Individual Details

From the Genealogical Dictionary: ".....d. 17 Jan. 1688 hav. made his will, of wh. w. Elizabeth was extrix. 21 Apr. preced. Hid wid. was preserv. in the assault on the town, 28 June 1689, by an Ind. to wh. she show. favor thirteen yrs. bef. and d. 30 Nov. 1706. See Niles, Ind. wars, in 3 Mass. Hist. Coll. Vi. 206. Magn. VII. 65.
The source of the following is unknown: "John Heard, 5 dec., 1662, received a grant of 50 acres of "upland under ye Great Hill at Cochechae, on ye soueth sied of the great Hill, beloe the Cartway, at the secont, desent of the great hill, and soe to the southward fiftie poell in Breathe and Eightie scoer in lenkth." Also, 26 Feb., 1665 40 Acres, "to northward of the half -way swampe, on the north side of which is a 20 acre lot granted to James Ordway, and soe forty Roedd in Breadth, by the Cartway, or paeth wich goeth to ye marsh, and 168 Roed in lenketh." This must be the dat of laying out, inasmch as a grant of 40 acres, to Elder Wentworth, 5 Dec., 1652, on the north side of this John Heard lot, mentions Heard, cartway and swamp, and all. Capt. Heard gave it to his son Benjamin.
Capt. John built his house on the grant fist mentioned above. He was called "Captain" Heard because he was commander of ships in the foreign trade of Dover, while in business connection with Capt. Richard Walderne. While he was in the shipping business his residence was on Dover Neck, where Capt. (later Major) Walderne, lived twenty years, till he moved his family to the house he had built on the hill, where National block now stands. Capt. Heard appears to have come up here about 1655, having built his house and retired from the foreign shipping business. By ancient tradition it stood on the brom of Garrison hill, where a brick house now stands (1923). About 1675, when the Indians began to be dangerous, he had a stockade placed around it, and it became known as "Heard's garrison." The next garrison below was that of Richard Otis. the next was the Waldron garrison.
Of the five garrisons near the falls, that of Capt. Heard was the only one saved in the massacre of 28 June, 1689. By some incredible folly two squaws were allowed to sleep before the kitchen fire, in each garrison, although fears of Indian troubles had sent many persons into the garrisons each night for safety. Early in the morning the squaws opened the gates of the stockades, and let the Indians in, while the families were fast asleep. Elder Wentworth, and his family were at Heard's garrison. Just as the Indians were about to enter a dog barked, and awakened Elder Wentworth; he arose and closed the gate, just as the Indians were about to enter; he fell upon his back and held the gate closed till other members of the household came to his aid. The Indians fired several bullets through the door, but no one was hit.
This garrison-house was long the frontier post. A letter dated 26 March, 1690, says: "Heard's garrison at Cochecho being the frontier & only Garrison on the North side of the river, having left three men, one killed and two wounded in the late fight at Salmon Falls, etc."
Pike's Journal says: "Jan. 17m 1688-9, Master Heard deceased after a short sickness." His Will, made 2 April, 1687, was proved in 1692. He mentions his wife, Elizabeth, and children, Benjamin, Tristam, Samuel, Dorcas, Nathaniel, Mary (Ham), Abigail (Jones), and Elizabeth (Nute). There was trouble about this will, afterwards. Tristam petitioned, 7 March, 1703-4, being the only surviving son, saying that his father, John "left no legal Will"; but Sarah, wife of William Foss, formerly widow of Nathaniel Heard, asserted that the estate had been dieided according to the Will.
Capt. John married, about 1643, at York, Me., Elizabeth, daughter of rev. Joseph Hull. She is said to have been born at the rectory, at North Leigh, Devonshire, England. Mr. Hull was at one time minister at Oyster River (1662). Elizabeth was a "brave, gentle woman." Her remarkable escape, when she came up the river at night, June 28, 1689, "with one daughter and three sons, & all masters of families," is narrated by Cotton Mather. Although urged to secure safety at Portsmouth after the massacre, she contunued stoutly to hold her frontier garrison all through the war. She died, 30 Nov., 1706. Pike's Journal says: "Old widow Heard (commonly callled Dame Heard) deceased after a short illness with fever. She was a grave and pious woman, even the mother of virtue and piety. "
John Heard's very lengthy will is located in the New Hampshire State Papers, Volume XXXI, Pages 312-316.
In his last will and testament, John indicates by name his sons Benjamin, Tristam, Samuel, and Nathanial. He also indicates his four daughters, Mary, Abigail, Elizabeth and Dorcas. Of the remaining children, John, James, and William have death dates recorded somewhere so it is assumed that Hannah, Joseph, Catharine, and Experience died before 1687 but that is not conclusive. The New Hampshire State Papers, Volume XXX1, page 315, indicates by a petition March 7, 1703/4 of Tristram Heard, that he is the only living son of John Heard.

Birth	1612	Dover, Stafford County, New Hampshire
Marriage	Abt 1643	York, York County, Maine - Elizabeth HULL
Death	17 Jan 1688

Spouse	Elizabeth HULL (1627 - 1706)
Child	Living ( - )
Child	Abigail HEARD (1651 - )