Descendants of John Maxfield
of Salisbury, Massachusetts
Sixth Generation

DANIEL PHILBRICK⁶ MAXFIELD (Ezra⁵, John⁴, Michael³, John^2-1) was born at Starksboro, Addison County, Vermont, on 29 December 1810^[1] a son of Ezra French Maxfield and his wife Abigail Philbrick . He died at Chichester, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, on 8 July 1888.^[2] He married at Loudon, Merrimack County, on 25 December 1834 DOROTHY RING.^[3] She was born at Chuchester on 28 September 1813, a daughter of Theodore Ring and Betsey Blake. She died at Chichester on 12 January 1900.^[4]

Daniel grew up on a farm in Starksboro, the oldest of eight children, all of whom lived to adulthood. When Daniel was about twenty to twenty-two years of age, the family moved to Chichester, where his father had grown up. When Daniel was twenty-two years old, his father died. Daniel's father's will set aside one-third of the estate to his widow, and, after setting aside several legacies, left the remainder of the farm to the two oldest sons, Daniel and Ezra. As only Daniel was of legal age, he was to be responsible for the farm and the family. The will stated, "I do hereby order that the farm be carried on as usual and Daniel P. to take the lead of business until Ezra shall arrive at twenty-one years of age . . ."^[5] So Daniel became responsible for his father's family, and in five months began his own family. Daniel's sister Rhoda married in 1835, and his brother Ezra married in 1838 and moved away.

The 1840 Census reported Daniel P. Maxfield the head of a large family in Chichester. While the census did not generally list the names of the individuals in the family, only numbers in various age and sex groups, it did list the names of persons receiving veteran's pensions. Rhoda Maxfield, 85, recipient of a pension, was a member of Daniel's household. The breakdown of the family by age and sex, with a possible identification of each person, follows:^[6]

The only unmarried siblings not accounted for are Delia, 23, and Abigail, 14, who could have been working out with other households.

By the time of the 1850 census, Damiel's mother, Abigail, had moved with his four unmarried siblings to Meredith, Belknap County, New Hampshire, where they lived in a separate household but at the same residence as Rhoda Davis, Daniel's married sister. Daniel's family at Chichester had grown significantly, as reported in the census:^[7]

Daniel and Dorothy's eldest child, Clara, age 14, could have been working out or away at boarding school, but I have not found her in this census.

By the 1860 census the oldest children, Clara and Ezra, had moved to California, and the next child, Betsey, had recently married. But the family had continued to grow, and Daniel's mother had returned to the family at Chichester (North Chichester Post Office), as indicated in the 1860 census:^[8]

Daniel Maxfield was a moderately prosperous farmer. On the page of the census on which his name occurs, and the previous page and following page, twenty-two households are reported. The heads of twenty of these households are farmers. Four have a higher valuation of real estate, fourteen lower, and one equal, to Daniel's.

Whatever else they raised on their farm, Daniel and Dorothy raised a lot of children. They had nine children. The first arrived when Dorothy was twenty-one years old, the last when she was forty-three. They all arrived within three years of each other except the last, who came seven years after the eighth child.

Five of the first six children migrated to California. However they were often near each other in the West. Clara had married Hiram Sheldon in 1859, and the 1860 census reported them living at San Francisco, where her brother Ezra lived with them.^[9] The 1870 census found Hiram and Clara Sheldon at San Diego, San Diego County, California, where the following household consisted of the newly married Daniel and Mary (Maxfield) Sheldon.^[10] That same census found Daniel and Ellen Maxfield at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County, California, listed immediately after George and Clara Maxfield.^[11] Daniel and George had both reached California by 1867, when they registered to vote, George at San Francisco and Daniel at Calaveras County.^[12]

The 1870 census reported a much smaller Daniel Maxfield family at Chichester (Pittsfield Post Office), concisting of Daniel, 59, farmer, Dorothy, 57, keeping house, True H., 21, farm laborer, and Otis T., 19, attending school.^[13] By 1880, only Otis was left at home with his parents, helping on the farm.^[14]

Daniel P. Maxfield wrote his will on 18 June 1887; it was proved in Merrimack County on 24 July 1888.^[15]

Of the nine children, five moved to California: Clara, Ezra, Mary, Daniel and George. Two married locally and settled in Pittsfield, Merrimack County: Betsey and True. Otis attended Bates College in Lewiston, Androscoggin County, Maine,^[16] then returned to the farm in Chichester, where he cared for his aging parents, and never married. Nellie, also called Ellen and Ella, is a mystery. She is named in a birth record in 1857, with the Daniel and Dorothy Maxfield family in the census of 1860, and in Daniel's will of 1888 as "My daughter Nellie D. Maxfield." I have found no other records of her existence.

Clara A. (Maxfield) Sheldon, according to her obituary, graduated from New Hampton (NH) Seminary, and taught school. She was active in church and mission work, being an early and active member of Bethany Congregational Church of San Francisco; she taught in a Chinese mission school in that city, under the direction of the American Missionary Association. Also, according to the obituaty, "Mrs. Sheldon was a woman of literary ability, being the author of numerous short stories and poems of recognized merit." This Sheldon family moved from San Francisco to southern Califorinia in 1886.^[17]

Mary F. Maxfield also moved to California and married a Sheldon. She were reported in census records as follows:^[18]

At the time of her sister Clara's death, Mary resided at Caruthers, Fresno County, California.^[19]

Daniel P. Maxfield died at Chichester in 1888 from prostalitis.^[20] Dorothy died there in 1900 from apoplexy.^[21]

Daniel Philbrick Maxfield and his wife Dorothy Ring had the following children:

1. CLARA ANN⁷ MAXFIELD b. at Chichester on 26 August 1835; d. at California on 16 January 1916; m. on 25 December 1859 HIRAM ADAMS SHELDON,^[22] b. at New York on 15 April 1826, d. on 10 June 1904.^[23] Hiram and Clara had the following children:^[24]
   1. Daniel F.⁸ Sheldon b. at California about 1862-3
   2. Jennie M.⁸ Sheldon b. at California about 1867-8
   3. Albert N.⁸ Sheldon b. at california about 1869-70
   4. William A.⁸ Sheldon b. at California about 1871-2
   5. Hiram H.⁸ Sheldon b. at California about 1874-5
2. EZRA FRENCH⁷ MAXFIELD b. at New Hampshire on June 1836.
3. BETSEY JANE⁷ MAXFIELD b. at Chichester on 11 March 1839; d. at Pittsfield on 30 November 1914;^[25] m. at Pittsfield on 7 March 1860 FREEMAN R. WATSON,^[26] b. at Alton, Belknap County, New Hampshire, on 27 July 1835, d. at Pittsfield on 9 December 1912,^[27] child of Enoch Watson, Jr., and Sallie Hatch.
4. MARY F.⁷ MAXFIELD b. at New Hampshire on December 1840;^[28] living at Madera, Madera County, California, on 1 April 1930; m. on 1870 DANIEL S. SHELDON,^[29] b. at Cayuga County, New York, on 26 April 1828,^[30] d. at California between 1900 and 1920. Daniel and Mary had the following children:^[31]
   1. Albert H.⁸ Sheldon b. at California about 1871-2
   2. George M.⁸ Sheldon b. at California about 1873; m. Laura A. ________ b. at California about 1875. George nd Laura had the following children:
      1. Dan⁹ Sheldon b. at California about 1904
      2. Maxfield⁹ Sheldon b. at California about 1907
      3. Paul⁹ Sheldon b. at California about 1908
      4. Lawrence⁹ Sheldon b. at California about 1911
5. DANIEL CILLEY⁷ MAXFIELD b. at Chichester on March 1843.
6. GEORGE LEMUEL⁷ MAXFIELD b. at Chichester on 7 April 1846.
7. TRUE HARVEY⁷ MAXFIELD b. at Chichester on 1 September 1848.
8. OTIS THEODORE⁷ MAXFIELD b. at Chichester on 27 August 1850;^[32] d. at Concord, Merrimack County, on 7 August 1926.^[33]
9. ELLEN D.⁷ MAXFIELD b. at Chichester on August 1857;^[34] living on 18 June 1887 (in father's will)

¹Vermont State Archives and Records Administration, Vermont Births, Marriages and Deaths to 2008, index card, Birth, Daniel P. Maxfield, 1810; digital images, New England Historic Genealogical Society, American Ancestors (americanancestors.org : accessed 22 December 2016).
²New Hampshire, State of. Division of Vital Records, Concord, New Hampshire, New Hampshire: Births to 1901, Deaths and Marriages to 1937., index card, Death, Daniel P. Maxfield, 1888; digital images, New England Historic Genealogical Society, American Ancestors (americanancestors.org : accessed 22 December 2016).
³New Hampshire Division of Vital Records, New Hampshire: Births to 1901, Deaths and Marriages to 1937., index card, Marriage, Maxfield-Ring, 1834.
⁴New Hampshire Division of Vital Records, New Hampshire: Births to 1901, Deaths and Marriages to 1937., index card, Death, Dorothy Maxfield, 1900.
⁵Merrimack County, New Hampshire, Probate Records; "New Hampshire, County Probate Records, 1660-1973," digital images, Family Search (familysearch.org: accessed 11 January 2014); 8:260-61.
⁶Sixth Census of the United States: 1840, population, Loudon, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, roll 240, p. 45, Daniel Maxfield family; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 25 September 2012).
⁷Seventh Census of the United States: 1850, population, Chichester, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, roll 436, p. 20A, household 6, Daniel Maxfield family; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 9 October 2012); NARA microfilm record group M432.
⁸Eighth Census of the United States: 1860, population, Chichester, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, roll 677, p. 546, household 187, Daniel Maxfield family; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 9 November 2012); NARA microfilm record group M653.
⁹1860 Census, San Francisco District 10, San Francisco County, Califoenia, roll 67, p. 247, household 690, Hiram Sheldon family.
¹⁰Ninth Census of the United States: 1870, population, San Diego, San Diego County, California, roll 78, p. 510B, dwelling 889, household 912, Sheldon family; and p. 511A, dwelling 890, household 913, Daniel Sheldon family; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 26 December 2016); NARA microfilm record group M593.
¹¹1870 Census, Township #2, Santa Barbara County, California, roll 87, p. 501B, household 1021, George Maxfield family, and household 1022, Daniel Maxfield family.
¹²"California, Voter Registers, 1866-1898," digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 22 August 2011), Daniel Maxfield, and George Maxfield; California State Library, Sacramento, CA.
¹³1870 Census, Chichester, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, roll 845, p. 88A, household 10, Daniel Maxfield household.
¹⁴Tenth Census of the United States: 1880, population, Chichester, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, enumeration district (ED) 165, roll 765, p. 83B, household 117, Daniel Maxfield family; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 13 March 2013); NARA microfilm publication T9.
¹⁵Merrimack County, New Hampshire, Probate FRecords, vol. 68 p. 490.
¹⁶French, Harry Dana. Descendants of John Maxfield of Salisbury, Mass., New Hampshire Historical Society Library, Concord, NH, about 1952. Also listed as a sophemore at "N.H. Students," Daily Patriot, 11 November 1871; Infotrac (http://infotrac.galegroup.com : accessed 3 December 2013), 19th Century U.S. Newspapers.
¹⁷"Mrs. Clara A. Sherldon," Valley Times, Pittsfield, New Hampshire, 18 February 1916, digital image provided by New Hampshire Historical Society.
¹⁸1870 census, San Diego, San Diego County, California, roll 78, p. 511A, dwelling 890, household 913, Daniel Sheldon family. 1880 census, National City, San Diego County, California, ED 89, roll 72, p. 565B, dwelling 18, household 18, household of Eliz. A. Brewster. Twelth Census of the United States: 1900, population, Anaheim, Orange County, California, enumeration district (ED) 139, roll 95, p. 6A, household 128, Daniel Sheldon household; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 8 February 2011); NARA microfilm group T623. Fourteenth Census of the United States: 1920, population, Madera, Madera County, California, enumeration district (ED) 140, roll 101, p. 9B, dwelling 195, household 205, George M. Sheldon family; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 28 December 2016); NARA microfilm record group T625. Fifteenth Census of the United States: 1930, population, Madera, Madera County, California, enumeration district (ED) 5, roll 176, p. 10B, dwelling 63, household 69, Mary F. Sheldon; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 28 December 2016); NARA record Group T626.
¹⁹"Mrs. Clara A. Sherldon," Valley Times, 18 February 1916.
²⁰New Hampshire Division of Vital Records, New Hampshire: Births to 1901, Deaths and Marriages to 1937., index card, Death, Daniel P. Maxfield, 1888.
²¹New Hampshire Division of Vital Records, New Hampshire: Births to 1901, Deaths and Marriages to 1937., index card, Death, Dorothy Maxfield, 1900.
²²"Mrs. Clara A. Sherldon," Valley Times, 18 February 1916. Pierce Brothers Santa Paula Cemetery, Santa Paula, Ventura County, California, Find a Grave, digital images (findagrave.com : accessed 4 April 2012), Clara Sheldon.
²³Pierce Brothers Santa Paula Cemetery, Santa Paula, Ventura County, California, Find a Grave, Hiram Sheldon.
²⁴1870 census, San Diego, San Diego County, California, roll 78, p. 510B, dwelling 889, household 912, Sheldon family. 1880 census, San Francisco, San Francisco County, California, ED 168, roll 77, p. 298C/D, dwelling 97, household 122, Hiram Sheldon family.
²⁵New Hampshire Division of Vital Records,New Hampshire: Births to 1901, Deaths and Marriages to 1937., index card, Death, Betsy Watson, 1914. Floral Park Cemetery, Pittsfield, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, Find a Grave, digital images (findagrave.com : accessed 4 July 2014), Betsy Watson.
²⁶New Hampshire Division of Vital Records, New Hampshire: Births to 1901, Deaths and Marriages to 1937, index card, Marriage, Watdson-Maxfield, 1860.
²⁷New Hampshire Division of Vital Records, New Hampshire: Births to 1901, Deaths and Marriages to 1937, index card, Death, Freeman R. Watson, 1912. Floral Park Cemetery, Find a Grave, Freeman Watson.
²⁸1900 census, Anaheim, Orange County, California, ED 139, roll 95, p. 6A, household 128, Daniel Sheldon household.
²⁹Susan Owens, to Charles A. Maxfield, electronic mail, 23 October 2011, "Mary F. Maxfield,"; privately held. Also indicated as 1869-70 in 1900, 1930 censuses.
³⁰Owens, electronic mail, 23 October 2011.
³¹1880 census, National City, San Diego County, California, ED 89, roll 72, p. 565B, dwelling 18, household 18, household of Eliz. A. Brewster.
³²New Hampshire Division of Vital Records, New Hampshire: Births to 1901, Deaths and Marriages to 1937., index card, Birth, Otis T. Maxfield, 1850.
³³New Hampshire Division of Vital Records, New Hampshire: Births to 1901, Deaths and Marriages to 1937., index card, Death, Otis Maxfield, 1926.
³⁴New Hampshire Division of Vital Records, New Hampshire: Births to 1901, Deaths and Marriages to 1937, index card, Birth, Nellie Maxfield, 1857.

"California, Voter Registers, 1866-1898." Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2011.

Daily Patriot, Concord, New hampshire, 11 November 1871.

Floral Park Cemetery, Pittsfield, Merrimack County, New Hampshire. Find a Grave. Digital images. findagrave.com : 2014.

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

Merrimack County, New Hampshire. Probate Records. "New Hampshire, County Probate Records, 1660-1973." Digital images. Family Search. familysearch.org: 2014

New Hampshire, State of. Division of Vital Records. Concord, New Hampshire. New Hampshire: Births to 1901, Deaths and Marriages to 1937. Digital images. New England Historic Genealogical Society. American Ancestors. americanancestors.org : 2016

Pierce Brothers Santa Paula Cemetery, Santa Paula, Ventura County, California. Find a Grave. Digital images. findagrave.com : 2012.

United States Department of the Census. 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.

________. Ninth Census of the United States: 1870, population. Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2016

________. Tenth Census of the United States: 1880, population. Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2013.

________. Twelth Census of the United States: 1900, population. Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2011.

________. Fourteenth Census of the United States: 1920, population. Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2016.

________. Fifteenth Census of the United States: 1930, population. Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2016.

Valley Times. Pittsfield, New Hampshire.

Vermont State Archives and Records Administration. Vermont Births, Marriages and Deaths to 2008. Digital images. New England Historic Genealogical Society. American Ancestors. americanancestors.org : 2016