By Muriel Bristol | October 11, 2026
Amos Witham was born in Kittery, ME, in 1742, son of Gattensby and Margaret (Cater) Witham.
Amos Witham married in Kittery, ME, September 6, 1764, Lucy Weeks. She was born in Kittery, ME, in 1739, daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Wilson) Weeks.
(The known children of Amos and Lucy (Weeks) Witham were: John Witham (1765-1847), Josiah Witham (1768-184?), and Obadiah Witham (1771-1841)).
Son John Witham was born in Kittery, ME, circa 1765. Son Josiah Witham was born in Kittery, ME, December 2, 1768. Son Obadiah Witham was born in Kittery, ME, circa 1771.
Amos Witham was one of thirteen Kittery inhabitants residing near Spruce Creek that petitioned the ME legislature, March 28, 1772, seeking fishing regulations at Spruce Creek.
To his Excellency the Governor of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay the Hond his Majestys Council for said Province & the Honb House of Representatives for Said Province in general Assembly Convend the 28th Day of March 1772 The Petition of the Subscribers Inhabitants of the Town of Kittery in the County of York living at and near a place in Said Town called Spruce Creek Humbly Shew That whereas they are Given to understand that a Petition of Some of the Inhabitants of Said Town is preferred to Your Excellency and Honours to have a Prohibition laid on Seining of Shad and alewives in the Said Creek called Spruce Creek upon which they would be glad to observe that to have the Fishing in Said Creek put upon some Regulation Your Petitioners are in no manner averse But they Humbly Concieve that to absolutely Prohibet catching the Said Fish in Scienes [seines] and at the same time to permit the Catching of them in wares [weirs] and Hedges as the manner has been of late would be Inequitable as these wares and Hedges are Usually made and Continued on the Flats or shallows which are claimed as the Property of the Propriators of the Land Contiguous and adjoining their being but one Small Sciene [seine] made use of by a party that has no place Conveniant to Set up a ware [weir] or Hedges for the cetching Said Fish that the distruction of the Fish is much more made by these wares [weirs] than by Seining as they are usually kept up all the fishing Season and take all the Fish that come within them every Tide whereas Seining is generally made in the middle of the River and is only occasionally done to Catch Bait to Carry on the Cod fishery that your Petitioners can not but be apprehensive that the Prayer of the Said Petition before Referrd to notwithstanding the pretences therein made for the Public Good is Principally intended for the Emolument of Individuals and therefore Your Petitioners Humbly hope the thereof will not be Granted THOMS CHASE, RICHD KEATING, JOHN SPINNEY ye 3d, ROBT CUTTS, BRADSTREET CHASE, JOHN SPINAY, JOHN CATOR, PARKER FOSTER, JOHN TOTHERLY, JOHN CHASE, MATTHEW GROVER, WILLIAM FERNALD, AMOS WITHAM (MA General Court, 1886).
Amos Witham would seem to have settled in Rochester’s Northeast Parish, i.e., the Milton Branch and Milton Mills part of what would become Milton, before 1790. (Yet he was not enumerated by name there in the First (1790) Federal Census).
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 [Hatevil] Nutter, Thomas Applebee, William Applebee, John Hart, John Remick, Jr., Jonathan Dearborn, Joseph Dearborn, and many others (Scales, 1914).
Paul Jewett, Amos Witham, Reuben Jones and others were the first settlers of the section near the West Branch river. They came probably about 1785 or 1786.
Among the first who settled at Three Ponds were Samuel Palmer, [John] Levi Burgen, John Fish, Paul Jewett, Pelatiah Hanscom, Robert McGooch, and others (Hurd, 1882).
Son Josiah Witham married in Wakefield, NH, August 5, 1792, Mehitable “Hittie” Jones. She was born in Berwick, ME, March 20, 1770, daughter of Reuben and Mary “Molly” (Nock) Jones.
Son Obadiah Witham married in Wakefield, NH, in 1800, Nancy Hanson, both of Rochester, NH. Rev. Asa Piper performed the ceremony.
Amos Witham headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Second (1800) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 45-plus [himself], one female aged 45-plus [Lucy (Weeks) Witham], one male aged 26-44 years [Obadiah Witham], and one male aged 10-15 years [Joseph Witham]. (See Northeast Parish in the Second (1800) Federal Census).
John Witham headed a 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 [Mary (Littlefield) Witham], two males aged 10-15, two males aged under-10 years, and two females aged under-10 years. (See Northeast Parish in the Second (1800) Federal Census).
Josiah Witham headed a 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 [Mehitable (Jones) Witham], one male aged 10-15 years, and four females aged under-10 years [Sarah Witham, Mary J. Witham, and Lucy Witham]. (See Northeast Parish in the Second (1800) Federal Census)
Amos Witham and his sons, John Witham, Josiah Witham, and Obadiah Witham, as well as Ruben Jones, all signed the Rochester Division Petition of May 1802.
Amos Witham, Aron Witham, John Witham, Josiah Witham, Obadiah Witham, and Edmd Witham, were assessed in the Milton School District No. 3 of Paul Jewett Esq. (See Milton School Districts – 1806).
Amos Witham headed a Milton household at the time of the Third (1810) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 45-plus years [himself], one female aged 45-plus years [Lucy (Weeks) Witham], and one male aged 16-25 years [Joseph Witham]. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Stephen Watson and Josiah Witham. (See Milton in the Third (1810) Federal Census).
John Witham headed a Milton household at the time of the Third (1810) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 45-plus years [himself], one female aged 26-44 years [Mary (Littlefield) Witham], one male aged 16-25 years, one male aged 10-15 years, two females aged 10-15 years, and two females aged under-10 years. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of James Merry and Stephen Watson. (See Milton in the Third (1810) Federal Census).
Josiah Witham 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 16-25 years [Mehitable (Jones) Witham], three females aged 10-15 years [Sarah Witham, Mary J. Witham], one male aged under-10 years [Reuben J. Witham], five females aged under-10 years [Mehitable Witham, Rhoda Witham, Clarissa Witham]. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Amos Witham and Nathl Jewett. (See Milton in the Third (1810) Federal Census).
Obadiah Witham 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 [Nancy (Hanson) Witham], one female aged 16-25 years, four males aged under-10 years, and one female aged under-10 years. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Timo Wentworth and Jona Young. (See Milton in the Third (1810) Federal Census).
Lucy (Weeks) Witham died in Milton, April 27, 1823, aged eighty-four years. Amos Witham died in Milton, August 9, 1823, aged eighty-one years.
Son Obadiah Witham published a legal notice, in 1828, acknowledging his own son, Ira L. Witham, to be an emancipated minor.
NOTICE. I, OBADIAH WITHAM, of Milton, N.H., do hereby certify that I have this day given my son Ira L. Witham, his time till he becomes twenty-one years of age; and that he has liberty to act and trade for himself, and that I shall not claim any of his earnings. OBADIAH WITHAM. Witness, John Kimball. Milton, July 16, 1823 .29 (Dover Enquirer, September 8, 1828).
John Witham headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifth (1830) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 60-69 years [himself], one female aged 60-69 years [Mary (Littlefield) Witham], one female aged 20-29 years, and one male aged 10-14 years. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of R.J. Witham and John Witham, Jr. (See Milton in the Fifth (1830) Federal Census).
Josiah Witham headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifth (1830) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 60-69 years [himself], one female aged 60-69 years [Mehitable (Jones) Witham], one female aged 30-39 years, one female aged 20-29 years, and one male aged 10-14 years [Josiah N. Witham]. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Amos Witham and R.J. Witham. (See Milton in the Fifth (1830) Federal Census).
Obediah Witam [Obadiah Witham] headed a Milton 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 [Nancy (Hanson) Witham], two males aged 10-14 years, and one male aged 5-9 years. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Eph Pickering and Otis Wentworth. (See Milton in the Fifth (1830) Federal Census).
Son John Witham, Mary [(Littlefield)] Witham; Josiah Witham, Mehitable [(Jones)] Witham; and Nancy [(Hanson)] Witham, were among the the fifty-two members that were dismissed or released from the Acton and Milton Baptist Church, October 28, 1834, in order to found the Milton Baptist Church.
Baptist Church. – Prior to 1834 a church existed, known as the Acton and Milton Baptist Church. This church had a large membership in Milton. On the 28th day of October, in said year, fifty-two members were dismissed from said church, and the 30th day of the same October they organized them into a new church, called the Baptist Church of Milton. The membership was as follows: Charles Swasey, Sarah Swasey, John Shackford, Elizabeth Hart, Ann E. Hart, Hannah Nutter, Ruth Nutter, Samuel S. Hart, Daniel Jones, Nancy Witham, Ira Witham, Nathan Jones, Mehitable Witham, Eunice Swasey, Harriet Fox, Widow Betsey Berry, Susan S. Nutter, Mary Ann Nutter, John Witham, Jr., William S. Nutter, Aaron H. Hadsdan, Nathaniel O. Hart, John Witham, Francis Berry, Josiah Witham, Susan Jones, Martha Witham, Fatima Wallingford, Lydia Jewett, Susan Archabald, Eliza G. Berry, James J. Jewett, Lydia Witham, Nathan Dore, Climena Witham, Alice Hussey, Mary Wentworth, Lydia Fall, Sarah Wentworth, Sally Merrow, Eliza Merrow, Mary Jones, Nancy Jewett, Asa Jewett, Betsey Berry, Mary Witham, Abigail Witham, Deborah Dore, Sarah Berry, Francis Wallingford, Sarah Dore, Elizabeth Nutter. William S. Nutter was chosen clerk, and Charles Swasey and John Witham, Jr., were chosen and ordained as deacons. Of these fifty-two members nine only are now living (Scales, 1914).
Josiah Witham 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 [Mehitable (Jones) Witham], one female aged 40-49 years [Lucy Witham], one female aged 30-39 years [Mehitable Witham], and one female aged 10-14 years. One member of his household was engaged in Agriculture. His household appeared in the enumeration between those of [his sons,] Josiah N. Witham and Reuben J. Witham.
Obidiah [Obadiah] Witham headed a Milton 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 [Nancy (Hanson) Witham], one male aged 30-39 years, one female aged 20-29 years, and one female aged under-5 years. Two members of his household were engaged in Agriculture. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Phineas Wentworth and Samuel Guptill.
Son Obadiah Witham died in Milton, in June 1841, aged sixty-nine years.
Died. In Milton, Mr. Obadiah Witham, aged 69 (Dover Enquirer, June 22, 1841).
Grandson Ira L. Witham married in Wakefield, NH, November 4, 1843, Climena P. Witham, both of Milton. Rev. Joseph Spinney performed the ceremony.
Son John Witham died in Milton, in February 1847, aged about eighty-two years.
DEATHS. In Milton, Mr. John Witham aged about 82 (Dover Enquirer, March 2, 1847).
Josiah N. Witham, farming, aged thirty-four years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Sarah [(Walker)] Witham, aged thirty-five years (b. NH), Charles Witham, aged ten years (b. NH), Eliza Witham, aged six years (b. NH), Charles Witham, aged three years (b. NH), Mehitable [(Jones)] Witham, aged eighty-two years (b. ME), Lucy Witham, aged fifty years (b. NH), and Martha Witham, aged forty years (b. NH). Josiah N. Witham had real estate value at $3,000. Their household was enumerated between those of Brackett Merrill, a lumber dealer, aged thirty-four years (b. ME), and Asa Jewett, a lumber dealer, aged thirty-five years (b. NH).
Ira L. Witham, a farmer, aged forty years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Climena [(Witham)] Witham, aged thirty-five years (b. NH), Zilpha Witham, aged ten years (b. NH), Nancy E. Witham, aged eight years (b. NH), Cordelia Witham, aged six years (b. NH), and Nancy [(Hanson)] Witham, aged seventy-one years (b. NH). Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Asa H. Witham, a farmer, aged thirty-three years (b. NH), and Benjamin Dorr, a farmer aged sixty-three years (b. ME).
J.N. Witham, a farmer, aged forty-four years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton Mills”) household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Sarah A. [(Walker)] Witham, aged forty-six years (b. NH), Charles Witham, aged fourteen years (b. NH), and Mary E. Witham, aged eleven years (b. NH). J.N. Witham had real estate valued at $3,000 and personal estate valued at $1,500. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Nathl Rines, a farmer, aged forty-four years (b. NH), and [his mother,] Mehitable [(Jones)] Witham, aged ninety years (b. NH).
Mehitable (Jones) Witham died of old age in Milton, May 10, 1863, aged ninety-three years. She was a farmer.
References:
Hurd, Duane H. (1882). History of Rockingham and Strafford Counties. Retrieved from www.google.com/books/edition/History_of_Rockingham_and_Strafford_Coun/juuVEQAAQBAJ?&pg=PA645
MA General Court. (1886). Acts and Resolves, Public and Private, of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. Retrieved from www.google.com/books/edition/The_Acts_and_Resolves_Public_and_Private/bguedZxfwjsC&pg=PA185
Scales, John. (1914). History of Strafford County, New Hampshire and Representative Citizens. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=nGsjAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA508
