Robert Field (abt. 1605 - bef. 1673)

Born about Mar 1605 in Northowram, Yorkshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Taylor) Field — married 18 May 1630 in Bradford, Yorkshire, England

Descendants

Died before 6 Feb 1673 before about age 67 in Flushing, Province of New York

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Puritan Great Migration Project WikiTree [send private message]

Robert Field migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 114) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Disputed Origins

Over the years, much has been written about the origins of Robert Field. George E. McCracken's article "The Fields of Flushing, Long Island"[NEHGR 113:197-216] reviews the previous research done by Osgood Field, FC Pierce and others, and concludes that Robert Field's origins are unknown. Pierce in the Field Genealogy connects several Field families as descendants of astronomer John Field of East Ardsley, through his son William Field and wife Jane Sotwell. Osgood Field conducted extensive research and found sufficient conflicting evidence to reject this theory. He proposed as an alternative William Field and Susan Midgley of Halifax, Sowerby, Yorkshire, as the immigrants parents. McCracken states they could be his parents, but that there is no evidence that identifies Robert of Flushing as their son, especially considering that areas beyond Yorkshire have not been thoroughly researched. [Draft disputed origins section (more details needed).

Biography

Robert Field was born in Northowram, Yorkshire, England.

Robert Field was a New Netherland settler.

Robert Field immigrated to New England between 1621 and 1640 and later departed for Flushing, Queens, New York

Robert was a Friend (Quaker)

Birth

A Robert Field was born in Northowram, Yorkshire, England (son of William) and was baptised on 9 Mar 1605 at St John the Baptist Church, Halifax, Yorkshire, England. Transcript:- from the image of the church register of St John the Baptist - Bapt. March 1605 9th reads “Robt William Feelde North” in the convention of this register North refers to Northowram a village two miles from the centre of the town of Halifax, Yorkshire, England ^[1]

The Stevenson genealogy says that Robert Field of Flushing is the Robert Field born in Yorkshire, England, and christened in Halifax Church, 9 March 1605, his education being left to his uncle Edward.

This is in agreement with the claim of Osgood Field, that the immigrant was baptized 9 March 1605/1606 in Halifax, Yorkshire, son of William Feild of Sowerby and Northowram in the Parish of Halifax, who had married at Halifax Church 1 June 1591 Susan Midgeley, daughter of John Midgeley of Northowram. Both William and Susan left wills, but they prove nothing more than the fact that their son Robert was living when they executed the wills.

Earlier material had said that Robert married in Yorkshire first Ruth Fairbank and second Elizabeth Tayler. Eventually Osgood Field stated simply that Robert Field married Charity (___), at an unknown time and place, and that she was the mother of the children.

Another point of question has been whether the Robert Field at Flushing is the same Robert Field who was at Rhode Island.

A Robert Field was on the list of the inhabitants of Newport, RI who had been admitted after 20 May, in 1638, and he was made a freeman of the town 19 December 1639. On 10 March 1640/1641, land was granted to Robert Field and others. Robert Field was among the members of the General Court held 12 March 1640/1641, and on the list of freemen dated 16 March 1641/1642 in the Rhode Island Records.

On 10 October 1645 Robert Field was one of the patentees who received a grant of land at Flushing, Long Island, which colony was for some time in the jurisdiction of Rhode Island. He, and his sons Robert and Anthony, signed the petition on behalf of William Hallett ca. 1656, and the Flushing Remonstrance of 27 December 1657. Osgood Field claimed that Robert of Flushing was sent by his fellow townsmen to obtain aid from Rhode Island, and this explains his appearance in Newport in 1653.

On 18 May 1653 at a General Assembly held at Newport, Robert Field was appointed one of eight members of a committee to handle matters concerning encroachments by the Dutch on the English settlements on Long Island. Robert Field was not on the list of freemen at Rhode Island in 1655.

The question of whether this is one man or two is still open.

There are few deeds or probate records for the early Field family at Flushing. Furthermore, the town and vital records of Flushing were burned in 1789. One sheet of paper, formerly at the Bowne house in Flushing, shows a deed by Robert Field to sons Robert and Anthony, and on the same page, a much later renunciation by widow Charity Field of claim to a property belonging to her son Anthony. It is not clear where these are original deeds not properly recorded, or private copies of deeds filed in the now lost town records. The document reads:

"February 12th 1653 [/4]

"Flushing. Know all men by these prents that I Robert Field doe freely give and grant unto my two sons Robert Field and Anthony Field each of them a house lott with the proprietie and priviledge thereunto belonging. I give unto Robert the Lott w[hic]h was formerly John Lake's, unto Anthony the Lott which was formerly given unto Thomas Applegate's sones, which two Lotts were purchased by mee and now freely are given by mee unto them my two sones their heirs or assigns forever to enjoy.

Robert Field"

"February ye 6th 1672 [/3]

"Know all men by these prents that I Charity Field, widow, Doe own and Confess that the home Lott that Lyeth betwixt the Lott that was formerly old Applegate's, and the Lott that was formerly ... Doughty's is my sone Anthony Field's Lott and proper land, and I never intended nor pretended any right to it. Testes.

Witness my hand

Elias Doughty Charity Field

Robert Field"

McCracken has published an excellent series of articles on this family which sorts through many errors in earlier published material. He also discusses the identity of the Benjamin Field in Flushing about 1665. Benjamin is not mentioned as son in the deed of 1654. He was commissioned ensign of the Flushing militiary on 23 April 1665. Osgood Field says that Benjamin was named in the Flushing Patents of 16 February 1666/1667 and 23 March 1685/1686, served on a jury in 1669, and signed a deed on 22 March 1671/1672 conveying some fresh meadow to John Bowne. The name Benjamin frequently appears in later generations of this family, but it is not apparent what was the relationship of this Benjamin to Robert Field Sr. of Flushing -- son, brother, or other relative.

Robert, the immigrant was baptized 9 March 1605/1606 in Halifax, Yorkshire, son of William Feild of Sowerby and Northowram in the Parish of Halifax, who had married at Halifax Church 1 June 1591 Susan Midgeley, daughter of John Midgeley of Northowram.

He removed from England to Newport & Portsmouth RI in 1638 where history finds him cooperating with Roger Williams (founder of Providence, RI and an asylum for those wanting to live in civil and religious liberty) who was banished from England in 1635 due to persecution of Dissenters or Puritans by the Protestant Church-of-England.

In a list of inhabitants admitted at the town of Newport since 5/20/1638 was Robert Field and John Hicks. Robert (ancestor of the Charity Field who married Edward Stevenson) and John ancestor of Hannah Hicks, who married William Stevenson) were made freemen of Newport 3/16/1641.Robert is not mentioned again until 1644 as arriving with his family from England for the 2nd time and landing at Boston. He then settled at Flushing, Long Island, in 1645 as one of 16 persons, together with John Hicks, whom the Dutch government granted them a patent for lots in that town. He built his house in Flushing, called Bayside, because it stood so near the water, that wild ducks, while swimming on it, could be shot from the porch.

Earlier material had said that Robert married in Yorkshire first Ruth Fairbank and second Elizabeth Tayler. Eventually Osgood Field stated simply that Robert Field married Charity (Unknown), at an unknown time and place, and that she was the mother of the children.

"February 12th 1653 [/4] "Flushing. Know all men by these prents that I Robert Field doe freely give and grant unto my two sons Robert Field and Anthony Field each of them a house lott with the proprietie and priviledge thereunto belonging. I give unto Robert the Lott w[hic]h was formerly John Lake's, unto Anthony the Lott which was formerly given unto Thomas Applegate's sones, which two Lotts were purchased by mee and now freely are given by mee unto them my two sones their heirs or assigns forever to enjoy.

Robert Field"

"February ye 6th 1672 [/3]

"Know all men by these prents that I Charity Field, widow, Doe own and Confess that the home Lott that Lyeth betwixt the Lott that was formerly old Applegate's, and the Lott that was formerly ... Doughty's is my sone Anthony Field's Lott and proper land, and I never intended nor pretended any right to it. Testes.

Witness my hand

Elias Doughty, Charity Field, Robert Field"

Immigration

Details of Robert's immigration are unknown. It's not certain whether the Robert Field who appeared in Portsmouth and Newport is the same Robert Field of Flushing. The earliest mention of a Robert Field is in 1635, resident of Eling, Hampshire, on the passenger list of James. The name does not reappear until 23 August 1638 as one of twelve men to receive grants in Portsmouth. [Work in Progress]

Flushing Remonstrance

On 12/27/1657, Robert Sr., along with Robert Jr and Anthony signed "The Flushing Remonstrance to Governor Stuyvesant". See The Flushing Remonstrance ^{[2] [3]}

Marriage

Robert Field married:

1) Possibly Elizabeth Taylor, bp. 24 Nov 1614 at St Peter’s (Bradford Cathedral) on 18 May 1630 ^[4] Elizabeth died ca. 1636 at Long Island City, Queens, now New York.

2) Charity [--?--] Field; some time bef. 1636^[5] or sometime Bef 1638^[6]

Children

Robert and wives had the following children:

• Robert Field (2), b. ca. 1636, possibly in England, at Rhode Island or Long Island, NN depending on the sources. Possible son of Elizabeth Taylor.

• Anthony Field, b. ca. 1638 in England or Rhode Island.^[7]. d. bef. 1691 in Flushing, Queens, NY., m. Sarah Hedges. Children: John Field, b: 15 MAY 1659 in Flushing, Queens, NY; Joseph Field, b: ABT 1661 in Flushing, Queens, NY; Benjamin Field, b: 1663 in Flushing, Queens, NY; Jemima Field, b: 24 JUL 1687 in Newtown, Kings, NY^[8]

• possibly Benjamin Field, b. ca. 1640 in England or Rhode Island.^[9].

Death

Robert Field died Bef 06 FEB 1673, at Flushing, Queens, New York^[6]

Notes

Note: From the Field Genealogy: Being the Record of All the Field Family in America...p. 110. says that: Anthony Field was born in England in 1638, and came out with his father Robert Field to Boston in 1644, and came to Flushing in 1645, together with his brother Robert who was born in 1636, and Benjamin born in 1640. Robert, father of Anthony, was born at Ardsley [South Yorkshire] in England in 1610. He had a brother James, and two sisters Anne, and Judith. James Field, father of Robert, was born at Ardsley in 1587. He was the son of Matthew Field and had a brother, Robert, younger than himself. Matthew Field, father of James, was born at Ardsley in 1563. He had seven brothers whose names were Richard, older than himself, and Christopher, John, William, Thomas, James, and Martin, and a sister Anne who were younger. John Field, father of Matthew was born about 1525. He lived in London where it is believed he was born, until about 1560 when he married Jane Amyas, daughter of John Amyas, and removed to Ardsley where he resided till his death in 1587. While he resided in London he was engaged in publishing astronomical tables by which he gained a very high reputation as an astronomer.^[10]. How does this fit in?

Reportedly had a brother James, and two sisters Anne, and Judith. [No source provided]

Disputed Spouses

Osgood Field initially asserted that the immigrant was the same as Robert Field who married Ruth Fairbank 23 November 1624 of Hipperholme and secondly 18 May 1630 Elizabeth Taylor in Bradford. Ruth gave birth to a child John bp 25 December 1625 in Halifax bur. 16 Jan 1625/6. He also eventually rejected the marriage to Elizabeth Taylor, stating only that Robert Field of Flushing had been married to Charity _______.[NEHGR 113:200].

Needs

PGM Maintenance categories,

• Needs Relationship Check. What is the source for what would seem the baptismal information posted to the data field? Malcolm Rowlands, English Project, has identified a possible conflict about this reporting. One Robert Field was baptized on St John the Baptist Church, Halifax, Yorkshire, England, 29 Aug 1602, a son of "Willm." As these seem to be of the same family he would more likely have died young in order for there to be a younger brother of the same name, but no burial record was found. See the profile of the child baptized in 1602, Robert Field (abt.1602-bef.1605).

• Format Improvement. Might someone take a look at the organization of the profile so that (a) the information in the data field is somewhere summarized and shown to be supported by reliable sources. The data field information likely need to be reconciled with conflicting or alternate information in the narrative. Also (b) What seem several lengthy extractions appear in the narrative. Might these be summarized/integrated in the bio? If these are extractions that are WikiTree compliant, might those be moved to one or more free space pages?

Research Notes

Estimated Date Birth date of 1605 is a very rough estimated based on the assumption that he had two adult sons in 1653/4 when he deed land to them.

What Anderson says In the Great Migration Directory, Anderson includes two includes two entries for Robert Field:

• Field, Robert: Eling, Hampshire; 1635; passenger list only [GM 2:2:522]. (Possibly the same as the next.)

• Field, Robert: Unknown; 1638; Portsmouth, Newport (and possibly later of Flushing) [RICR 1:59, 92; NHM 67; NEHGR 113:197-203].

In GM 2:2:522, of the 1635 passenger he writes, "The earliest record of Robert Field in New England is on 23 August 1638, when he was one of twelve men, several of whom were from Newbury, who were granted lots in Portsmouth, Rhode Island [RICR 1:59]. This could be the passenger of 1635, since many of those who sailed on the James from Southampton had first settled in Newbury.... "Mr. Robert Field" who is appointed to a Rhode Island committee on 18 May 1653 cannot be connected to this group of Portsmouth records [RICR 1:265]."

He goes on to add that there's nothing to connect the passenger with Robert Field) tailor of Boston.

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism: "West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1512-1812"
   West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records; New Reference Number: WDP53/1/1/4
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 2256 #8914345 (accessed 25 March 2022)
   Robt Feelde baptism on 9 Mar 1605, child of Willm, in Halifax, St John the Baptist, Yorkshire, England.
2. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flushing_Remonstrance
3. ↑ New Hampshire, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-current https://www.newspapers.com/image/838867442/?article=a7ec83d0-6ae0-11ed-957c-22bcd8372628&xid=4638%20&terms=Darby_Field&_gl=1*17ut86f*_ga*MTA1OTg4NzQ1OS4xNjc5NDMyNzc2*_ga_4QT8FMEX30*Y2U1OGRiYWUtNWQ4My00NjA5LWFkN2MtZjljMGQxMjZmODY1LjEuMS4xNjc5NDMzMjY0LjYwLjAuMA..&ancestry=true
4. ↑ Marriage: "West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1512-1812"
   West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records; New Reference Number: BDP14
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 2256 #9795721 (accessed 20 March 2022)
   Robts Field marriage to Elizabeth Tayler on 18 May 1630 in Bradford, St Peter (Bradford Cathedral), Yorkshire, England.
5. ↑ Field Genealogy: Being the Record of All the Field Family in America...
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} McCracken, George E. "The Fields of Flushing, Long Island". The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1847-. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2018.) Vol. 113, pp 197 - 216.subscribers$
7. ↑ Field Genealogy: Being the Record of All the Field Family in America...p. 107,110.
8. ↑ Anthony Field
9. ↑ Field Genealogy: Being the Record of All the Field Family in America...p. 110.
10. ↑ Field Genealogy: Being the Record of All the Field Family in America...p. 110.

• Wardell, Patricia A. "Early Bergen County Families", Genealogical Society of Bergen County website, njgsbc.org. Accessed 13 Jun 2016. File: BCFam-Field.pdf

• Field, Osgood. 1895. The Fields of Sowerby near Halifax, England, and of Flushing, New York: with some notices of the families of Underhill, Bowne, Burling, Hazard, and Osgood. London: [publisher not identified]. p. 25, 60, chart between 82, 83.

• Pierce, Frederick Clifton. Field Genealogy: Being the Record of all the Field Family in America, whose Ancestors were in this Country Prior to 1700 (Hammond Press, W.B. Conkey Company, Chicago, IL., 1901)Goolgebooks.

• New York, Genealogical Records, 1675-1920, Ancestry.com Database:
  • The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record (quarterly-1933) - Extracts; Publication Place: New York; Publisher: New York Genealogical and Biographical Society; Pages Number: 30, 31 Name: Robert Field; Residence Date: abt 1669, 1671; Residence Place: Newtown, Long Island, Queens, New York, United States:
  • The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record (quarterly-1875) - Extracts; Publication Place: New York; Publisher: New York Genealogical and Biographical Society; Page Number: 98 (Residence Date: 1689 Residence Place: Newtown, Queens, New York, United States)
  • The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record (quarterly-1876) - Extracts; Publication Place: New York; Publisher: New York Genealogical and Biographical Society; Page Number: 87 Death Place: Flushing, NY Death Date: Bef 1742 Death Place: Newtown, Queens, New York, United States

• Stevenson, John R. Thomas Stevenson of London, England and His Descendants.' Flemington, N.J: H.E. Deats, 1902. In Ancestry.com North American Histories.19, 21, and 52.

• U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700: Name: Charity; Gender: Female; Marriage Date: 1638; Marriage Place: New England, United States; Spouse's Name: Robert Field; (Vol 1, Page 540).
  • FIELD, Robert (1602-) & 1/wf Ruth FAIRBANK; Halifax, Eng, 23 Nov 1624; Newport, RI/Flushing, LI {Reg. 17:109, 48:335; Field (1895) 64; Field 1:85, 87; Anderson Anc. 15; NYGBR 6:145}
  • FIELD, Robert & 2/wf Elizabeth TAYLOR; Bradford, Eng, 18 May 1630; Newport, RI/Flushing, LI {Reg. 17:110, 22:172; Field 1:85}
  • FIELD, Robert (-1673?) & 3/wf Charity ____; by 1638; Newport/Flushing, LI {Field 1:85, 90; Haviland 510; NYGBR 3:194, 42:205; Field (1895) 65}
• West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1512-1812: Name: Robt Fielde; Event Date: Aug 1602; Event Type: Baptism; Parish: Halifax, St John the Baptist; Father's Name: Willm Fielde

• England & Wales Christening Records, 1530-1906, Genealogical Society of Utah, British Research, (Ancestry.com Operations Inc). Birth date: abt 1614 Birth place: Wakefield, Yorkshire, England Residence date: Residence place: England Baptism date: 24 Nov 1614 Baptism place: Wakefield, Yorkshire, England Ancestry Record bivri_englandbirth #2638140

• U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s: Name: Robert Field; Arrival Year: 1620-1650; Arrival Place: Boston, Massachusetts; Source Publication Code: 275; Primary Immigrant: Field, Robert;
  • BANKS, CHARLES EDWARD. Topographical Dictionary of 2885 English Emigrants to New England, 1620-1650. Edited, indexed and published by Elijah Ellsworth Brownell. Philadelphia: Bertram Press, 1937. 295p. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1957. Repr. 1987. Page: 188
  • OLDHAM, PETER WILSON. The Complete Book of Emigrants: A Comprehensive Listing Compiled from English Public Records of Those Who Took Ship to the Americas for Political, Religious, and Economic Reasons; of Those Who Were Deported for Vagrancy, Roguery, or Non-Conformity; and of Those Who Were Sold to Labour in the New Colonies. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. 1607-1660. 1988. 600p. Page: 134 Arrival Year: 1635;

• Family Trees, This information obtained from Family Trees (Ancestry, WFT, MYFamily etc.), Gedcom Files and other Online Family Sources. Note: This information comes from 1 or more individual files. This information is not "Primary Source"., Ancestry Family Trees. Ancestry Family Tree 22755840 Ancestry Family Tree 34863236

• See Also: Sources from The Great Migration Directory -

• Bartlett, John Russell. "Records of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations" Printed by order of the Legislature, Providenc Rhode Island. (1856) Vol. 1, pp. 59, 92.see at archive.org

• "Newport Historical Magazine" pub by Newport Historical Pub. Co., Newport, R. I., John P. Sanborn, printer. Vol. 2, (1881-2) p. 67.google books

• NEHGR113 (Cited above)

Acknowledgments

• Thank you to Patricia Mosley for creating WikiTree profile Field-1102 through the import of MOSLEY Family Tree.ged on Mar 19, 2013.
• Field-766 created through the import of WORCESTER_2012-07-31.ged on Jul 31, 2012 by Bob Worcester.