MERRIFIELDS OF WELLS, MAINE

Members of this family came early from Becket, and other towns in Massachusetts to Berwick and Wells, in the district of Maine. How these were related I have not been able to ascertain. There are conflicting traditions held in different branches of the family and public records do not support them. The author visited Wells with the hope of finding family registers by which full connections could be established, but was disappointed, the old Bible containing the names and dates having been carried away many years (*)In the letter alluded to find mentioned "old Aunt Ruth."

However, among the family papers we found several old deeds and other documents that enabled us to trace the family to Becket, Mass. John Merrifield, of Becket, Berkshire Co., Mass., in consideration of $50.00 paid by David Merrifield, of Wells (1799), quits claim to all right and title to the estate of his honored father, John Merrifield, late of said town. John Merrifield, of Wells, purchased ten acres of land there of the widow of Jedediah Goodale. The first of this branch of the family known was SAMUEL MERRIFIELD,1 who settled in Berwick, near the Brawn and Thurrell homesteads, whose wife is said to have been carried to Canada by the Indians. His son,

1. JOHN,2 m. in Wells, Feb. 15, 1765, Sarah Boyd and settled in the west part of that town not far from the "Tatnick" neighborhood. Here he cleared a farm and spent the remainder of his days. Tradition says he m. a second wife named Bennett. He had children as follows:

I. JOHN,3 said to have gone West.
II. THOMAS,3 in 1804 deeds to brother David a ninth part of the estate of his honored father, John Merrifield, of Wells. He went West.
III. DAVID,3 m. Dec. 6, 1798, Dorcas Boston, of Wells, and settled on the homestead. These had thirteen children, many of whom d. young. Among the sons were:

(I). Hammond,4 b. May 26, 1808; m. Susan Allen, June 26, 1831, and settled on the homestead in Wells. He d. in Alfred, Sept. 22, 1868. His widow (b. Dec. 25, 1806), d. in Wells, Sept. 22, 1878. Children as follows:

(I). John A.,5 b. Nov. 26, 1831; m. Sarah Blaisdell and resides in Somerville, Mass.
(II). George A.,5 b. March 11, 1833; m. Nellie Wilson, of Rockland. He d. at sea, Mar. 20, 1867.
(III). Hosea F.,5 b. Oct. 24, 1836; m. Julia Henderson, who died at East Watertown, Mass., Sept. 11, 1892.
(IV). Salathiel B.,5 b. June 27, 1841; m. Sarah, daughter of Merrill Sargent, of South Berwick, and lives on the homestead, owned for four generations of the family, in Wells; has a good farm and buildings; keeps good stock; cuts a large barn full of hay; everything has the appearance of thrift and prosperity; the evident result of good management and continuous hard work. Three children.
(V). Oren O.,5 b. April 22, 1847; m. Emma Henderson, in Brighton, Mass.

(2). David,4 m. Hepzibah Blaisdell, and lived in a part of the old Merrifield mansion, in Wells. Being in poor health his brother, who had inherited the estate, gave him a part of it to take care of his parents in old age. He did not long survive and his widow m. Daniel Boston, of Wells.
(3). Joseph A.,4 b. Oct. 6, 1821, in Wells; m. Susie Locke Smith (b. May 23, 1829), Mar. 14, 1850, of Winchester, Mass., and in 1878 he was living in Arlington. Children:

(I). Lizzie J.,5 b. May 13, 1855. Page 933 Page 934
(II). Walter E.,5 b. Aug. 24, 1857.
(III). Winnie,5 b. July 14, 1860; d. July 15, 1860.

(4). Elizabeth,4 m. David Cane, in Wells, Feb. 12, 1789.
(5). Mary,4 m. Elijah Stuart, in Wells, Oct. 22, 1795.
(6) Dorcas,4 m. Elijah Hatch, in Wells, April 15, 1809.

Simeon Merrifield1 enlisted under Maj. John Storer in Wells, in 1740, and sailed for Boston on transport Mar. 24th to join the Louisburg expedition under Pepperrill. He was probably born as early as 1718-20, and was, I think, the first who settled in the township. Possibly Samuel, whose name heads the pedigree of the family before-mentioned, was his son.

2. SIMEON,2 supposed to be a son of preceding, m. Lydia (???) and settled near the South Berwick line in Wells. When advanced in life, after the death of his wife, he went to Limington and spent the last seven years of his life there. He was buried in the family lot on the Merrifield homestead in that town. Children, far as known, as follows: I. SIMEON,3 settled in Porter and had issue.

II. SAMUEL,3 remained in Wells on homestead.
III. EDMUND,3 settled "down east."
IV. STEPHEN,3 drowned at Wells while out fishing.
V. MARGARET,3 m. John Kennard and settled in Limington; had issue.
VI. LEVI,3 settled in Limington, Me.

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MERRIFIELDS OF LIMINGTON, MAINE

Levi Merrifield,3 son of Simeon and Lydia, born in Wells in 1776; m. Anna, daughter of Andrew Mace, of Berwick, Feb. 28, 1794 (she born Dec. 3, 1767), ceremony by Elder Nathaniel Lord, and immediately settled on wild land in Limington, then known as the plantation of Little Ossipee. He and his brother-in-law, John Kennard, had raised a good crop of "burnt-ground corn" and put up their log-houses the year previous to their removal to become permanent settlers.

In the autumn after securing their harvests, these hardy, invincible pioneers returned to Wells and waited for the snow fall; then the two men, each having a pair of steers, loaded their beds, bedding, and household gear upon a common ox-sled, and upon this the two young wives were seated and away they went, leaving childhood home, parents, brothers, sisters (?), on their journey toward the hill country of Little Ossipee.

They reached Waterborough on the evening of the first day, carried their bedding into the house of a farmer, "made them up" on the kitchen floor and "bundled in" for the night. Resuming their journey on the following morning, by hard driving of their "nimble steers" they reached their destination at a late hour on the second evening. Here in the wilderness, surrounded by towering hills, the brief ceremony of "hanging the crane," was attended to, and, full of courage, vim, and health these young people began life in earnest. Mr. Merrifield's rude hut was built on the very spot where the old school-house now stands, but his first clearing was "on the mountain." He died Nov. 18, 1855, aged 79 years, and was buried on the farm. Nine children, as follows:

1. ANDREW,4 b. Sept. 13, 1794, in Limington; m. Jane Berry, of that town, May 10, 1818, and settled in Porter not far from the Hiram line, where he cleared from a heavily timbered tract of rocky land a good farm.

He was a man of resolute temperament and robust constitution, who toiled early and late to provide a comfortable home for his family. Alas! the acres cleared by his strong arms have passed out of the family and the buildings once capacious and well made are falling into decay. He d. Dec. 19, 1855. His wife was b. Feb. 14, 1796. These lie buried on a knoll not far from the house, where several children were interred. Nine children, whose names will follow:

I. LOUISA,5 b. Nov. 12, 1818; m. Jan. 9, 1840, to Levi Lord, of Hiram, and went West.
II. ANDREW,5 b. Nov. 5, 1820; lived at home, single.
III. JOHN,5 b. Sept. 30, 1822; m. May 7, 1848, to Sally, dau. of Samuel Ridlon, of Hiram, and was killed in a stave mill by being entangled in a belt. Children: Warren,6 Edwin,6 and Chester.6
IV. ABIGAIL,5 b. 1824; m. May 3, 1850, to Nathaniel Gilpatrick, of Kezar Falls.
V. MARY J.,5 b. Dec. 25, 1826; d. at Saco, Aug. 23, 1845.

VI. JEREMIAH,5 b. April 10, 1829; m. Polly, dau. of Samuel Ridlon, of Hiram, and had issue, three children, as will follow. He has lived as a farmer in Porter and Parsonsfield. For several years he and his brother John ran a stave mill, but he has for several years, in company with his son, carried on the manufacture of bobbins at Kezar Falls.

Notwithstanding losses by fire their business has proved successful. Mr. Merrifield has one of the most imposing, pleasantly situated, and comfortable homes in the village, and here by his cheerful fireside, in the companionship of his family, when the day's toil is over, he enjoys a quiet rest. He has been a man of resolution and unconquerable enterprise, and deserves the temporal prosperity which has crowned his many years of toil; has been many years an active member of the Methodist church, in which he has stood a pillar of strength. Issue:

(1). Jennie,6 m. Ezra Lord.
(2). William O.,6 m. Fannie B. Wormwood and lives at home. He is engaged in manufacturing mill bobbins and small wooden wares, and by close application to the details of the business and persistent efforts has built up a successful industry in the village. One son, Ralph.7

VII. SARAH A.,5 b. June 26, 1831.
VIII. EUNICE,5 b. Sept. 20, 1833.
IX. MARGARET,5 b. Mar. 25, 1837; d. April, 1892.

2. EUNICE,4 b. Mar. 3, 1796; m. Oct. 2, 1814, John Bradeen, of Limington.
3. MARGARET,4 b. Nov. 27, 1797; remained single.
4. LEVI,4 b. Dec. 25, 1799; m. Dec. 25, 1828, Anna, dau. of William and Hannah (Mace) Hussey, of Berwick (she b. in Shapleigh), and lived on the old Merrifield homestead, in Limington, until old age. His widow is now living, rising ninety-two, active, intelligent, and full of stories of "ye olden time." Children:

I. GARDNER,5 m. Sarah Boothby, dau. of Israel, of Limington, and lives on a part of the homestead; farmer and marketman; has a daughter.
II. LUCINDA,5 m. Daniel Wentworth, of Porter; deceased.
III. LEVI,5 m. dau. of Joshua McKenney, and lives on the homestead.

5. SALLY,4 b. Nov. 28, 1801; m. Jacob Bradeen, of Porter, brother of John, before-mentioned; d. Feb. 21, 1844.
6. ANNA,4 b. April 15, 1804; m. Forest Pugsley.
7. HANNAH,4 b. July 5, 1806; d. Oct. 11, 1840, at Cornish.
8. MARY,4 b. Aug. 5, 1809; married Dec. 21, 1839, Benjamin Pugsley, of Cornish; afterwards of Porter.
9. JEREMIAH,4 b. June 28, 1811; d. Sept. 2, 1825.

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MERRIFIELDS OF SANFORD, MAINE

William Merrifield,2 born in Sept., 1747, is said to have been a brother to Simeon Merrifield, the 2d, of Wells. He settled in Sanford more than a hundred years ago, and his posterity have held uninterrupted possession of the farm cleared by him until the present day. From the town records of Wells I find that he was married there, Dec. 6, 1771, to Hepzibah Furbush. His children and descendants, far as known, were named as follows:

1. NATHANIEL,3 b. Sept 21, 1772.
2. WILLIAM,3 b. Feb. 16, 1774. 3. JACOB,3 b. Jan. 4, 1776; m. Lucy Ricker, of Sanford, and settled on a farm in that town. He had fourteen children, whose names will follow:

I. OLIVE,4 b. May 23, 1806; m. (???) Pray.
II. HOSEA,4 b. Feb. 7, 1808; m. Mary J., dau of Elder Henry Hobbs, of Waterborough, who d. only a few years after marriage, childless. He m. second, Louisa (Carll) Hobbs, a widow with four childen, and by her had a son and a daughter. He was a blacksmith; d. when son was fourteen; widow now living with her daughter in Boston. Issue:

(1). Jacob C.,5 m. Winnie A. Dolan; was in the Civil war, and after his return settled as blacksmith in Boston; d. leaving Herbert J.6
(2). Lucy A.5

III. LUCINDA,4 b. Nov. 7, 1809; m. (???) Mace.
IV. LOUISA,4 b. Aug. 27, 1811; m. Thomas Stevens.
V. MONSIEUR R.,4 b. June 4, 1813, settled on the homestead in Sanford. He d. in 1893. Children: Hosea,5 now engaged in business at North Berwick; Charles,5 in business with Hosea; Frank,5 and Daniel M.5
VI. REBECCA R.,4 b. Mar. 15, 1815; m. (???) Gowen.
VII. ISAIAH,4 b. Feb. 3, 1817; d. young.
VIII. JACOB,4 b. Nov. 12, 1818; stone mason, unmarried.
IX. LUCY,4 b. Jan. 26, 1821; m. James Jackson, of Rochester, N. H., and is living.
X. ISAIAH,4 b. June 9, 1823; stone mason, single.
XI. WILLIAM,4 b. June 30, 1825; m. Julia Carroll and lives at Derry Depot, N. H.; stone mason and farmer. No children.
XII. OLIVE,4 b. Dec. 28, 1827; m. (???) Perry; deceased.
XIII. SEWELL H.,4 b. Oct. 6, 1830; married; went to sea and was lost. Simeon Merrifield,4 son of Samuel,3 of Wells, settled in Denmark and had a family; is said to have removed to Baldwin.

John Merrifield1 died in Wells, in 1892, on "Maryland Ridge." He lived for many years on a farm near Wells town-house, but being defrauded by railroad employes was obliged to sell his farm to pay for provisions; has a son, JOHN,2 living in Berwick. The origin of the first John was somewhat obscure; possibly semi-Melchisadec.

There were families named Merrifield in Ipswich, Mass., quite early, descended from FRANCIS MERRIFIELD, said to have come over with several brothers. His sons were FRANCIS and JAMES. DEA. FRANCIS MERRIFIELD, of Ipswich, son of Francis, 3d, and one of ten children, was born in Ipswich in 1736; married Hannah Lakeman, who died Oct. 29, 1809. He died April 21, 1814, aged 78 years. He was for many years deacon of the South church in Ipswich. He had a family of thirteen children, four of whom survived him.

We clip the following from The Sunday School Times: A BIBLE ON BUNKER HILL.--Among the men of Colonel Little's regiment who took part in the famous battle of Bunker Hill was Francis Merrifield, of Ipswich, Mass., a sergeant in the company of Capt. Nathaniel Wade. There stands in my library today a well-worn pocket Bible which was in his possession during that battle. Its clasps are wrenched from their fastenings and are gone, yet it bears no mark of bullet or bayonet. Its office on that eventful day was not to turn from its course some missile of death, but to sustain the Christian soldier, and to bear the record of his gratitude and piety to his descendants.

After the troops had retired to Cambridge, he made the following record on a blank page between the Old and New Testaments: "CAMBRIDGE, June 17, 1775. I desire to bless God for his kind appearance in delivering me and sparing my life in the late battle fought on Bunker Hill. I desire to devote this spared life to his glory and honor, as witness my hand, FRANCIS MERRIFIELD.

"O for a strong and lasting faith "My spirit looks to God alone; To credit what the Almighty saith; My strength and refuge is his throne. To embrace the message of his Son, In all my fears, in all my straits, And call the joys of heaven my own. My soul on His salvation waits. "Nothing but glory can suffice The appetite of grace; I wait, I long with restless eyes, Longing to see thy face. "As witness my hand, FRANCIS MERRIFIELD."

He served through the war and his comrades testified that throughout his army life he never failed kindly to rebuke an oath when uttered in his presence. In after life he bore an unspotted reputation.

"It is not meet that brass or stone, Which feel the touch of time, Should keep the record of a faith That woke thy deed sublime. We trace it on a tablet fair, Which glows when stars wax pale; A promise that the good man's prayer Shall with his God prevail."

ESSEX, MASS., May 12, 1875. R. C. John Merrifield,2 nephew of Thomas,1 of Becket, Mass., was b. in 1770, in or near Lowell, and had children whose names follow:

1. JOHN S.,3 of Sheffield, Mass., b. in 1800, was eldest brother of the father of Rev. C. N. Merrifield. Page 938
2. PAULINA,3 b. in 1802.
3. NELSON,3 b. in 1804.
4. CYRENIUS,3 b. in 1807.
5. LORENZO,3 b. in 1811.
6. LYMAN,3 b. in 1816; had one son, Dwight W.,4 who was in Sheffield in 1877.

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