Genealogy & General Subjects Blog



Thursday, July 12, 2007

W.C. Fields

As a follow-up to my mystery, I've looked into W.C. Fields' family:

Typical biography stuff can be found any number of places, including filmographies, published papers, and published biographies. Just type in W.C. Fields and see what you come up with. I like this site for his early life. But I've used the genealogical resources to look at his family.

W.C. Fields was the son of James L. Dukenfield, who was in turn the son of John and Ann Dukenfield. Most biographies note that the Dukenfields were originally a noble family. This might be true, but it was certainly not true by the time that W.C. Fields was born, or even when his father James was born. Throughout the name's early history in the U.S., the family was very poor.

A record of James' father (W.C.'s grandfather), John Dukinfield, is found in the Philadelphia naturalization indexes of the Court of Common Pleas for 13 Nov 1854. John had taken the oath of allegiance in 1853.

The rest of John's family came to the U.S. after he did, however. Ann Dukenfield, John's wife (W.C.'s grandmother), arrived in Philadelphia from Liverpool on the ship Kangaroo on 2 Jan 1857. She was age 42. With her were Edmund (age 13), James (age 12), Clara (age 10), Arthur (age 8), Alfred (age 6) Mary (age 3) and Godfrey (age 1). Other children must have crossed separately.

The 1860 census shows John, Ann, and many of their children living together in Philadelphia, PA. John is age 50, born England, and a comb maker. Ann is age 44, also born England. Their children, all born in England are: Walter (age 25), John (age 23), Edmund (age 21), James (age 20), George (age 18), Clara (age 16), Arthur (age 14), Alfred (age 11), Mary (age 8), and Godfrey (age 5). Walter is a combmaker like his father; John and Edmund are brick layers; James is a "pedlar"; George and Clara are weavers. No personal or real estate values are listed for the family, probably indicating that they didn't have much.

James fought in the Civil War, apparently in two different regiments: 72d Pennsylvania Infantry and the 10th Veteran Reserve Corps. He drew a pension for his service claiming invalid status as early as 1863, and after his death in 1912, the pension went to his widow, Katie until her death.

Another listed Dukenfield in the Civil War records is James' brother "George Dukenfield" who served in the same company and regiment as James, and who died 2 Jul 1863 and is buried at Gettysburg National Military Park. George's mother Anna received his pension in 1864.

An "Arthur Duckenfield" who may have been James' brother fought in the 183d Pennsylvania Infantry. This Arthur died on 21 Sep 1930 and was buried at the Philadelphia National Cemetery.

In 1870, "Jas Duckenfield" is lodging with the Haines family. He is 28 and a "huckster". His father has left his mother and Ann Duckenfield, age 49, is listed as an "innkeeper" with personal estate of $600. She can neither read nor write. Three of her children still live at home: Alfred, 21, huckster; Godfrey, 15, huckster; Mary, 17, at home. Three lodgers also reside with the family, 2 women and a man. I cannot locate John Dukenfield in this census.

From biographies, I know that James Duckenfield married Kate Spangler Felton. They were probably married about 1879. Kate S. Felton is listed in the 1860 census with her parents. She is 6 years old. Her father, Thomas L. Felton is 38 and his occupation seems to be listed as "victules". He has $500 of personal estate. Kate's mother is Anne, age 28, born PA. Thomas and Ann's other children are: Abraham C. (age 4) and William C. (age 1).



There is apparently a debate about W.C. Field's birthdate, which is variously listed as 1879 or 1880. According to the 1880 census, Claude W. Dukenfield was 4 months old in June 1880, and had been born in January 1880 - no, the math doesn't work, but it still points to an 1880 birth date. He was the only child of J. L. (James) Dukenfield (age 40, hotel keeper, b. England, father & mother b. England) and Katie S. Dukenfield (age 25, keeping house, b. PA, parents b. PA). The family lived in District 576, Philadelphia, PA, on "Woodland Ave east of 64th st." More children would follow him.

The 1880 census also lists a "Jno Dukenfield" who lived in a large rooming house in San Francisco, CA. John Dukenfield was b. about 1810 in England (parents also b. England). John was W.C. Fields' grandfather who had left his wife years earlier. Ann Dukenfield doesn't seem to appear in this census.

In 1890, a James Dukinfield appears in the Philadelphia, PA city directory. He is a driver and has a house at "2803 Gtn av". James' brother John is a "polisher" with a house at "4217 Filbert". No other Dukenfields are listed.

In 1900, James L. "Duckenfield" and his family live in Philadelphia, PA. James is age 59; was b. Feb 1840, England; parents b. England; emigrated 1855; is naturalized; occupation is something to do with "produce" but is difficult to read; rents his house. Kate is age 49; was b. 1855 in PA; parents also b. PA. Claude (W.C.?) is age 31, b. Jan 1869; single; actor. (If this is W.C., his age and birthdate are incorrect.) Walter F. is age 16; b. July 1863, PA; single; laborer. Elsie M., age 12; b. May 1888, PA ; at school 8 months. Adele C. is age 10, b. Sept 1889, PA, at school 4 months. Leroy R., age 4, b. Sept 1894, PA. The whole family can read and write.

In 1910, James L. Dukenfield, age 69, is still living in Philadelphia with his family on North Marshall St. He is a retired merchant. Kate, age 54, is the mother of 6 children, 5 of whom are living. Claude W. is living at home, age 30, having been married 10 years at this point. (W.C. and his wife were separated, so she is not listed here.) Walter F., age 29, Elsie M., age 22, and Leroy R., age 13, are also still in the household. Claude and Walter are both actors on their own account. Leroy, Elsie and Kate are not employed.

By 1920, however, James appears to have died and all the children have moved out. Katie "Dakenfield", age 64 and a widow, rents a house in Philadelphia where she lives by herself. Walter F., age 38, is living in Manhattan, still an actor in the theatre, and married to a woman named Agnes, who is herself an actress. They live in a large boarding house with other actors and have no children.

W.C. Fields died on Christmas Day (25 Dec) 1946.

The Social Security Death Index lists both Leroy and Walter's deaths. Walter was born on 22 Jun 1893 and died Aug 1964. Leroy was born 17 Sep 1895 and died Nov 1974, probably in Philadelphia.

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