Several different
Pitfield families appear in various parts of North America between 1760
and 1900. The origins of some of these are known, but other families
cannot be traced back to England with any certainty. To get a better
understanding of where these families fit in it is useful to summarise
the origins of the family in England.
The Pitfields
in England.
My research has shown that there are two distinct Pitfield families
in England. The first family originated in the southern county of Dorset,
where the name evolved from the name Pitfold which was present in the
county from at least 1525. Details of this family are shown in Database
One. The
second family originated in the northern county of Lancashire. In this
county the name evolved from Patefield and Peatfield with the spelling
of the name changing constantly between Patefield, Peatfield and Pitfield
in the same families. Some members of this family took the name Pitfield
whilst others kept the name Patefield. Both names still exist in the
locality today. Details of this family are shown in Database
Three.
My main interest
in North America has to trace the origins of Benjamin
Pitfield ( ? -1793) and George
Pitfield (c1749-1827) who are shown below and to follow their families
in America and Canada. This database shows only these two families.
Were they, as family tradition would have it, brothers, and did they
come from the Dorset family or the Lancashire family? There is some
evidence from my researches in America that they were from the Dorset
family, but no connection has been proved. As things stand at the moment
I have been unable to prove that Benjamin and George were brothers,
and have not been able to trace their origins in England.
I have developed a theory concerning the origins of Benjamin and George
which, as yet, I have been unable to prove. I believe that the origins
of this family may be traced back to the family of John
Pitfield and Hannah
Hallett of Colyton in Devon, who were part of the Dorset Family.
This couple had nine children christened in Devon between 1727 and 1744
and then disappear from the scene. One of their children was a Benjamin
(1741- ). It is my belief that this couple moved elsewhere in England
and had further children, including a George and a Charles. Then George
ends up in Canada, Benjamin in America and Charles in Lancashire at
Cantsfield. Although there are Patefields/Peatfields present in Lancashire
going back to at least 1500, it is my belief that Charles
Pitfield of Cantsfield (?-1796) was from the Dorset family and the
brother of Benjamin and George. (I only have scanty circumstantial evidence
for this and as stated above cannot prove it, so have shown him in Database
Three showing the Pitfields in Lancashire).
The different family
groups in North America can be listed as follows:
James
Darwin Pitfield (1808-c1860). Born in Chorley, Lancashire, son
of John
Pitfield (1784-1855) and Elizabeth
Darwin and grandson of Charles
Pitfield of Cantsfield (?-1796). James Darwen Pitfield came to New
Jersey, America around 1830 where he married and settled down. James
Darwin Pitfield was also the nephew to Bryan
Robinson Pitfield (1776- ) shown below. Because James's origins
are in Lancashire I have shown him and his family in Database
Three. As he is a descendant of Charles
Pitfield of Cantsfield (?-1796) he would have been related to Bejamin
and George, but only if my theories above are correct.
Bryan
Robinson Pitfield (1776- ). Born in 1776 at Tunstall, Lancashire
the son of Charles and Ann Pitfield of Cantsfield. Bryan was living
in New York City at the time of the census of 1830 and his descendants
can be traced there in the years that follow. If my theories above are
correct Bryan Robinson would have been the nephew of Benjamin and George.
He was also the uncle of James
Darwin Pitfield (1808-c1860) shown above. As Bryan's origins are
in Lancashire I have shown him and his family on Database
Three.
George
Gale Pitfield (1843-1927). Born Bridport, Dorset. Settled in
Ohio, USA and later Toronto, Canada. As his origins were in Dorset he
and his family are shown on Database
One.
Benjamin
Pitfield (?-1793) of Timber Creek, Gloucester County, New Jersey
and Philadelphia City, Pennsylvania. Said to have come to America from
Hoxton, Middlesex, England around 1760 by the invitation of an uncle
who lived at Timber Creek. No source found for this. Earliest reference
in America is 1770 when he married. He had at least two children. Family
tradition says he was the brother of George
Pitfield (c1749-1827) below - no proof of this. Circumstantial evidence
in America shows that he was connected to the Dorset family. It could
be that he was the same Benjamin
Pitfield (1741-) born Colyton, Devon, as explained above. Further
details can be found on his Person
Sheet.
George
Pitfield (c1749-1827) of Kings County, New Brunswick, Canada.
Went to Nova Scotia (later New Brunswick) with the first fleet from
New York at the end of the American War of Independence. Earliest reference
to him is in 1786. Presumably had been living in America previous to
the War of Independence. Family tradition says he was the brother of
Benjamin
Pitfield (?-1793) above - no proof of this. George prospered in
Canada. Further details can be found on his Person
Sheet.
Database
Two - The Pitfields in Canada and USA only
shows the families of Benjamin ( ? -1793) and George Pitfield (c1749-1827)
as the other North Americans are shown elsewhere.
It should be pointed
out that if you are looking for a particular member of the Pitfield
family they may not appear in the Database that you expect. For instance,
there are members of the Pitfield family who appear in Australia, New
Zealand and America who I can show are descended from either Robert
Pitfold of Allington or have their origins in Lancashire. Therefore
they are shown in either the Dorset or Lancashire Databases, rather
than the Australian or North American Databases. To find the Pitfield
that you are interested in, you may have to visit more than one Database,
each of which has its own index.
As with all of the
Databases, I am not showing a person sheet for anyone who was born after
the year 1900. This is to protect the privacy of any person who
is living. If you are a member of the Pitfield family accessing
this site (and therefore almost certainly born after 1900!!!), then
your details will not be shown, but it is likely that your ancestors
are, and it is possible that I am in possession of information relating
to you and your family, that is not shown on this site. If you would
like to make contact with
me I would be happy to share information with you.
For a brief outline
of the different databases return to the Homepage.
Return to Homepage
Go to the Index
of Surnames appearing in Database Two
To go directly to
one of the other Databases follow the links below.
