Shep's Place Family Tree

There are records of the Buttfields in the County of Bedfordshire at least as early as 1566, but it is not until 1710 that definite links with our family have been established. The name of Marsom is closely linked with that of Buttfield, and the Marsom story can be followed back to the year 1605.

In 1710 in the village of Sewell, which was roughly two miles north-west of Dunstable, Bedfordshire, there lived a man named John Butfeild. The Woburn Parish Registers reveal that on 5 February 1676 a marriage took place between John Butfeild and Elesha ‎(Alice)‎ Pitchforke. On 2 December 1677 their son John was baptised. Two years later they had a daughter Susan. By September 1682 the father, mother and sister had all died, leaving young John orphaned. Was this the John Butfeild who lived at Sewell in 1710?

On 19 February 1710 John purchased a small property at Thorn in the Parish of Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire. The property was bounded on the north by the land of Nehemia Brandreth, Esq., to the south and west by Thorn Common Green. It was to remain in the Buttfield family for over a century. Although John was described in the conveyance as a labourer, the price paid for the property was 35 pounds, which was a considerable sum in those days.

Apparently John Butfeild made no will; however on the 18 November 1728 his widow Jane of Thorn, Houghton Regis, drew up her will. Bequests were made to their children: Jane ‎(Mrs. Butcher in 1728)‎, John ‎(eldest son & executor)‎, William ‎(second son)‎ and Thomas ‎(still a minor in 1728)‎.

It seems probably that Thomas was much younger than the others, since John was to bring him up "until he shall be able and capable to Earne his own living and likewise to give Education so farr as untill he shall be a good schollar for Reading and Writeing English."

Jane's will was proved before the Archdeaconry of Bedfordshire on 29 April 1729, after she had been buried at the Houghton Regis Parish Church on 30 November 1728. Despite her burial at the parish church, Jane may have been a member of the then early Baptist Church. A Jane Butfeild of Houghton Regis Parish does appear in a 1707 list of members of the Park Street Baptist Church in Luton. The Dunstable and Houghton Regis Baptist Church with its own burial ground was not set up at Thorn on 1751.

A few items from Jane's very interesting will are as follows:
I do give and bequeath unto my Daughter Jane Butcher my Second biggest Brewing Kettle my Warming Pan Two pair of sheets not the worst and all my Weareing Clothes...the Sume of Tenn pounds of Lawfull money of Great Brittaine....to William Butfeild my Sonn the Sume of Thirty pounds...unto Thomas Butfeild my youngest son the Sume of Thirdy pounds...

I do give...unto John Butfeild my Eldest Sonn and to his heirs and assigns for ever All that my Cottage or Tenament...with all the houses outhouses Ediffices Buildings Barnes Stables Cowhouses yards gardens orchards...all the rest and residue of my money goods household stuffe Bills Bonds Mortgages Loafer Cattoll Chattolls and personal Estate whatsoever....Jane, herself unable to write, made her mark.