Descendants of John Maxfield
of Salisbury, Massachusetts
Sixth Generation

ADAH ARNOLD of Appleton, Maine, married Nathaniel Maxfield (NMGR 7:65) probably some time before 1822. Adah was born February 14, 1803 in Appleton, according to her age at death (place from F). Nathaniel and Adah lived in Albion and China, Kennebec County, Maine, where they were farmers.

The Nathaniel Maxfield family of China was reported in the 1830 Census (48:13) as follows:

This report corresponded to the information we otherwise have on the couple and their first four children.

The Nathaniel Maxfield family of Albion was recorded in the 1850 Census (258:262) as follows:

The six older children had all left the home place by that time. Son Thomas was reported in Warren, Maine, in the household of Isaac and Elizabeth Hislar (259:173):

The Nathaniel Maxfield family was counted in China, Maine in the 1860 Census (Me 6:557) as follows:

Also, in a factory boarding house in Vassalboro, Maine, among many other names, were recorded the following:

These were both probably sons of Nathaniel and Adah. For the confusion between Franklin and Frederic Maxfield see the Note below.

Nathaniel and Adah Maxfield were reported as a household of two in China in the 1870 Census (546:1:169B). Nathaniel, age 71, was a farmer with real estate of $900 and a personal estate of $500. Adah, age 66, was keeping house. They were reported in China again in the 1880 Census (481:163D), ages 81 and 76 respectively.

Nathaniel Maxfield died at China on 14 November 1884 (VR Me). The details were noted as follows:

Adah Maxfield died there on 15 February 1892 (VR Me), age 89 years and one day.

Nathaniel and Adah Maxfield had the following children:

1. JOHN ARNOLD⁷ MAXFIELD b. at Albion on 14 May 1822
2. JOSEPH⁷ MAXFIELD b. at Albion on 22 February 1824
3. DAVID⁷ MAXFIELD b. at Albion on 4 July 1826 (VR Me)
4. ADELINE⁷ MAXFIELD
   • b. at Albion on 8 June 1828 (VR Me)
   • d. at China on 21 December 1886 (NMGR 7:65)
   • m (1). at China on 14 October 1849 ELISHA E. NEWCOMB (ME M)
   • m (2). at Penobscot County, ME, on 10 June 1856 THOMAS A. NEWCOMB (ME M)
     • b. 8 August 1832 (NMGR 7:65)
     • d. 8 June 1870 (NMGR 7:65)
   • m (3). at Kennebec County, ME, on 26 February 1874 AMOS TAYLOR (ME M)
5. SARAH ELIZABETH⁷ MAXFIELD
   • b. at Albion on 21 September 1830 (VR Me)
   • d. at China in 1895 (NMGR 7:65)
   • m. at China on 24 March 1851 EDWARD BRECK (ME M)
     • b. in 1831 (NMGR 7:65)
     • d. in 1900 (NMGR 7:65)
6. THOMAS ARNOLD⁷ MAXFIELD
   • b. at Albion on 6 October 1832 (VR Me)
   • res. at Vassalboro, Me, aft 1855 (F)
   • mil. from 13 October 1862 to 25 August 1863 (Civ W Sol)
     Name: Thomas A Maxfield , Residence: Vassalboro, Maine
     Service Record: Enlisted as a Lieutenant 1st Class on 13 Oct. 1862 at the age of 29
     Commission in Company D, 21st Infantry Regiment Maine on 13 Oct. 1862.
     Mustered out Company D, 21st Infantry Regiment Maine on 25 Aug. 1863 in Augusta, ME
   • will. at Vassalboro on 9 March 1864 (Ken Pro M-13-R #8)
     In the name of God, Amen.
     I Thomas A Maxfield of Vassalboro in the County of Kennebec and the State of Maine being sound and perfect in mind and memory do make, publish and declare this my last will and testament and herein dispose of all my worldly estate in manner following to wit:
     First, I order and direct my executor herein named to pay all my just debts and funeral charges as soon as may be after my decease.
     Second, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife all my estate, real personal and mixed, and I do hereby appoint my said wife Mary G. Maxfield sole executor of this my last will and testament . . .
     9 March 1864
   • d. between 9 March 1864 and 2 July 1864
   • pro. at Kennebec County, will recorded (Ken Pro M-13-R #8)
   • m. at Kennebec County, ME,on 12 April 1855 MARY GIFFORD HUSSEY (ME M)
     • child of Albert Hussey and Sarah Gifford
     • b. at Maine about 1836/7
     • she m (2). at Vassalboro on 5 January 1869 HENRY WINSLOW (ME M)
7. CHARLES HENRY⁷ MAXFIELD b. at Albion on 8 August 1836
8. JANE⁷ MAXFIELD
   • b. at Albion on 27 April 1838 (VR Me)
   • d. at South China, Me, on 16 December 1920 (NMGR 7:65)
   • m. on 16 August 1862 BENJAMIN H. MOODY (NMGR 7:65)
     • b. on 7 August 1837 (NMGR 7:65)
     • d. on 22 August 1905 (NMGR 7:65)
9. FREDERICK⁷ MAXFIELD perhaps also "Franklin." For note on Franklin and Frederic Maxfield see below.
   • b. at Albion in 17 November 1841 (twin) (VR Me)
   • mil. From 13 October 1862 to 18 August 1863 (Civ W Sol)
     Name: Frederick Maxfield , Residence: China, Maine
     Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 13 Oct. 1862
     Enlisted in Company G, 24th Infantry Regiment Maine on 13 Oct. 1862.
     Died Company G, 24th Infantry Regiment Maine on 18 Aug. 1863 in China, ME
   • d. at China on 18 August 1863 (VR Me)
     • China, Me.: Frederick Maxfield, life resident, Male, White, single, age 21, occ.: soldier b. China; father: Nathaniel Maxfield, farmer; mother: Ada; d. 1863-Aug 18, fever. buried China Village Cemetery, China, Me.
10. FRANCES⁷ MAXFIELD
    • b. at Albion on 17 November 1841 (twin) (VR Me)
    • d. probably young
11. MARY⁷ MAXFIELD
    • b. at Albion (NMGR 7:66)
    • d. in infancy (NMGR 7:66)

1. BIRTH
   • Franklin was born Nov 17, 1841, twin of Frances, to Nathaniel and Adah, at Albion--recorded in Vital Records of Maine.

   • Frederic on the basis of his death record, was born between August 19, 1841 and August 18, 1842, in China, Maine, to Nathaniel and Adah.

2. 1850 CENSUS
   • Franklin--no record found

   • Frederick age 8 in household of Nathaniel and Adah Maxfield, Albion.

3. 1860 CENSUS
   • Frank age 18 in Vassalboro.

   • Frederic age 18 in household of Nathaniel and Adah Maxfield in China.

4. DEATH
   • Franklin--no record found as yet

   • Frederic, soldier, died August 18, 1863, buried China, Maine

How are we to explain this data? Either:

1. Franklin and Frederic were the same person, or

2. Franklin and Frederic were twins, or

3. Franklin, Frederic and Francis were triplets.

If Franklin and Frederic were twins, why was Frederic called "Francis" at birth and recorded as female, and where was Franklin in the 1850 Census? This is more difficult to explain.

If Franklin, Frances and Frederic were triplets, why was Frederic's birth not recorded, and where was Franklin in the 1850 Census? This also is difficult to explain.

Explanation No. 1 appears to be the least unlikely explanation.

• Wright, Elizabeth, ed., "John Maxfield, of Salisbury, Massachusetts, 1652, and Some of His Descendants." Nebraska and Midwest Genealogical Record 7:65-66. (NMGR)
• French, Harry Dana, Descendants of John Maxfield of Salisbury, Mass. abt 1952. Manuscript, New Hampshire Historical Society, Concord, NH. (F)
• Census records

Civ W Sol

American Civil War Soldiers. Databases. (www.ancestry.com).

Ken Pro

Probate Court Records (Kennebec County, Augusta, ME).

ME M

Maine Marriages, 1771-1907. Family Search (familysearch.org).

VR Me

State of Maine, State Board of Health, Division of Vital Statistics, Augusta, Me. Index to Vital Records Prior to 1882 of the Following 80 Towns. microfilm, Genealogical Society, Salt Lake Cuty, Ut.