Maxfield/Crofts

[warncoort]

Folks,
I have the following people  from Longbridge Deverill causing me some confusion.
Thomas Maxfield b 1777 s/o Stephen and Elizabeth
Thomas Maxfield b 1776 s/o William and Mary
Ann Crofts b 1777 d/o James and Eleanor
Ann Crofts b 1778 d/o Thomas and Hannah

In 1797 Thomas marries Ann Crofts
In 1806 Thomas marries Ann Compton
In 1820 Thomas marries Rebekah Payne

I had purchased PR's on microfiche but they seem to have absconded during a house move.
Nothing further on familysearch.org or Freereg.
I won't be surprised if this is a brickwall,just posting in hope.
Eric

[Craclyn]

FindMyPast list a probate record for the Thomas Maxfield who died in 1858. Since wills can now be purchased for £1.50 from the government probate search site it may be worth getting that one to see if it helps to disentangle your Maxfields.

[ciderdrinker]

Hello
Looking at the marriages it does look like the same chap marrying all 3 women.The first and last marriages are the best match with his signature.

There are two burials 1775 -26 Dec 1804
and 1778-25 Mar 1858.

Yours must be the latter ,so I'd go for the 2nd baptism Stephen and Elizabeth.
Also on that Stephen and Elizabeth are the names of his older children
Thomas Maxfield blacksmith is on the Poll book of 1819 so he must have had quite a bit of money.

There is a Admin for Stephen Maxfield in 1808 .
It is proven by son Thomas Maxfield blacksmith of DL ,Robert Payne woolstapler of DL and John Richards of Westbury on Avon .
it is for £380
The signature looks very similar to the marriages.

Also a Will for William Maxfield a tanner 1795
This mentions wife Mary and tenement at Upton Skidmore and another in LD
daughters Sarah Merritt and Dinah Maxfield and youngest Mary
1 shilling to son Thomas Maxfield
brother Charles 5 shilling
Robert hinton s in law ,granddaughter Sussannah Hinton

It looks very much to me that your Thomas Maxfield has to be the son Stephen and Elizabeth as only one Thomas Maxfield would be alive in 1808 (and he can't be doing his Dad's Admin in 1808 and dead 1805).

There is a Thomas Crofts Will 1837 doesn't mention a daughter Ann or grandchildren Maxfield .It is wife Sarah ,children Edward and Hannah.
James Crofts is married to an Eleanor Payne 23 Feb 1773 that may be a clue.
Their grave has survived.James died 1810.It is on Find a grave.com
Thomas married Hannah Miller 26 July 1777

If it was me I'd go for James and Eleanor

Ciderdrinker

[warncoort]

Thanks  for your response.
I have now ordered the 1858 will,at less than the cost of a coffee here in Perth,too cheap to resist.
Stephens 1808 will is to hand but it is merely charging the executors with a stocktake of his possessions.His spouse is Elizabeth Moger,their youngest daughter is Elizabeth Moger Maxfield b 1791,is my GGGrandmother.
Thomas has one child with Ann Crofts,8 with Ann Compton and one with Rebeka,maybe Ann Compton is not a wife of his.
Is there anything more for a marriage or death of An Crofts?
Is any occupation shown for either Thomas?
Eric

[ciderdrinker]

Hello
Thomas Maxfield son of Stephen and Elizabeth is a blacksmith and then a farmer.
William of William and Mary Maxfield is a tanner.
There's a James Maxfield 1744 blacksmith at LD 10.4.1744 taking on an apprentice Richard s of Mathew Gatrell
He might be yours.
Stephen Maxfield appointed gamekeeper by Viscount Weymouth 1784
According to FindMyPast he also was involved at the Wiltshire petty sessions the same year but no details given.
James Croft took on a Thomas Crofts as apprentice broadweaver in 1781.

Sorry but that's all I can see.

Ciderdrinker

Ciderdrinker

[warncoort]

Folks,
The will of Thomas has, at last, arrived!
He names his nine children,excluding William a son of Ann Crofts,so it appears Ann has nothing to do with this Thomas.His estate was not huge but included several cottages and gardens in Longbridge Deverill and Crockerton.
Off now to find what became of Ann Crofts.
Thanks,
Eric