THE SENTER FAMILY OF WINDHAM

     John Senter, the patriarch of the Senters of Windham and Londonderry, moved from Long Island, New York to Nutfield in 1719, and became one of the original proprietors of Londonderry. He lived near Beaver Pond, where he and his wife, Jean, raised a family. Their first son, Samuel, who was born on January 31, 1721, was the second male to be born in the town of Londonderry. Like his father, Samuel lived and raised his family, which consisted of his wife and three sons, in Londonderry. His first son, Samuel, was born on February 15, 1752, and, with his brother Abel, fought in the American Revolutionary War, under the command of Captain George Reid. An unknown illness he contracted during the war, which was brought on by "fatigue and exposure", left him a "life-long invalid." In 1774, the younger Samuel married Hannah Read, and the couple settled in Windham in 1790. He purchased land from Alexander Wilson, upon which a dam had previously been constructed. Senter utilized the dam when he built a gristmill and sawmill on the property. He became involved in the community and served as the moderator of a "special" town meeting in 1796, and one year later served as the town clerk. The elder Samuel died about 1797. On February 11, 1833, just four days shy of his 81st birthday, Samuel Senter died and was buried in the Cemetery on the Hill, directly below where his church pew formerly stood. 
    The deed below, dated 1794, is signed by both Samuel Senters, as well as Polly Senter. Unfortunately, not much is known about Polly Senter. Leonard Morrison did not include her in his genealogy of the Senter family. However, there is a Polly Senter recorded as having married George Manter of Londonderry in 1795. If this is the same Polly who signed the deed, then she was almost certainly related to the Senter family of Windham.