Coxley News: Community website for Sitlington
Middlestown, Netherton, Overton & Midgley

E-News

Enter Email Address:

Fields Family Ties


Have you ever wondered what happened to families from our area who emigrated long ago?


Well, a fascinating tale of one Overton family has emerged thanks to a coxleynews.com reader in Australia. Barbara Hunter and her distant cousin, John Fields, in America were researching different branches of a family tree that starts with James Field, a blacksmith from Overton born in the 18th Century.

James’ grandson, John Field was born in 1817 and married Isabella whose family was also from Overton. John and Isabella lived at Newton, near Ledsham. John and his family wanted to worship in the Methodist faith and pressed the Ledsham councillors for a chapel to be built there. His request was refused as Church of England was the main faith in the village and in 1848 John emigrated to Pennsylvania in America. At this point, an “s” was added to the family name and John Fields joined his wife’s family’s coal mining business. In 1864, the leases for the business were sold and John received ¢200,000 for his interest.

Now a wealthy man, he visited England and paid ¢4,000 for a Methodist chapel to be build in Ackworth near Nostell Priory. The Fields family moved to Shenandoah, Virginia in 1869 so that John could manage the Shenandoah Iron Works, another family business. They lived in a 22 room mansion made with bricks imported from England. John also paid for the construction of another Methodist chapel in the town.

In 1870, John Fields was caught in the storms that caused “The Great Flood” of 1870 and died of pneumonia.


The next fascinating instalment of the Field family will come in the Autumn edition of Coxley News.

The building original occupied by the Fields First National Bank of Cedar Falls

The building original occupied by the Fields First National Bank of Cedar Falls
Home of William M Fields in Cedar Falls. The stately structure retained the aura of an English country house. One side of the house was occupied by William's widowed mother and the other by William, his wife and their brood of 6 children.
Home of William M Fields in Cedar Falls. The stately structure retained the aura of an English country house. One side of the house was occupied by William's widowed mother and the other by William, his wife and their brood of 6 children.
 		Charles Fields' house along side his brothers in Cedar Falls. This house is still standing though it hasn't been inhabited for years and is now beyond repair.
Charles Fields' house along side his brothers in Cedar Falls. This house is still standing though it hasn't been inhabited for years and is now beyond repair.
 		The Old Stone Barn Picture by Harry and Dorothy Fields 1949
The Old Stone Barn Picture by Harry and Dorothy Fields 1949
 		The Old Stone Barn, Cedar Falls painted by Marie Cook
The Old Stone Barn, Cedar Falls painted by Marie Cook
The schoolhouse that was once used for private education of the Fields' brothers 11 children.
The schoolhouse that was once used for private education of the Fields' brothers 11 children.
 		This is Charles J. Fields house as it is today, chimneys crumbling and floors sagging.
This is Charles J. Fields house as it is today, chimneys crumbling and floors sagging.
 		William M. Fields
William M. Fields
 		Violetta Cass Fields
Violetta Cass Fields
William M. and Violetta Cass Fields, all the way from Yorkshire to Cedar Falls, USA
William M. and Violetta Cass Fields, all the way from Yorkshire to Cedar Falls, USA
 		Miss Emily Hannah Fields
Miss Emily Hannah Fields
 		The Fields-Roberts Wedding. The last wedding in the Fields family line to be held at the farm. 15th July 1903.
The Fields-Roberts Wedding. The last wedding in the Fields family line to be held at the farm. 15th July 1903.
 		Mrs. Violetta Cass Fields
Mrs. Violetta Cass Fields
The last baby in the Fields family line to be born at the farm, Margaret Marion Roberts Condon
The last baby in the Fields family line to be born at the farm, Margaret Marion Roberts Condon
 		John Fields 1817-1870
John Fields 1817-1870
 		Isabella B. Fields 1820-1896
Isabella B. Fields 1820-1896
 		John Fields had this Methodist church constructed in 1868 in Ackworth
John Fields had this Methodist church constructed in 1868 in Ackworth
The church building erected in 1870 by Mr and Mrs John Fields for the congregation in Shenandoah. This picture of the church and pasonage was made in 1895.
The church building erected in 1870 by Mr and Mrs John Fields for the congregation in Shenandoah. This picture of the church and pasonage was made in 1895.
 		Stone Barn, Cedar Falls
Stone Barn, Cedar Falls
 		The building original occupied by the Fields First National Bank of Cedar Falls
The building original occupied by the Fields First National Bank of Cedar Falls
 		A one dollar bank note of the Fields First National Bank of Cedar Falls dated 1874
A one dollar bank note of the Fields First National Bank of Cedar Falls dated 1874
W. M. Fields stud shires
W. M. Fields stud shires