Embedded Files
The statement was a simple one, "Dad, I need to do a project for school about our family history. I don't know where to start."
Mind you, this was in 1983, years before the availability of the internet. My father had never spoken much about his family other than a few stories regarding his mom and a couple of brothers in Amsterdam, New York. My grandparents had long since passed away.
Little did I know that his simple school project would take me on a journey that would wind its way through almost 975 years of American and English history and bring me into contact with familiar names in the founding of a nation.
Thirty-two years, thousands of pages of documentation and untold hours of research later and I am still finding information. Recent searches and additions to the Family Tree have dated back to 1030 England known as Pre-Conquest (Norman invaion of England in 1066). This is nothing short of miraculous since most records of the day were single sheet documents. Less than 200 survive today. Copying and compilation of records didn't take place much before 1067. These compilations were much more survivable and make up the bulk of material with which one can look at pre conquest England. Finding that our family branched into, and were recorded in the earliest of Anglo Saxon records was breathtaking.
The Litchfield family has a long and rich history in the United States, dating back to Lawrence Litchfield, who came to this country from England in about 1634 and settled in the town of Scituate, Massachusetts. He served his new country as a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Boston from 1643-1644.
His progeny would produce men such as Isreal, Lot, Josiah, Samuel, Joseph, John, Eleazer and Daniel, all of whom fought in the Revolutionary War. Daniel Litchfield received his commission as a Captain from John Hancock, and was called to arms on April 19, 1775 upon the first shots at Lexington and Concord. Private Isaac Litchfield, who served under General George Washington at Roxbury Camp, ultimately forcing the British to flee aboard ship from Boston in March 1776. Isreal Litchfield, whose Revolutionary War diary from 1774 to 1775 survives to this day and recounts the burning of Boston, and the outbreak of smallpox in his small New England town. James Litchfield, who served under General George Washington at his encampment at Morristown. Josiah Litchfield, who under the command of General Washington drove the British from Dorchester Heights to Halifax, Nova Scotia on March 17, 1776. Eleazer and John Litchfield, who embarked on a secret mission to Tiverton, Rhode Island in August 1778 which ultimately led to driving the British from Newport thus allowing our French allies to occupy the islands of Boston harbor. This would be the base of operations for their push to the deciding battle of the Revolution and ultimate surrender of the British at Yorktown.
More than 58 Litchfields from Massachusetts served the Union Army during the Civil War. Azotus Litchfield who served his country as a member of the 2nd Massachusetts Militia during the War of 1812. Raymond, Harold, and Richard Litchfield who served their country during WWII. Arthur L. Litchfield as a Staff Sergeant retired following 20 years of honorable service in the Army having served in Korea, Vietnam, and The Bay of Pigs. Robert Litchfield served 20 years honorably during Vietnam, Panama, Grenada, and the Persian Gulf War. John and Mark Litchfield gave their measure of service in the Marine Corps and Army respectively.
Find out about Sarah (Lord) Wilson, (10th Great Grandmother) who was imprisoned during the Salem Witch Trials and managed to save her life by confessing to being a witch in September of 1692. A stunning revelation considering the limited number of people involved.
These and hundreds of other facts have come to life for me during this search. I never realized the truly rich heritage I am a part of. History was simply events and dates with no direct relationship to me until it finally came to life during my search.
Members of this family are/may be eligible for membership(s) in one or more of the following:
The Order of the Founders and Patriots of America
Sons of the American Revolution
The Society of the War of 1812
These and other fraternal organizations work diligently to maintain our links to our rich military heritage and the founding of a new nation. I encourage every member of this family to check out these organizations, do the research, and make application. Help to keep our history alive.
Fast forward to 2015. That same son, now a father himself and I have prepared this site in the hope that others who bear the name Litchfield, will find it interesting, if not helpful in their own search for information. The goal is two fold: to share what I have found, and for you to share what you have. If you can trace your lineage back to Lawrence Litchfield and beyond, and have prepared a genealogy for a branch which diverges from mine, lets add it and see just how wide the branches of this tree spread.
As with most attempts to delve into the past, there are the occasional missing pieces of the puzzle. Many of these voids can be filled based on circumstantial information or within the context of the time. Inference can be an ally when filling in the blanks in much the same way as solving a crime in the absence of hard physical evidence. I have attempted, wherever and whenever possible to verify and validate all the information contained here and assumptions have been kept to a bare minimum.
I INVITE YOU NOW TO JOIN US ON THIS CONTINUING JOURNEY.
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