William A. Feilds
Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives
In office
1885–1886
Personal details
NationalityAmerican
Political partyRepublican

William A. Fields[N 1] (between c. 1846 and 1852 – September 9, 1898) was an American schoolteacher and principal who served one term as a Republican legislator in the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1885 to 1886. He was also elected a member of the Shelby County county court, a legislative body, and a justice of the peace.[1] He was born an enslaved person.

The American documentary series Who Do You Think You Are? (2011) revealed that he is the paternal great-great-grandfather of actress, singer and Miss America 1984, Vanessa Williams and of actor Chris Williams and the maternal great-great-great-grandfather of Jillian Hervey.[2][1]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Historical records do not agree on the spelling of his surname; it has been alternatively spelled Field, Fields and Feild. According to the state of Tennessee, Feilds himself preferred this spelling.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c "African American Legislators in 19th Century Tennessee: WILLIAM ALEXANDER FEILDS". State of Tennessee. Archived from the original on 2015-07-24. Retrieved 2015-09-19.((cite web)): CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. ^ "Who Do You Think You Are?: Season 2, Episode 1, Vanessa Williams (February, 2011)". Who Do You Think You Are?. 2011-02-04. Retrieved 2015-12-05.


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