Dore Family of New Hampshire

Benjamin Stevens Dore, son of Henry Dore Jr., and his wife Frances (Stevens) Dore was born 06 September 1782, at Lebanon, York Co. Maine. He was baptized, 22 December 1782, in the Congregational . Church at Lebanon, Me. He married Elizabeth (Betsey) Lord, on Thursday, 24 November 1804, by Rev. Isaac Hasey.

Benjamin S. Dore drew money from school district No. 5, Popple Hill section, in 1812. Sometime after 1816, Benjamin, and his family removed to Alton New Hampshire. In a deed to his brother, Henry, dated 06 Feb. 1816, He was noted as Benjamin Stevens Dore, of Lebanon, Me.

Benjamin S. Dore was a farmer by trade, and resided on a homestead, on Rt. 28 South, in South Alton. It is believed that his residence was just south of his brothers, Abijah, and Henry Dore III. He was said to be a man of little wealth.

Although his ancestral line is known for their longevity, Benjamin Dore died at a young age. He died at Alton, N.H., 05 January 1822. Where, exactly he is buried can not be said with any certainty, however it is possible that he rests in the Dore Family Cemetery. A memorial stone, in this yard may mark the site.

Benjamin Stevens Dore, and his wife Betsey (Lord) Dore bore nine (9) children, all of who were recorded in the family bible style, at the Alton town hall.

All of the children were recorded, in family bible style, at the Alton, N.H. townhall. This is the only place that they can be found together.

Of the sons of Benjamin Stevens Dore, two (2) bore descents. They were Ezra, and Oliver Dore. A third son, Benjamin Franklin Dore, was said to have also bore children, however there is very little known about this man, and even less can be verified.

Benjamin Stevens Dore, probably arrived in Alton, N.H. sometime prior to 1816, but more than likely visited there quite often, as he purchased several pieces of land earlier. In 1816, Benjamin deeded land to his brother Henry as noted below:

06 Feb. 1816, Benjamin S. Dore, of Lebanon, Me., to Henry Dore, of Lebanon, Me., 30 acres, for $120.00 dollars. This lot was the southern half of Large Lot #1, No. #4, in the second range of large lots, in the southern half of No. #4, in the said No. #4 lot, in common and undivided with my brother Joseph Dore.

Benjamin S. Dore's homestead was deeded to Stephen Davis in 1824, to pay for debts, and to cover his funeral cost. His wife Betsey, received a piece of this land as part of her dower.

This land came into the possession of John W. Colbath, and his wife Keziah (Dore) Colbath, sometime prior to 1836, when they wrote a quitclaim deed for $1.00 dollar, to Keziah"s brother Ezra Dore. At this time it was a twenty (20) acre lot, and later became Ezra's homestead.

After Benjamin's death it is thought that Betsey, his widow, removed to Dover, N.H. where upon her death she was known as "Betsey, widow, of Dover, N.H."

NOTE #2: In the 1960/5 History of Alton, N.H. author Barton Griffin made note that there were four (4) foot markers, and one stone marked F.D. located in the Dore Family Cemetery. In the 1978 Cemetery Book of Alton, N.H., Albert Barnes (author) fails to make note of these stones. This leads one to believe that the stones were not there at this time. In 1996, after a rather lengthy probe, I was unable to locate them. It is possible that these stones have long since been buried.

Abijah Dore, son of Henry Dore Jr., and his wife Frances (Stevens) Dore, was born 07 October 1787, at Lebanon, Maine. He was baptized 28 Sept. 1788, into the Congregational faith, at Lebanon, Me. He married Eunice Legro, daughter of Thomas and Eunice Legro, Thursday 11 July 1811, by Rev. Isaac Hasey. Eunice (Legro) Dore was born 25 June 1789, at Lebanon, Me.

Abijah Dore was probably the first of this Dore family branch to come to Alton, N.H. He probably arrived shortly before 1813. He is noted in many early deeds prior to 1812. Like his brother, he too was a farmer, and probably resided on the current (1996) Rt. 28 South, just outside of the Alton Village. It has been said that his homestead was in the vicinity of the Dore Family Cemetery.

In February 1839, Abijah Dore, and his wife Eunice Dore, were baptized near the old mill. His religion is unclear. Abijah Dore purchased several pieces of property:

a) 33 acres of land, I, Oliver Dore purchased of Israel Stockbridge, in the 2nd range, Lot No. #4, bound as follows: NW by Joseph Hanson, SW by land formerly of David Barker, SE by my (Oliver Dore) said land, and NE by land of said Abijah Dore. This land is said to have become the homestead of Abijah Dore, and it consisted of the land which the Dore Family Cemetery currently (1996) stands upon.

4) 25 Feb. 1816, Abijah Dore, of Alton, N.H., to Henry Dore, of Lebanon, Me., 35 acres, for the sum of $200.00 dollars., bound as follows:

b) 17 1/2 acres, south end of the northern half of Lot No. #4, in large Lot No. #4, in 2nd range. This is the land that Abijah Dore, bought 10 Jan. 1816, from Jonathan Buzzell, and probably the current (1998) site of the Henry Dore homestead on Rt. 28 South. This house is currently under renovation by its owner Mike Rouleau.

Abijah Dore, died 08 April 1860, at Alton, N.H., and is buried in the Dore Family Cemetery, on Rt. 28 South. Eunice (Legro) Dore, died 31 March 1855, at Alton, N.H., and is buried in the same yard, next to her husband.

All of the descendants of Abijah Dore, and his wife, who have bore, or kept the Dore name have left Alton N.H.

Henry Dore III, son of Henry Dore Jr., and his wife Frances (Stevens) Dore, was born 06 August 1793, at Lebanon, Maine. He was baptized 25 August 1793, in the Congregational Church, at Lebanon, Me. He married Sarah (Sally) Gerrish, daughter of Benjamin Gerrish, and his wife Elizabeth (?Churchill) (?Hill) Gerrish, on 05 February 1818, at Lebanon, Me.

There is some question to the parentage of Sarah Gerrish. It has been noted that her mother was named by two separate sources as either Elizabeth Churchill or Elizabeth Hill. (To date this claim cannot be confirmed, or denied, so both names have been noted). There was a Berwick, Me. marriage record between a Benjamin Gerrish, and one Elizabeth Hill, so I have not ruled this connection out.

Henry Dore III, was probably the third (3rd) or the last of the Henry Dore Jr.'s sons to have come to Alton, N.H. He purchased the southern end of a 30 acre lot (#1,4,4,4), on 06 Feb. 1816, from his brother Benjamin S. Dore, at the same time he purchased the other half, or the northern part of this lot on 23 Feb. 1816, from his brother Abijah Dore. This 35 acre lot, along with the 30 acres from Benjamin S., became his homestead. It is unlikely that he removed to Alton, N.H. prior to this marriage (05 February 1818 - Lebanon, Me. Vitals).

Henry Dore, was a veteran of the War of 1812, where he served in James Ayers's Massachusetts Militia, serving under the jurisdiction of Maine. Although, a noted veteran his grave was not marked with a veteran�s marker in spring of 1998.

He served as a road agent, and was charged with upkeep of the roads, and signs, in his area. This duty was passed onto his son, Joseph, who also served for many years.

Henry Dore III, built the home, currently (1998) occupied by Mr. Mike Rouleau, on the top of the hill, on the current Rt. 28 South, just outside the Alton Village. This homestead was believed to be between that of his brothers' Benjamin, and Abijah's farmsteads.

Henry Dore III, and his wife Sarah (Sally) Gerrish had a least four (4) children born to them. They were probably all born at Alton, N.H.

Henry Dore III, and his wife Sarah, are buried at the Old Riverside Cemetery and rest in the same lot, as their son Joseph Dore, and his wife Angeline W. Hill.

*NOTE: There is no indication whether or not they lived on the farm, on Rt. 28 South, however they are buried in the Old Riverside Cemetery, and not in the Dore Family Cemetery Yard. I find it odd that they are not buried here, as there appears to be ample room left in the yard.

Another son, Joseph Dore, son of Henry Dore Jr., and his wife Frances (Stevens) Dore, was born who,--- lived near or on the Durham/Middleton, N.H. line. He may have been lived at Alton for a short time, but there is no real evidence to prove that he ever came to Alton, N.H.