John FIELDS

  General Notes:

Document: John Fields' will, handwritten in 1852, is on one page with his signature.

Document acquired by DeeAnna Allum Granston in 1964



I began researching FIELDS in 1964, learning much in a short time. A special long-distance relationship formed with Bonnie Darr Fields, 1882-1967, whose love for her immediate and extended family quickly became apparent.


--DeeAnna Allum Granston, Fields researcher, 1964-Present




1780 BIRTH of John Fields (The 1850 census for Greene County, Pennsylvania indicates John [then age 70] had been born in Delaware)

From the Sussex County, Delaware GenWeb site:

Sussex County, the southernmost county in Delaware, is bordered on the north by Kent County, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the west and south by Maryland's Caroline, Dorchester, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties. The boundary between Delaware and Maryland was long disputed. Until the 1760s and the Mason-Dixon survey, Maryland's claim extended well into what is now Sussex County. The border was undefined, but there were Somerset land claims roughly up to the Indian River, and some beyond that. If you've got lines in Sussex County, especially in the southern part, you would be wise to check Maryland records, too.


From the Somerset County, Maryland GenWeb site:

Old Somerset, whose county seat is at Princess Anne, once encompassed a much larger area than the current boundaries. It included the territory in the areas which now are the counties of Somerset, Worcester and Wicomico in Maryland, and part of Sussex in Delaware. Other close neighbors are Dorchester County, Maryland to the northwest and Accomack County, Virginia to the south. Many early Somerset settlers came up from Accomack. Cecil, Lord Baltimore, Lord Proprietary of the Province of Maryland proclaimed in 1666 that Somerset County would be "bounded south with a line from Watkin's Point (being the north point of tht bay into wch the River Wighco formly called Wighcocomoco afterwards Pocomoke and Wighcocomoco againe, doth fall exclusively) to the Ocean on the east; Nanticoke River on the North & the Sound of Chesipeake Bay on the West." Somerset County was named for Lady Mary Somerset, sister of Cecilius Calvert's wife, Lady Anne Arundell.

1790 CENSUS

1800 CENSUS

1810 CENSUS

1811 MARRIAGE (approximate) of John Fields and Rachel Phippen

MIGRATION from the State of Delaware to Washington County, Pennsylvania before 1818 when son Henry was born in Donegal Township

1820 CENSUS, Pennsylvania, Washington County, Fallowfield Township

1830 CENSUS, Pennsylvania, Greene County, Richhill Township

1840 CENSUS, Pennsylvania, Greene County, Richhill Township

1850 CENSUS, Pennsylvania, Greene County, Richhill Township (September 13) ("John," age 70, "Farmer," born in "Dellaware") (wife "Rachel," age 65, also born in "Dellaware")

1855 DEATH (approximate) of John Fields 3rd

1860 CENSUS, Pennsylvania, Greene County, Richhill Township, Harvey's (June 8) ("Rachael," age 75, widow, "Manager of farm," born in Delaware; in her household is "farm laborer" James Sprowls, age 21)

1865 DEATH, Rachel (Phippen) Fields




At age 65 in 1850, Rachel would have been born about 1785.

Would Lucinda and Daniel have actually have been born to Rachel when she was 51 and 55?!

1850 CENSUS, Richhill Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania
Household 310
FIELDS, John, age 70, farmer, born Delaware
FIELDS, Rachel, age 65, born Delaware
FIELDS, Lucinda, age 14, born Pennsylvania
FIELDS, Daniel, age 10, born Pennsylvania




MILITARY SERVICE (John): Perhaps War of 1812

Margaret Smith Brennan:

"There was an Ensign John Field in the Fourth Regiment, Sussex County, Delaware under Lt. Selleck Hazzard who, in 1813, was serving in the War of 1812. I think there is a good chance it could be our man, but I have no proof. Papers didn't show wife's name."



Bonnie Darr Fields (1882-1967):

"Grandfather (Lewis Fields) was born in 1812. His father [John] was in the Revolutionary War."

--December, 1964 letter to DeeAnna

Might Bonnie have meant her great, great grandfather had been in the Revolutionary War? Or that her great grandfather, John Fields (born 1780) had been in the War of 1812?




CHURCH AFFILIATION: Enon Baptist Church, West Finley, Washington County, Pennsylvania

BAPTIZED (John and Rachel): By Bro. William Whitehead of Enon Baptist Church, Richhill Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania, according to page 4 of the book, HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF THE ENON BAPTIST CHURCH, 1848-1990, by The Historical Committee. Enon Church had been formed September 22, 1848 under the leadership of Rev. Whitehead with membership consisting of about 30 people, including John and Rachel Fields.

BURIAL (John and Rachel): Unknown

Leota Clutter:

"Both John and Rachel were deceased by January 15, 1868. I am guessing John and Rachel were buried in the Old Teagarden Cemetery or Sollars Cemetery. The Ackleys, Teagardens, Fields, Cummins, Burns, Sollars, Murphys, etc. lived on what was called Owens Run in the Civil War days."

--letter to Margaret Smith Brennan



SOME DOCUMENTS:

1822 - Deed, Griffith and Rachel Jones to John Fields, Greene County, Pennsylvania

1825 - Deed, John and Rachel Fields to John Gray, Richhill Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania (see below)

1836 - Deed, John and Rachel Fields to John Supler, Book E, Volume I, pages 30-31, Greene County Court House, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, summarized as follows: "John Fields and wife Rachel Fields to John Supler, 46 acres 93 perches in Richhill Township, 1836, $88. 25. Former Isaac Jones & Griffeth Jones. By Deed to John Fields" (Note: This land was at Enon.)


BOOK: GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF DESCENDANTS OF ABRAHAM TEAGARDEN, From Arrival in America, Including European Background, by Helen Elizabeth Vogt, published 1960s, page 339, as follows:

"Greene County Deed Book 5 for September 27, 1825: John and Rachel Fields sell to John Gray (of Graysville, PA) for $60 land in Richhill Township, adjacent to Griffith & Abraham Teagarden, N. up meander of Creek containing 30 acres. The Fields Mill was built circa 1832 and remnants of the stone walls still stand in Washington County in the valley known for its spring flowering of Virginia Bluebells and Blue-eyed Marys, near Ackleys."



DOCUMENT: Will of John Fields, handwritten in 1852, probated September 2, 1867, Executor Joshua Ackley, Will No. 2358, Will Book 4, page 198, Greene County, Pennsylvania:

In the Name of God Amen

I John Fields of Richhill Township County of Greene and State of Pennsylvania being weak in body yet being of Sound Mind make this my last will and testament as follows Viz I give and bequeath all my Estate (after my debts are paid) boath (sic) personal and real to my wife during her natural life provided she so long remains my widow. At her death or in case of her marriage--I direct that, in the first place my three youngest children George, Daniel and Lucinda receive each one hundred dollars and that then the balance of my Estate boath (sic) real and personal be equally divided between all my children--Should any of my children decease before the final division above mentioned takes place leaving no issue then the divission (sic) is to be equally among the remaining children--
I direct my executor to collect what money is is (sic) coming to me and pay my debts above mentioned without making any appraisement or Sale of my personal estate--I hereby constitute and appoint Joshua Ackley my executor--
Signed and sealed this 28th day of April in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and fifty two--
in presence of
W. B. Porter
George Teagarden John Fields (Seal)

Greene County SS.
Before me Peter Brown Register for the Probate of Wills and granting Letters Testamentary in and for Said County personally came W. B. Porter one of the Subscribing witnesses to the within will who being duly Sworn according to Law Says he was present and saw and heard the Testator John Fields Sign Seal publish pronounce and declare the within instrument of writing as and for his Last Will and Testament, and that he signed the Same as a witness, at his request, in his presence, and in the presence of George Teagarden, who also signed the same as a witness in the presence of the said W. B. Porter
Sworn and Subscribed
Sept. 2nd 1867
Peter Brown Register W. B. Porter

Greene County SS. Before me Peter Brown Register for the Probate of Wills and granting Letters Testamentary in and for said County personally came George Teagarden one of the subscribing witnesses to the within will who being duly Sworn according to Law says he was present and Saw and heard John Fields the Testator Sign Seal publish pronounce and declare the foregoing instrument of writing as and for his Last Will and Testament and that he signed the Same as a witness at his request in his presence and in the presence of W. B. Porter, who also signed the same as a witness in the presence of the Said George Teagarden
Sworn and Subscribed
August 21, 1867
Peter Brown Register



DOCUMENT: Will of Rachel Fields, handwritten in 1867, probated August 30, 1867, Executor Samuel Rochey, Will No. 2355, Will Book 4, page 197, Greene County, Pennsylvania

In the name of God Amen I Rachel Fields (widow of John Fields Decde.) of Richhill Township Greene County Pennsylvania being weak in body but of Sound mind memory and understanding praised be God for it considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time thereof and to the end I may be the better prepared to leave this world whenever it shall please God to call me hence do therefore make and declare this my last will and testament in manner following first principally I commend my soul into the hand of Almighty God my creator First I give and bequeath to each of my children Louis, Henry, and John's heirs and William and George and Daniel's heirs and Mary Allum's heirs and Rachel Clouse the sum of one dollar each Eliza Baldwin the sum of one dollar also. I mean John's and Daniel's and Mary Allum's heirs not to have one dollar each but three dollars, one to John, one to Daniel, and one to Mary Allums, they being dead the money is to go to their heirs I order my Executors to buy for each of my children above named a bible with the dollar willed to each and give it to each one of them when called on and to my child Lucinda Hitchcock I will and bequeath the remainder of my property entirely for her only use and benefit allowing first my Executors to pay all my legal debts and...Samuel Rochy and...Jones my legal Executors to carry this will in to effect immediately after my death...whereunto I do set my hand and affix my seal this fifteenth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and Sixty seven
Attest
Daniel W. Longdon her mark
James R. Wright Rachel X Fields (Seal)


Greene County SS.
Before me Peter Brown Register for the Probate of Wills and granting Letters Testamentary in and for said County personally came Daniel W. Longdon and James R. Wright the two Subscribing witnesses to the within will who being duly Sworn according to law Say that they were present and saw and heard Rachel Fields the testatrix sign, seal publish pronounce and declare the foregoing instrument of writing as and for her last Will and Testament, and that at the time of so doing she was of sound mind memory and understanding to the best of their knowledge observation and belief, and that they signed the same as witnesses at her request, in her presence, and in the presence of each other
Sworn & Subscribed Aug. 30, 1867 Daniel W. Longdon
James R. Wright



Samuel Rockey was Executor of Rachel Fields' will. In the 1860 census, Rachel's son and daughter-in-law, Daniel and Sarah Fields, lived next door to her; next door to Daniel and Sarah was Samuel Rockey and his family.

John married Rachel PHIPPEN about 1811 in (Probably) Delaware. (Rachel PHIPPEN was born in 1785 in (Perhaps) Sussex County, Delaware and died about 1865 in Richhill Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania.)