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Rockingham County, New Hampshire
Societies and Family History Resources ∣ County Courthouse and Government Records ∣ County Genealogy Links
Rockingham County was founded on March 19, 1771 one of the five original counties identified for New Hampshire in 1769. The county was named in honor of Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham (1730-1782), a two-time Prime Minister of Great Britain (1765-1766, 1782). It was first settled by Europeans moving north from the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts as early as 1623. The government was linked tightly with Massachusetts until New Hampshire became a separate colony in 1679, but counties weren’t introduced until 1769.
The Rockingham County Seat is located in Brentwood and the county government website is http://co.rockingham.nh.us/
Areas adjacent to Rockingham County are Strafford County (north), York County, Maine (northeast), Essex County, Massachusetts (south), Hillsborough County (west), Merrimack County (northwest).
Cities and towns (date formed) situated in Rockingham County are Atkinson, Auburn, Brentwood, Candia, Chester, Danville, Deerfield, Derry, East Kingston, Epping, Exeter, Fremont, Greenland, Hampstead, Hampton, Hampton Falls, Kensington, Kingston, Londonderry, New Castle, Newfields, Newington, Newmarket, Newton, North Hampton, Northwood, Nottingham, Plaistow, Portsmouth, Raymond, Rye, Salem, Sandown, Seabrook, South Hampton, Stratham, Windham
Rockingham County does have Federal Census Schedules to help in researching your family tree. United states federal Population Schedules exist for 1790-1890, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.
Rockingham Co. Mortality Schedules is available for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Rockingham Co. Industry and Agriculture Schedules can be acquired for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Rockingham Co. Union Veterans Schedules can be acquired for 1890. There is free down-loadable and printable census forms to help with your research.
Rockingham County Society and Family History Resources
A list of Rockingham County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives.
- https://www.archives.gov/research/census
- New Hampshire State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Hampton Historical Society, PO Box 1601, Hampton, NH 03843-1601; phone: 603-929-0781
- Portsmouth Public Library – Special Collections, 175 Parrott Avenue, Portsmouth, New Hampshire 03801-4482
- Rockingham County Chapter, New Hampshire Society of Genealogists, PO Box 81, Exeter, NH 03833-0081
- African American Cultural Center, PO Box 4444, Portsmouth , NH 03801-4444; Phone: 603-430-6027 or 436-7629
- America’s Stonehenge, Phone: 603-893-8300 PO Box 84, North Salem , NH 03073-0084, Website: www.stonehengeusa.com
- American Independence Museum, Phone: 603-772-2622 1 Governors Ln, Exeter , NH 03833-2420, Website: www.independencemuseum.org
- Atkinson Historical Society, Phone: 603-362-9317 PO Box 863, Atkinson , NH 03811-0863, Website: atkinsonhistoricalsociety.org
- Auburn Historical Association, Phone: 603-483-8323 102 Hooksett Rd, Auburn , NH 03032-3225
- Brentwood Historical Society Brentwood Town Hall, 1 Dalton Rd, Brentwood , NH 03833-6011
- Candia Historical Society, Contact: PO Box 300, 29 High St, Candia , NH 03034-0300
- Chester Historical Society, Phone: 603-887-4545 PO Box 34, Chester , NH 03036-0034, Website: www.chesterhistorical.org
- Deerfield Historical Society PO Box 41, Deerfield , NH 03037-0041
- Derry Heritage Commission, Phone: 603-434-1247 29 W Broadway, Derry , NH 03038-3220, Website: http://www.derry.nh.us/
- Epping Historical Society, Phone: 603-679-2944 PO Box 348, Epping , NH 03042-0348
- Exeter Historical Society, Phone: 603-778-2335 PO Box 924, 47 Front St, Exeter , NH 03833-0924
- Fitts Museum, Phone: 603-483-8881 PO Box 91, Candia , NH 03034-0091, Website: www.fittsmuseum.org
- Fremont Historical Society, Phone: 603-895-4032 225 South Rd, Fremont , NH 03044-3408
- Ft. Constitution (NH State Park), Phone: 603 436-1552 State of NH, DRED (State Parks), PO Box 1856, Concord , NH 03302-1856, Website: www.nhstateparks.org
- Ft. Stark (NH State Park), Phone: 603 436-1552 State of NH, DRED (State Parks), PO Box 1856, Concord , NH 03302-1856, Website: www.nhstateparks.org
- Fuller Gardens, Phone: 603-964-5414 10 Willow Ave, North Hampton , NH 03862-2228, Website: www.fullergardens.org
- Gilman Garrison House/HNE, Phone: 603-436-3205 143 Pleasant St, Portsmouth , NH 03801-4506, Website: www.historicnewengland.org
- Governor Langdon House/HNE, Phone: 603-436-3205 143 Pleasant St, Portsmouth , NH 03801-4506, Website: www.historicnewengland.org
- Hampstead Historical Society, Phone: 603-329-6670 PO Box 654, Hampstead , NH 03841-0654, Website: www.hampsteadhistoricalsociety.org
- Hampton Falls Historical Society PO Box 104, 45 Exeter Rd, Hampton Falls , NH 03844-0104
- Hampton Historical Society, Phone: 603-929-0781 PO Box 1601, 40 Park Ave, Hampton , NH 03843-1601, Website: www.hamptonhistoricalsociety.org
- Hawke Historical Society, Phone: 603-642-8366 PO Box 402, Danville , NH 03819-0402
- Historic New England (HNE), Phone: 617-227-3956 141 Cambridge St, Boston, MA, 02114-2702, Website: www.historicnewengland.org
- Historical Society of Kensington c/o The Social Library, 126 Amesbury Road, Kensington, NH 03833, Website: www.historicalsocietiesnh.org/kensington/
- Historical Society of Seabrook, Phone: 603-474-5066 PO Box 414, Seabrook , NH 03874-0414
- Jackson House/HNE, Phone: 603-436-3205 143 Pleasant St, Portsmouth , NH 03801-4506, Website: www.historicnewengland.org
- James E. Walley Museum & Library, Phone: 603-436-3712 351 Middle St, Portsmouth , NH 03801-5009, Website: whalleymuseum.org
- James House Association, The PO Box 234, Hampton , NH 03843-0234, Website: www.jameshousemuseum.org
- Kingston Improvement & Historical Society/Friends of the Church on the Plains PO Box 663, Kingston , NH 03848-0663
- Kingston Museum PO Box 24, Kingston , NH 03848-0024
- Londonderry Historical Society, Phone: 603-432-2005 PO Box 136, Londonderry , NH 03053-0136, Website: londonderryhistory.org
- Moffat-Ladd House & Garden, Phone: 603-436-8221 154 Market St, Portsmouth , NH 03801-3730, Website: www.moffattladd.org
- New Castle Archives & Records Committee, Phone: 603-431-6854 , New Castle , NH 03854
- New Castle Historical Society PO Box 89, New Castle , NH 03854-0089
- New Market Historical Society, Phone: 603 659-7420 PO Box 534, Newmarket , NH 03857-0534, Website: www.newmarketnhhistoricalsociety.org
- Newfields Historical Society PO Box 126, Newfields , NH 03856-0126
- Newington Historical Society 205 Nimble Hill Rd, Newington , NH 03801-2726
- Newton Historical Society PO Box 289, 22 S Main St, Newton , NH 03858-0289, Website: www.newton-nh.gov/Pages/newtonnh_historical/index
- North Hampton Historical Society PO Box 17, North Hampton , NH 03862-0017
- Northwood Historical Society PO Box 114, Northwood , NH 03261-0114
- Nottingham Historical Society, Phone: 603-679-5022 PO Box 241, Nottingham , NH 03290-0241, Website: nottinghamnh.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/NottinghamNH_Historic/index
- Plaistow Historical Society, Phone: 603-382-1675 PO Box 434, Plaistow , NH 03865-0434, Website: www.plaistowhistorical.org
- Portsmouth Athenaeum, Phone: 603-431-2538 PO Box 848, Portsmouth , NH 03802-0848, Website: www.portsmouthathenaeum.org
- Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail, Inc., Phone: 603-431-2768 143 Pleasant St, Portsmouth , NH 03801-4506, Website: www.pbhtrail.org
- Portsmouth Historical Society, Phone: 603-436-8420 PO Box 728, Portsmouth , NH 03802-0728, Website: www.portsmouthhistory.org
- Raymond Historical Society, Contact:, Phone: 603-895-2866 PO Box 94, 1 Depot Rd, Raymond , NH 03077-0094
- Robert Frost Farm (NH State Park), Phone: 603-432-3091 State of NH, DRED (State Parks), PO Box 1856, Concord , NH 03302-1856, Website: www.nhstateparks.org
- Rundlet-May House/HNE, Phone: 603-436-3205 143 Pleasant St, Portsmouth , NH 03801-4506, Website: www.historicnewengland.org
- Rye Historical Society PO Box 583, Rye , NH 03870-0583, Website: www.ryehistoricalsociety.blogs.com
- Salem Historical Society 310 Main St, Salem , NH 03079-2498, Website: www.historicalsocietiesnh.org/salem/
- Sandown Historical Society, Phone: 603-887-6100 PO Box 300, Sandown , NH 03873-0300
- Sandown Old Meeting House Association, Phone: 603-887-3946 PO Box 377, Sandown , NH 03873-0377
- Stratham Historical Society, Phone: 603-778-0434 PO Box 39, Stratham , NH 03885-0039, Website: www.strathamhistsoc.org
- Strawbery Banke Museum, Phone: 603-433-1100 PO Box 300, Portsmouth , NH 03802-0300, Website: www.strawberybanke.org
- Taylor Sawmill Historic Site (NH State Park), Phone: 603-271-3556 State of NH, DRED (State Parks), PO Box 1856, Concord , NH 03302-1856, Website: www.nhstateparks.org
- Tobias Lear House, Phone: 603-436-4406 PO Box 563, Portsmouth , NH 03802-0563, Website: www.wentworthgardnerandlear.org
- Warner House Association, Phone: 603-436-5909 PO Box 895, 150 Daniel St, Portsmouth , NH 03802-0895, Website: www.warnerhouse.org
- Wentworth Gardener House, Phone: 603-436-4406 PO Box 563, Portsmouth , NH 03802-0563, Website: www.wentworthgardnerandlear.org
- Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion (NH State Park), State of NH, DRED (State Parks), PO Box 1856, Concord , NH 03302-1856 Phone: 603-436-6607, Website: www.nhstateparks.org
- Windham Historical Society PO Box 741, Windham , NH 03087-0741
- Rockingham County, New Hampshire Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com)
- Rockingham County, New Hampshire Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
- USGenWeb Archives for Rockingham County (usgwarchives.net)
Rockingham County Courthouse and Government Records
Genealogist frequently forget about the great importance of Rockingham County court, probate, and land documents as a resource of ancestry and genealogy information. Hidden away in New Hampshire courthouses and archives just about everywhere tend to be the hopes and dreams and worries of the many New Hampshire citizens.
The odds are excellent that your particular forefathers have left a in-depth record of at least some elements of their lives in the Rockingham County court records. Even if your ancestors and forefathers is not mentioned in a Court case, give some thought to all of the other methods which often can have lead to him or her appearing in court records.
The following facts indicates whatever birth, death, marriage, property, wills, and courtroom records are typically in Rockingham County. The years indicated below are considered the first noted records data in this county.
- Rockingham County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: 10 Route 125, Brentwood, NH 03833
- Rockingham County Clerk of Superior Court has Court Records from 1639
- Rockingham County Clerk of Probate Court has Probate Records from 1639
- Rockingham County Register of Deeds has Land Records from 1639
- Rockingham County Town Clerks has copies of vital records (birth, marriage, divorce and death records) from 1630.
- New Hampshire Office of Vital Records has copies of birth, marriage, divorce and death records. There is a fee for each copy requested. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in New Hampshire for current fees and application process. Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. Please be advised that in most cases you will receive your records more quickly from the City and Town locations than from the State Office
- Ordering Vital Records – You can also order Order Electronically Online or You can download an application for New Hampshire Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Divorce Certificate, Death Certificate Application to mail.
Rockingham County Links
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Rockingham County. Most of these genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Commercial Sites, Personal Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some call for a fee. This is simply a collection that has been collected or submitted. I do not recommend or promote one genealogy site above another. Feel free to furnish your own most liked Rockingham County genealogy or family history affiliated sites.
Rockingham Co. NH Books, Newspapers & Publications
- New Hampshire Newspapers Books & Publications Research Guide
- New Hampshire historical newspaper archives online (newspapers.com)
- Historical Newspapers from New Hampshire (1756–1891) (genealogybank.com)
- Portsmouth Herald (Portsmouth, New Hampshire) (search.ancestry.com)
- Atlantic News (Hampton) (nh.gov)
- Carriage Towne News (Kingston) (nh.gov)
- Derry News
- Eagle Tribune (Andover, MA) (nh.gov)
- Exeter News Letter (nh.gov)
- Hampton Union (nh.gov)
- Londonderry Hometown Online News (nh.gov)
- Londonderry Times (nh.gov)
- Nutfield News (nh.gov)
- Portsmouth Herald (nh.gov)
- Rockingham News (nh.gov)
- Salem Observer (nh.gov)
- Tri-Town Times (nh.gov)
- Rockingham County, New Hampshire Books (amazon.com)
- Search New Hampshire Obituaries Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
- Rockingham County Genealogy Books (books.google.com)
Rockingham Co. NH Birth, Marriage & Death Records
- New Hampshire Vital Records Research Guide
- Londonderry, New Hampshire Vital Records, 1722-1910 (search.ancestry.com)
- Vital Records of Londonderry, New Hampshire, 1719-1910 (search.ancestry.com)
- The Vital Records of Kingston, New Hampshire 1694-1994 (search.ancestry.com)
- New Hampshire, Births and Christenings Index, 1714-1904 (search.ancestry.com)
- New Hampshire, Marriage Records Index, 1637-1947 (search.ancestry.com)
- New Hampshire, Death and Burial Records Index, 1654-1949 (search.ancestry.com)
- Social Security Death Index (search.ancestry.com)
Rockingham Co. NH Court, Probate Land and Tax Records
- New Hampshire Court Records Research Guide
- Name & subject index, name & location index of illustrations, Portsmouth historic and picturesque, by C.S. Gurney, 1902 (search.ancestry.com)
- Inventory of the town archives of New Hampshire, no. 8, Rockingham County, vol. xi. town of Exeter (search.ancestry.com)
- Inventory of the town archives of New Hampshire, no. 8, Rockingham County, vol. xiii. town of Greenland (search.ancestry.com)
- Inventory of the town archives of New Hampshire, no. 8, Rockingham County, vol. ii. town of Auburn (search.ancestry.com)
- Inventory of the town archives of New Hampshire, no. 8, Rockingham County, vol. i, town of Atkinson (search.ancestry.com)
- New Hampshire, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1636-1947 (familysearch.org)
- New Hampshire, County Probate Estate Files, 1769-1936 (familysearch.org)
- New Hampshire Probate Records, 1635-1753 (search.ancestry.com)
- New Hampshire, County Probate Records, 1660-1973 (familysearch.org)
- BLM Land Records (glorecords.blm.gov)
Rockingham Co. NH Census Records
- New Hampshire Census Records Research Guide
- Rockingham County, NH Census Records Links
- Rockingham County, NH Census QuickFacts
Rockingham Co. NH Cemeteries & Church Records
- New Hampshire Cemetery Research Guide
- Rockingham Co., New Hampshire Graves (findagrave.com)
- Rockingham County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Rockingham Co., New Hampshire Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Topographic Cemetery List and Map for Rockingham County, New Hampshire
- Rockingham Co., New Hampshire Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- New Hampshire Church & Bible Research Guide
- Minutes of the Rockingham Conference of Congregational and Presbyterian churches at Portsmouth, June 12 & 13, 1866 (search.ancestry.com)
- Historical discourse delivered at the centennial anniversary of the Congregational Church, Candia, N.H., April 5, 1871 (search.ancestry.com)
- A centennial discourse delivered on the one hundredth anniverary of the formation of the Baptist Church, Newton, N.H. : October (search.ancestry.com)
- Historical sketch of the North Church : a discourse delivered at the re-opening and dedication of the North Church in Portsmout (search.ancestry.com)
- Minutes of the Rockingham Conference at the annual meeting in Chester, N.H., June, 1851 (search.ancestry.com)
- Historical sketch of Hampton, N.H., for 250 years, 1638-1888 : and of the Congregational Church in Hampton, N.H. (search.ancestry.com)
- Historical sketch of the Second Parish, Exeter, N.H. : together with the creed, list of members, etc. (search.ancestry.com)
- Historical discourse, delivered at Atkinson, N.H., on the centennial anniversary of the Congregational Church (search.ancestry.com)
- A semi-centennial discourse delivered Sunday, March 24, 1878 : commemorative of the organization of the Congregational Church, (search.ancestry.com)
- Topographic Church List and Map for Rockingham County, New Hampshire
- Rockingham County, New Hampshire Church Books (amazon.com)
Rockingham Co. NH Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Rockingham County, New Hampshire. (search.ancestry.com)
- New Hampshire Family Group Sheet Project (fgs-project.com)
Rockingham Co. NH General and History Websites
- See Also State History for New Hampshire
- Rockingham County, New Hampshire Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- About the County (co.rockingham.nh.us)
- History of Rockingham and Strafford Counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent (search.ancestry.com)
- History of the town of Hampton, New Hampshire : from its settlement in 1638, to the autumn of 1892 (search.ancestry.com)
- History of old Chester : from 1719 to 1869 (search.ancestry.com)
- History of old Chester, from 1719 to 1869 (search.ancestry.com)
- History of the town of Rye, New Hampshire : from its discovery and settlement to December 31, 1903 (search.ancestry.com)
- History of Chester, New Hampshire, including Auburn : a supplement to the History of old Chester, published in 1869 (search.ancestry.com)
- History of the town of Candia, Rockingham County, N.H. : from its first settlement to the present time (search.ancestry.com)
- History of the town of Exeter, New Hampshire (search.ancestry.com)
- Annals of Portsmouth : comprising a period of two hundred years from the first settlement of the town (search.ancestry.com)
- The history of Londonderry : comprising the towns of Derry and Londonderry, N.H. (search.ancestry.com)
- Reminiscences of Candia (search.ancestry.com)
- Early Portsmouth history (search.ancestry.com)
- Rambles about Greenland in rhyme (search.ancestry.com)
- Portsmouth, historic and picturesque : a volume of information : being a very complete and accurate compendium of over two hund (search.ancestry.com)
- New Castle, historic and picturesque (search.ancestry.com)
- History of Candia : once known as Charmingfare : with notices of some of the early families (search.ancestry.com)
- History of Candia : once known as Charmingfare : with notices of some of the early families (search.ancestry.com)
- Facts relating to the early history of Chester, N.H. (search.ancestry.com)
- Addresses and proceedings at the dedication of Candia’s Soldiers’ Monument, presented to the town by Hon. Frederick Smyth. (search.ancestry.com)
- An historical address delivered at Hampton, New-Hampshire, on the 25th of December, 1838, in commemoration of the settlement of (search.ancestry.com)
- Annals of the Brentwood, N.H. Congregational Church and Parish (search.ancestry.com)
- Exeter in 1776 : sketches of an old New Hampshire town as it was a hundred years ago (search.ancestry.com)
- Newington, New Hampshire, parish and town : a study in ecclesiastical history (search.ancestry.com)
- Raymond, New Hampshire fifty years ago : an address at the “Old Home Week Celebration,” Raymond, N.H., August 20, 1901 (search.ancestry.com)
- Rockingham County, New Hampshire Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Rockingham Co. NH Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- Rockingham County, New Hampshire (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – New Hampshire – Counties – Rockingham (cyndislist.com)
- Rockingham County New Hampshire (genealogytrails.com)
- Rockingham Co. NHGenweb (rootsweb.ancestry.com)
- Rockingham County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Rockingham Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Rockingham Co. NH Immigration & Naturalization
- See Also Statewide Immigration and Naturalization Links for New Hampshire
- New Hampshire, County Naturalization Records, 1771-2001 (familysearch.org)
Rockingham Co. NH Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of New Hampshire Links and Information
- 1895 Rockingham County Map (livgenmi.com)
Rockingham Co. NH Military Records
- New Hampshire Military Records Research Guide
- A brief record of events in Exeter, N.H. during the year 1862 : together with the names of the soldiers of this town in the war (search.ancestry.com)
- The Soldiers’ Memorial, Portsmouth, N.H., 1893-1923 : with indexed record of the graves we decorate : Storer Post, no. 1, Depa (search.ancestry.com)
- A brief record of current events in Exeter, N.H. during the year 1863 : together with the names of the soldiers of this town in (search.ancestry.com)
- New Hampshire Military Records (fold3.com) gives access to military records, stories, photos, and personal documents belonging to the New Hampshire both males and females who served. Great for Rockingham County genealogists, researchers, historians and a lot more.
Rockingham Co. NH Schools & Directories
- Portsmouth, New Hampshire Directories, 1888, 1890, 1892 (search.ancestry.com)
- New Hampshire City Directories (search.ancestry.com)