#6927.
COL. JOHN FIELD (Abraham. Abraham, Henry~ b. Culpeper county, Virginia: m. Anna Rogers Clark. sister of Gen. George Rogers Clark the celebrated soldier. General Clark was born near Monticello. Albermarle County. Va.. but spent his early life in Caroline county, and enjoyed some educational advantages from a noted Scotch trader, Donald Robertson, in King and Queen county. Besides the Clark children. among the pupils was James Madison afterwards President of the United States. General Clark is, best known to history as the hero of Kaskaskia, Ill., and Vincennes, Ind.

Richard Rogers lived some time in Albermarle owning the estates known as Franklin Place, Wilton and River Bend. He married a sister of the Rev. Thornton Rogers, of Albemarle, a lineal descendant of Giles Rogers. who emigrated from Worcestershire, England to King and Queen county, Virginia, late in the seventeenth century. His son John married Mary Byrd, the sister of Col. William Byrd, who obtained a grant Of 7,351 acres of land from Sir William Berkley, governor of the colony on March 15,1675. "beginning at the mouth of Shoccoe’s Creek” as the deed specifies, and running several miles up the James river. being the present site of Richmond, Va. This John and Mary Rogers came to Albemarle, and were the grandparents of Mrs. Anna Clarke Field and Gen. George Rogers Clarke, the famous hero of the Revolutionary war. From his son Byrd Rogers have descended quite a number of preachers: Rev. Thornton Rogers, Rev. Francis S. Sampson, D. D., Rev. Thornton S. Wilson, Rev. Thornton R. Sampson, Rev. Oscar B. Wilson, Rev. William T. Walker, Rev. W. M. Nelson, and Right Rev. Kinloch Nelson, Bishop of Georgia.

John Field, when of proper age to obtain better advantages of education, was sent to England, where after a college course, he obtained office as ensign in the British Army, in which capacity he continued until by promotion be was made full colonel of a regiment. About 1760, perhaps, his company was ordered with General Braddock to defend the colonies from encroachment of the French and Indians. At Braddock's defeat, in which General Braddock was killed, the command devolving upon Col. George Washington, the colonel of Virginia Volunteers, and saved the remnant of the army, eventually falling back to Fredericksburg, Va. Afterwards Colonel Field was ordered to northwest Virginia to repel the invading enemy. After a march across the trackless wilderness through the Allegheny mountains, he descended the Kanawha to its junction with the Ohio - now Point Pleasant. There he built a fort, in which his regiment and Colonel Lewis' regiment of Virginia Volunteers were subsequently attacked by a numerous army of French and Indians. In this bloody engagement Colonel Field was killed by the Indians under Cornstalk. Also known as the Battle of Point Pleasant which is near Ashland, Ky.

The name of Cornstalk, the Shawnee chief, once thrilled the heart of every whiteman In Virginia, and terrified every family in the mountains. He was, to the Indians of western Virginia, like Pocahontas to the tribes on the sea coast, the greatest and last chief. In the days of his power, the Shawanees built their cabins an the Scioto. They had once dwelt on the Shenandoah, and covered the whole valley of Virginia. At the approach of the whites to the mountains they had retreated beyond the Alleghenies. The names of the various smaller tribes that once were scattered over the country west of the Blue Ridge, and east of the Ohio, have not been preserved. No historical fact of importance depends upon their preservation. There was a name applied to all the tribes, whether it was generic, or from conquest.

Colonel Field married Anna Clark, of Virginia, oldest sister of Gen. George Rogers Clark. and was his guardian in minority. He was of large frame and splendid figure, six feet and four inches high, dark hair and eyes and of great endurance. He left four daughters, Mary, Aim Elizabeth and Judith, who married Slaughter, Hill, Kelly and Dulany.

It is stated also that Col. John Field, who was a lieutenant under Washington, in Braddock's campaign, and commanded the Virginia troops at the battle of Point Pleasant on the Ohio river, where he defeated the French and Indians, for which his heirs were granted a large tract of land in now Bourbon county, Kentucky, by the Governor Lord Fairfax.

The Culpeper. Va. probate records say: Will of John Field. Legatees: To wife. Anna, the land he purchased of his brother, Daniel, and his nephew Abraham Field; daughter, Elizabeth: wife of Lawrence Slaughter; son John; daughter Mary, wife of George Slaughter; son Larkin; daughter Anna Field: grandchildren, John Field Slaughter, Robert Slaughter and Milly Slaughter. States that Ezekiel is unhappily missing. Dated, Aug. 21st, and proved in Culpeper May 15, 1754.

John Field's Will. - In the name of God Amen. I, John Field of the Parish of St. Mark, in the County of Culpeper, being in Perfect health of Body and sound mind and memory thank to the Almighty God for same Calling to mind the uncertainty of this life and all worldly things do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following. First and principally I do humbly recommend my soul to the Almighty God who gave it we trusting in his mercies through Jesus Christ that I shall be pardoned for all my sins and offences and enjoy Eternal Felicity. My body I commit to the earth from whence it came therein to be decently interred and touching what worldly estate it hath pleased God to bless we with I give and dispose of the same as follows:

Item I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Anna Five Negroes, viz.: Jack and his son James, Moll, Suck and Bridgett for her to enjoy her natural life and at her disposal so that it Is at our decedance I also lend all the lands on the south side of Mountain Run for her Peacebly to enjoy until my son Larkin comes of age at which time he is to have possession of the lands I purchased of my Brother Daniel and my Nephew Abram Field as well as Thaddocks tract and it is farther my will and Desire that my wife possess all my stock and household furniture on the South side of Mountain Run whereon she now lives.

Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Slaughter eight Negroes viz.: Sarah, Phill, Sydda, Kate, Dick, Daniel, and Lewis together with the increase of the said Negroes since she has had them in possession Provided my said daughter and her husband Laurance Slaughter Do expect of the said Negroes and their increase together with one lot of land containing half an acre in the town of Fairfax as also the stock they have in possession (in lieu) of five hundred pounds which I promised them on their marriage otherwise the sum of five hundred pounds must be paid out of my estate to my said Daughter and Son in Law and the Negroes except Sydda shall return to my estate as if this request bad never been made But the said Sydda and the Lot in Fairfax Town still to remain to my said Daughter and her heirs or assigns forever I also give and bequeath to my son in law Laurence Slaughter and his heirs forever one tract of land lying in amongst the mountains in Cupeper County Containing Two Hundred and odd acres known by the name of Zoy Bottom or Stantons encampment it being the consideration of thirty three pounds which I have received of my said son in law.

Item I give and bequeath to my son John Field and his heirs and assigns forever the following slaves viz: Harry, Frank, Will, Tom, Hannah, Austin, and Lewis also my lands in the north side of Mountain Run being the land I purchased of Wm. John Triflett.

I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Slaughter and my son in law George Slaughter six negroes viz.: Joe, Ben. Tom, (bought of Robertson's estate) Kate, little Esther and Poll the stock of cattle from John Farmers and one tract of land which I have already acknowledged to him on the Conway River and one tract of had on the Great Thankaway known by the name of Peace Creek which I settled this year.

Item I give and bequeath to my son Larkin Field and his heirs and forever all my lands on the south side of mountain run whereon I now live and that he is to have possession as soon as he comes of age or marries the tracts of which I purchased of Daniel Field and one Abram Field and the other of Thaddocks and after my wife's decease the whole of my lands on the south side of mountain run Containing six hundred and forty acres also five negroes Bett, Grace, Talby, little Jack and Ben.

Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Anna Field and her heirs and assigns forever five negroes viz.: Lucy, Rachael, Milly and Adam and Nell.

Item I give and bequeath to my grandson John Field Slaughter and his heirs forever one negro, boy named Sam.

Item I give and bequeath to my granddaughter Milley Slaughter and her heirs forever one small tract of laud lying on the Rapidan River Called Carrafare.

Item Whereas my son Ezekiel Field is unhappily missing and the certainty of his being dead or alive not known. But should it please the Almighty God that be is among the living, I give and bequeath to him and his heirs and assigns forever (after my just debts and funeral expenses are paid) all my lands and stocks at the Mountains and all my lands on the Great Thankaway together with the following slaves: - Will, Dinah, Bett, Harry, June, Joe, Jacob, Isaac, Ailick, Easter, and Judy as well as all the rest of my estate not already given by this will let the same Consist of what manner or kind soever but if it should appear that be is now dead then and in that case my Will and Desire is the above lands Negroes Stocks etc. after my debts paid be equally divided among all my children and their heirs and assigns forever. Lastly I nominate and appoint my beloved wife Anna Executrix and Laurence Slaughter and John Field to be my whole and sole Executrix and Executors of this my last Will and Testament Revoking and Disallowing all other wills by me hereafter made, Ratifying and Confirming this alone to be my last will and testament in Confirmation of which I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty first day of August one thousand seven hundred and seventy four, 1774.

Signed, Sealed and acknowledged in the presence of Win. Ball John Field (L.S.)
Joseph Minor
John Gray
William Field
At a Court held for Culpeper County the 15th day of May 1775.

This last Will and Testament of John Field Deceased was Exhibited to Court by Laurence Slaughter one of the Executors therein named and was proved by the oaths of William Ball and John Gray witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded and on the motion of the said Executors Certificate is Granted them for obtaining a probate thereof In due form they having given bond and security according to law.

Teste: John Jameson, let Clk
A copy Teste: W. E. Covus, Clerk.

He was killed at Point Pleasant, 1774. Res. "The Field Manor," in St. Mark's Parish, Culpeper county, Viginia.