Samuel B had been a widower for three years, had three small children, and was living with his mother-in-law.
We believe that Lydia's parents (John Pendexter and Susan Eastman) were from Conway but were both deceased before the wedding and have not yet learned why Lydia was living in New Gloucester.
After the wedding Lydia moved to Conway and is found in Samuel B Shackford's home in 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Samuel and Lydia had two children
Lucy Marie Shackford (1850-1929) m. Frank Wescott Shackford and
Mary Alice Shackford (abt 1861 - 1874) died young
We haven't found Lydia in the 1900 census yet but know she died Sept 30, 1902 at the age of 75 and is buried in the West Side Cemetery in Bartlett, New Hampshire. Her gravestone is inscribed
Lydia Dinsmore Pendexter
Wife of
S. B. SHACKFORD
DIED
Sept 30 1902
Est 75 yrs
SOURCES:
Find A Grave, Find A Grave, digital images (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 1 August 2014), Mary Alice Shackford, Find A Grave Memorial# 48832899.
Find A Grave, Find A Grave, digital images (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 1 September 2014), Lydia Dinsmore Pendexter Shackford, Find A Grave Memorial# 48832601
Maine, Maine, Vital Records, 1670-1907, , Samuel B Shackford m Lydia D Pendexter, 18 July 1848; digital images, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 10 September 2014).
New Hampshire, New Hampshire, Death Records, 1654-1947, 74a, Lucy M Davis, 13 June 1929; digital images, FamilySearch, New Hampshire, Death Records, 1654-1947 (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 1 September 2014).
New Hampshire, New Hampshire, Death Records, 1654-1947, , Lydia D P Shackford, 30 September 1902; digital images, FamilySearch, New Hampshire, Death Records, 1654-1947 (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 26 May 2014).
"New Hampshire, Marriage Records Index, 1637-1947," Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 September 2014), John Pendexter m Susan Eastman.
Rix Guy Scoby, Compiler, History and Genealogy of the Eastman Family of America, Containing Biographical Sketches and Genealogies of Both Males and Females (Concord, N. H.: Ira C. Evans, 1901), page 370; digital images, Google Books (https://play.google.com/books : accessed 10 September 2014.