Alexander Field

James Feild was named as the second son in his father's will so his estimated date of birth is about 1726. (1) From his nuptial agreement it is estimated he was married to Margaret Schaw in the 1760's. (2) He was a practicing physician in Petersburg, Virginia. In a Petersburg newspaper there is an interesting article that mentions Dr. James Feild. This article explains how doctors got paid in produce rather than currency. It also refers to where Virginian doctors got their training in those days. Most of them went to the university of Edinburgh in Scotland, as did Dr. James Feild. (3)
His will was written in 1771 in Edinburgh, Scotland, but not entered into the Virginia courts until after the death of Dr. James Feild in 1789. (4) In April of 1817 several heirs of Dr. James Feild, including Hume R. Feild, brought suit against Thomas Feild, their uncle and guardian of the children of John S. Feild, deceased son of Dr. James Feild. There was a disagreement over the partition of land that Dr. Feild had bequeathed to his wife, Margaret Feild. She, in turn, had agreed to partition the land but subsequently there was a disagreement after she had died. In April of 1817 the court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs who were the children of John S. Feild, and sons of Dr. James Feild: Alexander S. Feild, Edmund Feild, James Feild, and Hume R. Feild. William Feild, and daughters Margaret Feild, Mary Feild and Dolly Feild (5)

Sources

(1) Will of Theophilus Feild as taken from The Southside Virginian Volume 5 April 1987 Number 2 pg 65-70

(2) Nuptial Agreement Prince George County, VA Deed BK 1787-1792 fhl film # 33054 image 152-154

Nuptial agreement set in Edinburgh, Scotland and then entered into the deed books in Prince George Cty, VA April 14,1789. Virginia State Library, Prince George Cty, Reel # 3

At Edinburgh the fourth day of November one thousand seven hundred and seventy one years it is contracted and agreed betwixt the parties following - Dr James Field physician in Bristol Parish Prince Georges County in Virginia now residing in Edinburgh on the one part, and Margaret Schaw daughter of the deceased John Schaw late merchant in Edinburgh procreate betwixt him and Margaret Borthwick his spouse now his widow. With the special advice and consent of the said Margaret Borthwick on the other part as follows. Whereas the said parties have for several years been married together, but there was no contract of marriage entered into betwixt them whereby upon either of their deceases differences or disputes may arise either among their children or amongst their friends and relations which they are resolved to prevent as much as lies in their power by entering into the marital agreement for settling and providing their means and affects aforementioned. Therefore the said Dr. James Field in consideration of the dower to her hereafter assigned by the said Margaret Schaw to him and for a suitable jointure to his said spouse hereby binds and obliges him and his heirs executors and successors whatsoever to consent and pay to the said Margaret Schaw his spouse in case of surviving him one year by face jointure or solvent annuity of one hundred pounds sterling but to be restricted aforementioned in case of her marrying a second husband to the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds sterling and which jointure or solvent annuity shall begin and commence at the first Whit Sunday or Martin Mas next after his decease for the half year immediately proceeding and so forth yearly and firmly during her life tenure. With a fifth part more of penalty in case of failure and annulment from the respective terms of its falling due paying of the same declaring always that upon the said Margaret Schaw her marrying a second husband her aforesaid jointure or free (?) Signed James Field Marg. Field and Margaret Schaw.

(3) The Progress - Index, Newspaper of Petersburg, Virginia, 23 Nov 1969
Idler's Column
"The doctors in the early days generally kept a supply of drugs and compounded their own prescriptions. From Petersburg comes a story about charges for medical services and drugs and the medium of exchange.
In 1774 Drs. James Feild, (and others) of Petersburg advertised that, if they were going to be able to live they would have to be paid in "county produce" and those who could furnish corn, wheat, pork, Virginia cloths would be entitled to their services. This was on account of the high price of drugs and the fluctuating state of the currency.
A little later, during the Revolution the Continental Congress issued paper money which proved to have so little value that the phrase "not worth a Continental" was coined. ---
As the century neared its close the practice of medicine improved. The improvement in the practice of medicine and surgery in Virginia came about as many young Virginians went abroad to medical schools, of which the University of Edinburgh seemed to be the favorite."

(4) Deed BK 1787-1792 Prince George County, VA

Will of Dr. James Feild

In the will Dr. James Feild leaves everything to his wife, Margaret, entrusting her to divide his property after her death in accordance with the nuptial agreement. This nuptial agreement which can be seen above, was written in 1771 in Edinburgh, Scotland, but not entered into the Virginia courts until after the death of Dr. James Feild in 1789.

(5) April 1817 Brunswick County Index number 1817-012.
Lawsuit between heirs of Dr. James Feild

click twice to see enlarged document