Richard Warfield Sr (abt. 1645 - bef. 1703)

Born about 1645 in England [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Elinor (Brown) Warfield — married 1670 in Anne Arundel, Maryland

Descendants

Died before 11 Feb 1703 before about age 58 in Anne Arundel, Province of Maryland

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Caution

"A Warfield record, one hundred years old, states that " Richard Warfield settled near Annapolis, in 1639." There was no settlement there until 1649, and Richard Warfield was not one of those settlers. He came among them, however, in 1662, and located west of Crownsville, Anne Arundel, "in the woods." ^[1]

Biography

1645 Birth and Parentage

Richard Warfield was born 1645 in Berkshire, England. ^[2] Alternatively, he was born 1645 in Anne Arundel, Maryland, ^[3]

He was baptized in England on August 27, 1646. ^[4]

Richard's parents were John Warfield (1613-1665) and Rachel Clarke (1619-1665). ^[4]

A Watchmaker of London. John "Warfeild", Watchmaker, was buried at St. Dunstan's, "out of Fleet Street," on 16 Nov 1655, apparently a week or so short of his 52nd birthday. According to the register he died of the Plague, so a hasty burial would have followed immediately after his death. There was no mention of the "Inquest House" under which Alexander was later to be buried. He died intestate, and Rachell Warfeild requested letters of adminstration on 23 Feb 1666 at the Commissary Court of London. ^[4]

Richard Warfield was apparently the son of John Warfield, a watch-maker on Fleet Street in London. ^[4]

1658 Immigration

Richard was 13 years old when he was brought to Maryland. No record of him has been found in England after his baptism on August 27, 1646. In the wills of several of Richard's children, there are bequests of silver watches, each containing a "Seal", possibly representative of three successive generations of watchmakers in London. ^[4]

All of Richard's brothers and sisters except his half-brother, Alexander, died before he left for Maryland. Alexander took up his father's profession of watch-making. Because of the turbulence of religion and politics in England at the time, the scale of commercial competition on Fleet Street, known for its denizens of artisans and pubs, and the catastrophic effects of periodic outbreaks of the plague, it was decided that Richard should be sent abroad, to take advantage of the opportunities present in the New World. This decision was apparently preferred to the prospect of years as an apprentice in seventeenth century London. However, this decision meant that his mother, Rachell, had to part with her only living child. ^[4]

The timing could not have been better. The Plague carried off a fifth of the people of London in 1665, including Richard's presumed father, John Warfield, and the streets were deserted with houses bearing Red Crosses and the words, "Lord, have mercy on us!" The "dreadful fire" in 1666 destroyed the remainder of London. When London was rebuilt, legislation mandated that the houses had to be entirely of brick; no more half-timbered structures were allowed. ^[4]

1662 Arrival in Maryland

He came among them, however, in 1662, and located west of Crownsville, Anne Arundel, "in the woods."^[1]

1670 Marriage to Elinor Browne

He married in Anne Arundel Co, Maryland in 1670. ^[3]

In 1670, he married Elinor, heiress of Captain John Browne, of London, who, with his brother, Captain Peregrine Browne, ran two of the best equipped merchant transports between London and Annapolis. Richard Warfield's wife inherited "Hope" -and "Increase." two adjoining tracts, the history of which is as follows: They were taken up by Henry Sewell; transferred by him to John Minter; willed by him to his daughter, Elizabeth, wife of Henry Winchester.These two joined in deeding them, in 1673, to Captain John Browne,mariner, of London. No further transfers are to be found, but in 1705, Richard Warfield appeared before the commission, to restore the burnt record of 1704, and requested a record of the above history.^[1]

In the New World, Richard married Elinor Browne, daughter of Captain John Browne, a mariner who shipped between Maryland and London. On at least one occasion, Richard Warfield returned to England aboard the ship, Anne, captained by his father-in-law. He returned to England as one of the signers of an address to the King. When he returned to England, thirty years after he immigrated to the New World, he was a leading citizen of the Province of Maryland, an Officer of the Militia and a wealthy planter. By then his land holdings "exceeded the acreage of the city of London, his birthplace." ^[4]

1675 Witnesses regarding Nicholas Wyatt Will

• In 1675, Richard and Elinor Warfield were summoned as witnesses to the chancery contest over the will of their immediate neighbor, Nicholas Wyatt. ^[1]

1689 Military Officer

• In 1689, Richard Warfield signed, as a military officer, the address to King William. ^[1]

1696 Vestry, St. Anne's Church

• In 1696, Richard Warfield's name was returned as one of the Vestry of St. Ann's Church. This was before the first building was completed.^[1]

He was a member of the first Vestry at St. Anne's in Annapolis. ^[4]

Black Horse Tavern

He owned the "Black Horse Tavern", nine miles west of Annapolis. He held tracts of land named "Wayfield", "Warfield's Right", "Hope", "Increase", "Warfield's Plains", "Warfield's Forest", "Warfield's Addition", "Brandy" and "Warfield's Range".^[4]

Residential Estate

His estate reached back to the beautiful sheet of water, — Round Bay, of the Severn. Our Rent Rolls show that he held, during his life, "Wayfield," " Warfield's Right," " Hope," "Increase," " Warfield's Plains," "Warfield's Forest," "Warfield's Addition," "Brandy," "and "Warfield's Range." ^[1]

He Owned 1,400 acres of land at time of death

1696 Military Officer

"Richard WARFIELD, from England, settled near Annapolis, Anne Arundel Co., MD; mil. officer of the county, 1696; large land owner, vestryman. ^[5]

"In 1696 Capt. Warfield signs an address to King William of England as one of the Military Officers of A.A. County, Md." ^[5]

1703 Will

Warfield, Richard,A. A. Co.,10th Jan., 1703-4; 11th Feb., 1703. ^[6]

• To son John and hrs., “Warfield's Plains” and 180 A., “Warfield's Forest.”
• To son Richard and hrs., plantation on which he now lives and 50 A., “The Addition”; also dwelling plantation at marriage or death of dau. Ellinor.
• To son Alexander and hrs., “Brandy.”
• To son Benjamin and hrs., 240 A., part of “Warfield's Range” at Patuxen
• To dau. Rachel and hrs., 150 A., part of afsd “Warfield's Range.” In event of her death without issue to revert to son Richard afsd. and hrs.
• To dau. Ellinor, use of dwelling plantation while she remains unmarried, and part of “Warfield's Range” afsd. to her and her hrs.; to revert to son Benjamin in event of her death without issue.
• To dau. Rachel Yate or to her child. at 21 yrs. of age, personalty.
• To sons John, Richard, Alexander and Benjamin and dau. Ellinor, residue of estate equally.
• Exs.: Sons John and Richard afsd.
• Overseers: Sons Alexander and Benjamin.
• Test: Jno. Howard, Thos. Rowles, Wm. Mackubin, Chas. Stevens. 11. 409.

1704 Death

He died 11 Feb 1703/4 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. ^[2] or in 1704 ^[3]

Richard Warfield died in Anne Arundel County, Maryland in 1704. Elinor Browne died in Anne Arundel County in 1718/19. Historians estimate that Richard's burial place is probably under the street at Church Circle, St. Anne's, in Annapolis. "In the end 'fate' was kindest to Richard Warfield", the progenitor of the Warfield family in America. ^[4]

Dying at an advanced age, in 1703-04, he left an intelligent will, in which he named his heirs, John, Richard, Alexander, Benjamin, (Mary, late wife of Captain John Howard), Rachel, then wife of George Yates; Elinor, the prospective bride of Caleb Dorsey, of "Hockley." ^[1]

In his old age, he began the first westward movement of the early settlements to the unexplored frontier of Howard. His sons and executors, in 1704, resurveyed "Warfield's Range," and increased it to fifteen hundred acres. ^[1]

In his old age, he began the first westward movement of the earlysettlements to the unexplored frontier of Howard. His sons andexecutors, in 1704, resurveyed "Warfield's Range," and increased it tofifteen hundred acres. John, his oldest son, lived upon "Warfield'sPlains," the homestead of which still stands just opposite Baldwin Memorial Church, half-way between Waterbury and Indian Landing. "Warfield's Plains" extended up to Millersville, and "Warfield's Forest" was near Indian Landing. ^[1]

Children

1. John, eldest son. Richard the immigrant gave his eldest son the name of John, the name of his father in London. ^[4] In 1696, son John married Ruth Gaither, oldest daughter of John Gaither, of South River. Their sons were Richard, John, Benjamin, Alexander, Edward and Philip, all of whom located upon the frontier out-posts, in Howard. John Warfield's daughters were Ruth, wife of Richard Davis; Mary, wife of Augustine Marriott and Elinor who died a maiden. John Warfield, like his father, passed his life in developing his estate, but died in early manhood,1718, before completing his surveys and transfers. His son, Richard, as heir-at-law, deeded his estate to his brothers. Returning to the homestead, he married Marion Caldwell, and had issue, John, Seth,Richard and�Luke Warfield. The first two were located upon"Warfield's Range." Richard and Luke remained upon the Severn. Richard Warfield, by his second marriage to Sarah Gambrill, of Augustine, had Joseph and Rachel who became the wife of Philip Turner.Their son, Richard Warfield Turner, heired the homestead from JosephWarfield, his uncle, who died a bachelor. Richard Warfield, Jr. was a vestryman of St. Ann's Church, in 1751. His estate was " Warfield's Forest." By his wife, Hamutel Marriott, he had Richard, Luke, Silvanus and John, none of whom left any descendants of their name. The homestead was willed to Joshua Gambrill. Ruth Warfield, of John and Ruth, married Richard Davis, from whom descended Captain Richard Davis, Caleb, Thomas, Ruth and Elizabeth, wife of John Marriott. Mary Warfield, of John and Ruth, married Augustine Marriott. Their son John married Nancy Warfield, of Alexander, and Dinah (Davidge) Warfield: Achsah Marriott-John Hall, of "White Hall," whose daughter, Sarah Hall, became Mrs. Francis Rawlings, and second wife of Captain Harry Baldwin.^[1]
2. Rachell. Richard gave one of his daughters the name of Rachell, the name of his mother in London. ^[4]
3. Alexander. Richard gave his third son the name of Alexander, the name of his half-brother in England. ^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10} Joshua Dorsey Warfield. "Richard Warfield, First Vestryman of St. Ann's Church." The Founders of Anne Arundel and Howard Counties, Maryland: A Genealogical and Biographical Review from Wills, Deeds and Church Records. Published by Kohn & Pollock, 1905. Reprinted by Regional Publishing House, Baltimore, 1973. Original from the University of Virginia, Digitized Sep 10, 2007, pp 83-85
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Source: #S43, Database online. Record for Rachell Clarke.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Source: #S3 Database online. Record for John Warfield, Ancestry.com, OneWorldTree (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network,Inc.), Database online. Also Record for Richard Warfield, Ancestry.com, OneWorldTree (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network,Inc.), Database online.
4. ↑ ^{4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13} Julie Thomas, Descendants of Richard Warfield of Maryland. July 17, 2007. Warfield Family Genforum #1027 http://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/warfield/1027/
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Maryland Archives XX, page 541.
6. ↑ Maryland Calendar of Wills, Volume 3

• Edward C. Papenfuse, et. al., A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature 1635-1789; Volume 426, Page 862

• http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=48259849

https://www.snowden-warfield.com/Stories/RichardWarfieldProgenitor.htm

See also:

• "Ann Arundel Gentry," by Newman, page 518.
• "Baldwin-Cotton's Calendar of Wills," Vol. 2, p. 48; vol. V, page 28 for will of R. Warfield.
• "The Warfield's of Maryland," page 65.
• "Ancestral Records & Portraits -- Colonial Dames"