ALBERT SEARLS FIELD

BIOGRAPHY

AS RECORDED IN:

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF TOLLAND AND WINDHAM COUNTIES CONNECTICUT.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS AND OF MANY OF THE EARLY SETTLED FAMILIES.

PUBLISHER: J.H.BEERS & CO., CHICAGO; 1903 P. 856

ALBERT SEARLS FIELD, the efficient and popular jailer for Windham county at Brooklyn, Conn., and a skilled mechanic by trade, descends from one of the prominent families of New England, one which has given to American history several of her illustrious sons.

Mr. Field was born June 26, 1875, in Hope Valley, Washington Co., R.I., a son of Albert Franklin and Mary Eliza (Kenyon) Field, and he descends on both sides from ancestors of the Colonial period in Rhode Island’s history. The Field family of this country traces its paternal lineage five generations back of the American ancestor in the Old World, and the subject of this article is in the tenth generation from the emigrant American settler, John Field. The latter was born probably in Thurnscoe, England, a son of William, a grandson of John, a great-grandson of Richard, a great-great-grandson of William (2), and a great-great-great-grandson of William Field.

John Field, the American ancestor, appears of record in New England at Providence, R.I., in 1637, where on Aug. 20th, of that year, he signed an agreement, or contract, pertaining to settlement, and on July 27, 1640, another for civil government. He was admitted a freeman of the Colony in 1655, and was deputy to the Colonial Assembly in 1676. Both he and his wife died in 1686.

>From this American ancestor Jailer Field’s lineage is through John, Capt. John, John, Deacon John, John, Capt. John, Albert Searls and Albert Franklin Field.

John Field, born about 1645, in Providence, married there Elizabeth, a daughter of Hon. Anthony Everden, and was a resident of Providence, R.I., and of Bridgewater, Mass. His death occurred in 1698, and his wife’s before that year.

Capt. John Field, born Feb. 20, 1671, in Providence, married, in November, 1697, Elizabeth, daughter of John Ames, of Bridgewater, Mass. He was a resident of both Providence and Bridgewater, and died in 1758. His wife passed away in 1739.

John Field (4), born Feb. 27, 1704, in Bridgewater, married, in 1726, Mary, daughter of Ephraim Howard, of Bridgewater.

Deacon John Field, born in 1727, in Providence, married, April 6, 1747-48, in Plainfield, Conn., Lydia Warren, daughter of Joseph Warren, of Norwich, Conn., and said to have been a sister of Gen. Warren, who was killed at the battle of Bunker Hill in the Revolution. Mrs. Field was born in Norwich in 1724, and died in 1811. Deacon Field passed away March 10, 1794, a resident of Providence.

John Field (6), born March 22, 1748, in Providence, married, Oct. 28, 1770, Mary Searls, daughter of Solomon Searls, and resided in Providence. Mrs. Field was born in 1747, and died Sept. 28, 1813. Mr. Field died Dec. 11, 1811.

Capt. John Field, born Jan. 18, 1771, in Providence, married, Nov. 5, 1799, in Providence, Amey Lerken, born in Newport, R.I., in 1769. They resided in Providence. Capt. Field died Sept. 8, 1836, and Mrs. Field passed away Nov. 18, 1859. Their children were: John, Albert, Richard, Joanna, Martha, Emily L., Louisa, Albert Searls and Richard.

Albert Searls Field, born Oct. 28, 1803, in Providence, married, at Valley Falls, Feb. 23, 1840, Deborah Kettle, born July 27, 1812. They resided in Providence, where Mr. Field was a cordwainer and farmer. He died Jan. 16, 1858, and Mrs. Field passed away May 11, 1877. Their children were: Sarah W., born March 22, 1841, died Nov. 12, 1855; Albert Franklin, born Aug. 11, 1842; and Jennie E., born July 18, 1844.

Albert Franklin Field was born Aug. 11, 1842, in Providence, R.I., where much of his life has been passed. In youth he learned the trade of a
blacksmith and iron worker. In this line of mechanics he became skilled and proficient, and for years was in the employ of one of the extensive works in Providence. In 1897 he removed to the State of Illinois, and has since resided there. His political affiliations are with the Republican party, and his religious connection with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Field married Mary Eliza Kenyon, a daughter of William Kenyon, and to the union came five children, namely: Jennie and Minnie, both now deceased; Marion, now the wife of William Hobert, of Stonington, Conn.; a son that died in infancy; and Albert Searls. The mother of these children died in 1885.

Albert Searls Field, son of Albert Franklin, received his education in the district schools of Hope Valley, the Westerly (R.I.) High School, and the Stonington (Conn.) Academy. After his school days were over he learned the trade of tool-making at the Atwood Machine Shop, in Stonington, and followed such line of work until failing health compelled him to give it up in 1896. In 1899 he was appointed clerk and assistant jailer to Charles Osgood, then jailer for Windham county, Conn., at Brooklyn. Mr. Osgood died in June, 1902, and Mr. Field succeeded to the position of jailer by appointment of Sheriff Sibley. In his position Mr. Field has been most efficient and popular, giving satisfaction to all concerned. He has always been a Republican, but has never taken an active part in politics. He is the youngest ever appointed. Mr. Field is one of the rising young men of Windham county. He is unmarried.

Reproduced by:

Linda D. Pingel – great-great granddaughter of Cyrus White of Rockville, Ct.