Thomas Field was born in Hartley, NSW, to Thomas Field, a bushman, and Rachael Howard. He married Mary Jane May in Forbes at the age of 21 (NSW BDM 2677/1868). At the time of his death there was one living daughter (two had pre-deceased him):
- RACHAEL - born 1869 in Forbes (NSW BDM 13639/1869)
- ESTHER JANET - Born 1870 at Binnaway (NSW BDM 7155/1870); died 1871 in Forbes (NSW BDM 3506/1871)
- ALICE MAUD - born 1871 in Forbes (Lachlan River) (NSW BDM 9921/1871); died in Gulgong, 20 April 1872, aged 10 months, from "inflammation of bowels" of 2 months' duration. (NSW BDM 5238/1872). Buried at Gulgong.
Thomas' occupation at the time of his daughter's death, April 1872, was gardener. Thomas died on 3 June 1872, at the age of 25, from "Fracture of skull - fall down shaft". Witnesses were Edward Janein and Henry Winter. A coroner's inquiry was held by Dr Bubb. Thomas was buried at Gulgong.
NEWS ITEMS
1872 - Melancholy Death.
On the 3rd inst. a man named Field met with his death while working at a block claim off No. 1 Happy Valley, Gulgong. The shaft is 140 feet in depth and he attempted to lower himself to the bottom by means of the second rope, believing that the other was attached to a bucket which would ascend as he descended. But there was no bucket and by some means he lost his hold upon the ascending rope and went to the bottom by the run. His neck was dislocated and both legs were fractured. He leaves a young widow and one child.
Source: Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1932) Sat 15 Jun 1872 Page 7
