Francis LITTLEFIELD

                   HISTORICAL NOTES:
    Historical and research information included in notes.


FRANCIS LITTLEFIELD THE ELDERFrancis Littlefield the Elder (hereafter Francis Sr.) wasbp. in Titchfield, Hampshire, England on 17 June 1619. Hisparents were Edmund and Annis/Anne/Agnes (Austin) Littlefield.It is very evident that Francis left Titchfield with hisfather before February of 1636 at which time Edmund had "absentedhimself." [1-1 It is likely that Edmund, Francis Sr. andAnthony Littlefield emigrated to America c. 1637. They are firstseen in Boston, Massachusetts. Edmund left Boston and went toExeter, New Hampshire. Francis followed his father to Wells fromthese places, but was was also in Woburn, Charlestown, andIpswich, Massachusetts, and in Dover, New Hampshire, beforesettling in Wells.There is no basis for the local lore that Francis was some-how separated from his family. That much-romanticized storyevolved from a historian's attempt to explain Edmund having twosons with the same name. Charles Thornton Libby [2.1 suggestedthat this situation came about as a result of the custom ofletting the godfather select the infant's name. Using the LDSIGI files [see Austin] we learn that Annis Austin had a brotherFrancis Austin who died young. The most likely scenario is thatFrancis Jr. who was bp. in Titchfield 24 March 1635/6, (after hisfather "absented himself") was named in memory of his maternaluncle, whereas Francis Sr. had been named for the paternal sideof the family. C. T. Libby's suggestion applies well to thistheory.Francis Littlefield Sr.'s original grant (1643) was situatedin Wells, crossing both sides of Route #1. [3.1 The First Churchof Wells (the Congregational Church) was erected on this lot c.1702. [4.1 This lot was adjacent to Edmund Littlefield's grantat the Webhannet Falls. By deed research it appears that Francissold this lot, and then received another grant a short distancesouthwesterly of his original lot. The second site is adjacent tothe junction of Route 9-B and Route #1. Dependence, son ofFrancis Sr. lived there, as proven by the division of his estate.Also on this lot [at Willow Tree Restaurant] is an ancient burialground, now almost obliterated, upon which are buried (besidessome descendants of Dependence): Josiah Littlefield and JosephHammond, who were not descendants, and who did not live adjacentto the lot, but were original founders of the First Church.Is it just a coincidence that the First Church and the originalchurch burial ground are situated on Francis Sr.'s lands?Francis Littlefield Sr. married (1) Jane Hill who died inWoburn 20 December 1646; they had one child: Mary, born Woburn,in 1646. He married (2) Rebecca [surname unknown). There is nobasis for Banks' statement that she was Rebecca Rust or Rusk. Nosuch person existed. The date of birth of Rebecca is given inthe First Book of Records for the town of Wells (the book is in- 5 - 1 7 -the possession of the Kennebunk Town Clerk) i.e. "born 31 January1630." In the same record will be found the birth dates ofthe first seven children of Francis Sr. and Rebecca, i.e. Sara,Hanneth, Deliverance, James, Isaac, Abigell and Dorcas. Theirdates of birth range between 1649 and 1664. After 1664 were bornPhoebe, Daniel, Dependence and Rachel. Francis Sr. married (3)Mrs. Mary (Wade) Symonds. No children by the last wife.[1.) The Complaint of Stephen March, Vol. II of EnglishOrigins of New England Families From the NEHGR[2.) Noyes, Libby & Davis, The Genealogical Dictionary ofMaine and New Hampshire[3.) The original grants in Wells were laid out beginningat the sea, and ran north westerly for 2 and 1/2 milesinto the country, crossing the main road, now US Rte 1[4.) The present Meeting House of the Historical Societyof Wells and Ogunquit is situated on the first (1643)lot laid out to Francis Sr. This same lot is thesite of the First Church of Wells erected c. 1702.This article was written by Dorothy A. Seaman for the filesof the "Piscataqua Pioneers." This organization is compilingbrief biographies on early pioneers of Maine and New Hampshire.He mved around a lot owned 50 acres of land Wells 1643, taxed in Woband, Ma 1646, Dover, Nh. 1648, bac
kin Wells, bought a house in Charlestown, Ma 1653 Rep. From Yk Wells through the 1600s. Grand jury and Co. Treas. same period, Innholder, Ispwich,Ma.1670, Licenced at Wells 1700/2. Deede971