‘Who’s Who in Old Rockingham’
The Exeter News-Letter, August 12, 1938
Friday, August 5, the occasion of her 96th birthday, was a memorable one for Mrs. Mary A. (Blake) Walton, Hampton’s oldest resident, for in its observance she received the calls of many friends, some from distant places, and was the delighted recipient of many flowers, cards and gifts.
Mrs. Walton is remarkable in that she possesses the health and vigor of a person many years her junior. She performs daily household tasks, takes a keen interest in the young people, to all of whom she is familiarly known as “Gram” Walton and enjoys frequent automobile rides to visit her younger friends. She likes also to keep in touch with the Methodist Church, although not now able to take an active part in its affairs.
Mrs. Walton was born in Hampton the daughter of Moses and Sarah Ann (Goss) Blake, and passed much of her early life in Amesbury and Newburyport, Mass.
She first married George H. Paige, of Hampton, and to them two children were born, Sarah Maria and William Henry Paige s Mr. Paige died when the children were young, and Mrs. Paige moved again to Amesbury. There her second marriage to Daniel J. Trefethen, of Rye, occurred. From this union there was one daughter, Irene Jewell Trefethen.
Later owing to the poor health of Mr. Trefethen, the family returned to Hampton, purchasing the John Leavitt place, Elmwood, which has since been their home. Mr. Trefethen passed away soon after the return, and Mrs. Trefethen began the summer boarding business, which she conducted for many years.
Her third marriage was to Mr., Samuel Walton, whom she survives. The son, William H. Paige, died in July, 1935.