Disambiguation: John Heard (died 4 Mar 1676 m Isabelle father of James) of Eliot, ME (previously Kittery, ME) and John Heard (died 1687 m Elizabeth Hull father of 14 children but not James) of Dover, New Hampshire (previously called Cocheco, NH) They lived on opposite sides of the Newichawannock River.

For decades genealogists have combined two separate men named John Heard that lived in the 17th century. This has lead to interesting narratives of a man that moved back and forth between Kittery, ME and Dover, NH. But there were two John Heards living on either side of the Newichawannock River. This can be proven buy the two separate wills written and probated at different times with different named heirs. I base the following on the wills and wills alone as cited in the work of author John Scales and other citations listed below. You will find authors who combine these two men but examination of the wills justifies their separate existence. I will call these two men “John Heard of Kittery” and “John Heard of Dover.”

John Heard of Kittery died 4 Mar 1676 and married Isabel. He was father of James Heard and had no other known children. He lived in Eliot, ME previously called Kittery, ME. His will was written 3 Mar 1657 and was proved / probated in February 1676.

John Heard of Dover died much later in about 1687 and married Elizabeth Hull. He was father of 14 children but he was not the father of James. He lived in Dover, New Hampshire previously called Cocheco, NH. His will was written 3 Mar 21 1675-6 and proved / probated Feb 1687 (another source says Will dated April 2, 1687, prob. 1692 I think the first source is correct).

While the two men lived on separate sides of the Newichawannock River they both had the tittle of Captain and they both were listed a carpenters. They both lived around the same time period and hence it is easy to see why many genealogists have thought them to be the same man.

A discussion of the wills is offered by author John Scales in his book titled “History of Dover, New Hampshire: containing historical, genealogical and industrial data of its early settlers, their struggle” starting on page 444. To read this book please go to the “search tab,” select “card catalog.” Enter the authors name “John Scales” and select the book of the tittle above. Enter page 444 and scroll to the bottom starting on the section titled “Heard.”

The Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire (page 322) states that John Heard of Dover married Elizabeth Hull, daughter of Rev. Joseph Hull. He was a master carpenter in what is now called Dover, Strafford County, New Hampshire but at the time was named Cocheco. He was also a Lieutenant in the Indian wars and a sea captain (also listed as "shipmaster" and "shipwright"). He was one of the 41 people to sign the "Combination for Government" to establish a formal government for Dover, N.H. in 1640. He was granted six acres  (lot 8) in Dover on March 1648-9. According to Cotton Mather Megnalia his widow escaped the Cocheco Massacre in 1689. He died around 1687. N.H. Wills lists his will as written 3 Mar 21 1675-6 and proved / probated Feb 1687 (another source says his will was dated April 2, 1687, probated 1692). His major heirs are his children Benjamin Heard, Mary Ham, Abigail Jones, Elizabeth Nute, Tristram (aka Trustrom) Heard and Samuel Heard. His will is administered by John Clements. He had fourteen children: Benjamin, William, Mary, Abigail, Elizabeth, Hannah, John, Jr., Joseph,  Samuel, Tristram, Nathaniel, Dorcas, and Experience. He did not have a son James.

In contrast John Heard of Kittery lived in what is now called Kittery, York County, Maine then called Eliot, Maine. He was a sea captain, and married Isabel (last name unknown). He had a single son James. He died on 4 Mar 1676 (much earlier than John of Dover). The will of John Heard of Kittery can be found in The New England Historical Genealogy Society's "York County, Maine Wills", page 51. His will was written 3 Mar 1657 and was proved / probated in Feb 1676. Note John Heard of Dover didn’t die until 1689 which proves these are two separate people. John Heard of Kittery’s primary heirs are his wife Isabel, and five granddaughters (all daughters of James). Three of the five granddaughters are under the age of 18: Abigail, Anne and Katherine and two are over 18: Mary and Elizabeth. James Chadbourne who had married John Heard’s granddaughter Elizabeth Heard co-administered the estate with Richard Otis who had married James Heard’s wife, Susannah Shuah Starbuck after James death. Richard Otis was also guardian of James’s son John.

Some have also confused John Heard of Dover and John Head of Kittery with John Head who was the grandson of John Head of Kittery and son of James heard. Note all three are called Captain John Heard. Captain John Heard grandson of John Head of Kittery and son of James married  first Phebe Littlefield, second Jane Littlefield, third Ann Wingate, and forth Maria Cotton Bradbury (Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire page 322). John Scales in the book cited above lists his wives as Phebe Littlefield, second Jane Cole and third Ann Wingate.

Please contact me via the ancestry.com message system if you find any errors in the evidence presented above. 
Best regards,
Roland