Chamberlain, and others.
This was soon followed by quite a rush of settlers to the west side of the town, Daniel Hayes, Caleb Wakeham, Enoch Varney, Samuel Nute, William Wentworth, William Tuttle, Ichabod Hayes, James Hayes, Ebenezer Coursan, and Stephen Merseron [Meserve], being among the first, Jeremiah Cook, Dudley Burnham, Jotham Nute, Otis Pinkham, Ephraim Plumer, John Twombly, James Varney, John Varney, William Mathes, and others coming soon after (Hurd, 1882).
Enoch Varney married, circa 1788, Abigail Hanson. She was born in Dover, NH, December 10, 1760.
(The known children of Enoch and Abigail (Hanson) Varney were: Annie Varney (1789-1863), Hannah H. Varney (1795-1847), Mary Varney (1801-1893), and Clarissa Varney (1804-1889)).
Daughter Annie Varney was born in Rochester, in 1789.
Enoch Varney headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the First (1790) Federal Census. His household included two males aged 16-plus years [himself], two males aged under-16 years, and four females. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Ichabod Wentworth and Caleb Wankerum [Wakeham]. (See Northeast Parish in the First (1790) Federal Census).
(The Society of Friends “disowned” uncle Benjamin Varney (1759-1826), April 20, 1782; uncle Ebenezer Varney (1761-185?), in March 1791; and aunt Elizabeth Varney (1765-185?), in September 1791 (NH Gen. Record, January 1910)).
Daughter Hannah H. Varney was born in Rochester, NH, in 1795.
Enoch Varney headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Second (1800) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 45-plus years [himself], one female aged 26-44 years, one male aged 16-25 years, and four females aged under-10 years. (See Northeast Parish in the Second (1800) Federal Census).
Daughter Mary Varney was born in Rochester, NH, in 1801.
For whatever reason, Enoch Varney did not sign the Rochester Division Petition of May 1802. (His father would devise Rochester property to him only later in that year).
Father James Varney of Dover, NH, husbandman, made his last will, November 9, 1802. He devised all his property in Dover, NH, as well as the Thatch Bed at Fresh Creek, to his son, Isaac Varney. He devised a one-third share in two hundred fifty acres of land in Rochester, NH, where he now lives, to his son, Enoch Varney, as well as $45. He devised a featherbed, bedstead and cords, with a sufficiency of bedding for all seasons, and $60, to his daughter Eunice Varney. She was also to have a room in his dwelling house, with a fireplace, a cellar privilege for the keeping of “sauce,” and a sufficiency of firewood, cut and delivered at the door during her singleness of life, and an annual supply of ten bushels of corn, ten bushels of potatoes, ten pounds of flax, and one hundredweight of pork. (The “sauce” to be stored by daughter Eunice Varney would have meant – in the Yankee dialect sense of the term – garden greens and vegetables, including root vegetables such as potatoes, turnips, and carrots).
Father James Varney devised $35 to his sons, Robert Varney, Thomas Varney, James Varney, John Varney, Moses Varney, and Aaron Varney, or their legal representatives. He devised to his wife, Abigail Varney. She was to have two cords of word, cut and corded at her door, for so long as remained his widow. She was to have also one-third of his income and full improvement of the household furniture (excepting that given to daughter Eunice Varney), with an equal division of that furniture among his children after her decease. He named his son, Isaac Varney, as executor. He signed with an “X.” Tobias Tuttle, Moses Wingate, and John Wingate signed as witnesses (Strafford County Probate, 8:327).
The last will of father James Varney was proved in a Strafford County Probate Court, January 8, 1803 (Strafford County Probate, 8:329).
Daughter Clarissa Varney was born in Rochester, NH, in 1804.
Enoch Varney, Captn D. Hayes, and Saml Nute served on one of Milton’s nine district school committees in 1804. (See Milton School Committees – 1804).
Enoch Varney died in Milton, January 1, 1806, aged fifty-two years, one month.
Daughter Annie Varney married in Rochester, NH, June 2, 1825, William Varney, she of Milton and he of Farmington, NH. He was born in Rochester, NH, December 23, 1783, son of Caleb and Huldah (Hussey) Varney (NH Genealogical Society, 1903).
Daughter Clarissa Varney married in Dover, NH, January 25, 1827, Samuel Hanson, 2nd. Rev. Joseph W. Clary performed the ceremony. Hanson was born in Dover, NH, May 24, 1789, son of John and Marcy Hanson.
William Varney headed a Farmington, NH, household at the time of the Fifth (1830) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 40-49 years [himself], one female aged 40-49 years [Annie (Varney) Varney], one male aged under-5 years, one female aged under-5 years, and one female aged 60-69 years.
Samuel Hanson headed a Dover, NH, household at the time of the Fifth (1830) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 40-49 years [himself], one female aged 20-29 years [Clarissa (Varney) Hanson], one male aged 10-14 years, two males aged under-5 years, one female aged 30-39 years, one male aged 20-29 years, and one female aged 70-79 years.
William Varney headed a Farmington, NH, household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 50-59 years [himself], one female aged 40-49 years [Annie (Varney) Varney], one male aged 30-39 years, one male aged 20-29 years, one female aged 15-19 years, one male aged 10-14 years, one female aged 10-14 years, one female aged 5-9 years, and one female aged 50-59 years. Three members of his household were engaged in Agriculture; and one member of his household was engaged in Manufacture and Trade.
Samuel Hanson headed a Dover, NH, household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 50-59 years [himself], one female aged 30-39 years [Clarissa (Varney) Hanson], two males aged 10-14 years, one male aged 5-9 years, two females aged 5-9 years, one male aged under-5 years, one female aged under-5 years, and one female aged 70-79 years. Three members of his household were engaged in Agriculture.
Abigail (Hanson) Varney died in Milton, August 2, 1846, aged eighty-five years, eight months.
Daughter Hannah H. Varney died in Milton, May 8, 1847, aged fifty-two years, and twenty-three days.
Cocheco Railroad. – The annual meeting of this corporation was held in this town on Wednesday last, and very fully attended by the stockholders. The first annual report of the Directors (which will be found on our first page) presents a very favorable statement of the condition of the Company. The following board of Directors for the ensuing year was chosen, viz. William Hale, Jr., George Mathewson, Daniel Osborne, Joseph H. Smith, Dover; John Greenfield, Rochester; William Varney, Farmington; Samuel Downing, Jr., New Durham. At a meeting of the Directors, Wm. Hale, Jr., was chosen President, Andrew Peirce, 3d, Treasurer and Agent, and Charles W. Woodman, Clerk (Dover Enquirer, September 26, 1848).
Wm Varney, a farmer, aged sixty-six years (b. NH), headed a Farmington, NH, household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Anna [(Varney)] Varney, aged sixty-one years (b. NH), Ebenr Varney, a farmer, aged eighty-eight years (b. NH), Job Varney, a farmer, aged twenty-four years (b. NH), Mary Varney, aged twenty-one years (b. NH), Hannah Varney, aged seventeen years (b. NH), John Stanton, a farmer, aged twenty-nine years (b. NH) (b. NH), Adeline Nute, aged twenty-seven years, Elizabeth Downs, aged fifty-nine years (b. NH), and Thomas Murphy, a farmer, aged twenty-three years (b. NH). Wm Varney had real estate valued at $20,000.
Samuel Hanson, a farmer, aged sixty-one years (b. NH), headed a Dover, NH, household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Clarissa [(Varney)] Hanson, aged forty-five years (b. NH), John C. Hanson, a farmer, aged twenty-three years (b. NH), James D. Hanson, a farmer, aged twenty-one years (b. NH), Mary E. Hanson, aged nineteen years (b. NH), Hannah C. Hanson, aged seventeen years, Daniel E. Hanson, a farmer, aged fifteen years (b. NH), David S. Hanson, aged thirteen years (b. NH), Clara A. Hanson, aged eleven years (b. NH), and Mary Varney, aged forty-nine years (b. NH). Samuel Hanson had real estate valued at $4,000.
William Varney, a farmer, aged seventy-six years (b. NH), headed a Farmington, NH, household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Anna [(Varney)] Varney, a farmer, aged seventy years (b. NH), Job Varney, aged thirty-four years (b. NH), Roxanna A. Nute, aged thirty-seven years (b. NH), and Elisabeth Downs, aged sixty-eight years (b. NH). William Varney had real estate valued at $11,900 and personal estate valued at $16,102. Job Varney had personal estate valued at $2,000; and Elizabeth Downs had personal estate valued at $700.
Samuel Hanson, a farmer, aged seventy-one years (b. NH), headed a Dover, NH, household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Clarissa [(Varney)] Hanson, aged fifty-six years (b. NH), John C. Hanson, a carpenter, aged thirty-three years (b. NH), Hannah C. Hanson, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH), Daniel E. Hanson, a carpenter, aged twenty-six years (b. NH), David S. Hanson, aged twenty-three years (b. NH), Clara A. Hanson, aged twenty-two years (b. NH), and Mary Varney, aged sixty years (b. NH). Samuel Hanson had real estate valued at $4,000 and personal estate valued at $500. John C. Hanson had real estate valued at $650 and personal estate valued at $100; and Daniel E. Hanson had real estate valued at $300. David S. Hanson had personal estate valued at $25.
Daughter Annie (Varney) Varney died of dropsy in Farmington, NH, November 14, 1863, aged seventy-four years, one month, and twelve days. She was a married farmer.
Son-in-law William Varney died of a heart complaint in Farmington, NH, November 24, 1863, aged seventy-nine years, eleven months, and three days. He was a married farmer.
DEATHS. In Farmington, Nov. 14, Anna Varney, aged 74 yrs., 1 month, 12 days – Nov. 24, Friend William Varney, aged 79 yrs., 11 mos., 3 days; husband and wife (Dover Enquirer, December 3, 1863).
Letter from Farmington. FARMINGTON, Nov. 27, 1863. To-day the flag here floats at half-mast from the flag-staff for Friend William Varney, who gave the noble tree for the mainmast, in being buried. Thirteen days since William, and Anna his wife, were both living at their well known and hospitable home upon the beautiful Chestnut hills, where Caleb, the father of William, settled mor than fourscore years ago. Now both are gone. – Anna died after a somewhat protracted sickness and on the tenth day after her death her husband fell dead in his own house. He head just brought in a basket of chips and said to his son Job, “I think thee must get the next basket of chips for I feel a pain in my side,” and immediately fell dead. He was for many years our wealthiest farmer and an active business men [man] for about half a century. – He helped hold up the Cocheco Railroad in its darkest hours. Many a disciple of Christ, after the manner of William Penn, shall miss his well known home. He has left, we judge, some sixty thousand dollars to three worthy hours. They were well known and long shall we miss them. J. (Dover Enquirer, December 3, 1863).
Samuel Hanson, a farmer, aged eighty-one years (b. NH), headed a Dover, NH, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Clarisa [(Varney)] Hanson, keeping house, aged sixty-seven years (b. NH), David Hanson, a laborer, aged thirty-four years (b. NH), and Mary Varney, without occupation, aged sixty-nine years (b. NH). Samuel Hanson had real estate valued at $4,700 and personal estate valued at $1,400.
Son-in-law Samuel Hanson died in Dover, NH, December 12, 1871, aged eighty-two years.
DEATHS. In Dover, Dec. 12, Mr. SAMUEL HANSON, aged 82 years, 6 mos. (Portsmouth Daily Chronicle, December 20, 1871).
He [Samuel Hanson] inherited the paternal acres, and spent his entire life on the estate, and was engaged in farming and carpenter’s work throughout his active period. An upright, hard-working man, and prudent in his habits, he was eighty-two years old when he died here [Dover], December 12, 1871. Samuel Hanson never knew a sick day until his last illness, which was brief (Biographical Review, 1897).
David G. Hanson, a farmer, aged forty-three years (b. NH), headed a Dover, NH, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his mother, Clarisa [(Varney)] Hanson, keeping house, aged seventy-six years (b. NH), his sisters, Clara A. Hanson, a housekeeper, aged forty-one years (b. NH), and Hannah C. [(Hanson)] Canney, a tailoress, aged forty-seven years (b. NH), his aunt, Mary Varney, a housekeeper, aged eighty years (b. NH), and his servants, Charles J. Manning, a farm laborer, aged nineteen years (b. NY), and William H. Davis, a farmer laborer, aged eighteen years (b. NH).
Daughter Clarissa (Varney) Hanson died in Dover, NH, September 8, 1889, aged eighty-four years.
Daughter Mary Varney died of pneumonia in Dover, NH, March 8, 1893, aged ninety-two years, five months, and fifteen days. She was a single houseworker.
References:
Biographical Review. (1897). Biographical Review: Contain Life Sketches of Leading Citizens of Belknap and Strafford Counties, New Hampshire. Retrieved from www.google.com/books/edition/Biographical_Review/C2sjAQAAMAAJ
Find a Grave. (2016, July 13). Clarissa Varney Hanson. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/166922988/clarissa-hanson
Find a Grave. (2011, December 31). Enoch Varney. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/82753957/enoch-varney
Find a Grave. (2012, April 24). Hannah H. Varney. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/89090791/hannah_h-varney
Find a Grave. (2016, July 31). Mary Varney. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/166923364/mary-varney
NH Genealogical Society. (1903, October). Friends Records, Dover, N.H., Monthly Meeting. Retrieved from www.google.com/books/edition/The_New_Hampshire_Genealogical_Record/M9M5AQAAMAAJ
Milton Observer 