The first French explorers and missionaries came to the area that would
later be known as Chsterfield Township around 1611, naming the dominant
waterway Luc Sainte Claire. The first purchase of government land was
made by Fabian Robertjean on August 20, 1820, in Section 11, near New
Baltimore's Washington Street. In 1842, via Public Act 57, the Michigan
State Legislature officially created the charter township of
Chesterfield. Chesterfield is nestled between two old Michigan cities,
New Baltimore and Mt. Clemens. The history of the township is closely
aligned with these two cities, especially New Baltimore, with whom it
has shared a post office from the time the New Baltimore Post Office was
established in 1851 as Ashleyville (named for founder Alfred Ashley) and
given its current name in 1855. New Baltimore was a part of Chesterfield
until 1931, when it seceded from the township.