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Rockingham County NHGenWeb is a free genealogical site about the history of the county. We hope you find helpful clues for your research of Rockingham county ancestors.

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Temporary Coordinator: George Kidder kiddergeorge@yahoo.com

COUNTY FORMATION

Rockingham County was first settled about 1623, a part of Massachusetts until New Hampshire became a separate colony in 1679. Rockingham, one of New Hampshire’s five original counties, was created in 1769 and organized in 1771. It was named in honor of Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, who had been Prime Minister from 1765 to 1766. In 1844, Rockingham County size was reduced by the formation of Belknap County to the northwest.

The county seat was Exeter, which replaced Portsmouth as the New Hampshire colony capital 1776-1784. County court facilities were moved to Brentwood, a rural town adjacent to Exeter, in 1997.