By Muriel Bristol | October 18, 2026
James Varney was born in Dover, NH, circa 1765, son of James and Abigail (Frye) Varney.
James Varney and his brother, John Varney, have been described as early settlers of West Milton.
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 Meseron [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.
James Varney married in Rochester, NH, June 7, 1787, Martha Wentworth, he of Dover, NH, and she of Rochester, NH. She was born in Rochester, NH, August 21, 1766, daughter of William and Hannah (Hayes) Wentworth. She was a namesake for her paternal grandmother, Martha (Grant) Wentworth.
(The known children of James and Martha (Wentworth) Varney were: Abigail Varney (1788-1870), Hopley Varney (1792-1854), Ira Varney (1803-1888), “and others”).
Daughter Abigail Varney was born in Rochester, NH, April 21, 1788. [daughter of Jonathan and Martha Varney].
James Varney headed a Northeast Parish, Rochester, NH, household at the time of the First (1790) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 16-plus years [himself], two females [Martha (Wentworth) Varney, Abigail Varney], and one male aged under-16 years. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Ezecal Hays and Jotham Nute. (See Northeast Parish in the First (1790) Federal Census).
Son Hopley Varney was born in Rochester, NH, in 1792.
James Varney 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 [Martha (Wentworth) Varney], one female aged 10-15 years, one male aged under-10 years, and two females aged under-10 years. (See Northeast Parish in the Second (1800) Federal Census).
Son Ira Varney was born in Rochester, NH, in 1803. [son of James and Elizabeth Varney].
James Varney was among the fifty-two Milton petitioners that sought to have Jotham Nute appointed as a Milton justice-of-the-peace, in August 1805.
James Varney was assessed in the Milton School District No. 2 of Lieut. J. Nute in 1806. (See Milton School Districts – 1806).
Daughter Abigail Varney married in Milton, April 24, 1806, Ebenezer Clark, she of Milton and he of Barrington, NH. Wm Palmer, J.P., performed the ceremony. Clark was born in Barrington, NH, March 11, 1783, son of Daniel and Love (Drew) Clark.
James Varney 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 [Martha (Wentworth) Varney], one male aged 16-25 years, two females aged 10-15 years, and one male aged under-10 years. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Ezekiel Hayes and Wd [Widow] Mary Varney. (See Milton in the Third (1810) Federal Census).
Ebenezr Clerk [Clark] headed a Barrington, 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 [Abigail (Varney) Clark], one male aged under-10 years, and one female aged under-10 years.
Martha (Wentworth) Varney died after 1810, when she was aged 45-plus years, i.e., born before 1765, but before 1830.
Son Hopley Varney married in Rochester, NH, November 25, 1813, Lydia Varney, both of Milton. She was born in Milton, circa 1790, daughter of Aaron and Anne (Clements) Varney.
James Varney and his son, Hopley Varney, signed the Milton anti-division remonstrance of June 1820 requesting that Milton not be divided in two parts. (See Milton Militia Dispute – 1820).
Son Ira Varney married in Berwick, ME, April 21, 1825, Lydia Jenkins, he of Milton and she of South Berwick, ME. Linzey Wallis, J.P., performed the ceremony. She was born in Durham, NH, circa 1806, daughter of Nathaniel and Sally (Hammett) Jenkins.
Jas Varney headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifth (1830) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 70-79 years [himself], and one female aged 20-29 years. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of J.C. Varney and Ira Varney. (See Milton in the Fifth (1830) Federal Census).
Hopley Varney headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifth (1830) Federal Census. His household included one male aged one male aged 30-39 years [himself], one female aged 40-49 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 male aged under-5 years. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Hayes Nute and J.C. Varney. (See Milton in the Fifth (1830) Federal Census).
Ira Varney headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifth (1830) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 20-29 years [himself], one female aged 20-29 years [Lydia (Jenkins) Varney], and one male aged under-5 years. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Jas Varney and David Nute. (See Milton in the Fifth (1830) Federal Census).
James Varney died after 1830, when he was aged 70-79 years (i.e., he was born between 1751 and 1760), but before 1840.
Son-in-law Ebenezer Clark died in Strafford, NH, November 24, 1837, aged fifty-four years.
Harpley [Hopley] Varney headed a Milton household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 40-49 years [himself], one male aged 20-29 years, one female aged 20-29 years, one male aged 10-14 years, and one female aged 60-69 years. Two members of his household were engaged in Agriculture. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Jeremiah Cook and Stephen Twombly.
Ira Varney 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 [Lydia (Jenkins) Varney], one female aged 15-19 years, one male aged 10-14 years, one male aged 5-9 years, one female aged 5-9 years. One member of his household was engaged in Agriculture. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of John C. Varney and David Nute.
Abigail [(Varney)] Clark, aged sixty-two years (b. NH), headed a Strafford, NH, household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. Her household included James B. Clark, a farmer, aged forty-one years (b. NH), Elisabeth [(Nute)] Clark, aged forty-one years (b. NH), Eliza J. Clark, aged fifteen years (b. NH), and Abigail M. Clark, aged thirteen years (b. NH). Abigail Clark had real estate valued at $3,000.
Hopley Varney, a farmer, aged fifty-eight years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Lydia [(Varney)] Varney, aged sixty years (b. NH), Caroline Varney, aged thirty-four years (b. NH), James H. Varney, a shoemaker, aged twenty years (b. NH), Joseph Pitman, a farmer, aged forty-four years (b. NH), and Isaac Young, aged fifty-two years (b. NH). Hopley Varney had real estate valued at $1,500. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Joseph Cook, a farmer, aged forty-one years (b. NH), and Isaac Young, a carpenter, aged fifty-two years (b. NH).
Ira Varney, a farmer, aged forty-seven years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Lydia [(Jenkins)] Varney, aged forty-four years (b. NH), Nathaniel B. Varney, a shoemaker, aged twenty-one years (b. NH), James B. Varney, a farmer, aged sixteen years (b. NH), Sarah E. Varney, aged eighteen years (b. NH), and Ira C. Varney, aged nine years (b. NH). Ira Varney had real estate valued at $2,500. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Ezekiel Nute, a farmer, aged fifty-six years (b. NH), and John C. Varney, a farmer, aged fifty-four years (b. NH).
Hopley Varney of Milton, husbandman, made his last will, July 24, 1852. He bequeathed two cows and four sheep to his wife, Lydia Varney, to be kept on the farm for her benefit. She was to receive also an annual allotment of twelve bushels of good corn, thirty bushels of potatoes, “and as much garden sauce and cider apples and all other sauce that grows on the farm as is necessary for her.” The “sauce” mentioned here is a 18th and early 19th century Yankee term for root and other vegetables. She was to have also as much of the house and cellar as is necessary for her use and benefit during her widowhood, and wood sufficient for one fire, to be delivered to the house fitted for a stove or fireplace as she may choose. She was to have also the household furniture not otherwise mentioned.
He bequeathed his homestead farm in Milton to his son, James H. Varney. The farm included its buildings, farming utensils, and stock, excepting three cows and fours sheep. He bequeathed $5 to his daughter, Martha Ann Hanson. He bequeathed to his daughter, Caroline Varney, one cow, one bed and bedding, and all the table linen, and bedding she had made for herself, and a decent and handsome maintenance on the farm as long as she remained unmarried. She was to receive $40 should she marry. He bequeathed one cow, three sheep, and two steer to his son, John W. Varney. He named his son, James H. Varney, as executor. Elihu Hayes, Isaac Cook, and Ichabod H. Wentworth signed as witnesses (Strafford County Probate, 66:187).
Hopley Varney died in Milton, February 3, 1854. His last will was proved in a Strafford County Probate Court held in Dover, NH, March 7, 1854 (Strafford County Probate, 66:188).
James V. Clark, a farmer, aged fifty years, headed a Strafford (“Bow Pond P.O.”), NH, household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Elizabeth [(Nute)] Clark, aged fifty years (b. NH), Abbie M. Clark, teacher of common school, aged twenty-two years (b. NH), Joseph A. Clark, aged eleven years (b. NH), Abigail [(Varney)] Clark, aged seventy-two years (b. NH), and Jonathan Witham, a farm laborer, aged twenty years (b. NH). James V. Clark had real estate valued at $4,000 and personal estate valued at $1,000.
Henry Varney, aged thirty years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Lydia [(Varney)] Varney, aged seventy years (b. NH), and Caroline Varney, aged forty-four years (b. NH). He had real estate valued at $2,000 and personal estate valued at $500. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Nathl W. Burnham, a farmer, aged fifty-one years (b. NH), and Joseph Cook, a farmer, aged fifty-one years (b. NH).
Ira Varney, a farmer, aged fifty-seven years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Lydia Varney, aged fifty-four years (b. NH), J.C. I.C.] Varney, a farmer, aged nineteen years (b. NH), and L.J. Tibbetts, aged ten years (b. NH). Ira Varney had real estate valued at $2,000 and personal estate valued at $1,000. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of William J. Tibbetts, a farmer, aged twenty-three years (b. NH), and Paul Reynolds, a farmer, aged sixty-one years (b. NH).
James V. Clark, a farmer, aged sixty-years (b. NH), headed a Strafford, NH, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Elizabeth [(Nute)] Clark, keeping house, aged sixty-one years (b. NH), Georgie N. Clark, a school teacher, aged eighteen years (b. NH), Abigail [(Varney)] Clark, aged eighty-two years (b. NH), Woodbury M. Bateman, a farm laborer, aged nineteen years (b. NH), Edwin S. Otis, a farm laborer, aged eighteen years (b. NH), and George W. Nelson, at school, aged eight years (b. NH). James V. Clark had real estate valued at $5,000 and personal estate valued at $500.
James H. Varney, a farmer, aged forty years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Lydia [(Varney)] Varney, keeping house, aged eighty years (b. NH), and Caroline Varney, aged fifty-four years (b. NH). James H. Varney had real estate valued at $1,000 and personal estate valued at $712. Lydia Varney had personal estate valued at $220; and Caroline Varney had personal estate valued at $100. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Deborah [(Davis)] Pike, keeping house, aged sixty-nine years (b. NH), and Joseph Cook, a farmer, aged sixty-one years (b. NH).
Ira Varney, a farmer, aged sixty-seven years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Lydia [(Jenkins)] Varney, keeping house, aged sixty-four years (b. NH). Ira Varney had real estate valued at $2,000, and personal estate valued at $640. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Chartles E. Ricker, works for shoe factory, aged thirty-seven years (b. NH), and David Nute, a farmer, aged seventy-three years (b. NH).
Daughter Abigail (Varney) Clark died of lung fever in Strafford, NH, December 4, 1870, aged eighty-two years. She was a married farmer. (daughter of Jonathan and “Marthar” Varney).
Daughter-in-law Lydia (Varney) Varney died May 2, 1872, aged eighty-one years.
Ira Varney, a farmer, aged seventy-seven years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included Lydia [(Jenkins)] Varney, keeping house, aged seventy-four years (b. NH). They shared a two-family residence with the household of Nathaniel B. Varney, a blacksmith, aged fifty-six years (b. NH). Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Eli Varney, a farmer, aged forty-nine years (b. NH), and Samuel Hooper, a farmer, aged seventy-two years (b. ME).
Daughter-in-law Lydia (Jenkins) Varney died in Milton, February 23, 1881, aged seventy-five years and sixteen days.
DEATHS. In Milton, Feb. 23, of paralysis, Lydia, wife of Ira Varney, aged 75 yrs., 16. days (Farmington News, February 25, 1881).
Grandson Ira C. Varney opened a Boston Branch Grocery franchise store in Rochester, NH, in 1881.
GRANITE STATE NEWS. … Ira C. Varney of Farmington, with some Massachusetts parties, has opened a Boston branch store at Rochester (Boston Post, December 1, 1881).
ROCHESTER. A little more than a year ago Ira C. Varney, formerly one of your townsmen, came to this village and opened a Boston Branch Grocery here. At the time most people shook their heads for he had no team and his store was not considered as favorably situated as many others we might mention, and then prominent among the leading groceries were Standley’s, while Biddle’s Boston Branch in Dover was getting into position with their goods marked down, and considering the larger stores and low prices for Mr. Varney to contend with, it was not much wonder that knowing ones shook their heads and said, “short lived, short lived,” but to use Mr. Varney’s own language, he “kept quiet and let the cat jump,” and soon those places which some thought would devour all the smaller ones began to fall in the rear and Mr. Varney began slowly but surely to advance and to-day we believe in the line of a first-class has stands even if not a little in advance of his competitors, and we have now some 12 or 15 groceries in this village that will average as good in all respects as the state affords (January 12, 1883).
Son Ira Varney died of dropsy in Milton, August 29, 1888, eighty-five years, seven months, and twenty-four days. He was a widowed farmer.
References:
Find a Grave. (2013, August 23). Abigail “Abbie” Varney Clark. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115921622/abigail-clark
Find a Grave. (2012, April 25). Hopley Varney. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/89126239/hopley-varney
Find a Grave. (2021, July 7). Ira Varney. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/229234499/ira-varney
Find a Grave. (2012, April 24). James Varney, Jr. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/89090906/james-varney
