Keith A. Lord of Idyllwild, California:Information about John Stinchfield
John Stinchfield (b. October 12, 1715, d. January 03, 1783)
Notes for John Stinchfield:John Stinchfield was born in Leeds, England Oct 12, 1715. He was shipwrecked on the coast of Ireland at 10 years of age. Came to America on a ship at 14 years of age and settled at Gloucester, Massachuetts, then province of Massachuetts Bay Company. He was married at Gloucester to Mary or Elizabeth Burns who was born in Ireland Dec 21, 1713 and who, it is supposed, came to America at about the same time as her husband. They remained at Gloucester until the year 1756 when with their five sons and one daughter they removed to New Gloucester, Maine they being among the first settlers of that town. The journey was taken in the winter, on horseback and by the aid of spotted trees there being no roads at that time in the vicinity of New Gloucester. It is related that the journey was attended by many hardships and the feet of the younger brother (Rogers) were frozen on the way. They settled on a spot not far from the lower corner where they lived until their deaths which occured as follows: John died Feb 10, 1783 (from the family Bible Jan 3, 1783.) His wife Elixabeth Burns died in New Gloucester, Maine August 19,1795 (taken from the family Bible.) John Stinchfield and Elizabeth Burns were the Great Great Great Great Great Grandparents of Keith A. Lord the curator and publisher of this genealogy.
From Jan Lokensgard research.John and his widower father set sail For Gloucester, Mass in 1735. John and four other men went to the District of Maine and settled the town of New Gloucester. He moved his family there in 1755 to the block house, which served them as home for about six years. He cut timber, cleared the land, tilled the soil, and built a house for himself and his family. He was a carpenter, woodsman, and farmer.
From my mothers, Agnes Forbes Lord, published article in the Lewiston Journal Magazine Section, Lewiston, Maine, on Saturday, May 30th 1959, the following supports other research as mentioned above.
Early records who the Stinchfield family of New Gloucester, Maine were among the earliest settlers in these Maine communities. The story is based on records on the genealogy and clippings which Oliver D Stinchfield compiled during his lifetime. He lived and died here and is buried beside his wife "Lizzie" in the little old cemetary at New Gloucester. His grandson and great grandchildren still live in the home in which he lived out the last years of his life, leaving behind the material for this memorable story.
The name Stinchfield in these records, vary. The first John spelled his name, Stenchfield; then later it is spelled Stanchfield then Stinchfield. Reports vary as to the reasons for this change in spelling. It is claimed some were voluntary, others accidental because of handwriting. Generally when a change was made it followed the future generation of that particular branch.
The first John Stenchfield was born in Leeds, England, On October 12th 1715. At the age of 10 he was shipwrecked off the coast of Ireland and came to America when he was 14 years of age, settling at Gloucester, Massachuetts, then the Province of Massachuetts Bay Company.
Meeting Elizabeth Burns on board ship during the passage to this country in 1735, he two years later became united in marriage with her. She was born in the Northern part of Ireland of Scottish parents. In 1755, John and Elizabeth, with their six children, moved to New Gloucester, Maine named for the Massachuetts Colony. Here John built the block house in which they lived, located at the base of the northerly potion of Stinchfield Hill, south easterly and adjacent ot the old cemetery, southerly from Goucester Lower Corner, Jphn was the leader of the group that settled here and also their correspondent, being able to write well, an ability not common in those days.
Portions of a letter by him from North Yarmouth, May 5th 1753, to the proprietor at Gloucester, for supplies, reads as follows: "Rye and wheat to sow, a grindstone, augur and harware, pork, oil and one or two quires of paper" and went on to say "We are bound up to New Gloucester this morning to build a house (the blockhouse.) He not only helped build the blockhouse, which served asa shelter for the families against attack by menacing Indians, but also was the first commandant and hadtwo swivel rifles as armament.
John and his family's journey to New Gloucester was a tale of hardship. The journey undertaken in the middle of the winter on horseback, was made by the aid of spotted trees, there being no roads at that time in the vicinity of New Gloucester and the feet of youngest brother, Rogers were frozen on the way.
John and Elizabeth lived in New Gloucester until their deaths his in 1783 and hers in 1795, leaving the second generation, John 2nd, William, Thomas, James, Rodgers and their daughter Elizabeth, to become the pioneer Stinchfield's progenitors of the Stinchfield families to follow, up to the present day.
More About John Stinchfield:
Fact 1: 1725, Shipwrecked on the coast of Ireland..
Fact 2: 1729, Came to America on a ship and settled at Gloucester, Ma..
Fact 3: 1756, Moved to New Gloucester, Me, first settlers, wife and six children..
Fact 4: Built the blockhouse, where they first lived and protection against the indians..
More About John Stinchfield and Elisabeth Burns:
Marriage: 1737, Gloucester, Essex, MA.1
Children of John Stinchfield and Elisabeth Burns are:
- +William Stinchfield, b. January 09, 1740/41, Gloucester, Essex, MA1, d. May 02, 1781, Androscoggin Riv, ME1.