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Mayfields of South Carolina
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Abraham Mayfield (d. 1840) of Chester District, South Carolina AND Some of HIS DESCENDANTS
By Phil Norfleet
Generation No. 1 Abraham5 Mayfield (Jonathan4, Abraham3, Robert2, Robert1) died 1840 in Chester County SC. He married Mary _____. She died Abt. 1854 in Chester County SC. Abraham was apparently the son of Jonathan Mayfield (d. 1818) of Chester and Fairfield Districts, South Carolina. Abraham Mayfield (d. 1840) seems to have been a planter who resided in Chester District, South Carolina for most of his life. FEDERAL CENSUS REPORTS A study of the Federal Census data for Chester County SC indicates that Abraham had at least three sons and five daughters. Unfortunately, I have been able to firmly establish the name of only one child - Abraham, Jr. (1787-1860). Abraham Mayfield, Sr. died in Chester County in about 1840. Federal Census data for Chester County SC, pertaining to this Abraham Mayfield (c. 1761-1840), his son Abraham, Jr. (1787-1860) and his grandson Abraham III (1829-1862), are shown below. Three different generations of Abraham Mayfields are covered by the census data. Accordingly, to reduce ambiguity, I have designated them in the census records as Abraham, Sr., Abraham, Jr., and Abraham III. 1790 - Chester County - Abraham Mayfield, Sr. - 1 WM 16 and above, 1 WM under 16, 2 WF's, 0 Slaves. 1800 - Chester County - Abraham Mayfield, Sr. - 1 WM 26-45, 1 WM 10-16, 1 WF 26-45 (probably Dorcas, first wife of Abraham), 1 WF 10-16, 3 WF's under 10, 0 Slaves. 1810 - Chester County - Abraham Mayfield, Sr. - 1 WM over 45, 1 WM 16-26, 1 WF over 45 (probably Dorcas, first wife of Abraham), 4 WF's 10-16, 1 WF under 10, 0 Slaves. 1820 - Chester County - Abraham Mayfield, Sr. - 1 WM over 45, 1 WM 16-26, 1 WM 10-16, 1 WM under 10, 1 WF over 45 (probably Dorcas, the first wife of Abraham), 2 WF's 16-26, 3 Slaves. 1830 - Chester County - Abraham Mayfield, Sr. - 1 WM 80-90 (identity unknown, person is too old to be Abraham, Sr.; he may be the father of Abraham's wife, Mary), 1 WM 60-70 (probably Abraham Mayfield, Sr.), 1 WF 30-40 (probably Mary, the second wife of Abraham), 4 Slaves. 1830 - Chester County - Abraham Mayfield, Jr. - 1 WM 40-50 (probably Abraham, Jr., the son of Abraham, Sr.), 1 WM 15-20 (probably Abraham Mayfield III, see Section 3 below), 1 WM 5-10, 1 WM under 5, 1 WF 30-40, 1 WF 15-20, 1 WF 5-10, 1 Slave. 1840 - Chester County - Abraham Mayfield, Sr. - He is not listed; Abraham, Sr. probably had died just before the 1840 Census was taken. 1840 - Chester County - Abraham Mayfield, Jr. - 1 WM 50-60, 1 WM 15-20, 2 WM's 10-15, 3 WM's under 5, 1 WF 40-50, 1 WF 15-20, 1 WF 5-10, 4 WF's under 5, 6 Slaves. 1850 - Chester County - Household # 1423: Abraham Mayfield, Jr., age 63, Blacksmith; Susan Mayfield, age 47; Abraham Mayfield III, age 21, Farmer; Ellen Mayfield, age 19; Mary Mayfield, age 14; Sarilla Mayfield, age 13; Nancy Mayfield, age 11. All members of household were born in SC. 1850 - Chester County - Household # 1425: Mary Mayfield, age 57, born SC. [Note: this Mary Mayfield is probably the widow of Abraham Mayfield, Sr.; probate papers, abstracted below, indicate that she died in 1854.] 1860 - Chester County - Susan Mayfield (widow of Abraham, Jr.), age 63 [sic], born SC; Nancy Mayfield, age 19, born SC. 1860 - Chester County - Abraham Mayfield III, age 29, Farmer; Margaret C. Mayfield, age 23; Elmira Mayfield, age 2; Calhoun Mayfield, age 1. All Members of household were born in SC.
OFFICIAL RECORDS CHRONOLOGY FOR ABRAHAM MAYFIELD (D. 1840) 19 October 1784: A 100-acre tract of land is surveyed for Abraham Mayfield in the District of Camden, South Carolina. The land is located on the waters of Smith's Creek, a tributary of Sandy River. [See SC Plat Book 3, page 304.] 07 May 1787: Abraham Mayfield patents a 100-acre tract of land on the Waters of Smith's Creek of Sandy River. [See SC Grant Book 21, page 5.] 07 October 1787: William Roden (Roaden), of Chester County SC, assigns his claim for 100 acres of bounty land to Abraham Mayfield. This same William Roden served under Abraham's first cousin, Lieutenant John Mayfield, during the Revolutionary War. It appears from an analysis of their probate records that this William Roden had married Mary Mayfield, a daughter of Jonathan Mayfield (d. 1818). Mary was, thus, a sister of Abraham. William Roden's will, dated 20 February 1795, was proved in Chester County SC on 18 November 1800. Both Jonathan and Abraham Mayfield were named as executors of Roden's will. [See SC Indent Certificate, Book N, Number 269, dated 01 April 1785.] 05 January 1791: A 22 and 1/2 acre tract of land in Camden District is surveyed for Abraham Mayfield. The land is located on the Still Branch of Smith's Creek of Brushey Fork of Sandy River. [See SC Plat Book 36, page 81.] 19 February 1791: Abraham Mayfield patents 22 and 1/2 acres of land in Chester County SC, on Smith's Creek in the Brushey Fork of Sandy River. [See SC Grant Book 42, page 384.] 26 December 1797: Abraham Mayfield conveys to Thomas Roden, for $30, a 5-acre tract of land situate in Chester County SC. [See Chester County SC Deed Book G, page 225.] 03 December 1807: The heirs of William Roden, deceased, i.e., Mary Roden, James Roden, Jane Roden and Thomas Roden, convey to Abraham Mayfield of Chester County SC, for $150, a 75-acre tract of land situate in Chester County on the waters of Smith's Creek of Brushey Fork of Broad River. [See Chester County SC Deed Book R, pages 317-318.] 01 December 1840: The will of Abraham Mayfield, dated 18 April 1832, is presented to the Chester County SC Court of Ordinary on 01 December 1840. In the will, Abraham mentions by name only his wife Mary and his son Abraham. After the death of his wife, Mary, the remaining estate is to be equally divided among all the legal heirs. However, his son, Abraham Mayfield, Jr., is to receive one Negro boy named Frank. [See Chester County SC Will Book A-1, pages 7-8.] 27 January 1841: Abraham Mayfield, Jr. is made executor of the last will and testament of his father. [See Chester County SC Probate papers, Apartment 51, Packet #814.] 16 February 1841: A sale of part of the personal estate of Abraham Mayfield, deceased, is made in an amount of $257.61. [See Chester County SC Probate papers, Apartment 51, Packet #814.] 01 December 1854: A petition is presented to the Chester County Court by Abraham Mayfield, Jr., the executor, requesting permission to sell the remaining personal estate of Abraham Mayfield, Sr., deceased. Abraham, Jr. states " ... that his mother, who was entitled to a life time estate in the property of his testator, has died." [See Chester County SC Probate papers, Apartment 101, Packet #1717.] 19 December 1854: The personal estate of Abraham Mayfield, Sr. was sold for a total amount of $101.17. [See Chester County SC Probate papers, Apartment 101, Packet #1717.] Child of Abraham Mayfield and Mary _____ is: i. Abraham6 Mayfield, born Abt. 1787 in Chester County SC; died 1860 in Chester County SC. Generation No. 2 2. Abraham6 Mayfield (Abraham5, Jonathan4, Abraham3, Robert2, Robert1) was born Abt. 1787 in Chester County SC, and died 1860 in Chester County SC. He married Susannah Procter 09 June 1814 in Chester County SC. She was born Abt. 1797 in South Carolina, and died 29 August 1877 in Chester County SC.
DOCUMENTATION CHRONOLOGY FOR ABRAHAM MAYFIELD, Jr. (1787-1860) AND HIS WIFE, SUSANNAH PROCTER (1797-1877) 01 December 1840: The will of Abraham Mayfield, dated 18 April 1832, is presented to the Chester County SC Court of Ordinary on 01 December 1840. In the will, Abraham mentions by name only his wife Mary and his son Abraham. After the death of his wife, Mary, the remaining estate is to be equally divided among all the legal heirs. However, his son, Abraham Mayfield, Jr., is to receive one Negro boy named Frank. [See Chester County SC Will Book A-1, pages 7-8.] 27 January 1841: Abraham Mayfield, Jr. is made executor of the last will and testament of his father. [See Chester County SC Probate papers, Apartment 51, Packet #814.] 16 February 1841: A sale of part of the personal estate of Abraham Mayfield, deceased, is made in an amount of $257.61. [See Chester County SC Probate papers, Apartment 51, Packet #814.] 01 December 1854: A petition is presented to the Chester County Court by Abraham Mayfield, Jr., the executor, requesting permission to sell the remaining personal estate of Abraham Mayfield, Sr., deceased. Abraham, Jr. states " ... that his mother, who was entitled to a life time estate in the property of his testator, has died." [See Chester County SC Probate papers, Apartment 101, Packet #1717.] 19 December 1854: The personal estate of Abraham Mayfield, Sr. was sold for a total amount of $101.17. [See Chester County SC Probate papers, Apartment 101, Packet #1717.] 06 February 1860: A certain "Abraham Mayfield, Jr." (apparently this is Abraham Mayfield III) is appointed administrator of the estate of "Abraham Mayfield, Sr.," deceased. Abraham, Sr. is probably the son of the Abraham Mayfield (d. 1840) who is the subject of this sketch. [See Chester County SC Probate Records, Apartment 107, Packet #106.] 06 February 1860: A bond to support the above appointment is posted in the amount of $18,000. The sureties were: Abraham Mayfield III, Thomas Wilks, Sylvanus Carter and Hazel Wilks. From the size of the bond, it is obvious that Abraham Mayfield, Jr. deceased, was a wealthy man! [See Chester County SC Probate Records, Apartment 107, Packet #106.] 1861-1862: Review of the estate accounts for above cited Abraham Mayfield, deceased, indicate that his wife was named Susan Mayfield. [See Chester County SC Probate Records, Apartment 107, Packet #106.] 27 January 1863: A certain Wesley Mayfield petitions the Chester County SC Court of Ordinary to be named as the administrator of the estate of Abraham Mayfield III. Wesley states: " ... that Abraham Mayfield, Jr. [actually this is Abraham III] departed this life on or about 30 August 1862 intestate, leaving a widow and 3 or 4 children (names not recollected) his only heirs and distributees of his estate, leaving personal property to about the order of $2000. Also the said Abraham Mayfield had obtained letters of administration on the personal estate of Abraham Mayfield, Sr. [actually this is Abraham Mayfield, Jr.], deceased and also on the personal estate of Sylvanus Carter, deceased by authority of said letters he had sold the personal property of both estates and died before a final settlement of either. Your petitioner therefore prays that he may be appointed administrator of the estate of Abraham Mayfield, Jr. [actually Abraham III] and that he be empowered and authorized to settle the estates of Abraham Mayfield, Sr. [actually Abraham, Jr.] and Sylvanus Carter by complying with the law in such cases, made and provided, etc. ... " [See Chester County SC Probate Records, Apartment 115, Packet #234.] Wesley Mayfield (1820-1912) was a merchant who resided most of his life in Fairfield County SC. The will of his mother, Susan Mayfield (see below), indicates that Wesley was an elder brother of Abraham Mayfield III and a grandson of Abraham Mayfield, Sr. (1761-1840) of Chester County SC. 16 February 1863: Wesley Mayfield posts a bond in the amount of $4000 to support his request to be named as administrator of Abraham Mayfield III. [See Chester County SC Probate Records, Apartment 115, Packet #234.] 16 February 1863: Wesley Mayfield is appointed as administrator of the estate of Abraham Mayfield III, deceased. [See Chester County SC Probate Records, Apartment 115, Packet #234.] 14 May 1873: Susannah Mayfield, widow of Abraham Mayfield, Jr. (d. 1860) applied for a War of 1812 widow's pension pursuant to the Congressional Act of February 14, 1871. In the application, Susannah indicates that her husband, Abraham Mayfield, died at his residence in Chester, on 10 January 1860. She further states that she, under her maiden name of Susannah Procter, and her husband were married in Chester District SC on 09 June 1814. Documents in the pension file indicate that her husband served in the War of 1812, in Captain John Reedy's Company of South Carolina Militia, for the period from 01October to 06 December 1814, when "discharged as being unfit for service." [See War of 1812 Pension Application file SO-7382.] 31 May 1874: The above cited application was rejected " ... for want of new declaration; proof of claimant's marriage, death of soldier & continued widowhood. ... " [See War of 1812 Pension Application file SO-7382.] 02 March 1878: The will of Susan Mayfield, dated 31 May 1876, was entered into probate. In the will she gives her son, Wesley Mayfield, a 45-acres tract of land; all the rest of her real and personal property is to be equally divided between her son Wesley and her daughter Nancy Harriette Mayfield. The will was witnessed by Hazel Wilks, Sr., Thomas Wilks, Sr. and Thomas Wilks, Jr. Hazel H. Wilks was named in the will as the executor of her estate. [See Chester County SC Probate Papers, Apartment 143, Packet # 713.] 13 June 1884: Sarah Savilla Mayfield petitions the Chester County Court stating that she is an heir-at-law of Susan Mayfield and that Susan Mayfield died on 29 August 1877 leaving her last will and testament, but no executor had been appointed. She asks the court to appoint George W. Curtis, Esq., Clerk of the Court for Chester County as administrator. [See Chester County SC Probate Records, Apartment 148, Packet #821.] 13 June 1884: George W. Curtis is appointed as administrator of the estate of Susan Mayfield. [See Chester County SC Probate Records, Apartment 148, Packet #821.]
PENSION APPLICATION OF SUSANNAH PROCTER MAYFIELD On 14 May 1873, Susannah Mayfield, widow of Abraham Mayfield (d. 1860) applied for a War of 1812 widow's pension pursuant to the Congressional Act of February 14, 1871. In the application, Susannah indicates that her husband, Abraham Mayfield, died at his residence in Chester, on 10 January 1860. She further states that she, under her maiden name of Susannah Procter, and her husband were married in Chester District SC on 09 June 1814. Documents in the pension file indicate that her husband served in the War of 1812, in Captain John Reedy's Company of South Carolina Militia, for the period from 01October to 06 December 1814, when "discharged as being unfit for service." The application was rejected on 31 May 1874 " ... for want of new declaration; proof of claimant's marriage, death of soldier & continued widowhood. ... " [See War of 1812 Pension Application file SO-7382.] Children of Abraham Mayfield (d. 1860) and Susannah Procter are: i. Wesley7 Mayfield, born 01 May 1825 in Chester County SC; died 24 May 1912 in Fairfield County SC. He married (1) Mary T. Coleman; born 03 October 1817; died 28 November 1890 in Fairfield County SC. He married (2) Eliza _____. ii. Abraham Mayfield, born Abt. 1829 in Chester District SC; died 30 August 1862 in Chester District SC. He married Margaret C. _____; born Abt. 1837 in South Carolina.
DOCUMENTATION CHRONOLOGY FOR ABRAHAM MAYFIELD III (1829-1862) The following summarizes the genealogical information gleaned from my review of a microfilm of the probate papers of Abraham Mayfield (1829-1862). It should be noted that many of these documents were almost illegible and many of them were apparently reconstructions of original documents that had been destroyed during the Civil War. [See Chester District SC Probate Records, Apartment 115, Packet #241.] 27 January 1863: Wesley Mayfield petitions the Chester District Court of Ordinary to be named administrator of the estate of "Abraham Mayfield, Jr." The petitioner is undoubtedly Wesley Mayfield (1820-1905), the brother of Abraham. The petitioner stated: " ... that Abraham Mayfield, Jr. departed this life on or about 30 August 1862 intestate, leaving a widow and 3 or 4 children (names not recollected) his only heirs & distributees of his estate leaving personal property to about the order of $2000. Also the said Abraham Mayfield had obtained letters of administration on the personal estate of Abraham Mayfield, Sr. dec'd and also on the personal estate of Sylvanus Carter, deceased, by authority of said letters he had sold the personal property of both estates and died before a final settlement of either. Your petitioner therefore prays that he may be appointed administrator of the estate of Abraham Mayfield, Jr. and that he be empowered and authorized to settle the estates of Abraham Mayfield, Sr. and Sylvanus Carter, by complying with the law in such cases made and provided, etc. ... " 16 February 1863: Wesley Mayfield posts a bond in the amount of $4000 to support his appointment as administrator of Abraham Mayfield's estate. 16 February 1863: Wesley Mayfield is appointed as administrator of the estate of Abraham Mayfield, Jr. iii. Ellen Mayfield, born Abt. 1831. iv. Isham Mayfield, born Abt. 1833. v. Mary Mayfield, born Abt. 1836. vi. Sarah Savilla Mayfield, born Abt. 1837; died Aft. 1884. vii. Nancy Harriette Mayfield, born Abt. 1839 in Chester County SC.
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