Origin

The CHATFIELD FAMILY

The Chatfield family is of Sussex origin and doubtless derived its name from Catsfeld, a parish in southeastern Sussex, one mile from the famous Battle Abbey, which was built on the spot where King Harold fell in the Battle of Hastings or Senlac. As early as 1300 the family was established in Mid-Sussex, the first of the name there of whom records have been found being William de Cattefeld, who in 1327/38 and 1332/33 was taxed in subsidies in the Township of Street [or village of Streat], in the very center of the county and about twenty-five miles west of Catsfeld.

For over three centuries the family continued in Street and the adjoining parishes of Ditchling and Chailey; but after 1332/33 there is a gap of about 120 years, covering four or five generations, concerning which no records have been discovered.

On the ship, St. John, George Chatfield, with brothers Thomas and Francis, left England and arrived in Guilford, New Haven, Connecticut in 1639. They were part of Rev. Henry Whitfield’s Company and were original inhabitants of Guilford, New Haven, Connecticut, where they appear on lists of Planters in Jun 1639 & 1650. “For twenty years Whitfield was a conformist of the established church but through many of those years his home had been a place of refuge for the pious nonconformists. This ministry was viewed with disapproval by the reigning English hierarchy of the day as more and more restrictions were put upon the leaders of the Church. Those who did not obey the regulations handed down by the Archbishop were persecuted and chastised, sometimes to the point of imprisonment and even loss of life. When he was cited to appear before the High Commission Court and censured for his actions, Whitfield resigned his position in 1638 as head of the Ockley Church and made his plans to join others in emigrating to New England. Two of Whitfield’s old friends had already settled plantations in Connecticut. It was decided that the young families from Kent, Surrey and Sussex who had become followers of the Rev. Whitfield because their principles and opinions were similar to his own would also settle in this southern part of New England.”

George married a Sarah Bishop in Mar 1656, daughter of John and Anne in Guilford, New Haven, Connecticut. She supposedly died childless in Sep 1657, but new information indicates she had a daughter, Abigail Chatfield. His second marriage was to Isabel Nettleton, daughter of Samuel and Mary of Milford, New Haven, Connecticut, on Mar 29, 1659.

Source: Sheffield Family – Related Families. Genealogical Research in England. The Early History of Southampton, Long Island, New York, with Genealogies, by George Rogers Howell, M.A., pub by Weed, Parsons & Company, 1887.  Re-compiled by: Cheryl (Chatfield) Thompson.