New Hampshire, U.S., Marriage and Divorce Records, 1659-1947
Cynthia Allyson
EPPING - Cynthia Allyson, 54, of 21 Cote Drive in Epping died Thursday, Dec. 20, 2001, at the Eliot Hospital in Manchester.
Born Feb. 23, 1947, in Berlin, she was the daughter of the late Beryl Watson.
Cynthia lived in California before moving to the Epping area 18 years ago.
Cynthia was a homemaker for a number of years. Later, she was employed by the Epping Elementary School system as a teacher’s aid for seven years where she retired in 1996.
She loved making crafts and quilts.
Survivors include her husband of 35 years, Richard Allyson, a daughter, Tabatha Allyson of Epping; a brother, Leo O’ Neil of Berlin, and a sister, Judy O’ Neil of Washington.
Cynthia was predeceased by her mother Beryl Watson.
A graveside service will be held Monday, Dec. 24 at 2 p.m. at the Pine Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Robert Cole officiating.
Those who wish may make memorial contributions in Cynthia’s name to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Hampshire, 66 Hanover St., Suite 101, Manchester, NH 03101-2230.
Arrangements are by the Tasker Funeral Home, 621 Central Ave., Dover.
Evelyn Bateman
DOVER - Evelyn M. (Weeden) Bateman, 58, of 18 Chapel St., St. John’s Apartments, died Thursday, Dec. 20, 2001, at the Dover Rehabilitation and Living Center.
Born in Dover on Feb. 21, 1943, the daughter of Alfred and Evelyn (Haigh) Weeden Sr. She had lived in Florida for a while where she worked for the Dole Fruit Co., and enjoyed the beach and collecting shells, which she made into lovely designs. After moving back to New Hampshire she worked for a local shoe shop and also for a time at Moore Business Forms.
She is survived by her daughter and her husband, Tamera and Dennis Harriman of Barrington, grandchildren, Dennis Harriman II and Jessica Harriman, both of Barrington; her son, John P. Bolstridge II and his children of Dover; her parents, Alfred and Evelyn Weeden of Dover; two brothers, the Rev. Alfred and his wife Nancy Weeden of Dover, and Thomas and his wife, Roxanne Weeden of Rochester; a sister, Jane and her husband, William Crosby of Waterford, Conn.; and several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to call Sunday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Tasker Funeral Home, 621 Central Ave.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday at the Tasker Funeral Home, with the Rev. Alfred Weeden officiating. Burial will be in Forest Glade Cemetery in the spring.
Barbara Desroches
EPPING - Barbara Blanche Desroches, 88, of Old Hedding Road, died unexpectedly on Dec. 20, 2001, at the Exeter Hospital.
She was born April 1, 1913, in Hampton, the daughter of the late Arthur and Alice (Dench) Fogg.
Formerly of Newmarket, she had resided in Epping since 1959. She was a member of the TOPS #35 New Hampshire, the Rebekka’s of Epping and Kingston and the Grange in Newton.
Mrs. Desroches was known by many as the Sunshine Lady, who always enjoyed keeping in touch with her friends and family on the telephone, and craft making at her home in Epping.
For many years, Mrs. Desroches was employed as a cementer at Sam Smith Shoe Shop in Newmarket.
She was predeceased by her brother, Winslow Fogg; two sisters, Olive Bernier, and Evelyn Toleman; a son, Donald P. Desroches, who died in 1996, and a grandson, Mark Desroches, who died in August 2001. She was the widow of Louis J. Desroches, who died in 1970.
She is survived by two sons, Peter I. Desroches of Cripple Creek, Colo., and James R. Desroches of Epping, her daughter, Mary O. Desroches-Wilson of Barrington; eight grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Family and friends may call Monday, Dec. 24, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Brewitt Funeral Home, 14 Pine St., Exeter.
Funeral services will follow at 10 a.m. on Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Exeter Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Hampshire, 66 Hanover St., Suite 101, Manchester, NH 03101-2230.
Margaret Luke
SOUTH BERWICK, Maine - Margaret C. Luke, 84, of Tamarack Drive, died Thursday, Dec. 20, 2001, at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover, N.H.
She was born in Brewster, N.Y. on April 14, 1917, the daughter of Charles and Nellie (Holloway) Mergardi and has lived here for one year, moving from Syracuse, N.Y.
Margaret was a graduate of Syracuse University, where she was a member of the Phi Kappa.
She was a school teacher for many years in the Syracuse, N.Y., school system.
Margaret was a communicant of St. Michaels Church in South Berwick, and had previously been a communicant of St. Michaels Church in Syracuse, N.Y.
Her husband, George A. Luke, died in 1977.
Members of the family include her sons, Richard J. Luke of Milford, Mass., Peter C. Luke of Muskegon, Mich., and George M. Luke of Lafayette, N.Y.; her three daughters, Ellen McGregor of South Berwick, Kathryn McAninch of Waterloo, Ind., and Mary Fable of Cary, N.C.; 17 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Relatives and friends may call Sunday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the McIntire-Mcooey Funeral Home, 301 Main St., South Berwick, where evening prayers will be offered by the Rev. H.J. Cameron, pastor of St. Michaels Church, South Berwick.
Also, calling hours will be held at Ballweg-Lunsford Funeral Home, 4612 South Salina St., Syracuse, N.Y., on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2001, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, Dec. 28 at 10 a.m. at St. Michaels Church, West Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse, N.Y.
Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery, Dewitt, N.Y.
The family suggests contributions in Margaret’s memory to the American Heart Association.
Constance Patterson
DOVER - Constance Elliott Patterson, 69, most recently residing in Dover, died December 19th after a brief illness. She was born in Brunswick, Maine, June 19, 1932 to Gilbert M. Elliott, Jr. and Virginia Nash Elliott.
She attended Waynflete School, graduated from Gould Academy and the Chamberlain School of Retail. During her marriage to Peter Hay Patterson, she lived from Maine to Hawaii during his tour of duty in the U.S. Army.
She is survived by four daughters, Elizabeth Haren, Virginia Lanoue, Constance Dockham, Patricia Bittle and eight grandchildren.
Visiting will be from 12:30 to 1:30pm on Sunday, December 23 at Wilson-Cooper Funeral Home, 21 Rogers Road., Kittery, Maine, where a memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m.
Following the service, friends and family are invited to the home of her daughter, Constance Dockham, 19 Locust Lane, South Berwick, Maine.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Gilbert Elliott Trust Fund, c/o Bowdoin College, 4100 College Station, Brunswick, ME 04011, Attn: Randy Shaw. Burial at Pine Grove Cemetery in Brunswick will be announced in the spring.
Arrangements are by Hay & Peabody Funeral Home, Portland, Maine.
Susan Childress
DOVER - Susan D. Childress, 45, of Dover, died suddenly at home on Dec. 20, 2001.
She was born in Middletown, Conn., on Dec. 31, 1954, the daughter of Robert and Nan (Hutchings) Childress.
She graduated from Daniel Hand High School in Madison, Conn., in 1973 and from Colby-Sawyer College in New London in 1975.
She has lived in the Seacoast area since 1978. She enjoyed her pets and painting, woodcarving and gardening with perennials.
Family members include two brothers, Brooks Childress of Kingscote, England, and William Childress of Old Saybrook, Conn.; one sister, Nancy Childress of Gilmanton; three nieces; and four nephews.
There are no calling hours. A graveside ceremony will take place at the family’s discretion. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Portsmouth Pavilion, P.O. Box 7004, Portsmouth, NH 03802-07004.
Arrangements are being handled by the Tasker Funeral Home, 621 Central Ave., Dover.
Even Dellea
EAST ROCHESTER - Even Benjamin Dellea, infant son, was called to be one of God’s angels Dec. 22, 2001, at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital.
He was the son of Laura Pelkie and Charles Dellea, both of East Rochester.
"The Holy angels have taken our little angel to everlasting peace with God in Heaven."
Members of the family include his maternal grandparents, Donna Chick of Rochester and David Pelkie of Milton; paternal grandparents, Charles and Rachel Dellea of Kittery, Maine; half-sisters Katie and Kelsie Dellea, both of Kittery; Christopher and Aiden Dellea, both of Kittery, Maine; as well as many grieving aunts, uncles and friends.
A graveside service will be held on Monday, at 10 a.m., at the Rochester Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of R.M. Edgerly & Son Funeral Home, 86 South Main St., Rochester, NH 03867.
Rensford Nichols
EAST ROCHESTER - Rensford M. "Sonny" Nichols Jr., 54, of Highland Street, East Rochester, died Friday evening, Dec. 21, 2001, at home after a brief illness.
Born Feb. 25, 1947, in Farmington, he was the son of the late Rensford M. and Gertrude Nichols Sr. and had resided in Farmington for most of his life, having resided in East Rochester for the past 11 years.
He attended the First Baptist Church in Farmington.
He is survived by his sister Gloria Driscoll of Farmington; three brothers, Clifton Nichols of Farmington, James Nichols Sr. of Rochester and Dennis Nichols of Rochester; and many nieces, nephews and several cousins including, Arlene Cohen of Lebanon, Maine; several uncles; and his very best friend, Hazel Bryant of East Rochester.
The funeral service will be held on Monday, Dec. 24, 2001, at 11 a.m. at C.E. Peaslee and Son Funeral Home, of 32 Central St., in Farmington, with Dr. Douglas Andrews, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Farmington, officiating.
A calling hour is prior to the service from 10-11 a.m. Internment will be in the spring at Pine Grove Cemetery in Farmington.
William Porter
ASHLAND - William A. Porter, 88, of Owlbrook Road, died Thursday, Dec. 20, 2001, at the Integrated Health Services, in Derry. He was born in Lisbon, Maine, on July 19, 1913, a son of the late George F. and Elbina M. (Gamache) Porter.
He is survived by his wife Dorothy E. (Shaw) Porter, of Ashland; three daughters, Carol A. Bonanno of Hampstead, Sharon E. Iverson of Dover and Gail C. Sheehan of Manchester; one son, Gary Porter of Barnstead; five grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; one brother, Robert Porter of Lincolnville, Maine; two sisters, Constance Beveridge of Camden, Maine, and Geneva Robbins of Belfast, Maine; and his dog, Benji.
There will be no calling hours. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Dec. 29, at 1 p.m. in the United Christian Church, Route 173, Lincolnville Center, Maine. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, Gail Singer Memorial Building, 360 State Route 101, Suite 501, Bedford, NH 03110-5032. Please indicate for "breast cancer research."
The Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch St., Derry, is handling the arrangements.
Edna Welsh
PORTSMOUTH - Edna R. Welsh, 83, of 10 Colonial Dr., passed away on Dec. 21, 2001, at the Edgewood Centre.
Born in Kittery, Maine, on March 15, 1918, she was the daughter of Roscoe T. and Juanita (Dow) Williams and was a lifelong resident of the area.
She worked at the A & P Supermarket as a clerk and bookkeeper for many years.
She is survived by two stepsons Robert and Edward Welsh; two brothers, Bradley and Frank Williams, both of Kittery, Maine; two sisters, Ruth Williams of Kittery, Maine, and Patricia Wojer of Kittery Point, Maine; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by three brothers, Robert, John and Roscoe Williams Jr., and one sister Marion Russell.
A funeral service will held at the Farrell Funeral Home, 684 State St., Portsmouth, on Monday, Dec. 24, at 11 a.m. Visiting hours will be on Sunday from 2-4 p.m. Family flowers only please. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
Dorothy Zimmerman
EXETER - Dorothy Mae Zimmerman, 75, of Beech Hill Road, died Dec. 21, 2001, after a lengthy illness at her home in Exeter.
She was born July 17, 1926, in Andover, the daughter of the late Raymond and Belle (Rivers) Sawtelle.
Formerly from Manchester, she had resided in Exeter for the last 44 years. She graduated from Concord High School in 1944 and from the Laconia School of Nursing in 1947.
She was employed for many years with the Exeter Area Visiting Nurses Association and was a home health care coordinator before retiring in 1998 from the Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover where she worked as the maternal health care coordinator.
She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Francis A. "Pinky" Zimmerman of Exeter; three sons, Gary F. Zimmerman of Leominster, Mass., Glen M. Zimmerman of Exeter and Gregg Zimmerman of Rochester; two daughters, Janice Cassavaugh of Exeter and Joyce Boxold of Exeter; eight grandchildren; two sisters, Madeline Emerson of Franklin and Barbara Brown of Lunenburg, Mass; two brothers, George Sawtelle of Pittsfield and Verne Sawtelle of Concord; and several nieces and nephews.
Calling hours will be held on Sunday, Dec. 23, from 4-7 p.m. at the Brewitt Funeral Home, 14 Pine St., Exeter. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday at 9 a.m. at St. Michael’s Church in Exeter. Burial will follow in the Exeter Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Seacoast Hospice, 10 Hampton Road., Exeter, NH 03833.
James Brown
DOVER - James Leon Brown "Leon LeBrun", 93, formerly of St. John Apartments and more recently of Riverside Rest Home died Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2001 at the Rest Home after a period of failing health.
Born May 27, 1907, in Barrington, he was the son of Orison J. and Bertha (Rand) Brown.
He lived in the Dover area and also in Boston and Plymouth, Mass.
A mill worker, he was employed by local paper mills. He also worked as a ticket taker at a large theatre in Boston and Plymouth, Mass.
He always lived in one room; was an avid reader, stamp collector and circus memorabilia collector.
He is survived by friends, Robert Breagy and Jason Frontino; nieces and nephews.
There will be no calling hours. Burial will take place in Pine Hill Cemetery, Dover at a later date. Arrangements under the direction of the Wiggin-Purdy-McCooey-Dion Funeral Home, 655 Central Ave., Dover.
Laura Edgerly
SANFORD, Maine - Laura Edgerly, 95, formerly of 8 Henry Ave., died Monday, Jan. 1, 2001 at the Sanford Health Care Facility after a lengthy illness.
She was born in Sanford on January 16, 1905, a daughter of Alfred and Elinor (Binnette) Levesque, and attended the former St. Ignatius School.
She was employed as a weaver with the former Goodall-Sanford Textile Mills, until they closed. She then worked as a spinner for the Jagger Mills in Springvale, retiring in 1974. She was a communicant of St. Ignatius Church.
Her husband, Carroll Edgerly, died in 1963.
She is survived by two sons, Raymond A. Edgerly of Berwick, Roland E. Edgerly of Rochester, N.H., six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Myrtle Hayes
WELLS, Maine - Myrtle R. Hayes, 73, of Burnt Mill Road died Saturday, Dec. 30, 2000, at York Hospital after a courageous battle with cancer.
She was born Feb. 19, 1927, in South Berwick the daughter of Delbert and Flora Moulton Tufts.
Mrs. Hayes worked at the Belle of Maine Inn in Wells for 20 years.
Surviving are her husband of 56 years, Walter Hayes of Wells; two sons, James Hayes of Wakefield, N.H. and Patrick Hayes of Wells; two daughters, Jean Welch and Jolene Hayes, both of Wells; three sisters, Marion Farrar of Hingham, Mass., Jean Morrow of Kennebunk, and Jacquelyn Berry of North Berwick; eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by a sister, Barbara Leslie and a brother, Millard Tufts, both of North Berwick. She will be greatly missed by all who loved her.
