James A. Fields

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Not to be confused with James Alex Fields.

James Apostle Fields (August, 1844 – November 23, 1903)[1] was a prominent lawyer and member of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1879 and 1889.[2] He was born in slavery in Hanover County, Virginia in 1844 to Washington Fields and Martha Ann Berkley. He escaped slavery in early 1864, and was among the first students at the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute.[1] He first joined the House of Delegates for the 1879–80 term, and then received a law degree from Howard University in 1882.[3] He was elected again to the House of Delegates for 1889–90, and did not seek reelection. He taught students for 14 years, becoming a school superintendent in 1890. He also farmed and maintained a law practice. In 1903, he died of Bright's Disease.

The James A. Fields House in Newport News, Virginia is included on the National Register of Historic Places. Virginia has approved a historical highway marker slated for Hanover County for the Fields family.[4] James' brother was George Washington Fields, a lawyer who also was a member of the House of Delegates. His niece Inez C. Fields was the third black woman to practice law in Virginia.

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References[]

  1. ^ a b Brown, DeNeen L.; Brown, DeNeen L. (2017-08-14). "The other James A. Fields: He rose from slavery to success in segregated Virginia". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  2. ^ "Fields, James A. (1844–1903)". www.encyclopediavirginia.org. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  3. ^ "James A. Fields former slave, teacher and lawyer | African American Registry". www.aaregistry.org. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  4. ^ "13 New State Historical Highway Markers Approved". www.dhr.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2021-04-06.


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