William A. Feilds

William A. Feilds
Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives
In office
1885–1886
Personal details
Nationality American
Political party Republican

William A. Feilds[N 1] (between c. 1846 and 1852 – September 9, 1898) was an African-American schoolteacher and principal, born a slave, 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] According to researchers on the American documentary series Who Do You Think You Are? (2011), he is the maternal 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]

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. 1 2 3 "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.
  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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