Martin Rourk was born in Ireland in 1760. He came to America about 1773 and spent two years in his uncle's store in St. Johns. In 1775 he came to Boston. His vessel sailed away in the night and left him on shore. He served as a Clerk in the Revolutionary Army, in a company commanded by Capt. Lawrence of North Yarmouth. He married the Captain's sister Mrs. Elizabeth (Lawrence) Fogg, widow of Daniel Fogg whom she married in 1779. He came to Durham about 1784 and bought, 1796, of Thomas Mitchell, twenty acres of lot 70. His house stood near where the road from the North Meeting House joins the "Hallowell Road." He served as town clerk 1790-1807. The. Town Records show bills of $5 for such annual services. His handwriting is remarkably clear and distinct. The ink made by himself is scarcely faded. He was for years the foremost school-teacher of Durham. He died, 1 June 1807, leaving his family in poor circumstances. His wife, born 26 Sept. 1758,
lived till 27 Nov. 1852.

JANE b. 26 Oct. 1785; m. 11 June 1807 Richard Wiswell of Portland.
JOHN b. 5 Sept. 1788; m. 22 Nov. 1821 Joanna Larrabee of Durham.
HANNAH b. 25 Feb. 1791; m. 26 April 1812 John Fifield; moved to Greenwood.
WILLIAM b. 23 May 1793; m. 15 Aug. 1819 Mercy Davis of Durham.
DAVID b. 20 Sept. 1795; farmer in Durham. Unm. d. 22 Oct. 1861.
SAMUEL b. 11 Feb. 1798; died at Exeter, Me., Oct. 1841.
SILENCE b. 22 Sept. 1800; died 10 April 1816.
CYRUS b. 23 March 1803; lost at sea 1823.
JACOB H. b. 22 March 1806

The spelling of the surname was changed to Roak by act of Mass. Legislature before 1820. John Roak married Joanna Larrabee who was born 3 Nov. 1798. He lived on a farm nearly opposite where Win. D. Roak now lives, about lot 120. His family were.

CYRUS S. b. 25 Nov. 1822; d. May 1844.
ALICE S. b. 3 June 1824; d. May 1844.
MARY E. b. 13 Jan. 1826; m. 26 Nov. 1862 James H. Eveleth.
MARTHA A. b. 2 Nov. 1827; m. 9 Mch. 1852 Stillman Larrabee.
EMELINE L. b. 25 Jan. 1831; m. 28 Feb. 1856 John S. Parker.
HANNAH F. b. 5 April 1832; d. 13 Nov. 1863.
ANGELIA M. b. 24 Jan. 1839; m. 30 Aug. 1862 Elisha S. Newell.

Wm.. Roak, who married Mercy Davis, died 23 July 1876. He lived on the farm now occupied by his son, William D. Roak. His family were as follows:

WILLIAM D. b. 4 Dec. 1820 See Biog. Sketch.
ELIZA A. b. 29 Oct. 1823; d. 26 March 1851.
HARRIET E. b. 9 June 1826; m. 9 Dec. 1857 Geo. Washington Strout of Durham.
EMILY J. b. IS Nov. 1833; d. 8 Jan. 1853.
LUCRETIA M. b. 31 March 1836; m.. (I) Win. Robinson, (2) Win. Davis. Lives in Portland.
EMILUS W. b. 4 Sept. 1829; d. s. p. 28 Apr. 1860; in. Isabel Gilpatrick. She d. 17 Aug. 1865.
ISAAC M. b. 15 Jan. 1838; d. 26 Feb. 1838.

William D. Roak married, 4 June 1843 Ann S. Wagg, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Miller) Wagg, who was born 28 Aug. 1820. Five children.

CYRUS A. b. 16 June 1844; in. Sarah Ealley of Epping, N. H. Resides in Cochituate, Mass.
ALGERNON M. b. 26 Dec. 1846; in. Jennie S. Hutchings of Winthrop, Me. He is a well known undertaker in Auburn.
MILLBURY F. b. 26 May 1849; in. Julia Sanders of Ossipee, N. H. He is a provision merchant in Boston of the firm of Tucker and Roak.
EMILY E. b. 11 June 1854.
ROSA BELL b. 13 Oct. 1861. Teacher in Durham.

Source: 1899 The History of Durham, Maine, by Rev. Everett S. Stackpole, pages 242-243