Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

A great (x5) grandfather of mine named Peter Field came over to America (Virginia to be exact) from Liverpool in 1829 on a ship called the Shenandoah.

I'm excited because I've been researching this side of my family and have finally found the man who brought our name over to America.

But I don't know where to go from here. I can't find any information as to his parents, or if he was really from Liverpool (because he might have just departed from that specific port). All I know is that he was born around 1803. I honestly don't know what my next step is so if someone could give me a few pointers (I'm really new to Genealogical research), I'd be extremely grateful.

Thanks,

Lauren Field

Hello Lauren and welcome,
Have you any indication of how old Peter was when he arrived in America? I assume he was single then?

Dickiesam

Hi and welcome to the forum.

I would suggest that you examine every record that you find of his later life as carefully as possible to see if there is the slightest clue given as Liverpool was the port many people arrived at to board ship and travel, he may well not have lived here.

I believe American marriage certificates may give more information than ours do, could there be a clue there? Do any of the censuses add even the slightest bit of extra detail, who was he living with? if they were from England they might have been a contact somebody gave him, some of the passenger lists detail who the passenger was going to so that is worth checking.

dickiesam wrote:Hello Lauren and welcome,
Have you any indication of how old Peter was when he arrived in America? I assume he was single then?

Dickiesam

I believe he was single. On the Atlantic Port passengers list it says he was 29 years old.

I've found records that suggest he was married before he left, supposedly to a woman named Sarah Hunnings from Middlesex in 1821, but I honestly don't know if that's the same Peter Field I'm related to. I don't know what happened to Sarah Hunnings, but I do know that he married a woman named Mary when he was in America. I can't find their marriage certificate, though.

MaryA wrote:Hi and welcome to the forum.

I would suggest that you examine every record that you find of his later life as carefully as possible to see if there is the slightest clue given as Liverpool was the port many people arrived at to board ship and travel, he may well not have lived here.

I believe American marriage certificates may give more information than ours do, could there be a clue there? Do any of the censuses add even the slightest bit of extra detail, who was he living with? if they were from England they might have been a contact somebody gave him, some of the passenger lists detail who the passenger was going to so that is worth checking.

Hi and thank you!

Well, I've tried all of that and unfortunately, I can't find his marriage certificate and all the Census records I've found him in are from way after his settling in Virginia.

But I'll keep searching! Thanks so much for your advice!

The details of the marriage that you have are -

All Hallows, Tottenham, Middlesex
Peter Field of the parish of St Margaret, Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, Bachelor and Sarah Hunnings of this Parish, Spinster, were married in this church by Licence this 12th Day of March, 1821, by me - John Sampson, Curate.
Both apparently signed their names
In the presence of
Clara Ann Willis
Elizth Hunnings
March Hunnings

I believe that the Peter Field and Sarah Hunnings, as given above, are the couple in 1851 who are living at 63 York Street, Westminster St Margaret, Middlesex.
Peter Field Head M 54 Dyer Middlesex St Margaret
Sarah Wife M 43 Middlesex Tottenham
Joseph Son 21 " St Margaret
Edwin son 12 " "
William Hunning Visitor 21 Painter " Tottenham
HO107; Piece: 1480; Folio: 440; Page: 11

So that would discount the marriage being your Peter.

MaryA wrote:I believe that the Peter Field and Sarah Hunnings, as given above, are the couple in 1851 who are living at 63 York Street, Westminster St Margaret, Middlesex.
Peter Field Head M 54 Dyer Middlesex St Margaret
Sarah Wife M 43 Middlesex Tottenham
Joseph Son 21 " St Margaret
Edwin son 12 " "
William Hunning Visitor 21 Painter " Tottenham
HO107; Piece: 1480; Folio: 440; Page: 11

So that would discount the marriage being your Peter.

Wow. I wasn't able to find that. Thank you!

So now I know I can rule out Middlesex...and a first marriage.