New Hampshire, U.S., Marriage and Divorce Records, 1659-1947
Robert Hillsgrove
DOVER - Robert Kenneth Hillsgrove, 78, of 13 Rogers St. died Friday, May 31, 2002.
He was born in Concord on Nov. 11, 1923, the son of Moses Robert and Velma (McDowell) Hillsgrove. He grew up in Concord and attended schools there and has lived there for most of his life.
He was a World War II veteran who served in the U.S. Army Air Corps.
He was a member of the Land Improvement Contractors of America and a former member of the Masons.
He was a former employee of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, later worked for Pratt & Whitney Co. in Connecticut, and prior to his retirement he was a longtime self-employed excavating contractor.
He is survived by two sons, Brian Hillsgrove of Barrington and Mark Hillsgrove of Farmington; five daughters: Debra Alex of Dover, Shari Common of Auburndale, Fla., Lauri Hillsgrove of Dover, Judith Niemi of Springvale, Ind., and Nancy Turnbull of South Berwick, Maine; and 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He also leaves two brothers, Richard Hillsgrove of South Berwick, Maine, and Wayne Hillsgrove of Florida; two sisters, Maxine Chappell of Northwood and Ruthann Fielding of Somersworth; and nieces and nephews.
He is predeceased by his wife, Marcia (Wynott) Hillsgrove, who died in 1996; two sons, Barry and Thomas Hillsgrove; two daughters, Robin and Patricia Hillsgrove; and two brothers, David and Norman Hillsgrove.
Relatives and friends are invited to call Monday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Tasker Funeral Home, 621 Central Ave., Dover. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday at Tasker Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Pine Hill Cemetery.
Memorials in his name may be made to Parkinson’s Research, c/o BMC Dev. Center, One Medical Center Place, Boston, MA 02118.
Harry Long
KITTERY, Maine - Harry Ernest Long, 79, of Bond Road, Kittery Point, died Friday, May 31, 2002, peacefully at his home after a short illness.
Born in North Andover, Mass., he was the son of Harry and Jeanie (McWilliam) Long and moved with his family at a young age to Kittery Point, where they made their home and he raised his family.
Mr. Long graduated from R.W. Traip Academy with the Class of 1941.
He furthered his education at Maine Maritime Academy as a member of the first graduating class known as the Solid 28. These young men worked nights and weekends to prepare the academy to train 170 new recruits. Mr. Long used his skills attained at the academy as a merchant marine, serving his country in World War II.
He was employed by the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard as a draftsman in the engineering department for more than 30 years until his retirement in 1982.
Mr. Long was predeceased by his wife Pauline, who died in 2000.
A loved and respected father and friend, he is survived by his children: a son, John, and his wife, Susan Long of Berwick, Maine; his daughters, Paula Rankin of Wells, Maine, Jean Hreno of Aurora, Colo., Chris Long of South Portland, Maine, Sheila Long of Kittery Point, Maine, Denise Long and her husband, David MacLean of Buzzards Bay, Mass., Melissa Brown and her husband, Todd, of Vinalhaven, Maine; and Susan Long of Kittery Point, Maine; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his special friend, Rachel Johnson of Verona, Maine.
A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, June 4, 2002, at 11 a.m. in Orchard Grove Cemetery on Rogers Road in Kittery. Donations may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements are entrusted to J.S. Pelkey Funeral Home of Kittery.
Pearl Marcotte
ROCHESTER - Pearl (Brown) Marcotte, 90, formerly of 245 Salmon Falls Road, died Friday, May 31, 2002, at Sunbridge Healthcare and Rehabilitation.
She was born July 22, 1911 in Tilton, the daughter of the late Verne and Estella (Ham) Smith.
Mrs. Marcotte lived in Rochester most of her life. She was a longtime employee of Clarostat in Dover and later went on to retire from Great Falls Products. She had been a member of the 1st United Methodist Church in Rochester since 1949.
She also had been a member of Naomi Rebekah Lodge 4 since 1948.
Members of her family include her sons: Robert W. Brown of Rochester and Arthur Brown Jr. of Zephyrhill, Fla.; her daughters: Dorothy Hersom of East Lebanon, Maine, and Patricia Rand of Rochester; 12 grandchildren; her sister, Joyce Brigham of Newport, Vt.; and many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her first husband, Arthur Brown, and her late husband, Roy Marcotte.
There will be no calling hours.
A graveside service will be held Monday at 1 p.m. in Rochester Cemetery, Franklin Street. Arrangements are under the direction of R.M. Edgerly & Son Funeral Home, 86 S. Main St., Rochester, NH 03867.
Dr. Joseph Britton
ROCHESTER - Dr. Joseph F. Britton, 75, of 172 Lowell St., died Tuesday, July 20, 2002, at home after a long illness.
He was born May 7, 1927, in Houlton, Maine, the son of Russell and Helen (Chadwick) Britton.
Mr. Britton moved to Rochester in 1933 as a 6-year-old lad. He was a student of the first freshman class to graduate from Spaulding High School, Class of 1945. He went on to attend the Maine Maritime Academy, graduating in 1947, and Bowdoin College, graduating in 1950.
In 1954, he graduated from Tuffs University School of Medicine going on to serve his internship at the Maine Medical Center from 1954-55. After medical school, he served in the United States Navy for 11 years. His first Navel assignment was as a division physician aboard the U.S. Destroyers Flagship Eaton, the Baesh, the Murry, and the Beal.
From 1957 to 1962, he did his surgical residency at Chelsea Naval Hospital in Chelsea, Mass. The years 1962 through 1965 found him in Kanitra, Morocco as base surgeon. Transferred from Morocco to St. Albans, N.Y. in 1965, he served at the United States Naval Hospital until 1968, where he retired from the Navy and returned to Rochester.
He then started his 25-year private surgical practice, serving Rochester and the surrounding communities. While at Frisbie Memorial Hospital, he served as Chief of Staff and Chief of Surgery, sat on the Credentials Review Board, and worked on numerous other committees until he retired in 1992.
Throughout his life, be had many other interests including gardening, woodworking, spending time at his camp in Orient, Maine, and enjoying time with his wife, children and grandchildren, whom he loved so much,
Members of his family include his beloved wife of 47 years, Catherine (MacPhail) Britton of Owls Head, Maine; his sons, Joe Jr., John, and Andy all of Rochester, Scott and Steven of St. Louis, Mo.; his daughters-in-law, Phyllis, Paulette and Julie; nine grandchildren, Andrew Joseph, Joseph III, Nicole, Caitlin, Emmaly, John Jr., Jocelyn, Andrew Jr., and Jordan.
He was predeceased by his two older brothers, Russell Jr., and Richard C. Britton.
Mr. Britton would wish to be remembered as a man with a great compassion for people and a love for life. People, when speaking of Joe, reflect on how he affected their lives for the better. He will be dearly missed by all he touched. He was a man who did make a difference.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Rochester Visiting Nurse’s Assoc., Farmington Rd, Rochester, NH 03867; the Congregational Church UCC, 63 S. Main St., Rochester, NH 03967; or his summer church, First Congregational Church UCC, 79 Military St. Houlton, 04730 c/o Rev. Dale W. Holden.
There will no calling hours. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Aug. 17, 10 a.m., at the Congregational Church, S. Main Street, Rochester.
Earl Bryant
YORK, Maine - Earl T. Bryant, 81, of 36 Shore Road, York Beach, died Friday, Aug. 2, 2002 at York Hospital.
He was born on March 10, 1921 in St. Catherine’s, Ontario, the son of George and Edna M. (Lovell) Bryant and was a graduate of the University of Michigan High School in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Mr. Bryant served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and the Korean War and was a Purple Heart recipient.
He was employed by New England Telephone for 30 years, retiring in 1977 as assistant state plant manager.
He was a trustee of the Ogunquit Museum of American Art and a member of St. Aspinquid Masonic Lodge. Mr. Bryant enjoyed lobstering, woodworking and was an avid hunter.
He was predeceased by his wife, Virginia Freeman Bryant, who died Oct. 6, 1999.
Survivors include one son, Robert W. Bryant and his wife, Judith of Cape Neddick; one daughter, Donna Shepheard and her husband, Frank, of York Beach; one sister, Jean Steidel of Tustin, Calif; two grandchildren and two great-granddaughters.
Private services will be held. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the York Hospital Heart Health Institute, 15 Hospital Drive, York, ME 03909. Arrangements are by Lucas & Eaton Funeral Home, York.
Richard Jones
PORTSMOUTH - Richard F. Jones, Gunners Mate GC U.S. Navy, Retired, 78, formerly of Lang Road, died Thursday, Aug. 1, 2002 at Sunbridge Nursing Home.
Born in Kansas City, Mo., April 24, 1924, he was the son of Robert and Katherine Jones and had been a resident of Portsmouth since 1967.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1941 and served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. He served in the Pacific fleet on the USS Higbee, the USS Halsey Powell, the USS Porterfield, the USS Douglas A. Monroe and the USS Savage. He served in the Atlantic fleet on the USS Hawkins. He was a gunnery instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy, the Gunners’ Mate School in Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Naval training centers in Bainbridge, Md. and San Diego, Calif. He taught at the U.S. Navy Disciplinary Command in Portsmouth from 1966 to 1968 and retired from the Navy at Portsmouth in 1971 with more than 30 years of service to his country. He went on to work at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard from 1981 to 1995 in the supply department.
Mr. Jones was a former member of the Masons. His wife, Ima Jo (Curtis) Jones died in 1995.
He is survived by his daughter, Kathi Hatch and her husband, Craig, of Kittery, Maine; two grandsons, Matthew Burnett and Cristopher Burnett, both of Portsmouth; a step-granddaughter, Erica Hatch, of Kittery, Maine; one brother, Howard Jones of Tennessee.
Funeral services will be held at the Farrell Funeral Home, 684 State St., Portsmouth, on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2002 at 10 a.m. Visiting hours are on Monday, Aug. 5 from 4-8 p.m.
Carleton Staples
ELIOT, Maine - Carleton D. Staples, 93, of 49 Depot Road, died Aug. 2, 2002 at his home.
Born on Dec. 1, 1908, he was the son of John W. and Rose H. (Cook) Staples. He attended Eliot schools, graduating with the class of 1929 from Eliot High School. He furthered his education at the University of Maine in Orono with a degree in electrical engineering.
After college, he was employed for a short time by AT&T in New York. After his employment in New York, he moved back to Eliot to work on the family farm for a time. After working on the 1932 farm census, he became an inspector for the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax division of the Internal Revenue Service, known today as the ATF, a position he held for 40 years, retiring in 1973.
He was married to his wife of more than 60 years, Ruth (Libbey) Staples. He and his wife lived and raised their family just across the street from where he was born.
Active in his community, Mr. Staples was a trustee for many years of the William Fogg Library and the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery Association. He served on the Eliot Budget Committee and a number of committees within the Eliot school system. He was also an active member and served on several committees at the First Congregational Church of Eliot. He was a member of the Eliot Lions Club and the Masonic Naval Lodge No. 184 of Kittery.
He is survived by his daughters, Mary and her husband, Richard Tessmer of Gouverneur, N.Y., and Julia and her husband, Martin Kauffman, of Boca Raton, Fla.; several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his wife and his brother, J. Donald "Pete" Staples.
A funeral will be held on Monday, Aug. 5, 2002 at 10 a.m. at the J.S. Pelkey Funeral Home, 125 Old Post Road, Kittery, ME 03904. Family and friends may call on Sunday, Aug. 4, 2002, from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Please omit flowers. Donations may be made in his memory to the William Fogg Library, Old Road, Eliot, ME 03903. Arrangements are entrusted to the J.S. Pelkey Funeral Home of Kittery.
Bertha M. Abbott
ROCHESTER - Bertha M. Abbott, 90, of Washington Street, passed away Thursday, Dec. 12, 2002, at her daughter’s home after a long illness.
She was born June 20, 1912, in Tamworth, the daughter of the late Arthur and May (Remick) Page.
Bertha lived in Center Ossipee most of her life. She enjoyed being with her family, crocheting, cooking and putting puzzles together. She attended the Moultonville Methodist Church.
Bertha was predeceased by her husband, Carroll G. Abbott, in 1989.
She is survived by four daughters, Caroline Henderson and her husband, Edward, of Rochester, Eva Berry and her husband, Ernest, of Center Ossipee, Jean Eastman of Center Barnstead and Edna Carr and her husband, Warren, of Rochester; nine grandchildren, Jim Henderson of Rochester, Debra Corbett of Rochester, Holly Libby of Center Ossipee, Michael Eastman and Penny Eastman, both of Pittsfield, Charles Eastman of Penacook, Steven Carr of Farmington, Sandra Fernald of South Berwick, Maine, and Susan Nolan of Rochester; 11 great grandchildren, James and Ryan Corbett of Rochester, Jill Hayford of Center Ossipee, Jill Williams of Tuftonboro, Brandon Eastman of Penacook, Jed and Cody Eastman of Pittsfield, Jason and Justin Carr of Rollinsford, Jennifer Fernald of South Berwick, and Katie Nolan of Rochester; two great- great grandchildren, Alec Hayford of Center Ossipee and Jacob Williams of Tuftonboro; and a brother, Carlton A. Page of Ossipee.
Calling hours will be Sunday, Dec. 15, 2002, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Lord Funeral Home, 50 Moultonville Road, Center Ossipee, N.H. Funeral services will be Monday, Dec. 16, 2002, at the Moultonville Methodist Church, Moultonville Road, Center Ossipee, with Reverend Paul Corbett and Reverend Murray Nickerson officiating.
Memorial donations may be made to the Rochester VNA, 178 Farmington Road, Rochester, N.H. 03867 or the Moultonville Methodist Church, Moultonville Road, Center Ossipee, N.H. 03814.
Grace Davison
BARRINGTON - Grace Davison, 82, of 1 Balsam Way, died Thursday Dec. 12, 2002 at home after a brief illness.
She was born June 26, 1920, in Davis, Missouri, the daughter of the late Daniel B. and Salley C. (Craig) Thieman. Mrs. Davison served in the U.S. Army during World War II and retired from Wentworth-Douglass Hospital as a physical therapist.
She had resided in Barrington since 1974 and was a member of the Dover Friends Meeting House. She was the organizer for Decisions Program for Strafford and Rockingham counties. She was a volunteer for the Dover Soup Kitchen, My Friend’s Place and the Barrington Recycling Center. Mrs. Davison enjoyed gardening.
Members of her family include her son and his wife, Duncan and Judy Davison of Barrington, grandson Brandon Bouchard and great-nephews Daniel and Joseph Thieman of Missouri.
There will be no visiting hours. A gathering will be held Sunday, Dec. 22, 2002, at 12:15 p.m. in Dover Friends Meeting House, Central Ave., Dover, N.H.
Arrangements are under the care of the R.M. Edgerly & Son Funeral Home, 86 South Maine St., Rochester, N.H.
Roswell A. Gaunya
DOVER - Roswell A. Gaunya, 92, of 67 Littleworth Road died at Langdon Place of Dover on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2002.
A memorial service will be held in late January.
The Cremation Society of New Hampshire is in charge of arrangements.
Walter C. Hall Jr.
BERWICK, Maine - Walter C. Hall Jr., 87, of Boynton Beach, Fla., and longtime resident of Berwick, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2002, at the Boynton Beach Health Care Facility.
He was born Oct. 20, 1915, in Somerville, Mass., a son of Walter C. and Grace A. (Stubbs) Hall.
He graduated from Melrose High School in 1933 and drove heavy trucks until enlisting in the U.S. Army in March 1941. He served as a 1st sergeant in the 825th Tank Destroyer Battalion seeing duty in Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe until the end of World War II.
In 1946, he married Helen W. Bedell in Berwick. He founded and was president of W.C. Hall & Co. from 1954 to 1967. Over a period of 18 years, he also was a sales manager for farming equipment, recreational vehicles, heavy trucks and emergency vehicles in New England.
After retiring in 1979, he and his wife wintered in Boynton Beach until permanently moving there in 1991. He served as president and board member of Parry Village for several years and volunteered with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. He belonged to the VFW and the Florida Sheriff’s Association.
Mr. Hall became a member of St. John’s Masonic Lodge in 1949, a 32nd degree Mason in 1982 and was invested as knight commander of the Court of Honor of the 32nd degree of Scottish Rite in 1991. He was a member of the Gulf Stream Masonic Lodge, the Amara Shrine and the Lake Worth High 12.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church of West Palm Beach, Fla.
He was predeceased by his wife and a sister, Mary E. Luce.
Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Richard (Mary Anne) Kelly of Prescott, Ariz.; a brother, John D. Hall of Florida; and several nieces and nephews.
A funeral will be held at the Johnson Funeral Home, 26 Market St., North Berwick, on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2002, at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Robert G. Cole Sr. of the Bethel Christian Church officiating. A visiting hour will begin at 1 p.m. Spring interment in Evergreen Cemetery in Berwick.
Bradford C. Jett Jr.
GROTON, Mass. - Bradford C. Jett Jr. died suddenly on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2002, at Children’s Extended Care Center in Groton, Mass., where he resided. He was born in Exeter, N.H. on Aug. 18, 1978, son of Bradford C. and Penny (Freeman) Jett.
He is survived by his parents Bradford C. and Penny (Freeman) Jett of Hampton, N.H.; two brothers, John T. Jett of Maryland and Robert A. Jett of Farmington, N.H.; his maternal grandmother Jacqueline Freeman of Hampton; his paternal grandparents Earl and Elsie Anthony of Wolfeboro, N.H., and several aunts, uncles and cousins as well as his many friends at Children’s Extended Care Center.
Visiting hours will be Sunday, Dec. 15, 2002, at the Badger Funeral Home, 45 School St., Groton, Mass, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Children’s Extended Care Center Family Room, 22 Hillside Ave., Groton, Mass., 01450.
Marjorie E. Millett
SOMERSWORTH - Marjorie E. Millett, 63, of 117 Colonial Village, died Thursday, Dec. 12, 2002, at her residence following a sudden illness.
Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced Monday by the Roberge Funeral Home.
