John Field

Other Events:

• Court: 1687, Henrico County, Virginia; Asked the court to make William Glover, his guardian and step father, to give him his share of his father's estate which now belongs to him since he had "reached his majority."
• Land: 20 Apr 1687, Henrico County, Virginia; John Field and Henry Pruett received 440 acres in Henrico County, Varina Parish, north side of the James, beginning at Thomas Field's corner (later known as Field's Creek) alongside Samuel Bridgewater, for transporting nine persons.

Notes:

John was said to have been a carpenter who had married (wife's name unknown) and had a son by the same name, John, who was a tenant on Edward John's land sometime in February 1689/90.

Died:
Upon pet'n of Edward Jones who marryed ye sister of Thomas Field & Jno Field dec'd Order for Adm'n with ye will annex'd is granted on ye Court p(er) ye oaths of ye witnesses subscribed & ye exec'r therein named being likewise dec'd before probate of the same.

Upon pet'n of Edward Jones who marryed ye sister of John Field dec'd. Order for Commission of Adm'n granted him on ye estate of ye said Decdt in his right as being next of kin to ye sd decd't.

Other Events:

• Land Sale: 1 Aug 1661, James River, Virginia; Earliest documented record found for Thomas. Thomas & Richard Perrin sell 300 acres to Captain Thomas Stegg, uncle of William Byrd. According to one researcher this land is located on the south side of the James River "at the Falls of the James, then across the river and a few miles south of the site of present day Richmond, Virginia."
• Land Grant: 1662, James River; granted 400 acres along the James River and established a plantation he called "Cham". This is at the fall line of the river, now in downtown Richmond.

Notes:

Land Sale:

Varina Court, Henrico County, Virginia 1 August 1661

At this court Mr. Richard Perrin and Thomas Field to make a full and free and clear surrender of land unto Captain Thomas Stegg; he the said Captain Thomas Stegg in consideration thereof doth promise and oblige himself to deliver unto the said Mr. Perrin and Thomas Field (at) next shipping come (in) 12 months - one able and sufficient man servant to do them service according to the custom of the country. Two thirds of the said servant to Mr. Perrin, the other third part due Mr. Field. Hen: Randolph Clerk


Most often when men shared land or servants there was some relationship weather by marriage or blood. So far no relationship has been discovered between these two men (other than Perrin lived near John Burton who became guardian to Thomas's children upon his death) who were selling land to Capt. Stegg and being paid by the use of a servant rather than the usual currency. The servant would undoubtedly be obligated to work a certain number of years until his passage fare had been paid, unless the servant was a slave. By that time transportation of slaves had already begun in Virginia, but when they were part of an agreement they were usually referred to as "slave". One's wealth was determined by the amount of land and number of slaves owned.

From the book "Ancestors along the James" by Billie Redding Lewis

Died:
Died bef 1679 as he is not listed on the tax roll that yr. Death & marr recs for this period are lost. Tho no wills can be found for Tom or his sons, recs indicate they had prop both real & personal, which is later mishandled by Marys 3rd husband Wm Glover

Thomas married Mary Ann Burton in 1659 in Henrico County, Virginia, USA. Mary (daughter of John (of Longfield) Burton and Rachel Hutchins) was born in 1638 in Henrico County, Virginia; died in 1696 in Henrico County, Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Guardianship: 1684, Virginia, United States; In 1684 John Davis, Mary Burton's 2nd husband, has guardianship of Thomas Fields orphans, when he dies.
• Court: 1691, Henrico County, Virginia; William Glover secretly flees the county, deep in debt. His estate is taken to be divided among the Davis Orphans. The court finds there is barely enough to satisfy the Davis Orphans & the Fields children, of whom estate Glover had possession, get nothing.

Notes:

On 1 December 1692 "Orphans of Thomas Field late of this county or other person from by or under them or either of them claiming any estate left them by their dec'd father of which Mr. William Glover was possessed as marrying the relict of John Davis dec'd who was guardian to the said Thomas Field's orphans"

In this transaction there seems to be another daughter (perhaps Ann) who is questioning the payment on her due inheritance, but the record is worn and unreadable.

Glover evidently wasted the monies, or absconded, for the Henrico County County ordered and inventory of William Glover's estate in 1692. Settlements were then made in that same year and the following year 1693. The 1692 settlement was "9178 pounds of tobacco in cask" from the defendant's estate to the daughter(s).

A copy of the suit brought against William Glover can be found in the files of the Franklin County, VA Historical Society and p. 444 of Henrico Co court records in the State Archives. It is so old that parts of the first paragraphs are blank (the names of the children worn away), but can see in one place that they are referred to as "orphans of John Davis dec'd *** thousand six hundred and twenty ***"

The suit was put in the hands of *** Randolph and Capt. Francis Epes. Epes was considered the plaintiff who was to look into the claims of any estate left to the orphans "by their deceased father of which Mr. William Glover was possed at marrying the Rellict of John Davis, dec'd who was guardian to the said Field Orphans"

"An inventory and Apprizement of ye estate of said William Glover ... 22 December 1691, according to order of Court..."

Those who "apprized Glover's estate" were Kirkland Cookson, Peter Field, John Worsham and Henry Randolph. The appraisal amounted to $25,897 and included items from "Above Stairs" and from the "middle room" as well as "in her chamber" and in the "rubb'd room (A portable shelter made of fabric or other material stretched over a supporting framework of poles and usually stabilized or secured to the ground with cords and stakes) along with the kitchen and milk house *** good Evaluated list was presented to the court on February 1, 1691/2 and signed by Henry Randolph, county clerk. No follow up decision was found.

Court:
Wm Glover late guardian to orphans of John Davis departed this country & his wife delivering up estate for want of security, John Davis at his request is admitted guardian to Will Davis his brother & is ordered to take possession the estate of said orphan

Notes:

Married:
No marriage record has been found for Thomas and Mary. He may have been married twice (first to the sister of Richard, John and Thomas Perrin). It seems likely that Thomas did marry Mary Burton, daughter of John Burton, and that after Thomas's death she married John Davis who became the "orphans" guardian through Mary.

In that historical period children had to be under the guidance of a man. If the children's father died they were referred to as "orphans" even through their mother was still living and caring for them. If the widow remarried, her husband would become the guardian unless the children were old enough to choose their own.

Court records show that after John Davis died, Mary wed William Glover who then became the "orphans" guardian. Glover is thought to have mishandled the children's inheritances. Even though no wills can be found for Thomas Field or his sons, records indicate they had property both real and personal.

Other Events:

• Land Patent: 24 Mar 1663, Henrico County, Virginia; John is thought to be the father of Thomas, as this land was passed to Thomas Field in 1664 when George Bullington patented 503a of land on the N side of James River beginning at Thomas Field's Creek (meaning Thomas was living on the land of John Field)

Notes:

Name:
Possible he is the father of Thomas, not proven.

Land Patent:
Know ye that I the said Sir William Berkeley, Knight Governor do give and grant unto John Field four hundred acres of land in Henrico County known by the name of Cham Bounded from Almonds Creek (this became Field's Creek) upwards to Chenck Creek (Shaccoe Creek) or farther so far forth as the land shall extend upwards toward the falls of James River. The said land being part of one thousand acres formerly granted unto John White and by him sold to Thomas Fry, and by the said Fry's executors sold to the said John Field...dated the twenty fourth of March one thousand six hundred sixty two/three.

This land is passed to Thomas Field in 1664 when George Bullington patented 503 acres of land on the north side of the James River beginning at Thomas Field's Creek.

John married Rachel Hutchins. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]