This genealogy of the Wakefield family comes from a four volume set of genealogy research compiled in the early 1900s. Each generation is shown in parentheses ( ). Begin with one individual and continue that line through the furthest generation currently known before starting a new descendancy for the next sibling. This method keeps each family group intact, while presenting the families of siblings separately but under the same generational number.
There were several ancestors bearing this name who settled very early in the New England colonies, and their descendants have been conspicuous for good citizenship through the numerous generations that have taken their turn upon the stage of life. A town in Massachusetts has been named for the family, and its members have been conspicuous in the fields of education, medicine, law and the ministry. They have also been active as business men and have contributed universally to the mental and moral growth of society as well as the material development of the commonwealth in which they lived.
(I) John Wakefield, the progenitor of the family which has been very numerously represented in Maine, was a native of England. The first record of him found in this country bears date January 1, 1637, when at the town meeting held at Salem he was assessed fifteen shillings as an inhabitant of Marblehead in the Colony of Massachusetts Bay. It is presumable that he came as early at least as the previous summer. On the fourteenth of the same month, among the several portions of land laid out at Marblehead, he received four acres “on the Neck.” Prior to 1648, he lived in Salem, which then included the present town of Marblehead. He first appears on record in Maine in 1641, when he and his brother-in-law, John Littlefield, received a grant of what is known as the Great Hill Farm. The hill at that time extended much farther into the sea than it now does, and with the projecting land at the eastern end was called the Great Neck. This was in the Lygonia patent, and neither of the grantees took possession probably on account of the uncertainty as to their title. John Wakefield settled in the town of Wells, where he attained considerable prominence. He served as commissioner and selectman in 1648-54-57. In each instance his father-in-law, Edmund Littlefield, served in the same capacity. In 1652 John Wakefield purchased Wakefield’s Island and removed to it in that year and there resided for a time. He subsequently purchased land in Scarboro and resided upon it several years. Thence he removed to that part of Biddeford which is now Saco, where he remained until his death. That he was a man of considerable substance is evidenced by the fact of his buying and selling lands, and he was frequently called upon to witness deeds for others. In 1670, when he was probably incapacitated by illness or the infirmities of age, his wife acted as his attorney in selling parcels of land. He died February 15, 1674, and was buried at Biddeford. The destruction of the records of Wells, Maine, leaves us no accurate data as to the time of his marriage or his birth or the births of his children. His wife Elizabeth was a daughter of Edmund and Annis Littlefield, of Wells. Her death is not recorded. Their children included: John, James, Henry, William, Mary and Katherine.
(II) William Wakefield, fourth son and child of John and Elizabeth (Littlefield) Wakefield, was probably born at Biddeford, Maine. He was possessed of some property as is shown by the record of a deed of ten acres of land in York township. On October 25, 1707, he went out with his brother James and four others in a small sloop to fish. There was a heavy sea at the bar, and as they attempted to drive the sloop it was upset and all were drowned. One of the bodies was never recovered. Bourne’s History of Wells says, “These men were all valuable citizens and their aid was greatly needed.” William Wakefield was married at Salem, March 13, 1698, to Rebecca Littlefield. There is but one child on record, namely: William. Tradition gives three others: Joseph, Jonathan and Benjamin.
(III) Jonathan Wakefield, third son and child of William and Rebecca (Littlefield) Wakefield, was born in Maine and settled in Sutton, Massachusetts, before 1734. He was a soldier in the Colonial wars, and died in October, 1765. He was married June 22, 1732, to Abigail Smith, and his children, born in Sutton between 1734 and 1755, were: Abigail (died young), Jonathan, Rebecca, Tabatha, Amasa, Samuel, Silas, Isiah, Luther, Mary and Abigail.
(IV) Jonathan Wakefield (2), eldest son and second child of Jonathan (1) and Abigail (Smith) Wakefield, was born October 16, 1736, in Sutton, Massachusetts, and served as a soldier of the Colonial wars and also in the Revolution. He was killed in the service at Dorchester Heights in March, 1776. Soon after his widow and her children settled in Newport, New Hampshire. He was married May 21, 1760, to Anne Wheeler. Their children were: Jonathan; Josiah; Sarah/Sally married Jonathan Haven; Joel; Lucy; Peter; Jesse; Chloe, married Asaph Stow, of Croydon, New Hampshire, an uncle of Baron Stow, D.D.; and Anna. The migration of the family to Newport occurred in 1779.
(V) Jonathan Wakefield, son of Jonathan and Anne (Wheeler) Wakefield; born March, 1761, died Oct. 14, 1857, moved to Newport, New hampshire in 1779 and first settled on the H. Brown farm, but spent most of his life at the Kibbey place. Married first, Sally Fletcher, married 2d, Elizabeth Goodwin. Their children were: Anna, married William Wakefield; Sally, married Abel Fairbanks; Jonathan, married Rebecca Haven; Amos, married Chloe Cooper, and is a Methodist clergyman at the West; Ira, a teacher and deacon; married Prudence Wheeler; Polly, died unmarried; Achsa, married William Knapp; Betsey, married David Fletcher.
(V) Josiah Wakefield, son of Jonathan and Anne (Wheeler) Wakefield was born in May, 1763; spent most of his life on his farm in the north part of the town, where he died. He had a literary taste, and for many years kept the Northville library; was a man of excellent judgment, and enjoyed the confidence of his townsmen. He had no children. Married first, Polly Putnam; married 2d, Emma Putnam; married 3d, Polly Newton; the latter attained the age of nearly one hundred years.
(V) Joel Wakefield, son of Jonathan and Anne (Wheeler) Wakefield; born at Sutton, Mass., Jan. 10, 1764; settled on the J. Rice place at Northville. At one time he was the largest dairyman and land-holder in town. Married, Jan. 26, 1792, Mercy Morse, of Douglass, Mass., born Dec. 31, 1765. Their children were: Zilpha, born March 13, 1793; married Abel Wheeler; Clark, born Oct. 16, 1794; married Caroline Rice; Willard, born June 19, 1797; married, March 9, 1820, Martha McGregor; Charles, born Aug. 30, 1805; married Martha A. Fletcher, children: Maroa, Clarissa.
(V) Lucy Wakefield, daughter of Jonathan and Anne (Wheeler) Wakefield; married Urias Powers, of Croydon, New Hampshire. Their children were: Urias, a clergyman; the first graduate from Croydon, New Hampshire at Dartmouth college; Frederick; Simeon; Jonathan; Anna, first wife of Col. D. R. Hall, of Croydon, New Hampshire; Willard; Horace, an eminent physician, politician, and banker, at Morristown, Vermont; Josiah W., a clergyman; a graduate of Dartmouth college.
(V) Peter Wakefield, fourth son and sixth child of Jonathan (2) and Anne (Wheeler) Wakefield, was born probably at Sutton, Massachusetts, about 1767. He came to Newport, New Hampshire, and lived many years in the west part of the town near the plumbago mines. He was the father of Methodism in this section and built the chapel at Northville, near Newport. He also built what was afterwards known as the Reed sawmill there; he spent his latter years at Northville. He married Hannah, sister of William Haven, and they had ten children: Nancy, born May 17, 1778; Lovina, mentioned below; Hannah, March 31, 1793, married Cyrus McGregor; Lucy, August 17, 1795, married Jeremiah Adams; Simeon, April 20, 1798; Ruth, September 8, 1801, married September 22, 1822, Lorenzo Freeto; Orpha, October 24, 1804; Mahala, April 26, 1809; Peter, June 21, 1810; Philena, July 31, 1812.
(VI) Lovina Wakefield, second daughter and child of Peter and Hannah (Haven) Wakefield, was born March 8, 1791. She married, November 16, 1810, Stephen Leach, of Newport, New Hampshire. He was born December 9, 1790, and came from Plainfield, Vermont, at the age of nine years. They lived at the Reed sawmill in the northeast part of the town. They had five children: Erastus, born March 18, 1813; Lorena, married Azor Paul; Jackson, February 20, 1819; Rowancy, married Gilman Davis; Rosella, became the second wife of Azor Paul, of Newport (See Paul).
(VI) Simeon Wakefield, son of Peter and Hannah (Haven) Wakefield was born April 20, 1798; married Amy Freeto and they lived at Northville, New Hampshire. Their children were: Diana, born 1818; married Chauncy Wellington, Children: Elwin, Martha; Howard P., born Sept., 1820; married Asenath F. Dow, children: Edwin H., born Jan. 2, 1845; married Nov. 30, 1865, Justina, dau. of Jonathan Emerson, Jr., Edwin is a merchant at Northville; John M., born Jan. 5, 1823, married Betsey S. Whittier, of New London, children: Lilla L., born March 24, 1856; John was a successful farmer; Emma F., born in 1825; married John Frye, of Claremont, New Hampshire, one child was named Nettie.
(V) Jesse Wakefield, son of Jonathan and Anne (Wheeler) Wakefield was born March 27, 1769, at Sutton, Massachusetts, and married Aug. 27, 1787, Polly Scovel, of Croydon, New Hampshire, born Feb. 5, 1763. Their children were: Amma, born July, 1788, married David Taylor, of Connecticut; Josiah, born Nov. 5, 1790, married Miss Warner, of Connecticut; Chauncy, born Oct. 18, 1792; Sabra, born in 1794, married Ela Harvey, of Pennsylvania; Jesse, born 1796; married Christina Madison; Patty, born in 1798, married Joseph Taylor, of Connecticut; Polly, born 1800, married Lowell Taylor, of Connecticut; Dilly, born 1802, married James Peat; Alden, born 1807, died young.
(VI) Chauncey Wakefield, son of Jesse and Polly (Scovel) Wakefield was born Oct. 18, 1792 and married, March 24, 1811, Lydia, a dau. of Rev. Thomas Brown; Chauncey married, 2d, Eliza Tompkins. His children were: James, born Oct. 15, 1811, married Emma Brattlebank and resided in Cornish, Minnesota; Emma A., born Jan. 2, 1814; married James B. Harris; resided at Worcester, Massachusetts; William, born Sept. 15, 1819, died at age 14; Mary, born Dec. 11, 1822, married Bryant Wheeler; Josiah, born Jan. 27, 1826, married Susan Avery and resided at Worcester, Massachusetts; Ruth D., born Nov. 17, 1832, married, March 26, 1856, Horace Rice, of Holden, Massachusetts.
(IV) Silas Wakefield, son of Jonathan (1) and Abigail (Smith) Wakefield, came from Sutton, Massachusetts. Married Anna Marsh. Their children were: James, who married Susan Ledoyt, a dau. of Rev. Bial Ledoyt, they had two sons; Elias, married Jonanna Cutting, children: Silas, a clergyman at Montpelier, Vermont, children: Elias, Sydney, Lorinda, and Matilda; Anna, married a Mr. Brown, and went to Vermont; Silas; Asuba, went to New York.
(V) Silas Wakefield, son of Silas and Anna (Marsh) Wakefield; lived on the B. B. Hastings place; was selectman of Newport in 1832 and ’33; was one of those who purchased the Argus, and brought it from Claremont, New Hampshire to Newport, New Hampshire; married Polly, dau. of Joel McGregor. Their children were: Sylvester E. H., born Oct. 14, 1815, a musician, married Louisa A. Rider; Huldah M., born Jan. 22, 1817; married Orren D. Hall; Delina, married Christopher Hartshorn, of Littleton, New Hampshire, Aug. 12, 1846; Solenda, married Simon B. Harris.
Source
Stearns, Ezra S., Genealogical and family history of the state of New Hampshire : a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, 4 vols., New York : Lewis Publishing Co., 1908.
Wheeler, Edmund. Croydon, N.H., 1866: Proceedings at the centennial celebration, June 13, 1866. A brief account of the leading men of the first century … Together with historical and statistical sketches of the town… The Claremont manufacturing co. Croydon, NH. 1867.
Wheeler, Edmund, The history of Newport, New Hampshire, from 1766 to 1878, Concord, N.H. : Printed by the Republican press association, 1879.