The Field Family Newsletter, 9th Edition

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The FIELD Family Newsletter

9th Edition, February 2002, Edited by Dorothy Cefarin
Reprinted here with permission

Welcome to the year 2002, I hope you had a lovely Christmas and that this year will be better than the last.

Please keep those stories coming in also births, deaths and marriages. This is one way we can all keep up with the latest happenings in our family tree. Pan Wilcox and Mildred Churchill have been wonderful with their information, keep up the good work girls, I'm relying on you.

Dorothy Cefarin
24 Eggleton Street
Blacktown 2148 NSW
E-Mail doff202@comcen.com.au

A REQUEST

From Lyndal Holland

"At the reunion I made contact with some members of the Higgins Family and was wondering if in the next edition of "The Field Family Newsletter" you could put a piece in asking for any descendants of either John or Thomas Steven Higgins Jnr. to contact me (13 Kiewa Place, Kirrawee or jholland@tig.com.au). We are interested in increasing our knowledge of the descendants of these as we already have someone descended from each of the sisters - Mary Ann, Elizabeth and Catherine tracing their descendants."

If you can help Lyndal please do, also let me know the results.

Arthur Rutledge

Eldest child of James and Lucy Ann (nee Field) Rutledge
Born: 29-8-1843 at Castlereagh
Died: 8-2-1917 in Manly and buried Brisbane, Queensland Wesleyan Cemetery
Married: 1. 24-3-1869 in Sydney to Mary Thomas Rabone (b.1848), daughter of Rev. Steven Rebone a Methodist Minister.
2. 21-6-1910 at Kew Victoria to Rose Ann Davey.

Brisbane Courier

Friday 20th February 1895

The position of Supreme Court Crown Prosecutor will be taken by The Hon. A. Rutledge.

The Hon. A. Rutledge was called to the Brisbane Bar in mid 1878. Prior to his becoming a barrister he successfully contested the North Brisbane constituency, but was elected with the Hon. J. R. Dickson of Enoggera at the general election of 1878, and afterwards sat for the division of Kennedy. He was appointed Attorney General in Sir Samuel Griffith's ministry November 1883 and held that position till the ministry resigned in 1888.

A Biographical Register of the Queensland Parliament 1860-1929

By P. B. Waterson, Canberra A.N.U. Press 1972

Arthur Rutledge. Pastoral (Wesleyan) pursuits NSW at Penrith; 1851-1855 to Drayton Qld.; 1859 Legal and Mercantile experience Sydney; 1865-1875 Wesleyan Minister Sydney & Brisbane; 1878 to Queensland Bar; 1899 Q.C.; 1902 Knighted K.C.M.G.; 1904-1905 Acting Judge; 1906 Judge to District Courts; Chairman Lands Appeals Court; 1891 representative Federal Convention; M.L.A. Enoggera 21st November 1878-21st August 1883; Kennedy 5th October 1883-11th May 1888; Charters Towers 12th May 1888-13th May 1893; Maranoa 18th March 1899-27th August 1904; contested North Brisbane 1878 Nundah 1904. Attorney General 13th November 1883-13th June 1888.

Sir Arthur Rutledge

The body of the late Sir Arthur Rutledge was entrained for Queensland yesterday. Lady Rutledge, accompanied by her two sons, were passengers by the train. The funeral will be held in Brisbane tomorrow.

The Government of Queensland has condoled with Lady Rutledge, and offered to convey the body over the railways at State charges. The NSW Government has also tendered condolences. The Methodist Mission Committee has formally conveyed its sympathy to Lady Rutledge.

Brisbane Thursday: Lady Rutledge wired the Premier today that she is leaving Sydney tonight with her husband's body for Brisbane.

(Sydney Morning Herald)

Sir Arthur Rutledge

by A. Meston

The death of Sir Arthur Rutledge of Queensland recalls to me many memories of the by-gone years.

About four weeks ago I met Sir Arthur and Lady Rutledge in King Street, and he and I compared notes, over the days when we were members of the Queensland Parliament in 1879. He and I were returned in November 1878 - he for Enoggera and I for Rosewood. For three years we sat side by side on the front cross Opposition benches with T. M. Donald Paterson and Bailey of Wide Bay.

My first acquaintance with Sir Arthur Rutledge was in 1873 at Grafton on the Clarence River. He was then a clergyman of the Wesleyan Church. He had come from the Macleay River, where he had also been a clergyman, in the days when there were sugar mills on that river, the first sugar growing district in Australia, the industry being credited to old Thomas Scott, who introduced the first sugar cane to Australia in 1824.

Arthur Rutledge came to Grafton in 1873, and was minister of the Wesleyan Church in Prince Street. When he sold off, with the intention of going to Queensland, I bought most of his furniture, including his breadboard, still in my possession, and marked "Spare Not!"

He was elected to the Queensland Parliament in the days when the M'Ilwraith Ministry superseded the Douglas Ministry, and we went through all the trouble and turmoil of the steel rail discussion that poisoned the political atmosphere of Queensland for years

In after years, when Rutledge decided to study for the law, he interviewed his friend, George Cowlishaw, one of the proprietors of the Brisbane "Telegraph". Mr. Cowlishaw strongly advised him to study for the Bar, and when Rutledge queried how he was going to live in the meantime Cowlishaw promptly responded, and paid Rutledge 500 pounds per annum for five years. Every penny of that money was honourably returned by Rutledge when he achieved his richly-deserved success at the Bar.

Looking back at those old days, I have the painful remembrance that only of the 55 members returned in November 1878 there are now only five left alive!

Sir Arthur Rutledge was a man with all the fine feelings and delicate intuitions and just sympathies of a gentleman, and the fine regard for the feelings of others, which after all is the one infallible sign of a gentleman.

In this brief eulogy of an old friend I feel the "bitter constraint and sad occasion dear" of Milton over Lycidas, and much of Shelley's sorrow in his "Adonals" over his beloved Keats. Shall I be debarred from mourning over the dear friend who sat beside me, with all men's respect, in the "dear dead days beyond recall?"

The following is taken from A LINE OF FIELDS by Laurie Field

Chapter 3.

EDWARD FIELD JNR (1797-1846)
MARIA STRICKLAND nee COLLITS(1796-1829)
ESTER LEES (1812-1875)

Edward Field Jnr. Was born on 16th September 1797, the second child of Edward Field and Elizabeth Mitchell. He is as well known for an extant will and his marriage connections as he is for his own modest achievements as farmer, blacksmith and innkeeper.

In 1817 Edward married Maria Strickland whose husband, Phillip Strickland, had been killed the previous year while carrying out his duties as constable. Maria was the daughter of Pierce Collits, an Irish emancipist who was to become a wealthy landowner and renowned innkeeper. In addition to Maria, two sons of Pierce Collits, James and Joseph, also married into the family of Edward Field Snr.

Maria had three sons to Phillip Strickland, one of whom, Josiah, became a prominent pioneer of the Forbes district. Josiah was one of the first discoverers of gold on what became the rich Forbes field of the 1860s. He was also the owner of Bundaburra Station and a principal benefactor of St. John’s Anglican Church in Forbes. I remember as a boy sitting in the church waiting for what seemed hours for my confirmation service to begin, and memorising in my boredom the contents of a tablet which told of the generosity of Josiah Strickland. I mentioned this to my mother when I got home, and she assured me that the Fields were related to the Stricklands. How come then, I thought, that the Stricklands were rich and we were poor.

Josiah Strickland was no more than a stepson to Edward Field Jnr. But he became a closer part of the Field clan when he married Mary Ann, daughter of Thomas Higgins and Sophia Field. Sophia was the daughter of Edward Field Snr. And she was to marry James Collits after the death of her first husband.

To her three children to Phillip Strickland, Maria added seven by Edward Field before dying at the age of 33. Small wonder. After a year had elapsed, Edward married 18 year old Esther Lees on 18th October 1830. Esther was the daughter of John Lees, formerly of the New South Wales Corps and owner of a land grant just across Castlereagh Road from the property of Edward Fields Jnr. On portion of his grant John Lees built what is thought to be the first Methodist Chapel in Australia. A newer church now stands on the site and in its grounds can be found the graves of many Castlereagh pioneers, including the Collesses.

The 1828 census records Edward as holding property totalling 150 acres, 100 of which were cleared and 66 acres cultivated. He owned 19 horses, 130 head of cattle and 260 sheep, and employed five labourers. The 120 acres held by Edward on the River Lett at Hartley Vale must have been acquired after the census. Similarly his inn, the Blacksmith's Arms, on the Nepean.

But when he sat down to make his will early in 1846, the only property he had to dispose of was 80 acres adjacent to his father's first grant on the Nepean. In fact, part of his holdings may have included a portion of his father's property. There is no mention of an inn, although his will describes him as a licensed victualler and grazier.

Edward's will was drawn up with all the care and detail of a man who was disposing of thousands of acres. It clearly shows his deep concern for his family, a shrewd mind, and an honest and industrious nature. It also indicates that he was a very moral person because he stipulated that his son James was to receive ten acres and a house only on the condition that he be of "steady and prudent behaviour" to the satisfaction of the executors. James was apparently something of a wild man, a disposition which occasionally manifested itself among later generation Fields.

Perhaps Edward was ailing when he made his will because he was dead before the year was out, leaving Esther with six children to rear. She was only 34 when Edward died. At some time in the future she married Thomas Wilson and had one female child by him. She died in Forbes on 26th July 1875, aged "63-64" according to her death certificate, and is buried in an unmarked grave in the Anglican portion of the Forbes cemetery. Her burial was certified by her son John. At least two other sons, Pierce and Josiah, were living in the Forbes district at the time, so she may have followed them there from Castlereagh. Or did Esther come to Forbes with her young family many years before her death? There is much more I would like to know about my great-grandmother.

Edward Field Jnr. Fathered thirteen children in the course of his two marriages. Many of these were to become prominent citizens of the Castlereagh, Hartley and Forbes districts, but the one I am most concerned with is the second youngest, my grandfather Josiah.

Thank you to Mildred Churchill for this story, Mildred also writes.. Uncle Laurie (the Author) is my mum's brother. Agnes Ganey Piercy nee Field, we are on pages 168/169 Colin Fields "From A Distant Field". Mum still lives alone at Begerabong 91 years, although Paul (our eldest son) and his family live in the village also.

From the Australian Editor of The Upper Room

Rev. Dr. Gloster Udy

"Sunday 24th June 2001 was a great occasion. As the sun poured down on the heritage Wesleyan Chapel at Castlereagh folk began to arrive from near and far to celebrate the opening of the Upper Room Bell Tower as part of our celebration of Federation Year. To recapture the distant past we had three descendants of early settlers at Castlereagh namely: John Lees, George Colless and John Parker. The ladies who spoke of their relatives were Merle Cavanagh, Jan Chivers and Laurel Russell.

Our indebtedness to past pioneers was remembered in a prayer offered by Dr. Jim Udy. Then as we focused attention on the present we had the Mayor of Penrith Council Councillor David Bradbury speak on the significance of Castlereagh to Penrith City Council and then the Commonwealth Minister for sport and recreation, Hon. Jackie Kelly M.P. spoke of the significance of Federation and also the Federation Grant given to the Upper Room towards its Bell Tower project at Castlereagh.

These speeches were interspersed with great traditional hymns: "Now Thank We All Our God" and "O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing".

Turning to the future the CEO of Penrith Lakes Corporation, Mr. Ian Stanton, told of the significance of our Castlereagh heritage properties when they become a cul-de-sac on the edge of a huge National Park.

Ron Shepherd then explained the value of "Change Ringing" the bells. He was the guiding hand in enabling us to secure the gift of 8 bells from Christ Church Kiama. He made the steel structure to hold the bells in the new tower and he installed the bells. It was his mother, Mrs. Doreen Shepherd whom we asked to open the Bell Tower after which she was presented with a beautiful bouquet by a young mother - Anita Steenbecke - dressed as an eighteenth century young adult.

A most significant prayer of dedication of the bells was then led by Mrs. Margaret McMullan from the Kiama Anglican Church.

As if to demonstrate the effect which a peal of bells can have on listeners, as members of the Australian New Zealand Association pealed out the distinctive sound of our bells 8 or 9 people visiting the nearby Olympic Regatta Centre were drawn to the chapel grounds to enjoy the lift of spirit resulting from ringing the bells.

May you one day dear readers come and listen to the heritage bells on Australian Methodism's most historic sight.

With grace and peace,
Gloster Udy."

I spoke to Rev. Dr. Gloster Udy about this event and told him about our relationship with John Lees and that our newsletter was about the descendants of Edward Field. He informed me that Edward Field owned property opposite the chapel and that Field also donated a block of land to the church.

He invited me and all of you to the special service that is held on 4th Sunday of each month by The Upper Room at 2-30pm in this historic church.

With the great quarries being dug and plans of rehabilitation instituted only a few people remained in Castlereagh. Just one service a month was held at the historic Castlereagh Chapel.

Plans emerged that in the new millennium Castlereagh Road would be cut by the Lakes Scheme so there would be only one road available coming from Cranebrook. This would make the Historic Chapel very isolated so they asked the President of the Methodist World Historical Society (Rev. Dr. Jim Udy) if he could suggest some way this cul-de-sac could be used. Rev. Jim Udy became ill so his brother Gloster Udy took over. Rev. Dr. Gloster Udy (being the Australian Editor Upper Room magazine) was able to share some possible ways of utilising this sacred acre which was the first gift in Australia to the Methodist Church in 1817 by the then soldier settler John Lees who received a land grant in 1804.

The proposal was submitted that the Upper Room be given a 99 year lease on the property, this was accepted and the goals of the Upper Room was:

• To paint the Chapel and Hall in heritage colours.
• Clear and repair the cemetery.
• Construct a Bell Tower and Cross.
• Build 6 cabins to accommodate persons when the property becomes a cul-de-sac. Accom. 48.
• To appoint a residential caretaker.

This has all been done.

Windsor Gazette 24/1/1930

Late Mr. James Collitts Field
by Geo. G. Reeve

There died at Ashbury, near Sydney, on the 2nd January, 1930 a splendid type of Australian gentleman of the fifth generation in the person of my good friend the late James Collits Field. The deceased or gentleman was in his 66th year having been born at his maternal grandfather's (Mr. Pierce Collits) famous and historic Inn then (1863) now (1930) 2 private residence - on 26th July, 1863.

On the paternal side the Fields of Castlereagh Village, above Richmond, on the Hawkesbury, are descendants of pioneer William Field, who came out on the first fleet (1788). At St. John's Church, Wilberforce has buried all that is mortal of the founder of the Australian Fields. An inscribed stone there bears the words:-
Sacred
to the memory of
WILLIAM FIELD
who died October 22nd 1826
Aged 64 years
With a footnote initialled:
W.F.
1828

A son of the pioneer or the pioneer himself (?) was employed as the blacksmith at Castlereagh on the Nepean, making all the tools and iron implements, and sharpening the picks and axes used for felling timber by "Government men" employed under the direction of Mr. William Cox and Lieutenant Thomas Hobby, in making the great road over the Blue Mountains from Emu Plains to Bathurst (1814). (See William Cox&'s diary dated 20th July, 1814)

About the same year the late Mr. J. C. Field's maternal grandfather was Chief Constable of Penrith (or as it was then known Evan). I refer to Mr. Pierce Collitts who was so engaged as a Government Official there in that capacity, or in lesser semi-Government Offices, from about the year 1809 until the year 1821, or probably to a later period.

The emancipist pioneer, Mr. Pierce Collitts, who came to New South Wales on 14th December 1801, and his wife, Mrs. Mary Collits, were two remarkable personages in their day. During their sojourn at Penrith (1804-1823) they reared a large family at the farm property of 70 acres of land granted during the year 1804 to Mrs Mary Collits. This was the site on which stood the original home in Australia of the Collits. The house was only pulled down during the year 1825. It had a quaint slab kitchen with a brick chimney, and on one side of the historic building was a small bakers oven at one end, the original roof of what remained of the adjourning rooms, also of the kitchen was of wood shingles, which, during the late fifties of last century, was covered with sheets of iron roofing. It was in a nearby slab room attached to the main structure that Mrs. Collits held the first school in the district of Evan.

On the two volumes of the Castlereagh register (which may be seen at Sydney) all items bearing the signatures of the natable Rev. Henry Fulton, Mrs. Mary Collits name and likewise the name and joint signatures of attestators as witnesses to "Notice of Banns" of marriages - actual marriages - and many other human happenings, and from the scores of names there listed went forth to all parts of Australia the first generation of sons and daughters who (in the main) were children of emancipists and they made good in every sphere of life. Just to quote from a few of the surnames (be it noted) that they include original settlers' names from both Upper and Lower Castlereagh villages. The following may be named as of interest. James Bent, father of the late Sir Thomas Bent, once Premier of Victoria, Thomas Rawsthorne, Phillip Strickland, The Abbletts, Peacocks, Watkins, Meurants, Martins, Stantons, Gormans, Fells, Rutledge, Weavers, Ryans, Ropes, and not forgetting the free settlers names Blackman, Colless, Lees, Francis, Field etc. etc. The father of the late Sir Thomas Bent, who married Miss Marta Toomey at Castlereagh Church March 25th, 1838, the husband then being in the employment of Sir John Jamison of "Regentville", near Penrith.

The sons of Mrs. Collits and Mr. Pierce Collits (1) were respectively 1. James, 2. John, 3. Joseph, 4. William Collits.

There were five daughters, viz., 1. Maria (later Mrs. Field and secondly Mrs. Rope) 2. Sarah (Mrs. John Watkins), 4. Frances (Mrs. Pembroke), 4. Amellia (Mrs. John Sheene), 5. Sophia (Mrs. James Morris who later married a Mr. Charles Williams of Coonamble.)

The eldest son, James Collits, who married Miss Eleanor Leech, discovered the original new road from Richmond to Collits Inn at Mount York during May 182? As can be verified by Dr. F. Watson's records of Australia. Still later Mr. James Collits and his wife and growing family were the first original pioneer pastoralist settlers along with the late Mr. Josiah Strickland of the Lachlan River, taking up the country known as Bundaburra, during the year 1837. The last named Mr. James Collits sold to Mr. Strickland who was close relative.

Mr. James Collits was the grandfather of the late Mr. J. C. Field, one of the Lachlan pioneer’s daughters, Miss Caroline Collits, marrying Mr. Thomas Field, who thus became the father of my lately departed friend.

The house where Mr. Field was born in 1863 was originally erected about the years 1817 to 1820.

"At Vale of Clwyde"

A weatherboard commodious Barrack and Guard House with an enclosed kitchen garden, for the accommodation of the Military Guard stationed at this post on The Great Western Road, which was established for the keeping open communication with Bathurst as well as for the protection of travellers. The place is situated about 81 miles from Sydney, and lies right under the shadow of Mount York, and nowadays is situated about four miles from Hartley vale railway station. Quite a lot of nonsense has been written of the historic house "Collits Inn" at Mount York. One remarkable inaccurate statement was written by an alleged historian, who should know better, to the effect that during Governor Macquarie's triumphal progress westward to Bathurst in the year 1815, he slept in a room at the residence, and the present proprietor of the house (which is now an accommodation week-end house for visitors) still circulates the bogus story, probably pointing out the "alleged room" in which Governor Macquarie and Mrs. Elizabeth Macquarie did not sleep, for the barracks was nor erected until at the very earliest possible time, which would be in the year 1817. I make the foregoing statement with positive assurance and veracity.

There being no further use for the building as a military barracks, Mr. Pierce Collits (1) took the place and a large grant of land adjoining the property was given to him and in the month of April, 1824, he opened the house under the sign "Golden Fleece Inn". The name was changed later to that of "The King's Garter Inn". The property was occupied by the Collits until their respective deaths. Mrs. Mary Collits died August 4th 1841, aged 73 years, and Mr. Pierce Collits died September 19th 1846 aged 85 years.

Both pioneers, along with a numerous kindred (all appear to have the familiar old Castlereagh surnames of that village's early forefathers) rest in the little burial ground not far from the original barracks building, i.e. the once notable and famous "Collits Inn". Mr. James Collits is buried in the Forbes Cemetery, but no stone marks his grave and the parents of the late Mr. Field of Ashbury, Mr. And Mrs. Thos. And Caroline Collits Field are interred at the Nyngan Cemetery (out West). That couple also pioneered the western district as settlers, and as carriers and teamsters where their family grew up, the late Mr. James Collits Field being Mayor of Nyngan Municipality for a term, me thinks from memory, about the year 1905.

I shall resume my story of the Collits and the Fields at a future time.

Suffice to say here that the Collits and the Collesses of Penrith must not be confused, both the pioneers named had adjoining grants of land at the Nepean town of Penrith - from the very early period of the nineteenth century, approx. 1804 or upwards.

Mr. J. C. Field was buried at the Church of England portion of Rookwood Cemetery on Friday, January 3rd. To Mrs. Lavena Field and her sons and daughters I extend my sincerest sympathy in the loss of their parent and friend.

I find this a very unusual way of expressing sympathy to a family who has suffered a recent loss.
In Edition 6 of The Field Family Newsletter you will read all about William Field that came out on the First Fleet, so far no relationship with Edward Field has been established.

CAN YOU HELP ???

Here is a letter from Ian Brothers who needs your help...

Dear Dorothy,
My brother downloaded pages from the net re your FIELD FAMILY, including the page re The Field Family Newsletter. I saw the internet address in meeting notes for the Hawkesbury Family History Groups a web site worth investigating for those with an interest in that surname.

I am not a Field descendant but do have an interest in finding out about the Supreme Court Judge whose name was BARRON FIELD. I would not know if he is connected (say back in England) to your EDWARD FIELD but it is quite possible one of the family researchers could come across the whereabouts of his papers when carrying out investigations, looking through indexes for "F" for FIELD for instance. I would really appreciate it if you could place a note in your newsletter to alert family researchers to my quest.

BARRON FIELD arrived with his wife on the convict (females only) transport "Lord Melville" in 1817. I am seriously researching all passengers who came to Australia on this vessel. Field wrote a journal, a summary of part of this appearing in a publication about geographical matters. However, in this publication never once did Field mention he was on a convict ship, nor that his wife accompanied him! His original journal has not yet been located by me, despite major enquires. I feel the journal may still be in family hands somewhere in the world, most probably England - but that is just a guess and it may not exist anymore. Field may have given it to one of his literary of legal cronies to look at and it may be with their papers - he had some rather famous friends.

Please forgive me for being a nuisance. It's a common genealogical "grabbing at straws" trait! I am including a list of all the ships I am seriously investigating. My research on each passenger is limited to a bit of background and their colonial experience. While I'm at it I am collecting info. On the first generation, but only the sort of BDM details one would find on a family group sheet. I've spent thousands of $ and countless hours on this quest. One good angle is that I have on occasions been able to connect long lost cousins.

I would appreciate it if you could show my ship list to your genie friends and would really be pleased if you have a connection to any of the ships for the trips shown.

Please see the list of ships that were mentioned below.