Background
Richard Walderne was born at Alchester in Warwickshire, England, the eighth child and seventh son of William and Catharine (Raven) Walderne. He was baptized on January 6, 1615.
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Richard Walderne
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also known as
Richard Waldron
Career
After a preliminary visit "to see the country" (1635 - 37), he emigrated to New England about 1640, settling at Dover, N. H. With him he brought a wife, of whom nothing is known beyond the tradition that she was "a Gentlewoman of a very good family (whose parents were very unwilling She Should come away). " Having acquired large tracts of land at Cochecho (part of the present Dover) and Penacook (now Concord), Walderne became principally engaged in lumbering and trade with the Indians. He filled at various times practically all of the important local offices, both administrative and judicial, and served almost without interruption from 1654 to 1674 and again in 1677 as a representative to the General Court at Boston, in which body he was several times chosen speaker. Especially delegated in 1662 to deal with the Quaker "menace" at Dover, Walderne zealously discharged his duty by sentencing three "vagabond" women of the sect to be whipped at the cart's tail through thirteen towns to the end of the Bay Colony's jurisdiction. His achievements as major of the Norfolk County militia were inconspicuous except on one occasion when, by a "contrivement" akin to treachery, he managed to take without bloodshed some two hundred hostile Indians, who had sought refuge by mingling with the pacified tribes of New Hampshire. Some six or seven of these captives were later hanged and most of the remainder sold into slavery. The incident was remembered bitterly by the local tribes, and when with the resumption of general hostilities Cochecho was raided on the night of June 27-28, 1689, the Major was singled out by them for special torture before being put to death. Upon the establishment of a separate provincial government for New Hampshire in 1680, Walderne was appointed one of the President's Council; and after the death of President Cutt in 1681 he became acting president until the arrival of Cranfield. His extensive land holdings and prominent position in the colony marked him naturally as the one first to be sued by Robert Mason in the attempt of the latter to make good his hereditary claims. Walderne refused to defend himself at the trial or produce evidence of his title, for he declared that the jury were personally interested and hence incapable of doing justice. Judgment was given against him and a fine imposed for the "mutinous and seditious words" with which he had addressed the court.
Achievements
Connections
Walderne was twice married; the second time, to Anne Scammon, sister of Richard Scammon of local fame. His descendants continued for generations to occupy a distinguished place in New Hampshire political affairs.
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Born
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Died
June 27, 1680 (aged 65) -
Resting place
Cocheco Burying Ground, Dover, New Hampshire, United States -
Nationality
American