USA > Maine > Genealogical and family history of the state of Maine, Volume I > Part 25
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(IV) Thomas (3), son of Thomas (2) Per- ley, was born at East Boxford, February 22, 1704-5; died September 28, 1795; married September 20, 1731, Eunice Putnam, his step- sister, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth ( Por- ter) Putnam, and sister of General Putnam, of revolutionary fame. She was born April 13, 1710, died February 2, 1787, at East Box- ford. He inherited the Cleaveland farm in 1745, and built a house on the homestead. He was a leading patriot during and before the revolution ; was on the committee of January 21. 1773, to consider the crisis ; in 1776 on the committee to pay soldiers, and on the commit- tee of safety and correspondence ; later a dele- gate to the state convention to frame a con- stitution ; moderator of town meetings 1755- 59-61-63-65-68-70-72-73 ; fence viewer ; hog- reeve; constable : tithingman ; warden; sur- veyor; selectman and assessor 1747-54-57-60- 61-66; town clerk 1752-57 ; treasurer 1742-51. His daughter Huldah, born February 13, 1731-32, under her father's will, had a quarter of the furniture and other personal estate. She married, April 22, 1761, Joshua Cleaves, and died at Beverly, September, 1774. (See Cleaves.)
From the original set- LITTLEFIELD tlement of York county, Maine, up to the present time (A. D. 1908), the Littlefield family have resided there, and many of the name have figured prominently both in public affairs and in developing its agricultural and industrial interests. A sturdy, energetic people, the pa- rent stock was inclined to favor free thought in matters pertaining to religion, and were staunch supporters of the theological doctrine advocated and practiced by Rev. John Wheel- right.
(I) Edmund Littlefield, born in Southamp- ton, England, about 1600, married Annis (The records give no family name.) He came to this country from Tichfield, Eng- land. probably at the same time as the Rev.
John Wheelright, for he was one of his parish- ioners at Exeter in 1630, 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, Captain 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 going with him, and among them Edmund Littlefield, who in 1641, leaving Ex- eter, went to Wells, Maine, where he was one of the first settlers. He was supposed to have built the first house, a saw mill 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 de- velopment. 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 im- portance that great discretion should be used in the distribution to the Indians. He was one of the committee to settle the boundary be- tween 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. Children: Francis, born 1619; Anthony, Elizabeth, John, Thomas, Mary, Hannah, Francis Jr., born 1631.
(II) Francis, eldest son of Edmund Little- field, born in 1619, for some cause for which no explanation is given, disappeared from his father's home about the age of six, and was supposed to have died. Francis Jr. was born about six years later, and the parents named this child Francis. In the meantime Francis the elder had come to Exeter previous to 1639, and from Exeter went to Woburn, where he married. His wife died December 20, 1646, leaving a daughter who died later, this being about five years after his father went to Wells. Soon after his daughter's death, Francis left Woburn and went to Wells also, only to find his father and family already located there. Francis Littlefield Jr. married Meribah Ward- well. Children: Joseph, born about 1652; Nathan, Jonathan, Job, David, Mary J., Jo- anna, Tabitha, Hannah.
(III) Joseph, eldest child of Francis Little- field, married Jane Cole, daughter of Nicholas Cole, but died before July, 1698, when the
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widow married John Heard. Children: Jo- seph, Meribah, Priscilla, perhaps other chil- dren. Joseph was half owner of the falls at Kennebunk, which had been granted by the town of Wells and Kennebunk.
(IV) Joseph (2), cldest child of Joseph ( I) Littlefield, married Abigail Storer, daughter of Joseph and Hannah Storcr, August 4, 1709. Children : Benjamin ; probably other children.
(V) Benjamin, son of Joseph (2) Little- field, marricd Dorcas Black, daughter of Sam- uel and Dorcas Black, of York, December II, 1753. Child: Samuel Black. Benjamin Lit- tlefield was one of the substantial men of the town. His parents were familiar with the ex- pericnccs of the settlers in the times of the Indian wars, and he was taught the necessity of courage to meet the events of life and in- dustry in its ordinary pursuits. Like others born in that day of hardship, he had put few opportunities for education, but he so im- proved those he had and acquired so much of the rudiments of knowledge that in 1760 he was chosen the clerk of the proprietors of the township, and held that office forty-three years. He spent his life in milling and farm- ing. He was the owner of the grist-mill near his house and had an interest in the saw-mill in which he found employment. He was a man of very correct habits. In 1776 and 1777 he was one of the selectmen of the town. He died October 5, 1821, at the age of ninety-one, leaving children and grandchildren (one of whom was Christopher), who have main- tained an honorable standing in society.
(VI) Samuel Black, son of Benjamin Lit- tleficld, married Susannah Hatch, daughter of Joshua and Susannah Hatch, December 9, 1802. He was one of the most prominent residents of Wells, and a deacon of the Con- gregational church. He was twice married. Children, by first wife : one son, Christopher, born in Wells, September 15, 1803. By sec- ond wife: Trustam, Jonathan G., Samuel B., Susan, Sarah, Mary, Jane.
(VII) Christopher, son of Samuel Black Littlefield, born in Wells, Maine, September 15, 1803; married Sarah Gooch, daughter of John and Olive Gooch, October 17, 1826. Children : Charles Rollins, born September 12, 1828; Abigail, Susan H., Sarah G., Annie W., John G. Christopher Littlefield was the only child of Samuel Black Littlefield by his first marriage. His education was begun in the public schools, continued under the preceptor- ship of a private tutor, and he concluded his studies at the Hampton, New Hampshire, Academy, where he was prepared for educa-
tional pursuits. For many years he was en- gaged in teaching, and acquired a high repu- tation. As town clerk of Wells, in which ca- pacity he served for many years, he displayed marked ability, as well as a profound interest in the public affairs of the community, and as representative to the state legislature from Wells he evinced a like solicitude for the gen- eral welfare of the town. He was cashicr of the Ocean National Bank at Kennebunk from its organization, August 1, 1854, to December I, 1888, when hc resigned after thirty-four years of continuous servicc. The original deed of land to Edmund Littlefield, signed by Sir Ferdinand Gorges, was in the possession of Christopher Littlefield up to the time the bank building in Kennebunk was destroyed by fire, when it was burned. Only that day it had been returned from the Maine Historical Society, where it had been loaned to copy. He was strong in his religious belief, was an earnest church member, and was deacon of both the Wells and Kennebunk Congregational church. No man stood higher in uprightness in any community, nor was mourned more greatly when he died. He died in January, 1890.
(VIII) Charles Rollins, eldest child of Christopher Littlefield, married, in Amesbury, Massachusetts, Sarah D. Foss, daughter of Silas M. and Sally Webster Foss, January 17, 1850. Children : I. Charles Webster, born March 13, 1855, at Amesbury, Massachusetts. 2. Arthur Gooch, born February 9, 1859, at North Adams, Massachusetts, died March 5, 1901. Sarah D. Foss-Littlefield died Novem- ber II, 1893. Charles Rollins Littlefield mar- ried for his second wife Laura M. Went- worth, daughter of Jacob and Mary A. Went- worth, of Kennebunk, October 24, 1895. Charles Rollins Littlefield was born in Wells, September 12, 1828. His education was planned by his father, the preliminary studies in the public schools being supplemented by a period of instruction under private tuition, and further reinforced by a regular course at the South Berwick Academy in Maine, from which he was graduated. After his graduation he went to Amesbury, Massachusetts, where he was associated with the Powwow River Bank for nine years, when he resigned in or- der to accept a position in New York City. He served during the civil war as paymaster in the army, receiving his first commission from Abraham Lincoln, with the rank of major, and later brevetted lieutenant-colonel by Andrew Johnson, who had then succeeded Lincoln as president of the United States. Hc
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resigned in 1866, and for seventeen years was in the Navigation Department of the United States navy yard at Portsmouth, New Hamp- shire. In 1888 he was appointed cashier of the Ocean National Bank at Kennebunk, suc- ceeding his father in that position, resigning January 1, 1908, having held the position for twenty years. It is interesting to note that since the establishment of this bank, some fifty-four years ago, it has had but two cash- iers, this position having descended from father to son. He is a member of York Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons ; Murray Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; the Knights Templar; Mousam Lodge, Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows and encamp- ment ; the Loyal Legion of the State of Maine; and of Webster Post, Grand Army of the Re- public, of Kennebunk.
(IX) Charles Webster, eldest child of Charles Rollins Littlefield, was born at Ames- bury, Massachusetts, March 13, 1855. Sep- tember 8, 1876, he was commissioned by Ulysses S. Grant, president of the United States, assistant paymaster in the navy. After three months' instruction on board the U. S. S. "Wabash" at Boston, he was ordered to the Asiatic Station, serving three years on board the U. S. S. "Palos." This station embraced China, Japan, and the islands of the Western Pacific ocean. November 13, 1879, he re- turned to the United States. October 8, 1880, reported at the Boston navy yard for duty as assistant to the inspector, and on June 16, 1881, was commissioned by Chester A. Arthur, president of the United States, as passed as- sistant paymaster of the navy. August 29, 1884, he was directed to proceed to the navy yard, Mare Island, California, for duty on board the U. S. S. "Adams." These orders were, however, revoked, and instead, on Octo- ber 13, 1884, reported at the training station, Newport, on board the U. S. S. "Saratoga." This duty consisted in yearly cruising to Eu- rope for the summers and to the West Indies for the winters. On October 27, 1886, he was detached from the "Saratoga"; March 23, 1887, ordered to proceed to New London, Connecticut, for duty at the naval station there and on April 1, 1889, proceeded to League Island, Pennsylvania, for duty on board the U. S. S. "Yorktown." This ship became one of the "White Squadron," going to Lisbon, Portugal, for the coronation of King Carlos, cruising in the Mediterranean, West Indies and in home stations. September II, 1891, two months' leave of absence was granted, and on June 19, 1892, he was directed
to proceed to the navy yard, Washington, D. C., for duty on board the U. S. S. "Dale." In connection with this duty he had the ac- counts of the torpedo boat "Cushing," and was also, September 28, 1892, directed to report to the U. S. Fish Commissioner for orders, the "Cushing" and Fish Commission duty requir- ing a great deal of traveling. On December 25, 1892, he was commissioned by Grover Cleveland, president of the United States, pay- master of the navy. December 15, 1894, he was directed to proceed to Yokohama, Japan, for duty on board the U. S. S. "Charleston." On his arrival at Yokohama, January 28, 1895, he was wired to proceed to Chee Foo, China, where the ship was watching the progress of the China-Japan war. November, 1895, he was on temporary duty on the flagship "Olympia," Nagasaki, Japan. April 5, 1896, he was directed to proceed to Seoul, Korea, to assist in acquiring information of the con- dition of affairs. The queen had previously been assassinated, and the king was under the protection of the Russian embassy. While there an interesting audience was had with the king. July 9, 1896, he was directed to pro- ceed from Mare Island, California, to Kenne- bunk, Maine. Reported for duty September 8, 1896, at Hampton Roads, Virginia, on board the U. S. S. "Maine." His cruise of three years having expired, on February 2, 1898, he received in Havana, Cuba, orders to proceed to Kennebunk, Maine. The explo- sion of the "Maine" occurred one week after he left the ship, in which 252 were killed at once, and eight died in the hospital later. April 12, 1898, he was ordered to Norfolk, Virginia, for duty on board the U. S. S. "Franklin," where he was wired that his commanding offi- cer of the "Maine" wished him with him on the "St. Paul," and on April 20, 1898, he was ordered for duty on board the U. S. S. "St. Paul," serving on board during the Spanish- American war, and receiving a medal from congress for services. September 6, 1898, he was ordered from the "St. Paul," the ship be- ing turned back to the American line for pur- pose of resuming her Atlantic passenger ser- vice. October 15, 1898, he was ordered to the navy yard, Boston, for duty on the U. S. S. "Wabash ;" November 23, 1898, the duty of the naval station, New London, in connection with Boston; May 2, 1901, to the U. S. S. flagship "Kearsarge" as fleet paymaster of the North Atlantic Station; and on March 29, 1902, was commissioned by Theodore Roose- velt, president of the United States, as pay inspector U. S. navy, with the rank of com-
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mander. April 3, 1902, he was at Fort de France, Martinique, on board the U. S. S. flagship "Olympia" as paymaster of the fleet. June 20, 1902, at New York. He was there shifted by the admiral with the admiral and his staff back to the "Kearsarge." During this period the ship visited Kiel, Germany, by invitation of Emperor William, receiving great honors, the Emperor being entertained on board; thence to Portsmouth, England, where as guest of King Edward was one of a num- ber of officers who attended the state ball at Buckingham and other social festivities; the Prince of Wales going to Portsmouth for luncheon on the ship. September 1, 1903, he was directed to report in Washington to the paymaster general of the navy for the duty of the general inspector of the pay corps. This included visiting the stations of the Atlantic coast once in three months, and those of the Pacific coast once in six months, involving one hundred and fifty thousand miles of travel by rail in the three years and four months. On December 27, 1903, he was commissioned by Theodore Roosevelt, president of the United States, as pay director in the navy, with the rank of captain. Leave of absence was granted December 17, 1906, for three months, with permission to leave the United -States, where he visited Egypt, Italy, France, Switzerland and England. At this time his name was presented by his friends and he was prominently mentioned as a candidate for pay- master-general of the navy. Among other en- dorsements to the president was one bearing the signature of every member of the commit- tee on naval affairs of the senate. On April 30, 1907, he reported for duty as purchasing pay officer, Navy Pay Office, Boston, where at this time ( 1908) he is still in charge.
(For first generation see preceding sketch.)
(II) Captain John, son LITTLEFIELD of Edmund Littlefield, was born about 1625-30. He took the oath of allegiance in 1680 and lived in Wells. He had a grant of land with his brother-in-law John Wakefield in 1641 from John Cleaves at the mouth of the Mousam River, where he made his home. He deeded to Francis Littlefield Sr., his brother, half the timber and mill at Ogunquit Upper Falls, December 23, 1669; also land to Josiah Littlefield, August 8, 1690. He died at Wells, February 9, 1696-97, and his widow Patience administered the estate. He was called "Sen." in 1669 and afterward. Children, born at Wells: 1. John, eldest son, married Mehit-
able -; died 1690. 2. Josiah, married Lydia and Elizabeth 3. Eliab, mentioned below. 4. Son, died before 1701, leaving widow Joanna, and daughter Joanna. 5. Lydia, married Storer. 6. Deborah, married Samuel Webber. 7. Mary, married Matthew Austin. 8. Charity, married William Webb. 9. Elizabeth, married Edward Beal. IO. Mercy, married Luffkin. II. Pa- tience, married James Webber.
(III) Eliab, son of John Littlefield, was born about 1660-70. He settled in Manches- ter, Massachusetts, probably on account of the Indian wars. He inherited much property at Wells. He deeded, November 6, 1712, land grant of two hundred acres for building a mill at the falls and the remains of the mill which had been burned to John Cousins. Jonathan Hammon, Samuel Wheelwright and John Bul- lard were his partners in the mill grant and ownership. He sold land at Wells to Zacha- riah Goodale, of Wells, June 15, 1715; also land formerly owned by John Wells (his father) to George Jacobs, of York, January 18, 1715-16; also the land on the northeast side of Cape Porpoise known as Barrot's farm on Millers creek, December 26, 1715, to Thomas Perkins, of Topsfield, Massachusetts ; also land formerly owned by Henry Scratts, to whom it was granted March 28, 1699, to Wil- liam Sayer, of Wells, January 19, 1715. . Ad- ministration granted son-in-law Joseph Leach, of Manchester, April 16, 1717, and the estate was divided December, 1718. Children, the first five of whom were born at Wells: I. Eliab, born October 23, 1697, mentioned be- low. 2. Patience, August 17, 1699, married Joseph Leach. 3. Rachel, January 31, 1700-01, died at Wells, January 3, 1701-02. 4. Deborah, April 25, 1702. 5. Rachel, January 19, 1704- 05. 6. Eliza. 7. Abigail. 8. Sibyl. 9. Lovey. The last four shared in the partition of the father's estate.
(IV) Eliab (2), son of Eliab (1) Little- field, was born at Wells, October. 23, 1697. He shared in the division of his father's es- tate and probably returned to Wells to live. We have reason to believe that he had other children besides the following: I. Eliab, liv- ing in Wells in 1790, according to the census. 2. Ebenezer, mentioned below.
(V) Ebenezer, son of Eliab (2) Littlefield, was born about 1730. He was a soldier in the revolution from Wells, in Captain Samuel Sayer's company, Colonel James Scammon's regiment in 1775 ; also in Captain James Sted- man's company in 1776. He was the only soldier of the name Ebenezer Littlefield in
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Maine. In 1790, according to the federal census, he and his son Ebenezer were living in Wells. Ebenezer Sr. had two males over sixteen and one under that age in his family, besides three females. Ebenezer Jr. had a wife and one son under sixteen. Hence Ebenezer had at least four children, probably more than four, besides Ebenezer Jr., mentioned below.
(VI) Ebenezer (2), son of Ebenezer (I) Littlefield, was born about 1760 in Wells. He married Sweat and settled in Alfred, Maine. Children: I. Horace, born Septem- ber 17, 1808, died aged seventy-two years, married Mary E. Chase, of Roxbury, Massa- chusetts, and had son Charles H. 2. Eliab, born in 1812, mentioned below. 3. Lyman. 4. Nathaniel S. 5. Roxana (probably not in or- der of birth).
(VII) Eliab (3), son of Ebenezer (2) Lit- tlefield, was born at Alfred, Maine, 1812, died March 21, 1845. He was educated in the pub- lic schools of Alfred, Maine. In his youth he worked on the farm. After completing his education he went to Boston as clerk in a pub- lishing house. He engaged in the book pub- lishing business on his own account a few years later. He was obliged by ill health to re- tire from active business in 1841, and he died four years later at the early age of thirty- three years, at his old home in Alfred, a vic- tim of consumption. He was succeeded in business by the firm of Philip Simpson & Com- pany. In politics he was a Democrat, in re- ligion a Methodist. He married, 1834, Susan B. Harmon, born in Alfred, 1812, died August 9, 1855. Children: I. Frank Harmon, men- tioned below. 2. Mary Sabrina, January 8, 1839, married John Davis, a jeweler of Til- ton, New Hampshire. 3. Walter Morton, March 27, 1841, married Lucinda S. Tracey, of West Buxton, May 9, 1882. 4. Clara Susan, April 28, 1843, married November 22, 1871, S. M. Came, a lawyer of Alfred, Maine, prominent in his profession.
(VIII) Frank Harmon, son of Eliab (3) Littlefield, was born in Roxbury, now Bos- ton, Massachusetts, September 14, 1836. He was educated in the public schools of Alfred, Kennebunk, and the Limerick Academy. In 1857 he embarked in business for himself, es- tablishing a general store in Alfred. Isaac Brackett was his partner. He retired from the firm in 1859 and entered the firm of Chase, Littlefield & Company in the hardware busi- ness, Portland, Maine. He remained in this business until 1866 when he sold out and re- turned to Alfred, and in partnership with his brother, Walter Morton Littlefield, began
business in a general store under the firm name of Littlefield Brothers and has contin- ued with much success to the present time. The firm owns the large and spacious building in which the store is located, and they are well and favorably known throughout the county, being prominent in business circles and enjoy- ing the confidence and respect of all their townsmen. Frank H. Littlefield is a member of Fraternal Lodge of Free Masons, Alfred. He married, November 9, 1865, Laura A. Grant, born August 31, 1838, daughter of John L. Grant, of Alfred. They have one son, Harry Grant, mentioned below.
(IX) Harry Grant, son of Frank Harmon Littlefield, was born in Portland, Maine, June 14, 1865. He was educated in the public and high schools of Alfred, graduating from the latter. He worked for some time in his fath- er's store in Alfred, then for the Whittenton Manufacturing Company of Taunton, Massa- chusetts, for two years as clerk in the counting room. He was then with the Lord Brothers Optical Company at Tilton, New Hampshire, for four years. He moved from Tilton to Alfred and became associated with his father. In politics Mr. Littlefield is a Republican and has been treasurer of the town of Alfred; is a Congregationalist in religion. He married, September, 1904, Myra Merrill, born in Al- fred, October, 1864, daughter of Dr. Frank B. and Sarah ( Wakefield) Merrill, of Alfred. Her father was a prominent physician of Al- fred. They have no children.
(For first generation see Edmund Littlefield I.)
(II) Ensign Francis Jr., LITTLEFIELD son of Edmund Little- field, was born in Eng- land about 1631. He was a carpenter by trade, and settled in Wells, where he owned a saw mill and grist mill. His will was made in 1674. His widow Meribah was living in 1677. Children, born in Wells: Joseph, Nathan, Jonathan, Job, David, mentioned below ; Mary, Joanna, Tabitha, Hannah. All were minors when their father died.
(III) David, son of Ensign Francis Little- field, was born in Wells about 1653, and was baptized when an adult in July, 1707. He re- sided in Wells, and in 1713-16 owned a quar- ter interest in the falls. He married, Decem- ber 24, 1694, Children : David, men- tioned below; Eleanor, Nathan, Mary, Jere- miah, Meribah, Tabitha, Ithamar.
(IV) David (2), eldest child of David (1) Littlefield, was born about 1696, in Wells, where he passed his life.
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(V) Ithamar, son of David (2), was born in Wells, July 20, 1729. He married (inten- tions dated April 10, 1745) Margaret Wil- liams. He was a prosperous farmer of Ken- nebunk, Maine. Among their children was Ithamar, mentioned below.
(VI) Ithamar (2), son of Ithamar ( 1) Lit- tlefield, was born June 14, 1747. He was liv- ing in Wells in 1759, when he built his house opposite that of John Gilpatrick near the sec- ond Mousam lot. He contributed shoes, stock- ings and shirts to the Continental army in 1778. IIe served on the committee appointed in March, 1767, to carry out the vote to move the second parish meeting house. In 1784 he had one hundred and fifty acres of land, of which forty acres were planted to potatoes. He married Edna David, of Kennebunk, March 29, 1768.
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