Research Forum

FIELD Battle of Sedgemoor
published by hillfield53 on Fri, 16/09/2016 - 10:48

Good morning all

I have recently got my FIELD ancestors back to Westonzoyland in the mid 1600s and so have now got myself caught up in the story of the Battle of Sedgemoor. I have discovered three Fields amongst the rebels. James FEILD (sic) snr (executed) and James FIELD JNR . and John FEILD (sic) 'delivered to Sir Philip Howard for transportation'. While I cannot as yet be sure that these gents are actually 'my' Fields, I would love to find out more. Details of the battle itself and the main protagonists have been easy to find but does anyone know of a study/group/website where one can trace anything about the rebels.

A visit to Westonzoyland is going to be on the calendar very soon!

Many thanks

Heather

Comments ..

Submitted by Pat Hase on Mon, 19/09/2016 - 13:54

You may already have seen this but one of the librarians at Weston Library recommended this site for a background to the Battle of Sedgemoor. He also recommended this List of Rebels but as far as I can see there are no FIELDs mentioned on this list. I did come across the Zoyland Heritage site which lists the names you have found but do check before visiting to see if the Visitors' Centre has been re-opened.

For more details about individuals you might try the Church Wardens' Accounts, the Overseers' Accounts or the Vestry Minutes for their parishes because depending on their fate their families may have sought aid from the parish.

Some families have included information about the Battle of Sedgemoor in their family trees online. The parish of Merriott has a web page devoted to families from that parish and that does list some of their inhabitants who were rebels.

Submitted by hillfield53 on Tue, 20/09/2016 - 11:42

Thank you Pat

This is most helpful. They were tried at Wells but as yet I don't know which parish they were from. I'll look up those accounts for Westonzoyland and work out from there.

Regards

Heather