WILLIAM6 MAXFIELD (David5, Edmund4, Timothy3-2, John1) was born at Dartmouth, Bristol County, Massachusetts, on 22 February 1807, son of David Maxfield and his wife Mary Soule,[1] and died there on 4 November 1904.[2] He married at Falmouth, Barnstable County, Massachusetts (intentions published at New Bedford on 13 February 1836) MARIA PALMER BOURNE,[3] who was born at Falmouth on 12 May, 1810, a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Bourne; she died at New Bedford on 7 December 1884.[4]
William grew up in Dartmouth, the seventh of eleven children. When William was eight years old his mother died; when he was nineteen his father died. In 1822, William had a court appointed guardian, Seth Russell,[5] although William's father was still living.
William was called a "painter" on records from 1843 through 1880. In the 1880 Census he is specifically called a house painter.
The 1840 Census reported the William Maxfield family in New Bedford, with the two adults and two small children, plus a woman between the ages of 20 and 29.[6]
The William Maxfield family of New Bedford was reported in the 1850 Census as follows:[7]
| Name | Age | Sex | Occupation | R.E. | Birthplace | Other |
| William Maxfield | 42 | M | painter | $3,000 | Mass | |
| Maria T. Maxfield | 39 | F | Mass | |||
| William Maxfield | 13 | M | Mass | school | ||
| Mary E. Maxfield | 11 | F | Mass | school | ||
| Frederick T. Maxfield | 9 | M | Mass | school | ||
| George F. Maxfield | 3 | M | Mass | |||
| Lucy Bourne | 50 | F | Mass | |||
| Lysander F. Brownell | 17 | M | painter | Mass |
Between the births of Frederick and George, William and Maria had two children who did not survive: Edward lived only nine months, Albert lived three years before dying of lung fever. After George, they had a daughter who died at birth in 1849, and a son who lived eight days in 1850.
The 1855 Massachusetts state census reported this family with one additional child, a second Edward, age 2.[8]
In the 1860 Census the William Maxfield family of Ward 6, New Bedford, consisted of the following:[9]
| Name | Age | Sex | Occupation | R.E. | P.E. | Birthplace | |
| William Maxfield | 53 | M | painter | $3500 | $4000 | Mass | |
| Maria P. Maxfield | 52 | F | Mass | ||||
| William H. Maxfield | 23 | M | painter | Mass | |||
| Mary E. Maxfield | 21 | F | Mass | ||||
| Frederick T. Maxfield | 19 | M | Mass | ||||
| George F. Maxfield | 12 | M | Mass | school | |||
| Edward A. Maxfield | 7 | M | Mass | school | |||
| Mary Kelly | 18 | F | domestic | Ireland |
Daughter Mary married in 1863. The 1865 State census reported the family at New Bedford consisting of William, 56, painter, Maria, 54, William H., 28, painter, Frederick, 24, painter, George, 17, and Edward, 11. Also in the home were married daughter Mary, 26, and her husband, John Babcock, 30, cooper.[10]
The 1870 Census reported the family in ward 5, New Bedford, with the three sons at home:[11]
| Name | Age | Sex | Race | Occupation | R.E. | P.E. | Birth | Other |
| Maxfield, William | 63 | M | w | painter | $3000 | $1000 | MA | |
| Maxfield, Maria | 60 | F | W | keeps house | MA | |||
| Maxfield, William | 32 | M | W | painter | MA | |||
| Maxfield, George M. | 22 | M | W | tin smith | MA | |||
| Maxfield, Edward A. | 17 | M | W | at school | MA | school |
Son Frederick had married in 1868, and lived in New Bedford with his wife Nancy. He was a 29 year old painter; she was 29 and keeping house.[12]
Son William married in 1871, George in 1872, and Edward in 1879. The 1880 Census reported William and Maria in New Bedford, with no children at home.[13] Son William, painter, lived at New Bedford with his wife and three daughters.[14] Frederick, painter, also lived in New Bedford, with his wife, and a nine year old niece Florence Forbes.[15] Edward had moved to Boston, where he lived with his wife Pauline, 25, and her parents, Edwin Lane, 54, woolen manufacturer, wife Azenath Lane, 56, unmarried son Paul, 16, Pauline's married sister, Josephine, 21, and Josephine's husband, Charles Spaulding, 23, clerk. Edward worked as an auditor for Eastern Railroad.[16] I have not found son George in this census.
Maria (Bourne) Maxfield died at New Bedford on 7 December 1884, age 74 years and 6 months from cardiac disease.[17] William died at 120 South Second Street, New Bedford, on 4 November 1904, age 97 years and 8 months.[18]
Frederick T. Maxfield and his wife Nancy did not have any children. He served in the Civil War from 18 September 1862 to 26 June 1863, and again from 11 July 1864 to 12 September 1864. In Massachusetts infantry, he was promoted to full corporal on 29 July 1864 and to full sergeant on 12 September 1864.[19] Census records reported him living at New Bedford with his wife Nancy in every census from 1870 to 1920. He was described as a painter through 1900, a bookkeeper in 1910, and no occupation in 1920. Their niece Florence Forbes, grew up in their home and remained there as an adult, when she was a music teacher at home.[20] His widow, Nancy, was reported in the 1930 Census at New Bedford with her niece Florence Forbes; in the 1940 Census she was at the same address, living alone.[21] She died in 1943 at the age of 102.
William Maxfield and Maria P. Bourne his wife had the following children:
1Vital Records of Dartmouth, Massachusetts: to the Year 1850 (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1929,1929,1930), v. 1, p. 159.
2Massachusetts Archives, "Vital Records of Massachusetts, 1841-1910," digital images, American Ancestors (americanancestors.org : accessed 12 September 2017), vol. 71, certificate no.. 281, New Bedford Deaths, 1904, William Maxfield.
3Vital Records of New Bedford, Massachusetts: to the Year 1850 (Boston: New England Historical and Genealogical Society, 1932. 1932, 1941), v. 2, p. 366.
4Oak Grove Cemetery, New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts, Find a Grave, digital images (findagrave.com : accessed 25 July 2018), William-Maria Maxfield; Created by: Anonymous; Photo added by Carol L.
5Bristol County, Massachusetts, Probate Records, 59:244; Court House, Taunton, Massachusetts.
6Sixth Census of the United States: 1840, population, New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts, roll 178, p. 431, William Maxfield; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 25 September 2012); NARA microfilm publication M704, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
7Seventh Census of the United States: 1850, population, New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts, roll 309, p. 247A, household 657, Wm. Maxfield family; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 2 October 2012); NARA microfilm record group M432, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
8Massachusetts, Secretary of the Commonwealth, 1855 Massachusetts State Census, population, New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts, v. 6, p. 219-20, household 125, Wm. Maxfield family; digital images, American Ancestors (americanancestors.org : accessed 14 August 2022); Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, Massachusetts.
9Eighth Census of the United States: 1860, population, New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts, roll 490, p. 672, household 961, William Maxfield family; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 2 November 2012); NARA microfilm record group M653; Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration.
10Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, 1865 Massachusetts State Census, population, New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts, v. 6, p. 196, household 110, William Maxfield family; digital images, American Ancestors (americanancestors.org : accessed 16 August 2013); Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, Massachusetts.
11Ninth Census of the United States: 1870, population, New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts, roll 605, p. 187B, household 159, William Maxfield family; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 4 February 2013); NARA microfilm record group M593; Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration.
121870 Census, New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts, roll 605, p. 120B, household 461, Frederick Maxfield family.
13Tenth Census of the United States: 1880, population, New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts, enumeration district (ED) 114, roll 525, p. 208C, household 256, William Maxfield family; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 8 March 2013); NARA microfilm publication T9, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
141880 Census, New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts, ED 111, roll 525, p. 137B, household 321, Wm. H. Maxfield family.
151880 Census, New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts, ED 111, roll 525, p. 134C, household 238, Fredk. T. Maxfield family.
161880 Census, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, ED 763, roll 560, p. 431D, household 125, Edwin J. Lane family.
17"Vital Records of Massachusetts, 1841-1910," vol. 355, p. 144, e. 636, New Bedford Deaths, 1884, Maria P. Maxfield.
18"Vital Records of Massachusetts, 1841-1910," vol. 71, certificate no.. 281, New Bedford Deaths, 1904, William Maxfield.
19Historical Data Systems, comp., "U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865," database, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 14 July 2013); Massachusetts Adjutant General, ed., Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors and Marines in the Civil War, 8 volumes (Boston, MA: The Adjutant General, 1931), 1:184; 5:233.
20Twelth Census of the United States: 1900, population, New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts, enumeration district (ED) 185, roll 637, p. 4, household 111, Frederick Maxfield family; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 12 April 2013); NARA microfilm group T623; Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration; Thirteenth Census of the United States: 1910, population, New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts, enumeration district (ED) 193, p. 9A, household 236, Fredrick Maxfield family; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 2 October 2013); NARA group T624, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.; Fourteenth Census of the United States: 1920, population, New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts, enumeration district (ED) 129, p. 2A, household 38, Frederick T. Maxfield family; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 11 December 2013); NARA microfilm record group T625, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
21Fifteenth Census of the United States: 1930, population, New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts, enumeration district (ED) 126, p. 14A, household 244, Nancy Maxfield family; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 14 December 2013); NARA record Group T626; Sixteenth Census of the United States: 1940, population, New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts, enumeration district (ED) 20-77, p. 5B, household 119, Nancy Maxfield; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 21 May 2013); microfilm record group T627.
22Massachusetts, Commonwealth of, Secretary of the Commonwealth, "Vital Records of Massachusetts, 1916-1920," digital images, American Ancestors (american ancestors.org : accessed 22 January 2023), 1918 Deaths, v. 79, p. 458; Mary E. Babcock.
23"Vital Records of Massachusetts, 1841-1910," vol. 171, p. 98, e. 3; New Bedford Marriages, 1863; Babcock-Maxfield
24Oak Grove Cemetery, New Bedford, Frederick-Nancy Maxfield; Created by: Anonymous, Photo added by Carol L.
25"Vital Records of Massachusetts, 1841-1910," vol. 208, p. 115, e. 116, New Bedford Marriages, 1868; Maxfield-Whitton.
26Oak Grove Cemetery, New Bedford, Frederick-Nancy Maxfield; Created by: Anonymous, Photo added by Carol L.
27"Vital Records of Massachusetts, 1841-1910," vol. 4, p. 64, l. 54; New Bedford Births 1843-4; Edward P. Maxfield.
28Vital Records of New Bedford, Massachusetts, v. 3, p. 114.
29"Vital Records of Massachusetts, 1841-1910," vol. 10, p. 69; New Bedford Births 1844-5; Albert Francis Maxfield.
30"Vital Records of Massachusetts, 1841-1910," vol. 32, p. 57, e. 259, New Bedford Deaths, 1847-8, Albert F. Maxfield.
31"Vital Records of Massachusetts, 1841-1910," vol. 39, p. 110, e. 415, New Bedford Deaths, 1848-9, (infant) Maxfield.
32"Vital Records of Massachusetts, 1841-1910," vol. 48, p. 70, e. 247, New Bedford Deaths, 1850, (male) Maxfield.
Bristol County, Massachusetts, Probate Records. Court House, Taunton, Massachusetts.
Historical Data Systems, comp. "U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865." Database. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2013.
Massachusetts Adjutant General, ed. Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors and Marines in the Civil War. 8 volumes. Boston, MA: The Adjutant General, 1931.
Massachusetts Archives. "Vital Records of Massachusetts, 1841-1910." Digital images. American Ancestors. americanancestors.org : 2017.
Massachusetts, Secretary of the Commonwealth, 1855 Massachusetts State Census, population. Digital images. American Ancestors. americanancestors.org : 2022.
________. 1865 Massachusetts State Census, population. Digital images. American Ancestors. americanancestors.org : 2013.
________. "Vital Records of Massachusetts, 1916-1920." Digital images. American Ancestors. american ancestors.org : 2023.
Oak Grove Cemetery, New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts. Find a Grave. Digital images. findagrave.com : 2018
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 : 2013.
________. 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.
________. Thirteenth Census of the United States: 1910, population. Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2013.
________. Fourteenth Census of the United States: 1920, population. Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2013.
________. Fifteenth Census of the United States: 1930, population. Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2013.
________. Sixteenth Census of the United States: 1940, population. Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2013.
Vital Records of Dartmouth, Massachusetts: to the Year 1850. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1929,1929,1930
Vital Records of New Bedford, Massachusetts: to the Year 1850. Boston: New England Historical and Genealogical Society, 1932. 1932, 1941.
Return to Maxfield Genealogy
Go to Maxfield Outline Index