Pine Hill Cemetery

It is also an opportunity to look at some of the tombstones and see in some of the names from Dover's past.You will note that many of the larger stones and grave sites are in the sections closer to Central Avenue, more than likely signaling the wealth and standing of the families involved. They are generally from the mid- to late 19th century, maybe early 20th, but a time when a relatively small number of people — and mostly men — were the "pillars" of local business and society.There is a prominent stone on the right a short distance up the main entrance from Central Avenue marked "Flagg." This is William Flagg, born in Portsmouth in 1770 in a seagoing family. His father, John Flagg, was a ship's captain, and William went to sea as a cabin boy at the age of 13. His career was varied: he served as crew on several vessels, spent time in the fledgling U.S. Navy, captained his own ships, and was part owner of a privateer. At one point William and his ship were seized by a French adversary and he spent a few years as a prisoner. Through it all he managed to amass a small fortune (and to father seven children). Leaving the maritime life he moved to Dover, and in 1815 built Tidewater Farm, on what was originally called Flagg Road, then in 1830 Cochecho Street, now known as Gulf Road.The house at Tidewater was an architectural gem, a brick mansion in what might be called a Federal Southern plantation-style overlooking the river with, at some point, an enormous post and beam barn, (big enough for a much later — 20th century — owner to install an indoor swimming pool with a south wall that could be moved on a track to open the building to the outdoors. Flagg then became employed as a supervisor at the Dover Manufacturing Co. and within a few years became a director of the company, reportedly one of the wealthiest residents of the community. His first wife died and he and his second wife produced another seven children (two of his sons became ship captains). He died in 184...