Washington FIFIELD, Benjamin Franklin 1st Biography of Benjamin Franklin FIFIELD Encyclopedia Vermont Biography: A Series of Authentic Biographical Sketches of the Representative Men of Vermont and Sons of Vermont in Other States. Dodge. Burlington: Ullery Publishing Company, 1912, p 189-190. Benjamin Franklin FIFIELD, lawyer, Montpelier [Washington County, Vermont], was born 18 November 1832 [at Orange, Orange County, Vermont], son of Col. Orange and Melissa FIFIELD. The family is of Scotch descent, the name having been originally a union of the name of the county of Fife, in Scotland, with the name of FIELD. On his maternal side a descendant of the ADAMSes of MA, while his great grandfather FIFIELD was an officer in the Revolutionary War, and was the second man over the British entrenchments at the battle of Bennington. Fitted for college at Montpelier, and Plattsburg [Clinton County], New York; University of Vermont, A. B., 1855; LL. D., 1906. In 1865 [04 January 1865] he [Benjamin Franklin FIFIELD] married Lucy, daughter of Erastus HUBBARD of Montpelier. They had three daughters, Fanny L. (Mrs. Burnside F. BAILEY), Arabella B. (Mrs. Julius F. WORKUM), and Ellen Lamb (Mrs. Carlisle J. GLEASON). He moved from Orange to Montpelier in 1865. Studied law in the office of PEEK & COLBY, Montpelier; admitted to the Vermont bar 1858, and began practice there, where he has since resided. In partnership with PEEK & COLBY until 1864, when Mr. COLBY retired; continued with Mr. PEEK until 1866, when he succeeded to the business of the firm. President of the VT Bar Association 1884. A Republican. U. S. district attorney 1869-1880, resigning on account of his election to the Legislature; chairman judiciary committee, member committee on revision of laws and constitutional amendments; in Aug 1880, delivered a speech on the political issues of the day which was used effectively by the state committee as a campaign document throughout the state, and was republished by the Republican national committee and circulated through the whole North; declined a nomination to Congress in 1884; delegate to national Republican convention 1884; U. S. commissioner to locate federal building at Montpelier; 07 Jan 1889 appointed by Gov. E. C. SMITH as U. S. senator to fill vacancy caused by the death of Senator MORRILL, but declined appointment, owing to ill health of Mrs. FIFIELD, and following her death in March 1890, he relinquished all professional and public engagements. Those who remember his speeches in the GARFIELD and ARTHUR campaign understand what his powers are as a public speaker, the fullness of his knowledge of public questions, and the extent of his capacity to go to the very heart of difficult problems. [Benjamin Franklin FIFIELD died 23 July 1918 at Montpelier, Washington County, Vermont, aged eighty-five years.] 2nd Biography of Benjamin Franklin FIFIELD Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans. Johnson. Boston: Biographical Society, 1904, vol IV, p 87 Benjamin Franklin FIFIELD - Lawyer, was born in Orange [Orange County], Vermont, 18 Nov 1832; son of Col. Orange and Melissa N. FIFIELD; grandson of Samuel FIFIELD, and a descendant of Samuel FIFIELD, first man over the British entrenchments at the battle of Bennington. The name is derived from the union of the word "Field" and the county "Fife," Scotland, the FIELDs in Fife being called "Fifield." The first FIFIELD in America [William FIFIELD] settled in Massachusetts in 1634. Benjamin Franklin FIFIELD was graduated at the University of Vermont in 1855 and was admitted to the bar in 1858. He was U.S. attorney for the district of Vermont, 1869-80; representative in the state legislature, 1881; commissioner to the World's Columbian exposition from Vermont, 1891; delegate to the Republican national convention, 1884; president of the Vermont bar association, 1884, and trustee of the University of Vermont. He was married in [04 Jan] 1865 to Lucy, daughter of Erastus HUBBARD of Montpelier [Washington County, Vermont]. On 07 January 1899 he was appointed U. S. Senator by Governor SMITH, as successor to Senator MORRILL, deceased, which appointment he declined. Submitter Summary - William to Benjamin F. William FIFIELD was born about 1615 in Littleton, Hampshire, England; married about 1644 to Mary UNKNOWN; an original settler of Hampton, Rockingham County, Massachusetts, in 1638, William FIFIELD died there 18 December 1700, aged eighty years. William FIFIELD immigrated on ship "Hercules" from London, departing 24 March 1634, and landing in April 1634 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. William and Mary (UNKNOWN) FIFIELD had nine children, all born in Hampton, Rockingham County, New Hampshire: John, Benjamin, Sarah, Mary, William, Lydia, Elizabeth, Hannah, and Deborah. Benjamin FIFIELD, second son of William and Mary FIFIELD, was born about 1648 in Hampton, Rockingham County, Massachusetts. On 28 October 1670 at Hampton, Benjamin FIFIELD married Mary COLCORD, daughter of Edward and Ann (WARDE) COLCORD. Benjamin FIFIELD died 01 August 1706 at Hampton, New Hampshire, aged sixty years. Benjamin and Mary (COLCORD) FIFIELD had nine children, all born at Hampton, Rockingham County, New Hampshire: John, Shuah, Mary, Joseph, Edward, Benjamin, Jonathan, Mehitable, and Abigail. Edward FIFIELD, fifth child of Benjamin and Mary (COLCORD) FIFIELD, was born 27 January 1679 at Hampton, Rockingham County, New Hampshire; married Elizabeth LEAVITT, daughter of Moses and Dorothy (DUDLEY) LEAVITT; and died died 30 April 1766 at Stratham, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, aged eighty-seven years. Edward FIFIELD resided in Kingston, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, but in 1708 removed to Stratham. Edward and Elizabeth (LEAVITT) FIFIELD had nine children, all born in Stratham, Rockingham County, New Hampshire: Edward, Mary, Benjamin, Moses, Jonathan, Dorotha, Elizabeth, John, and Joseph. Edward FIFIELD, eldest child of Edward and Elizabeth (LEAVITT) FIFIELD, was born 11 February 1704 at Stratham, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, and removed about 1727 to East Kingston, Rockingham County, New Hampshire; was married on 09 November 1727 at Stratham to Elizabeth VEAZEY; and died 04 March 1782, aged seventy-eight years. Edward and Elizabeth (LEAVITT) FIFIELD had six children: William, Edward, Elizabeth, Samuel, Elizabeth, and Mary. Samuel FIFIELD, fourth child of Edward and Elizabeth (LEAVITT) FIFIELD, was born 14 June 1735 or 1736 at East Kingston, New Hampshire. about 1769 Samuel FIFIELD married his first wife, Ruth BROWN; they had four children: Samuel, Hannah, Edward, and Rachel. On 29 July 1762 at Hampton, New Hampshire, Samuel FIFIELD married his second wife, Hannah DARLING; they had one son, Josiah FIFIELD. On 10 September 1782 at Gilmanton, Belknap County, New Hampshire, Samuel FIFIELD married his third wife, Rachel BEAN; they had no children. Samuel FIFIELD died 03 September 1812 at Danville, Caledonia County, Vermont, aged seventy-seven years. Samuel resided in East Kingston until thirty to thirty-five years old, and was one of first settlers at Gilmanton in 1769 or 1770. He removed to Canterbury, County, New Hampshire, about 1790, then to Norwich, Windsor County, Vermont, then to Wheelock, Caledonia County, Vermont, where he lived with his son, Edward, for fourteen years. Both Samuel and his wife died at the home of daughter, Rachel (Mrs. Stephen RANDALL), at Danville, Caledonia County, Vermont. Samuel fought at the battle of Bennington. Samuel FIFIELD, eldest son of Samuel and Ruth (BROWN) FIFIELD, was born 02 August 1770 at Gilmanton, Belknap County, New Hampshire; married 02 March 1797 to Sarah DAVIS; and died 30 May 1824 at Orange, Orange County, Vermont, aged fifty-three. Samuel FIFIELD purchased land in Orange, Orange County, Vermont, on 10 March 1796, and was one of first settlers there in 1797; he moved there after his second marriage. Samuel and Sarah (DAVIS) FIFIELD (his second wife), had ten children born at Orange, Orange County, Vermont: Orange, who died 11 July 1802 in Orange, Orange County, Vermont, aged four years; George Washington; Lucinda; Orange, the second of that name; Charlotte; Harriet N.; Horace F.; Sarah; Emmeline; and Orinda. Orange FIFIELD, fourth child of Samuel and Sarah (DAVIS) FIFIELD, and father of Benjamin Franklin FIFIELD, the subject of the biography, was born 12 April 1803 at Orange, Orange County, Vermont; married 29 February 1832 at Orange, Orange County, Vermont, to Melissa NELSON; and died 02 June 1889, Montpelier, Washington County, Vermont, aged eighty-six years. Orange and Melissa (NELSON) FIFIELD has six children: Benjamin Franklin, Samuel N., Sarah Melissa, Henry Edward, Lucy Florinda, and Clara Emma. Submitted by Cathy Kubly