Descendants of John Maxfield
of Salisbury, Massachusetts
Fourth Generation

TIMOTHY⁴ MAXFIELD (Timothy^3-2, John¹) was born at Dartmouth, Bristol County, Massachusetts, on 8 January 1745/6^[1] a son of Timothy Maxfield and his wife Patience Drinkwater. He died at Dartmouth on 30 August 1829.^[2] He married at Dartmouth on 28 August 1774 WEALTHY KEMPTON.^[3] She was born at Dartmouth on 20 March 1756,^[4] a daughter of Ephraim Kempton and his wife Anna Nye. She died at New Bedford, Bristol County, on 18 March 1848.^[5]

Timothy was described as a cooper in his early property transactions before his marriage, but was engaged in agriculture according to the 1820 census. They lived in Dartmouth and raised their family there. Timothy participated in the following transfers of property:

• 24 April 1772, Jemima Hoxie of Dartmouth discharged to Timothy Maxfield of Dartmouth, cooper, for £ 3 a lot in Dartmouth about one acre, abutters included John Maxfield and Timothy Maxfield.^[6]
• 19 September 1772, Jonathan Sherman ye 3rd of Dartmouth, yeoman, house carpenter, sold to Timothy Maxfield ye 3d of Dartmouth, cooper, for £ 100, 33 acres and 84 rods in Dartmouth.^[7]
• March 1805, Timothy Maxfield and wife Welthy Maxfield of New Bedford, yeoman sold to Warren Maxfield [their son] of New Bedford, yeoman, for $300, a lot in New Bedford containing 29 ½ rods^[8] [It is not indicated how Timothy and Welthy came into possession of this property].
• 9 April 1807, Joseph Gifford and Gardner Potter of Dartmouth, yeomen, sold to Timothy Maxfield of Dartmouth, yeoman, for $566, a lot of wood land in Dartmouth, 12 acres and 57 rods, abutters included Timothy Maxfield, and heirs of Abraham Maxfield.^[9]

The 1798 tax census had two entries for Timothy Maxfield in Dartmouth. It is not clear if both are for this Timothy, or if his father Timothy was still living and accounts for one. One entry stated Timothy Maxfield had one dwelling and 80 perches of land, valued at $250. The other entry stated Timothy Maxfield had two dwellings valued at $100 and 60 acres valued at $800.^[10]

Timothy Maxfield and Wealthy Kempton published at Dartmouth on 8 July 1774 their intentions to marry,^[11] and were married there on 28 August of that year. They had four children, who were named in their wills, although census records indicated other children in the home. Perhaps they had nieces and nephews so far unidentified in their home. Whatever the explanation, Timothy and Wealthy raised several children in addition to their four known children. From 1790 through 1840 the federal censuses only name the head of household and give numbers in various age and sex categories. The records for Timothy Maxfield of Dartmouth and his widow Wealthy of New Bedford follow:^[12]

When Timothy Maxfield wrote his will, on 6 April 1825,^[13] he described himself as "of New Bedford," and made reference to "my present dwelling house, situated in New Bedford aforesaid near the North Baptist Meeting house in the village of Bedford," which he left half to his wife and half to their daughter Mary. The text of Timothy Maxfield's will is below. Timothy died at Dartmouth on 10 August 1829, and his will was proved on 27 October of that year.^[14] Wealthy Maxfield wrote her will on 8 September 1847.^[15] The text of Wealthy Maxfield's will is below. She left her estate to their daughter Mary, and made mention of her four children and her great-granddaughter Mary Weston. Wealthy Maxfield died at New Bedford on 18 March 1848; her will was proved on 6 June of that year.^[16]

Daughter Mary Maxfield, unmarried, continued to live in New Bedford. Great granddaughter Mary Weston married Richard Durfee at New Bedford on 27 October 1847,^[17] and this young family lived with Mary Maxfield, sometimes called "Polly." The 1850 Census reported them as follows:^[18]

The 1855 Massachusetts state census reported the Durfee-Maxfield household at New Bedford. Richard Durfee, housewrite, and Mary Durfee were in their 20s. Children present were Mary Durfee, between 5 and 10, and Richard and Caroline Durfee, under 5. Also in the household was Polly Maxfield, in her 60s, and Mary M. Maxfield, between 15 and 20.^[19] This last-named Mary was probably a grand-niece of Polly, daughter of brother Warren's son Benjamin.

The 1860 census reported this family as follows:^[20]

Mary Maxfield wrote her will on 29 October 1859,^[21] in which she left her estate to her grand-niece Mary Ann Durfee, except for her pew at Middle Street Christian Church, which she left to her grandniece's daughter Mary Holmes Durfee. For the full text of Mary's will see below. Mary Maxfield died at New Bedford on 10 March 1864.^[22]

Timothy Maxfield and his wife Wealthy Kempton had the following children:

1. WARREN⁵ MAXFIELD b. at Dartmouth on 8 February 1878.
2. MARY⁵ MAXFIELD b. at Dartmouth on 4 March 1779;^[23] d. at New Bedford on 10 March 1864.
3. LYDIA⁵ MAXFIELD b. betw. 1774 and 1784;^[24] living in 1847;^[25] m (int. at Dartmouth on 11 October 1800). at New Bedford on 30 October 1800 JOHN WESTON Jr..^[26]
4. WEALTHY⁵ MAXFIELD b. on 1 January 1782;^[27] d. on 6 May 1859;^[28] m (int. at New Bedford on 16 August 1804^[29]). at Dartmouth on 16 September 1804 AMOS TABER,^[30] b. at Fairhaven, Bristol Co., on 1782,^[31] d. at Fairhaven on 24 November 1816.^[32]

In the name of God Amen. I Timothy Maxfield of New Bedford in the County of Bristol in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Yeoman, being aged and infirm in body, but of sound disposing mind and memory (praised be God for the same) and desirous to settle my worldly affairs whilst I have the capacity so to do, do make and publish this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and making void all former wills by me at any time heretofore made.--viz.

I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary, her heirs and assigns forever, one half of my present dwelling house, situated in New Bedford aforesaid near the North Baptist Meeting house in the village of Bedford.

I give to my son Warren Maxfield one dollar; I give to my daughters Lidia Weston and Welthy Taber one dollar each.

I give devise and bequeath to my beloved wife Welthy Maxfield her heirs and assigns forever all my residuary property both real and personal of which I may be possessed at the time of my decease, situated where it may be. And I hereby appoint David Kempton 2d of said New Bedford, executor of this my last will and testament.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this sixth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five.

Know all men by these presents, that I, Wealthy Maxfield of New Bedford in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, widow, do make and publish this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me heretofore made--

First. Having heretofore given to my son Warren Maxfield, now deceased, his just share of my Estate, I now give nothing to his children.

Secondly. I do give, bequeath and devise to my daughter Mary Maxfield all Estate, both Real and Personal of which I may die seized and possessed, to have and to hold the same to her and her heirs and assigns forever. Or if my said daughter Mary Maxfield shall die before I do, then and in such case, I do give, devise and bequeath to my daughters Lydia Western and Wealthy Taber, and to my great grand daughter Mary Ann Western, all Estate, both Real and Personal of which I may die seized and possessed, to have and to hold in equal proportion to them, their heirs and assigns forever.

Thirdly, I do nominate and appoint my said daughter Mary Maxfield Executrix of this my last will and testament.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand seal this eighth day of September in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and forty-seven.

Know all men by these presents that I Mary Maxfield of New Bedford in the County of Bristol being in sound mind and memory do make this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me at any time heretofore made.

First. I give and bequeath to Mary Ann Durfee, wife of Richard T. Durfee, to her sole use and benefit free from the control of said husband all of my property of every name and nature, both real and personal, to her and her heirs forever--Except my pew in the Middle Street Christian Church in New Bedford, which pew I give to Mary Holmes Durfee, daughter of said Mary Ann.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal and publish and declare this to be my last will and testament, in the presence of the witnesses named below this twenty-ninth day of October in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred fifty-nine.
Mary Maxfield . . .

¹Vital Records of Dartmouth, Massachusetts to the Year 1850 (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1929, 1929, 1930), 1:159.
²Ann Borden Harding, ed., Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, vol 3, George Soule (Plymouth, MA: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1980), 365.
³Vital Records of Dartmouth, 2:314.
⁴Acushnet Cemetery, Acushnet, Bristol Co., MA, database, Find a Grave (findagrave.com : accessed 2012), .
⁵Vital Records of New Bedford, Massachusetts, to the year 1850, 3 volumes (Boston: New England Historical and Genealogical Society, 1932. 1932, 1941), 3:115.
⁶Bristol County, Massachusetts, Deeds, 55:344, accessed 2013; Bristol County Court House, Taunton, MA (familysearch.org).
⁷Ibid., 55:345.
⁸Ibid., 85:258.
⁹Ibid., 90:99.
¹⁰"Massachusetts and Maine Direct Tax Census of 1798," digital images, New England Historic Genealogical Society, American Ancestors (americanancestors.org : accessed 2014), 12:14,61.
¹¹Elisha Leonard, "Leonard Papers," New Bedford Free Public Library, New Bedford, MA.
¹²First Census of the United States: 1790, population, New Bedford, Bristol Co., MA, 4:441; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 2012); Second Census of the United States: 1800, population, Dartmouth, Bristol Co., MA, 19:661; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 2012); Third Census of the United States: 1810, population, Dartmouth, Bristol Co., MA, 17:285; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 2012); Fourth Census of the United States: 1820, population, Dartmouth, Bristol Co. MA, 47:575; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 2012); Fifth Census of the United States: 1830, population, New Bedford, Bristol Co., MA, 59:309; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 2012); Sixth Census of the United States: 1840, population, New Bedford, Bristol Co., MA, 178:411; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 2012).
¹³Bristol County, Massachusetts, Probate Records, 68:44-45; Court House, Taunton, Massachusetts.
¹⁴Ibid.
¹⁵Ibid., 92:119-20.
¹⁶Ibid.
¹⁷Vital Records of New Bedford, 2:586
¹⁸Seventh Census of the United States: 1850, population, New Bedford, Bristol Co., MA, 309:299B, 1471; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 2012).
¹⁹Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, 1855 Massachusetts State Census, population, New Bedford Ward 3, Bristol Co., 306; digital images, Family Search (familysearch.org : accessed 2013); Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, MA.
²⁰Eighth Census of the United States: 1860, population, New Bedford Ward 3, Bristol Co., MA, 490:517, 1345; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 2012).
²¹Bristol County Probate, 183:429-30.
²²Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Division of Vital Statistics, State House, Boston, MA. Vital Records of Massachusetts 174: 114:80.
²³Ibid., derived from age at death.
²⁴based on probable identity in 1800 Census.
²⁵living when her mother wrote her will.
²⁶Vital Records of Dartmouth, 2:313; Vital Records of New Bedford, 2:586.
²⁷George Leander Randall, Taber Genealogy: Descendants of Thomas, Son of Philip Taber (New Bedford, MA: Viking Press, 1982), 66; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 2013.
²⁸Ibid.
²⁹Vital Records of New Bedford, 2:366.
³⁰Vital Records of Dartmouth, 2:314.
³¹Randall, Taber Genealogy, 66.
³²Ibid.

Acushnet Cemetery, Acushnet, Bristol Co., MA. Database. Find a Grave. findagrave.com : 2012.

Bristol County, Massachusetts. Deeds. Bristol County Court House, Taunton, MA (familysearch.org).

________. Probate Records. Court House, Taunton, MA.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Division of Vital Statistics, State House, Boston, MA. Vital Records of Massachusetts. New Bedford Free Public Library, New Bedford, MA. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

"Death Records in the New Bedford Mercury, 1845-1874," New Bedford Free Public Library, New Bedford, MA.

French, Harry Dana. Descendants of John Maxfield of Salisbury, Mass. New Hampshire Historical Society Library, Concord, NH, about 1952.

Harding, Ann Borden, ed.. Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, vol 3, George Soule. Plymouth, MA: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1980.

Leonard, Elisha. "Leonard Papers." New Bedford Free Public Library, New Bedford, MA.

"Massachusetts and Maine Direct Tax Census of 1798." Digital images. New England Historic Genealogical Society. American Ancestors. americanancestors.org : 2014.

Massachusetts Archives. "Vital Records of Massachusetts, 1841-1910." Digital images. American Ancestors. americanancestors.org : 2012.

Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, 1855 Massachusetts State Census, population. Digital images. Family Search. familysearch.org : 2013.

Randall, George Leander. Taber Genealogy: Descendants of Thomas, Son of Philip Taber. New Bedford, MA: Viking Press, 1982. Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2013.

United States, Department of the Census. First Census of the United States: 1790, population. Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2012.

________. Second Census of the United States: 1800, population. Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2012.

________. Third Census of the United States: 1810, population. Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2012.

________. Fourth Census of the United States: 1820, population. Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2012.

________. Fifth Census of the United States: 1830, population. Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2012.

________. Sixth Census of the United States: 1840, population. Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2012.

________. Seventh Census of the United States: 1850, population. Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2012.

________. Eighth Census of the United States: 1860, population. Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2012.

Vital Records of Dartmouth, Massachusetts to the Year 1850. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1929, 1929, 1930.

Vital Records of New Bedford, Massachusetts, to the year 1850. 3 volumes. Boston: New England Historical and Genealogical Society, 1932. 1932, 1941.

Wright, Elizabeth. "John Maxfield of Salisbury, Massachusetts, 1652, and Some of His Descendants." The Nebraska and Midwest Genealogical Record (1928–1930): 6:52-56; 7:20-24, 42-47, 61-71, 87-96; 8:15-22.