Edmond Littlefield1,2 
b. 27 June 1592, d. December 1661
Edmond Littlefield|b. 27 Jun 1592\nd. Dec 1661|p8339.htm|Francis Littlefield|b. c 1565|p9754.htm|Mary (—?—) (Littlefield)||p9755.htm|NN Littlefield||||||||||||
7th great-grandfather of Ruth Minerva Fairfield.
9th great-grandfather of Laura Jane Munson.
- Family Background:
- Fairfield and Allied Families
- Appears on charts:
- Pedigree for Ruth Minerva Fairfield
Edmond Littlefield was baptized on 27 June 1592 in Titchfield, Hampshire, England, "June. Baptized. Edmond Litlefield the xxvij day."4,2 He was the son of Francis Littlefield and Mary (—?—) (Littlefield).3 He married Annis Austin, daughter of Richard Austin and Annis (—?—) (Austin), on 16 October 1614 in Titchfield, Hampshire, "October. Married Edmund littlefeild and Agnes Austen the xvjth day."4,2 He died in December 1661 at age 69.5
In Hampshire, Edmond Littlefield, like his father, was a clothier by trade. In 1636 or 1637, at about 45 years of age, he and his two oldest sons, Francis and Anthony, set sail for New England. In May 1638 Edmond's wife Annis, their six youngest children and two servants who had been left behind in Titchfield, followed on the Bevis out of the neighboring town of Southampton. Also taking passage on the Bevis was Annis' brother Richard Austin and his family.
The Littlefield family reunited in Boston where they likely made friends with the Hutchinson-Wheelwright faction in the Antinomian controversary. This controversy centered around Anne Hutchinson, who was holding popular devotional meetings at her home at which she championed John Cotton and her brother-in-law John Wheelwright as true Christian ministers against the "legal" preachers who taught that a moral life was sufficient grounds for salvation. Cotton, Wheelwright and Hutchinson believed that redemption was God's gift to his elect and could not be earned by human effort. Wheelwright was banished from Boston in November 1637, and although Edmond Littlefield was not among those who were disarmed by the Massachusetts Bay government, he followed the exiles to Exeter. There he signed the Exeter combination, an agreement for self-government, on 5 June 1639. He had land grants from the new town, including two house lots, but when Wheelwright left Exeter in 1643, the Littlefields and four other families followed him to Wells. Of them, only the Littlefields remained there permanently.6
On 14 July 1643, Thomas Gorges, Deputy Governor of the Province of Maine, granted to Edmond Littlefield one hundred acres in Wells adjoining the mill, all the marsh between this land and the sea, and five other parcels of marsh, Henry Boade being his agent to give possession, at a ground rent of 6s. a year.7 Richard Vines, Steward General of Sir Ferdinando Gorges, granted John Wadlow and Edmond Littlefield two hundred acres on the southwest side of Ogunquit River, at a 10s. ground rent, on 20 November 1645.8 On his original grant he established a sawmill and a grist mill. Dr. Vines made him his agent to give possession to other Wells grantees in 1643. He was on both trial and grand juries in 1645 and 1647. He duly submitted to Massachusetts authority on 5 July 1653, and was in favor with the new government, being licensed to sell wine and strong liquor to Indians and being appointed commissioner to end small causes, or local justice, in 1654, and reappointed each year until his death, with the exception of 1657. He was elected selectman of Wells in 1654 and 1657.6
In Hampshire, Edmond Littlefield, like his father, was a clothier by trade. In 1636 or 1637, at about 45 years of age, he and his two oldest sons, Francis and Anthony, set sail for New England. In May 1638 Edmond's wife Annis, their six youngest children and two servants who had been left behind in Titchfield, followed on the Bevis out of the neighboring town of Southampton. Also taking passage on the Bevis was Annis' brother Richard Austin and his family.
The Littlefield family reunited in Boston where they likely made friends with the Hutchinson-Wheelwright faction in the Antinomian controversary. This controversy centered around Anne Hutchinson, who was holding popular devotional meetings at her home at which she championed John Cotton and her brother-in-law John Wheelwright as true Christian ministers against the "legal" preachers who taught that a moral life was sufficient grounds for salvation. Cotton, Wheelwright and Hutchinson believed that redemption was God's gift to his elect and could not be earned by human effort. Wheelwright was banished from Boston in November 1637, and although Edmond Littlefield was not among those who were disarmed by the Massachusetts Bay government, he followed the exiles to Exeter. There he signed the Exeter combination, an agreement for self-government, on 5 June 1639. He had land grants from the new town, including two house lots, but when Wheelwright left Exeter in 1643, the Littlefields and four other families followed him to Wells. Of them, only the Littlefields remained there permanently.6
On 14 July 1643, Thomas Gorges, Deputy Governor of the Province of Maine, granted to Edmond Littlefield one hundred acres in Wells adjoining the mill, all the marsh between this land and the sea, and five other parcels of marsh, Henry Boade being his agent to give possession, at a ground rent of 6s. a year.7 Richard Vines, Steward General of Sir Ferdinando Gorges, granted John Wadlow and Edmond Littlefield two hundred acres on the southwest side of Ogunquit River, at a 10s. ground rent, on 20 November 1645.8 On his original grant he established a sawmill and a grist mill. Dr. Vines made him his agent to give possession to other Wells grantees in 1643. He was on both trial and grand juries in 1645 and 1647. He duly submitted to Massachusetts authority on 5 July 1653, and was in favor with the new government, being licensed to sell wine and strong liquor to Indians and being appointed commissioner to end small causes, or local justice, in 1654, and reappointed each year until his death, with the exception of 1657. He was elected selectman of Wells in 1654 and 1657.6
Additional Data
Edmond Littlefield was called Edward, probably a clerical error, in his father Francis Littlefield's will dated 21 October 1618 in Titchfield.9 
Edmond Littlefield was mentioned in his father-in-law Richard Austin's undated will (probably 1622).10,11
Edmond Littlefield made his will on 11 December 1661 in Wells, York County, Maine, naming his wife Annis and children Francis Littlefield Sr., Anthony Littlefield, Elizabeth Wakefield, Thomas Littlefield, Francis Littlefield Jr., Mary Barrett, Hannah Littlefield and John Littlefield; wife Annas and sons Thomas and Frances Jr., executors.12 On 17 December 1661, only six days after the will was made, in which interval Edmond Littlefield must have died, Annis Littlefield and her sons Francis Sr., Thomas and Francis Jr., made an agreement by which Francis Sr.'s share of the estate was substantially increased, and pledged themselves "never to trouble one another about the will."13
Edmond Littlefield was mentioned in his father-in-law Richard Austin's undated will (probably 1622).10,11
Edmond Littlefield made his will on 11 December 1661 in Wells, York County, Maine, naming his wife Annis and children Francis Littlefield Sr., Anthony Littlefield, Elizabeth Wakefield, Thomas Littlefield, Francis Littlefield Jr., Mary Barrett, Hannah Littlefield and John Littlefield; wife Annas and sons Thomas and Frances Jr., executors.12
On 17 December 1661, only six days after the will was made, in which interval Edmond Littlefield must have died, Annis Littlefield and her sons Francis Sr., Thomas and Francis Jr., made an agreement by which Francis Sr.'s share of the estate was substantially increased, and pledged themselves "never to trouble one another about the will."13Children of Edmond Littlefield and Annis Austin
- Anne Littlefield5 b. 11 Feb 1615/16
- Edward Littlefield5 b. 17 Feb 1617/18
- Francis Littlefield Sr.+ 5 b. 17 Jun 1619, d. b 15 Jan 1712/13
- Anthony Littlefield+2 b. 7 Oct 1621, d. c Jul 1662
- John Littlefield5 b. 1 Nov 1624, d. 9 Feb 1696/97
- Elizabeth Littlefield5 b. 22 Jul 1627
- Mary Littlefield5
- Thomas Littlefield14 b. 10 Aug 1633, d. b 5 Mar 1689/90
- Anne (Hannah) Littlefield14 b. 10 Aug 1633
- Francis Littlefield Jr.+ 14 b. 24 Mar 1635/36, d. 6 Feb 1674/75
Citations
- [S761] The New England Historical and Genealogical Register; (Online database: NewEnglandAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001), (Orig. Pub. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, MA. The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 148 vols., 1847-1994) 67: 345-347, citing Titchfield Parish Registers.
- [S752] Descendants of William Dyer of Sheepscot, Maine, online <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~dyer/dyer.htm>.
- [S761] NEHGR, 67: 345, 346, citing Titchfield Parish Registers.
- [S761] NEHGR, 67: 345, citing Titchfield Parish Registers.
- [S890] Walter Goodwin Davis, "Littlefield, of Wells," Massachusetts and Maine Families in the Ancestry of Walter Goodwin Davis (1885-1966): A Reprinting in Alphabetical Order by Surname, of the Sixteen Multi-Ancestor Compendia, (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1996), Vol. III, 483, originally published in The Ancestry of Annis Spear (1945).
- [S890] Walter Goodwin Davis, "Littlefield, of Wells," Massachusetts and Maine Families, Vol. III, 480-481, originally published in The Ancestry of Annis Spear (1945).
- [S890] Walter Goodwin Davis, "Littlefield, of Wells," Massachusetts and Maine Families, Vol. III, 481, citing York Deeds, I: part II: 10, originally published in The Ancestry of Annis Spear (1945).
- [S890] Walter Goodwin Davis, "Littlefield, of Wells," Massachusetts and Maine Families, Vol. III, 481, citing York Deeds, I: part II: 13, originally published in The Ancestry of Annis Spear (1945).
- [S761] NEHGR, 67: 343-344, citing original will and inventory.
- [S761] NEHGR, 67: 345, "Rychard Asten of Titchfeild will."
- [S897] Jim Carlin and Liz Austin Carlin, online <http://sunshine.rahul.net/~afaoa/Richard_Austin_MA/…>, Jim Carlin and Liz Austin (unknown location), downloaded 2005.
- [S875] William M. Sargent, comp. and ed., Maine Wills. 1640-1760 (Portland, Maine: Maine Historical Society, 1887; reprint Baltimore: Inc. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1996), 3-4, citing Court Records, B, 53.
- [S890] Walter Goodwin Davis, "Littlefield, of Wells," Massachusetts and Maine Families, Vol. III, 483, citing York Deeds I: 147, originally published in The Ancestry of Annis Spear (1945).
- [S890] Walter Goodwin Davis, "Littlefield, of Wells," Massachusetts and Maine Families, Vol. III, 484, originally published in The Ancestry of Annis Spear (1945).
