Lucretia Senter (m Weeks) 1779 NH/VT - 1871 PA - Who really were her parents?

Question

Hi everyone,

I'm hoping someone here has that needle in the haystack.

I've been searching in vain to find the parents of Lucretia Senter, married name Weeks/Weekes.

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Senter-68

Lucretia Senter (married Weeks or Weekes) is allegedly the daughter of David and Susanna Senter and was born in Vermont.  However, there is no known source for this.  How then, did so many sites and tree's wind up with this connection?  What was the original tree, or "source" for this connection?

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KCKY-FM8

https://www.geni.com/people/Lucretia-Weeks/6000000083465589928

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Senter-68

All the trees I've seen on Ancestry.com do not have a source for making the connection to David and Susanna Senter.

And a Vermont birth is highly unlikely (if David and Susanna were her parents) based on where her parents lived at the time (due to land purchase/sale records)

Information found as of now:

The 1850 Census states her birthplace was New Hampshire:  https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8054/images/4205393_00563?pId=5396099

As does the 1860 Census:  https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10127-22892456/lucretia-weeks-in-1860-united-states-federal-census?s=530353551&indId=individual-530353551-3501480#fullscreen

And the 1870 Census as well (though, they misspelled her name: Leicires Weeks):  https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10128-69547488-/leicires-weeks-in-1870-united-states-federal-census?s=530353551&indId=individual-530353551-3501480

The part of Moultonborough where the Senter’s lived in New Hampshire, apparently became a part of New Hampton, and is now Center Harbor (named after the family).

 The individuals involved are:

 David Senter

Son of Lt. Col. Joseph Senter of N.H. and Elizabeth E Johnson of MA.  Lt. Col. Joseph Senter died around May 14, 1798 in Holderness, N.H.  In 1771, Col Senter received a  2,550 acre land grant from Governor Wentworth.  They later lived in Center Harbor (named after the Senter family, but it’s thought the spelling “Center” was a clerical error based on their last name also being spelled Center in addition to Senter).

b. Circa between 1747/48 - Dunstable, Middlesex County, Massachusetts (year based on his purchase of land in 1769, needed to be at least 21 y.o., age of majority)

Circa May 2, 1769 – July 3, 1777 - “of Moultonborough” N.H. (land records)

m. Susanna “Susan” Chamberlain, circa 1771 Middlesex County, Massachusetts

Jan 4, 1781 – Jan 20, 1781 – “of New Hampton” N.H. (land records)

Sep 17, 1781 – Feb 27, 1793 – “of Plymouth” N.H. (land records) *

Apr 17, 1794 – Nov 9, 1819 - “of Danville” VT (land records)

d. Nov 9 1819 Danville, Caledonia County, Vermont

 

Susanna “Susan” Chamberlain (daughter of Lt. Ebenezer Chamberlain of N.H. and Lucretia Rogers of N.H.)

b. Oct 30 1752 Pepperell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts

m. David Senter, circa 1771 Middlesex County, Massachusetts

d. Unknown.

  

Lucretia Weeks (born Senter, allegedly daughter of David and Susan Senter)

b. Feb 23 1779 either Moultonborough OR New Hampton OR Center Harbor (Plymouth being an outside possibility as well)

Sep 17, 1781 – Feb 27, 1793 – Plymouth New Hampshire (fathers land records)

Apr 17, 1794 – Nov 3, 1799 - Danville Vermont (fathers land records)

m. William Dyer Weekes on Nov 3 1799 Danville, Caledonia County, Vermont

Nov 3, 1799 - 1821, Feb – Danville/ Clarendon Vermont (Marriage, Census of Husband)

Feb 4, 1821 – Dec 7, 1871 - Tioga County, Pennsylvania (Birth of children, Census)

d. Dec 7 1871 Westfield, Tioga County, Pennsylvania

 

William Dyer Weeks (Weekes, Weaks)

b. July 15 1767 Oyster Bay, Nassau County, New York

m. Lucretia Senter on Nov 3 1799 Danville, Caledonia County, Vermont

d. Mar 25 1850 Westfield, Tioga County, Pennsylvania

 CONTINUED....

Comments

CONTINUED ...

The records I have so far are:

1. New England families, genealogical and memorial. Vol 4, 1914 edition, pg 2140 by William Cutter.  which states:

"(V) David Senter, son of Colonel Joseph Senter, was born. at Dunstable, in 1750, and removed to Moultonborough, now Center Harbor, with his parents. From 1780 to 1792 he lived at Plymouth. He settled at Danville, Vermont, where he was one of the pioneers, and died there in November, 1819. He married Susan Chamberlain, who was baptized at Rochester, New Hampshire, July 15, 1753, daughter of Ebenezer Chamberlain, who was a lieutenant in Captain Edward Everett's company, Colonel Bedel's regiment, in 1776, in the revolutionary war. Children of David and Susan Senter: Dearborn Bean, mentioned below; David ; Darius; Ebenezer; Zaccheus; Susan and Sally. "

2. Lucretia’s Vermont Marriage Index Card (which does not list her parents).  It does, however, give her maiden name as Senter.

3. A copy of her actual marriage record to William Weeks in the town of Danville, VT.  It does not list the parents, only William and Lucretia’s names and that he was from Peacham and she was from Danville. 

4. Numerous land and other records pertaining to David Senter (basis for most of the timeline above). 

5. On Oct 3, 1797 – With David Senter now living in Danville VT, a pew was sold in the Plymouth, NH Meeting House.  At this time, the name David Senter was struck off at Vendue (probably left it unpaid).  The pew was adjoining the ministerial Pew on the lower floor.  This indicates he had high standing in the community being so close to the minister.  (See link #4 document for the source).

Supposedly, William Cutter (item #1 above) is known for not listing all children in a family, so that he might have left off Lucretia (if she is in fact David and Susanna’s daughter) wouldn’t be surprising.

To confirm, what I’m hoping to find is some record (a book, other land records, probate records, bible, articles, local genealogy’s, local newspapers that aren’t digitized, etc) that connects Lucretia Senter to David Senter circa 1779 in either Moultonborough, New Hampton, Center Harbor or possibly Plymouth New Hampshire.  Her grandfather, Lt. Col. Joseph Senter died May 14, 1798 in Holderness, maybe there is some mention in a record for him?

If found, I would like to purchase a copy of the record(s).

Thanks for reading.

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Just a summary of where I have gotten to with Lucretia. She married in November of 1799. She gave her residence as Danville. I have looked at the 1790 census for Danville and there are no Senter families listed then. She was not in that location until after 1790. Which fits with the Joseph/David Senter timeline.

In 1800 the only Senter families listed are David Sr and David Jr. That Senter family did not arrive in Danville until about 1794. Unless Lucretia was part of another Senter family that arrived after 1790 and left or died before August of 1800 she could not be part of any other family than David Senter's.

Lucretia and William are in Peacham on the 1800 Census. The only mystery is who is the male child aged between 10-16 in their household. A relative? A visitor? or a child from a previous marriage? Could Lucretia be Widow Senter?

So I am afraid after all the digging I am not much further ahead. Just more questions than answers. The birth of David Senter Sr. is a question as well, being at least 7 years prior to his parents wedding. Somewhere something is wrong, a connection, a birth date. Not sure. Only thing to do would be to keep filling in the relatives around them until you get an answer.

Answer 1

I had a look, I agree the parentage is uncertain. What I did find was an entry on Find A Grave with Image of her headstone. In the Bio is an unsourced reference to her parents as David and Susan. You could contact the author of the bio and inquire what their source for the info was. 

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/98846569/lucretia-weekes

I did some updating on Lucretia's profile. I would encourage you to add your notes to her new research area so that others can see what has been uncovered to date. 

Comments

The only hint of how Lucretia possibly ended up with the Peacham birth location is on the marriage record for William Weekes.  He gives his residence as Peacham. Lucretia was residing in Danville. Her census records all clearly say she was born in New Hampshire. Was Williams residence confused as her birth location? Not unusual for family to make errors like that. The information on FAG for her birth location is not on the headstone so it is likely an error.

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Yes, that Findagrave memorial is unsourced as far as her place of birth and parentage.  At least it has dates.

I contacted the author some time ago, haven't heard back.

Also have numerous requests out to local/state genealogy societies and government agencies for Moultonborough, New Hampton, Center Harbor and Plymouth cities and related counties in N.H. and Peacham, Danville and Charlestown towns and related counties of Vermont (for David & Lucretia's relative records), as well as the city of Westfield and Tioga County in PA (for Lucretia's death).  So far, all have replied with no results found.

I have since found a book which indicates that David Senter likely died in Charlestown VT and not in Danville:

Died on/before Nov 9, 1819 – “grandfather David Senter started from the West Charlestown Mill to go across the woods to his son Darius Senter’s and was lost.  The town rallied to search for him and he was found, but by the kindness of drink and food given to him in his exhausted state was so injured he died. He was buried on the Dark Day, November 9, 1819.” *

buried Nov 9 1819,  Charlestown, Orleans County, VT.

https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Vermont_Historical_Gazetteer/vJUbAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 Pg.378

By the way...that account by his grandson, states:  "He was the father of Zacheus and Derban Senter." So, this grandson of his states that David Senter had 3 boys, Darius (who he crossed the woods to see), Zacheus and Derban.  That's it.  No mention of Ebenezer; Susan and Sally who William Cutter mentions in his book...and of course no mention of Lucretia. 

As a side, but related note, David and "Susan" Senter being Lucreita's parents makes sense for the point of (a) her marriage record states her maiden name is "Senter" and (b) that she is from Danville and (c) land records (source #4 above) state that David is "of Danville" at least beginning Apr 17, 1794 which is about 5 years before she is married there.  So, by extension at least, it does make sense David and Susan are her parents.  In other words, this seems like the correct parental lineage to follow with further research.

The search continues for some form of evidence more directly linking Lucretia Senter to David and Susan Senter...

[Edit: Add more complete quote from grandson about David's death]

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Yes I saw that about the father. Online sources are few and far between for this family. I think it will take some actual searches with Vermont and New Hampshire Archives/Genealogical Societies to perhaps dig out something reliable. Her death record (if there is one) may hold the names of her parents.

I does look like David and Susan would be the most likely parents as they were in Danville where Lucretia was living when she married. Her claim of birth in N.H. seems to fit with the residence history of that family as well.

Or she could be a niece/cousin of David's? Have you looked into David's siblings?

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Yes, I've done some preliminary research regarding David's siblings:  Joseph Senter II or Jr. (1752 MA – 1832 NY), Noah Johnson Senter (1756 MA – 1818 MA), Ebenezer Senter (1757 ? – 1813 NH), Edward Senter (1760 MA – 1829 NH).

I've not confirmed any of their birth years or locations.  However, if I have their years of birth roughly correct there, they would be within the reasonable age to be her father.  From what I've seen so far though, non of them were "of Danville" around the time Lucretia was married there (like David was).  Of course, that doesn't mean one of the brothers wasn't the father and Lucretia later went to live with David.

This is definitely an avenue to be explored.

That, and I'm now looking into Lt. Col Joseph Senter (would be her grandfather) death records.  Since he died circa 1798, it's possible he listed Lucretia in a will or is in a probate record.  He had quit a bit of land (received a 2,550 acre land grant from Governor Wentworth in 1771), fought in the Rev War (Colonial wars too) and was a member of many committees over the years, so he seems to have been at least somewhat prominent.  Perhaps his death related records can shed some light.  Just need to locate them.

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Derban =Dearborn Bean Senter b. 1790

Answer 2

Well this is interesting. Apparently David Senter had a second wife. Married Jane Rolfe 1797 in Danville. 

http://"Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V8MT-QW5 : 19 February 2021), David Senter and Jane Rolfe, 1797.

Comments

I thought that as well when I first found that record.  However, that David Senter (born circa 1775) is the son.  Jane Rolfe was Lucretia's sister-in-law.

Apparently, they had some marital "issues."

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1k4IAWKhCmLjqqctIahEmYXtyKIFrUmHN/view?usp=sharing

He signed it:  David Senter, jun.

I've attached the record to the FamilySearch profile.

[Edit:  Add newspaper clipping link]

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Duh, I see that now. Lol, of course he would have been pretty old then  On Wikitree she is attached to David Senter Sr. Just looking at finding a source so I can add the son and fix that mistake.

Answer 3

An interesting find. David Senter, on Wikitree, is said to have married Susannah Chamberlain. However it seems that is the wrong woman. See my Research Notes on http://[[Senter-69|David Senter (abt.1750-1819)]] 

He married Susan Chamberlain, dau of Ebenezer Chamberlain and Lucretia Rogers. Both profiles exist on Wikitree but Susan is not listed as child as yet. 

It certainly would explain the brick wall as Susannah was never the mother. 

Susan's mother's name is Lucretia, making the naming of a daughter by that name even more likely. 

Comments

I have found a source for Susan's birth to parents Ebenezer and Lucretia Chamberlain. And also noted that Ebenezer and Lucretia had a son by the name of Joshua. He was baptized in Moutonborough, N.H. in 1771. according to same source. That places the family in the same area as the Senters I think?

See source on Chamberlain-6802

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Thanks for correcting David's profile here! I have been paying so much attention to Lucretia Senter and looking at so many sources and sites, that I hadn't noticed David's wife was the wrong Susan Chamberlain on this site.

Agreed that the Susan Chamberlain that David Senter married was the daughter of Lt. Ebenezer Chamberlain and Lucretia Rogers.

It seems that other, Phinehas Chamberlain, is known to have essentially stayed in Middlesex County, MA his entire life.

In any event, not the right father for this David Senter.  Ebenezer is. 

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"Moutonborough, N.H. in 1771"

Yes, David Senter is "of Moutonborough" during this time, according to land records.

So that definitely puts the Chamberlains (Susan's parents) in the same area as the Senter's at this time. Good find!

David Senter's "residence" summary based on land records (sourced above):

Birth – Circa between 1747/48 - Dunstable, Middlesex County, Massachusetts (year based on his purchase of land in 1769, needed to be at least 21 y.o., age of majority)

Circa May 2, 1769 – July 3, 1777 - “of Moultonborough” N.H.

Circa Jan 4, 1781 – Jan 20, 1781 – “of New Hampton” N.H.

Circa Sep 17, 1781 – Feb 27, 1793 – “of Plymouth” N.H.

Circa Apr 17, 1794 – ? - “of Danville” VT

Circa ? - Nov 9, 1819 of Charlestown VT

Death – Circa Nov 1819. “grandfather David Senter started from the West Charlestown Mill to go across the woods to his son Darius Senter’s and was lost.  The town rallied to search for him and he was found, but by the kindness of drink and food given to him in his exhausted state was so injured he died.  He was buried on the Dark Day, November 9, 1819.” *

Burial - Nov 9, 1819 - Charlestown, Orleans County, Vermont *

* https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Vermont_Historical_Gazetteer/vJUbAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0

[Edit:  Add David Senter "residence" summary]

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Have you got a citation for the land that David bought in 1769?

 If you add it to his profile in support of his birth date you can change the date from 1850 to 1847.

Answer 4

Regarding David and Susan Senter's daughters Sarah or Sally possibly being Lucretia....it's unlikely based on what is known as this time.  Thought, admittedly, I've not research either of those daughters very thoroughly as of yet.

Sarah was born 1786.  She would have been 13 when she married William D. Weeks in 1799 in Danville VT. 

Sally was born circa 1802.  That would clearly not work with a 1799 marriage year.  However, that year is questionable because it would mean David was about 55 years old when she was born and more importantly, Susan about 49.

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/pedigree/landscape/MX51-VNQ

Note:  Almost all sites have David Senter as being born in 1750.  This is unlikely, because he purchased land on May 2,1769 in Moultonborough N.H. (see "Numerous Land and Other Records" linked in the original post continuation).  Back then, men had to be at least 21 years old to be considered of age to purchase land on their own.  That would push his birth year back to at least 1747-1748.  

Comments

I have been digging through some sources for Joseph Senter and Elizabeth Johnson. Your saying David, their son, was born about 1747/8. All the sources I have found so far agree that Joseph and Elizabeth didn't marry until 1754, after Joseph's return from Canada. Thats almost 7 years in the difference. In fact it seems that David and his brother Joseph were both thought to have been born prior to 1754.  That raises questions on whether David and Joseph jr belong to that family, or perhaps Joseph Sr had a wife prior to Elizabeth??

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These are great questions!

I've only ever seen 1 source for the 1754 marriage, and that's from the "Senter Family" by John G. Senter 1975.  I have a copy, but forgot from where I obtained it.  I'm guessing google books.  His timeline:

1746 - Sgt. in Capt. John Grigg's company of scouts (Matches other sources)

1754 - Made Lt. and piloted a body of troops to Canada in French War.  (Contradicts Cutter's 1919 source, although, could have served several times).

1754 - Moved from Londonderry to Dunstable.  (Contradicts Cutter who states he moved in 1745).  Joseph would be about 31 or 32 years old at this time.  Did he still live with his parents in Londonderry, or did he purchase his own land there prior to moving to Dunstable?  A move by a 22 or 23 year old Joseph, in 1745 seems more likely.

1754 - Married Elizabeth Johnson in Dunstable.

Note:  This John Senter 1975 source also states that David was born in 1750 (4 years prior to his parents getting married) and has no birth year for Joseph II.  Had he known that David purchased land in 1769, and had to be at least 21 y.o. to do so, he would put his birth year at 1748 (or 1747 based on month).  That would mean David was born about 6 or 7 years prior to his parents getting married.  Not to mention, Joseph II as well.

 
IMV, it looks like the 1754 marriage year for Joseph and Elizabeth (David's parents and Lucretia's alleged grandparents) is not very likely.

Expanding on that significant issue...

Joseph and Elizabeth's first two known children are:  David Senter, born in Dunstable 1747/1748 (1750 in many sources, that don't into account land records) and Joseph Senter II (or Jr.), born in Dunstable circa 1752.  It's certainly a possibility that one of them was born prior to the marriage, it's not really possible to think that they had 2 sons born out of wedlock and then got married several years later.  Especially when all appearances are that these two families, Senter's in particular, had some level of wealth.  Certainly not paupers.  I don't think they'd permit them to remain unmarried for 6+ years with 2 children.

The only reasonable scenario at this time for a 1754 marriage would be, as you posit, that Elizabeth Johnson was Lt. Col Joseph Senter, Esq.'s 2nd wife.  Although, this presents some logistical issues.

Joseph Senter moved to Dunstable MA (where Elizabeth Johnson was from) in 1745 or 1754. Did he move there, already married while in Londonderry N.H.?  Why would he and his first wife move to Dunstable when he had no family there?  Or, did he move to Dunstable for some reason after the death of his first wife, find and marry Elizabeth?  I think, if there is in fact an alternative here, it would be the later.

This source: https://www.google.com/books/edition/New_England_Families_Genealogical_and_Me/itAUAAAAYAAJ?gbpv=1&bsq=senter Pg. 2140

Doesn't state when Joseph and Elizabeth were married, but has a lot of the Senter family information.  It's by William Cutter, who is known to have missed children in a number of families.

1745 - Joseph Senter moved to Dunstable MA (now Nashua N.H.).  This is likely around the time he moved away from his parents in Londonderry and married Elizabeth Johnson, who was of Dunstable.

1759 - Piloted troops to Canada in the French war.

1776+ - Rev War, Legislature, Selectman, Special Justice to Superior Court, etc.

This source: https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/15716/images/dvm_GenMono000964-00498-1?pId=1050

Doesn't state when they were married, but it does give an account of his military service:

1746 - Served in the French war as a Lieutenant. (Later, in 1771, for his service in the early wars, the governor and council of New Hampshire, granted him 2,500 acres in Albany N.H. where he was one of the proprietors.)

1776 - Commissioned Lt. Col in Col Wymann's regiment "and sent to reinforce the Canada troops and later was stationed in Rhode Island."

This source: https://www.google.com/books/edition/History_of_Plymouth_New_Hampshire/KTETAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=senter

Doesn't state when they were married, but it does give an account of his military service:

1746 - A Sergeant in Capt. John Grigg's company of scouts, 1746, and a Lieutenant in the succeeding French war.

1776 - Lt. Col under Col Wymann, and was a Lt. Col commanding the battalion sent to Rhode Island 1777, and served from July 25 (1777) to Jan 8, 1778

At this point, I'm much more inclined to go with a (first, and only) 1745 marriage for the several reasons mentioned. Much more research needs to be done on where Joseph Senter was "of" during these years as well and hopefully locating a marriage record for Joseph and Elizabeth.

[Edit:  add source]

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John G. Senter, did a quick search but only came up with an Obit https://memorial.davisfuneralhomenh.com/john-senter/3678589/  If you find your source can you let me know. 

Yes, Cutter is one source I have been referring to, not too many others out there that show independent work, they just seem to regurgitate Cutter's work. 

I agree it looks more likely that they married in 1745. I did find some birth dates for Joseph and Elizabeth's children, though just estimates for most. 

David 1747, 

Joseph 1752,

 Noah 1754  

Births of the three above looks like what you would see and makes the marriage of 1745 most likely.

Then we start seeing big gaps, explanations -wrong birth dates,  miscarriage, husband away being a Soldier, fertility issues, wife dies and is replaced by new wife in the gap at some point. No birth control so gaps always raise questions.   

*Edward 1760 - 6 year gap from Noah. Birth during tail end of French War 1754-1763

*Elizabeth 1768 - 8 year gap from Edward. No wars happening?

*Isaac 1770 

*Susannah 1777 - 7 year gap from Isaac. Revolutionary War 1775-1778

According to Ancestry source in your notes above https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/15716/images/dvm_GenMono000964-00498-1?pId=1050 (cant view, behind paywall) how did Joseph receive land for French War service in 1746 when the war didn't start until 1754? He was scouting about that time but that doesn't seem to match what your note is saying here.

Your land records show we are in the right ball park for David's birth date. Any land records for Joseph Jr.?? 

One question on the land record sources (I was working on formats) - what are you choosing to use as a location. In the records they give the residence of each party, and the location of the land. They dont seem to give the location where the deed was executed. I noticed one source of David b. 1747, (Source#3),  that had a location of Danville VT. but in the record there was no mention of Danville. I believe its New Hampton??

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John G Senter, lol. I added a collection of files (from Orange County California Genealogical Society) to David's profile the other day, under See Also; "Senter Family Files" which includes some papers from John G. Senter! 

https://occgs.com/projects/rescue/family_files/files/SENTER%20Family.pdf

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Just an interesting tidbit.

I am reading John G Senter's account of Joseph Senter's timeline. He says Joseph was scouting in 1746 when he was captured by natives and sold to the French in Canada, He escaped and returned to Londonderry. No return date is given

This is interesting as his brother Samuel b. 1720 and his sister Jean b. 1725, were both born in Canada and the parents had their births registered in New Hampshire. You have to actually read the birth registration. It gives ethnicity as Canadian. The other brother, John, was born in 1718 and I would think he was born in Canada too, though no mention of it is on his birth registration.

There is discussion that the Senter family was originally from France. This info suggests that John Senter and Jean Foster may have came from the Colony of Canada in New France (Quebec). Arriving in New Hampshire after 1725.

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This is the source that says Joseph moved his family to Dunstable in 1745, Added source to his profile. 

https://books.google.ca/books?id=KTETAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA627&lpg=PA627&dq=John+Senter+Jean+Foster+1720+New+France&source=bl&ots=1B7t7rexuW&sig=ACfU3U1YpyVuBEwYJEjTAm8Un87PamK_9A&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj_iq6a3fn3AhWXm44IHcr1BWEQ6AF6BAgyEAM#v=onepage&q=John%20Senter%20Jean%20Foster%201720%20New%20France&f=false

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re: "how did Joseph receive land for French War service in 1746 when the war didn't start until 1754?"

Yeah, i didn't word that very well (combined it with a service year w/o making the distinction).  

As mentioned in the OP and several other posts up thread...He didn't receive the 2,500 acres in 1746.  He received the land grant in 1771.

The governor granted him the lands, according to several sources, for his services in the "early wars."  

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Regarding Joseph Senter's Wife, Elizabeth Johnson...

Her father became a deacon of a church after suffering an injury during the early wars.  He returned to Dunstable in 1746.  

Two things: (1) It's possible her father officiated the marriage of Joseph and Elizabeth in 1746 and (2) another reason to believe that the family wouldn't allow Joseph and Elizabeth to remain unmarried until 1754, after the birth of 2 sons.

https://sites.rootsweb.com/~nhhillsb/Hollis-bios.htm#DeaNoah-JOHNSON

From:  An Account of Some of the Early Settlers of West Dunstable,  Monson and Hollis, N. H., by Charles S. Spaulding, published in Nashua, N. H. : The Telegraph Press, 1915.

Note:  that source also states a 1754 marriage for Joseph and Elizabeth (again, highly unlikely for reasons mentioned).  Perhaps this is where John G Senter got his information for his 1975 pamphlet?

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Cutter's research was published in 1919. He started the date of 1754 and I believe everyone has repeated it. I did see John G Senter mark the date of the marriage with a Question mark in relation to David b. 1750.

I would say Cutter's research is quite flawed. And no one has asked the questions (must be my analytical mind -not happy when things don't line up) .

The idea that the father did the marriage in 1746 is possible, would certainly line up....if he managed to marry them before or after David got captured in 1746. At some point before or after his capture and escape from Canada. I can't imagine Elizabeth being an unwed mother of two children without a lot of talk. The disgrace would be hard to overcome in those days.

As for Cutter I believe 1754 is either a dyslexic moment or the first date he had that showed the two together in Dunstable as married. He obviously didn't have a marriage record.

Rev. Noah's church records if any might be a place to search.

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Sorry if we noted this info in this thread already. Its getting so long its hard to keep track.

This source "History of Plymouth, New Hampshire..." by Ezra Scollay Sterns (I have added it to Joseph Senter's profile ) is published in 1906, Thats at least 10 years prior to Cutters publication. In it he says Joseph went to Dunstable in 1745 and says he married Elizabeth...but no date given.

Its the only source I have seen that places Joseph in Dunstable before 1754. And it precedes Cutters, which in my mind might be the most reliable, being closer to the events.

Answer 5

A pre-internet source has been found that states David and Susan (Chamberlain) Senter are Lucretia's parents and that she was "of Plymouth NH." 

It comes from a genealogical periodical called "The Second Boat" that was in print from 1980 to 1997. Two editions mention Lucretia Senter within the "Genealogical Queries" section. With both instances, her mention is stated as fact as a part of a query for information about William Dyer Weeks parents. Both were made by James C Babbitt of Glen Aubrey, New York.

For more information, see Lucretia's updated profile:  https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Senter-68