New Hampshire, U.S., Marriage and Divorce Records, 1659-1947
Rachel Major
BARRINGTON - Rachel Major, 84, of 153 Strafford Road died Sunday, April 8, 2001 at the Riverside Rest Home in Dover. Prior to living in Barrington she had resided in Manchester and for seven years in Miami, Fla.
She was born in Manchester, on Sept. 16, 1916, the daughter of the late Romeo and Pamela (Fleury) Gelinas.
Mrs. Major was a graduate of St. Marie High School in Manchester and the Normal School (Teacher’s College) in Province of Quebec, Canada. She also attended Notre Dame and St. Anselm’s Colleges in Manchester. She taught for many years in Manchester at St. Edmond’s Grade School and Mt. St. Mary Day School.
Prior to her retirement she worked as the office manager of Dover District Nursing Association, Dover. She was an accomplished pianist and avid horticulturist, specializing in rare orchids.
She attended St. Mary’s Church in Rochester.
She was predeceased by her loving husband, Louis J. Major and her brother Lionel Gelinas. She is survived by a daughter, Simone T. Major of Barrington, and two sons, Roland E. Major of Milford and Robert R. Major of Tewksbury, Mass.; grandchildren, Brenda, Brian, Pamela, Jason, Scott, Kevin, Kyle, Kelly, David, Shannon, and great-grandchild, Bethany; two sisters, Mrs. Paul (Cecile) Pinard and Mrs. Felix (Theresa) Ostrouch of Manchester, her lifelong friend Mrs. Roger (Simonne) Emond and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
There will be no visiting hours.
A Memorial Mass will be held Saturday, April 21, 2001 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church, Lowell Street, Rochester,.
Donations may be made in her memory to Seacoast Hospice, 10 Hampton Road, Exeter, NH 03833 or to River Rest Home, Transportation and Activities Fund, 276 County Farm Road, Dover, NH 03820.
Arrangements are under the care of R.M. Edgerly and Son Funeral Home, 86 South Main Street, Rochester.
Rita Matthews
SOMERSWORTH - Rita M. Matthews, 69, of Grand Street, died Tuesday, April 10, 2001, at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, Dover following and extended illness.
She was born, May 10, 1931, in Somersworth and was the daughter of Edward and Jennie (Connely) Blouin. She was educated in St. Martin Academy in Somersworth and spent the greater part of her life in the Somersworth and Berwick, Maine area.
She owned and operated Littlefield’s Pine State Diner in York, Maine for several years. She also did foster care for several years.
She was the widow of Carroll Matthews.
Surviving are two sons, Stanley J. Littlefield of Berwick and Steven R. Littlefield of Portland; three daughters, Melody T. Angers of Sanford, Maine, Marlene C. Gurney of Waterville, Maine and Marilyn K. Barber of East Rochester; one brother, Maurice L. Blouin of Dover; a sister, Florence B. Blouin of Berwick, Maine; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services and interment will be private.
Laing Funeral Chapel of 36 Rochester St., is in charge of arrangements.
James Miller
WAKEFIELD - James M. Miller, 71, of Emerald Point in East Wakefield, died suddenly at home on April 9, 2001.
Born July 14, 1929, in Pittsburgh, Penn., he was the son of the late James M. and Marie (Newcamp) Miller. He had resided in East Wakefield since 1987, having previously resided in Massachusetts.
He was a graduate of Northeastern University in Boston, Mass.
Prior to retirement, he was employed as a computer programmer for various companies.
James was a member of the Masonic Order in Massachusetts, was a member of the Wolfeboro Senior Citizens and the Wakefield/Brookfield Historical Society.
He is survived by his wife Jean Miller of East Wakefield; a son, Samuel Miller of Illinois and a daughter, Ann Schramer of Illinois; four grandchildren; and a stepdaughter, Darlene Dehman of Wrentham, Mass.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, April 12, at 11 a.m. at C.E. Peaslee & Son Funeral Home, 2079 Wakefield Road, in Sanborville (Wakefield). Friends are invited to attend.
Mariette Proulx
SOMERSWORTH - Mariette J. Proulx, 83, loving mother, wife and memere, formerly of the Emerald House, died Monday, April 9, 2001 at Dover Rehabilitation and Living Center.
Born on Oct. 25, 1917, in Canada, Marriette was the daughter of Ernest and Rose (Roux) Comeau. She was raised in Canada and came to Somersworth when she was 30 years old.
Mrs. Prouls was a homemaker.
She was a communicant of St. Martin Catholic Church where she held membership in St. Anne’s Sodality. She was also a member of the Somersworth Golden Age Club.
Family members include a daughter, Mrs. Robert (Suzanne) Gregoire of Dover; a brother, Leo Comeau of Sherbrooke, PQ, Canada and a sister, Mary Anne Gaumond of Druminville, PQ, Canada; three grandchildren, Michelle and her husband, Don Launsby, Kenneth and his wife, Jennifer Gregoire of Rochester, Cynthia and Scott Pelletier of Lebanon, Maine and three great-grandchildren, Brittney Jeanne Keelsey and Sue Pelletier of Lebanon, Maine and Matthew Robert Launsby of Somersworth.
She was predeceased by her husband, Leo Proulx, who died in 1988 and two sisters, Marie Ange Paradis and Rose Marie Ouellette.
Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Bernier Funeral Home, 49 South St., Somersworth.
A Liturgy of the Word for the deceased will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday in St. Martin Catholic Church, W. High Street with Rev. Robert Biron, pastor as celebrant. Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Somersworth.
Family flowers only. Memorial contributions may be made in her name to the American Diabetes Association, NH Memorial Processing Center, PO Box 31160, Hartford, CT 06150-1160
Gerald McCabe
DOVER - Gerald McCabe, 65, of 29 Lincoln St. died at his home Monday, April 9, 2001.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by the Tasker Funeral Home, 621 Central Ave.
Donald Tetu
LEBANON, Maine - Donald Tetu, 58, of 37 Maple St. died Tuesday, April 10, 2001 at the Goodall Hospital in Sanford.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by the McIntire-McCooey Funeral Home, 301 Main St., South Berwick.
Edwin Wiggin
MONTGOMERY VILLAGE, Md. - Edwin A. Wiggin, 79, of Montgomery Village, Md., died of heart failure on Saturday, April 7, 2001.
He is survived by two daughters, Emily Benner of Carmel, Ind. and Martha Rheaume of Londonderry. He is also survived by one brother, Alan Wiggin of Exeter; two sisters, Jean Roach and Jane York, both of Fort Worth, Texas; two grandsons, and one granddaughter.
Born in Berlin and raised in Exeter, Mr. Wiggin was a graduate of Exeter High School in 1939, Phillips Exeter Academy in 1940, and the University of New Hampshire in January 1943.
Prior to moving to Maryland in 1975, he worked as a chemical engineer on the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge, Tenn. and as program and technical projects manager for the Atomic Industrial Forum in New York, N.Y. and Bethesda, Md.
Mr. Wiggin was predeceased by his wife, Janis (Kennedy) Wiggin, who died July 20, 2000.
Relatives and friends are invited to a graveside service to be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Exeter Cemetery. The Rev. John Denson of Christ Church will officiate.
Arrangements are by the Brewitt Funeral Home, 14 Pine St., Exeter.
Percy Chandler Grigg, MD, centenarian
NEW DURHAM - Percy Chandler Grigg, M.D., 100, died peacefully at his son’s home in New Durham on Sunday, June 3, 2001, after a short illness.
Having moved to New Hampshire from Granite Shoals, Texas, so that he could better care for his wife, he was an inspiration to all who met him. A firm believer in the importance of vitamins, minerals and exercise as life extenders, he was the last living child born to Harold S. and Henrietta Grigg of Philadelphia, Penn., on March 20, 1901.
After receiving his medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia, he interned at Philadelphia General Hospital in 1928. In 1930, he became the medical director at the Iloilo Mission Hospital in the Philippines. He then went to Liberia, Africa, with Harvey Firestone as his personal physician on the Firestone rubber plantation for a year. Relocating to Rochester, he opened a practice of general medicine in 1935, serving as chief of surgery at Frisbie Memorial Hospital. During World War II, he and his wife Pauline were recruited by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) to return to Liberia as OSS operatives. He later served as a U.S. Navy officer assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps in the Pacific theater, returning to Rochester until his retirement in 1968, when he went to live in his wife’s native Texas.
His "retirement" didn’t last long, however, as he was soon recruited by the Methodist Hospital in Lubbock, Texas, and by Texas Tech University, where he remained until 1982, when at the age of 81, he retired from the practice of medicine again.
In March 2001, Dr. Grigg was honored by Frisbie Memorial Hospital with a luncheon celebrating his 100th birthday, attended by his former peers and his family. It was his desire to attain the age of 100 and to be able to care for his wife throughout her illness; he achieved both.
Dr. Grigg was preceded in death by his wife, Pauline, who died on May 9, 2001; his son, Robert; his brothers and sisters.
He is survived by his son, James W. Grigg with whom he made his home in New Durham and a daughter, Charlotte Grigg Stacy of Carnation, Wash. He was the proud grandfather of Peter Carr Grigg and Darby Grigg Norton, both of New Durham; Matthew Chandler Stacy of Carnation, Wash.; and Jill Stacy of Tucson, Ariz.; as well as the children of his son Robert, Stephanie, Nicole, Joel and Brandon. He delighted in the attention of his great-granddaughter, Hannah Cooper Norton and enjoyed receiving e-mails and artwork from another great-granddaughter, Taylor June Stacy, both age four.
Arrangements are in the care of C.E. Peaslee and Son Funeral Home, 32 Central St., Farmington.
Elsie Johnson
WAKEFIELD - Elsie M. (Moore) Johnson died Sunday, June 3, 2001, at Huggins Hospital in Wolfeboro.
Born in Valparaiso, Chile, on March 13, 1910, she was raised in Waltham, Mass. She was a graduate from Lasell Junior College, Class of 1930. She lived in Lexington, Mass., and Burlington, Vt. In 1945, she and her husband bought Gage Hill Farm as a summer home, moving there permanently in 1954 with her husband, Herbert W. Johnson.
Mrs. Johnson owned and operated Gage Hill Antiques from 1957 to 1985.
She was president of the Wakefield Women’s Club; curator of the Wakefield Historical Society; president of the Daughters of Colonial Wars; president of Wakefield-Brookfield Senior Citizens; regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Mary Torr Chapter, Rochester; matron of the Order of Eastern Star, Chapter 21; and Unity Fraternal Chapter, Union.
Many cats found love and refuge under her roof over the years. She was the devoted mother to six cats. Elsie was a talented artist and painting teacher. She raised animals, was an excellent cook and friend to all.
She is survived by two nephews, Norman Royle of Wakefield and David Royle of New London; and her devoted friends, Eleanor Columbus, Joan Long and Ann Bailey Pinkham.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, June 8, at 1 p.m. in the Union Congregational Church. The Rev. John Simpson, pastor, will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to VNA/Hospice of Southern Carroll County in memory of Elsie M. Johnson.
Arrangements are in care of C.E. Peaslee and Son Funeral Home, Wakefield Road in (Sanbornville), Wakefield.
Jonathan Sawyer III
KITTERY POINT, Maine - Jonathan Sawyer III, 79, of 110 Bartlett Road died Monday, June 4, at his residence after a long illness.
He was born in York, Maine, on June 1, 1922, the son of Jonathan and Esther (Tuttle) Sawyer. He was a 1941 graduate of York High School and attended the University of New Hampshire.
Mr. Sawyer served as an aviation machinist in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
He was a self-employed building contractor and had lived on his family farm for his whole life. He was a member of the Federal Fire Society and the Society of the Cincinnati.
Survivors include one brother, William Sawyer of Wellesley, Mass.; two sisters, Lydia S. Coggeshall of Portsmouth and Elizabeth S. Hoefler of Kittery Point and Sugarloaf USA; eight nieces and nephews; and eleven great-nieces and great-nephews.
A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 8, in Pine Hill Cemetery, 35 South Pine Street, Dover.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to either York Hospital, 15 Hospital Drive, York, ME 03909 or the Visiting Nurse Service, 42 Brickyard Court, York, ME 03909.
Arrangements by Lucas Eaton Funeral Home, York.
Ruth Daley
NEWFIELDS - Ruth "Tony" (White) Daley, 87, of Piscassic Road died June 4, 2001, at Exeter Hospital after a period of failing health.
Born March 7, 1914, in Newark, N.J., the daughter of James and Etta White, she had lived in Newfields for many years.
She was a graduate of Plymouth State College and studied music at Yale Summer School. For many years she taught elementary school in Old Saybrook, Conn., Fremont, Kingston and at Pease Air Base.
"Tony" loved her cats, playing the piano and her flower garden.
In 1980 her husband John J. Daley Sr. died.
Survivors include a daughter-in-law, Cora Daley of Newfields; 10 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
A visiting hour will be held Thursday from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Kent & Pelczar Funeral Home, 77 Exeter St., Newmarket, followed by a 3 p.m. funeral service with the Rev. Robert Collinge officiating.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the American Lung Association, 9 Cedarwood Drive, Unit 12, Bedford, NH 03110, or make a donation to a scholarship to help further someone’s education.
Elsie Johnson
WAKEFIELD - Elsie M. (Moore) Johnson died Sunday, June 3, 2001, at Huggins Hospital in Wolfeboro.
Born in Valparaiso, Chile, on March 13, 1910, she was raised in Waltham, Mass. She was a graduate from Lasell Junior College, Class of 1930. She lived in Lexington, Mass., and Burlington, Vt.
In 1945, she and her husband bought Gage Hill Farm as a summer home, moving there permanently in 1954 with her husband, Herbert W. Johnson.
Mrs. Johnson owned and operated Gage Hill Antiques from 1957 to 1985.
She was president of the Wakefield Women’s Club; curator of the Wakefield Historical Society; president of the Daughters of Colonial Wars; president of Wakefield-Brookfield Senior Citizens; regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Mary Torr Chapter, Rochester; matron of the Order of Eastern Star, Chapter 21; and Unity Fraternal Chapter, Union.
Many cats found love and refuge under her roof over the years. She was the devoted mother to six cats.
Mrs. Johnson was a talented artist and painting teacher. She raised animals, was an excellent cook and friend to all.
She is survived by two nephews, Norman Royle of Wakefield and David Royle of New London; and her devoted friends, Eleanor Columbus, Joan Long and Ann Bailey Pinkham.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, June 8, at 1 p.m. in the Union Congregational Church. The Rev. John Simpson, pastor, will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to VNA/Hospice of Southern Carroll County in memory of Elsie M. Johnson.
Arrangements are in care of C.E. Peaslee and Son Funeral Home, Wakefield Road in (Sanbornville), Wakefield.
