Person:John Wakefield (1)

John Wakefield, the progenitor of the New Haven branch of the American Wakefields, was one of the earliest settlers and proprietors of New Haven. It is not known whether he came over in the colony with John Davenport and Theophilus Eaton in 1637, or not; or whether or not he was one of the original band that founded New Haven in 1638. The first record we have of him is of date November 4, 1640, when at a meeting of the general court at New Haven, he testified in behalf of Edward Adams, who was accused of perjury by Arthur Halbridge, but duly acquitted. On the 5th of August, 1642, the general court convened, and John Wakefield, the miller, testified that Richard Beach did some work at the mill insubstantially, which was ordered made good. John Wakefield's name is included in a list of free burgesses, of August 5, 1644. At the general court, held the 10th of March, 1648, the names of people as they were seated in the meeting house was read and was ordered recorded; on the south side of the door John Wakefield,(2) and on the other (woman's side) Sister Wakefield. It is supposed that in 1646 or 1647, John Wakefield was in Watertown, Mass., as in the inventory of the estate of Nathaniel Sparrowhawke. who died June 27, 1647, among the Watertown Debts "Good" appears the name of John Wakefield. Again, upon the marriage of Mary (Wakefield) Dibble to James Hillyer, on June 28, 1677, she is referred to as the "daughter of John Wakefield, of Watertown." He, however, is not recorded in Watertown as a resident of that place. At a meeting of the general court on the 3d of January, 1648, (New Haven) the Court ordered that "John Wakefield keep the mill, until George Laremore attend this meeting," to consider the repairing of the meeting house. A court held at New Haven the 6th of March, 1648, John Wakefield, among others, was complained of, on account of his fence being down, which he was ordered to mend. At a court held at New Haven, the 6th of November, 1649, John Thompson was complained of for suffering his hogs to go abroad in the summer, contrary to order. John Wakefield testified in his behalf. John Wakefield died in 1660, and his will was proved December 4 of the same year. At a court of magistrates held at New Haven, 27th of May, 1661, an inventory of the estate of John Wakefield, of New Haven, deceased, amounting to £116 3s 1d was presented, and by the widow of the deceased, then attested to contain ye whole estate of her late husband to ye value of 10s, to ye best of her knowledge. Will Tompson and Roger Allen, upon oath, witnessed that "ye value was just, according to their best light."

John Wakefield, Watertown 1646, may bef. and aft. have been of New Haven, there by w. Ann had Hannah, bapt. 29 Dec. 1644; Mary, 24 Aug. 1645; and Martha, b. 19 Apr. bapt. 19 May 1650, prob. for the date in Geneal. Reg. IX. 363, is, manifestly, wrong for Sunday. So is, perhaps, ano. ch. Mary, as if he had two of that name, bapt. three days apart, when only one of them could be Sunday. He d. 1660, leav. wid. and three ds. The wid. m. 17 Oct. 1661, James Clark of New Haven, and d. 1695. Hannah m. 1662, as his sec. w. Edward Grannis; Mary m. 27 Oct. 1663, Ebenezer Dibble, and next, 15 June 1677, James Hillier; and Martha m. 21 Oct. 1668, Nicholas Buckland.

"John (Wakefield), d 1660."

"John Wakefield. Inventory, taken Nov. 24, 1660, by Wm. Thomson and Roger Alling, £130:18:06."