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Edmund Littlefield

Edmund Littlefield[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15]

Male 1592 - 1661  (69 years)


Personal Information    |    Media    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Edmund Littlefield 
    Birth 1592  Titchfield, Hampshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 13, 14] 
    Gender Male 
    Baptism 27 Jun 1592  Titchfield, Hampshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 7, 10, 16] 
    Emigration Abt 1637  [1, 17] 
    Event 1639  Exeter Plantation, British America Find all individuals with events at this location  [18, 19, 20, 21, 22] 
    signed
    the Exeter Combination 
    • Role: Signer
    Fidelity Oath 5 Jul 1653  [16] 
    to Massachusetts Bay Colony
    Freeman 5 Jul 1653  Wells, Norfolk, Massachusetts Bay, British America Find all individuals with events at this location  [4, 23] 
    Will 11 Dec 1661  [4, 16, 24, 25, 26] 


    •      The last will & Testament of Edmund Littlefejld Decembr 11 : 61 :
           First I bequeath my soule to god Almighty, & I bequeath my body to the earth from whence I came/
           I bequeath vnto Francis Littlefejld my Elldest sun, & Anthony Littlefejld, & Elizabeth Wakefejld my daughter, all the whoole Tract of Land lijng of the North East side of Kenebunke with the Falls togeather witha Certen quantity of Marsh lijng vp In the woods, betweene Cape Porpus River, & Kenebunke, which is specifyd In two deeds, granted by Mr Geo : Cleeue Agent of Mr Rygby, which is now come into the Goverment of Mr Gorges, Proprietor of the Prouince of Mayne/ Which Land & Marsh shall bee æqually devided amongst those three aboue specifyd/
           I giue vnto Francis Littlefejld Senjor 10s to bee pd out of my goods/
           I giue vnto Anthony Littlefejld all my weareing Cloaths/
           I giue vnto Elizabeth Wakefejld 5s to bee pd out of my goods/
           I giue vnto my 3 executors Namely Annas Littlefejld, My wife, & Thoms Littlefejld, & Fran : Littlefejld my youngest sun all my vpland & Marsh att home which is not disposd, & that which I bought of my sun Anthony, & alsoe yt which I bought 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 æqually deuided amongst those 3 executors, onely the Yland that lyeth on the South side of Webbhannett River, If the sd Thos & Francis Littlefejld Junjor do both of them pay to Annas my wife foure bushs of Corne yearely for 7 yeares, then my wife shall haue nothing to do with Itt, otherwise if they do not performe that yearely, then my wife shall haue pouer to lett it to others, & to expell them quitte out of it all/
           And likewise my sun Thoms & Fran : Littlefejld shall pay vnto my wife eight bushs of wheate yearely, for ye Corne Mill, if they will not yn my wife shall haue pouer to lett it to any other, & expell them out of it/ And my wife shall haue her third part of the Marsh, that lyeth on the South East side of Webbhannett River; And if soe bee yt Fran : Littlefejld & Thomas Littlefejld, & Fran : Littlefejld my youngest sun bee loueing & helpfull to yr mother my wife, then they shall haue all after her desease, otherwise if they bee not loueing & helpefull to her shee shall haue pouer to dispose of itt, wr shee thinkes good herselfe/
           I giue vnto my daughter Mary Barrett, and to my daughter Hannah Littlefejld fiueteene pounds a peece to bee pd with in 3 years, fiue pounds a peece yearely, till it bee payd/ I do giue vnto all my grandchildren fiue shillings a peece Wn they come at age/
           I give vnto my sun John Littlefejld Tenn pounds, to bee payd out of ye fourty pounds which hee is to pay for his purchase att Ogunquett/
           Alsoe the 3 executors, Namely Annas my wife, & Tho : & Fran : Littlefejld shall haue pouer to recover & receaue all debts/ And those 3 executors shall pay all debts dues & demands, & all portions Legacys & gyfts, which is here specifyd; My suns Tho : & Fran : Littlefejld Iunjor, is to Improue & till the ground, & thejre mother my wife shall haue the third part of the Corne/
           I giue vnto my wife 6 or 7 Acers 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 fullfilled/
      Testes/ Edmund Littlefejlds
           Ezekell Knights/
           Jos : Bowles/ /
       owne hand/ ѵ ̸۱/ /
       / ⁽/ ⸍
    Death 11 Dec 1661  Wells, Norfolk, Massachusetts Bay, British America Find all individuals with events at this location  [3, 9, 10, 13, 14, 17, 25] 
    Inventory 24 Dec 1661  [4, 17, 27] 
    totalling £588: 13: 4
    President From 9 Jul 1850 to 4 Mar 1853  United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [15, 28, 29, 30] 
    13th
    Millard Fillmore
    • Role: Ancestor
    President From 2 Aug 1923 to 4 Mar 1929  United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [15, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38] 
    30th
    Calvin Coolidge
    • Role: Ancestor
    Occupation saw/grist millman  [1, 39]
    Person ID I776  Duane's Ancestors
    Last Modified 17 Jan 2020 

    Father Francis Littlefield,   b. Abt 1565, Exeter, Devonshire, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 21 Oct 1618, Titchfield, Hampshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 53 years) 
    Mother Mary ________,   b. Abt 1564, Exeter, Devonshire, England Find all individuals with events at this locationbur. 29 Oct 1605, Titchfield, Hampshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 41 years) 
    Marriage 1591  Titchfield, Hampshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [40, 41] 
    Church:
    St. Peter's Church
    Family ID F2545  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Annis Austin,   b. 1596/7, Titchfield, Hampshire, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1677/8, Wells, Norfolk, Massachusetts Bay, British America Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 81 years)  [9, 10, 13, 14] 
    Marriage 16 Oct 1614  Titchfield, Hampshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 7, 10, 41] 
    Children 
     1. Ann Littlefield   bur. 2 Jan 1616/7, Titchfield, Hampshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location
     2. Edward Littlefield   bur. 13 Jun 1635, Titchfield, Hampshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location
    +3. Francis Littlefield, Sr.,   b. Abt 1619, Titchfield, Hampshire, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Nov 1712, Wells, York, Massachusetts Bay, British America Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 93 years)
    +4. Anthony Littlefield   d. Jul 1662
    +5. Capt. John Littlefield, Sr.,   b. Abt 1624, Titchfield, Hampshire, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 9 Feb 1696/7, Wells, York, Massachusetts Bay, British America Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 73 years)
     6. Elizabeth Littlefield,   b. Abt 1627, Titchfield, Hampshire, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1661, Wells, Norfolk, Massachusetts Bay, British America Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 34 years)
     7. Mary Littlefield,   b. Abt 1630
    +8. Thomas Littlefield,   b. Abt 1633, Titchfield, Hampshire, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Abt 1689 (Age ~ 56 years)
     9. Hannah Littlefield,   b. Abt 1633, Titchfield, Hampshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location
    +10. Ens. Francis Littlefield, Jr.,   b. Abt 1635/6, Titchfield, Hampshire, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 6 Feb 1674/5, Wells, York, Massachusetts Bay, British America Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 39 years)
    Family ID F2543  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 4 Apr 2020 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 1592 - Titchfield, Hampshire, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBaptism - 27 Jun 1592 - Titchfield, Hampshire, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 16 Oct 1614 - Titchfield, Hampshire, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsEvent - signed,the Exeter Combination  - 1639 - Exeter Plantation, British America Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsFreeman - 5 Jul 1653 - Wells, Norfolk, Massachusetts Bay, British America Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 11 Dec 1661 - Wells, Norfolk, Massachusetts Bay, British America Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsPresident - 13th,Millard Fillmore - From 9 Jul 1850 to 4 Mar 1853 - United States Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsPresident - 30th,Calvin Coolidge - From 2 Aug 1923 to 4 Mar 1929 - United States Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Photos
    Webhannet River, Littlefield mill sight    		Webhannet River, Littlefield mill sight
    Mill sight plaque    		Mill sight plaque

    Coats of Arms
    coa_littlefield2.jpg    		coa_littlefield2.jpg
    Littlefield Coat of Arms    		Littlefield Coat of Arms

  • Notes 

    • Edmund Littlefield, born in Exeter, England about 1591, married Annis Austin in Titchfield, England on October 16, 1614. He was a clothier by trade as was his father before him. The decline of the wool trade probably played a major part in his decision to emigrate. He came to this country from Titchfield in 1636 or 1637, probably at the same time as the Rev. John Wheelright, for he was one of his parishoners at Exeter, New Hampshire in 1639, and was one of the combination to whom twenty-one acres of land was assigned. In 1638 he sent to England for his family, and on May 16 of that year his wife Annis and six children took passage for Boston in the "Bevis" of Hampton, Capt. Townes.

      The Rev. John Wheelright, owing to a religious controversy precipitated by the teachings of Anne Hutchinson, left Exeter and later went to Wells, Maine. Many of his parishioners went with him, and among them Edmund Littlefield, who in 1641, leaving Exeter, went to Wells, Maine, where he was one of the first settlers. He was supposed to have built the first house, a sawmill and grist mill. He was deeded a lot of land by Sir Ferdinand Gorges in 1643, and was a leading spirit in organizing the town and promoting its development. He was on the grand jury in 1645, and it is said was the richest man in Wells. He and his sons were millmen and farmers. He was of fearless enterprise and sound moral principle. On account of this firm, moral character, he was appointed by the governor of Massachusetts agent for the sale of liquors in Wells, it being then of the utmost importance that great discretion should be used in the distribution to the Indians. He was one of the committee to settle the boundary between Wells and Cape Porpoise, and was elected by the people for the years 1654, 1655, 1658, 1660 and 1661 to try small cases. He died in December, 1661.

      Edmund Littlefield was the first man appointed to "keep an ordinarie," the name given to the taverns. Tavern keepers were selected for their intelligence, their ability to inform people of interesting happenings, and because they were capable to assume such an office of trust. All were licensed to sell intoxicating liquors. From time to time, others built such taverns, or ordinaries. These were scattered over the town, some of which are listed in old records, others no doubt simply vanishing with many of the "lost" recordings of the past. A few whose names have been preserved, and commonly known as "keepers, " include Nathaniel Kimball, John Cheater, James Littlefield (who had both tavern and garrison at Batcomb [Moody] ), Moses Littlefield, Nicholas Littlefield (his tavern was at Maryland Ridge), and the well known Jefferds Tavern built in Wells, by Simon Jefferds, later remodeled by his son William, and in recent years sold to the Old York Landmarks, Inc., and moved to York Village where it may be seen today.

      Women were also very capable tavern keepers as is illustrated by the one known as the Widow Lydia Littlefield Tavern. This one was built on Maryland Ridge in 1812 by her husband, Joseph - a direct descendant of the pioneer Edmund. Mrs. Lydia (Pattern) Littlefield when left a widow turned to serving the public with food, drink and lodging (1827). This tavern of old is standing as a beautiful remodelled estate. Matthew Lindsay built his tavern about 1799 on the highway just above the present Wells Corner.

      The most popular of the beverages sold at the taverns was flip - a drink prepared from beer or ale and rum, sweetened by adding sugar or molasses, then the mixture was warmed by thrusting a red hot iron (sometimes a fire poker) into the mug. Another drink was toddy which was made from rum and water sweetened and warmed in the same manner as the flip. Other drinks included rum, cider, brandy and ale. In the early tavern years coffee and tea were not available. The first coffee in Wells has been recorded as in the early 1700s. There is a record price in 1768 of the drinks that were served (these seemed to be popular prices of the day) as follows: 1/2 mug toddy - 2s 6d; 1 mug flip - 5s; 1/2 mug flip - 2s 6d; 1 mug cider - 1s. Two other drinks
      have been previously mentioned - perry and metheglin.

      The taverns were the scene of many an important business transaction. Even the Courts were held at certain taverns. The patrons' comfort was the prime concern of the owner. For example: in the kitchen of the Widow Lydia Littlefield Tavern there were two large hooks which supported a long pole on which the wet clothing of the guests might be dried. Quite often the landlord was faced with the problem of room, and when this occurred, he thought nothing of asking his guest to share a bed with another, or possibly two or three weary travelers. Quoting from the early Court record passages which pertain to the "ordinaries" - "1659 July 4, Ordinary License granted to William Hammonds." Again in 1664, September 13, "Lycence granted to Francis Littlefield, Sr. to keep an ordinary - Granted same Liberty of haveing a tavern."

      About the lawsuit of 1635/6, which named Edmund and Nicholas as defendants:

      The amount in the lawsuit seems to be 16 pounds. The lawsuit had something to do with Edmund buying some wool and not paying for it. His brother, Nicholas, also named in the lawsuit did reply to the effect that he didn't know anything about it and that Edmund did the buying. Came to New England in abt 1636, probaly with his two eldest sons. His wife and six children followed on the Bevis in May of 1638, with servants John Knight and Hugh Durdal. His name appears on a paper for the purpose of government in Exeter, NH, signed on 5 Jun 1639. he was granted 21 acres of land there. He moved to Wells, ME around 1640/41. There is a plaque in Wells, ME stating that his saw and gristmill were the first permanent structures in the town. The plaque is next to the Webhannet Falls on the site of his mill. On 14 July 1643, he was granted 100 acres adjacent to the mill and the neck of the marsh between that and Webhannet River. In Nov 1645, he and John Wadleigh were granted 200 acres on Southwest side of the Ogunquit River, not intrenching on town of Wells.

  • Sources 
    1.  1.  [S18] Salisbury and Amesbury, 575, 00466.

    2.  2.  [S144] Mass & Maine Families, Vol. 2, 480, 00368.

    3.  3.  [S65] First Settlers of New England, Vol. 3., 100, 00192.

    4.  4.  [S103] The Pioneers of Maine and New Hampshire, 128, 00539.

    5.  5.  [S404] Wakefield Memorial, 117, 00616.

    6.  6.  [S634] Genealogy of the Wells Family, 109, 00236.

    7.  7.  [S988] Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire, 437, 00218.

    8.  8.  [S894] New England Captives, 39, 00890.

    9.  9.  [S1151] Ancestors of American Presidents, 515, 01001.

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