Concerning the confusion over Charles Maxfield's birth date: Biographical and Genealogical History of Morris County New Jersey clearly states that Charles was born at Longbridge Deverill in 1829, was a nephew of John Maxfield of Boonton, and married in England Sarah Smith. The marriage record of Charles Maxfield and Sarah Smith at Longbridge Deverill indicates that Charles was the son of Charles. However Charles the father was married in March of 1834, and son Charles was baptized in 1834. The younger Charles' age was reported in the 1841 census at 6, in 1851 as 16, suggesting a birth about 1834/5, but in United States 1860 census as 28, in 1880 as 50, and in 1900 as 71, suggesting a birth some time between 1829 and 1832. I believe the evidence connecting Charles in the United States with Charles the son of Charles in England is convincing, which leads me to conclude he falsified his age in the United States. I have no idea why.
Charles Maxfield married SARAH SMITH at Salisbury, Wiltshire, on 15 October 1855 (Eng M). Sarah was born at England about 1818/9 (1860 census). Charles and Sarah Maxfield, and their daughter Sarah Ann, came to America in 1856, some time after Sarah Ann's baptism in April. Biographical and Genealogical History of Morris County New Jersey contained an article on Charles' son George, which included the following information on Charles (His Morris Co)
Charles MAXFIELD, who has been a resident of Butler since 1866, was born at Long Bridge, Deverill, Somersetshire, England, in 1829, and in 1856 came to the United States. He was attracted to Boonton by reason of the fact that it was the home of his uncle, John MAXFIELD, who was prominently connect with the Boonton Iron Works, being in the service of the company for a long period of forty-seven years. In 1858 Charles MAXFIELD removed to Morristown and from that point enlisted in the Union service during the Civil war, becoming a member of Company C, Fifty-eighth New Jersey Volunteers, which command was attached to the First New Jersey Brigade, Second Division, Sixth Army Corps. He participated in much of the hard fighting of the Army of the Potomac up to the battle of Spottsylvania, in which engagement his left leg was broken and a portion of it carried away by a piece of shell. He was then placed in the Mount Pleasant Hospital, and though afterward discharged as "cured", his injuries have caused that limb to shrink until it is now two and a half inches shorter than the other. Both before and since the war Charles MAXFIELD was engaged in house-painting, but for a long time has been unable to work, and is now living with his son, George H.The 1860 census (704:21) reported this family at Hanover Township (Boonton Post Office), Morris County, New Jersey, as follows:
Before leaving his native land he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah SMITH, who died in 1865, leaving five children
| Name | Age | Sex | Occupation | R.E. | P.E. | Birthplace | Other |
| Chas. Maxfield | 28 | M | wheelwright | $50 | England | ||
| Sarah Maxfield | 31 | F | England | ||||
| Sarah A. Maxfield | 5 | F | England | ||||
| Mary A. Maxfield | 3 | F | Morris Co., NJ | ||||
| Rachel Maxfield | 1 | F | Morris Co., NJ |
Son George, born in 1857, was raised by others.
Charles and Sarah had four children when he went off to war. Charles enlisted in Company C, 15th Infantry Regiment New Jersey on 25 Aug. 1862. He received a disability discharge on 26 Dec. 1862 at Washington, DC (Civ W Sol). A fifth child was born in November 1863 at New York. Sarah died in 1865 (His Morris Co). The 1870 census indicated a family that was scattered. Charles was perhaps the Charles Maxville, age 40, born England, laborer, in a boarding house in Pompton Township, Passaic County, New Jersey (Newfoundland Post Office) (886:721B:35). Daughter Sarah could perhaps be the Sarah McField, age 14, born England, domestic servant in the household of Charles Wells of Northampton Township, Burlington County, New Jersey (Mount Holly Post Office) (857:799B:12). George Maxfield, age 9, resided in the home of Jacob A. and Sarah Emily Welsh of Bedminster Township (Peapack Post Office), Somerset County, New Jersey (888:1:329B). Amy and Rachael Maxfield, ages 12 and 11, resided in the household of Elizabeth Mish, parish school matron, South Amboy Township (South Amboy Post Office), Middlesex County, New Jersey (874:1:472B). I have not been able to locate son Charles.
The family continued scattered in 1880. Charles Maxfield, age 50, was a servant in the household of David and Elizabeth Carman of Pompton, Passaic County (794:316B:6). Sarah Ann, age 24, had married Frank Bullock, and they had children ages 5, 3, 1, and 3 months, at Mulberry Street, Millville, Cumberland County, New Jersey (776:438B). Frank was a house painter. George and Rachel, ages 20 and 18, were boarders in the home of Winfield and Emma Cox, Pompton Township, Passaic County (794:311D). Mary A. Maxfield, age 20, was a servant in the household of Elmer Green, a lawyer, at 127 West State Street, Trenton, New Jersey (788:230C). I have not found Charles in this census. In the 1895 state census (NJ Cen 1895:95:82) Charles J. Maxfield, over 60, was living with son George, who had a wife and two children, at Pequannock Township, Morris County. Charles J. Maxfield was a barber at Commercial Township, Cumberland County (NJ Cen 1895:62:45, as indicated in His Morris Co). The daughters were all married. Charles was again listed with his son George in 1900. That is the last record I have of this Charles Maxfield.
Charles Maxfield and his wife Sarah Smith had the following children:
Information on this family is found in:
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