Redfield family of Killingworth

The history for the Redfield family in Killingworth starts with the entry in the town records of the marriage of Theophilus Redfield and Priscilla Grinnell dated December 24, 1706. The record you see is from a transcription made in the Second Society. When the two Killingworth Congregational Societies divided the Second Society transcribed many of the original Killingworth records in the land deed ledgers. For legal purposes the transcribed land deeds were declared to be legal copies of the originals. By inference the same could be said of the vital records. As fate would have it the original records housed in Clinton were lost in a fire. In 1706 the population of Killingworth was centered in the First Society in what is present day Clinton. The expansion northward did not begin in earnest until about 1715. The Redfield family history notes that Theophilus established his first home in Clinton but eventually followed the move north ending up in the Chestnut Hill District. Theophilus was born in Saybrook May 31, 1672. We find his headstone in the Old Southwest Cemetery in Killingworth, In Memory of / Mr. Theophilus Redfield / who died Feb. ye 14th 1759 / in the 77th year of his age. Priscilla is buried in the Indian River Cemetery in Clinton, In memory of / Mrs. Priscilla Redfield, wife / of Mr. Theophilus Redfield / who died Jan. 12th, 1770 / in her 81st year. Priscilla was from pilgrim stock her ancestors crossing on the Mayflower. She was born in Newport, Rhode Island. Theophilus and Priscilla had a family of 13 children. The first child Daniel born in 1707 the last James born in 1735. We find the first half of their family recorded in the surviving land deed ledgers. There is a note written at the bottom that references a page in the Clinton transcript where the remaining members of family are found. Theophilus Redfield Jr. was born September 6, 1718. His death is in the town records January 29, 1770 listed on the line next to his mother. He served as an Ensign in the French and Indian war serving in the same unit, commanded by his brother Peleg Redfield, as the Griffin brothers Samuel and James. In the Killingworth Second Society ledger we find him listed in 1738 as OC owning the covenant. His children are listed in the Society records. His two families are recorded together in a single entry in the town records. He took as his first wife Mary Buell. They were married on September 4, 1740. Together they had 4 children Eliakim, Levi, Nathan and Isaac. Mary Buell died August 22, 1749. On December 3, 1750 Theophilus Jr. married Martha Gray. There is some confusion as to her last name Gray or Crane. Some histories suggest that she was previously married implying that this is the source of the name of Crane. There is no such record in the Killingworth records. Her brother Phillip Gray married Martha Crane. This may be the source of the confusion. The marriage record for Theophilus and Martha certainly lists her name last name as Gray. Theophilus and Martha enjoyed a family of 5 children. Constant (Constant married Thankful Griffins daughter Amanda), Mary, Phillip, Elias and Martha. Their daughter Mary, her birth a part of the Second Society records born January 24, 1755, married Bazeleel Bristol. Their son Phillip Redfield Bristol was to become the father-in-law to Austin Kelsey when he married his daughter Amy Maria Bristol. Click on images to enlarge.