Letter from Aunt Lillian Smith

Date: About 1 Mar 1955 [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surnames/tags: field smith

March 1

Dear Mildred & Alton):

Boy what a job to tell you anything about the Field History. I have never delved into that side very much but intend to if I ever get the time. Now if you had asked me for the Hutchings history, I could have gone way back beyond the Revolution. Here goes for what I know.

My Great-Grandfather, Daniel Field, as far as I know was a native of Swansville, Maine, which is a small village near the town of Searsport, a very active seaport up to a few years ago. I can remember my father saying that he never went to see his grandfather but his grandmother would say, "Shh Grampa's having a nap. " so I can well imagine he never went too often. Daniel Field and his wife had seven children but I am only sure of the names of four of them, namesly Haskell, Joseph, Frank, and Emma. I can remember seeing some more great aunts as a small child when visiting in Searsport where they lived at that time but I do not remember their names.

Daniel's son, Haskell Noyes Field, born in Swansviile 1827 married Sara Staples and they had three sons, Frederick Eugene (changed to Miller) George and William. Frederick Miller was born June 9th, 1857 in the old brick homestead in Swansville, Maine. He spent his boyhood days in Swansville until the age of 14 when his father moved the family to Chelsea, Mass. where he joined one of his brothers in the trucking business in Boston. At that time trucking was not motorized but 6 or 8 heavy horses drew a big drays (or wagons) which were used to haul from the boats to the wholesale houses throughout the city.

At the age of 16, my Dad., Frederick M. or Fred as he was always called, was driving 6 horses everyday and he continued working for his father for several years. His mother died when he was 20 years old and November 14, 1877 he married Lillian Francis Hutchings (Hutchins) who was born in Penobscot, Maine and like her husband-to-be came to Chelsea, Mass. at the age of 14 to live with her mother who had been there for several years, her husband having been lost at sea when Lillian was 7 yrs. old.

To the marriage was born 8 children namely Ethel who died at the age of 4, Merle Perkins, Ethelbert, Chase, Frederick Alton, Edwin Freeman, Elmer Downs, Charles Hutching and Lillian Eleanor.

A Few interesting facts regarding my father follow: He was named Frederick Eugene, the Eugene after the famous poet Eugene Field. He never liked the name Eugene so after coming to Boston to work, he changed it to Miller after a man of that name for whom he worked and who took a great liking to him. Thereafter he never used Eugene.

As a child he also had a cub bear as a pet and as he said he was never afraid to go anywhere if the bear could go with him. He kept it until it was about 3 yrs old and then it got so big that his folks had to get rid of it.

After he got married he took up the trade of steam fitting. He had to serve his apprenticeship and when this was completed, he followed his trade until he died at the age of 74. On Nov. 14, 1927 they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at a surprize party given by their daughter who at that happy event also announced her engagement to Lewis I. Smith.

Dad lived four years after this and mother seven years.

I am also going to send you a copy of the data which goes with the Field Coat-of-Arms.

Date of Field Origin

The Field family has probably come into prominence in more different lines than any other family in America.

In war and peace, in the arts, sciences, and literature, in politics and in commerce, members of the family stand in the foremost ranks.

This family is descended from one Robertus de la Field, one of the Lords of Herdwicke, in the county of Gloucester, England, who lived in the time of the Edward II.

The family is evidently of Norman origin.

In 1556, one John Field, a celebrated astronomer, published the first astronomical chart in England and two years later was granted the crest now used by the family (the arms had been in use by the family before that.)

From Zacariah, Alexander and Robert Field, who arrived in this country respectively in the years 1630, 1640, and 1644, are descended most of the name now living.

Robert first went to the Massachusetts colony and a year later moved to Flushing, L.I., where he received a grant of land from the Dutch governor. In all our wars the family has been represented.

Families related to the Field family by marriage are Cromwells, Underhills, Beldings, Edwards, Hatfields, Mansfield, Pells, Focrlirs, Riggs, Bradhurst, Woolseys, Hicks, Fairbanks, I have also found that the Staples, Nickerson, Blacks and Noyes names come in.

The arms are: Sable, a chevron (V shaped bar) between 3 sheaves of wheat, araent (meaning white and shining, like silver). Crest: a dester arm (meaning right), habited isles (meaning clothed in red), issuing from clouds proper, supporting an armillary sphere (a celestial globe with hoofs representing the different astronomical circles).

The Motto: Sans-Dieu-Rien. (Without God, Nothing).

I visited in Swansville last fall mainly to look up my grandfathers and grandmothers lot in the cemetary.

On the stone^[1] (which I found after much hunting) was the following:

Sarah D (Downs)

Wife of Haskell N. Field

Died April 26, 1877 age 45 yrs. 7 Mo. 11 days

(my own figuring making her birthday Oct. 15, 1831)

A pure, unselfish soul was ther,

We miss thy kindly voice and helping hand,

And full of tender thoughts we wait the time

When we shall meet thee in the heavenly land.

Haskell Noyes Field

1827-1912

I found their marker on the lot of Wm. ^[2] and Melinda Black ^[3] in the Swansville Cemetery. I think Melinda Black was a Staples (related to my grandmother). We also visited the old brick home situated in the shore of Swan Pond, and now a lake I believe, with a great many summer cottages around it. The old homestead (which went out of the family when grandfather sold it to come to Boston) was empty and could be purchased for $10,000. It is in good condition and has land running down to the lake with shore lots that may be saleable. Do wish I was able to purchase it. I can remember going there as a child with Dad one Sunday, and walking across the fields to the pond (as Dad called it.) A colored family in Connecticut have owned it for several years, but he found it too far to travel week-ends to visit his family who have spent the summers there so wants to sell it.

Well I guess this will be all for this time.

We are all well and it begins to look like spring might be on its way. Hope you are all well now. Give our love all.

Love Aunt Lillian

1. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/208891076/haskell-field
2. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/76021709/william-henry-black
3. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/97125389/malinda-black