The Town of Middlefield was first known as New Town Martin, named after Peter Martin, one of the patentees. Its people fled to Cherry Valley before the massacre in 1778. Middlefield had been part of the Town of Cherry Valley and was set off as a separate town in 1791. At the western boundary of the Bowers Patent, the soldiers of the Town of Middlefield, then New Town Martin, who fought in the War of the Revolution were honored for their service.