Kentucky: A History of the State, Perrin, Battle, Kniffin, 4th ed., 1887,
Boyle County.

WILLIAM M. FIELDS was born November 10, 1815, about one mile northwest of
Danville, Ky.  He is a son of Henry and Susan (Ripperdam) Fields, to whom
six sons and four daughters were born: Sarah C., Mary, Susan R., Eliza A.,
William M., Liberty B., Henry R., Frederick, Smith M. and John, who died in
infancy.  Henry, the father of William M., was born in Boyle County in
1790; his wife in 1788.  He became an extensive farmer and stock raiser,
and owned a large family of slaves.  In politics he was a Whig, in religion
a Presbyterian; died in 1844, and was a son of William Fields, who was born
in Armagh, Ireland, in 1746.  He was at the wharf when the captain of a
ship, that was about to sail for America, asked him if he wished to go; he
stepped aboard the ship, and when he landed in Philadelphia the captain
took him to a hatter where he received employment.  Thence he removed to
Virginia, where he formed the acquaintance of Daniel Boone, with whom he
came to Kentucky and entered 1,400 acres of land, northwest of Danville,
where he remained until his death.  He planted and raised the first corn
ever raised in central Kentucky, perhaps in the State.  He had many
encounters with the Indians, was in the battle of Blue Lick, also battle of
Pickaway, Ohio; was with Gen. Clarke in Ohio, occupied for several years
the fort at Harrodsburg, Ky.  He married a Mrs. Wright, whose husband had
been killed by Indians; her maiden name was Mary Miller.  To this second
marriage were born five children: James, Daniel, Henry, John and Mary.
William, in turn, was a son of Daniel Fields, of Ireland.  After William
came to America he never returned or even heard from his parents.  The
mother of William M. lived to be seventy-four years old, and was a daughter
of Frederick and Sarah (Chiticks) Ripperdam, who were born in Germany,
immigrated and settled first in Pennsylvania or Maryland, and were among
the earliest settlers of Kentucky, first to Boonesboro Fort, where one
child was born; they had several encounters with the Indians.  One trip
winter came on, and the party remained in the mountains until spring, when
they proceeded on their journey.  They left Fort Boonesboro, and located
in what is now Boyle County, about 1782.  He and brother had a bloody
encounter with the Indians, when his brother fell, and a desperate fight
ensued over the body, in which he came out the victor.  He was said to be
very floot on foot, and died about 1825, aged about eighty-five years; his
wife was a few years his senior.  They were Presbyterians in religion.
William M. was reared on a farm, and received a good English education; at
the age of seventeen entered a store as salesman; at the age of twenty he
purchased a stock of goods and commenced business on his own account.  In
1854 traded for a hotel which he kept until it burned down in 1860, when
he re-entered the goods business.  In April 1836, he was united in marriage
to Ann Thorn, a daughter of William and Anna (Gorthorp) Thorn, who
immigrated from Yorkshire, England, in 1816, and settled in Lexington with
a brother.  William Thorn was a manufacturer both in England and the United
States, and later in life located in Boyle COunty, Ky.  The issue of this
union of William M. was twelve children: Henry R. Elizabeth D. Joffrian,
Susan R. Joffrian (two latter live in Louisiana), L. B., William M. Jr.,
John (deceased), Theodore T., Anna F., Carrie B., Alice, Ralph and Everisto
(deceased).  Mr. and Mrs. Fields were members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church.  She died in 1875.  He was formerly a member of the I.O.O.F.; cast
his first presidential vote for Gen. Harrison.  Since the war he has been
a Democrat.  His sons, L. B. and William M., are breeders of fine running
and trotting stock, and also continue the mercantile business.

Fields Ripperdam Wright Miller Chiticks Thorn Gorthorp Joffrian
=
Fayette-KY LA VA PA MD England Germany Ireland

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/boyle/fields.wm.txt