BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: JOHN WALLACE OF LONDONDERRY, NH By Hon. Ezra S. Stearns, A.M. In the notices of the early settlers of Londonderry is found frequent and honorable mention of JOHN WALLACE. In several instances the reference to the name is presented in words and in connection that invite the reader to infer there was only one JOHN WALLACE among the early settlers of that historic town, referring to the JOHN WALLACE who married ANNIS BARNETT and had sons, JAMES, WILLIAM, JOHN and SAMUEL. Parker's History of Londonderry (page 307), however, names a second JOHN WALLACE, who married JANET STEELE and was the father of six daughters, all of who married. Among the early worthies of Londonderry there was yet another JOHN WALLACE, whose family is outlined in this article. JOHN WALLACE (1) came to Londonderry in the early days of the settlement. For many years his name occurs frequently and honorably in the records, but it is impossible in some instances to determine which of the worthy men bearing the name is intended. This JOHN WALLACE was the most active in the land speculations of his time, as appears from the Registry of Deeds; and in an equitable division of the municipal honors which are credited to his name, it is certain that he was an important factor. He married in Londonderry, Nov. 28, 1725, JANET LINDSEY. (Town records.) Of his seven children, James is the only one on record. The dates and many of the facts which follow are drawn from old records preserved by a descendant. He died in Londonderry "about 1798, aged almost 100 years," says the manuscript. His widow, Janet, died in 1802, aged 97 years. Their children were: i. MARTHA(2), m. WILLIAM MITCHELL of Acworth, NH ii. AGNES, m. ALEXANDER HOUSTON of Acworth, NH iii. JAMES, b. March 27, 1731; d. Sept. 12, 1745. (Head stone.) 2. iv. MATTHEW, b. March 16, 1740; m. (1) SARAH WRIGHT; m. (2) MARGARET MORRISON. 3. v. JONATHAN, m. ELIZABETH NESMITH. vi. GEORGE, b. Jan. 24, 1745. He settled in Jaffrey, NH, about 1765. In deeds he is styled "tradesman." On account of sickness he returned to Londondery, in 1774 or 1775, and d., probably umn., Jan. 25, 1776. (Head stone,) vii. JAMES, m. MARGARET ARCHIBALD. He settled in Acworth, NH Eleven children. He d. felo de se, March 27, 1819; she d. Aug. 6, 1838, aged 82 years. For a record of the families of WILLIAM MITCHELL, ALEXANDER HOUSTON and JAMES WALLACE, see Merrill's "History of Acworth," (On page 277, change ROBERT WALLACE, father of MATTHEW, JAMES, MARTHA and AGNES, to JOHN WALLACE.) Page 1 of 4 ** PAGE BREAK ** BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: JOHN WALLACE OF LONDONDERRY, NH By Hon. Ezra S. Stearns, A.M. MATTHEW(2) WALLACE (JOHN1) was born in Londonderry, March 16, 1740. He received in 1762, by deed of gift, 300 acres in Jaffrey, and soon after, with his brother GEORGE, removed to that place. He was proprietors' clerk of Jaffrey in 1769, and was a resident there several years. About 1774 he removed to Peterborough, NH, where he was a selectman, 1780-2, representative, 1784-5, and, Aug. 10, 1785, appointed a Justice of the Peace. In 1787 he removed from Peterborough to Acworth, and in 1792 he removed with his younger children to Berline, VT, where he died, June 1, 1825. He married SARAH WRIGHT, daughter of MATTHEW WRIGHT of Jaffrey. She died about 1775; and he married second, MARGARET MORRISON, born in Lunenburg, Mass., Nov. 10, 1746, daughter of THOMAS and MARY (SMITH) MORRISON of Londonderry, Lunenburg and Peterborough. She died at Berline, VT, April 13, 1823. His children by his first wife were: i. JENNET(3), m. DANIEL CAMPBELL of Acworth. Six children. See History of Acworth. ii. JOHN, b. March a4, 1767; "went west." iii. WILLIAM, b. Feb. 27, 1769; m. ELIZABETH PENFIELD, b. Fairfield, Conn., in 1776. He settled in Pawlet, VT Selectman, farmer and merchant. He d. in 1816; she d. in 1835. Six children. iv. JAMES, b. April 27, 1771; removed to Ohio. v. died young. vi. died young. vii. died young. His children by his second wife were: viii. THOMAS, b. Peterborough, Sept. 3, 1778; m. CATHERINE ELKINS. He d. in Berline, VT, Aug. 30, 1813. Dr. MATTHEW PIKE WALLACE of Cabot, VT, and MARGARET (WALLACE) MCLEAN, wife of JOHN MCLEAN of Cabot, VT, were the only children. ix. POLLY, b. Jan. 31, 1780; m. Dr. GERSHOM HEATON, b. in Swanzey, NH, in 1771, son of NATHANIEL and REBECCA HEATON. He was a physician of Berline, VT Among their children was HOMER WALLACE HEATON, a prominent lawyer of Montpelier, VT x. SARAH, b. Sept. 8, 1781; m. Dr. JOHN MITCHELL of Sharon, VT xi. JONATHAN, b. March 20, 1784. He was a Universalist clergyman, preaching in Huntington, Richmond and other towns in Vermont, and later, for many years, in Potsdam, NY m. March 16, 1820, LUCY BRONSON, dau. of JOEL BRONSON of Richmond, VT Four children. xii. MATTHEW, b. March 4, 1786; d. a student at law, Feb. 23, 1808. xiii. BETSEY, m. SAMUEL TILLOTSON of Berline, VT Six children. xiv. MARY, b. Dec. 25, 1789; d. young. Page 2 of 4 ** PAGE BREAK ** BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: JOHN WALLACE OF LONDONDERRY, NH By Hon. Ezra S. Stearns, A.M. JONATHAN (2) WALLACE (JOHN1) married ELIZABETH NESMITH, daughter of THOMAS and ANNIS (WILSON) NESMITH of Windham, NH He remained upon the paternal homestead, caring for his aged parents until their death. In 1810 he removed to Essex, NY Three of their ten children died young. Children, order of age not known: i. JOHN(3). He was a farmer, of Willsborough, NY ii. BETSEY, d. unm., in 1847. iii. JONATHAN, b. in 1788; m. in 1817, FLORILLA HITCHCOCK. He was a lawyer, of Fort Covington, NY iv. ANNIS, m. Rev. IRA MANLEY. v. SAMUEL, probably remained in Londonderry. vi. THOMAS NESMITH, b. Dec. 26, 1796; m. (1) Jan. 4, 1824, BETSEY P. STOWER, b. March 29, 1802, who d. April 14, 1843; m. (2) CAROLINE HINKLEY. Lived in Essex, NY Twelve children. vii. JAMES, d. umn, in South America. THE NEW ENGLAND HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL REGISTER, 1902, Vol. LVI, pp 185- 187, Boston, published by the society 1902, Ed. Henry Ernest Woods. Book in possesion of Michael R. Haase, Eden Prairie, MN. Page 3 of 4 ** PAGE BREAK ** BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: JOHN WALLACE OF LONDONDERRY, NH By Hon. Ezra S. Stearns, A.M. ###### # # ##### ####### # # ##### ####### # # # # ## ## # # # ## # # # # # ## ## # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ###### # # # # #### ##### # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ## ### # # # # # # ###### # # ##### ####### # # ### ##### ####### # # Transcribed from original documents by Brent R. Brian & Martha M. Brian. This document and others can be found on our website: BMGEN We claim COPYLEFT on the documents that we publish that are our original work. COPYLEFT “rules” can be reviewed on the web site: GNU Free Documentation License In short, use what you like. But if you use our stuff, mention us as the source. Brent R. Brian Martha M. Brian BrianMitchellGenealogy@gmail.com Page 4 of 4 ** PAGE BREAK **