Hi All Several researchers on this List during the past 5-10 years have been looking for the baptism record of this Richard Field ( my ggg-grandfather). The inferred baptism/birth year of 1743 is derived from his age, 87 (OXF-CN03) , at the time of his burial in Fifield, Oxfordshire in November 1830. The first reference to Richard Field is his marriage to Mary Gardner at Chastleton on 3 November 1774 ( by banns). He is reported as a servant from Fifield Parish but there is no record of a baptism/birth at Fifield (OXF-CN03). It is possible that his spouse ( of Chastleton Parish) was also a servant, possible at Chastleton House, as she originates from Salford (OXF-CN01). Her ancestry can be traced back to a John Gardiner (Daylesford, Worcestershire, b.c. 1665). It is highly likely that Richard Field wasn't born in Oxfordshire. There is no record of him having been born in the Oxfordshire Parishes surrounding Fifield. (Chipping Norton District OXF-CNO01-03; Witney District OXF-WIT 1, 3, 4; Woodstock District OXF-WO 2; and Banbury District OXF-BAN 3). Last year, Carol Harmond looked up (for me) several Oxfordshire parishes further afield from Fifield, The most likely suspect found, a Richard Field, baptised 1743 Nuneham Courtenay (parents Edward and Mary) was apparently not the Richard Field The type of household in which Richard Field was employed could determine how far his birthplace is from Fifield. If he was in the employment of a local farmer, one would anticipate finding his baptism record in the Oxfordshire parishes surrounding Fifield or the Gloucestershire parishes across the County border from Fifield. If he was employed in a country house or great house (large country house), one might anticipate the location of his baptism record might be much further afield, particularly if the owners had more than one country and/or town house. In the above context, I'm looking for a publication that might describe the country houses (and their owners) that existed in the Chipping Norton district in the second half of the 18 th Century. I understand that as of now the VCH ( Victoria County History) doesn't cover the Chipping Norton area. Cheers Maxwell Smith.

as to where Richard was from - if he found the work through a hiring fair - annual events when people looking for work for the coming year travelled up to 50 miles in the hope of being taken on by employers (see Wikipedia for article)it could be miles away. As employers came from across the area to some folk ended up 100 miles or so from home. This explains why someone will suddenly turn up on a farm, estate or working as an indoor servant many miles from home with no apparent connection to anyone else in the family. Wendy -----Original Message----- From: Maxwell Smith Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2011 12:19 PM To: oxfordshire@rootsweb.com Subject: [OXF] Richard Field (c. 1743-1850), Servant; 'Country Houses' Hi All Several researchers on this List during the past 5-10 years have been looking for the baptism record of this Richard Field ( my ggg-grandfather). The inferred baptism/birth year of 1743 is derived from his age, 87 (OXF-CN03) , at the time of his burial in Fifield, Oxfordshire in November 1830. The first reference to Richard Field is his marriage to Mary Gardner at Chastleton on 3 November 1774 ( by banns). He is reported as a servant from Fifield Parish but there is no record of a baptism/birth at Fifield (OXF-CN03). It is possible that his spouse ( of Chastleton Parish) was also a servant, possible at Chastleton House, as she originates from Salford (OXF-CN01). Her ancestry can be traced back to a John Gardiner (Daylesford, Worcestershire, b.c. 1665). It is highly likely that Richard Field wasn't born in Oxfordshire. There is no record of him having been born in the Oxfordshire Parishes surrounding Fifield. (Chipping Norton District OXF-CNO01-03; Witney District OXF-WIT 1, 3, 4; Woodstock District OXF-WO 2; and Banbury District OXF-BAN 3). Last year, Carol Harmond looked up (for me) several Oxfordshire parishes further afield from Fifield, The most likely suspect found, a Richard Field, baptised 1743 Nuneham Courtenay (parents Edward and Mary) was apparently not the Richard Field The type of household in which Richard Field was employed could determine how far his birthplace is from Fifield. If he was in the employment of a local farmer, one would anticipate finding his baptism record in the Oxfordshire parishes surrounding Fifield or the Gloucestershire parishes across the County border from Fifield. If he was employed in a country house or great house (large country house), one might anticipate the location of his baptism record might be much further afield, particularly if the owners had more than one country and/or town house. In the above context, I'm looking for a publication that might describe the country houses (and their owners) that existed in the Chipping Norton district in the second half of the 18 th Century. I understand that as of now the VCH ( Victoria County History) doesn't cover the Chipping Norton area. Cheers Maxwell Smith. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Like" Oxfordshire Family History Society's page on Facebook - www.facebook.com/oxfordshirefhs to be updated with Society news ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to OXFORDSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message