| Name |
Edmund Littlefield |
| Born |
Abt 1590 |
Titchfield, , Hampshire, England  [1, 2] |
| Baptised |
26 Jun 1592 |
Titchfield, , Hampshire, England [3] |
| Christened |
27 Jun 1592 |
Titchfield, , Hampshire, England [1] |
| Gender |
Male |
| Died |
Abt 17 Dec 1661 |
Wells, , Maine, United States [1, 3] |
| AltDeath |
11 Dec 1712 |
Wells, , Massachusetts Bay, British America [4] |
| Misc |
- This is a short excerpt from "Wells: The Frontier Town of Maine" Volume II by Esselyn Gilman Perkins
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 vanished 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 onMaryland 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 taver 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 Courst 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 poleon which the wet clothing of the guests might be dried. Quite often the landlord was faced with the probelem 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 "ordinarys" - "1659 July 4, Ordinary License granted to William Hammonds. Again in 1664, September 13, "Lycence granted to Francis Littlefield, Sr. to keepe an ordinary - Granted same Liberty of haveing a tavern"
|
| Misc |
- -(From LFNL; v.1,#1): In Hampshire, Edmund was a clothier by trade aswas his father before him. The decline of the wool trade probablyplayed a major part in his decision to migrate to America. It is notknown when he arrived in the new world but it was probably only veryshortly before his wife Annis and the six youngest children sailed onthe "Bevis" in May of 1638. Edmund was in Wells by 1643. He and hissons established and ran many productive mill sites on the variousrivers in the area. By his death in December of 1661 his estate wasworth 588 pounds (UK), a substantial amount for that era.-(From Noyes, Libby & Davis; Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and NewHampshire; p.437): came 1st to Boston, likely with two oldest sons. WifeAnnis (Austin) aged 38 , six children, and servants John Knight and HughDurdal followed in the Bevis in May 1638 from Tichfield, co. Hants.Source: Baptism: Noyes, Libby & Davis; Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and NewHampshire; p.437Death: Noyes, Libby & Davis; Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and NewHampshire; p.438
|
| Misc |
court case |
- The complaint of Stephen March of Newport, Isle of Wight (Hants) Esq against Edmund Littlefield of Titchfield, clothier, Anne, his wife and Nicholas Littlefield, his brother sworn to 12 February, 11 Charles I (Feb 1635/6) is apparently on file at Court of Requests, Charles I, Bundle 77 , Part 4.
|
| Occupation |
clothier |
| Will |
- Source: Sargent, William M.; Maine Wills 1640-1760; pp. 3-4
[Court Records, B, 53.]
The last will & Testament of Edmund Littlefejld Decembr 11 : 61 :
First I bequeath my soule to god Almighty, & I bequeath my body to theearth 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 with a Cetern quantity of Marsh lijng up 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 equally devided amongst thos 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, & Thomas Littlefejld, & Fran : Littlefejld my youngest sun all my upland & Marsh att home which is not disposd, & that which I bought of my sun Anthony, & alsoe yet 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 equally 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 pf Corne yearely for 7 yeares, then my wife shall haue nothing to do with Itt, otherwise if they do not pforme 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 not loueing & helpfull 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 yearly, till it bee payd/ I do giue vnto all my grandchildren fiue shillings a peece Wn they come at age/
I give unto 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, & Thos : & 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 Junjor, 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/ Ezekell Knights/ Jos : Bowles/ Edmund Littlefejlds own hand (mark)
(inventory returned at £588: 13: 4, by Ezekell Knights, Jos : Bowles and William Hamonds as appraisers, who were sworn 24th: 10th" 1861. Will recorded 16 July '62)
|
| Person ID |
I9580 |
Arthur - Research |
| Last Modified |
28 Apr 2012 |
| Family |
Agnice (Annes) Austen, b. CA 1595, Exeter, , Devon, England , d. Between 12 Dec 1677 and 2 Apr 1678, Wells, , Maine, United States (Age ~ 82 years) |
| Married |
16 Oct 1614 |
Titchfield, , Hampshire, England [1, 3] |
|
|
| Children |
| | 1. Anne Littlefield, b. Titchfield, , Hampshire, England , d. Yes, date unknown |
| | 2. Edmund Littlefield, d. Yes, date unknown |
| | 3. Francis Littlefield, b. 17 Jun 1619, Tichfield, , Hampshire, England , d. Nov 1712, Wells, , Maine, United States (Age 93 years) |
| | 4. Anthony Littlefield, d. Jul 1662, Wells, , Massachusetts Bay, British America |
| | 5. John Littlefield, d. 9 Feb 1696, Wells, , Maine, United States |
| | 6. Elizabeth Littlefield, d. Yes, date unknown |
| | 7. Mary Littlefield, d. Between 1662 and 1664 |
| | 8. Thomas Littlefield, d. CA 1689/90, Wells, , Maine, United States |
| | 9. Anne Littlefield, b. 5 Jan 1632, Titchfield, , Hampshire, England , d. CA 1680, Salem, , Massachusetts, United States (Age 47 years) |
| | 10. Francis Littlefield, Jr, b. Titchfield, , Hampshire, England , d. 6 Feb 1674, Wells, , Maine, United States |
|
| Family ID |
F3801 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
Abt 1590 - Abt 1661 (~ 71 years)
