USA > New York > Jefferson County > Genealogical and family history of the county of Jefferson, New York, Volume I > Part 15
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la Feld, ot Colmar. In the fourteenth century, because of the wars with France, the French prefixes were dropped, and the name thereafter written Field.
(1) Roger del Feld, born in Sowerby, England, about 1240, was a descendant of Sir Hubertus, and head of the family which settled in Lancashire and Kent counties.
(II) Thomas, son of Roger, was born about 1278, in Sowerby. and was a jewcler there in 1307.
(III) John, son of Thomas, was born in 1300, in Sowerby, and had land there in 1336.
(IV) Thomas, son of John, was born 1330, in Sowerby, and was constable there in 1365, and greave in 1370, and also filled other public offices. His wife's name was Annabelle.
(V) Thomas, son of Thomas and Annabelle Feld, was born 1360, and willed lands to his wife, Isabel, in the territory of Bynglay. To his son, Robert, he willed lands in the villa and territory of Bradford. He died in 1429. at his residence in Bradford.
(VI) William, son of Thomas and Isabel Feld, was born, probably, in Bradford, and died in April, 1480, at Bradford. His wife, Katherine, was administratrix of his estate.
(VII) William, son of William and Katherine Feld, was born in Bradford, and lived in East Ardsley.
(VIII) Richard Felde, son of William Feld, was born, probably, in East Ardsley, where he was a husbandman, and died December, 1542. His wife, Elizabeth, was one of his executors.
(IX) John Field, son of Richard and Elizabeth Felde, was born about 1535, at East Ardsley, and married, in 1560, Jane Amyas, daugh- ter of John. She died August 30, 1609, and he died May, 1587. He was an eminent astronomer, and introduced into England, in 1557, the Co- pernican system, against the opposition of scientists of his day, and in recognition of this service to the science of astronomy a sphere was later added to and surmounted the family coat of arms.
(X) John, son of John and Jane Field, was born about 1568, in Ardsley, and moved away before attaining his majority. Record of his death has not been found.
(XI) Zecharialı Field, grandson of John Field, the astronomer, American ancestor of the Field family, was born in 1596, at East Ards- ley, Yorkshire, England. The Field family has usually taken the liberal side of religious and political questions, and in 1629 Zechariah Field left
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England on account of the persecution of the dissenters, and landed in Boston, settling at Dorchester. In 1636 he was one of Rev. Thomas Hooker's congregation, which settled at Hartford, Connecticut. With the more liberal members of that church he removed to Northampton, Massachusetts, 111 1659. He was engaged in mercantile business, and had a large trade with the Indians. He was one of the original twenty- five proprietors of Hatfield, same colony, and was a member of the com- mittee which laid out the lands. He received a grant of land there in 1661, and resided there until his death, June 30, 1666. He was mar- ried about 1641, and his wife Mary died about 1670. Their children were: Mary, Zachariah, John, Samuel and Joseph.
(XII) Zachariah, eldest son and second child of Zechariah and Mary Field, was born about 1645, at Hartford. He was married, De- cember 17, 1668, to Sarah Webb, daughter of John Webb, of Northamp- ton. In 1672 he went to Deerfield, and died there in 1674. His estate inventoried one hundred and eighty-five pounds, seventeen shillings and six pence. His widow subsequently married Robert Price, and was mas- sacred, with her husband and others, in Deerfield, July 29, 1704. The children of Zachariah and Sarah ( Webb) Field were: Zachariah, Eben- ezer and John.
(XIII) John, youngest child of Zachariah and Sarah (Webb) Field, was born December 8, 1673, in Deerfield, and married, November 9. 1696, Mary Bennett, daughter of James and Mary ( Broughton) Ben- nett, of Northampton and Northfield. She was one of those carried in captivity by the Indians to Canada, in 1704. and was ransomed and re- turned the following year, with her son John. A daughter, Mary, was captured and also taken to Canada with the mother, and was adopted into an Indian family and given the name of Walahowey. She married an Indian chief, and subsequently visited her relatives in Connecticut, ac- companied by her husband. While the latter was willing to remain there she refused to do so, and they returned to their wild life. Another daughter, Sarah, was killed by the Indians at the same time the others were taken.
About 1710 Jolin Field removed, with his family, to East Guilford, Connecticut, and thence to Coventry or Stafford. same state, where he died in February, 1718. ITis will mentions his wife and children. The latter were: Mary, John, Sarah, Pedajah, Bennett and Sarah (2).
(XIV) Bennett, youngest son of John and Mary (Bennett) Field, was born December 13. 1709, in Deerfield. Massachusetts, and was mar-
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ried December 18, 1734, to Elizabetli Spafford, daughter of Thomas and Bethiah Spafford, of Lebanon, Connecticut. She was born April 9, 1715, and died November 20, 1772. He bought land in Lebanon No- vember 21, 1733, and was admitted to the church there in 1736. He moved to Mansfield, same state, in 1740, and died there April 6, 1770. His children were: Mary, Betsey, Lucy, Elizabeth, Huldah, Sarah, Bethia, Hannah, Amos, Bennett, Samuel and Elijah.
(XV) Elijah, twelfth and youngest child of Bennett and Eliza- beth (Spafford) Field, was born April 20, 1756, in Mansfield, and was married, January 26, 1774, to Tamson Crane, daughter of Hezekiah Crane, of Mansfield. In the same year he settled in Woodstock, Ver- mont, where he was engaged in clearing and tilling land. He was a drummer in the Revolutionary army, through the struggle. In 1806 he removed with his family to Hounsfield, in this county, where he took up a large tract of land lying in the towns of Watertown and Hounsfield, and the district has since been known as Field's settlement. He had twelve children, several of whom were then married, all of whom then made Jef- ferson county their home. The oldest of them lived until the youngest had grandchildren. Three of the sons were clergymen, and one of them, Rev. Lebbeus Field, founded the Christian church at East Hounsfield. Their names were as follows: Hezekiah, Elijah, Philip Crane, Lebbeus, Thaddeus, Tamson, Filana, Hannah, Alpheus, Spafford, Samuel and Bennett. Elijah Field died in October, 1828, in his seventy-third year.
(XVI) Spafford, seventh son and tenth child of Elijah and Tam- son (Crane) Field, was born April 10, 1790, in Woodstock, Vermont, and was sixteen years old when he came to Jefferson county. He was married, in 1810, to Hannah Mariah Resseguie, daughter of Daniel and Mary ( Monroe) Resseguie (see Resseguie). She was born in 1790, at Charlton or Northampton, New York, and died December 25, 1813. Her only child, Mary, is the wife of Nathaniel Warren Green, residing at Richmond, Pennsylvania. Mr. Field married (second) Alice, daugh- ter of Abram Moore. She died March 16, 1859, leaving a son, Safford Elijah.
Abram Moore was a Revolutionary soldier, entering the army at Cambridge, at the age of eighteen years, and continued with Washing- ton's army to tlie close of the war. Spafford Field died August 24, 1870, on his farm in Hounsfield, in his eighty-first year. He was an old-time Democrat, and among the first supporters of the Republican party. He
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was a member of the Christian church of East Hounsfield, and was a highly respected citizen.
(XVII) Safford Elijah, son of Spafford and Alice ( Moore) Field, was born December 27. 1828, in the town of Hounsfield, where he lived until his retirement in old age, and was one of the leading farmers and best citizens. Possessed of musical ability, he was several years a mem- ber oi the local cornet band. In 1889 he went to live with his son in the city of Watertown, where he died April 8, 1898. He was a member and trustee of the Christian church of East Hounsfield, and kept the postoffice there several years. From its origin he was one of the loyal supporters of the Republican party. A man of remarkably genial and social nature, warm-hearted and loyal, he was a valued friend, and en- joyed the esteem of those who knew him best. He entertained none of the social vices, and held to rigid standards of personal purity and moral uprightness.
Safford E. Field was married, January 17, 1850, to Phebe, daugh- ter of Leonard and Eunice (Knowlton) Allen, of Hounsfield, who was born February 25, 1829, and now resides in Watertown. Two children completed the family, Brayton Allen and Carrie. The latter, born Feb- ruary 27, 1861, was married, in 1883, to Rev. George E. Merrill, a grad- uate of Syracuse University, and recently pastor of Grace Christian church, of St. Johnsville, this state, and now in charge of a Congrega- tional church at Vermillion, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Merrill have a daugh- ter, Mattie M.
Leonard Allen was a son of Ebenezer Allen, who came from Hart- land, Vermont, in 1806, with a large family, and settled in Hounsfield. Eunice, wife of Leonard Allen, was the first white female born in the town of Brownville, this county.
(XVIII) Brayton Allen Field, only son of Safford and Phebe (\ilen) Field, was born March 18, 1853, in Hounsfield. and spent his early life there. He was educated in the district schools, the Watertown high school and Dartmouth College. graduating from the high school in 1873, as valedictorian of his class. In 1878 he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts, from Dartmouth, with honors. During much of his course in the high school he lived at home, working nights and morn- ings, and driving to Watertown, five miles, each day to attend school. He was in school during the fall and winter terms, working on the farm the remainder of the year. He thus acquired habits of industry, perse- verance and economy, the best assets of youth-the farm affording the
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best place to acquire them. At that time there were no local public libra- ries and but few available books, and in his thirst for knowledge he read everything within his reach.
During the two years following his graduation at Dartmouth, he taught school, and with his earnings paid up the indebtedness in- curred in completing his college education. In the first year he was principal of the Proctor Academy, at Andover, New Hampshire, and the second year was spent in the public schools of the city of Watertown. meanwhile taking up the study of law in the office of O'Brien & Emer- son. On account of failing health he was obliged to give up his studies for a time, but later resumed them in the same office. He was admitted to the bar, as attorney and counselor at law. April 20, 1886, and has since pursued liis profession in the city of Watertown, where he has built up a large and lucrative general practice. During the summer of 1904 Mr. Field was called upon to act for the city judge, and acquitted himself after the manner of a competent jurist.
His ambition has never been for political preferment, but for pro- ficiency and excellence in his profession. On April 1, 1902, he admitted to partnership Mr. Mason M. Swan (see Swan), an able and successful young attorney, and the business has since been conducted under the style of Field & Swan. He was for many years a member of the East Hounsfield Christian church, and is now a member of the Universalist church of Watertown, and affiliates with Corona Lodge No. 705, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. In 1891 he built his handsome home, at the corner of Ten Eyck and Holcomb streets, which was among the first in the city to be heated by hot water. All of the interior finish, ex- cept the doors, is of timber from the ancestral farm in Hounsfield, which he owns. While not a politician, Mr. Field entertains fixed ideas, but is not active in their promulgation, though a sound Republican, and has done some active work in non-partisan judicial campaigns. He takes the active interest in local affairs which attests the good citizen, and the interest in general affairs that belongs to the intelligent observer.
He was married, April 27. 1881, to Nettie E. Thompson, born January 9, 1858, in Watertown, daughter of the late Judge William C. Thompson, and Antoinette N. Chittenden, his wife, daughter of the late Judge Thomas Chittenden, of Adams. Of this very happy marriage have been born four sons and two daughters, as follows: Nellie Louise, December 8, 1884; Allen Safford, June 18, 1886; William Thompson, August 15, 1888: Arthur Chittenden, January 1, 1891, died March 3.
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I901 : Brayton Wallace, October 26, 1892; and Irene Antoinette, July 26, 1894. The eldest son is now a student in the art course of Cornell University.
The Field family has an honorable record in England, and in Amer- ica as well, where it has furnished many distinguished in civil, military, ecclesiastic, literary and business lines. A large number of the soldiers of the Revolution bore the name, and a few well known are deserving of especial mention, as Marshall Field, of Chicago, the greatest dry goods dealer in the world; Eugene Field, late of the same city, noted as a poet and friend of children ; Cyrus W. Field, originator and builder of the first Atlantic cable, and Justice Stephen J. Field, of the United States supreme court.
The subject of the last article (XVIII) partakes of the qualities which have made his family prominent in history. Of genial nature, he makes and retains friendships, and is admired and respected as a citizen, as well as an able lawyer. He is above the medium stature, and carries himself with dignity and aplomb, while his affability and natural kind- ness of heart make him welcome in any circle. The honored name which he bears is safe in his care.
MOFFETT. The Moffett family of this county is descended from a long line of ancestors who were among the earlier settlers in the col- onies and who helped in many ways in the settlement and formation of this great country. Their names may be found among the members of important committees, in church formations and on the rolls of those who served in the various wars in which the New England colonies were involved. The name has been spelled in many different ways-Moffat, Moffatt, Moffitt, Muffitt, Morphet, Muffit, and the present manner, which is the most common in this vicinity, Moffett. The original name was spelled Moffat, the same as the town in Scotland. No doubt the family was originally Scotch, but lines have always come through northern Ireland, the temporary home of many Scotch people, who were the chief settlers of that section.
(I) The first of this branch in this country was William Moffat, who appears first on records at Newbury, Massachusetts, in 1686. He was married about 1691, to Mehetable, surname unknown, born in 1674, according to the record of her death, which says: "Died 3d May, 1754, aged 80." He removed to Killingly, Connecticut, in 1708, and was baptized and admitted to the church there October 13, 1734. His death
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*
occurred January 16, 1741, in Killingly. All except the youngest of his eight children were born in Newbury.
(II) Joseph Moffat, son of William, was born July 11, 1703, and was married about 1728-9, his wife's name being Mary. He was admit- ted to the church June 24, 1733, and removed to Sturbridge, Massa- chusetts, a short distance up the Quinnebaug river, where Joseph Moffat was a town officer in 1740. He had twelve children.
(III) Joseph (2), son of Joseph (1) and Mary Moffat. was born July 2, 1738, in Sturbridge, which indicates approximately the time of his father's settlement in that town. Joseph Moffat (2) was educated for a physician and located in Brimfield, farther up the Quinnebaug, where he was successfully engaged in practice for many years. He fought in the French and Indian war, was an officer in the Revolutionary war, and was town clerk in 1779-84. He was on many important com- mittees, especially during the Revolution; was assessor in 1772-92, a period of twenty years ; was representative to the general court in 1782; selectman in 1793, 1798-9, 1800-1-2; treasurer in 1798; taught school in 1768-9-70. One record shows the pay of Sergeant Major Joseph Moffat to have been four pounds six shillings and eight pence, and other records show service at various times. He was married June 3. 1762, to Margaret Bliss, who was a descendant in the sixth generation of Ichabod Bliss. Mr. and Mrs. Moffat had four children. Margaret Moffat died November 4, 1771, and Mr. Moffat married, second, De- cember 10, 1772, Lois Haynes, by whom he had four children. He died August 12, 1802.
(IV) Joseph (3), son of Joseph and Margaret (Bliss) Moffat, was born August 8, 1769, in Brimfield, Massachusetts, was graduated from Dartmouth College in 1793, read law and is supposed to have opened an office in Peacham, Vermont. In 1802 he moved to Danville, same state, was a druggist there, and representative in the legislature in 1804, and returned to Brimfield in 1807. In the meantime he had prepared for the practice of medicine, which he continued some years. He moved to New Woodstock, Madison county, New York, where he died April 3, 1820, in the fifty-second year of his age. He became a member of the Madison County Medical Society ( Allopathic) July 29, 1817, and was, probably, the first physician in New Woodstock. He was married in 1797, to Mary Sargent, of an old New England family, the generations of her ancestors being : 1, Hugh ; 2, Roger : 3, William; 4. John: 5. Jonathan; 6, Jonathan ; 7, Phineas. She was born May 27,
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1774, in Leicester, Massachusetts, and died January 13, 1830, and was buried at Homer, Cortland county, New York. She was the mother of cleven children. Following is a fac-simile of the inscription on the tomb- stone of Dr. Moffat. in New Woodstock :
" Doc. Joseph Moffet died April 3rd, 1820 in the 52nd year of his age. His mind was tranquil & serene No terror in his looks were seen, His Saviour smild, dispeld the gloom And smoth,d his passage to the toomb."
(V) Charles Denny Moffett was born April 27, 1813, in New Woodstock, Madison county, this state, and was left fatherless at the age of seven years. He had to start out for himself at an early age, and the following, written by himself, covers his early efforts: "The year 1826 I went to Homer to live, and worked at the harness business, and continued to work there and at Cortland village until the year 1828. I left Homer and went from there to Chittenango, and worked there for a Mr. Haight about six months, and then hired out for a year, to a Mr. A. F. Randall, and continued with him two years." About 1829 he was led to begin the Christian life which marked the rest of his days. About 1832 he went to Paris Hill, Oneida county, removing thence to Rodman, Jefferson county, where Mr. Moffett carried on the harness and saddlery business. He paticipated actively in local affairs, and held a number of offices, among them that of justice of the peace, in which he served for many years. In 1854, with his family, excepting the eldest son, he went to Cedar county, Iowa, and returned the same year, preferring their old home to such a sparsely settled country. Mr. Mof- fett and his wife were among the organizers and leading members of the Methodist Episcopal church in Rodman. In 1870 he retired from business and moved to Watertown and. after a year or two, he and his wife went to make their home with their son, John F. Moffett. Charles D. Moffett died November 28. 1880, and was survived by his wife until October 20, 1894. They were married June 20, 1830, at Chitte- mango, the maiden name of Mrs. Moffett being Emily Hayman Knollin. She was born June 26, 1809. near Dartmouth, Devonshire, England, a daughter of Richard and granddaughter of Richard Knollin. She came to America with her father's family in 1827. Mr. and Mrs. Moffett were the parents of seven children-Joseph Knollin, a resident of Watertown, Charles Wesley, Emily Maria, William Henry ( died young). John
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Fletcher, Emma Missouri ( wife of Harris Barnum, of Rockford, Illi- nois, died in 1903), and Frances Amelia (Mrs. Homer H. Rice, died in 1901).
(VI) John Fletcher Moffett, fourth son and fifth child of Charles D. and Emily H. (Knollin) Moffett, was born April 15, 1841, at Paris Hill, Oneida county, New York. He received his education in the com- mon schools and at the Jefferson County Institute, and in. 1860 was employed in the National Bank and Loan Company of Watertown, where he remained about five years. In 1866 he helped to organize the Mer- chants' Bank, in which he was thereafter a stockholder and director, and in which he held until 1880 the office of cashier. He then became a contractor for waterworks, electric lights, street railroads and telephone lines. In this undertaking he was signally successful, building railroads and waterworks, establishing communication by telephone and introduc- ing the benefits of electric lighting in one hundred different towns and cities, and visiting almost every state in the Union and also Canada.
Such is the energy of Mr. Moffett's character that the demands of his chosen calling, great as they are, have proved insufficient for its exercise, and various other enterprises have reaped the benefit of the impetus which he never fails to impart to any undertaking with which he may be associated. From1 1864 to 1869 he was president of the board of water commissioners and in 1875 acted as treasurer of the Watertown Manufacturers' Aid Association, which was dissolved at the end of two years. On the organization of the Watertown board of trade in 1889 he became one of the directors. In 1881 he was one of the incorporators of the Central Park Association of Alexandria, and he was for a time city treasurer of Watertown. It is to him in part that the city is indebted for its Young Men's Christian Association, of which he was one of the incorporators and in which he held for one year the office of president. He is a member of the State Street Methodist Epis- copal church, in which for many years he served as steward.
Mr. Moffett married in January, 1862, Frances P., daughter of Enoch L. Todd, who was a son of one of the early settlers of the town of Rodman (see Todd, IX). Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Moffett five are living : Charles T., who resides in Chicago; Jean- nette T., who is engaged in university settlement work in New York; Grace E., who is the wife of Louis S. Lansing; Frances S., who married Frank H. Coyne, of Chicago; and Earle Mortimer, who is studying forestry at Biltmore, North Carolina. Mrs. Moffett, who is active in
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good works, is one of the directresses of the Jefferson County Orphan .Asylumn.
(III) \quilla Moffatt, son of Joseph ( 1) and Mary Moffat, was born about 1740, in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, and settled in North Adains, Massachusetts. He served in the French and Indian wars, and, in old age, moved to Plainfield, New York, where he died. He had four sons and two daughters. namely : Isaac, Alexander Conkey, Alanson, Melvin, Mary and Mehetable.
(IV) Alexander Conkey Moffatt was born in 1771, in North Adams, Massachusetts, whence he moved to Otsego county, New York, and in 1818 came to Brownville, where he settled on a farm. He mar- ried Olive Hinman, by whom he was the father of the following chil- dren: I. Aquilla, mentioned at length hereinafter. 2. Persis. 3. Jonathan. 4. Hosea, who married Julia, daughter of Benjamin and Julia (Taylor ) Prior, of Brownville, and had two children-James S. and Bruce; the former married Nancy, daughter of Richard and Mary (Avery) Buckminster, and their children are Charles E. and Gertrude C. 5. Olivia. 6. Orlando. 7. Ann. 8. Alexander C. 9. Reuben H. Mr. Moffatt, the father of this family, died in 1841, in Brownville. He was among the best of the pioneer citizens, and one to whom the town- ship owes much.
(V) Aquilla Moffatt, eldest son of A. Conkey and Olive (Hinman) Moffatt, was born in 1796, in Plainfield, New York, but early in life be- came a resident of Brownville, where the remainder of his days was passed. He married Alice Pattie, "who was born in 1800, and they were the parents of nine children : David, mentioned at length hereinafter ; Persis, George, Betsey, Susan, Samuel, Jane, Myra. James. Mrs. Moffatt died in 1869, and her husband passed away a few years before.
(VI) David Moffatt, son of Aquilla and Alice (Pattie) Moffatt. was born October 3, 1820, in Brownville, where he was educated in the common schools. From early youth he was engaged in agricultural pursuits, in which he was very successful, having a fine farm of three hundred and fifty acres which he cultivated in the most thorough and scientific manner. He was also for a number of years the proprietor of a grist mill. He was active in the duties of citizenship and served two terms as assessor. His political affiliations were with the Republican party.
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