M. before about 1720 in (probably) Boston, Massachusetts2
Wife: Mary _______
D. Jul 1752 in Rochester, New Hampshire1
The Scots-Irish people who came to America in the 18th century moved to places that were away from the coast because land was more plentiful. For those who landed in New England, that meant going up north to New Hampshire. This is where John McDuffee settled and raised his family.
The timing of John’s birth almost dictated his path in life. He is believed to have been born in Londonderry, Ireland in about 1690, and his parents were John and Martha McDuffee (also spelled McAfee),1 who were known to have at least six other children. The Scottish people who had come to live in Ireland had been there for a couple of generations, and when William of Orange became King of England in 1688, it initiated a period of persecution of the Scottish people. A siege took place in Londonderry during 1689 that caused a famine, but John’s mother Martha was said to have saved enough food in her storage that she kept many people from starving.3
In the decades that followed, many in the Londonderry region were looking to get out. Some were part of a congregation of a minister named James McGregor, and in 1718, he brought a shipload of families to Boston.3 It’s possible that some of the McDuffee family including John and three of this brothers were part of this group, but this is uncertain. What is known is that they took the same path, spending a couple of years in Boston in the 1720s,1 then heading up to new settlements in New Hampshire; John ended up in the town of Rochester in 1729, where he acquired 85 acres.4
Meanwhile John got married somewhere along the way to a woman named Mary, possibly with the last name Daniel. They were likely married in Boston around 1720,2 and would have a family of at least eight children born between about 1720 and 1738. All but one of John’s children were known to have reached maturity; one son was a hero in the American Revolution, serving as a lieutenant colonel.5
While Rochester, New Hampshire had people like John’s family who were Scottish, many were descendants of the English Puritan settlers who came to New England in the 17th century. The town itself operated in the same way as all New England communities, with the men gathering each month to take care of civic matters. The town meeting notes mentioned John in a few places, paying various required fees and serving on committees. John seemed to be chosen for taking care of financial matters, as on November 24, 1746, he worked with two other men to examine the accounts of the town and “settle with the Reverend Mr. Amos Main according to the forgoing notification…”6
John wrote his will on June 4, 1751, describing himself as weak and sick at the time.7 In it, he named his wife and eight children, with a curious bequest to each of his daughters to receive a “mourning gown.” Also mentioned were several bibles that he owned, and these he specified for various sons. John died in about July 1752, when his burial was noted in the records of Rochester’s cemetery;1 his wife Mary survived until 1780.1 Their farm remained in the family at least until 1882.4 Today there’s a McDuffee Street in Rochester — a lasting legacy of one of the town’s earliest settlers.
Children:
1. Jean McDuffee — B. about 1720, (probably) Boston, Massachusetts;8 M. ______ Hayes, before 4 Jun 17518
2. Mary McDuffee — B. about 1720, (probably) Boston, Massachusetts;8 D. 2 Dec 1751, Newport, Rhode Island;9 M. Charles Roger, 12 Nov 1747, Rochester, New Hampshire8
3. Matthew McDuffee — B. about 1721, (probably) Boston, Massachusetts;8 D. 15 Apr 1799, Bedford, New Hampshire;8 M. (1) Nancy Aiken (?-~1757);8 (2) Susannah Morrison (1731-1799)8
4. John McDuffee — B. about 1724, (probably) Boston, Massachusetts;8 D. 15 Oct 1817, Rochester, New Hampshire8
5. James McDuffee — B. about 1726, (probably) Boston, Massachusetts;8 D. 1800, Rochester, New Hampshire;8 M. Mercy Young (1726-1801), Mar 1762, Rochester, New Hampshire8
6. William McDuffee — B. before 1 Sep 1728, Rochester, New Hampshire;8 D. 9 Jul 1804, Dover, New Hampshire;8 M. Martha Allen (1729-1808), 22 Apr 1752, Rochester, New Hampshire8
7. Sarah McDuffee — B. about 1735, Rochester, New Hampshire;8 D. after 4 Jun 17517
8. Daniel McDuffee — B. 28 May 1738, Rochester, New Hampshire;8 D. 26 Feb 1807, Rochester, New Hampshire;5 M. (1) Abigail Young (1746-1786), 1 Nov 1764, Rochester, New Hampshire;8 (2) Betty Nock (1770-1824), 19 Jul 1787, Rochester, New Hampshire8
Sources:
1 Find-a-Grave listing for John McDuffee
2 Source of marriage year for John McDuffee based on rough age of oldest child
3 Find-a-Grave listing for John McDuffee (Sr.)
4 History of Rockingham & Strafford Counties, New Hampshire, 1882, p.743
5 Find-a-Grave listing for Capt. Daniel McDuffee
6 Town Records of Rochester, New Hampshire, 1737-1801, FamilySearch.org
7 Probate record of John McDuffee
8 Five Northern McDuffee Families, Giles F. Carter, 1998, pp. 3-9
9 Find-a-Grave listing for Mary (McDuffee) Rogers
