| Notes |
- His country of birth is the subject of much discussion and research.
Genealogical Histories report that Christian arrived in America at Dover (Cocheco), New Hampshire, when he was only 14 years of age. He then moved to Exeter, New Hampshire around 1659 when there is the first documentation of his being taxed at about 19 years of age on a grant of land.
Dover, where he first arrived, was a cod fishing village, supporting itself by sending salted cod back to England for sale.
Christian worked in the sawmills, and according to tax records of 1658,he owned 1/4 share. Most, if not all, of the people who were listed with him on the employment rolls at the sawmills, were Scottish prisoners of war from the war with Cromwell, such as John Bean (originally JohnMacBean and John Sinclair). His co-worker at the sawmill, John Bean,married the sawmill owner's daughter, who died only a few years later.
Christian's son, Richard, married John Bean's daughter, Catherine Bean.
Libby's Genealogical Dictionary (p 54, item 382) lists "Christopher Dolhof, 12 yrs, 1/4 percent of profits of sawmill, under Shares and Rents in Exeter Mills (New Hampshire Court Files)." Neither the year of this item, nor an explanation of the "12 yrs" is given, but it sounds like an itemization of back-taxes.
The owner of the sawmill where Christian worked, named Lissen, was fromScotland also. Christian had a 12-year lease with Lissen and there is a record of Lissen releasing Christian from this mortgage.
Christian had no family and was illiterate. He never recorded his own name. Scribes and others who did record his name, spelled it Dolhertt,Dolhoofe, Dolhof, Doler, Dollar, etc. Original copies show that Christian used an 'X' for his signature. Christian's sons were also illiterate, and never also used "X" for their signatures.
Christian did not marry until about the age of 25. He was recorded as having seen military service in King Philip's War. There are documents which show Christian was fined for NOT going to church. The Exeter area was populated with Congregationalists (pilgrims), not known for their tolerance.
He is listed in an Englishman's will (Thomas King) with the modifying criteria that he prove himself of good husbandry (farming) first. It appears that Christian's being an inheritor in Mr. King's will, was because Christian's first wife, Rachel Moulton, was the niece of ThomasKing's wife, Meriem King of Hampton and prior to that, from England. Mr.King's will stated that Christian was to receive the land upon the birth of his first child. Upon the birth of Mary, his first child from Rachel,Christian did indeed receive the land.
His next two children by Rachel were boys. Both of those boys were"killed by Indians." In the next two generations, five more children were killed or taken captive from his family line, two while on their way to school.
Christian was given a land grant at approximately the same time that theScottish prisoners of war were given theirs, in the late 1650s.
Christian married Sarah Scammon, his second wife, on October10, 1674,following the death of his first wife. Sarah was of English origins and her traces back to the 1300s.
Christian built a house on the Exeter land, which house no longer stands.The property, has, however, remained in the Dolloff family, through the Abner line to the present.
Christian died Aug 18, 1708 in Exeter, Rockingham County, New Hampshire.At the time of his death, his occupation was listed as "landowner."
From: Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire (abbreviation sare as in the original):
"Christian Dolloff, Exeter or Stratham, ±32 in 1671. Taxed at Cochecho in1659-1664, settled in Exeter, where in 1666 he wit. Tho. King to JonathanThing. Soldier in Philip's War. Jury 1694, gr.j. 1698. Lists 356ch, 376b(1674), 381-383, 52, 57, 62, 96. Will 16 June, d. 18 Aug. 1708. He m. 1st Rachel Moulton who in 1661 wit. a deed of Ann, widow of John Moulton, and was called cousin in Tho. King's will. Presum. her f. was br. of John and of Miriam (Moulton), Tho. King's w. He m. 2d 10 Dec. 1674 Sarah Scammon,d. of Richard and Prudence (Waldron) who outl. him. Ch. by 1st w: Mary,b. 17 Sep. 1667, mar. James Gilman. John, b. 17 Feb. 1668-9, k. by Ind.in the woods 15 Sep. 1707. Lists 57, 99. James, b. 25 Dec. 1670, k. by the heathen at Casco 4 Aug. 1691 (grst.) App. by 2d w: Samuel, gr. 100 a.in 1698, was on Capt. Kinsley Hall's payroll in 1696. Lists 67, 376b. His homestead adj. his bro. Richard's in 1741, later occu. by their sonsSamuel and Abner. Will 31 Mar. 29 Apr. 1741 names no w., 5 ch. (notElizabeth, b. 1 Mar. 1706), and grs. Samuel. His s. Samuel, b. 1 Feb.1703, m. Esther Beard (3 jr.) and their s. Samuel, named in the will, m.Rhoda Flanders by 1772 and by 1782 had moved from Freemont to Moultonboro with his wid. mother Esther. Richard, grants 100 a. in 1698, 20 in 1703.Lists 67, 376b. He m. by 1700 Catherine Bean (2) who outl. him. Will1744ñ1750 names 6 of 9 or m. ch., the oldest b. premat. Dec. 1700. Forhis ch. taken capt. on their way to school by Ind., see Coleman's N. E.Captives, i. 373. Thomas, gr. 40 a. in 1703. List 376b. Will 11 Sep.ñ5Dec. 1722, names 3 sons (b. ab. 1711-1721) and wife Lydia (Gordon), d. ofNicholas, who m. 2d [p.199] her cous. Jonathan Gordon. Prudence, liv.1708. Catherine, liv. 1708.
|
Old Dead Relatives
1639 - 1708 (69 years)
