The Songs of Wildfields

Ruth Rothermel from Setauket, New York, born March 5th, 1925,  is the ninth generation of her family on Long Island. She is a direct descendant of the Hawkins family who have prospered for more than 16 generations on American soil.  Robert and Mary Hawkins immigrated from England in 1635, settling in Charlestown, Massachusetts.  Their son, Zachariah, travelled to the north shore of Long Island, setting down roots in the town of Setauket.  Ruth descended from Zachariah's son, Eleazer.  On one of his sailing voyages, Eleazer found a huge treasure chest filled with gold.  He used the fortune to purchase farms for each one of his sons.  One such property is where Ruth grew up.  Today part of the old farm is an elementary school, named Nassakeag.  But to Ruth, the land will forever be known as Wildfields: a magical time and place of years gone by, when life was much simpler and family was all that mattered.  A pure existence of living off the land and enjoying life's simplest entertainment, mother nature.  Meet Ruth's parents, aunts and uncles, cousins, grandparents and friends as they all live, love and work on the land of Wildfields.