Ancestry of Abner Crediford of Arundel, Maine

CREDIFORD

1. JOSEPH-

m. by 1692, RACHEL BUSSY
d. before 20 June 1714

Joseph supposedly emigrated from England to Charleston, SC before coming to Wells where he had a 100 acre grant on the Kennebunk River in 1693.(1) He had his tax in Kittery abated in 1704: "A List of the Persons to whom we destributed ye £14 8s ordered by ye Generall Court out of our Late Tax AD 1704... Joseph Credifer 0-10-0."(2) Joseph had died by June 1714 when Rachel had six children baptized in Wells. She joined the church 18 Oct. 1719.

Issue-

  • I. Elizabeth- b. Aug. 1692
  • 2II. JOSEPH- b. 16 Feb. 1693/4, m. ESTHER LITTLEFIELD (d. 1793 Arundel)
  • III. Rachel- b. 6 Mar. 1694/5, d.s.p.
  • IV. Abigail- b. 23 Feb. 1699/00 Kittery
  • V. Benjamin- b. 6 Mar. 1701/2, int. 4 Dec. 1736 Jane Gypson of Berwick
  • VI. Josiah- b. 9 Feb. 1703/4 Kittery, int. 3 Apr. 1734 Mary Eaton
  • VII. Mary- b. 13 July 1707, m. 31 Mar. 1726 Ichabod Dunham
  • VIII. Rachel- b. 13 Apr. 1709, m. 15 Nov. 1733 James Bussy of Dover
  • IX. John- b. 13 Apr. 1709, m. 1 July 1736 Judith Hamblen
  • X. Nathaniel- b. 20 Apr. 1713 Ref:

    (1) The History of Wells and Kennebunk- Edward E. Bourne, LL.D., Portland, 1875, p.226
    (2) MA Archives- Vol.3, p.417

    Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire- p.171
    History of Kennebunk Port- Charles Bradbury, Kennebunk, 1837, p.235

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    2II. JOSEPH (JOSEPH 1)

    b. 16 Feb. 1693/4
    m. ESTHER LITTLEFIELD (bpt. 30 Apr. 1704 Wells, d. 1793)

    Joseph was listed as an inhabitant of Wells in 1726.(1) Joseph settled in Arundel in 1729.(2)

    "I have Survaid and Laid out a tract of Land for Joseph Credifor in the Township of Arundel adjoining to kenebunck River... which is by virtue of a grant to Simon Busse by the Town of Arundel baring date June the 23 day 1681. Dated in Arundel this 24 day of November 1729 by me Nicholas Cole Survair of Land."(3)

    Joseph signed a petition for Arundel to be set off as a separate precinct 5 Apr. 1749.(4)

    Joseph was involved in the legal suits concerning his wife's step mother and her husband Malachi Edwards (see Littlefield).(5)

    Issue-

  • I. Abigail- bpt. 24 Nov. 1723 Wells, m. Thomas Towne
  • II. Joseph- bpt. 21 Nov. 1725 Wells, d. 1744 Louisburg
  • III. Samuel- bpt. 20 Aug. 1727 Wells
  • IV. Rebecca- bpt. 5 July 1730 Arundel, m.c. 1750 Joseph Towne
  • V. Lydia- bpt. 9 Dec. 1733 Arundel, m. 1759 Dummer Mitchell
  • 3VI. ABNER- m. 30 June 1762 Wells, RUTH WATSON
  • VII. Tabitha- bpt. 26 Apr. 1741 Arundel, m. Nathan Winslow Ref:

    (1) The History of Wells and Kennebunk- Edward E. Bourne, LL.D., Portland, 1875, p.330
    (2) History of Kennebunk Port- Charles Bradbury, Kennebunk, 1837, p.235
    (3) Kennebunkport Town Records- Book I, p.86
    (4) MA Archives- Vol.12, pp.586,589
    (5) The History of Wells and Kennebunk- Edward E. Bourne, LL.D., Portland, 1875, pp.337-42; MA Archives- Vol. 42, pp.7-9,14-7

    Records of Kennebunk and Kennebunkport Families- W. S. Thompson, Vol. 1, p.313; MS at MHS

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    3V. ABNER (JOSEPH 1, JOSEPH 2)

    m. 30 June 1762 Wells (int. 12 Dec. 1761) RUTH WATSON
    will 17 Sept.- 24 Oct. 1793 Arundel

    Abner was a Lieutenant in the Revolutionary War.

    Abner was a surveyor of highways in 1782, 1785, 1789 and 1790, fence viewer in 1783 and 1788, and surveyor of timber in 1785, 1786, 1789 and 1790.(1)

    "By the Request of mr. Abner Crediford I have Sirvaid A Piece of Land in Arundel... Between mr. Benj. Downing & mr James Burnham, late of Arundel, Decsd... Forty Acers of the above Land is Laid out By Vertue of Draft that Belongs to a Hundred acre grant that was given to Simon Busse June ye 23d day 1681 Twenty Acers of the Above Land By Vertue of a grant to William Elliot that was Laid out Infrining and Now Removed- Dated at arundel the 4th Day of June 1788... John Downing."(2)

    "In the name of God amen the seventeenth day of September in the year of our lord one thousand Seven hundred and ninety three & in ye seventeenth of ye Independance of america.

    I Abner Crediford of Arundell... Doe make and ordain this my last Will and testament...

    Imprimis I give and bequeath to Ruth my dearly beloved Wife Whoom I also appoint my Sole Executrix all my personall Estate & houshold goods for her support & the support of the children under age at her discretion for ever

    I also give to the sd ruth the Improvement and Income of all my land house and barn for her Support & The Support of the children under age at her discretion Dureing her remaining ( ) I give to my Sons Joseph: Daniel Samuel David & daughter Ruth in Equall Shares to them & their heirs forever.

    In presence of us................... Abner Crediford
    Daniel Merrill........................ Ruth Crediford
    Asa Durrell
    Eastman Hutchings
    Daniel Merrill Jr."

    The inventory was submitted 24 Oct. 1793 by Capt. Daniel Merrill, Benjamin Titcomb & Seth Burnham and amounted to £250/14/0. The administration was granted to Ruth and signed by Daniel Crediford, Lucy Crediford, Ruth Crediford, Daniel Merrill, and Seth Burnham.(3)

    On 1 Apr. 1799 the town voted that: "the Reverend Silas Moody to Preach Every third Sabath in the New Meeting House in the upper part of the Town... North westerly of a line to run from the Widdow Ruth Credifords house North East to Biddeford..."(4)

    On 19 Dec. 1801 Daniel Crediford, shipwright, Samuel Crediford, marriner, Ruth Crediford, widow and Executrix to the last will of Abner Crediford deceased, & Ruth Crediford Jr., singlewoman and daughter of the said Abner Crediford deceased, the said Daniel of Pepperrelboro and the others of Arundel... sold for $216.00 to Thomas Durrell of Arundel and Benjamin Day Jr. of Wells 60 acres of land in Arundel bounded by Benjamin Downing, deceased, James Burnham, late of Arundel, deceased and Duck Brook.(5)

    Issue-

  • I. Joseph- bpt. 1 Sept. 1771 Arundel, m. 1 June 1789 Arundel, Lucy Smith (b. 1776, m.2. 1801 Nathaniel Ward, d. 18 Oct. 1855)
  • II. Daniel- bpt. 1 Sept. 1771 Arundel, int. 15 Nov. 1794 Wells, Ruth Cousins
  • III. Samuel- bpt. 24 Apr. 1774 Arundel, d. at sea
  • 4IV. RUTH- b.c.1778, m. 19 Sept. 1807 Kennebunkport, STEPHEN COOPER (d. before 1820), d. 7 Aug. 1867 Kennebunkport
  • V. David- m. 7 Aug. 1808 Kennebunkport, Mary Downing Ref:

    (1) Kennbunkport Town Records- Book II, pp.219,224,234, 241,257,258,262
    (2) Ibid- p.255
    (3) York Co. Probate- #3691
    (4) Kennebunkport Town Records- Book II, p.311
    (5) York Co. Deeds- Vol.67, p.246

    History of Kennebunk Port- Charles Bradbury, Kennebunk, 1837, pp.235, 290
    Soldiers, Sailors and Patriots of the Revolutionary War- Maine- S.A.R., p.168
    Wells & Kennebunkport V.R.
    Records of Kennebunk and Kennebunkport Families- W. S. Thompson, Vol. 1, p.314; MS at MHS

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