Waldron, Richard, 1615-1689

Landowner of Dover, N.H.

Dover, N.H., pioneer, political leader, and soldier.

Born in England around 1615, Richard Waldron (family name changed from Walderne by his son) emigrated to Dover in 1640, where he engaged in a prosperous lumbering business and trade with the Indians, and held numerous political offices (representative to the Massachusetts General Court, 1654-1674, 1677, etc.). Appointed sergeant-major of Yorkshire militia forces by the General Court in 1674, Waldron acted under the Court's auspices during King Philip's War to secure frontier outposts (expedition to Pennicooke, etc.). In September of 1676 at the conclusion of the war, Waldron cooperated in the capture and shipment to Boston of some 200 southern Indians sheltered among the eastern tribes with whom Waldron had previously made peace. Waldron was later (1789) murdered by the Indians in revenge for what they considered his treachery.