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FIELD, Tring, early 18th century January 2002 |
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FIELD, Tring, early 18th century January 2002 |
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Les Reeves, (reeves_les @t hotmail.com) of Cheshunt, Herts, says: One of my 6g-grandfathers was Thomas Field baptised in Tring on 15 June 1729, son of Thomas. Thomas senior was a yeoman farmer, Thomas junior went on to become a clockmaker and had businesses in Bristol and Bath.
There appear to be a number of Fields around Northchurch, Berkhamsted and Great Gaddesden; I don't know if these are connected to my ancestors in some way.
Do you have any suggestions as to how I can find Thomas senior's wife and parents? I have found Thomas junior's birth in the microfilm copy of Tring Registers at the SoG but could not find a marriage. The IGI also lists some possible siblings of Thomas jnr.
I find you opening facts both interesting and surprising and would love to know where you got the information, as it might give a clue as to where to look next. At the time society was well structured and yeoman farmer's sons (especially the oldest, who would normally be named after his father) would normally become a farmer. In particular no yeoman farmer worth his salt would article his son with a tradesman such as a clockmaker - which is how you you became a clockmaker. A move from Tring to Bristol was also a very big step for most people - and to have businesses in two towns at the same time was unusual.
There is no Thomas Field listed in the indexes of Chauncy, Cussans or the Victoria County History, and no Field associated with Tring. There are two references to Thomas Field in Hertfordshire 1731-1800 as recorded in the Gentleman's Magazine. The first was under "Deaths for 1780" and recorded that a labourer called Thomas Field of "Boxford, Hertfordshire", had died aged 102, and his father had lived to 104. The place name is in error and might be Boxford, Berkshire, or Boxmoor, Hertfordshire. The second refers to a John Field who died in Stoke Newington in 1796 who was descended from a Thomas Field of Cockernhoe (Offley). Neither would appear to have any obvious connection with your Thomas - particularly as Field is a comparatively common surname.
Bearing in mind where you live a visit to HALS would seem appropriate to see what relevant records they have, if you have exhausted the most likely parish registers. There could be wills and property documents and maybe other things as well, which could only be determined by looking in their catalogues.
If you can add to the information given above tell me.
