Strafford County, New Hampshire

Societies and Family History Resources ∣ County Courthouse and Government Records ∣ County Genealogy Links

Strafford County was founded on March 19, 1771 (organized in 1771) one of the five original counties identified for New Hampshire in 1769. The county was named in honotr of William Wentworth, 2nd Earl of Strafford (1626-1695), an English noble who owned colonial lands.

The Strafford County Seat is located in Dover and the county government website is http://co.strafford.nh.us/

Areas adjacent to Strafford County are Carroll County (north), York County, Maine (east), Rockingham County (south), Merrimack County (west), Belknap County (northwest).

Cities and towns (date formed) situated in Strafford County are Barrington, Dover, Durham, Farmington , Lee, Madbury, Middleton, Milton , New Durham, Rochester, Rollinsford, Somersworth, Strafford

Strafford 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.

Strafford Co. Mortality Schedules is available for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Strafford Co. Industry and Agriculture Schedules can be acquired for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Strafford Co. Union Veterans Schedules can be acquired for 1890. There is free down-loadable and printable census forms to help with your research.

Strafford County Society and Family History Resources

A list of Strafford County Historical  and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives.

https://www.archives.gov/research/census
• New Hampshire State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
• Collections of the Dover, N.H., Historical Society  (search.ancestry.com)
• Assoc. for Rollinsford Culture & History, PO Box 16, Rollinsford , NH  03869-0016,
• Barrington Historical Society,  c/o E Hayes, Treasurer, 169 Route 9, Barrington , NH  03825-3829; Phone: 603-664-2442
• Durham Historic Association,  c/o Town Hall, 15 Newmarket Rd, Durham , NH  03824-2815; Phone: 603-868-5436
• Farmington Historical Society, c/o Goodwin Library, 422 Main St, Farmington , NH  03835-3771; Phone: 603-755-2944
• Lee Historical Society, 60 Davis Street, Lee, MA 01238; Phone:(413) 243-3204
• Madbury Historical Society, 13 Town Hall Road, Madbury, NH 03823; Phone:(603) 742-5131
• New Durham Historical Society,    PO Box 396, New Durham , NH  03855-0396; Phone: 603-859-4643
• NH Farm Museum, PO Box 644, Milton , NH  03851-0644; Phone: 603-652-7840
• Rochester Historical Society, 58 Hanson Street, Rochester, NH 03867; Phone:(603) 330-3099
• Rollinsford Historical Society, PO Box 309, Rollinsford , NH  03869-0309; Phone: 603-742-2510
• Strafford Historical Society,   PO Box 33, Center Strafford , NH  03815-0033
• Summersworth Historical Society,   12 Grove St, Somersworth , NH  03878-2606
•  Woodman Institute Museum, PO Box 1916, Dover , NH  03821; Phone: 603-742-1038
• Township of Milton Historical Society, Inc., PO Box 28, Milton Mills , NH  03852-0028; Phone: 603-755-2055
• University Museum, 18 Library Way Rm 103, Diamond Library, Durham , NH  03824-3520; Phone: 603-862-1081
• Strafford County, New Hampshire Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com)
• Strafford County, New Hampshire Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
• USGenWeb Archives for Strafford County (usgwarchives.net)

Strafford County Courthouse and Government Records

Genealogist frequently forget about the great importance of Strafford 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 Strafford 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.

Please speak to the clerk’s dept to verify hours, mailing address, fees and other facts in advance of visiting or inquiring about information because of occasionally changing contact details. The Department Offices DO NOT DO RESEARCH. The records are available to interested parties, barring confidential issues. Many workers will assist people in finding the materials, but it is up to the person to complete the research.

The following facts indicates whatever birth, death, marriage, property, wills, and courtroom records are typically in Strafford County. The years indicated below are considered the first noted records data in this county.

• Strafford County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
  • Address: Justice & Administration Building, 259 County Farm Road, P.O. Box 799, Dover, NH 03820-0799
• Strafford County Clerk of Superior Court has Court Records from 1769
• Strafford County Clerk of Probate Court has Probate Records from 1769
• Strafford County Register of Deeds has Land Records from 1769
• Strafford County Town Clerks has copies of vital records (birth, marriage, divorce and death records) from 1769.
• 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.

Strafford County Links

The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Strafford 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 Strafford County genealogy or family history affiliated sites.

Strafford 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)
• Foster’s Daily Democrat (nh.gov)
• The New Hampshire (Durham) (nh.gov)
• Strafford County, New Hampshire Books (amazon.com)
• Search New Hampshire Obituaries Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
• Strafford County Genealogy Books (books.google.com)

Strafford Co. NH Birth, Marriage & Death Records

• New Hampshire Vital Records Research Guide
• 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)

Strafford Co. NH Court, Probate Land and Tax Records

• New Hampshire Court Records Research Guide
• 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)

Strafford Co. NH Census Records

• New Hampshire Census Records Research Guide
• Strafford County, NH Census Records Links
• Strafford County, NH Census QuickFacts

Strafford Co. NH Cemeteries & Church Records

• New Hampshire Cemetery Research Guide
• Strafford Co., New Hampshire Graves (findagrave.com)
• Strafford County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
• Strafford Co., New Hampshire Cemeteries (Internment.net)
• Topographic Cemetery List and Map for Strafford County, New Hampshire
• Strafford Co., New Hampshire Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
• New Hampshire Church & Bible Research Guide
• Topographic Church List and Map for Strafford County, New Hampshire
• Strafford County, New Hampshire Church Books (amazon.com)

Strafford Co. NH Family Websites, Pictures & Histories

• New Hampshire Family Group Sheet Project (fgs-project.com)

Strafford Co. NH General and History Websites

• See Also State History for New Hampshire
• Strafford County, New Hampshire Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
• Strafford County Profile (extension.unh.edu)
• 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 Durham, New Hampshire (Oyster River Plantation) : with genealogical notes  (search.ancestry.com)
• History of Dover, New Hampshire : containing historical, genealogical and industrial data of its early settlers, their struggle  (search.ancestry.com)
• Historical memoranda concerning persons and places in old Dover, N.H.  (search.ancestry.com)
• Notable events in the history of Dover, New Hampshire : from the first settlement in 1623 to 1865  (search.ancestry.com)
• Strafford County, New Hampshire Wiki (familysearch.org)
• Strafford Co. NH Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
• Family History Library (familysearch.org)
• Strafford County, New Hampshire (linkpendium.com)
• Cyndi’s List – United States – New Hampshire – Counties – Strafford (cyndislist.com)
• Strafford County New Hampshire (genealogytrails.com)
• Strafford Co. NHGenweb (rootsweb.ancestry.com)
• Strafford County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
• Strafford Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)

Strafford Co. NH Immigration & Naturalization

• See Also Statewide Immigration and Naturalization Links for New Hampshire
• New Hampshire, County Naturalization Records, 1771-2001 (familysearch.org)

Strafford Co. NH Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers

• See Also Map of New Hampshire Links and Information
• 1895 Strafford County Map (livgenmi.com)

Strafford Co. NH Military Records

• New Hampshire Military Records Research Guide
• Dover, N.H. in the U.S. Navy in 1861-1865  (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 Strafford County genealogists, researchers, historians and a lot more.

Strafford Co. NH Schools & Directories

• Rochester, New Hampshire Directory, 1897  (search.ancestry.com)
• New Hampshire City Directories  (search.ancestry.com)