The Ulster-Scots of Maine – First Families
Surnames N - R
Members of the Maine Ulster Scots Project and its many friends have combined known family histories with many published sources to provide the following brief family digests.
The information comes from many sources, some accurate and some questionable, and is therefore only intended to be a guide toward further investigation.
This first families project is a work in progress and we ask for your feedback, additions and corrections by emailing: info@MaineUlsterScots.com
NESMITH
John Nesmith was born ca 1656 in Peebleshire, Scotland. He married Margaret Bell.
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Deacon James Nesmith was born ca 1692, in Londonderery, Ulster. He married Elizabeth McKeen. He died on May 5, 1767.
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Deacon James Nesmith was born August 4, 1718, at Bann Valley, County Down, Ireland. He married Mary Dinsmore.
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Benjamin Nesmith was born 1734 in Londonderry, Province of New Hampshire. He married Agnes Gilmore in 1763. He died on September 18, 1800, in Belfast, District of Maine.
NICKELS
James Nickels was born in 1659 in Aghadowey, Ireland. His children were: Alexander Sr. (see below), Eleanor, William (b. 1700; son, James, b. 1733), and Jean (b. 1710).
Alexander Sr. was born in 1690. He married Hannah Cochran born 1691 in Londonderry, Ireland. Their children were James (b. 1719), Mark (b. 1721), Capt. Alexander Jr. (b. 1722; arrived in Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony on August 4, 1718; m. Margaret Cabot; d. in Bristol, District of Maine), Margaret (b. 1724), William (b. 1727), Thomas (b. 1730), Jane (b. 1731), John (b. 1737), Elizabeth (b. 1738), Samuel (b. 1738), and Hannah (b. 1740).
NOBLE
Lt. Col. Arthur Noble Sr. was born about 1700 in Enniskillen, County Fermanaugh, Ireland. He emigrated to America about 1720. He married Mary Macklin. He settled in Small Point Neck in Georgetown, District of Maine on land he bought from James Minot in 1734. He built a blockhouse at Pleasant Cove in Phippsburg. He sold land for a Presbyterian church that was built in 1736. Arthur Noble Jr. was born about 1737. Lt. Col. Arthur Noble Sr. died on February 11, 1747, in Minas, Nova Scotia. He was killed “fighting in his shirt” while in command of the English troops during King George’s War at the Battle of Minas, Nova Scotia.
The town of Nobleboro was named after either Arthur Jr. or his brother James.
James Noble was Arthur’s brother and was a partner with William Vaughn, but he lived in Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony.
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Sarah Noble married William Lithgow.
NORTH
John North I was born in 1682 and emigrated from Cloonan, Kings County, Ireland to North Yarmouth, District of Maine. The family and servants emigrated on a vessel owned by him. In about 1731, he removed his family to Pemaquid and died there about 1740. His two children are described below:
Capt. John North II was born in Kings County, Ireland in 1709. He married Elizabeth Lewis1 (b. about 1720; d. about 1746). He then married Elizabeth Pitson2. John II was the captain of Fort Pemaquid and a land surveyor. He was employed by Shem Drowne to conduct a survey of his claims. The Lots were divided among the several settlers claiming their right to land. Capt. North II later removed to St. George where he was a captain of the Fort St. George for a time. He died in 1763. John North II children were: Capt. John III, James, Elizabeth, Mary, Rebecca, Lydia, Sarah, and Ann.
John North I’s daughter, Lydia, was married to Boyce Cooper as his second wife. They lived in Thomaston, District of Maine.
ORR
John Orr Sr. was born in Coleraine, Ireland on September 9, 1658. The family emigrated to Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony. He died in Brunswick, District of Maine on August 8, 1751. He married a woman named Ann (unknown surname).
His son John Jr. was also born in Coleraine, Ireland about 1694. He died October 2, 1771 in Brunswick, District of Maine. He married Susan Skolfield about 1741.
John Jr.’s son, Clement Orr Sr. was born in 1724 in Ireland. He married Deborah Ward1 and then married Lettice Richard2. Clement Orr Sr. was in Harpswell in 1742. He died December 1812 in Brunswick. His son, Clement Orr Jr., was born in 1754 on Orrs Island, District of Maine. He married Judith Getchell1 then married Patience Blake2.
PARSONS
Lawrence Parsons Sr. was born in the North of Ireland in 1722. He married Eleanor Young. They settled in Cushing, District of Maine. Their children were: James, Capt. William, Lawrence Jr., Mary, Eleanor, and Sarah.
PATTEN
Hector “Actor” Patten was born in Dunboe, Londonderry, Ireland about 1691. Actor and his brothers William and Robert emigrated to America in 1727. He married Pauline Suter 1st before 1727. He then married Margaret Shear 2nd in 1733 of Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony. He lastly married Mary Armstrong in 1735, who was the daughter of James and Jean Armstrong (b. 1716 in Falmouth, District of Maine). Actor and Jean Armstrong’s3 children were John, Mathew, Mary and William. Actor Patten died in 1780 in Surry, Hancock County, District of Maine in 1780.
Lt. John Patten was born in 1717 in Dunboe, Ireland. He died April 7, 1795, on the Topsham Settlement (Kennebec River Valley Plantation). He married Mary Means, daughter of Robert Means and Mary Armstrong on June 19, 1742. They had 14 children.
Lt. Col. Matthew Patten was born about 1728 in Biddeford. He died on June 26, 1790, in Hancock County, District of Maine. He married Susannah Dunning, daughter of James Dunning and Martha Lithgow. They had five children.
Capt. Williiam Patten was born about 1720. He died in 1780 in Bowdoinham, District of Maine. He married Eleanor McFarland, daughter of James McFarland and Mary (unknown surname) on August 12, 1749, in Biddeford. They had seven children.
Actor also had a daughter, Mary, who married William Wilson.
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Actor’s brother Robert was born in Dunboe, Ireland in 1694. He had a son Actor who was born in 1737 in Ireland. He married Jane McLellan. They had 11 children. He died on July 21, 1816, on Topsham Settlement (Kennebec River Valley Plantation).
Actor’s other brother William was born about 1693 in Dunboe, Ireland. He died in the District of Maine.
Read more about Patten Family
PATTERSON
There were five Patterson signers listed on the March 26, 1718, Governor Shute Petition: James, David, Ninian, Alexander, and William.
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Robert Patterson Sr. was born in 1671 in Londonderry, Ireland. Robert Sr. settled in Londonderry, Province of New Hampshire. He and his two sons James and Deacon David Patterson moved to Saco, District of Maine in 1719 where they operated a ferry on the Saco River. Robert Sr. bought land in Belfast, District of Maine for his sons, although he never lived there himself. The Lots were numbers 4, 32, and 37. His children were: Robert Jr. (b. 1742), James Sr. (b. 1744), Nathaniel (b. about 1745) and, William (b. about 1746). They were among the First Settlers to Belfast, District of Maine.
Capt. James Patterson Sr. (b. ca 1730 in Warren, District of Maine; m. Margaret Howard on February 8, 1763; Margaret was the daughter of James Howard. James Howard was one of the First Settlers to Warren. He owned Lot 1. He later ran the trading post at Cushnoc [now August]). Capt. James Patterson Sr. and Margaret Howard lived in Pownalboro (now Dresden). Their children were: James H. Jr. (b. 1764; d. 1839 in Dresden), David (died at a young age) and, Capt. Samuel (b. 1766; m. Mary Tinkham; d. January 14, 1849, in Augusta).
Deacon David Patterson then moved to Pemaquid and married a woman named Lotty. They had four children. Later, the family settled on the banks of the St. George River in April of 1735 and built a house on land of the Waldo Patent. He emigrated with the Howards and Norths who were among the First Settlers of that area.
Peter Patterson and brother William Patterson had a Grandfather John who emigrated from Argyllshire, Scotland. Peter emigrated in 1730 from Glenair in the North of Ireland. Willam emigrated in 1724. William had a son who settled in Maine. Peter Patterson came from the parish of Priestland, Town of Glenuace, County Antrim, Ireland about 1730 to Sheepscot, District of Maine. Peter’s great-grandfather, John, emigrated from Argyllshire about 100 years before 1730.
PAUL
Robert was born in the North of Ireland in 1728 and died in Bristol, District of Maine in 1790. He married Jenet Patterson about 1750 in Bristol. Robert and Jenet were both on the ship Martha and Eliza, which shipwrecked on Grand Manan Island in 1741. They were rescued by a ship sent for them from St. George, District of Maine. They had ten children. He was employed by Shem Drowne to assist in the surveying The Pemaquid Patent. They settled on the East bank of the Damariscotta River in Walpole. In 1767 he was paid 2 pounds for a wolf’s head. In 1769 he was listed as a Surveyor of Highways and as a Hog Reaver. In 1770 he was a Pound Keeper, a Warden, and a Fence Viewer.
PEARCE
John Pearce of Marblehead, Massachusetts Bay Colony testified in 1770 that he claimed land in Muscongus, a part of Bristol, District of Maine, that he inherited from his grandfather Richard Pearce.
David Pearce, who settled in St. George, District of Maine, testified that he came to Pemaquid as part of the Dunbar group. He lived first in Harrington and then removed with his family to St. George.
PEEBLES
Robert Peebles, who was of Scottish ancestry, was born in Ireland about 1685. His son Charles Peebles was born in 1705 in Warren, District of Maine. He married Jane (unknown surname). They had two daughters, Diana (McKenney) and Anne (McKenney). Charles died in 1745 in Warren.
PORTERFIELD
John Porterfield Sr. was born in Donegal, Ireland. He married Sarah Cunningham (b. August 13, 1722, in Raphae Parish, Donegal, Ireland). The Porterfield’s settled in New Harbor before moving to Georgetown, District of Maine. Their children were: James, Robert, John Jr., William, and Eliza (Smith). John Sr. was the builder of the Meetinghouse at Fiddler’s Reach. John died in 1786.
John Porterfield Sr.’s brothers and sisters were: William (m. Mary Jameson on January 4, 1737, in Falmouth, District of Maine; their children were: Elizabeth (b.1738; m. James Johnson), Patrick (b. in 1722 in Ireland; m. Martha Jameson on December 18, 1743, in Falmouth, District of Maine; they removed to Thomaston; d. 1799), William (b. 1743; m. Elizabeth Wilson), Hannah (b. 1750; m. John Lamb) and, Capt. John (m. Catherine Slemmons).
POTTER Passenger family - 1718 ‘MacCallum’
James Peter Potter I (whose ancestors originated in Glasgow, Scotland of Clan Moffatt) was born in 1713 in Ipswich, Massachusetts Bay Colony. He removed to the Topsham Settlement (Kennebec River Valley Plantation) in 1738. He married Margaret “Maggie” Dunlop on December 14, 1743. His wife, Maggie, was of Ulster-Scots descent. Her parents, Robert Dunlop and Mary Wilson emigrated from the area of Limavady, County Londonderry, Ireland on the ship, MacCallum, in 1718, to Merrymeeting Bay, District of Maine. Robert’s family originated from Dunlop Village in County Ayrshire, Scotland. Mary’s family originated in Clogher (Old Kinard), County Antrim, Ireland. James Peter Potter I died in 1768 on the Topsham Settlement. Maggie Dunlop died on November 24, 1779, on the Topsham Settlement.
James Potter and Maggie Dunlop had a son, Joseph, who married Eunice Wentworth of North Yarmouth, District of Maine. Joseph was born on June 17, 1759, in Harpswell. He was mustered into the Continental Army in 1775, graduated from West Point Academy, and was granted 150 acres of Bounty Land in Litchfield post-American Revolutionary War. He was commissioned to the Ohio Valley expansion by President Jefferson in 1801. He died in Williamsburg, Ohio in 1838.
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Julie A. Potter-Dunlop is a MUSP officer and a direct descendant of the Potter-Dunlop union described above.
RANKIN
Andrew Rankin Sr. was born in 1625 in Scotland. He married Martha Merry on December 4, 1667, in York, District of Maine. Their children were: Constant, Joseph, Andrew Jr., and Mary.
RAY
John Ray was born in Yarmouth, District of Maine in 1728. He died in 1753. He married Mary Patten1 (b. 1733 in North Yarmouth, District of Maine, daughter of Hector “Actor” Patten. Actor was born in Ulster the settled in Falmouth, District of Maine, and removed to Cape Elizabeth).
REED
Andrew Reed Sr. who was of English descent, was born in County Antrim, Ireland in 1693. He married Jean Murray (b. 1698) in 1723 in Ireland. They emigrated to the District of Maine in 1743, settling near Mill Cove in Townsend. He died July 23, 1762, in Boothbay. Their children were: Andrew Jr. (b. 1725; m. Mary [unknown surname]), Henry (b. 1727; m. Sarah McCulloch), David (b. 1729; m. Martha Wylie in Boothbay, District of Maine), John (b. 1731; m. Sarah [unknown surname] in Boothbay, District of Maine), William (m. Mary [unknown surname]), Paul (b. 1735; m. Marjorie Beath; d. Salem, Massachusetts Bay Colony), Joseph (b. 1738; m. Sarah Wylie), Thomas (b. 1740; m. Mary Wylie), and Sarah (b. 1743 at sea; m. Samuel Adams). Andrew Jr, Henry, David, John, William, Paul, Joseph, and Thomas were all born in County Antrim, Ireland. David, John, and William Reed emigrated from the North of Ireland to the Topsham Settlement (Kennebec River Valley Plantation) about 1731.
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Andrew Reed could be the above’s son was born in County Antrim, Ireland in 1747. He died in Pownalborough, District of Maine.
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John Reed also could be Andrew Sr. and Jean’s son. He was born in 1719 in Ireland. He emigrated to the Topsham Settlement (Kennebec River Valley Plantation). His children were John, Jane, Martha, Hannah, Charity, and Susan.
ROBINSON
Dr. Moses Robinson Sr. was born in 1690 in the North of Ireland. He married Mary Fitzgerald. He emigrated with other Irish settlers. He settled first in Cushing, District of Maine in 1735. He died on March 4, 1764, and is buried near the old Presbyterian Meetinghouse. Moses and Mary’s children were: Moses Jr. (m. Jane McFarlane), Joseph (b.1725; m. ? McKoun), Margaret (b. about 1728; m. Joseph Rivers of Cushing, District of Maine), John (b. 1733; m. ? Carter), Archibald (b. 1734 in St. George, District of Maine, m. Rebecca Minot; lived in Warren in 1737), Hanse (b. about 1735 in Cushing, District of Maine; m. Bridget Hyler) and, Mary (b. about 1739; m. Mathew Kelloch).
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Bryant Robinson was born before 1714 in Nequasset, District of Maine. He married Jane Savage. He died after 1774 in Georgetown.
ROGERS
George Rogers Sr. was born in the North of Ireland in 1662. He emigrated to Londonderry, Province of New Hampshire in about 1720 and then removed to Georgetown, District of Maine in 1737. He married Isabella McCobb (b. 1678; d. December 15, 1743). Their children were: William (b. ca 1702; m. Dinah Rankin1 and then Ruth Gray2), George Jr. (b. ca 1704; m. Ann Ferguson1 and then Sarah Wyman2), Patrick, (b. ca 1706; m. Anna [unknown surname]), Frances (b. ca 1708; m. David Allen), Margaret (b. ca 1710; m. John Parker) and, Beatrice (b. ca 1717; m. James McCobb). All of their children were born in the North of Ireland.
Willam Rogers (above), son of George Rogers Sr. (b. 1702 in Londonderry, Ireland; d. February 23, 1763) emigrated to Londonderry, Province of New Hampshire, then removed to Georgetown, District of Maine, where he married Dinah Ranken1 (b. 1710); then m. Ruth Gray2. William and Dinah1 had the following children: Col. George (b. 1729), Thomas (b. 1731 in Londonderry, Province of New Hampshire; m. Hanna Lahn), Jenny (b. June 25, 1733, in Londonderry, Province of New Hampshire; m. Benjamin Kendall), Hugh (b. 1736 in Londonderry, Province of New Hampshire; m. Hannah Hallowell), Margaret (b. 1738; m. Rev. John Miller), Ann (b. 1741), William (b. 1743), and John (b. 1746).
George Rogers Sr. (the first patriarch – see above) died on October 30, 1743, in Phippsburg.
Col. George Rogers Sr. (see William and Dinah1 Rogers above) was born in Londonderry, Province of New Hampshire in 1729. He died November 27, 1818, in North Yarmouth, District of Maine. He is buried at the Flying Point Cemetery in Freeport, ME. He married Margaret Campbell in 1751. She died in 1759. She was the daughter of Alexander Campbell and Frances Drummond. Col. George Rogers Sr. and Margaret Campbell’s children were: Dinah (b. 1752; m. Joseph Skolfield), Major Alexander (b. 1754), William (b. 1755), James (b. 1757; m. Alice Finney [Means] in 1762) and, George Jr. (b. 1765; m. Rachel Pennell).
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Andrew Rogers of Merrymeeting Bay was warned out of Boston on January 28, 1722.
Thomas, Eliza, and Isabella Rogers were warned out of Boston on November 6. 1722.
James Rogers was warned out of Boston on November 6, 1722.
In 1768, Patrick Rogers deposed that his father, Robert and two sisters came from Ireland to Cork, District of Maine in 1720 or 21. When he arrived, John McFarland was settled at The Chopps near Cork on the Kennebec River.
RUTHERFORD
Rev. Robert Rutherford, a native of Ireland and Presbyterian clergyman, was born in 1698. He purportedly was a good friend of Dunbar who came to Townsend, District of Maine (now Boothbay) in 1729. Rev. Rutherford remained there for five or six years. He then removed to Brunswick and officiated in Georgetown until 1742. After the death of his friend Dunbar, whose widow married Capt. Thomas Henderson of St. George, Rev. Rutherford removed to St. George with his family. They had a family of seven daughters. His children were: John, Susannah (b. 1722 in Ireland; m. Patrick Drummond; d. September 9, 1771, in Georgetown, District of Maine), Hephzibah (b. 1738 in Brunswick, District of Maine; m. Jonathan Nutting in St. George), and others.
Rev. Robert Rutherford died in St. George, District of Maine on October 18, 1756. He was buried near the fort. His gravestone is in a mutilated condition but still can be seen near the tomb of Gen. Henry Knox. His wife was buried at the same place.