William A. Feilds

William A. Feilds[N 1] (between c. 1846 and 1852 – September 9, 1898) was an 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 paternal 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]

William A. Feilds
Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives
In office
1885–1886
Personal details
NationalityAmerican
Political partyRepublican

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. "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.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  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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