Brief Life History of Benjamin Franklin
When Benjamin Franklin Mayfield was born on 27 June 1826, in Jackson, Madison, Tennessee, United States, his father, Alexander Jackson Mayfield, was 21 and his mother, Elizabeth Trains, was 20. He married Roxanna Matilda Leffingwell on 22 February 1860, in Petaluma, Sonoma, California, United States. They were the parents of at least 4 sons and 3 daughters. He lived in Pilot Hill, El Dorado, California, United States in 1850 and California, United States in 1870. He registered for military service in 1847. He died on 16 December 1884, in Cambria, San Luis Obispo, California, United States, at the age of 58, and was buried in Cambria Cemetery, Cambria, San Luis Obispo, California, United States.
Photos and Memories (7)
Do you know Benjamin Franklin? Do you have a story about him that you would like to share? Sign In or Create a FREE Account
Family Time Line
Sources (12)
- Benj F Mayfield, "United States Census, 1870"
- M. B. Mayfield, "California, Marriages, 1850-1945"
- Selected pension application files relating to the Mormon Battalion, Mexican War, 1846-1848.
Spouse and Children
World Events (8)
1830 · The Second Great Awakening
Being a second spiritual and religious awakening, like the First Great Awakening, many Churches began to spring up from other denominations. Many people began to rapidly join the Baptist and Methodist congregations. Many converts to these religions believed that the Awakening was the precursor of a new millennial age.
1835 · The Hermitage is Built
The Hermitage located in Nashville, Tennessee was a plantation owned by President Andrew Jackson from 1804 until his death there in 1845. The Hermitage is now a museum.
1846
U.S. acquires vast tracts of Mexican territory in wake of Mexican War including California and New Mexico.
Name Meaning
English: habitational name from a place so named in Staffordshire. The placename derives from Old English mæthel ‘speech, assembly, meeting place’ + feld ‘open country’. Though it is possible that the surname could also be a habitational name from Mayfield in Sussex, this is unlikely due to the geographical distribution of early bearers.
Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.
Story Highlight
Life sketch compiled by Mormon Battalion Association
Benjamin Franklin Mayfield was born 27 June 1826 in Jackson County, Tennessee, one of five children. After his father died in 1835, his mother married Sebert Crutcher Shelton in 1839 in Illinois. His …
Discover Even More
As a nonprofit, we offer free help to those looking to learn the details of their family story.