Flight to Freedom Program at Fort Monroe

Genealogist Drusilla Pair (left) and Fields descendant and Park Ranger Ajena Rogers  (right)  presented the "Flight to Freedom Program" at Fort Monroe on Saturday, August 11, 2012.

Flight to Freedom:  The Fields Family and Freedom's Fortress program was conducted at Fort Monroe on Saturday, August 11, 2012 with Ms. Drusilla Pair, genealogical researcher and Park Ranger, Ms. Ajena Rogers, historical interpreter and a Fields family descendant.  The program was a dramatic interpretation of the Fields family’s escape from enslavement in Hanover County, VA to freedom at Fort Monroe, VA during the Civil War.  

On August 12, 2012, The Virginian Pilot Newspaper published an article about the Flight to Freedom Program:  "Descendant Chronicles Life of Slave at Fort Monroe."  

 Drusilla Pair waiting for her cue.

Ajena Rogers portraying her ancestor, Martha Ann Berkeley Fields (1813-1891)

Flight to Freedom: The Fields Family and Freedom's Fortress, will be held twice on Saturday, August 11, 2012 at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM at the historic Fort Monroe by Ms. Drusilla Pair, a local family historian and Ms. Ajena C. Rogers, a descendant of James A. Fields.  Mr. Fields was a part of the first graduating class of Hampton Normal and Agricultural and Institute (now Hampton University) in 1871.  The event is free to the public.

For more information on the Flight to Freedom production, click here to visit this website.

James A. Fields Trading Card

The National Park Service has created a trading card for kids in honor of James A. Fields (1844-1903).  The trading card is part of a collection of other cards to mark the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.  Trading cards must be obtained in person from a participating park.  Click here for more information about trading cards.

Historical Marker for Gregory Cherry

A historical marker was dedicated in memory of Gregory Cherry (1955 - 2007) by the city of Newport News, VA in May 2010.  Cherry, a Newport News native and a history enthusiast, purchased the dilapidated Fields house in 2000 for $1 and then began restoring the house.

1900 Census - James A. Fields and Family

This is the 1900 census where James A. Fields was living at 617-27th in Newport News, VA, which is the current location  and address of the historic house named his honor.    In his household were his wife Carrie, and their four sons Sterling, Early, James A. Jr., and Lucius.  James A. Fields (Sr.) died three years later, on November 20, 1903.

Descendants of James A. Fields

Margaret Fields Johnson (sitting), a granddaughter of James A. Fields and Carrie Washington Fields, and her daughter, Margaret. The elder Margaret is the daughter of Dr. Sterling Fields who was the eldest son of James A. and Carrie Washington Fields. Mrs. Johnson’s mother was Katie Scott Fields who lived to be 109 years old.


Margaret Fields Johnson was born in 1914 at what is now the historic James A. Fields House in Newport News, VA. Her family moved from the house when she was very young. She is very pleased that her grandparent’s home remains in the community as a historic landmark and wonderful museum welcoming visitors to appreciate and learn about the many contributions of James A. Fields. Mrs. Johnson is most appreciative of the work of the late Gregory Cherry in restoring the house and for the dedication of his wife, Saundra Cherry in continuing the work of her late husband in preserving our rich American history.

Alumni Survey Response From James A. Fields

College and universities often conduct surveys of their graduates in order to determine what their alumni are doing and how effective their programs have been on the careers of their former students. General Samuel Chapman Armstrong (1839-1893) and the faculty of Hampton Normal and Agriculture Institute (now Hampton University) surveyed their students who attended their school during the first 22 years of its existence which began in 1868.

The survey was conducted between 1889 and 1890 and was compiled in a book called “Twenty-two years work of the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute at Hampton, Virginia.” Below is the response of Mr. James A. Fields who was part of Hampton Normal and Agriculture Institute’s first graduating class in 1871.

This book was found in the Peabody Special Collection of the William R. and Norma B. Harvey Library located on the campus of Hampton University in Hampton, VA.

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James A. Fields, born in Hanover County, VA, 1844, taught 14 years in Williamsburg and Elizabeth County, VA. Has taught about 1500 pupils, over 100 of whom have become teachers. Has been engaged in Sunday School more than 20 years and is now Superintendent of 3rd Baptist Sunday School of Hampton, VA. He attended Howard University Law Department, and is now practicing law and farming in Hampton. In the Spring of 1887, he was elected Commonwealth Attorney for Warwick County, VA. In November of 1889, he was Republican Representative to the Virginia Legislature. He says “all things considered, the condition of the colored people is good; they are rapidly improving in intelligence, religion, and morals.” My property consists of mostly lots and houses which exceeds and values $6,000. I have only one child, the finest boy in Christendom.

Source: Armstrong, S. C. (Samuel Chapman), 1839-1893., Twenty-two years work of the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute at Hampton, Virginia : records of Negro and Indian graduates and ex-students ; with historical and personal sketches and testimony on important race questions from within and without, to which are added, by courtesy of Messrs Putnam's Sons, N. Y., some of the songs of the races gathered in the school, page 25.