The Pitfield family has been traced back to John Pytfold of Allington (Bridport) who appears in the Tax Returns of of the parish 1525 and 1545. The Family have their own website (pitfield-family.co.uk) from which much of the families history prior to their arrival in Fordington has been taken. His son Robert PITFOLDE appears in the tax returns for the parish of Stoke Abbott in 1545 and in 1552 he had a grant from the Borough of Bridport for a piece of land in Allington. Robert PITFOLDE described as a Yeoman of Athlington (Allington) died in 1586 and left a will dated 1st Sep 1583 (PROB 11/72) in which he names his wife Joane, his sister Joan Bilke, and lists 9 of his 10 sons in order of birth. His forth sons, Andrew PITFOLDE wrote his will on 8th Aug 1586 and names all 8 of his brothers but also mentions a sister Hellena presumably born between 1583-1586) Robert was an extensive landowner and his will names land in the parishes of Allington, Whitchurch Canonicorum, Long Bredy, Marshwood, Symondsbury, Walditch, Shipton Gorge and Powerstock. He also gave details of those he bought the lands from, the names of tenants who occupied them, and how they were to be divided amongst his children. Some of the farms mentioned in the will are still in the family today. All Pitfields traced so far are descended from Robert Pytfold who died in 1586 and was buried at Whitchurch Canonicorum.

Some members of the family have achieved greatness and celebrity while others have languished in poverty. Amongst the former are Sir Charles Pitfield who owned most of Hoxton in London in the 17th century and his son Alexander Pitfield an MP in the 18th century. Among the latter was Mary the widow of Samuel Pitfield (1782-1840) who was caught receiving stolen goods and sentenced to transportation to Tasmania in 1843.

The First Pitfield family to settle in Fordington



Marriage at Chaldon Herring Dorset on 21st Feb 1665/6 of
Sebastian PITFIELD (1632-1702) to Christian MEADON (1641-1715)

[Note:- Follow link provided for more information about Mary's family. His father Robert Pitfield (1609-1680) is the subject of chart 10 (page 80 of 160) on (pitfield-family.co.uk). His grandfather Sebastion Pitfield (1570-1613) is on page 7 of 160 which also shows his great grandfather Robert Pitfield( c1516-1586) of Allington]

Christian MEADON (1646-1715) is almost certainly the 6th known child from the marriage of Charles Meadon [Meader] to Christian Paine at St Michael's church in the parish of Owermoigne on 16th January 1632/3. Her parents lived on the edge of the heathlands just 6 miles south east of Dorchester and 8 miles north east of Melcombe Regis at the tiny hamlet of Galton (within Owermoigne parish) where her father was a yeoman farmer. Her eldest brother Charles Meadon (1633-1708) was baptised at St Michael's church in Owermoigne on 5th Nov 1633 and married Mary Meech at Chaldon Herring on 12th June 1656. He was to inherit the family farm when their parents both died in 1678/9.⁽¹⁾ A sister Joan was also baptised at Owermoigne in 1636 but all their other children, including Christian, were all baptised at St Nicholas Church at nearby Chaldon Herring.⁽²⁾ Christian was born during the troubled time of the Civil War (1642-1651) and baptised at St Nicholas church on 15th August 1646. She was therefore about 19 years old when she married Sebastian.

Sebastian's eldest brother Thomas Pitfield (c1634-1665) of St Mary-le-Savoy in London died only 3 months after their wedding and he left in his nuncupative will dated the 2nd May 1665 £1 to buy Sebastian a mourning ring in his remembrance. Sebastian and Christian raised a family of six children in Chaldon Herring and Broadmayne before the family finally settled in Fordington in about 1685. When his father-in-law Renaldo KNAPTON (1570-1641) died he left him a substantial bequest:- 'to my son-in-law Pytfold, my oxen, kyne, horse, beasts and young beasts, sheep and corn that lies in the common fields at Charlton (a small tithing within the parish of Donhead St Mary in Wiltshire) but my will is that my wife (Bridget nee Mussell) shall have the use and benefit of the kyne and one half of the corn during her life'

Sebastian was buried at St Georges Church in Fordington on 16th April 1702 and his Will is recorded in the Calendar of Dorset Wills and Administrations in the Salisbury Probate Court and has been transcribed by Michael Pitfield:-

The Will of Sebastian Pitfield (1632-1702)
Dated 27th Jan 1701: Buried 16th Apr 1702: Probate 19th Jan 1702/3
© Wiltshire Archives Ref:SPC 1702 3 5 : P15/82

This is the last Will and Testament of me Sebastian PITFIELD of Ffordington in the County of Dorsett Yeoman being sick and weake in body but of sound and pfect [perfect] memory and understanding (thanks bee to God)

Impris: (Impremis) I give and bequeath unto my dear wife Christian PITFIELD, all my indoore Goods and Implements of household stuff whatsoever together with all my weareing apparell both limens and woollen

Item: I give and bequeath unto my son Samuel the sum of twenty pounds which I hereby direct my Executor hereafter named to satisfy him within one yeare next after my decease.

And lastly all my outdoore goods and other chattels whatsoever, not before bequeathed, I hereby give and bequeath unto my son Charles PITFIELD whome I hereby constitute sole Executor of this my said Testament

In Testament whereof I have hereunto sett my hand & seal this Seaven & twentyeth Day of January in the Thirteenth yeare of the Reign of o^r (our) Soveraign Lord William the Third over England e^t (and in the) Anno D (year of our Lord) 1701 Sebastian PITFIELD

Signed sealed published & declared
to bee the last Will & Testament
of the said Sebastian PITFIELD in
ye sound of us

Ro^bt (Robert) Lillington
Mary the wife of W Bellman
Morgan Harben

(1.1) Charles PITFIELD (1666-1743) He was baptised at St Nicholas Church in Chaldon Herring in Dorset on 12th December 1666 ⁽³⁾ and moved to live in Fordington with his family about 1685. It is possible that he was married twice (Please refer to the Pitfield Family website - you need page 84 of 160 - Chart 10.1) but no marriage registration appears to have survived. What we do know for certain is that he died intestate and was buried at St Georges church in Fordington on 13th July 1743 when his age was given as being 76. Administration of his estate was granted to his widow Amy PITFIELD on 2nd Jun 1744.

Amy appears to have been the Amy COLLINS who married Robert SQUIBB at St Georges Church on 18th Sep 1711. Robert and Amy had only one child, a daughter they named Anne who was born on the 19th June at Fordington and baptised at St Georges Church on 7th July 1712. Robert then died on 17th April 1715 and was buried there on the 20th. Robert left a Will dated 28 Apr 1715 in which he provides for his only daughter and makes Amy his executrix. To obtain administration however Amy was to be bound unto the Reverend Richard Younger the prebendary of Fordington & Writhington and official of the Dean of Sarum for the unusually high amount of four hundred and twenty pounds. For this she obtained the support of two other yeomen of Fordington, Thomas TERREL and John INGRAM, who were bound with her in the Letter of Administration issued on 21 July 1715. Left with a young baby and his estate to administer I think she is likely to have returned to her family for support and it may well have been in their parish that she later married Charles PITFIELD. Many registers during this period did not survive.

After marriage Charles & Amy [also recorded as Eamey] lived in Fordington where Amy gave birth to three more children between 1721 and 1726 as shown below. Charles described as a yeoman farmer was by then already a respected member of Fordington Parish Vestry who took it in turns to carry out the various offical duties presribed to them by the church and the Poor Law Act of 1601. Records are not complete but many survive which bear his name and give an idea of some of the duties he carried out. For example when the widow Charity CHURCHILL fell pregnant with a bastard child, and sought support from the parish during her lying in, they pursued the father of the child William Churchill to cover their costs. Charles Pitfield with his colleague Thomas Tirrell are named on the bastardy maintenance bond issued on 12th July 1723 as churchwardens of Fordington. In 1724 and subsequent years he is one of the Vestry officers who countersigned the disbursement accounts of the overseers of the poor for the parish and in 1728 he is himself referred to as Overseer of the Poor. The vestry members rotated annualy through these posts and his disbursement accounts as churchwarden for thr year 1731 (image 4) survive and his name as overseer appears again in 1733. Another function of the vestry was to levy parish rates and as a householder his own name appears on the listings from 1726 when he is paying 2 shillings a year which gradually increased to 6s. His sons father-in-law, Joseph Bishop, in 1726 was paying 1 shilling and his younger brother Samuel Pitfield as a bachelor and presumably a smaller property only 3d. He appears to have been an active member of the vestry until the late 1730's.


(1.1.1) Mary Pitfield (1721-1784) baptised at St Georges church on 28th April 1721. She married Amos Stile (d.1777), at St Georges Church on 23rd Dec 1746. Follow link for more information about their family. Amos was buried at St Georges Church on 30th Sep 1776 followed by Mary on 29th Feb 1784.

(1.1.2) Charles Pitfield (1724-1801) bap St Georges church 5th April 1724. He married Mary Bishop (1722-1794) at St Georges Church on 5th Oct 1746. His bride Mary was the daughter of Joseph BISHOP & baptised in All Saints Church in Dorchester on 15th June 1722. He appears as a member of the vestry at Fordington from 1749 (image 36) when he is appointed Overseer of the poor that year. When his uncle Samuel Pitfield (1681-1750) died he was granted administration of his estate on 1st Oct 1750. Charles described as a Yeoman was listed as being fit to serve in the Militia for the parish of Fordington in 1758. Mary was buried at F St Georges Church on 27th Jan 1794 followed by Charles on 8th Sep 1801. They had the following children all baptised at St Georges Church Fordington:-

(1.1.2.1) Samuel Pitfield (1746-?)  bap FStG on 9th Nov 1746. Nothing else known.

(1.1.2.2) Charles  Pitfield (1748-1749) bap FStG on 8th Feb 1748/9 and buried there 14th July 1749

(1.1.2.3) Charles  Pitfield (1750-1804) bap FStG on 26th Sep 1750. He married at FStG to Ann Thorn on 25th Aug 1776. Ann was the only child of George THORN and his wife Barbara nee Roberts and she was baptised at Fordington on 29th March 1751. Charles who was literate served in the Militia for 3 years having volunteered to serve in the place of Richard Hunt a Gentleman of All Saints Parish in Dorchester on 20th May 1776. The Militia list bears his signature. He was buried at Fordington on 24th Jan 1804. No known issue

(1.1.2.4) Sebastian  Pitfield (1754-1756)  bap FStG on 11th Dec 1754 and buried there 5th April 1756
(1.1.2.5) Sebastian  Pitfield  bap FStG on 1st Feb 1757. He married Mary Thorn at st Georges church on 17-May-1781 and raised a family of 10 children
(1.1.2.6) Joseph Pitfield (1759-1761)  bap FStG on 5th Feb 1759 and buried there on 26th Apr 1761.
(1.1.2.7) Christian  Pitfield (1761-1761) bap FStG on 12th Jan 1761 and buried there on 22nd Mar 1761.
(1.1.2.8) Joseph  Pitfield bap FStG on 13 Apr 1762

(1.1.3) Sebastian Pitfield (1726-1794) was the 3rd child of Charles PITFIELD (1666-1743) and he first appears in the Church rates in 1755 when he is charged 2d pa. for trade. He married on 30th Nov 1756 to Mary Woodsford at St Georges Church Fordington. Sebastian was listed as a Yeoman of Fordington fit and able to serve in the Militia in 1758 and from the church rates for that year (image 59) we know he lived in a cottage and was assessed at 3s p.a.. He was buried at St Georges Church on 5th Dec 1794 followed by Mary Pitfield (1734-1821) Aged 87 on 17th May 1821. They had 3 children baptised at St Georges Church:-

(1.1.3.1) Emme (or Amey) Pitfield (1757-1761) bap 15th Sep 1757 buried 28th Oct 1761
(1.1.3.2) Sebastian Pitfield (1760-1761) bap 27th May 1760 and buried 3rd Nov 1761
(1.1.3.3) Amye Pitfield (1763-1850) bap 26th Jan 1763 she married John [Summers] Jacob of Dorchester a saddler by trade at St Georges Church on 15th July 1781. Amy was Administrix of her mothers estrate who died intestate, a letter of Administration his held at Wiltshire Archives sworn 7th Aug 1821. Follow link for more information about their large family.

(1.2) Robert PITFIELD (1671-1673) He was baptised at St Nicholas Church in the parish of Chaldon Herring in Dorset on 18th May 1671. He died an infant being buried there on 12th Oct 1673.

(1.3) Renaldo PITFIELD (1675-1692) He was baptised at St Nicholas Church in Chaldon Herring on 6th January 1675/6.We know that he died in 17th September 1692 whilst visiting his uncle Renaldo Pitfield (c1630-1700) of Beccles in Suffolk from a memorial within the church.

(1.4) Sebastian PITFIELD (1678-1684) He was baptised at St Nicholas Church in Chaldon Herring on 2nd November 1678. He was buried at the churchyard of St Martins church at Broadmayne in Dorset on 19th June 1684

(1.5) Samuel PITFIELD (1681-1750) He was baptised at St Martins Church in Broadmayne on 7th Feb 1681/2 and and came to Fordington with his parents c1685 and remained a bachelor. The Fordington parish rates levied for the year 1726 show that he paid three pence and in 1732 six pence. He may have been a carpenter by trade as the disbursement accounts for the year 1732 have an entry "Paid Samuel Pitfield for mending the belfry door 7d (image 6). He was elected Overseer of the Poor on 11th April 1737 (image 20) at a vestry meeting also attended by his brother Charles. His signature appears on the following image dated 3rd Apr 1738 when he replaced by another member of the vestry. He died intestate and was buried at St Georges church in Fordington on 12th August 1750. A Letter of Administration was granted on 1st Oct 1750 to Charles PITFIELD (1724-1801) his Nephew and next of kin. Also bound with Charles was Amos Stile (d.1777) the husband of his niece Mary Stile nee Pitfield (1721-1784).

(1.6) Mary PITFIELD (1685-1695) She was baptised at St Martins Church in Broadmayne on 15th December 1685 and buried at FStG on 15th Aug 1695

            

(Left) Union Arms run by George Pitfield (1815-1874) & his wife Caroline (28 below)       -- & --       (Right) The Bulls Head run by George Pitfield (1844-1917) & his wife Elizabeth (38 below)

[Note:- Picture (left) © John Hall taken 26th Mar 2010 some rights reserved - Picture (right) © Michael Pitfield - depicted in the picture - taken 20 Sep 2007

---

Innkeepers of the Bull's Head - Fordington Hill

Link to other photographs of unknown members of the Pitfield Family taken by the Photographer Thomas Grigg (1857-1932) of Dorchester
we would be grateful if anyone can help identify the individuals

                 

George PITFIELD (1844-1917) Innkeeper (1877-1897) & his son. George John PITFIELD (1871-1947) & his wife Alice Mary
Innkeepers (1897-

Like all large family groups, the Pitfields in Fordington had mixed fortunes over the centuries. Some prospered, becoming publicans (See pictures of the Union Arms & Bull’s Head above), or shopkeepers (Edwin Pitfield (1855-1921), was a master hairdresser in High West Street, (& cut Thomas Hardy’s hair) and skilled craftsmen (masons, blacksmiths). Others descended into poverty, the workhouse and the slums of Mill Street.

In the 19th century the Pitfields spread out to Dorchester and beyond. Descendants of Robert Pitfield can now now found throughout the world.

Michael Pitfield
14th June 2013

For further information see the Pitfield Family website www.pitfield-family.co.uk
or contact michael.pitfield@btinternet.com

(1). Sebastian PIFIELD (1632-1702) & Christian MEADON (c1641-1715) 1st Family to live in Fordington from 1685

(2). Charles PITFIELD (1666-1743) & his wife Amy [Eamey] - son of (1) - Churchwarden of St Georges Church Fordington (1723-28)

(3). William PITFIELD (d.1747) & Ann UPSEL [UPSALL] - married 2nd Feb 1725/6 at All Saints Church Dorchester - 2nd Family to live in Dorchester/Fordington from 1725

(4). Charles PITFIELD (1724-1801) & Mary BISHOP (1722- 1794) - married at Fordington 05-Oct 1746 - son of (2) - a Yeoman

(5). Mary PITFIELD (1721-1784) & Amos STILE (d.1776) - married at Fordington 23rd Dec 1746 - daughter of (2)

(6). Sebastian PITFIELD (1726-1794) & Mary WOODSFORD (d.1821) - married at Fordington 30th Nov 1756 - son of (2) -a Yeoman

(7). Elizabeth PITFIELD (b.1729 - ?) & Edward LESTER - married at Fordington 5th July 1759 - daughter of (3)

(8). William PITFIELD (d.1785) & Martha WAY married Alverstoke Hants 27 May 1763 settled All Saints Dorchester - (Thought to be son of 3 but no baptism located) - Wm died Union Workhouse, Martha re-married (12)

(9). Charles PITFIELD (1750-1804) & Ann THORN - married at Fordington 25th Aug 1776 - son of (4) - served in the Militia

(10). Sebastian PITFIELD (1757-1815) & Mary THORN (1760-1845) - married at Fordington 17-May-1781 - son of (4)

(11). Amey PITFIELD (1763-1850) & John JACOB - married at Fordington 15-July-1781 - daughter of (6)

(12). Martha PITFIELD (-) married Edward JONES at All Saints Church Dorchester on 16th Oct 1787 - widow of (8)

(13). Samuel PITFIELD (1782-1840) & Elizabeth BAGG - married at Fordington 23-Jan-1808 - son of (10) 2nd later marriage at (19) - an agricultural labourer

(14). Joseph PITFIELD married Elizabeth GOULD at West Stafford on 7th Dec 1809 - unknown

(15). Joseph PITFIELD (1786-1852) & Maria SARGENT (d.1811) - 1st marriage at Fordington 23-Apr-1810 - son of (10) 2nd marriage later at (17) - an agricultural labourer

(16). Sebastian PITFIELD (1791-1859) & Mary BRIDLE (1792-1831) - married at Fordington 13th May 1813 - son of (10) 2nd marriage later at (22) - an agricultural labourer

(17). Joseph PITFIELD (1786-1852) & Elizabeth SARGENT - 2nd marriage at Stinsford 15 Aug 1813 - son of (10) 1st marriage at (15) - an agricultural labourer

(18). Ann PITFIELD (1794-1849) & Isaac MILLER - married at Fordington 8th May 1815 - daughter of (10) - married an agricultural labourer

(19). Samuel PITFIELD (1782-1840) & Mary COUSINS (1800-1869)- at Stockbridge Hants 18th Mar 1817- 1st marriage at (13) son of (10) an agricultural labourer. Mary convicted 1842 transported to Tasmania for 7 years.

(20). Mary Stone PITFIELD (b.1795) married James BOWDITCH at St Peters Church Dorchester on 16th July 1822 - Mary a native of Bridport Independent church.

(21). Hannah PITFIELD (1800-1837) & Robert WARR - married at Fordington 14th Sep 1829 - daughter of (10)

(22). Sebastian PITFIELD (1791-1859) & Ann CORNICK (1801-1861) - married at Fordington 1st Jan 1832 - son of (10) - 2nd marriage; 1st at (16) - an agricultural labourer

(23). Amy PITFIELD (1784-1856) & John KERLEY - married at Fordington 31st May 1834 - daughter of (10) - Amey married a blacksmith

(24). Charles PITFIELD (1811-1869) & Phoebe PARSONS (1815-1887) - married at Fordington 31st Jan 1836 - son of (13) - an agricultural labourer and later a porter.

(25). John PITFIELD (1813-1884) & Elizabeth GAWLER (1814-1837) - married at Fordington 27th Mar 1837 -John the illegitimate son of Amy Pitfield daughter of (10) who married at (23) John's 2nd marriage at (26)

(26). John PITFIELD (1813-1884) & Sarah BILKE (1819-1857) - married at Fordington on 31st Jan 1842 - 2nd Marriage - 1st at (25) - masons labourer.

(27). Samuel PITFIELD (1818-1870) & Marianne NORRIS (b.1822)- married at Fordington on 26th Mar 1843 - son of (19) - farm labourer.

(28). George PITFIELD (1815-1874) & Caroline Margaret CRITCHELL (1822-1885) - married at Fordington on 18 Apr 1844 - son of (17) - a tailor and Innkeeper of the 'Union Arms' Fordington

(29). James PITFIELD (1823-1885) & Ann BRIDGE married in Dorchester (not located church) 3rd qtr 1846 - son of (19) - a blacksmith

(30). Joseph PITFIELD (1826-1852) & Mary Jane HAWKINS - married at Fordington on 18th Mar 1849 - son of (16) - a labourer.

(31). Eliza Jane PITFIELD (1821-?) & James LEGG - married Fordington on 4th Oct 1849 - daughter of (17) - Eliza a servant.

(32). Emma PITFIELD (1826-?) & Henry WOODSFORD - married Fordington on 27th Oct 1850 - daughter of (19)

(33). Mary Ann PITFIELD (1829-?) & Edmund NEWBURY married at Fordington on 13th May 1855 - daughter of (19)

(34). Henry PITFIELD (1837-1889) & Elizabeth CURTIS married at Fordington on 25th June 1855 - son of (22) - a prison warder.

(35). Edward PITFIELD (1837-1894) married Tamar COX (1834-1921) at Holy Trinity Church Dorchester on 25th Dec 1857 - Illegitimate son of Mary Ann PITFIELD (b.1813) the daughter (16)

(36). Charles PITFIELD (1832-1882) married Charlotte Jane HANHAN (b.1836) at Holy Trinity Church Dorchester on 8th Apr 1858 - son of (22)

(37). Sarah Ann PITFIELD (1840-1926) married Herbert William Reader GROVES (1838-1918) at Poole 4th qtr 1860 - daughter of (24) - Herbert a candle maker, police constable and then ran an off licence shop

(38). Isaac PITFIELD (1843-?) & Mary NAPPER married at Fordington on 26th May 1867 - son of (24) - a servant 1861 and Innkeeper of the 'Sun Inn'in Mill street in 1871. Moved to Cheshire to live by 1876.

(39). Eliza Jane PITFIELD (1849-?) & John ROGERS married at Fordington on 30th Nov 1868 - daughter of (28) - a dressmaker -moved to live in Battersea Surrey

(40). George PITFIELD (1844-1917) married Elizabeth BRUSHETT (1850-1891) at All Saints Church Dorchester on 24th Feb 1870 - Son of (28) - innkeeper of the 'Bulls Head' Fordington Hill

(41). John PITFIELD (1845-c.1874/80) married Emma ROBERTS (1848-1927) at Winterbourne Monkton on 15th Feb 1871 - son of 26 - a labourer and carter

(42). Emily Elizabeth PITFIELD (1851-1885) & Richard Charles Hewer DAVIS married at Fordington on 08 Nov 1871 - daughter of (28)

(43). Sarah Ann PITFIELD (1852-?) & William YOUNG a carpenter married at Fordington on 25 Dec 1874 - daughter of (30) - a servant prior to marriage.

(44). Elizabeth PITFIELD (1851-?) & Thomas LOVELESS (1847-1898) married at Fordington on 09 May 1875 - daughter of (24)

(45). Stephen PITFIELD (1821-1894) & Elizabeth DAMON (b.1829) married at Fordington on 7th July 1875 - son of (19) - masons labourer

(46). Sarah Bilke PITFIELD (1849-1919) married Charles MARTIN married at Fordington on 24th Oct 1875 - daughter of (26)

(47). Louisa PITFIELD (b.1854-?) married Henry LAKE married at Fordington on 25th Oct 1877 - daughter of (35)

(48). Edwin PITFIELD (1855-1921) married Kate CURTIS (1849-1929) married at Holy Trinity Church Dorchester on 5th Aug 1878 - son of (28) - a Gentleman and hairdresser