Caleb Littlefield and Nathaniel Littlefield: Livermore's History of Block Island, RI, 1877 File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by and © by Karen Foley Simmons 1998. USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, *and* permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. -------------------------------------------------------------- Livermore's History of Block Island, Rhode Island, 1877 Bridgewater, MA Pages 333 to 336 LITTLEFIELD The families of this name have been very numerous on Block Island for many years, and have maintained a very respectable position in society. Caleb Littlefield was admitted freeman in 1721, and Nathaniel Littlefield in 1721, and from the two the various branches now here may have originated. The latter was representative in the Rhode Island General Assembly in 1738, 1740, 1746, 1748, 1754. Caleb Littlefield, Jr., was admitted freeman in 1756, Nathaniel Littlefield, Jr., also in 1756, both on the same day, as were their fathers. The latter was representative from Block Island in 1758, 1762. Caleb Littlefield, Jr., was one of the committee of the Island to oppose the English tea-tax, in 1774. John Littlefield was admitted freeman in 1788, was representative in the Assembly from 1747 up to the Revolution, nearly thirty years, and in 1780 received from Gov. Greene a present of six barrels of cider. Samuel Littlefield was admitted freeman in 1736, Henry, Nathaniel and Simon Ray Littlefield were on the Island in the early, and the last in the latter part of the Revolution. William Littlefield obtained distinction by marrying the daughter of Simon Ray, Jr., Miss Phebe Ray, by his own daughter, Miss Catharine Littlefield, who married Maj.-Gen. Nathaniel Greene, by which marriage she became an intimate associate with the wife of General Washington. Said William Littlefield took an active part in the Revolution, and in 1775 was appointed Ensign, and from that was promoted to the once of Lieut.-Captain. After about fiveyears of faithful service in the American army, while on a visit to Block Island he was reported, maliciously, to the General Assembly as having assisted the Islanders in carrying on trade with the English, for which crime his name was greatly dishonored until he could get a hearing before the Assembly. He was censured, and denied his pay in 1781, but in 1784 obtained a hearing whereby the falsity of the accusation against him was admitted by the assembly, and his pay with interest granted. In 1785, he took his seat again as a representative of Block Island in the General Assembly, and also in 1792. Henry Littlefield, familiarly called "Harry," or "old Harry," during and after the Revolution owned a large tract on the Island. He kept the only store, at the Harbor, and according to tradition, kept himself on friendly terms with the "refugees," by selling them liquor. He does not seem to have been a relative of the other Island Littlefields. It is said that in addition to his large real estate, "he had a barrel of dollars." In the height of his wealth, the tide of fortune set against him. He had unjustly taken the property of a woman whose daughter is an aged lady now living. He had taken eight of her feather beds, and she said to him, "My prayer is, that you may die so poor that you will not have a bed to die on I" Her prayer was answered. Elias Littlefield, though a man in humble life, a resident for many years on the north end of the Island, was one of Nature’s great men, and what was better, he was a most exemplary Christian, sound and clear in doctrine, familiar with the Bible, and always ready to converse upon religious topics. As we stood, one sunny day in spring, on the south side of his barn, when the winds were chilly, under the old man’s farming garments, from within the old tenement of clay, shone out the bright rays of the beautiful garments of the "new man," that spoke heavenly words of his eternal youth, and of his happy home in prospect. He went there in 1875, at the age of eighty-six. Anthony Littlefield, the brother of Elias, and Mercy, his wife, are now living, the former in his eighty-fourth year, and the latter in her eighty-fifth, both free from disease, although he has recently become blind. Their married life together, over sixty years, in comfortable circumstances, has passed away happily. They, for many years, have risen early, breakfasted by lamp-light, dined about eleven, supped about four P. M., attended to their own domestic matters without a servant or a third person in their house, with clear memories and reasoning faculties; as ready to die alone as in a crowd, and cheerful in the hope of a happy hereafter. They witnessed the fearful wreck of the Warrior, on Sandy Point, and received the corpses of the crew at their house for respectable preparation for the Island cemetery. Elarm Littlefield, late of Block Island, for many years was an active business man, doing a large part of the mercantile trade here, and nearly all connected with the West Side, left many friends to commemorate his excellences, and sons to emulate his business example. His large store, near his house (upon which he had no insurance), was burned. His son, Lorenzo Littlefield, a representative in the Assembly in 1861 and 1862, commissioner of wrecks, aud town treasurer, carries on an extensive mercantile business at the Center. Hon. Ray S. Littlefield, brother of Lorenzo, and interested with him in the store, and proprietor of the popular Central House, has been representative in the Assembly since 1873 to the present, 1877. Thomas D. Littlefield was born in 1754, and died August 30, 1829, aged seventy-five years. He was father of Nicholas Littlefield, who was born April 8, 1783, died June 2, 1846, aged sixty-five years. His sons Elam, above-mentioned, Nicholas, and Almanzo Littlefield, the latter two now living, have been well-known and highly-esteemed citizens of the Island.