By Muriel Bristol | June 21, 2025
William Applebee was born in Durham, NH, circa 1772, son of Hawley and Hannah (Welch) Applebee.
William Applebee and his elder brother, Thomas Applebee, would seem to have settled in Rochester’s Northeast Parish, i.e., the Milton Branch and Milton Mills part of what would become Milton, circa 1797.
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., Jonathan Dearborn, Joseph Dearborn, and many others.
William Applebee (“Applebe”) married in Shapleigh, ME, March 20, 1800, Phebe Merrow, he of Rochester, NH, and she of Shapleigh, ME. Elder Loren Lord performed the ceremony.
(The known children of William and Phebe (Merrow) Applebee were Simon Applebee (1800-1850), Samuel W. Applebee (1802-1846), Anna Applebee (180?-), Charlotte Applebee (180?-), and Almira Applebee (181?-)).
William Applebee headed a North 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 16-25 years [Phebe (Merrow) Applebee], and one male aged under-10 years [Simon Applebee]. (See Northeast Parish in the Second (1800) Federal Census).
William Applebee did not sign the Rochester Division Petition of May 1802. (See Rochester Division Petition – May 1802).
Willm Appleby and his elder brother, Thomas Appleby, were assessed in the Milton School District No. 1 of Joseph Plumer in 1806. (See Milton School Districts – 1806).
William Applebee 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 [Phebe (Merrow) Applebee], one male aged 10-15 years [Simon Applebee], one male aged under-10 years [Samuel W. Applebee], and two females aged under-10 years [Anna Applebee and Charlotte Applebee]. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Henry Rines and Thos Applebee. (See Milton in the Third (1810) Federal Census).
Son Simeon Applebee signed the Milton Militia Division Petition of November 1820. (See Milton Militia Dispute – 1820).
Son Samuel W. Applebee married in Danville, ME, July 11, 1823, Sally [D.] Pulsifer, he of New Hampshire and she of Minot, ME. N.F. Ingersoll, Esq., J.P., performed the ceremony. She was born in Minot, ME, May 4, 1804, daughter of Samuel and Abigail (Nason) Pulsifer.
William Applebee of Milton made his last will, May 6, 1825.
I give and bequeath all my property both real and personal to my wife Phebe excepting one dollar to each of my Children, Viz., Simeon, Samuel, Annah, Charlotte and Almira.
He appointed his wife Phebe Applebee as executor. Charles Powers, Thomas Applebee, and Stephen Drew signed as witnesses (Strafford County Probate, 32:1).
William Applebee died in Milton, May 7, 1825, ae. fifty-three years. His last will was proved in a Strafford County Probate Court held in Wolfeboro, NH, May 24, 1825 (Strafford County Probate, 32:1).
Son Simeon Applebee married (1st), before 1826, Adah Applebee. She was born in Berwick, ME, circa 1802, daughter of Levi and Eunice (Goodwin) Applebee.
Daughter-in-law Adah [(Applebee)] Applebee died in Milton, November 3, 1826, aged twenty-four years, six months, and thirteen days.
Son Simeon Applebee married (2nd) in Somersworth, September 14, 1828, Mrs. Joanna Applebee, he of Milton and she of Berwick, ME. Rev. James Davis performed the ceremony.
Simeon Applebe headed a Milton 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 [Joanna (Applebee) Applebee], one female aged 10-14 years, one male aged 5-9 years, two females aged under-5 years, and one female aged 50-59 years [Phebe (Merrow) Applebee]. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of John Rinds [Rines] and Geo. Dore (See Milton in the Fifth (1830) Federal Census).
S.W. Applebee headed a Somersworth, 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 [Sally D. (Pulsifer) Applebee], one female aged 15-19 years, one female aged 5-9 years, one male aged under-5 years, and two females aged under-5 years.
Son Samuel W. Applebee attended the Union Methodist Church (in the then Milton circuit) and was a steward of that church in 1839.
A [Methodist] church was at Union village for many years in active operation. Milton circuit, October, 1831. A.H. Houghton, preacher in charge, J. Worster, assistant circuit preacher, held quarterly meetings at Milton, Union village, Brookfield and Wakefield. October, 1832, Wolfeborough, Milton Mills, Milton Three Ponds, Brookfield. John Adams, L.E. Gordon, assistant. 1833, July. Circuit divided into Milton and Wakefield circuits; quarterly meeting at new meeting house; John Adams and Moses Chase, preachers. 1834, last quarterly conference at the old meeting-house in centre of the town. 1839, Joseph Smith, preacher; Elisha Mills, local preacher and class leader at Union; stewards, Thomas Chapman, Luther Wentworth, Joseph Walker, Samuel Applebee (Merrill, 1889).
Phebe (Merrow) Applebee died in Milton, in 1840.
Simeon Applebee 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 [Joanna (Applebee) Applebee], one male aged 15-19 years, one female aged 10-14 years, one male aged 5-9 years, two females aged 5-9 years, and two females aged under-5 years. Three members of his household were engaged in Agriculture. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of James Applebee and Susannah Nutter.
Samuel W. Applebee headed a Milton household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 30-39 years [himself], one female aged 30-39 years [Sally D. (Pulsifer) Applebee], one male aged 20-29 years, two females aged 15-19 years, one male aged 10-14 years, and two males aged 5-9 years. Two members of his household were engaged in Manufacture and Trade. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Noah Robinson and Ebenezer Rines.
Elder brother Thomas Applebee died in Milton, March 2, 1841, aged eighty-four years, and four months.
Died. In Milton, Thomas Applebee, in a fit of appoplexy, aged 84 years and 4 months (Times & Dover Enquirer, April 6, 1841).
Son Samuel W. Applebee died in Milton, October 16, 1846, aged forty-four years, eight months. (“Friends nor Physicians could not save, my mortal body from the grave. Nor can the grave confine me here, when Christ my savior doth appear”).
Daughter-in-law Joanna (Applebee) Applebee died in Milton, in December 1849, aged forty-two years.
Son Simeon Applebee died of consumption in Milton, May 12, 1850, aged forty-nine years, ten months. He was a tanner.
Sally [(Pulsifer)] Applebee, aged forty-six years (b. ME), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. Her household included William Applebee, a farmer, aged twenty years (b. NH), Thomas W. Applebee, a shoemaker, aged sixteen years (b. NH), George Stover Applebee, aged four years (b. NH), Sarah Henshaw, aged sixteen years (b. England), Richard Greenwich, a manufacturer, aged thirty-three years (b. England), Abby Roberts, aged fifteen years (b. ME), Timothy Folly, a manufacturer, aged twenty-three years (b. Ireland), Thomas Butler, a farmer, aged forty years (b. ME), Hannah [(Lord)] Butler, aged forty-two years (b. ME), Adaline Butler, aged seventeen years (b. ME), Wentworth Butler, aged fourteen years (b. ME), Hannah Butler, aged twelve years (b. ME), Melvesta Butler, aged four years (b. NH), and Crista Butler, aged two years (b. NH). Sally Applebee had real estate valued at $900. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Benjamin Hubbard, a Bap. clergyman, aged thirty years (b. ME), and Albert Robinson, a farmer, aged thirty-three years (b. NH).
State of New-Hampshire. To the Judge of Probate in the County of Strafford in the State of New Hampshire. RESPECTFULLY represents Francis D. Horn of Milton, in said county, that at a Probate Court holden at Dover, in said county, on the fifth day of August, A.D. 1851, he was duly appointed Guardian of Samuel W. Applebee, Laura F. Applebee, Eunice A. Applebee, Theodore S. Applebee, Sarah E. Applebee, and Simeon H. Applebee, minors and heirs of Simeon Applebee, late of said Milton, deceased; that said Samuel W. Applebee has now arrived at the age of twenty one years; that said Laura F. Applebee has deceased; and that his own private business renders it improper for him any longer to remain guardian of said Eunice A., Theodore S., Sarah E., and Simeon H. He therefore prays that he may be removed from his said trust at his own request. Dated this fourth day of September, A.D. 1855. FRANCIS D. HORN (Dover Enquirer, September 27, 1855).
State of New-Hampshire. STRAFFORD, S.S. – To Samuel W. Applebee, Eunice A. Applebee, Theodore S. Applebee, and Simeon H. Applebee, all of Milton; in said county, wards of Francis D. Horn; the heirs of Laura F. Applebee, deceased, late ward of said Horn; and to all other persons interested, YOU are hereby notified that said Francis D. Horn, Guardian, will exhibit his account of his Guardianship at a Court of Probate to be holden at Somersworth in said county on the first Tuesday of November next, when and where you may appear and be heard on said account. And it ordered that said Guardian give notice, by causing said citation and order thereon to be published three weeks successively in the Dover Enquirer, printed at Dover, in said county, the last publication whereof to be at least thirty days before said court. Given at Dover in said county this 4th day of September, A.D. 1855. By order, JOHN H. WHITE, Registrar (Dover Enquirer, September 27, 1855).
Salley [(Pulsifer)] Applebee, aged fifty-six years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. Her household included George S. Applebee, aged twenty-five years (b. NH), Richard Ham, a factory operative, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH). Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of E. Whitesides, aged fifty years (b. NH), and Polley Fox, aged sixty-six years (b. NH).
Widowed daughter-in-law Sally D. (Pulsifer) Applebee married (2nd), after April 1863, Amos Witham. He was born in Milton, circa 1803, son of Obediah and Nancy (Hanson) Witham. (Witham’s first wife, Abigail (Earl) Witham, died of consumption in Milton, April 7, 1863, aged sixty-three years, eleven months).
Amos Whitham, a farm laborer, aged sixty-six years (b. ME), headed an Acton, ME, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Salley D. [((Pulsifer) Applebee)] Whitham, keeping house, aged sixty-six years (b. ME), [her grandson,] George W. Applebe, aged nine years (b. ME), Henry Mcdougle, works in w [woolen] mill, aged forty-four years (b. Scotland). Amos Witham had real estate valued at $375 and personal estate valued at $185. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of John Brackett, a carpenter, aged fifty-eight years (b. NH), and William McGibon, a block printer, aged forty-six years (b. Scotland).
Daughter-in-law Sally D. ((Pulsifer) Applebee) Witham died, probably in Acton, ME, after June 1870, where and when she had been enumerated with her husband and an Applebee grandson.
[My own attempt at reading her “broken and badly deteriorated” gravestone inscription suggests “SALLY D. / Consort of / Samuel W. Applebee / and wife of / Amos Witham / DIED / <illegible date> / <illegible age>”].
Amos Witham died, probably in Acton, ME, after June 1880, where and when he had been enumerated – but without his wife of 1870 – in the Tenth (1880) Federal Census.
References:
Find a Grave. (2011, December 4). Samuel W. Applebee. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/81530853/samuel-w.-applebee
Find a Grave. (2011, October 7). Simeon Applebee. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/77786360/simeon-applebee
Find a Grave. (2011, December 4). William Applebee. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/81531292/william-applebee
Merrill, Georgia D. (1889). History of Carroll County, New Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=nQE2AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA503
Scales, John. (1914). History of Strafford County, New Hampshire and Representative Citizens. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=nGsjAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA509
Wikipedia. (2026, April 30). Minot, Maine. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minot,_Maine
Wikipedia. (2026, May 26). Poland, Maine. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poland,_Maine
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