By Muriel Bristol | October 19, 2025
Enoch Banfield was born in Wolfeborough, NH, November 15, 1809, son of Tobias and Elizabeth A. (Whidden) Banfield.
Tobias Banfill headed a Portsmouth, NH, household at the time of the Third (1810) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 26-44 years [himself], one male aged 10-15 years, three males aged under-10 years, and one female aged under-10 years.
Enoch Banfield of Wolfeborough, NH, was a student at the newly established Wolfeborough & Tuftonborough Academy in 1823. There were forty-four students (thirty-eight males students and six female students) (Parker, 1901; Granite Monthly, 1920).
Tobias Banfield headed a Wolfeborough, NH, household at the time of the Fifth (1830) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 50-59 years [himself], one female aged 50-59 years [Eliza A. (Whidden) Banfield], one female aged 15-19 years [Caroline Banfield], one female aged 10-14 years [Almira Banfield], and one male aged 5-9 years.
Enoch Perkins and Enoch Banfield were appointed local Deputy Sheriffs in Tamworth, NH, in 1835, under Strafford County Sheriff Benning W. Jenness (Farmer & Lyon, 1836).
DEPUTY SHERIFFS. – The following are the Deputy Sheriffs now in office under the appointment of B.W. JENNESS, Esq., Sheriff of Strafford County. … Tamworth, Enoch Perkins; … Wolfeborough, Enoch Banfield (Dover Enquirer, 1835).
Tobias Banfield headed a Milton household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 60-69 years [himself], one female aged 60-69 years [Eliza A. (Whidden) Banfield], one male aged 30-39 years [Enoch Banfield], and two females aged 20-29 years [Caroline Banfield and Almira Banfield]. Two member of his household were engaged in Agriculture. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Daniel Goodwin and Jacob Nute.
Enoch Banfield received his first appointment as a Milton justice-of-the-peace, December 14, 1840.
The Milton Selectmen of 1842 were J.M. Twombly, R.J. Witham, and Enoch Banfield.
TOWN OFFICERS. Milton. Robert Mathes, Town Clerk; James M. Twombly, Reuben J. Witham, Enoch Banfield, Selectmen (Dover Enquirer, March 15, 1842).
Enoch Banfield married in Tuftonborough, NH, in November 1844, Elizabeth L. Place. She was born in Alton, NH, February 21, 1823, daughter of David and Susan (Perkins) Place.
Marriages. By the same [Rev. Joseph Banfield], Enoch Banfield, Esq., of Boston, to Miss Elizabeth L. Place, of Milton, N.H. (Dover Enquirer, November 19, 1844).
Enoch Banfield died in Dover, NH, July 26, 1848, aged thirty-nine years.
DEATHS. In Dover, N.H. 26th ult., Mr. ENOCH BANFIELD, recently of Boston, 39 (Boston Evening Transcript, August 2, 1848).
Tobias Banfield, none, aged seventy-five years (b. NH), headed a Dover, NH, household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Elisabeth [(Whidden)] Banfield, aged seventy-one years. Tobias Banfield had real estate valued at $500. Their household appeared in the enumeration next to that of Joshua Banfield, a grocer, aged forty-seven years (b. NH).
John W. Varney, a shoemaker, aged thirty-three years (b. NH), headed a Milton houshold at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Lydia W. [(Hatch)] Varney, aged twenty-nine years (b. NH), and Elizabeth L. [(Place)] Banfield, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH). Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Joseph B. Wakeham, a shoemaker, aged twenty-six years (b. NH), and Albert Corson, a shoemaker, aged twenty-nine years (b. NH).
Mother Elizabeth (Whidden) Banfield died of old age in Farmington, NH, December 17, 1859, aged eighty-one years. She was married.
DEATHS. In Farmington, 17th inst., Mrs. Elizabeth, wife of Mr. Tobias Banfield. She was born in Portsmouth, Oct. 18, 1779. Mr. and Mrs. B. were married by the late Rev. Samuel Haven, D.D., of Portsmouth, consequently they have lived together 61 years. Her end was peaceful and happy (Dover Enquirer, December 29, 1859).
Father Tobias Banfield died of old age in Farmington, NH, February 27, 1860, aged eighty-five years.
DEATHS. In Farmington, on the 27 ult., Mr. Tobias Banfield, aged 85 years and 7 months. Mr. B. was born in Portsmouth, Aug. 3, 1774. In the year 1814 he together with his father, mother and his own children then born, moved to Wolfeborough; but for several years last past has resided with his children in Milton, Dover, and Farmington. He had for some length of time been convinced that his stay upon earth would be short. But death to a great extent had been shorn of its terrors. He had believed and trusted in Him, who had said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live again.” – Com. Will Portsmouth papers please copy (Dover Enquirer, March 1, 1860).
Josiah Witham, a farmer, aged forty-one years, headed a Milton household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Susan P. [(Place)] Witham, aged thirty-six years, Charles C. Witham, aged ten years, John W. Witham, aged seven years, Laura P. Witham, aged five years, Josiah D. Witham, aged two years, David Place, a laborer, aged sixty-eight years, and Elizabeth [(Place)] Banfield, aged thirty-seven years. Josiah Witham had real estate valued at $2,000 and personal estate valued at $600. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of John W. Varney, a farmer, aged forty-two years (b. NH), and Stephen Maine, a farmer, aged sixty years (b. NH).
Susan [(Place)] Witham, keeping house, aged forty-six years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. Her household included John W. Witham, a farm laborer, aged seventeen years (b. NH), Laura S. Witham, aged fifteen years (b. NH), Josiah Witham, a farm laborer, aged twelve years (b. NH), Lizzie B. Witham, at school, aged nine years (b. NH), Carrie B. Witham, at school, aged six years (b. NH), and Elizabeth L. [(Place)] Banfield, aged forty-seven years (b. NH). Susan Witham had real estate valued at $1,000 and personal estate valued at $328. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of John L. Varney, works for shoe factory, aged thirty-five years (b. NH), and Lydia W. [(Hatch)] Varney, keeping house, aged forty-eight years (b. NH).
Brother Joseph Banfield died of old age at 143 Walnut Avenue in Boston, MA, November 22, 1875, aged seventy-six years, two months, and six days. He was a married clergyman.
DEATHS. At Boston Highlands, 22 inst., Joseph Banfield, 76 yrs. (Boston Evening Transcript), November 22, 1875).
Sister Caroline (Banfield) Hersey died in Milton, March 1, 1881.
Sister Almira B. (Banfield) Nute died of paralysis in Dover, NH, April 15, 1890, aged seventy-three years, and twenty-six days. She was a widowed housekeeper. D.S.P. Chamberlain, M.D. signed the death certificate.
Susan [(Place)] Witham, a farmer, aged seventy-six years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. Her household included her sister, Lizzie [(Place)] Banfield, aged seventy-seven years (b. NH). Susan Witham owned their farm, free-and-clear; she was the mother of seven children, of whom four were still living. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Lizzie W. Hatch, a farmer, aged seventy-nine years (b. NH), and Edwin Kenney, a dealer [in] carriages, aged sixty-two years (b. ME).
Brother-in-law Thomas P. Place died in South Portland, ME, March 13, 1903, aged eighty-four years.
Thomas P. Place. A man who had lived more than eighty-four years without once having forfeited the respect of his neighbors and friends was Thomas Perkins Place of South Portland who finished his journey on the afternoon of March 13, and holding his hand as he entered the valley of shadows was a sister eighty years of age. On the other side of that dark river another sister, eighty-two years old, she went into the beyond three weeks ago, awaited his coming. The good man died and the world is the better for his having lived in it. Mr. Place was born in Alton Corner, N.H., and from home went to Boston where he engaged in business, and, as a pleasure, joined one of the famous fire companies whose pride in the “hand tub” was the one boast outside the home circle. In 1844 Mr. Place married Mary Fuller of Natick, who died one year later, and with the mother was taken the baby of his youth. Two years later he married Lydia A. Cole of Limerick, by whom he had eight children, all of whom are now living: Charles Place, of Jersey City, Mrs. Oliver McDonald of South Portland, George Place of Cape Elizabeth, Mrs. Harriet Beal of Portland, John Place of South Portland, James and Stephen Place of Portland and Mrs. Wendall Carter of South Portland. Immediately after the big fire Mr. Place came to Portland when carpenters were in demand, and, later, was a member of the Portland police force for many years. During three years prior to the purchase by Henry St. John Smith, he had charge of the Safford farm, after which he settled in what is now known as South Portland Heights. He was a member of Freedom lodge, No. 42, F.&A.M. His wife died in 1899 and in addition to his immediate family he leaves two sisters, one, Mrs. Elizabeth Banfield, eighty years of age, and other, Mrs. Susan P. Witham, seventy-nine years old, both of New. Hampshire. A good man gone to the final settlement of his worldly accounts and one who will live long in the memory of all who were so fortunate as to have known him (Portland Sunday Telegram (Portland, ME), March 15, 1903).
John Haines, a farmer (general farm), aged sixty-three years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of sixteen years), Ellen E. [(Varney)] Haines, aged fifty-seven years (b. NH), and his aunt, Elizabeth [(Place)] Banfield, aged eighty-seven years (b. NH). John Haines owned their farm, free-and-clear. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Harry Perkins, portable saw mill, aged thirty-three years (b. NH), and George H. Plumer, a farmer (general farm), aged seventy-five years (b. NH).
Elizabeth L. (Place) Banfield died of pneumonia in Milton Mills, January 21, 1915, aged ninety-one years, eleven months. She was a widow. E.C. Perkins, M.D. signed the death certificate.
References:
Farmer, James & Lyon, G. Parker. (1836). NH Annual Register. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=kHYBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA44
Find a Grave. (2013 September 3). Enoch Banfield. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/116484889/enoch-banfield
Find a Grave. (2013, September 3). Tobias Banfield. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/116484797/tobias-banfield
Granite Monthly. (1920). Wolfeborough Celebrates Its One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=w55PAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA380
Parker, Benjamin F. (1901). History of Wolfeborough (New Hampshire). Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=tObqwKRR5yMC&pg=PA404
Milton Observer 