YORK
RICHARD YORKE, ancestor of this family, was at Dover, New Hampshire, as early as 1635, and died April 23, 1672. He married Elizabeth, who, after his death, married (second) William Graves of Exeter, New Hampshire. In 1652, Richard Yorke deposed in court that he was in Dover in 1635. He had a house lot on Dover Neck in 1642, and was taxed in 1648 and 1672. In 1656 he had a grant of 100 acres of land from the town of Dover, which he devised to his son, Benjamin. He purchased, before August 7, 1661, fifty acres at Littlejohn's Creek of William Hilton. This he sold to Joseph Austin—his wife, Elizabeth, joining in the conveyance. In 1699 he signed the church petition. In the court papers of Rockingham county, New Hampshire, 1659-1672, p. 457, is recorded the imperfect will (i. e. not signed) of the first Richard Yorke. The will is dated April 23, 1672, and, as Richard Yorke did not sign it, it is inferred that he died suddenly on the day the will was written, the witnesses having signed their names. The will was brought into court and was approved June 3, 1674. In this he mentions "wife, Elizabeth; sons, John, Benjamin, and Samuel; and daughters, Elizabeth, Grace, and Rachel Halle; two grandchildren, Richard and Benjamin Yorke." (Maine Hist. and Gene. Rec., Vol. II, p. 217, and Vol. III, pp. 17-25. Article on Yorke Family by Sargent. Stackpole and Meserve's History of Durham, New Hampshire, Vol. II, pp. 400-401.)
Richard Yorke and his descendants are found in Dover, New Hampshire; North Falmouth and Falmouth, Maine, and Gloucester, Massachusetts. His children were:
I—JOHN, b. abt. 1642. "Eldest son." (See following.)
II—Samuel, b. 1645; d. Mar. 18, 1718; m. Hannah (???).
III—Elizabeth.
IV—Rachel, m. Mr. Halle.
V—Benjamin, b. 1654.
VI—Grace, m. John Gilman of Exeter, N. H.
Source: "Bullard and Allied Families Genealogy" 2
WILLIAM GRAVES, was on a list of rate payers at Oyster River (Dover, N. H.), November 22, 1652. No other date or record of him to be found in any Maine, New Hampshire, or Massachusetts lists. Savage gives only this mention of him, found also in "History of Dover, New Hampshire" (Wadleigh), p. 47.
Source: "Bullard and Allied Families Genealogy" 2
