Descendants of John Maxfield
of Salisbury, Massachusetts
Sixth Generation

EZRA6 MAXFIELD (Ezra5, John4, Michael3, John2-1) was born at Starksboro, Addison County, Vermont, on 23 May 1815[1] a son of Ezra French Maxfield and his wife Abigail Philbrick . He died at Gilford, Belknap County, New Hampshire, on 14 September 1891.[2] He first married at Strafford, Orange Coiunty, Vermont, on 2 December 1838 LOUISA GOVE.[3] She was born at Strafford on 7 September 1816, a daughter of Nathaniel Gove, Jr., and Polley. She died at Vershire, Orange County, on 28 August 1860.[4] He second married at Gilford on 25 October 1869 JUDITH F. (TOWNE) SMITH.[5] She was born at Lisbon, Grafton County, New Hampshire, on 23 February 1822, a daughter of Joseph and Mehitable. She died at Laconia, Belknap County, on 18 January 1903.[6] Judith Towne had previously married between 1858 and 1860 REUBEN P. SMITH. He was born at New Hampshire about 1806-7 and died at Lakeport, Belknap County, on 21 August 1868.[7] Reuben Smith had previously married, probably before 1840, ANNA ________.[8] She was born at New Hampshire about 1801-2, and died at Laconia on 1 September 1858.[9]

Ezra Maxfield grew up on a farm in Starksboro, the second of eight children, seven of whom lived to adulthood. When Ezra was about fifteen years old, his family moved to Chichester, Merrimck County, New Hampshire, where his father had grown up. When Ezra was eighteen years old his father died.

Ezra Maxfield soon moved back to Vermont. But he did not return to Starksboro, on the west side of the Green Mountains; instead he settled in Vershire, on the east side of Vermont. He married Louisa Gove in her town of birth, Strafford, and they settled in nearby Vershire. Census records reported Ezra Maxfield a farmer in Vershire in 1840, 1850 and 1860.[10] He represented Vershire in the state legislature in 1859.[11] Ezra and Louisa had five children, all girls, at Vershire.

The 1860 Census reported the family at Vershire as follows:[12]

Line Name Age Sex Occupation R.E. P.E. Birthplace
32. Ezra Maxfield 45 farmer $1800 $500 VT
33. Louisa Maxfield 43 VT
34. Elizabeth Maxfield 18 VT
35. Mary L. Maxfield 15 VT
36. Julia E. Maxfield 11 VT
37. Marcia J. Maxfield 6 VT

Eldest daughter Abigail, 20, was living in nearby West Fairlee in the household of Amby Evans, 50, tailoress.[13] The four girls at home were all attending school.

Within three months of the 1860 census, Louisa, Ezra's wife, died of chronic pulmanary disease.[14] Some time in the next nine years Ezra moved back to New Hampshire, to Gilford, where he married again, and where he lived and farmed the rest of his life.

When Ezra Maxfield and Judith (Towne) Smith married in 1869, Ezra had been a widower for nine years, and Judith a widow for a little over a year. Judith's first husband, Reuben P. Smith, was about fifteen years older than her, and had been previously married. They had one child, who lived less than four years. Reuben Smith had a child from his first marriage, Henry Smith.[15] Henry married Lydia Randall at Meredith, Belknap County, on 10 February 1862[16] and they had three children.[17] However Henry and Lydia divorced in 1871, the cause being Lydia's adultery.[18] Two of the children of Henry, Benjamin and Reuben Smith, were reported living with Ezra and Judith Maxfield in the 1880 census, and widow Judith Maxfield was living with the family of Benjamin Smith in the 1900 census. Benjamin and Reuben Smith were Judith (Town) Smith Maxfield's step-grandchildren.

The 1870 census reported Ezra and Judith, ages 55 and 47, living at Lake Village Post Office, Gilford. Ezra was a teamster. Ezra's daughter, Josephine (elsewhere called Marcia), 16, lived with them and worked in a hosiery mill.[19] Daughter Julia Etta, 21, livrd in Andover, Merrimack County, in the household of John and Abby Leavitt; she also worked in a hosiery mill.[20]

The 1880 census reported Ezra Maxfield, 65, farmer, and Judith, 57, living in Gilford. The household included Judith's step-grandchildren, Benny and Reuben Smith, ages 15 and 13. Benny worked in a lace mill, Reuben attended school.[21] That census reported Elizabeth and Marcia Maxfield, ages 38 and 26, sisters, at Laconia, where both were teachers. Also in their household was their nephew Earnest Hunt, 5.[22] Henry Smith, Judith's step son, was listed as a servant in a home in Meredith.[23]

Ezra Maxfield, farmer, died in 1891 from "complications of diseases."[24]

Judith Maxfield, twice widowed, was reported in the 1900 census at 366 Elm Street, Laconia, living with her step-grandson and his family, as follows:[25]

Line Name Related Race Sex Born MS B FB MB Occupation
31. Smith, Benjamin J. head W M Feb 1865 M NH NH NH machinist
32. Smith, Bertha G. wife W F Dec 1865 M NH NH NH
33. Smith, Hazel L. daughter W F Sep 1896 S NH NH NH
34. Smith, Justine J. daughter W F Nov. 1898 S NH NH NH
35. Maxfield, Judith boarder W F Feb 1822 Wd NH NH NH

This recorded also indicated that Judith had given birth to one child, who was no longer living.

Judith Maxfield died in 1903 at 366 Elm Street, from cold and monchitis, from which she had suffered for seven days.[26] Judith Maxfield, "widow lady," wrote her will on 6 November 1897, and it was proved on 17 February 1903.[27] She left the following legacies:

Ezra Maxfield and his first wife Louisa Gove had the following children:

  1. ABIGAIL7 MAXFIELD b. at Vermont on 6 October 1839; d. at Pittsfield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, on 3 April 1923;[28] m. at Orange, Orange County, Vermont, on 29 April 1869 ELI CLARK SMITH,[29] b. on 17 October 1836, d. at Pittsfield on 1 November 1923.[30]
  2. ELIZABETH7 MAXFIELD b. at Vermont about 1841-2;[31] living 1880 (census).
  3. MARY L.7 MAXFIELD b. at Vermont about 1843-4;[32] living 1860 (census)
  4. JULIA ETTA7 MAXFIELD b. at Vershire on 27 October 1848; d. at Tilton, Belknapo County, on 19 March 1927;[33] m(1). at Tilton on 23 August 1871 ALPHONSO ALGER EMERY,[34] b. at Andover on 9 November 1851, d. at Franklin, Merrimack County, on 18 January 1908,[35] child of Joseph Brown Emery and Ruth M. Stevens; m(2) (his 2d). between 1909-1920 ELLERY WILLIS SANBORN,[36] b. at Tilton on 16 July 1851, d. at Tilton on 29 June 1927,[37] child of Nathan and Sarah Sanborn; he m(1). at Sanbornton, Belknap County on 31 May 1881 MARETTA N. CHASE, b. at Goshen, Addison County, Vermont, on 12 October 1850,[38] d. at Tilton on 26 March 1909,[39] child of Liba and Mindwell Chase.
  5. MARCIA JOSEPHINE7 MAXFIELD b. at Vermont about 1853-4;[40] living 1880 (census)
Julia Towne and her first husband Reuben P. Smith had the following child:
  1. BENJAMIN JAMES SMITH b. at Laconia on 29 April 1860;[41] d. at Laconia on 11 January 1864.[42]

NOTES

1Vermont State Archives and Records Administration, Vermont Births, Marriages and Deaths to 2008, index card 4394, Birth, Ezra Maxfield, 1815; 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 6155, Death, Ezra Maxfield, 1891; digital images, New England Historic Genealogical Society, American Ancestors (americanancestors.org : accessed 25 January 2017).
3Vermont Births, Marriages and Deaths to 2008, index card 4282, Marriage, Maxfield-Gove, 1838.
4Vermont Births, Marriages and Deaths to 2008, index card 4401, Death, Louisa Maxfield, 1860.
5New Hampshire: Births to 1901, Deaths and Marriages to 1937., index card 9857, Marriage, Maxfield-Smith, 1869.
6New Hampshire: Births to 1901, Deaths and Marriages to 1937., index card 15165, Death, Judith F. Maxfield, 1903.
7Hillside Cemetery, Laconia, Belknap County, New Hampshire, Find a Grave, digital images (findagrave.com : accessed 27 January 2017), Reuben P. Smith; submitted by Bill and April.
8Seventh Census of the United States: 1850, population, Center Harbor, Belknap County, New Hampshire, roll 425, p. 2B, dwelling 35, household 37, Reuben P. Smith family; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 28 January 2017); NARA microfilm record group M432.
9New Hampshire: Births to 1901, Deaths and Marriages to 1937., index card 12256, Death, Anna Smith, 1858.
10Sixth Census of the United States: 1840, population, Vershire, Orange County, Vermont, roll 543, p. 192, Ezra Maxfield; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 27 September 2012). 1850census, Vershire, Orange County, Vermont, roll 926, p. 57B-58A, household 188, Ezra Maxfield family. Eighth Census of the United States: 1860, population, Vershire, Orange County, Vermont, roll 1323, p. 578, household 612, Ezra Maxfield family; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 17 November 2012); NARA microfilm record group M653.
11"Representatives," Vermont Patriot, 17 September 1859; Infotrac (http://infotrac.galegroup.com : accessed 3 December 2013), 19th Century U.S. Newspapers.
121860 Census, Vershire, Orange County, Vermont, roll 1323, p. 578, household 612, Ezra Maxfield family.
131860 Census, West Fairlee, Orange County, Vermont, vol. 1323, p. 229, household 1482, Abigail Maxfield.
14Vermont Births, Marriages and Deaths to 2008, index card 4401, Death, Louisa Maxfield, 1860.
151850 Census, Center Harbor, Belknap County, New Hampshire, roll 425, p. 2B, dwelling 35, household 37, Reuben P. Smith family.
16New Hampshire: Births to 1901, Deaths and Marriages to 1937., index card 24241, Marriage, Smith-Randall, 1862.
17Ninth Census of the United States: 1870, population, Meredith, Belknap County, New Hampshire, roll 836, p. 172B, dwelling 206, household 239, Henry Smith family; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 28 January 2017); NARA microfilm record group M593.
18New Hampshire, Divorce Records to 1938 (microfilm): index card, Divorce- Smith-Randall, 1871; accessed through Ancestry.com, 28 January 2017;New England Historical and Genealogical Society, Boston, MA.
191870 Census, Gilford, Belknap County, New Hampshire, roll 836, p. 90B, household 424, Ezra Maxfield family.
201870 Census, Andover, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, roll 845, p. 16B, household 102, Etta Maxfield.
21Tenth Census of the United States: 1880, population, Gilford, Belknap County, New Hamshire, enumeration district (ED) 5, roll 760, p. 70A, household 464, Ezra Maxfield family; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 13 March 2013); NARA microfilm publication T9.
221880 Census, Laconia, Belknap County, New Hampshire, ED 8, vol. 760, p. 98A, household 16, Elizabeth Maxfield family.
231880 Census, Meredith, Belknap County, New Hampshire, ED 10, roll 760, p. 138A, dwelling 1, household 1, Henry Smith.
24New Hampshire: Births to 1901, Deaths and Marriages to 1937., index card 6155, Death, Ezra Maxfield, 1891.
25Twelth Census of the United States: 1900, population, Laconia, Belknap County, New Hampshire, enumeration district (ED) 9, roll 944, p. 17A, household 478, Judith Maxfield; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 28 July 2013); NARA microfilm group T623.
26New Hampshire: Births to 1901, Deaths and Marriages to 1937., index card 15165, Death, Judith F. Maxfield, 1903.
27Belknap County, New Hampshire, Probate Records, vol. 26 p. 253; digital images, Family Search (familysearch.org: accessed 28 January 2017); Will, Judith Maxfield.
28Pittsfield, Massachusetts, "Deaths 1886-1941," database, Claire Smith, transcriber, GenWeb Massachusetts: Berkshire Co.: Pittsfield (http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ : accessed 3 December 2013), .
29Vermont Births, Marriages and Deaths to 2008, index card 4274, Marriage, Smith-Maxfield, 1865.
30Pittsfield, Massachusetts, "Deaths 1886-1941," Eli Clark Smith.
311850 Census, Vershire, Orange County, Vermont, vol. 926, p. 57B-58A, household 188, Ezra Maxfield family.
32Ibid.
33New Hampshire: Births to 1901, Deaths and Marriages to 1937., index card 2243, Death, Julia Etta Sanborn, 1927.
34New Hampshire: Births to 1901, Deaths and Marriages to 1937., index card 8471, Marriage, Emery-Maxfield, 1871.
35New Hampshire: Births to 1901, Deaths and Marriages to 1937., index card 8471, Death, Alphonso Alger Emery, 1908.
36Fourteenth Census of the United States: 1920, population, Tilton, Belknap County, New Hampshire, enumeration district (ED) 15, roll 1006, p. 13B, dwelling 217, household 294, Willis Sanborn family; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 27 January 2017); NARA microfilm record group T625.
37New Hampshire: Births to 1901, Deaths and Marriages to 1937., index card 1547, Death, E. Willis Sanborn, 1927.
38New Hampshire: Births to 1901, Deaths and Marriages to 1937., index card 1253, Marriage, Sanborn-Chase, 1881.
39Joshua Lane Burial Ground, Tilton, Belknap County, New Hampshire, Find a Grave, digital images (findagrave.com : accessed 27 January 2017), Maretta M. Chase; submitted by Amy Levesque.
401860 Census, Vershire, Orange County, Vermont, vol. 1323, p. 578, household 612, Ezra Maxfield family.
41New Hampshire: Births to 1901, Deaths and Marriages to 1937., index card 19482, Birth, Benjamin P. Smith, 1860.
42New Hampshire: Births to 1901, Deaths and Marriages to 1937., index card 12477, Death, Benjamin James Smith, 1864.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Belknap County, New Hampshire. Probate Records. Digital images. Family Search. familysearch.org: 2017.

Hillside Cemetery, Laconia, Belknap County, NewHampshire. Find a Grave. Digital images. findagrave.com : 2017.

Lane, Joshua, Burial Ground, Tilton, Belknap County, New Hampshire. Find a Grave. Digital images. findagrave.com : 2017.

New Hampshire. Divorce Records to 1938 (microfilm). New England Historical and Genealogical Society, Boston, MA.

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 : 2017.

Pittsfield, Massachusetts. "Deaths 1886-1941." Database. Claire Smith, transcriber. GenWeb Massachusetts: Berkshire Co.: Pittsfield. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ : 2013.

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 : 2017.

________. 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 : 2017.

________. 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 : 2013.

________. Fourteenth Census of the United States: 1920, population. Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2017.

Vermont Patriot.Montpelier, Vermont, 17 September 1859.

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.

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