Rockingham County, NH, Land Records through 1780

In looking for information on Samuel Hadley, son of George Hadley of Ipswich, MA (16xx-1686), I checked the Rockingham County, NH records. The New Hampshire/Massachusets border was often in dispute so the towns of Amesbury and Haverhill, and some other border towns, could be on one side or the other depending on the current state of the dispute. Many of the records that follow should be in Massachusetts based on the current border.

Although I didn't find anything useful for my current search, I made the following notes. These include all of the Hadley records in the grantor and grantee indexes, including the date of the transaction and the book/page of the record. Note: I show the book/page as, for example, 0049:0085, meaning book 49, page 85. The indexes and scanned versions of the pages are available online at the Rockingham County Registry of Deeds.

Think of these notes as just a little bit more info than the index. I only added notes beyond the index on the ones of interest to my current project. If you see something of interest, be sure to consult the original record.

Rockingham Co, NH, Land Records through 1780

In pursuit of Samuel Hadley, son of George Hadley of Ipswich, MA (16xx-1686). Checking whether Samuel might have moved across the border into NH, or the property he owned might have ended up in NH when the MA/NH border moved as it did several times.

Rockingham Co Land Records for Hadley through 1780: Grantor

  • Benjamin Hadley of Almesbury (Amesbury, MA), yeoman, for 45 pounds, sold to Richard Goodwin and Nathan Goodwin of Almesbury, yoeman a certain piece or parcel of land in Almesbury, approx teen (sic) acres of land at "a place called Darbee Hill on the [un readable, maybe peek] in Amesbury originally laid out Thomas Sargent, John Sanders, and Charles Sargent. Adjoining to the Easterly side of the Land now in the possession of Edmund Sawyer of Amesbury and to extend from the highway by Haverhill Liine in Equal wedth (sic) through the farm til the teen (sic) acres be completed. Index gives date as 1740. The document immediately before it in the book is dated July 1758. Book/Page: 0056:0212-0213. The document itself is dated 27 Feb "in the forteenth year of hsi magesty's Reign King George the Second King of Great Britain Anno Domini 1740. Benjamin placed his mark by the name written by the scribe. The record shows it recorded for the Almesbury office October 10, 1747, but "Received & Recorded 31 July 1758.
  • Benjamin Hadley to Samuel Hadley. Benjamin Hadley of Salsbury (sic) and Almsbury District in the Province of NH, yoeman, for 1500 pounds paid by Samuel Hadley of Salsbury and Almsbury District, yoeman, Two Pieces of Land one piece being 30 acres in Haverhill District in NH bounded NorthEast on the Line between Haverhill and Almsbury. To East on Land of Joshua Baily, to West on Land of Ebenezer Johnson, NorthWest on Land of Moses Guile and Nathan Goodwin and with a stake and stones at each Corner. The other Piece is 55 acres being part of a Farm laid out to the Right of Wm. Sargent and by ?divers? Conveyances handed down to the present Grantor Benjamin Hadley, the said 55 acres being Bounded SouthWest on Haverhill Line, NorthWest on Land of Richard Goodwin, NorthEast on a Highway, SouthEast on Land of Amos Clark, the said 55 acres to be of equal width a the SoWest and No East ends lying in Salisbury and Almesbury District in NH and said at a place called Derby Hill. Signed 25 Aug in the 23rd year of his Magesty's Reigh AD 1749. Notarized 8 May 1754. Recorded 9 June 1769. Book/Page: 0099:0065
  • Benjamin Hadley of Dearfield within the Prov' of New Hampshire, husbandman, for 460 pounds, from Thomas Hall of "Goffstown so called" a parcel of land lying situate and being and lying in Derryfield (sic) and bounded as followth: beginning at a white oak tree marked standing on the bank of Merrimack river which is the bounds of Daniels (sic) McNealls land from thence runing (sic) easterly to stakes and stones marked number fifteen, from thence runing Southerly to a Stake and Stones standing in the middle of the lot number fourteen and from thence west to merrimack river and northerly to the bounds first mentioned. 120 acres more or less. Dated 20th day of December 1750. Noterized June 11th 1756. Recorded 26 Feb 1759. Book/Page: 0059:0212; Benjamin Hadley to Thomas Hall, 1750.
  • Benjamin Hadley to James Walker, 1752, 0043-0188
  • Benjamin Hadley to Joshua Stevens, 1758, 0057:0489
  • Benjamin Hadley to Samuel White 1764, 0092:0027
  • Daniel Et al to Eben'r Stevens et al, 1764, 0099:0505.
  • Daniel Hadley to Barth'mw Heath, 1766, 0095:0034.
  • Eliphalet et al Hadley to Benj'n Davis et al, 1757, 0121:0095. 
    To al People to whom there presents shall come Greeting. Know ye that
We Eliphalet Hadley of Almsbury in the provence of the Massachusets Bay in 
his own right ___ in the right of his brother Parrot Hadley, Joseph Bartlet in the 
Right of Samuel Hadley & Philip Sargent & Martha his wife all of Newtown
in the provence of New Hampshire in New England for di___ good ____
Consideration whereunto m___ing have ... [standard land transfer wording]
... unto our brother Benj'mn Davis & Ruth(?) his
Wife of Plastow in the province of aforesaid in their full ...
piece of land situate in said Newtown containing siz acres & a hlf be it more 
or less it being the one sixth part of a half of Land formerly purchased by
our honer'd Grandfather Isaac Colby & given by him to our hon'd Mother Dorothy
Hadley his daughter & so descended to us the whole tract being that land
commonly called the Champion lots in Almsbury formerly so ____ the
said

    I believe this is land originally owned by Isaac Colby, whose daughter and only child (as far as I know) was Dorothy Colby who was born in 1677 in Rowley, MA and died in 1756 in Amesbury. She married Samuel Hadley (generation 3), son of Samuel Hadley (generation 2, son of George of Ipswich). The people listed as selling the property are the children of Dorothy (Colby) Hadley and Samuel Hadley.
    Signed 3 May 1757. Notarized the same day. Recorded 1st July 1786. The document is dated almost exactly a year after the death of Dorothy (Colby) Hadley, widow of Samuel Hadley who had died about 10 years earlier.
    Signed by Elephalet Hadley, Joseph Bartlet, Philip Sargent, Martha Sargent his wife
  • Elephalet Hadley to Josiah Sargent, 1764, 0082:0411
  • George Hadley to Samuel Hadley, 1735, 0092:0079. George Hadley of Almesbury, yeoman "in consideration of the Natural Love and Affection which I have & bare to my Beloved Son Samuel Hadley of Haverhill..., blacksmith, and in part of his position in my Estate ... transfers a parcel of land in Amesbury 20 acres ... by a highway Southerly .... Dated 18 March 1735/6. Notarized 22 Sept 1740.
    This could be George (3rd generation, son of Samuel 2nd Generation) to his son Samuel who married Sarah Whittaker).
  • George Hadley to John Hadley, 1740, 0087-0505. George Hadley of Almsbury, for 44 pounds, to his son John Hadley of Amesbury, yeoman, 12 acres in Amesbury, part of George's current homestead. Bounded by land of George's son Samuel.
  • George Hadley to Samuel Hadley, 1740, 0092:0081 sold for 45 pounds to son Samuel Hadley land in township of Haverhill, part of "that Farm Originally Granted to Robard (sic) Ayers containing about five acres of land bordering on the line with Amesbury, and abutting "Dow's Land". Dated 23 Dec, 1740. Recorded Jan 7, 1767.
  • George Hadley to Mehetable Emerson, 1761, 0069:0023
  • George Hadley to James Bly, 1761, 0069-0025. James Bly was the husband of his daughter Joanna.
  • Jos et al Hadley To Thomas Williams, 1748, also indexed under Jos Jr. Et al, 0048:0320
  • Joseph Hadley to Zachariah Johnson, 1771, 0112:0160.
  • Judith Hadley to Timothy Goodwin, 1767, 0097:0236. Note: some of the top part of this record is printed with the particulars being handwritten in. Much of the bottom of the document is also pre-printed. Judith Hadley of Hampstead, NH, widow, by a license from the Hon'ble Rich'd Wubird? judge of the Probate of Wills dated Jan 29 1764, sold fro 38 pounds and 7 shillings to Timothy Goodwin of Hampstead NH, houswright, property in Hampstead containing 22 acres. Part of the border is a Mill Pond. Dated June 27, 1768. This might be Judith (Emerson) Hadley, wife of James/Jemes Hadley, the son of George and Sarah (Wiggins) Hadley.
  • Nehemiah Hadley to Dudley Bixby, 1779, 0111:0483.
  • Samuel Hadley to Joseph Bartlet, 1749, 0048-0521. Samuel Hadley os Salsbury (sic) and Almsbury District of NH, yeoman, sold for 900 pounds "old ten'r" to Joseph Bartlet of the same district, two pieces of land in the district. One 11 acres bounded on East by a highway, North by land of Samuel Sargent, West by land of John Peasley, Southerly by land of James Peasley. The other piece is eight acres bounded by the highway above ___ ... land of Samuel Sargent above Wm ____, land of Phillip Sargent, Northerly by land of David Sargent. Dated 25 Aug, 1749. Notarized Dec 18, 1750. Registered 3 March 1756.
  • Samuel Hadley to Joseph Bartlet, 1749, 0048:0523. Same description of people as above. Sold for 600 pounds,
    one Sixth Part for quantity & quality of all the land
    that was set to my Hon'd father & Mother by or orders of the Court of Probate out of the Estate of my hon'd grandfather Isaac Colby, Late of Rowley...
    So this Samuel Hadley must be the son of Samuel Hadley and Dorothy Colby. This Samuel Hadley was born in 1707 in Amesbury and died in 1761 in Hampstead, NH.
  • Samuel Hadley to Peter Dow Jr., 1758, 0057-0093. Samuel Hadley of Plastow, NH, husbandman. Amount not given. Sold to Peter Dow Jun'r of Plastow, cooper. Land in Plastow, about 10 acres. Dated 21 April 1758. Notarized May 1, 1758, Recorded May 5, 1758.
  • Samuel Hadley to Joseph Welch, 1765, 0089:0367. Samuel Hadley of Plaiston, NH for Sixty five Pounds, to Joseph Welch of Plaiston, shoe maker. 53 acres "mostly in the Town of Plaistow.
  • Samuel Hadley to Ezekiel Hadley, 1768, 0079:0428. Samuel Hadley of Plastow, NH, Labourer to Ezekiel Hadley of Hopkinton, NH, Labourer. Land in Hopkinton 50 acres. Bounded by highway that leads from the Reverend Mr. Scales to the N______ (so called) ... Dated 6 March 1768. Notarized 30 March 1768. Recorded 30 March 1768.
  • No Headley or other variations during this period in the Grantor index.

Rockingham Co Land Records for Hadley through 1780: Grantee

  • Amos Hadley from Daniel Pierce, 1770, 0080:0427. Daniel Pierce of Portsmouth, NH Esquire, to Amos Hadley of Dunbarton, NH, yeoman. 50 Acres in Dunbarton.
  • Benjamin Hadley from Nath'l Johnson, 1747, 0059:0531. Benjamin Hadley of Amesbury.
  • Benjamin Hadley from Samuel Quimby, 1749, 0059:0521. Benjamin Hadley of Amesbury bought land in "township known by the name of Tings? Township in the Provence of New Hampshire ..."
  • Benjamin Hadley from Hugh Ramsey, 1749, 0059:0522. Hugh Ramsey of Loundondery, yeoman, to Benjamin Hadley of Amesbury. A parcel of land below Ammasceeg unon (sic) on the easterly side of Merrimack River below ammasceeg falls (sic) containing 120 acres.
  • Benjamin Hadley from Eleazer Wells, 1750, 0059:0526. Eleazer Wells of "a place called Things [clearly "things"]Town in the Prov't of New Hampshire", husbandman. To Benjamin Hadley "of Tings Town aforesaid" [clearly Tings, with no h]. Sold one half of Lot 14.
  • Benjamin et al from Job Kidder, 1752, 0050:0218. Job Kidder of Goffstown to Benjamin Hadley and Ebenzer Martin, both of Derryfield, both husbandman. One lot of land in Goffstown.
  • Benjamin Hadley from James Walker, 1752, 0059:0524. James Walker of "Bedford in the Prov'e of New Hampshire, husbanman, for 25 pounds, to Bnjamin Hadley of Derrifield (sic). Land in Goffstown, Lot No. two in the thirteenth rang (sic) north side of Peseatagug (sic).
  • Benjamin Hadley from Samuel Martain (sic), 1752, 0059:0530. Samuel Martain of Derryfield in Prov'e of New Hampshire, yeoman, for 50 pounds old tenor, to Benjamin Hadley also from Derryfield. Land in Goffstown, 55 acres.
  • Benjamin Hadley from Ezekiel Straw, 1757, 0059:0528. Ezekel (sic) Straw of South Hampton Cordwainer to Benjamin Hadley of Derryfield, for 450 pounds old tenor, land in Township of Stearks Town (so called). The first lot in the eight Range of Lots. One hundred acres, bordering on the town line.
  • Benjamin Hadley from Christopher Gould, 1760, 0059:0629.
  • Eliphalet Hadley from William Davis, 1753, 0070:0423. William Davis of Kingston NH, yeoman, to Eliphelet Hadley of Amesbury, yeoman, 20 acres in Kingston.
  • Eliphalet Hadley from James Blodget, 1763, 0070:0425.
  • Ezekiel Hadley from Samuel Hadley, 1768, 0079:0428. Sameul Hadley of Plastow, NH, labourer, to Ezekiel Hadley of Hopkinton, NH, Labourer, land in Hopkinton.
  • Geo et al from Tim'o (sic) Dow et al, 1741, 0092-0076. Peter and Timothy Dow, both of Haverhill, MA, yeomen to "George Hadley & Samuel Hadly (sic) the 3d", both of Almesbury, yeoman. "Haveing now Two Farmes or tracts of land Adjoining formerly Granted unto Robert Swon of Haverhill & Robert Quenby (?) of Almesbury ... have agreed and divided the said farms or tracts of land as followth ...". They are basicly re-defining the property lines of their adjacent farms.
  • George Hadley from Richard Wibird, 1762, 0065:0475. Richard Wibird of Portsmouth, NH, Esq'r, for 800 Pounds old Tenor, to George Hadley of Hampstead, yeoman, a lot of land in Goffstown, about 140 acres, No 62 South Side of the Range on the North Side of the Piscataquag (sic) River.
  • John Hadley from Moses Little, 1769, 0099:0549.
  • Johathan Hadley from Thomas McConel (sic), 1771, 0103:0380.
  • Joseph Hadley from Richard Collins, 1747, 0051-0388;
  • Joseph Hadley from Peter Mors (sic), 1757, 0051:0390.
  • Moses Hadley from David Wallingsford, 1768, 0097:0120.
  • Parret Hadley from Samuel Page, 1761, 0068:0310. Samuel Page of Nottingham west, NH, husbandman, for 120 Pounds, to Parret Hadly (sic) of Amesbury [note updated spelling vs Almesbury], husbandman, 63 acres in Nottingham west. Land bordered on the North by the "Town Road by a Little Bridge". Also bordered by land of Hazeltine, Hardy, and Marden. Also includes buildings etc.
  • Plumber Hadley from Richard Wibird, 1762, 0065:0477.
  • Sam'l et al from Tim'o Dow et al, 1741, 092:0076. See summary above under George Hadley.
  • Samuel Hadley from George Hadley, 1735, 0092:0079. See summary above in Grantor under George Hadley.
  • Samuel Hadley from George Hadley, 1740, 0092:0081. See summary above in Grantor under George Hadley.
  • Samuel Hadley from Benjamin Hadley, 1749, 0099-0065.See summary above in Grantor under Benjamin Hadley.
  • Samuel Hadley from Peter Dow Jr, 1759, 0092:0077. Peter Dow of Plastow, NH, Cooper, to Samuel Hadly (sic) of Plastow, NH, land in Plastow, about 10 acres. Adjacent to land owned by Timothy and Peter Dow.
  • Simeon Hadley from John Harriman, 1764, 0084:0293.
  • Note: No Headley or other variations of Hadley in the Grantee index for this period.