Jessie 'Jess' FIELDS

                   Close family members say that Jesse B. Fields went by the name 'Jess.' He helped hew the logs to build the first courthouse in Union Co.,Ga. He was one of the organizers of Harmony Grove Baptist Church in Union County.  He served as the church clerk from 1858 till 1860. The first record book of Harmony Grove Church indicates the book was purchased by Jesse for sixty cents. His tombstone at Harmony Grove Church reads: He lived a Christian Life.:
I have in my possession copies of certain pages of this Harmony Grove Church record book. Many entries in this book are signed with Jesse Field's own hand. One thing that drew my attention is the fact that Jesse didn't use an 's' in the spelling of Fields. HE ALWAYS SIGNED HIS NAME JESSE 'FIELD'.
The importance of this discovery seems to associate him, even more, with the Jeremiah Field family (and Jeremiah's other siblings) who came through Pendleton District, SC at the time Jesse was born and lived there.
His time of departure from Pendleton SC is unknown at this time. We know for a fact that John Aikens, the man who was to be his father-in-law was also born in Pendleton Disctrict and later relocated to Buncombe County, NC. That is where Jesse's wife, Catherine Aikens, was born, and also is more than likely where they were married. Their first child, James G. Fields was born there, also.
John Aikens left Buncombe County, NC for Union County, Ga., as Jesse did.
We find Jeremiah Field as a property owner in Buncombe Co., NC.
At the time of the 1860 Union County Census, apparantly Catherine Akins was deceased. Only Jesse Fields and his sons John A., Thomas and W.J. were living in the household.
Almost nothing is known about Jessie Fields' parents or siblings. Family tradition has it that Jesse was of Irish descent. However, there are descrepiences between the 1880 Union County census  and 1900 Union County census. This leaves us to wonder if the 1880 census is correct as to Jesse's parents birthplace (VA - SC) and that they were simply of Irish descent rather than having actually been born in Ireland, as the 1900 census would seem to imply.
1880 Union  Co. GA Census - Arkaquah Dist.:
12 FIELDS
Thomas J. 35 Head GA SC NC
Sarah 35 Wife ARK ARK ARK
Virgil A. 5 Son GA GA ARK
Leuller 2 Daughter GA GA ARK
Hershel L (Feb) 3/12 Son GA GA ARK
Jesse 68 Father SC VA SC
Martha 26 Sister GA SC GA
Stonewall 16 Brother GA SC GA
Adaline L. 10 Sister GA SC GA
1900 Union Co. GA Census - Owltown Dist.:
151 FIELDS Thomas H W M Feb. 1843 39 GA SC NC Farmer
Sarah A W W F Sep 1843 39 4-4 AR AR AR
William H S W  M Feb. 1880 GA GA AR Farm labor
Charles E S W M Sep 1883 GA GA AR Farm labor
Jesse FAA W M Jun 1810 SD IRE IRE
From The Blairsville Herald  11/14/1902
OBITUARIES:
Fields
Mr. Jesse Fields was born in Pickens County, SC, June 14th(?), 1812 and died Monday, November 3(?), 1902 after an illness of several weeks. Mr. Fields was one of the most remarkable men that the south ever produced. Although quiet and unpretentious,_____. He was thrice married and raised a family of ten children. All but one survive him and he lived to see his posterity reach into the third and fourth generation. He was a faithful member of the Baptist church and always said that he was ready to obey the _____ of his Master. (long article, but contains no other family information that I can see.) as transcribed by Linda Murray, on-line at Union Co., GAGenWeb site.
There is conflicting information in the 1880 and 1900 Union County, Ga. census.
The 1880 census shows Jesse as a 68 year old man, living in the household of his son, Thomas J. Fields and his family. This census states that Jesse was born in SC with his father being born in Virginia and his mother is SC.
The 1900 census shows Jesse as still living with his son Thomas, shows Jesse's birthday as being June 1810 and stating that Jesse was born in SC and both parents as being born in Ireland.
Other records show that Jesse was born June 12, 1812.
The Blairsville Herald - 6/20/1902
A NOTABLE OCCASION
One of the most interesting and inspiring events in the history of our county was the celebration on Saturday last of the 90th birthday of Uncle Jesse Fields, Union's veteran citizen.
It was a most picturesque occasion, and one long to be remembered by all who were so fortunate as to be present.
Early in the morning the relatives and friends of this remarkable old gentleman began to arrive at his hospitable home, coming in from all sections of the county. The forenoon was spent in social intercourse, the old people living over again the days gone by, the young people living in the happy present and indulging in rosy dreams of the future. As the hour for dinner approached, the people began to grow impatient for the good things they knew were in store for them, and they watched with eager eyes the bustling matrons and rosy cheeked girls as they loaded the big 80-foot table with every delicacy known to the culinary art. The invocation was delivered by Rev. Monroe Brown, after which the big crowd did ample justice to the myriad of good things set before them. At two o'clock the people assembled about the beautiful spring to hear Rev. T.C. Hughes deliver one of his characteristic discourses. He preached a stirring sermon in his usual forcible manner from the text :Bodily exercise profiteth little, but Godliness is profitable unto all things. His words went straight to the hearts of his hearers who listened with rapt attention.
There were nearly 300 people present, including 96 children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of Uncle' Jesse, and everything went off smoothly, with nothing to mar the pleasure of the day.
The Herald trusts that this grand old man may yet live to celebrate many more such happy occasions.
Transcribed by Linda Murray, on-line at Union Co., GAGenweb site.
The above and the suspected connection from Field(S) to Field, is an educated guess, by
Ila Lark,9370 Burnett Drive,Cumming,Georgia,USA 30040, islark@netzer.net.
18 Aug 2005
If someone can prove different contact Ila Lark or rootsbeg@telusplanet.net