Rowland is the son of Abraham Rideout and his second wife,Jemima Davis. He married Judith Bedell on 13 Dec 1739 in Haverhill,Essex Co.,MA.They had the following children all born in Haverhill,Essex Co.,MA.:

Benjamin Rideout 2 Aug 1740
James Rideout 29 Sep 1741
Abigail Rideout 2 Apr 1745
Susannah Rideout 12 Sep 1747 and
Nathaniel Rideout 15 Mar 1753

Rowland was the Black Sheep of the family,but not of his doing. He was insane and caused much trouble no matter where he went, he being finally confirmed to an asylum and died there,in Wilton.

There is a stone in Blodgett Cemetery in Hudson,Hillsborough Co.,NH. which has the following inscription: " Here lies the body of Samuel Davis, son of Ensign Nathaniel Davis and Mrs Martha,his wife. He was murdered by Rowling Rideout June 26,1775 in the 19th year of his age."

An article from a local newspaper goes on to say:
"The first murder committed in this town, as far as is known, occured June 26,1775 when Samuel Davis, son of Ensign Nathaniel Davis, was slain with an ax in the hands of Rowland Rideout,an insane person.
Davis was engaged in the construction of a water hedge at the shore of the Merrimack River, on the line between his father's land and the Cummings farm, about 60 rods north of the Taylor Falls bridge. He(Samuel) was born in the town December 21,1757.
Probably Rideout was assisting in the work, as on March 6,1775 the town voted to give Nathaniel Davis 4 shillings per week, lawful money, for keeping Rowland Rideout.
Rideout continued to cause the town much trouble and expense until 1779, when he was removed to Wilton at the expense of the town,30p-5s-0d,lawful money."
****Special Note****
We were unable to find Rowland Rideout in Vale End. However, there are other Rideouts in Vale End. That doesn't mean he wasn't buried in Wilton. There is a fourth cemetery in town. It was used by both the Town Farm and County Farm. If he was "locked up" in either of those intuitions it is likely that he is buried in that cemetery. I've never been there and I'm not sure there are any head stones. There has been a long standing argument over the cemetery and who owns it. Currently the land owner who owns all the land around it has posted the land.
Contributor: Bart Jackson∼Most information on line about Rowland has been copied from my research some has even been expanded and is in gross error. Feel free to copy my information but please give me credit.

Rowland was the son of Abraham Rideout and Jemima Davis. Rowland went insane and killed his cousin Samuel Davis. Because he was insane they did not execute him but rather confined him in prison until his death in 1779. I found the grave stone for Samuel Davis and posted it see below

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=davis&GSfn=+samuel&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=32&GSob=n&GRid=11692514&

Court records were graciously provided to me in 2001 by Dr. Frank C Meyers Director, New Hampshire State Archives. Several are attached.


Rowland was my 5th G Grandfather and I have done extensive research on Rowland and his family. There is no record of where Rowland was buried but others don't mind guessing. The only cemetery in Wilton at the time was the North Cemetery also called the Vale End Cemetery however he may not be there he might have been cremated. Also son James was well respected and wealthy. He had cemetery space at the Congregational Church Cemetery in Hollis so Rowland could be in an unmarked grave there. Or he could be buried with his parents and brother Benjamin at the Pentucket Cemetery, Haverhill MA. Benjamin's stone is still visible.

I was reading the notes on the Rowland Rideout memorial, and at one point the County Farm in Wilton is mentioned, along with the likelihood that Mr. Rideout might be buried in the land-locked cemetery associated with that institution. According to our town history (and the history of the County Farm in Hillsborough County), the County Farm was moved to Wilton in 1867 (the previous location in Goffstown having burned down). The associated cemetery did not exist prior to 1867, so Mr. Rideout would most definitely not have been buried there. As to his being removed to Wilton and our Town Farm...that was not in existence until 1830. The first instance of a Rideout in town (again, according to our town history) is Benjamin Rideout, who bought land here in 1763. If Rowland was sent here from Hudson, there is no indication in the town history of where he might have been. You can check with the Wilton Historical Society and see if they may have information that was not included in the town history of 1880. And I'll keep looking, too! --Mary Ann . Thank you MA