CANFIELD, Judson
Husband of Mabel nee RUGGLES – m. 5 Mar 1786
Son of Samuel and Elisabeth Judson Canfield
B. 23 Jan 1759 in New Milford, Litchfield Co. CT
D. 5 Feb 1840 in New York City, New York at 81y 13d
Burial – Feb 1840 in Oak Hill Cemetery,Section C, Nyack, Rockland Co. NY

Canfield, Mahoning Co. Ohio was named after Judson Canfield.
"Canfield, in 1798, became Township No. 1 in range No. 3 by the purchase from the Connecticut Land Company. This 16,324 acre tract was located on the southeastern border of the Connecticut Western Reserve Territory. It was purchased by six gentlemen; most of the land was owned by Judson Canfield. The Township was originally called Campfield; on April 15, 1800 it was voted to be called Canfield, in honor of Judson Canfield."

MILITARY:
Orcutt, p. 682 "was at West Point as clerk for his father in the Revolution."
Revolutionary War
Canfield Twp. Cemetery & Death Records, Mahoning Co. OH, 1983
Veterans' Grave Registrations, p. 106
"CANFIELD, Judson – b. 23 Jan 1759 in New Milllfald (sic) CT d. 5 Feb 1840 Canfield (sic NY) old age, Pvt, Militia fought (Tyrone) Danbury Aid (Conn in Rev., p. 492, indicates service)"

Children: Henry Judson (Sally Ferris); Julia Elvira (Samuel Flewelling); Elizabeth Hannah (Frederick A. Tallmadge); and Caroline Elma (William Mackey)

Mahoning Dispatch, Fri, 22 Jan 1897 - Article No. 1 by Dr. Jackson Truesdale
Excerpt:
"Soon after the close of the Revolutionary War much trouble occurred growing out of conflicting claims on the part of several of the states as to the ownership of certain western lands. These disputed claims after much negotiation were adjusted on the part of these states by ceding to the general government for the common good, all their rights, and claims beyond, and outside of their well-established state limits. Among the states thus ceding western lands was Connecticut. But this thrifty little state took the precaution of making a reservation. This reservation is the ground upon which we stand, and is made up of some ten or twelve counties in the northeastern part of Ohio. Thus we have the name Western Reserve - a tract of country containing between three and four million acres of land. In 1795 Connecticut sold (with the exception of 25,000 acres) to a company of 48 persons styling itself the "Connecticut Land Company". The consideration paid was $1,200,000. This company bought, for the purpose of realizing a profit, and after surveying it into ranges and townships, offered it for sale.
This township (Canfield) at first was known and called in the record of the Connecticut Land Co. as No. 1, Range 3, and contained in the original survey 16,324 acres and was sold by the company in quantities as follows: To Judson Canfield 6,171 acres, James Johnston 3,502 acres, David Waterman 2,745 acres, Elijah Wadsworth 2,069 acres, Nathaniel Church 1,400 acres, and Samuel Canfield 437 acres. The price paid for the whole was $12,903, which would be about 79 cents per acre. At the time of this sale it was supposed that the value of this land was below the average as compared to that part of the Reserve east of the Cuyahoga river. To remedy this apparent discrepancy, some 1700 acres of land in Springfield, Summit county, was thrown in to equalize the value. In all probability there were more than the six names mentioned above who were real parties to this transaction. I am led to this conclusion from the fact that in a memorandum before me, made by Hon. Elisha Whittlesey, that there were in addition to these names, a few others. This difference of statements may have arisen from transfers after the sale, or purchasers buying with an understanding to share with others. I am led to refer to these matters partly to show the difference between the price of wild land then and the same land now. There can be little doubt that much of the timber alone, such as it was then, would now be worth from $75 to $200 per acre. Another reason is, to enable us to determine the validity of our title to our homes and farms. We can trace, (in many instances), through a large list of owners back to one of these purchasers from them to the Connecticut Land Company to the state of Connecticut and finally to the grants or patent, made by the kings or queens of England to the first proprietors of Connecticut."

Mahoning Dispatch, Fri, 11 June 1897 - Article No. 21 by Dr. Jackson Truesdale
Re: Judson Canfield Family
"Editor Dispatch:-The Hon. Judson Canfield was never for an extended length of time a resident of Canfield. However, he made frequent visits here, and at one time he and his wife came to Canfield for the purpose of making the place their future home, but the surroundings not being congenial to Mrs. Canfield, she did not remain long, and returned to the East. Soon after her husband followed. Notwithstanding he may not be recognized as a regular settler, he undoubtedly merits a place in the history of the township from the fact that he was at first the largest land proprietor, and had very much to do in selecting and encouraging the first emigrants that came here. It was through his instrumentality that induced first, the German emigrants that set in at an early day, the fruits of which are seen to this day. The town itself is named after him and his descendants have been and are yet with us.
Judson Canfield was born in New Milford, Conn., in 1759. He died in New York city in 1840, aged 81. He was married to Mabel Ruggles, a daughter of Capt. Ruggles of the revolutionary war, Judson was the son of Col. Samuel Canfield, also a distinguished officer of the same war, and for a long time was a member of one or the other legislative bodies of his state as well as a justice of the quorum for Litchfield county. Mr. Judson Canfield graduated at Yale College in 1782, and was admitted to the bar in 1784, and practiced his profession successfully in Sharon, Conn. He represented the town of Sharon in the lower house for many years, afterwards the county of Litchfield in the upper house up to 1815, when he removed from the state. His greater usefulness was, however, directed into another channel. Perhaps no one up to his time rendered his state a better service in improving its agricultural interests than he, by his example and counsel.
We quote from one qualified to speak: "He very early improved the stock of horned cattle and became extensively engaged in raising sheep and improving their breed. He also engaged in the manufacturing of woolen goods."
Judson Canfield was among the most distinguished horticulturists of his day. His attention to the cultivation of fruits caused Sharon to be noted for the variety and richness of her apples, pears, peaches, grapes, strawberries, raspberries, and currants." Mr. Whittlesey's narrative continues and says: "He was for a period of several years very popular and the time devoted to public business most likely contributed to his financial embarrassment. He was compelled to sell his beautiful residence and highly cultivated farm at Sharon and came to Canfield designing to make this village his home. Mr. Canfield's circumstances were so changed by the breaking up of his family, by his pecuniary embarrassments, and by the hopeless prostration of his political aspirations that he would have been more than human if he had not been depressed in spirits. He was six feet or more in hight (sic), symmetrically proportioned, straight, elastic, and a gentleman of the old school in politeness and suavity of manners."
My impressions are that Mr. Canfield was not alone unfortunate in his investments in western lands. The original proprietors, instead of pooling their interests under one management, as now so well understood and practiced, divided and held their lands in severalties, thus bringing about a hot competition between themselves to realize speedily upon their investments. The results were, the proprietors often severely suffered by the competition to the advantage of the settlers. Mr. Canfield and wife were the parents of three daughters, and one son; only the latter comes within our province to mention, more than to say, all three daughters married men of political, business and social standing in New York city.
Henry J. Canfield, (the J. may be for Judson) was born in Sharon, Ct., Jan. 21, 1789; died in Canfield Nov. 27, 1856, aged 67. We are not informed when he settled in Canfield. It was some years before his marriage to Sally Ruggles Ferris of Brecksville, (near Cleveland), which occurred April 7, 1825. Henry graduated at Yale college, studied law and was admitted to the bar, but for some reason unknown, did not pursue this profession in after life. He settled on the farm now owned by his son, J.W. Canfield, and followed through life the quiet pursuits of an agricultural life. It would seem natural for one of his intelligence and education to seek for political preferment. Perhaps he had seen enough in the disappointments and embarrassments of his father's life to satisfy his ambition in that direction. In the way of holding offices we hear at one time of his election as justice of the peace. Upon the organization of Mahoning county, in 1846, at a meeting of the three associate judges, presided over by Judge E. Newton, and held in Mr. Whittlesey's office March 16, Henry J. Canfield was appointed clerk of the county courts. How long he held this position I am unable to state, probably until the office became elective in 1852. Henry, like his father, became interested in improving the breed of sheep and is the author of a treatise upon sheep culture, a book I have never read, and if I had, would be no judge of its merits. It shows, however, the bent of his mind with the intellectual ability necessary to produce a work of the kind where he would be compelled, at that period, to rely upon his own resources.
Mrs. Henry J. Canfield lived a long time after the death of her husband. Her death has been so recent that she is well remembered by our people as a woman of good practical sense, free of all affectation in manner and speech, of great will power. If she had business or an errand to look after no storm of snow or rain would prevent her from going upon the streets when she was past her four score years. She died from the result of an accident at the age of 85, on the last day of 1891 (sic - 23 Jan 1881).
Mr. and Mrs. Canfield were the parents of Julia and Judson W. Julia married in 1856 and died the following year in Newburg, N.Y. It is not our purpose to speak lengthily of the living. We will however say that our fellow citizen, J.W. Canfield, married Betsey M. Turner, daughter of James Turner, Dec. 5th, 1858. A few years ago he had the misfortune to lose her by death. Under the tuition of his father he early became proficient in the art of surveying, and in the practice of his profession and farming has thus far spent a busy life. He has been county surveyor 15 years; has often been called upon to act as civil engineer in public improvements; was provost marshal during the late war, and after it deputy assessor in the revenue department. He has for many years taken an active part in the management of the Mahoning County Agricultural Society, and many other minor positions of trust. Mr. Canfield's children are Julia A., Maud M., Walter H., Judson T., and Colden R. Julia manages the domestic affairs of the household; Maud married Allen Cline; Walter is married and in business in Youngstown.
I had occasion a few days since to call one evening at the family residence and was much interested at the exhibition of rare documents and relics. The family has many of these. Miss Julia allowed me to carry away for examination a genealogical table of the pedigree of the Ruggles and Canfield families. It should be remembered that the Hon. Judson Canfield of Connecticut married a Ruggles. This, with perhaps other marriages between the families, unite the two; or in other words, the descendants of Judson Canfield have equal quantity of Canfield and Ruggles blood.
The table referred to tracing the ancestral line of the Ruggleses back to Rodger de Sorneri - Baron de Dudley, etc, who died in 1290. Who can beat this in the line of geneology? Perhaps but few in this country where (nominally) titles of nobility are at a discount. The table before me includes familiar names in the history of the past; of soldiers, civilians, and jurists, among them Governor Dudley, "a pillar of Mass. Bay colony, third governor; he died in 1653, a downright and upright man." Also Wm. Lute, governor of Connecticut. He died in 1683. "His whole government gave demonstration of an excellent spirit." The pedigree shows a wide inter-mixture of such names as Bostwicks, Shermans, Judsons, Tollus, and many others. The familiar name Judson before becoming a christian or prefix name, lately so commonly used in the Canfield family, was the name of a family connected with the Canfields.
But why should we take an interest in tracing our pedigree, is asked by many who affect or have a real contempt for any knowledge of their ancestors. What money or good will it bring me to know when or where my parents were born or whether I am of Dutch, Irish or Yankee extraction? This same man will go into ecstasies as he relates the pedigree of a horse he rides or drives, the burly brute of his pasture, and the swine in his pig sty. If blood tells in these why not in man? Another item of interest was shown in an original letter in the hand-writing of Gen. Ethan Allen of Revolutionary fame, addressed to Mr. Ferris, father of Mrs. Henry J. Canfield. Many of us may remember the old picture in our school books of Ethan Allen followed by a few men storming and capturing Fort Ticonderoga. At the head of a small force of soldiers he surprised the sleeping garrison of the enemy, forcing his way to the interior of the fort. A British officer, as soon as he could rub his eyes open, demanded of Ethan by whose authority he dared to interrupt their sweet repose. Ethan replied, "by the authority of God and the Continental Congress." The authority was respected - the garrison capitulated. There-after Gen. Ethan Allen became a hero, as he well deserved to be. I have read recently that the general was an illiterate man. This letter would not indicate anything of the kind.
Another marvel in chirography was shown in the shape of the will of Philip Livingston, a member of the great family of that name. It was made in colonial days in the reign of George the Second: "By the grace of God, King of Great Brittain (sic), Ireland and France, Defender of the Faith, &c." The will I thought was written on vellum paper and covered some six or eight pages of sheets only something smaller than the page of a bank ledger. The penmanship is a marvel for excellence. No Jewish scribe could excel in neatness and accuracy. Not a shade of difference in the height of letters, or the spaces between words, and can be read as easily as if printed.
Still another relic was brought forward in the shape of a newspaper printed in an obscure town or village located at the mouth of the Cuyahoga river, about six miles from Newburg, in the state of Ohio. The paper went by the name of the Cleveland Herald. There was no time to examine contents. I only noticed the publication of the delinquent list of taxes of Cuyahoga Co., in 1826 - 71' years ago. The tax payers of that age were either prompt in paying their taxes or else there were not many of them. In size THE MAHONING DISPATCH is a mammoth sheet in comparison. Certainly, the world and along with it, the Western Reserve, has moved. J.T. (To be continued.)"

In a letter dated 2 Oct 2002 addressed to Robert H. Neff
From Sally (Anderson) Leon-Guerrero, descendant of Judson and Mabel Ruggles Canfield
"By the way, a year ago I finally located the true gravesite of Judson Canfield and his wife, Mabel Ruggles Canfield. They are buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery, Nyack, N.Y. They both died in NY City, and their bodies were later moved to Nyack into the plot owned by his daughter Julia E. In the same plot are buried a sister Huldah, a daughter Julia Elvira Flewelling [and husband] and a granddaughter Julia Elvira Ruggles [and husband]. The granddaughter is the daughter of Henry Judson Canfield, of Canfield. This information about Judson is a contradiction of the fact that Lew Speece has a plaque on his memorial wall that states that Judson is buried in the East Main St. Cemetery. A correction does need to be made."