b.c.1565 Tichfield, Hampshire
m.1. MARY ______ (bur. 29
Oct. 1605, Tichfield)
2. 14 July 1606 Anne ______ (m.1. ______
Wigg, bur. 5 July 1619 Tichfield)
bur. 22 Oct. 1618 Tichfield
A William Lettylfeld of
Odiham, Hampshire made his will in 1579.(3)
St.
Peter's church- Tichfield
Francis was a
clothier and made his will 21 Oct. 1618. He gave Edmund 20/, Nicholas £ 30, a table and fine stool,
John £ 30 and each godchild 12d. To his wife's children
Elizabeth and Robert Wigg he gave 40/ each. His maid Elizabeth Carter received
10/. To his brother James of Droxford he gave his best doublet and breeches, to
his sister Mary Beane 5/ and to his brother Richard 20/. He gave the cathedral
at Winchester 6d, the parish church of Tichfield 3/4, the poor of Tichfield a
noble (10/) and the poor of Wickham 3/4. His wife Anne and son James were made
executors of his will with Anne to have the house next to the fulling mill
leased from John Hanksford of Bishop's
Issue- all baptized at Tichfield, Hants. First five children by Mary, last
two by Anne.
· 2I. EDMUND-
bpt.27 June 1592, m. 16 Oct. 1614 ANNIS/AGNES (2) AUSTIN
· II. Nicholas- bpt. 24 July
1595, bur. 12 Aug. 1595
· III. James- bpt.18 June 1598, m. 17
Jan. 1618/9 Tichfield, Joanne Jeffrey. James inherited his father's
fulling mill and lived in Tichfield.
· IV. Anne- bpt. 8 Apr. 1601,
bur. 10 Apr. 1601
· V. Frances- bpt. 6 Oct. 1605, bur. 29 Oct. 1605
· VI. Nicholas- bpt. 28 Aug.
1608, m. ?, bur. 23 May 1677 Funtley, Hants., will
1677 (4)
· VII. John- bpt. 13 Jan. 1610/1, m.1. Joanne ______ (bur.
22 Dec. 1649 Tichfield), 2. ______ John lived in Funtley.
Ref:
(1) Archdeaconry of Winchester-
1618- HRO- 1618A/43
(2) HRO- 1619A/063
(3) Ibid- 1579A/51
(4) Ibid- 1677A/056
N.E.H.G.R.- Vol.67,
pp.343-8, Oct. 1913
2I. EDMUND (FRANCIS 1)
bpt. 27 June 1592 Tichfield, Hampshire
m. 16 Oct. 1614 Tichfield, ANNIS (2) AUSTIN (b.
1596, will 12 Dec. 1677)
will 11 Dec. 1661
"Barry's
Cottages"- Tichfield- home of Edmund Littlefield
On 12 Feb. 1635/6
Stephen March of
Edmund came first to
May 1638:
"Southampton- The list of the names of Passengs Intended to shipe
themselves, In the Bevis of Hampton of CL Tounes, Robert Batten Mr for
Newengland, And thus by vertue of the Lord Treasurers warrant of the second of
may wch was after the restraynt and they some Dayes gone to sea Before the
Kinges Mates Proclamacon Came unto South'ton...
38 Annis Littlefield and 6 children
John Knight, servant
Heugh Durdal, servant..."(2)
At
"... I Thomas
Gorges Esqr Deputy Gouvnor of the Province of Mayne by vertue of authoritie
unto me given from Sr fferdinando Gorges Knight Lord Propriator of the said
Province... give grant & Confirme unto Edmund Littlefield of Wells in the
County of Somersett... those pcells of land... scituate lying & being in
Wells aforesaid that is to say One hundred acres of Land adjoyning to the
Mill... and all the Marsh ground lying betweene the said land & the sea...
And all the Neck of Marsh ground lying between the said hundred Acres of land
& webhant River & six Acres of Marsh lying betweene Webhant River and
the neck of land neere adjoyning unto the ffarme lately granted unto Mr John
Wheelwright & Eight Acres of Marsh ground to be taken in Ogunquick Marsh
& two litle pcells of Marsh & upland lying near Webhant falls on the
West side thereof... Hee the said Edmund Littlefield... paying for the prmisses
unto the said Sr fferdinando Gorges his heires and assignes six shillings
yearely on the Nin Twentieth Day of September And I the said Thomas Gorges Doe
hereby ordayne Henry Boade gent to be my lawfull Atturney... In Witnes thereof
I the said Thomas Gorges have hereunto sett my hand & seale the ffourteenth
Day of July 1643. Sealed signed & delivd in presence of Roger Guard, George
Puddington, ffrancis Littlefield..."
Edmund built a
saw-mill and grist mill on the
Webhannet
Falls- Wells
Edmund was on the
jury in 1645 and 1647. He took the oath of allegience to Massachusettss and the
freeman's oath at Wells 5 July 1653 although he did not side with
Massachusetts' religious polity.(3) He was the Comissioner to end
small causes from 1654 until his death except for the year 1657 and was a
Selectman in 1654 and 1657. Edmund signed a petition favoring Seth Fletcher as
the minister 17 May 1661.(4) He served on a committee to settle
the boundary between Wells and Cape Porpoise.
Edmund was
authorized 4 Nov. 1654 to sell wine and strong liquor to the Indians in York
County to such an extent as he thought for their good.(5)
When he was given his licence the general court at the same time expressed
their abhorrence of the the free use of ardent spirits and sinfulness of the
practice and prohibited the sale by anyone else the object being to restrain
and limit the sale and not to extend or aid it.(6)
"The last
will & Testament of Edmund Littlefield Decembr 11:61:...
I bequeath unto
Francis Littlefield my elldest sun, & Anthony Littlefield, & Elizabeth
Wakefield my daughter, all the whoole Tract of Land liing of the North East
side of Kenebunke with the Falls togeather with a Certen quantity of Marsh
liing up in the woods, betweene Cape Porpus River & Kenebunke, which is
specifyd In two deeds, granted by Mr Geo: Cleeve Agent of Mr Rygbe, which is
now come into the Government of Mr. Gorges, Proprietor of the Province of
Mayne. Which Land & Marsh shall bee aequally devided amongst those three
above specifyd.
I give unto
Frances Littlefield Senior 10s to bee pd out of my
goods
I give unto
Anthony Littlefield all my weareing Cloaths
I give unto
Elizabeth Wakefield 5s to bee pd out of my goods
I give unto my 3
executors Namely Annas Littlefield, My wife, & Thoms Littlefield, &
Fran: Littlefield my youngest sun all my upland & Marsh att home which is
not disposd, & that which I bought of my sun Anthony, & alsoe yt which
I bouht of Mr Fletcher, togeather with ye Corne Mill & saw Mill, with all
my houseing & goods, within doores & with out, togeather with all the
stocke & Cattle both small and greate, which shall bee aequally devided
amongst those 3 executors, onely the land that lyeth on the South side of
Webbhannett River, If the sd Thos & Francis Littlefield Junior do both of
them pay to Annas my wife foure bushs of corne yearely for 7 yeares, then my
wife shall have nothing to do with Itt, otherwise if they do not pforme that
yearly, then my wife shall have power to lett it to others, & to expell
them quitte out of it all.
And likewise my
sun Thoms & Fran: Littlefield shall pay unto my wife eight bushs of wheat
yearely, for ye Corne Mill, if they will not yn my wife shall have power to
lett it to any other, & expell them out of it. And my wife shall have her
third part of the Marsh, that lyeth on the South East side of Webbhannett
River; And if soe bee yt Fran: Littlefield & Thomas Littlefield, &
Fran: Littlefield my youngest sun bee loveing & helpfull to yr mother my
wife, then they shall have all after her desease, otherwise if they bee not
loveing & helpfull to her shee shall have power to dispose of itt, wr shee
thinkes good herselfe
I give unto my
daughter Mary Barrett, and to my daughter Hannah Littlefield fiveteene pounds a
peece to bee pd with in 3 years, five pounds a peece
yearely, till it bee payd
I do give unto all
my grandchildren five shillings a peece wn they come at age
I give unto my sun
John Littlefield
Alsoe the 3
executors, Namely Annas my wife, & Tho: &
Fran: Littlefield shall have power to recover & receave all debts
And those 3
executors shall pay all debts due & demands, & all portions Legacys
& gyfts, which is here specfyd; My suns Tho: &
Fran: Littlefield Junior, is to Improve & till the ground, & there
mother my wife shall have the third part of the Corne
I give unto my wife 6 or 7 Acres of Marsh
that lyeth at Ogunquet
I desire Mr Ezekell Knightt & Mr Jos:
Bowles to bee my Feffees In trust If neede require, to
see my will fulfilled
Testes
Ezekell Knights Edmund Littlefields"(7)
Joe: Bowles owne hand X
The inventory of the estate was submitted 24
Dec. 1661 by Ezekiel Knight, Joseph Bowles and William Hammonds and amounted to
£588/13/4.
"12th December:1677:...
The last Will & testament of Annis Littlefield...
1: I do give unto my daughter Hannah Cloyce
my bed & bowlster, & Katterine Wakefield to deliver it to her
2: I give unto my three daughters Elizabeth
Wakefield Mary Barrett & Hannah Cloyce, all my lining & Wollen New
& ould to bee aequally divided amongst them
I give unto my sonn John Littlefield my Cow
Gentle & five buslls of Corne
I give to my daughter Merribah foure buslls
of Wheate due from ye Mills
I give to my Grandchild Katterine Wakefield
my Rugg & eight buslls of Corne
I give to my sonn Peter Cloyce too Acres of
Marsh bee it more or less. yt lyeth on the
I give unto my sonn Thomas Littlefield, who
hath taken a great deale of care of mee, all the rest of my household goods
Corne & Chattles, & I do make my sd sonn Thomas Littlefield, my whoole
& soole executor, & to receive all debts comeing to mee, & pay all
If any thing there bee that I do ow, & to take all the remaindr to him
selfe, & to see my will fullfilled
Signed & Delivered,
In ye Presence of us, Annis Littlefield
Joseph Bolls
X
William Symonds
her marke"(8)
The inventory of her estate was submitted by
Samuel Austin and Joseph Bolls on 7 Mar. 1677/8 and amounted to £36/15.
Issue-
· I.Ann- bpt. 11 Feb. 1615/6 Tichfield, Hants.,
d. 2 Jan. 1616/7
· II. Edward- bpt. 17 Feb. 1616/7
Tichfield, d. 13 June 1635
·
3III. FRANCIS- bpt. 17 June 1619 Tichfield, m.1. Jane Hill (d.20 Dec. 1646
· IV. Anthony- bpt.7 Oct. 1621 Tichfield, m.c.1652 Mary
Page d. before Mar. 1662
· 4V. JOHN- bpt. 1 Nov.
1624 Tichfield, m.c.1650 PATIENCE
· VI.
· VII. Mary- b.c.1630, m.1. Lt. John Barrett (killed by Indians 1688), 2. Thomas Page,
living in 1703
· VIII. Thomas- bpt. 10 Aug. 1633 Tichfield, m.1. c.1667
Ruth ______, 2. Sarah ______, drowned c.1689 Wells, ME
· IX. Hannah- bpt. 10 Aug. 1633
Tichfield, m.c.1663 Peter Cloyes, d. 1680
· X. Francis- bp.24 Mar. 1635/6 Tichfield, m.c.1658
Meribah Wardwell (b. 14 May 1637
Ref:
(1) Court of Requests- Charles
I, bundle 77, part 4 as quoted by Moriarty in Gleanings from English Records,
NEHGR Vol. 88, Oct. 1934
(2) N.E.H.G.R.- Vol.67, p.347 (Oct. 1913); Planters of the
Commonwealth 1620-40- Charles Edward Banks, p.200
(3) Mass. Archives- Vol.III, pp.221,228; History of Wells and
Kennebunk- p.32
(4) Collections of the Maine Historical Society- second
series, Vol.4, pp.171-2
(5) Ibid- Vol.XXX, p.35
(6) History of Wells and Kennebunk- Edward E. Bourne,
LL.D, Portland, 1875, pp.38-9
(7) York Co. Court Records- B, 53
(8) York Co. Registry of Deeds- Vol. 5, p.25
Genealogical Dictionary of The First
Settlers of New England- Savage,
Vol.III, p.100
Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire- pp.437-8
History of Wells and Kennebunk- Edward E. Bourne, LL.D, Portland, 1875,
pp. 73-8
Old Families of Salisbury & Amesbury, MA- David W. Hoyt, Vol.II,
p.575
Pioneers of Maine & New Hampshire- Pope, pp.128-9
3III. FRANCIS (FRANCIS 1, EDMUND 2)
bpt. 17 June 1619 Tichfield, Hampshire
m.1. Jane Hill (d. 20 Dec. 1646
2. REBECCA RUSK/RUST (b.31
Jan. 1630, d.after 29 Mar. 1683)
3. by 1689 Mary Wade (m.1.
William Symonds of
inv. 15 Jan. 1712/3
Francis was an
innkeeper at Wells where he received a 50 acre grant from Gorges in 1643. He
was taxed in
He took the oath
of allegiance to
He was a
representative to the General Court from
A general court
was held at his house 27 May 1662. He was on the grand jury in 1666, 1667, 1673
and 1687. He signed another Wells petition 30 Apr. 1668 for
Wells
petition to the General Court 30 Apr. 1668 , Page
2
Francis was a licenced
innholder many times from 1661 until 1691 and at his inn fees were received and
expenses paid for the court. Afterwards he was at
In 1686 Francis
had a grant of 100 acres at the head of his lot. On 21 July 1691 Francis along
with several others signed a letter requesting supplies so they could continue
their fight against the enemy.
Issue-
· I. Mary- b.14 Dec. 1646
· 5II.
SARAH- b. 15 Nov. 1649 Wells, ME, m.1. JOHN (2) WELLS, 2. by Nov. 1677 William Sawyer
· III. Hannah- b. 5 Jan. 1652 Wells, ME, m. Jeremiah
Moulton
· IV. Deliverance- b. 5 July 1655 Wells, ME, killed by
Indians
· V. James- b. 2 Oct. 1657 Wells, ME, m. Katherine Heard,
killed by Indians 16 May 1690
· VI. Isaac- b. 23 Jan. 1660 Wells, ME, killed by Indians
1676
· VII. Abigail- b. 26 Mar. 1661/2, m.c.
1680 John Eldridge
· VIII. Dorcas- b. 4 Oct. 1664 Wells, ME
· 6IX.
PHEBE- m. 27 Apr. 1690 JOHN HEARD (b.c.1667, will 15
Jan. 1739- 6 Jan. 1752), killed by Indians 4 July 1697
· X. Daniel- b.c.1662, m. Mehitable Dodd, adm. 2 July
1718
· XI. Dependence- b.c.1671, m.1. Feb. 1706 Hannah Snell (m.1. John Ballard,
d. before 1718), 2. 5 Dec. 1718
· XII. Rachel- m. 6 Dec. 1694 William Frost
Ref:
(1) Mass. Archives- Vol.III,
pp.221,228
(2) Ibid- Vol.X, p.96
(3) Ibid- Vol.III, p.276
Genealogical Dictionary of The First
Settlers of New England- Savage,
Vol.III, p.100
Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire- pp.438
The History of Wells and Kennebunk- Edward E. Bourne
Old Families of Salisbury & Amesbury, MA- David W. Hoyt, Vol.II,
pp.575-6
4V. JOHN (FRANCIS 1, EDMUND 2)
bpt. 1 Nov. 1624 Tichfield
m.c.1650 PATIENCE WAKEFIELD (living in 1701)
d. 9 Feb. 1696/7 Wells, ME
John and his
brother-in-law John Wakefield had a grant of land called Great Hill Farm from
George Cleaves at the mouth of the
He was on the
committee to settle the Kittery- Wells bounds in 1658.(3)
He was a constable in 1661 and in 1663/4; selectman in 1670 and 1677; and a
representative in 1680. John signed the petition to the General Court in Boston
30 Apr. 1668 asking them to settle the government.(4) He also
signed the petition to the General Court 22 May 1661 to keep the Rev. Seth
Fletcher.(5)
Wells
petition to the General Court 30 Apr. 1668 , Page
2
He was commissioned a Lieutenant 29 May 1668
"for wells John Littlefield Leiftenant, ffrancis Littlefield junior
ensigne", and was placed in command at Wells in 1675.(6)
"Wells ye 19th Sept.
75 at 9 of the clocke at night.
Major Waldron, Sir.
You will se by ye above what a great strait ya are in at sacoe, and we look
hourerly for an assalt here. Soe that you cannt expect any assistance from us,
we being too weak to defend our selves, yr fore ye earnest request to you is
that you will rase ann army from Pascataqua with all possible speed for the
preservation of our lives and estats; otherwise we cannot expect in an ordinary
way long to hold out. The Lord direct you and us all. We convaid Mr. George Broughton and company safe to the
Yours to command,
John Littlefield."(7)
John, as
Commissioner of York Co., petitioned the governor and Council in 1676
requesting the building of garrisons, military organizations, aid against the
Indians, and to encourage trade.(8) On
11 Sept. 1676 he signed a statement to the General Court describing the
military conditions in the area.(9) On 23 July 1677 he wrote instructions
to Shubael Dummer and William Symond listings requests for the Governor and
Council to answer in regards to military affairs in Wells.(9a)
His mill was taxed
for Fort Loyal in 1682 for £ 4.(10)
At the court held in July 1670 the judges being: "advised that some
persons in the late assessment for war rates did not give in a true account of
their property, appointed Capt. Charles Frost, Capt. John Davis, and Lieut.
John Littlefield, commissioers, to sit at York, and invested them with full
authority to summon in these unfaithful men, and make them disclose the
truth."(11)
John was a Burgess
for Wells in 1680 and a commander of one of the garrisons in Wells in 1690:
"Wells Towne 6 Garisons, (viz) Lt. Storer, Wido Littlefield, Francis
Littlefield, John Wheelwright, Capt. John Littlefield and Mr. Samuel
Littlefield where was 10 Souldiers Six of which ware dismist Lately by Capt.
Littlefield and are gone."(12)
John was a member
of a committee in
"To
his Excellelncy the Governor and Council sitting in
We, the
subscribers, humbly pray that your Honors would be pleased to consider the
distressed condition of the inhabitants of Wells, who are not only objects of
pity with reference to the enemy and the length of the war, but also with
reference to their spiritual concerns, there not being one minister of the
gospel in these parts; and in this town of wells there are about forty soldiers
and no chaplain, which doth much dissatisfy them, especially some of them. If
your Excellency with the Honored Council will please to send us a minister to
be chaplain to the soldiers and also minister of the town, we will allow him
what we can for encouragement, with what the country may allow him upon account
of the soldiers, we hope will be sufficient satisfaction and encouragement to
us to stand our ground, as also to the soldiers to continue here, and so shall
your servants remain to pray, etc.
Samuel Wheelright
John Littlefield
These
few persons subscribing
Samuel Storer
are personally known here
James Gooch
in
If it were at Wells we have grounds to
believe there would be the general voice of the town for the same."(13)
During King
William's War collections were made in the churches which were forwarded to
John Wheelright, John Littlefield and Joseph Storer to be appropriated as they
judged necessary to the different garrisons.(14)
"Wells, July 21; 1691
We being the front
of all the eastern part of the country, remotely situated, for strength weak,
and the enemy beating upon us, we can think of no other, but we are fair for ruin,
and humbly conceive your honors are sensible of it, without seasonable help;
our stocks are wasted the thirteenth of June last. The enemy killed and drove
away upwards of one hundred head of cattle, besides sheep and horses; some of
our corn is already lost, and more in great hazard; we therefore, distressed,
make our humble address to your honors for men, with provision and ammunition
for the strengthening of our town, with what force your honors shall see fit to
keep out; also that there may be a magazine in the province that supplies may
be near; whereby time will be redeemed, soldiers encouraged, and opportunity
improved against the enemy; also that there be an effectual care taken, that
the inhabitants of this province may not quit their places without liberty
first obtained from legal authority; thus encouraging ourselves with the hopes
that your honors will timely answer us herein, that so we and the rest of this
poor province in great hazard, may yet stand, which may be to the honor of God,
the interest of his majesty, and of the country, we rest, your honored humble
servants.
Francis Littlefield
George Burroughs
John Littlefield
Joseph Storer
John Wheelright
John Hill
Pendleton Fletcher
John Cloyes
Nathaniel Cloyes."(15)
On 28 Sept. 1691
Cap. John along with Ensign John Hill carried another letter from Rev. George
Burroughs and others from Wells to the Governor and Council, petitioning for
more soldiers against the "sore scourge of Indians".(16)
John also signed another peition to the Governor and Council on 27 Jan. 1691/2
for them to send men to save Wells as the Indians had just destroyed York.(17)
Wells was
evidently again without a minister as John signed another petition for a
chaplain on 28 May 1692: "Due to ye destressed
Condition of ye Inhabitants of Wells who are not only objects of pitty with
refferance to ye Enemy and ye length of ye War, but also with reference to
their spiritual concerns Jno Litlefield"(18)
John was in court
for selling without a license in 1693.
"A true
Invintory of the Estate of Capt John Littlefield deceast who departed this life
the ninthe day of february 1696/7 by us whose names are under writen this 4th
day of Marche 1686/7:
£ s d
To
money...........................................................................01:10:00
To wearing clothes..........................................................
10:00:00
To Iron bras Puter and other houshold goods at:...... 04:00:00
To two guns at.................................................................
01:10:00
To two beds and beding at:............................................04:10:00
To two horsis and mare & horse furneture at:.............05:00:00
To two Cowes at...............................................................05:00:00
To five Swine at:...............................................................02:05:00
To Coton and woolin yarne at........................................01:10:00
To Powder and shot at:....................................................00:10:00
To two oxen five Cowes thirteene younge calfe and twelve acres of medow all in
the possession of Eliab Littelfield by a Lease from his Hononrd ffather John
Littlefield Deseast..............................................................................
02:10:00
________
96:10:00
£ s d
To one bed and beding at:..........................06:00:00
To 4 yards of hommade cloathes...............00:12:00
To 1 ( ) at....................................................... 00:04:00
To swine at....................................................01:10:00
Ms: Pashons
Littelfield appered before me this 30th of March 1697 and maid oath that this sd true Inventory of all the Estate of her Late husband
Deceased Capt: John Littelfield to the best of her knowing and If Aney more
appere after ward She upon the Same oath is to give it into the regesters of
this County
Samll Wheelwright Judge of the Probate
In adition to the above Inventary which was
forgoten and not ( ) stood by the administrator & also in sd hands of Eliab
Littlefield
To two Dwelling houses one saw mill two hundred acres of upland & fiftene
acres of salt marshe all at:120:00:00
To Iron worke for a single sawmill at:...............007:10:00
Taken by us: John Wheelwright
Nicholas Cole"(19)
A mutuall greemt
made and concluded upon this 7th day of october 1701 between us patience
Littlefield widow and relect of Capt John Littlefield of wells in ye County of
york in new england deceased Intestate and Josiah Littlefield and Eliab
Littlefield for himselfe and as an attorney for Liddia Shore daughter to the sd
Capt Jno Littlefield and Samuel Webber for himselfe and for his wife Debrah the
daughter of Capt. Jno Littlefield and Matthew Austin for himselfe and for his
wife mary the duaghter of sd Capt. Jno Littlefield and william cole for
himselfe and for his wife Ccharity the daughter of sd John Littlefield and
Josia winn for him selfe and Liddia his wife grandaughter of Capt. John
Littlefield and only child of John Littlefield deseaced eldest son of Capt.
John Littlefield and Eddward Beale for him selfe and his wife Elizabth daughter
of Capt John Littlefield and Joanna Littlefield widow daughter in law to sd Capt.
Littlefield and mercy Lufkin widow daughter to te sd Capt Littlefield and James
Webber for him selfe and patience his wife daughter to the sd Capt John
Littlefield relating to the Estate of ye sd Capt John Littlefield have devided
the Estate as followeth
To Patience Littlefield widow and relect of sd Capt Littlefield
To wareing
Clothes.............................010=00=00
To houshold goods............................004=00=00
To 1 ( )...................................................002=00=00
To 1 horse mare and furnitr...............003=10=00
To 1 bed and beding..........................006=00=00
To 4 yrds Cloath.................................000=12=00
To Cotton and woolen yarn..............001=10=00
To 1 spit...............................................000=04=00
To 1 Calfe.............................................000=10=00
To 1 young beast................................001=10=00
______________________________________________________________________________
Josia Littlefield
To 8 acres marsh................................012=00=00
Formerly of his father given.............008=00=00
_____________________________________________________________________________
Eliab
Littlefield Mercy
Lufkin
To 6 acres of marsh
...09=00=00 Cow
and Calfe
...03:00=00
To 2 Chayns...................01=19=00
1
beast...................01=10=0
To Cart Iron and ( )........01=05=00 3
acres marsh........04=10=0
Formerly Recd................00=06=00
formerly Recd.......04=00=0
_____________________________________________________________________________
Samll
Webber Will
Webb
To 1 young beast.........01=10=00
to
Land and marsh...20=00=0
2 Chayns and ( )...........01=16=00 to
2 Cowes..................05=00=0
to part of mill Irons......00=10=00
formerly Recd...............08=00=00
_____________________________________________________________________________
Matthew
Austin Josiah
Winn
To 1 bed and beding
...02=05=00 to
1 hundred acres of Land and
To 1 young
beast............01=10=00 marsh
Joyning to sd Land and ten
Formerly Recd..................06=12=00 acres
of marsh at meryland 30=00=0
_____________________________________________________________________________
Liddia
Storer to
Josiah Littlefield
To 1 Calfe and young beast
02=00=00 3
acres of marsh
... 04=10=00
Formerly Recd
...
10=00=00 2
( ) 01=10=00
____________________________________________ powdr and shot 00=10=00
to Edward
Beale to
money. 01=10=00
1 bed & beding.
02=05=00 to
pay John Pirce five pound and
1 Cow and Calfe
03=00=00 ten
shillings and shot charges
1 young beast 01=10=00
1:16:0
to part of mill Iron work 02=05=00
formerly Recd. 03=00=00
_____________________________________________________________________________
James Webber
1 ox cow & calfe 08=00=00
to mill Iron worke.. 02=04=00
Formerly Recd 00=06=00
____________________________________________
Johanna Littlefield
1 ox 1 cow. 07=10=00
1 young beast. 01=10=00
to Swine. 02=05=00
formerly Recd. 00=14=00
The marsh and
thatch ground on the back side of the River by all our Consents is disposed of
to Eliab Littlefield at Eight pounds one third part to be payd to the widow
Littlefield our mother and the Rest to be equally devided between thos parsons
that are short of there part------
And the Land and
marsh on the home side of the River with the dwelling house and saw mill and
out housing with all the priviledges and appertainances there to be loning the
use and benefit there of as followeth that is to say the one third prt to the
widow Littlefield our mother dureing her life and also the use of the west End
of the dwelling house together with the mild house and garden and the other two
thirds to be equaly devided among themselves except those persons namely Josiah
Littlefield william Webb and Josiah winn which have already Recd more than
theire proportion of the Estate and when the incom of the Land housing and mill
shall advance them to be equall with those that have Recd more than there
proporson they and every one of them to advance an equall part with the Rest in
that Estate and if there be any debts due to the Estate of sd Capt John
Littlefield when it is payd 1 third part is to be disposed to the widow and the
other two third parts to be equally devided among the children we have further
agreed that Josiah Littlefield Eliab Littlefield and Samll webber shall Let
sell or dispose of he sd Land housing and mill with those apportainances for
the Use and benefit of the ( ) with the Consent of our mother patience
Littlefield
Signed Sealed and
Delivered
her
In presence of
us
Patience X Littlefield
Samuel Donnell
mark
Cha:
Story Josiah Littlefield
Jos: Hammond
Junr
his
Eliab X Littlefield
Mark
Samuell Webber
Edward Beale
Matthew Austin
his
Josiah X Winn
Mark
her
Joanna X Littlefield
mark
marcy
Lufking"(19)
John Littlefield's inventory, Estate settlement agreement- Page 1 , Page 2 , Page 3 , Page 4
Issue-
· I. John- m. Mehitable ______, will 9 Sept. 1689
· 7II. JOSIAH- m.1.
· III. Eliab- m.
· 9IV.
· V. Deborah- m. 1683, Samuel Webber (b.c.1656, d. 1716),
d. May 1747
· VI. Mary- m. Capt. Matthew Austin (b.c.1658, d. 1718)
· VII. Charity- m. William Webb
· VIII.
· IX. Mercy- m.1. Jacob Lufkin (d. 1700), 2. 1702, Richard Stimson, d. before
Nov. 1708
· X. Patience- m. James Webber (b.c.1666, d. 1729),
living in 1748
· XI. Samuel- m. Joanna ______, d.c.1699 Wells
Ref:
(1) History of Kennebunk
Port- Charles Bradbury, Kennebunk, 1837, pp.32,98
(1a) Mass. Archives- Vol. 3, p.66
(2) Mass. Archives- Vol.3, p.228
(3) History of Wells and Kennebunk- Edward E. Bourne,
LL.D, Portland, 1875, p. 304
(4) Mass. Archives- Vol. 3, p.276
(5) Ibid- Vol. 10, p. 79
(6) Mass. Archives- Vol.3, p.286; Vol.68, p.89
(7) History of Wells and Kennebunk- p.140
(8) Mass. Archives- Vol.69, p.56
(9) Ibid- Vol.69, p.57
(9a) Ibid- Vol. 69, p.159a
(10) History of Wells and Kennebunk- p.185
(11) Ibid- p.184
(12) Mass. Archives- Vol.3, p.344; Vol.36, p.52
(13) Ibid- Vol.11, p.62; History of Wells and Kennebunk-
p.177
(14) History of Wells and Kennebunk- p.205
(15) Ibid- p.208; Mass. Archives- Vol.37, p.84a
(16) Mass. Archives- Vol. 37, p.144
(17) Ibid- p. 259
(18) Ibid- Vol. 11, p.62
(19) York County Probate- No. 11828
Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New
Hampshire- pp.438-9
7II. JOSIAH (FRANCIS 1, EDMUND 2, JOHN 3)
m.1. LYDIA MASTERS (killed by Indians 10 Aug. 1707)
2. Elizabeth Hilton (m.2. 18 Oct. 1716 Malachi Edwards)
killed by Indians 18 Apr. 1712
Josiah was on the grand jury in 1689, 1691, 1695 and in 1697/8 and was forman of the jury in 1701,
constable in 1696.
"Petition of the town
of
May it please your Excellencies, yor Honores & yr Honble House of Representatives
It hath seemed
good to this Great and General Assembly to lay on us as our part of three
several taxes, eighty pounds; thirty whereof was required just upon the bloody
desolation which it pleased God in his Sovreignty to make on our town by the
Eastern enemies last year; in which many of our inhabitants (and they such as
were wont to bear a great part of our public charges) were either murthered or
taken captive, their houses burnt and goods spoiled, besides divers others
escaping with only their clothes on their backs. So that we who are the
Frontier wing of the body of the Frontier towns are most of all impoverished
and diminished. More than a third part of our number are, one way or other,
gone from us; and a great part of us who are left, being destitute of
employment and income, are so exceeding poor, that if the constable, who hath
already used all means more gentle, should execute the law in severity he must
take their bodies. Our straights are every way enlarged. What we did formerly
allow to our minister, which, at best, was but a slender maintenance, we are
not able now to make good, and if country rates be exacted, we have reason to
fear that, do what we can, our minister will be constrained to leave us, he
having already removed his family for want of a convenient dwelling place, his
house being only raised and partly enclosed before the present war. Which to
finish will be impossible for us, if that little (which thanks be to God) is
left us should be taken from us, while we hold our lives in our hands, and when
we should labor in improving our lands; which also excepting what are near
adjoining our garrisons, lye waste, insomuch that what we do or can improve,
will come far short of finding us bread corn. Moreover, instead of adding to
that little which the former war left us, we did, in the short time of
peaceable intermission lay out what might be spared from our backs and mouths,
in building a Meeting House and rebuilding our old waste places and settling
new ones, as also in erecting mills, which are now, before they could in any
measure repay our disbursments, useless and unprofitable. May it therefore
please this Honble assembly to commiserate the distressed condition of your
impoverished and exposed petitioners, groaning under many heavy burdens, enough
to sink us if we now fail of relief, or to remit our above mentioned taxes,
excepting what is granted out of them to our minister; thus humbly praying that
the most favorable construction may be made of our bold importunity, and
whatever else may be found amiss herein, we have not exceeded, but come very
short in representing the hard circumstances of our present calamity. We must
leave our very sad case to the all disposing influences of a gracious God, who
knows the depths of our straights and can move your Excellency, and Hon. Courts
of compassion toward your dutiful servants, who shall ever pray.
John Wheelright
Josiah Littlefield
Joseph Storer Thomas
Boston
Joseph Hill Samuel Hatch
Jonathan Hammond
In behalf of the town of
The General Court ordered one half of the tax
of the preceding year abated and for the next year one quarter.
Josiah and his wife were attacked by Indians
on the east side of
Josiah and his
family were present when Thomas Cole and his wife were killed by an Indian
attack. They were in
Josiah was captured by the Indians on 22 Apr.
1708 and spent two years in
"Dear and
loving children, my kind love remembered to you all, and my kind love to my
brother and sister, and my kind love to all my friends att Wells, and to Mr.
Emery in particular, dasiaring of him prayers for me and for my children,
hoping in God they are in good helth as I am att this present writing, blessed
be God for it. Aprel the 23 I was taken by foer Indans, and may the 3 I arived
att nongonuay (Norridgewock), and from thence to caback (Quebec), and arrived
at caback may the 26 and from thence to Moriel (Montreal), and arrived at
Moriel June the 2, and now I have liberty granted to me to rite to my friends
and to the governor, and for my redemtion and for Wheelrite's child to be
redeemed by two Indens prisoners that are with the English now, and I have been
with the governor this morning and hee have promised that if our governor will
send them that wee shall be redeemed, for the governor have sent a man to
redeem Wheelrites child and do lookes for him in now every day with the child
to Moriel where I am, and I would pray whilrite to be very brief in the matter,
that we may come home before winter, for we must come by Albany, and I have
allso aquainted our Gofnear dedly (Dudley) with the same. no
more at present but remain yours to command.
Josiah Littlefield."(4)
"loving cousen. My kind love remember
to you and to your wife and children and to all my friends, hoping in god that
you and my dear children are all in helth as I am att present. O, I dasiare to
bless god for the same, and I would pray you to be very kind, and a father to
my dear children while I do come home, and so take the care of them and my
estaite to maintain them that they may not sufeare. I would have you not to pay
any deates of mine till I do come home, and I would pray you to rasarve some
quantity of money to gather for mee, for I shall be at a great charge in my
coming home if please god to spare my life and helth, and what money you can
resarve to gether for me let it be silver money, for I must borre some money,
and peaper money would not pass heare, so I would commit the care of all my concearns
into your hands while my return. I am in grate hopes that if please god to
spare me my life and helth that I may be at home by the midst of winter next
ensuing, so I shall dasiare your prayers constant for me, as mine shall be for
you all, so I remain your to command, ever loving onkel til death,
Josiah Littlefield."(5)
"Mary Storrar
is well and Rachel Storar and ______ Storer is well and Mary Austin of
I would pray you ______ Wheelright dear
friends to be mindful in the matter consearning our redemsion. I have riten to
the governer at
Yours to command, Josiah
Littlefield.
This for Capt. John Whelright and Josiah Winn
att Wells.
Deliver with care."(6)
Josiah then wrote the following letter to
Gov. Dudley:
"January 29, 1710
I thought it
convenient to give to his Excellency an account where I am, and how the case
stands with me. I was coming home in the fal, and was taken by a canady Indian
which told me that I must go back to Canady again, and I told him that I
thought I could not by reason of sickness in my journey, and he told me that he
would kill me, and was a Indian that longing to Norigway, and I spoke to him to
plead for me, that I might remain at Norrigway al winter, and with much
persuading he sold me to a Indian belonging to Norrigway, which has nursed me
and have recovered me, and have promised him payment for the love he bare to me
in that respect, for he has been like a father to me, and now he is very
willing that I should come home, if your Excellency would give leave that a
sloop may come to Sacaty Hock, and to send Joseph Bane, for they have a desire
to come to speak together, and they would have no other man than Joseph Bane to
come for they reckons it all one as though your own person was there, if Joseph
bane be living, and if not some other good onest man.
So I remain your humble sarvent, hoping that you will take pity on me.
Josiah Littlefield
And to send but three men be side Joseph Bane
in the slop.
And after the arrival of this letter, the slope to Sacaty
Hock in fifteen days."(7)
Josiah went with
his Indian master and two other Indians to the fort at
"Jan. 29, 1709/10
Capt Moodey after
my love to you, I would pray you to make these Indians very welcome for one is
my master, thearefore be kind to them and if you can, send to me an old Cote,
and a peare of stocknes, and a litel tob(aco), if it be but a pound or two.
No mor but remaine
yours to command
Josiah Lettelfeild
or Cap larbe for Cap Moodey or Cap larby."(8)
Josiah seems to have made large promises for
his ransom as he sent the following to his friend Thomas Barber in
"Jan. 29, 1709/10
Cozen Barba: After
my love to you and al my frinds I have sent a leter to the governor that a slop
may come to Sacot Hoss and I would pray you to send me this goods which I set
down- two hogsets of meale and one hogsits of corn and one hogsits of pase and ten
yards of brodcloth of a sad color. ten yeards blue brodclith and a pes of Coten
and vearey fine lase for theare cotes golovene of 2 & 3 sorts 4 yards of
rid silk and a pes of holen verey fine and a cote of drovet and 4 peare of
Shoes frinch fales 1 dusens of knives and a bras cetel of two galens and a
caster hat and two spoones and one pes of cloth for sherts two beariels of
Sider one brel of beare and 15 Galens of rome and thred and silk for the making
and one dusen of braslets and some fine Shov bucles and two large haths and two
cheses and a good hansome scmie spoune and I would pray you to send me a good
sute of close and stocknes shouse and hat and tel Mr gugch that if he will
Joyne hear is beavr anouf.
Pray fulfil this papr and in so doing you will
oblige your frind
Josiah Lettelfeild
for Mr Thomas barber Att
The buying of a
prisoner from his captor was strictly forbidden by the governor who felt that
if this started there would be a ready market for frontier captives. Because of
this Moody did not send the letter to Barber, but he did forward Littlefield's
letter to the governor which was read before the legislature.
"Casco 27 Jan 1709/10-
May it please yr Excellency.
This morning appeard three Indians upon ye
Hill behind us wth a flag of truce: One of them came forward and left a letter
upon ye fence which is here inclosed.
They wr hardly
psuaded to tarry at all after ye delivery of ye letter (being, as they said)
ordered to ye contrary by yr Sagamore, but in find upon ye promise of a pipe of
Tobacco wr prevailed wth to discourse abt Six Minutes & told Leut Bean in
short ye they of Kennebeck had been quiet above a year, and designed to
remainso, but withal cautiond him to be very carefull, for they beleivd ye
French Indians would be abroad & do all ye Mischeif they could- They also
intimated to him yt yr was a party of them near, & yt Leut Littlefield of
Wells was with them, & yt ye reason of their comeing at this time was som
great News they had at Canada, & yt if I would write to yr Excellency they
would tarry in these parts till they had an Answer to ye Inclosed, & so
went off in hast-
Leut Bean will be Able to give yr Excellency A more pticular acct. We are in extreme want of good whale
Boats I would humbly pray yr Excellency to order us two or three
Ye Next Conveyance- And if I may be Any wayes serviceable in this affair, I should chearfully
reveiue your Excellency's Orders, & indeavr a strict complyance wth them.
I am yr Excellency's most humble & obedt
Servt. Sam Moodey
To His Exellency Joseph Dudley Esq. Governr
Captain Benll & Comandd in Chief of Her Majtys Province of ye Massachusetts
&c In Boston
These p Leut Bean wth all speed"(10)
Feb. 3, 1709/10-
"Sr
Honest Bean is with mee with your Letters
& returns with Instructions to proceed to Sagadahock for the releif of
Litlefeild & to hear what the Indians will say
Hill brings him in
his sloop with four whaleboats for your service you must take great care in
their dispatch & return as soon as may be & let them be nothing sent
said, nor done but what you have my Express orders for the business with Those
Rogues is no Nice & of such Importance, that nobody must Insert themselves
into it.
I am your servant J. Dudley
Send Bean either in the sloop or whaleboat as
you think best."(11)
Before Bean was ready to sail the governor
received a letter from Robert Pike outlining the "purchase" of Josiah
from the Indians:
"To Capt Benj Larriby, Canso ye 6: of
January 1709/10.
Worthy Sr:
These are to
Informe you that this Morning the Indians Came with a flag of truce & 3
letters from Mr. Littlefield who Gives an a count yt as he was Cuming from
Cannada ye last fall he was stopt by a Cannade Indian and afterwards sold to a
Norigewok Indean who has Kept him there this winter far better than he Could
Expect & to Recompence him got his won liberty & Supply there great
want which we sopose thay are nor In has sent to pray ye Governor to Send a
Sloop to Sackelipook with Leutnt Poare & onely 3 men More he has allso sent
to a Gentle Man in Boston to Send down 2 Hogseds of Corn 2 of Meal 1 or 2 of
Pease 150 wait of Tobaccl Sider Bear Cloth Shews & many other things within
15 days & thay will be there to meet ym att ye time appointed wee Could
have but very little Discourse with ym for thay would Cum not a step nearer yn
ye Hill thay say thay have lyen still above a Year and porpose to doe no more
Mischeif but bid us have care of ye Cannede Indeans thay allso say there is
great News att Cannade but will not tel what it is. This is all Needful att present
with Due Respects to all friend
from Yours to serve
Robt Pike
For Captn Benjm Larraby To
be left att Mrs Mary Gefferses in Lin"(12)
"
Sr
Your Letter came
to me by Bean & Inclosed a Lettr from Littlefield, Whereupon
the Assembly Sitting Advised me to proceed to Send Bean in a Sloop to
Sagadahock to releive Littlefield, & to hear what the Indians would Say-
But before his
Departure we are Surprized by a Lettr from Yor Fort Signed Robert Pike that
Tells us of other Letters from Littlefield, Importing ye Sending of Hoggsheads
of corne, Meale, pease, Clothes, Shoes &c of which you have given me no
Advice, hereupon by the Advice of the Council & Assembly, I hav withdrawn
my Orders to your selfe & Bean & ye Instructions as being not well
Informed how to proceed for want of those papers, & yor further Letters of
what you know.
This will delay my
Resolutions, & may be a great hurt to the Service, if the Indns in the mean
time Shew themselves you must Insist upon the Delivery of Littlefield without
any purchase but that upon his Delivery to you, if they will Tell you what they
would have me know from them, you will carefully Report it to me and give them
my Answer in Twenty days-
You must keep Bean to Interpreat, & send
some other good Courageable fellow Express with your Letters with all possible
speed.
Yor Servt
J Dudley"(13)
Bean was therefore sent to
Moody wrote to the governor concerning this
matter:
"Casco 11th Febry 1709/10
May it please yr Excellency
This day Leut Bean
returned wth yr Excellency's letter, I am heartily sorry yt
my inadvertency should occasion ye delay of ye Excellencys designs & prove
hurtful in any measure to ye intended service.
The inclosed
letters came wth ye other from Leut Littlefield wch I confess I ought before to
have given advice of, & must beg yr Excellency's pardon for my neglect in yt Matter. Yet withall (being greatly astonished wth advice
I have now from Boston as if I wr suspected of ill designs in concealing ye
letter to Barber, yt a private trade wth ym) I do sollemnly protest to yr
Excellency (& before God I be not) yt design was only to prevent its
comeing into ye hands of private psons who might send them supply's wth out yr
Excellency's Knowledge; & yt I have never designed any such think, or so
much as entertained a thought of it, as well knowing how displeaseing it would
be to yr Excellency, & injurious to my country, in whose Service I have
ever indeavoured to be faithfull, & hope, if by providence I wr called to
it, I should not account my life dear. I have now sent yr Excellence ye whole
truth of all yt I know. No Indians have appeared sone
Let Bean left us, but I psume are yet in ye Bay or places adjacent one of yr
Cannoes being discovoured near Jewells Island by a Fisherman yt came in here
about eight days since. I am
Yr Excellency's most humble & Obedit
Servant
Sammll Moodey"(14)
The governor wrote back to Moody on 15 Feb.:
"
Sr
I have now your
second letter enclosing two other from Leutenant Littlefield, that, to you is
of no Importance, the other to Barbar, referring to provisions and Goods to be
sent to Sagadahock &c, I always pitty a prisoner in Indian hands,
especially when their Masters are Indigent, & in Necessity of Everything,
but no Circumstance of that nature has yet altered my resolution, (never to buy
a prisoner of an Indian) least we make a market for our poor weomen &
children in the frontiers.
The business of
seeing them at Sagadahock (being Entangled with that
Expectation of a Trade with Barbar) is perfectly over and will admit of no
further consideration.
If they were in
Earnest to release Litlefeild or hope for any thing from mee, they will Come
again, & then you will Exactly follow your orders of the fourth of february
to Insist upon the delivery of Litlefeild, & to tell you their Errand to
mee, & they shall have my answer in twenty dayes & for the future
whatever happens, never do, nor send, nor say anything but what you have my
orders for, & never hide any think tho it seem to be of the Least
Importance, let mee alwayes know it, you may threat them civilly to get some
knowledge of their affayrs, but keep your superiority, & distance as
serving this Government & Express to mee as often as any thing occurs.
The General
Assembly are yet sitting to whom I have communicated your last letter, they are
sensible of your mistake in keeping back those two letters, and are well
assured it shall be otherwise for the future.
I am Sr your humble servant
J. Dudley
Read in Council
& sent to ye Representatives"(15)
Josiah's scheme
for his release was frustrated by red tape and his disappointed Indian master
took him back to Norridgewock. Moody evidently did not consider the plan by
Josiah to buy his freedom as important enough for the governor to know about
it. By not reporting this plan to the Governor, Moody was protecting his friend
and others from possible prosecution.
After three or
four months the Indians concluded to trust the governor to do what was right in
20 days after Josiah was released and so they brought him back and released him
at the fort. On 10 July the Indians came to the fort stating that the French
were very angry on account of Littlefield being released,
and that they now had no dealings with them and asked for a supply of
provisions:
"Casco 20th July 1710
May it please yr Excellency
I gave yr
Excellency an Acct in my last p Serg. Hilton of ye
Indians being here ye day before my Arrival and ye treatmt they met withal.
Yesterday ye 19th Instant A great number of them appeard (I suppose near 50)
who, they said, came from all quarters, Pigwockett, & Penobscut as well as
Kennebeck- They pretended much sorroe for ye mischeif ye Indians had done upon
ye frontiers, wch they had warned us of in ye Spring, & promised to give
advice of ye Motions & designe from time to time; & withal complaind of
ye Fishermens unfair treatment of them under a flagg of truce, & gave us ye
Same Relation of ye Matter wch yr Excellency had from Piscataqua.
Mr Littlefields
Master was ye man yt came to us, & told Leut Bean The ffrench were very
Angry with them for bringing Littlefield to our Fort, & haveing now no
Comerce wth them, were come for a Supply from ye English According to yr
Excellency's promist in yr Letter sent Mr. Littlefield yt they might freely
come hither at Any time & be civilly treated.
They have heard by
some Captives yt 4 of Maquas were gone to
They plead as
formerly, yr desire of Lying still if they would have a Supply, otherwise they
could not live, but must return to ye French, & seemd much disgusted yt no
more notice was taken of ym; pticularly Littlefds master, who thought he
deserved a reward for his pains in going round ye country to bring ye Indians
hither. I replyd to ym yt they had no reason to
complain of their treatment here: and as to trade & supplying them wth
Provision (wch they earnestly beggd for) I would forthwith send to know your
Excellency's pleasure & they might expect An Answer in ten or fifteen
dayes.-
I psume they are
very needy, yet dont seem to abate Any thing of yr
lofty imperious temper, & act as if they hopd for a Complyance wth yr
Excellency upon yr own Terms. I would humbly pray yr Excellency's Answer &
pticular directions in my Farther treatmt of them.
I am Yr Excellencys most humble & obedt
Servant
Samll Moodey."(16)
After the death of
his father, Josiah was to assume the estate during the lifetime of his mother
and for a short time afterwards. During his captivity Josiah's children and all
his estate were put under the care of Josiah Winn, who married
"An Inventory of the Estate of Josiah
Littlefield Deceased....................................... £.....s.....d
To Lands Meadows with a sawmill and other buildings upon sd
land prised at 180=00=00
To the old place with sawmill and buildings
.. 90=00=00
and the land meadow and mill wth rights at the Little River
90=00=00
To three of oxen
015=00=00
To 8 Cows
.. 022=00=00
To 1 horse and furniture
..
010=00=00
To 1 horse and furniture
..
003=00=00
To two Steers of 3 years old
..
. 006=10=00
To 5 Cattell of 1 yeare old
... 007=10=00
To 5 Calves
...
002=00=00
To 7 Swine of a yeare old
..
. 002=10=00
To 6 small swine
..
002=00=00
To Carpenters tools
.
... 004=00=00
To ox takling and Chayns
.. 004=10=00
To 1 Cart and wheels hoop and boxes...
.. 003=10=00
To Iron work for gristmill
..
. 015=00=00
To ( ) and takling
...
..
000=10=00
To 3 guns
...
.. 005=00=00
To 1 Rapier and belt
..
. 000=16=00
To wearing Cloaths
020=00=00
To 2 fether beds with furniture
...
.. 030=00=00
To 2 fether beds more with blankets
..
. 010=00=00
To 6 paire of sheets
.
.. 006=00=00
To 4 pillo Cases
..
000=16=00
To table Linning
.
001=10=00
To household stuf 1 warming pan
..
. 000=15=00
To 1 old bras kettle full of holes
..
000=16=00
To 1 old bras skellet
.. 000=04=00
To 1 Iron pot with hooks and tramel
.
. 001=10=00
To 1 Iron kettle and tramel
...
001=00=00
1 pare of ( ) Iron
.
000=18=00
1 paire of handirons and tongs
..
. 000=12=00
To 2 tankes and a quart
..
. 000=17=00
To 5 platters
.. 001=05=00
To 3 platters
.. 001=00=00
To 3 basons
..
000=10=00
To 1 bible
.. 000=10=00
To 4 Chests
..
000=16=00
To 1 ( )
.
.. 000=16=00
To 1 box
000=02=00
To 5 old Chaires
..
000=10=00
To 1 table
...
.. 000=07=00
Mrs Elisabeth
Littlefield administratrix of the Estate of the within named Josiah Littlefield
personally appearing before me the subscriber Judg of Probate of Wils &ct
for Said County of yorke made oath to the truth of the within Inventory and if
any thing more hereafter shall come to her knowledge she will give it in to the
Registers office Mr Jonathan Hammond and Daniel Littlefield within named
appeared and made oath they did apprise the within Estate at the Just value to
the best of their Judgment.
Ichabod Plaisted"(17)
Inventory of Josiah Littlefield's Estate- Page 1, , Page 2
During his
guardianship Winn had supplied Josiah's saw mill with various pieces of
machinery necessary for its operation. As it was now obvious that no peaceful
settlement was going to be reached he removed from the mill all the articles he
had supplied. Josiah's brother Eliab along with Samuel Webber
who had leased to him their part of the mill, took away the water wheel, crank,
and other materials which he had supplied. Thus a war began between all the
parties interested in the estate which Bourne in his history of the town states
was "without a parallel in the history of
Eliab and Webber
called upon
Malachi Edwards
was a witness for
Winn then sued
Edwards alone, for some trespass but he was unsuccessful. Winn then appealed.
He then sued Edwards and Elizabeth for trespass on his land adjoining
Winn sued Edwards,
recovered judgment, Edwards appealed. Edwards again sued Winn, but was
unsuccessful.
At length the
children and others entered into the fray. Jacob Perkins was criminally
prosecuted for swearing. Edwards was fined £ 10 while
constable for ordering Judge Hill to stand guard over a prisoner. Winn was
fined for swearing at the court while intoxicated. Jacob Perkins was prosecuted
for the very serious offense of striking a negro on
the head with an axe.
Henry Gorges who
owned the fee in the mill and farm (Josiah being simply lessee under him), came
in and claimed the property, brought his suit, and recovered the possession, so
the principal cause of the quarrel ended. However, the strife went on.
"York At a
Court of Probate held at Wells within & for ye county of York by the Honble
John Wheelwright Esq. Judge of Probate for sd County Janr 15 1733 Messrs
Richard Milbery Nathan Bartlet Joseph Chadbourn Tobias Leighton and John
Morrall junr who were appointed to make a division & distribution of the
Estate of Josiah Littlefield Decd. With theIsues and Proffitts thereof since ye
death of sd Deceased making a Return of their Proceedings therein and having
made oath thereunto it is ordered & decreed that the division of ye real
Estate to and amongst ye widow and chldren of ye said Josiah Littlefield
Deceased be and hereby is approved and allowed according to ye return or report
of ye commissioners aforsd appointed for that purpose and as to ye isues &
proffitts of ye said deceaseds Estate it is ordered and decreed that the
additionall and ( ) of administration now exhibited by Elizabeth Edwards
Administratrix to said Estate amounting to ye sum of five pounds Nineteen
shillings & four pence & the accot of Jacob Perkins of his charges
& ( ) about ye division or distribution of sd Estae & amounting to
fifty two pounds six shillings and two pence be and are hereby allowed to be
paid out of the Profitts of said Estate and the remainder of ye isues &
proffitts of said Estate being five hundred forty five pounds & four
shillings which I order & decree shall be paid & distributed as follows
vizt. To ye said Elisabeth Edwards formerly ye widow of ye said Josiah
Littlefield Decd. One third part thereof beoing one hundred eight pounds
fourteen shillings and eight pence and whereas John Littlefield ye elder son of
sd deceasd has recd of the administratrix fifteen
pounds of ye personall estate of sd decd. And has had ye use and Improvement of
a considerable part of ye little River farm for about nine years past the same
is & shall be accounted in full satisfaction for his share as aforesd And
whereas Lidia Littlefield another of ye children of said decd. Has recd. Of ye adminx. Of said estate ten Pounds two shillings &
four pence I order & decree yt the administratrix pay to her thirty five
pounds six shillings & four pence which makes up ye whole of her share of
ye Issues & proffitts of said Estate and whereas Sarah Clark another of ye
children of sd Deced. Has recd. Of ye adminx. Twenty
three pounds six shillings & ten pence out of said Estate I order &
decree that ye adminx. Pay to her twenty two pounds one shillings and ten pence
in full of her single share of ye Issues &
proffitts aforesd. And whereas Elisabeth Goodale another of ye children of said
deceased has recd. Of ye administratrix out of said estate twenty one pounds
nine shillings & four pence I order and decree that ye administratrix pay to
her twenty three pounds nineteen shillings and four pence which is in full of
her share as aforsd. And I order and decree that ye said administratrix shall
pay out of the Issues and Proffitts of ye said Estate unto Anna Perkins another
of ye children of sd deceased ye sum of forty five pounds eight shillings and
eight pence being her single share of the Issues and Proffitts aforesaid and to
Ester Credeford another of ye children of sd deceased ye sum of forty five
pounds eight shillings & eight pence being her single share of the Issues
& proffitts of the said Estate.
John Wheelwright
Wells Janr ye 15th
1733 upon reading the foregoing decree in the hearing of ye parties concernd
Malachi Edwards & Elisabeeth his wife Claimed an appeal from ye same
concerning ye whole distribution of said estate to ye Governour & Councill
which is granted.
John Littlefield also Claimd an appeal from
ye said decree to ye governour & Councill in manner as aforesd."(19)
Division of Josiah Littlefield's Estate-
Page 1, Page 2
Letter of administration Malachi
Edward's request for an appeal of the previous division- Page 1, Page 2, Page 3 John Littlefield's request for an appeal- Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4
The feud went on
until the middle of the century and comprised 40 to 50 suits and criminal
prosecutions between the principal parties, their descendants and friends.
Finally, all the heirs united in a suit against Edwards and wife to recover the
sum of £ 120 which had previously been decided by the court to
be due from them (see above) but which they refused to pay. Edwards and
Elizabeth appealed. Jacob Perkins, Joseph Crediford, James Clark, Zachariah
Goodale, Eliab Littlefield and others were drawn into the war. On 18 July 1739
while Edwards was working on his marsh, Jacob Perkins, George Jacobs Jr., and
John Jacobs attacked him, dragged him to a pond, forced him below the water
into the mud while Jacob Perkins ran for his pitchfork to run him through.
However, Edwards' son Joshua arrived and drove them away. The curses showered
upon Edwards were quite profuse as shown by Joshua's deposition. The battle did
not stop there as between 1710 and 1750 one or more suits were brought almost
yearly by some members of the family.(20)
Issue- first 7 children by first wife, last 2 by second. all born or baptized in
Wells.
· II. Anna- bpt. 28 June 1702, m.
17 Oct. 1717 Jacob Perkins
· III. John- b. 7 Apr. 1695, m. 27 Oct. 1714 Sarah Stimson
· IV. Nathaniel- b. 3 June 1697, bpt.
29 May 1698
· V. Peter- bpt. 28 June 1702, m. Abigail ______
· 8VI. ESTHER- b. 1 Feb. 1703/4, bpt. 30 Apr. 1704, m. JOSEPH (2) CREDIFORD
(b. 16 Feb. 1693/4), d. 1793
· VII.
· VIII. Sarah- bpt. 30 Sept. 1711,
m. James Clark
· IX.
· X. Samuel Cole- bpt. 12 July 1702, adopted son
· XI. Elizabeth Cole- bpt. 12
July 1702, adopted daughter
Ref:
(1) History of Wells and
Kennebunk- Edward E. Bourne, LL.D, Portland, 1875, p. 256, Mass. Archives-
Vol.3, pp.405-6
(2) Mass. Archives- Vol.70, p.280
(3) History of Wells and Kennebunk- p.288
(4) Ibid- p.268
(5) Ibid
(6) Ibid
(7) Collections of the Maine Historical Society- second
series, Vol.9, p.276; Mass. Archives- Vol.51, pp.181-2a
(8) Collections of the Maine Historical Society- second
series, Vol.9, p.277; Mass. Archives- Vol.71, p.616
(9) Ibid
(10) Ibid- pp.274-5
(11) Ibid- p.289
(12) Ibid- pp.273-4
(13) Ibid- pp.289-90
(14) Ibid- p.290
(15) Ibid- p.292
(16) Ibid- pp.302-3
(17) York County Probate- No. 11861
(18) History of Wells and Kennebunk- p.338
(19)York Co. Probate- No. 11861
(20) Ibid- pp.336-42; see Mass. Archives- Vol. 42, pp. 3-21
Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New
Hampshire- pp.439-40
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