Called "the father of Wells". (Wells [Images of America series], Hope M. Shelly, Arcadia Publishing, Dover, NH, 1996, p. 7)

He probably came to New England in the summer of 1635 with his two eldest sons. He is on record as being in Boston in Spring of 1637, and in 1638. His wife and six children followed on the Bevis in May of 1638, with servants John Knight and Hugh Durdal. He was present in England when his wife Annis became pregnant with their last child, Francis the younger, and absent by the time the suit below was brought--by February 1635/36.

His name appears on the Exeter Combination, signed on 5 June 1639. He was granted 21 acres of land there, in two lots in the first divison of uplands.

In 1643 he joined the Rev. John Wheelwright in the purchase of a large tract of land on the Maine coast from Thomas Gorges, son of Sir Ferdinando Gorges, which is now the town of Wells, ME. There is a plaque in Wells (next to the Webhannet Falls on the site of his mill) stating that his sawmill and gristmill were the first permanent structures in the town.

On 14 July 1643, Thomas Gorges granted him 100 acres of land adjacent to the mill and the neck of the marsh between that and Webhannet River. The first year he was the agent for Richard Vines (appointed governor of the plantation at Saco 2 September 1639) to give possession of the land to settlers. (NEHG Register 105:262)

In November 1645, he and John Wadleigh were granted 200 acres on the southwest side of the Ogunquit River, not entrenching on the town of Wells.

He took the oath of allegiance on 5 July 1653 at Wells, ME. (NEHG Register 3:193.)

He was authorized in 1654 to sell wine and strong liquor to Indians.

He was selectman in 1654 and 1657.

His will is dated 11 Dec, 1661; a family compromise was signed 17 December by his sons Francis, Sr., Thomas, and Francis, Jr. as well as his widow. Inventory was taken 24 December 1661.

About the lawsuit of 1635/6, which named Edmund and Nicholas as defendants, March v. Littlefield et al:

The amount in the lawsuit seems to be 16 pounds sterling. The lawsuit had something to do with Edmund buying some wool and not paying for it. His brother, Nicholas, also named in the lawsuit, did reply to the effect that he didn't know anything about it and that Edmund did the buying.

Nicholas answered 17 Jan 1636 that this brother had been in trade many years as a clothier buying wool in various places and the defendant knew not whence the wool came, whether from the complainant or other; that he bought wool of his brother and did not inquire as to the source; and he knows nothing beyond this, and prays for damages unjustly incurred in the suit.

The complaint of Stephen March, Esq. of Newport, Isle of Wight (Hants.) against
Edmund Littlefield of Titchfield, clothier, Anne, his wife and Nicholas Littlefield, his brother, sworn to 12 February, 11 Charles I (Feb 1635/6) is apparently on file at Court of Requests, Charles I, Bundle 77 , Part 4. This suit was found by the late Col. Charles Edward Banks.