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| Wakefield Coat of Arms |
See Shaw on Miner Descent blog for a more detailed history and references.
The progenitor of the Maine Families of Wakefield, was born in 1615/16? (1623?) in Yorkshire (Herfordshire) England.
John's grandparents may have been Simon Wakefield (1561-1593) and Elizabeth De Vere (1565-1627).
John's parents may have been John Wakefield (b.1598 in Gravesend, Kent, England) and Mary Sawkin (b. 1585 in Gravesend, Kent, England). His two younger siblings were William and Patience.
He immigrated before 1636/37/38 to Salem (and Marblehead), Massachusetts, and moved about 1641 to Wells, Maine. I believe he came during the Great Migration from England between 1630 and 1640.
He married Elizabeth Littlefield (Edmund4, Francis3, Francis2, William1) in December 1661. Elizabeth was 34 yrs. old. Elizabeth's father, Edmund Littlefield has been called the father of Wells. He established a permanent home, sawmill and gristmill as early as 1640 /41 at the falls of the Webhannet River. Elizabeth's mother was Annis (Anne) Austin. Elizabeth was born July 22, 1627 in Titchfield, Hampshire, England. She died 1676/1677 at the age of 49. She is buried in Wells, Maine,
John and Elizabeth's children were (as listed by Homer book on Wakefield family):
1. John (1643-1692) who married Hester Harbor and died before January 1706/7.
2. James (1645-1707) who married Rebecca Gibbons and drowned October 25, 1707 with his brother William.
3. Henry (1641- ) who died unmarried later than March 1677.
4. William (1650-1707) who married Rebecca Littlefield on March 13, 1698 and drowned October 25, 1707 with his brother James. "William and his brother James went with Moses and Job Littlefield and Joseph Storer Jr. in a small sloop to fish. There was heavy sea at the Bar as they attempted to drive the sloop over it. The sloop upset and all were drown. these men were all valuable citizens and their aid was greatly needed."
5. Mary (1649?- ) who married William Frost
6. Katherine (1656- ) who married Robert Nanny between 1677 and 1694.
John and Elizabeth's children (as listed in Shaw on Miner Descent blog):
i. Mary Wakefield (1649? – ) married to William Frost.
ii. Henry Wakefield (1641 – ) died unmarried, later than March 39, 1677.
iii. John Jr. Wakefield (1643 – 1692) married Hester Harbor, who married, secondly, William Hayward Jan 1706/07.
iv. James Wakefield (1645 – 1707) married Rebecca Gibbons; he was drowned October 25. 1707.
v. William Wakefield (1650 – 1707) married March 13, 1698, Rebecca Littlefield; he was drowned October 25, 1707.
vi. Katherine Wakefield (1656 – ) married, between 1677 and 1694, to Robert Nanny.
His sister Patience married Elizabeth's brother, John Littlefield.
John served as commissioner and selectman in Wells, Maine in 1648, 1654, and 1657. In April 1652? 1661/62? he moved to Scarborough, Cumberland, Maine.
He died on February 15, 1673/76 in York, Maine and is buried in Biddeford, Maine.
