General Notes

The 1850 Census for Gibson County, TN lists Matilda and her children byThomas Tyson. Her name and that of her daughter Candis is mispelled.Since Thomas was not listed, it is assumed that he died between 1846,when their son Benjamin was born, and the time the census was taken in1850. Matilda's mother Elizabeth Patton Crockett is shown to be livingwith her in the 1850 census. The following obituary for Matilda wastranscribed by Marilyn Stoh from the Gibson County Herald:

Davey Crockett's Daughter Dead
Mrs. Matilda Fields passed away Sunday Last

On July 6, 1890, died at the home of her daughter in Kenton, Mrs. MatildaFields, the 69th year of her age. She was the youngest daughter of DaveyCrockett. She had three brothers and two sisters, all of whom sheoutlived. Mrs. Fields married three times. Her first husband was ThomasTyson; her second was James Wilson; and the third, R. Fields. By hersecond marriage she became the step-mother to estteemed fellow citizen W.H. Wilson.

In girlhood she was remarkably handsome, of vivacious temperment, fond ofdancing and carried into all company the sunshine of her own joyiousdisposition. In early womanhood she became a convert to the Christianfaith and joined the Methodist Church and lived up to the time of herdeath an upright, consistant and devoted member. She inherited thefirmness and candor of her father; was rather slow to reach conclusionsand tenacious of them when formed. She exemplified fully his notedmaxium, "Be sure you're right, then go ahead.

Her education was quite limited owing to lack of schools in her earlyyears, for West Tennessee was then sparsely settled. Yet she was a womanof clear mind and adhered to duty with unyielding fidelity.  She diedsurrounded by all of her living children; Mrs. Mary Floyd, Mrs. CandiceEdmundson, and Mrs. Sallie Bryant and a host of relatives and friends.

NOTE: Matilda lived the last years of her life in the home of herdaughter Mary Floyd. She was listed in the 1880 Gibson County, TN censusin that household.