George and Rhoda (Dearborn) Dearborn of Biddeford, Maine

It was easy work to discover her parents. The 1850 U.S. Census of Biddeford, York Co., Maine shows the family of George Dearborn, a farmer, aged 27, real estate worth $300; with [wife] Rhoda, 26; and children Elbridge, Maria, Ellen and George, all born in Maine (household ##263-264). The 1860 Census shows the family still at Biddeford with several additional children. George was still a farmer, and all members of the family had aged fairly appropriately.

The family is of interest for two reasons: The marriage of George and Rhoda Dearborn combined the Saco and Biddeford, Maine branches of the Dearborn family (the two towns are adjacent); and determining Rhoda’s identity involved a remarkable bit of serendipity.

The Dearborns trace their lineage back to Godfrey Dearborn (1603-1686), a native of Willoughby, Lincolnshire, England, who settled at Exeter, N.H. by 1638 and removed to neighboring Hampton by 1648. A genealogy of his descendants which appeared in the Register (2[1848]:81-98, 297-305) was augmented considerably by a manuscript account of the family completed about 1876 and now in the Societys possession. While Edmund B. Dearborn, the author of both these accounts, did a remarkable job of tracing most lines down to the late nineteenth century, he failed utterly to trace the numerous descendants of Edward4 Dearborn (1702-1746) (Samuel3, Thomas2, Godrey1) of Greenland, New Hampshire, and of his first cousin Jacob4 Dearborn (ca. 1709-1773) (Thomas3-2, Godfrey1) of Pepperellborough [now Saco], Massachusetts [now Maine].

There are certain benefits in tracing every person of a selected surname, especially (as in the case of the Dearborns) when virtually everyone of that surname descends from a common ancestor. If one is thorough, one may discover in unlikely places records that will provide the solution to otherwise unsolvable problems. It is also helpful to let your friends know of your interest, as they may come across records relating to your family while doing their own research.

Several years ago my friend Robert C. Anderson sent me copies of documents from probate records filed in the city of Providence, Rhode Island, relating to the administration of the estate of Charles Henry Dearborn who had died there 7 February 1894, intestate (Providence Probate, #1657). Charles had been married and had had four children, but all had died before him, and thus his heirs-at-law were his immediate blood relatives. An administrator’s account in the probate file, dated 4 December 1894, lists payments to Charles’s four brothers Albert C., Leonard, Joshua M. and John Dearborn, along with fifteen nieces and nephews, all of whom are named.

From this list it was immediately clear that this Charles was identical to the Charles Henry8 Dearborn who was born at Saco. Maine 9 March 1835, son of Thomas7 (Jacob6-5-4, Thomas3-2, Godfrey1).

However, to my amazement, I saw that among this list of nieces and nephews were the children of George Gilbert and Rhoda Dearborn of Biddeford: Maria L. Milliken, James W. Smith [George G.’s son-in-law], and Jerry L., George and Elbridge M. Dearborn. Obviously, these people were too distantly related to the deceased on their father’s side to have had any interest in the estate. It could only mean that their mother, Rhoda, was herself a Dearborn. Charles Henry Dearborn was a son of Thomas and Abigail (Merrill) Dearborn of Saco, Maine. The Saco vital records give a full list of Thomas and Abigail's children, including a daughter Rhoda M. Dearborn, born 7 June 1824, for whom I had no further information.

The death records of several of George and Rhoda’s children, recorded in Maine Vital Records in Augusta (these begin in 1892), show the mother’s maiden surname to have been Dearborn, but until the discovery of Charles’s probate I could not be sure that this was not simply carelessness on the clerk’s part. It was thus almost anticlimatic when after all this work. I found George Dearborn and Rhoda Dearborn’s intention of marriage, filed in Biddeford 30 April 1842. Through the Dearborns they were fifth cousin.

The following is an ancestor table for Maria L. (Dearborn) Milliken. The source for much of the information in the earlier generations is Noyes, Libby and Davis, Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire (1928-39, reprint 1972).

I---
1. Maria L. (Dearborn) Milliken, ca. 1844-1914, Biddeford and Saco, Maine

II---
2. George Gilbert Dearborn, 1823-1885, Biddeford, Maine
3. Rhoda M. Dearborn, 1824-1893, Saco and Biddeford, Maine

III--
4. Joseph Dearborn, 1785-1859, Biddeford, Maine
5. Tamar Woodman, 1791-1875, Biddeford, Maine (for ancestors see Cyrus Woodman, The Woodmans of Buxton, Maine [1874], p. 81)
6. Thomas Dearborn, 1793-1858, Saco, Maine
7. Abigail Merrill, ca. 1797-living 1870, Saco and Biddeford, Maine

IV---
8. Abraham Dearborn, 1764-1847, Greenland, N.H. and Biddeford, Maine
9. Olive Perkins, d. 1811, Biddeford,Maine
10. Stephen Woodman, d. 1835, Buxton, Maine
11. Ruth Bradbury, 1759-1830 (for ancestors see William B. Latham, Bradbury Memorial [1890], p. 94)

[200]
12. Jacob Dearborn, ca. 1769/70-1818, Saco, Maine
13. Olive Stone, d. 1821, Saco, Maine
14-15.--

V--
16. Abraham Dearborn, 1731-living 1801, Greenland and Rochester, NH.
17. Abigail Marston, 1736-ca. 1814, Greenland and Milton, N.H. (for ancestors see Nathan W. Marston, Marston Genealogy [1888], p. 113)
18. poss. Edmund Perkins, Biddeford, Maine
19. --
20. Joshua Woodman, 1720-ca. 1800, Newbury, Mass. and Buxton, Maine
21. Alice Stimson, d. ca. 1806
22. Moses Bradbury, b. 1731, Newbury, Mass. and Buxton, Maine
23. Mary Page, b. 1735 (for ancestors see Lynn M. Case and Page Sanderson, The Family of John Page of Haverhill, Massachusetts [1978], p. 30)
24. Jacob Dearborn, ca. 1740-1826, Saco and Buxton, Maine
25. Keziah Hanscom, ca. 1741-1773, Saco and Buxton, Maine
26-31.

VI--
32. Edward Dearborn, 1702-1746, Hampton and Greenland, N.H.
33. Mary Foss, living 1746
34. Nathan Marston, 1714-1768, Hampton and Greenland, N.H.
35. Eleanor Raines
36-39. --
40. Benjamin Woodman, 1683-1741, Andover and Newbury, Mass.
41. Elizabeth Longfellow
42-43. --
44. Thomas Bradbury, 1699-ca. 1775, Salisbury, Mass. and Buxton, Maine
45. Sarah Merrill, b. 1706 (for ancestors see Samuel Merrill, Merrill Memorial [1917-281, p. 197)
46. Nehemiah Page, b. 1708, Salisbury, Mass.
47. Mary True, 1708-1767, Salisbury, Mass.
48. Jacob Dearborn, ca. 1709-1773, Hampton Falls, N.H. and Saco, Maine
49. Rachel Carter, living 1778
50-63. --

VII---
64. Samuel Dearborn, 1676-1735/6, Hampton, N.H.
65. Sarah Gove, b. 1678
66. Thomas Foss, d. by 1710, Greenland, NH.
67. Abigail Cole, 1673-living 1710, Greenland, N.H.
68. Thomas Marston, 1678- 1753, Hampton and Greenland, NH.
69. Lydia Moulton, b. 1681
70. Nathaniel Raines, d. 1747, York, Maine
71. Elizabeth Cutts, 1689-living 1747
72-79.--
80. Joshua Woodman, ca. 1636-1703, Newbury,Mass.
81. Elizabeth Stevens
82. William1 Longfellow, 1650-1690, Guiseley, Yorks. and Newbury, Mass.
83. Anne Sewall, 1662-1706, Newbury, Mass.
84-87.--
88. Jacob Bradbury, 1677-1718, Salisbury, Mass.
89. Elizabeth Stockman
90. Moses Merrill, 1683-1756, Salisbury and Newbury, Mass.
91. Mary___, d. 1760, Newbury, Mass.
92. Onesiphorus Page, 1689-1746, Salisbury, Mass.
93. Ruth Merrill, 1681-1711, Salisbury, Mass.
94. Jabez True, b. 1686, Salisbury, Mass.
95. Sarah Tappan
96. Thomas Dearborn, ca. 1681-d. by 1749, Hampton Falls, NH. and Saco, Maine (see NEHGR 138[1984]:108-9, 113)
97. Mary Garland, 1683-1749, Hampton, N.H. and Saco, Maine
98. Richard Cater/Carter, Newington, N.H.
99. Sarah Peavey
100-127. --

VIII---
128. Thomas2 Dearborn (Godfrey1), 1632-1710, Hampton, N.H.
129. Hannah2 Colcord (Edward1), ca. 1643-1720, Hampton, N.H.
130. Edward2 Gove (John1), ca. 1639/40-1691,Hampton, N. H
131. Hannah2 Partridge (William1), d. by 1712
132. John Foss, ca. 1636-ca. 1710, Rye, N.H.
133. Mary2 Berry (William1), Rye, N.H.
134. Abraham1 Cole, d. 1728, Hampton, N H
135. Mary2 Wedgwood (John1), Hampton, N.H.
136. Isaac Marston3 (Thomas2, William1), living 1700, Hampton, N.H.
137. Elizabeth2 Brown (John1), Hampton, N.H.
138. John2 Moulton (John1), 1638-1706/7, Hampton, N.H.
139. Lydia2 Tailor (Anthony1), Hampton, N.H.
140. Nathaniel2 Raines (Francis1), d. 1734, York, Maine
141. Joanna ___, d. 1732
142. Richard2 Cutts (Robert1), ca. 1660-living 1742, Kittery, Maine
143. Joanna2 Wills (Thomas1), ca. 1669-1738
144-159.--
160. Edward1 Woodman, 1606-1670, Corsham, Wilts. and Newbury, Mass. (see NEHGR 97[1943]:281)
161. Joan___, living 1653
162. John Stevens, 1605-1662, Calversham, Oxon. and Andover, Mass. (see NEHGR 85[1931]:399)
163. Elizabeth ---, ca. 1613-1694, Andover, Mass.
164-165.--
166. Henry2 Sewall (Henry1), 1614-1700, Newbury, Mass.
167. Jane Dummer, 1628-1701, Newbury, Mass.
168-175.---
176. William2 Bradbury (Thomas1), 1649-1678, Salisbury, Mass.
177. Rebecca Wheelwright (Rev. John ), d. 1679

178. John Stockman, Salisbury, Mass.
179. Sarah3 Pike (Robert2 John1) (see NEHGR 121[1967]:164)
180. Daniel2 Merrill (Nathaniel1), 1642-1717, Newbury and Salisbury, Mass.
181. Sarah2 Clough (John1), Salisbury, Mass.
182-183.--
184. Onesiphorus2 Page (John1), 1642-1706, Hingham and Salisbury, Mass.
185. Mary2 Hauxworth (Thomas1), 1641-1695, Salisbury, Mass.
186-187. same as 180-181.
188. Henry2 True (Henry1), 1645-living 1723, Salisbury, Mass.
189. Jane2 Bradbury (Thomas1), Salisbury, Mass.
190. John2 Tappan (Abraham1), 1651-1743, Salisbury, Mass.
191. Martha2 Browne (James1), d. 1717
192-193. same as 128-129
194. Jacob2 Garland (James1), 1656-living 1731, Hampton, N.H.
195. Rebecca2 Sears (Thomas1)
196. Richard3 Cater (Richard2-1 ), d. by 1722, Newington, N.H.
197. Elizabeth ___, living 1722
198. Edward1 Peavey, ca. 1670-d. by 1720, Newington, N.H.
199. Rachel ___, living 1720
200-255. ---