Field_Panel_V2 JOHN FIELD 1773-1880 John Field was born in Somersetshire, England. After being apprenticed as an assistant in a number of stores in Taunton he went into business for himself in London. He learned the retail trade well and passed his Cobourg business to sons and grandsons. Who he was: Field was almost 50 when he �rst visited Cobourg to assess the potential opportunities immigration might o�er and to �nd a suitable location for opening a store. Two years later he returned with his wife Martha Woodbury (1780-1857) and their family. The rolling hills of Northumberland attracted Field because they reminded him of his native Somerset. John and Martha had 11 children. Almost all resided in Cobourg. Many were members of the Congregationalists, leading the locals to nick-name the Congregational Church, the Field Church. There are still descendants of the Field family living in Cobourg. HOW HE GOT here: PROMINENT FAMILIES OF THE PERIOD The home of Corelli Collard Field, son of John Field King Street West c. 1890. Myra Field Kerr, daughter of Wm and Martha Field He established a thriving business and a thriving family both of which contributed signi�cantly to a maturing community.