Francis Littlefield Jr.

     Francis Littlefield Jr. was baptized on 24 March 1635/36 in Titchfield, Hampshire, England, "March Baptized Frances Litlefield of Edmond ye same day."^3,1 He was the son of Edmond Littlefield and Annis Austin.² He married Meribah Wardwell, daughter of William Wardwell and Alice (—?—) (Wardwell), by about 1658, probably in Wells, York County, Maine. He died on 6 February 1674/75 at age 38.¹
     
     Francis Littlefield Jr. came to New England on the Bevis with his mother Annis and five older siblings in May 1638 when he was a child of about two.^4,2 Waiting for them in Boston was Francis' father Edmond and two oldest brothers, Francis and Anthony. Several early histories weave a fanciful tale to explain why Francis, the youngest son, was named for his oldest brother. Briefly the story, which is pure fiction, is that the older Francis ran away from home at a very early age, and his parents, supposing him dead after so many years, alleviated their grief by giving his name to a younger sibling. Somehow, Francis Sr. made his way to New England where by chance he was reunited with his family. In truth, while not especially common, it was not unheard of at that time to give two living children the same baptismal name.

     Within months after the family reunited, the Littlefields followed the Wheelwright exiles to Exeter, New Hampshire, and in 1643 they removed permanently to Wells, Maine. Although Francis Jr. was only seventeen on 5 July 1658 when the Massachusetts commissioners established their authority in Wells, he signed the submission with his father and brothers.

     In 1658 Francis was living just across the Webhannet River from his father while his brother Francis was his neighbor on the other side. In that year the town granted him two hundred acres of land. He was a house carpenter by trade. He served on York trial juries in 1664 and 1668 and on grand juries in 1673 and 1674. He was ensign of the Wells company of militia, of which his brother John was lieutenant and commanding officer, in 1668. In 1669/70 he was elected one of the town's lot layers.

     The town granted to Thomas Littlefield, Francis Littlefield, junior, and Thomas Mills two hundred acres at Totnocke on 7 December 1659, and Francis sold his part to John Gattenesby on 22 May 1664.⁵ Most of his land holdings in Wells were the testamentary gift of his father. On 6 February 1673/74, he sold to Peter Cloyes, his brother-in-law, a small lot of land whereon Cloyes had built a house "on the westernmost side of that River Called by the name of Webhannet River, at the Falls whereon the sayd Fran: Littlefeild hath built a Saw Mill near unto his dwelling house which formerly was the Interest of his father Edmond Littlefield deceased."⁶ He bought three acres of marsh from his brother-in-law John Barrett on 28 February 1673.⁷