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From: MARY E RODDY <>
Subject: [CAAMADOR] Fields family in Amador
Date: Thu, 25 May 2000 13:07:24 -0700


Hi,
I am looking for information on John Fields. I know he was born in 1801
in "Ireland" (wish I could be just a tad more specific). He came to the
US (Mass) about 1840. He married a woman named Mary 20 years his junior.
According to census information Mary was born in Ireland. I don't know
if they were married in Ireland or Mass. They had one daughter, Mary
Jane who was born in Mass about 1854. This Mary Jane was my maternal
grandmother's mother. They moved from Massachusetts to Amador City
between 1855 and 1860 (probably closer to 1860). I remember Grandma
telling me stories her mother had told her about sailing around the horn
to California.

The Fields family settled in Amador City, Amador Co., CA. John, Mary,
and Mary Jane are on the 1860, 1870 and 1880 census for Amador. In the
1870 census there is listed with the family a Mary Bradley and her
occupation is listed as "of the family." In 1870 John shows up as 66
(he aged only 7 years in the 10 since 1860, but by 1880 and 1900 he is
his own right age again.) and Mary Bradley is 60. Could she be a widowed
sister of John or his wife Mary? I don't know. John shows up on the
1900 census with his now married daughter, Mary Jane Fields Hardy. I
presume Mary Fields died sometime between 1880 and 1900.

I am attempting to somehow get pictures of their gravestones in Sutter
Creek, Amador Co., CA to see if that has birthdates, deathdates and
perhaps a place of origin in CA.
I realize with only one female descendant it will be hard to trace this
family but perhaps the gravestones will help.

I also am having trouble reading the 1880 census. The page at NARA is
quite faded. There are some other people living in the household but I
can't make out their names. Some appear to be from Ireland and England
and also Virginia. If anyone is willing to look at the census (is it
available at an Amador archive?) I can give you the page and line
numbers.

Thanks for your help. I realize I'm fighting something of an uphill
battle on this line but I appreciate any help or suggestions anyone might
offer.

Thanks,
Mary Roddy
Seattle. WA

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