John Field: Revolutionary war service. Per his application for a pension, Private John Field served in a Company commanded by Captain Israel Trow in a Regiment commanded by Col. French in the Massachusetts Militia line for a total service period of 15 ½ months. For his service, John Field applied for a pension at September 11, 1832 at the age of 74 years. He received a pension (#S13017) of $51.66 per year with the pension period beginning at March 4, 1831. The pension was applied for at Verona, Oneida County, New York where he resided at 1832.

John Field was born at and resided in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts where he enlisted at May 1775, serving eight (8) months as a private in General Thomas' Brigade, Massachusetts line, in Col. Walker's Regiment, Capt. Mace Williams' Company at Roxbury. He enlisted again in July of 1776, serving in Col. French's regiment under Capt. Israel Trow for a period of two (2) months. He then enlisted to go on the alarm raised November 1776 for a period of one (1) month, again in Capt. Trow's Company. He next served during the period January 19, 1778 to discharge at March 31, 1778 (company drafted to serve for 3 months from Jan. 1, 1778. Roll sworn to at Norton) for a period of three (3) months with service on MA and VT lines in Col. Hathaway's Regiment, Capt. Trow's Company. For this enlistment, Pvt. Field was hired as a substitute for Thomas Williams.

He then returned to Taunton, MA until 1781 when he again served 1 mo. 15 days in the Company of Capt. Blakely in a regiment commanded by Col. Fletcher again as a substitute, this time for James Purchase. John Field sates that he was not involved in any battles. John Field's Declaration further states service as follows: 2 mos. 13 days, under Maj. Gen. Spencer at Rhode Island.

The Declaration filed and signed by John Field Sept. 11, 1832 states that he was at Bullock's Point to guard the Cotton Palace, Barrington MA, was at Rhode Island for 2 months. For the privateering time he stated that he served on a sloop in 1776, and again served on a sloop June 1777 when his enlistment time ended. While serving on the sloops he states that he that sailed out of Boston to Newfoundland, returned into Cape Cod, then went to Bedford MA. An Affidavit submitted by Ebenezer Vining, Baptist Clergyman aged 78 at 1832, states that he was resident of Norton, Bristol, MA in 1775 and a neighbor of John Field and that they enlisted together.

The period of John Field's Privateering in MA and VT, as described in his Declaration given September 11, 1832, was not registered as a part of consideration for his pension.

After the revolutionary war, John Field returned to Taunton, MA, then moved to Pelham [Amherst Co.], then to Leyden, MA then to Verona, Oneida County, NY.

Source: Microfilm Index to Compiled Service Records, Roll #18; Compiled Service Records Film Series M881, roll #468; Pensions and Bounty Land Warrants Film series 804, roll #970 located at the National Archives, Washington, D.C.