Fisher Family Genealogy

FISHER Abel

Male 1756 - 1838  (82 years)


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  • Name FISHER Abel 
    Birth 19 Apr 1756  Cape May, Cape May Co., NJ Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    Bible Record: Family of Matthias Fisher and Rachel Hoowe (family page)
    Bible Record: Family of Matthias Fisher and Rachel Hoowe (family page)
    CENSUS 1790  Donegal Township, Westmoreland Co., PA Find all individuals with events at this location  [6
    • Census lists one "Free White Males Over 16" and three "Free White Females" living in household of Rachel Fisher. The male is presumably Rachel's son Abel Fisher; the females presumably include Rachel and her daughters Rachel and Elizabeth, daughter Hannah presumably having married Samuel McDowell and given birth to her daughter Margaret about this time.
    Census: 1790 U.S. - Donegal Township, Westmoreland Co., PA, Roll: M637_9; Page: 92; Image: 59; Family History Library Film: 0568149
    Census: 1790 U.S. - Donegal Township, Westmoreland Co., PA, Roll: M637_9; Page: 92; Image: 59; Family History Library Film: 0568149
    CENSUS 1800  Donegal Township, Westmoreland Co., PA Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    • Census lists in Abel Fisher's household: one "Free White Males 45 and Upwards," who must be Abel himself - he would have just turned 45 in 1800; two "Free White Females over 16 and under 26," and three "Free White Females 45 and upwards." Can only speculate that the women include wife Rachel Forbes and perhaps his mother Rachel Hoowe, sisters Elizabeth and Rachel Fisher, and a niece or other relation. Rachel Fisher did not marry Jacob Stewart until after the death of his first wife sometime after 1801.
    1800 US Census: Donegal Township, Westmoreland Co., PA, Roll 41, p 1040
    1800 US Census: Donegal Township, Westmoreland Co., PA, Roll 41, p 1040
    CENSUS 1810  Donegal Township, Westmoreland Co., PA Find all individuals with events at this location  [8
    • Abel's house is packed with eight people in this census. Difficult to even speculate on the identity of many of these. The census lists: one "Free White Males under 10" - presumably a nephew; one "Free White Males over 45" -Abel himself; one "Free White Females under 10" - likely a niece; one "Free White Females 10 to 15" - another niece; one "Free White Female 16 to 25" - another niece; and three "Free White Females 45 and over." One of these is presumably Abel's wife Rachel Forbes. Candidates for the other two females include Abel's mother Rachel Hoowe Fisher, although she would have been in her nineties in 1810; sister Elizabeth, little is known about her; or a Stewart or McDowell relation, Abel's sister Rachel presumably having married Jacob Stewart by this time and sister Hannah definitely married to Samuel McDowell around 1790. Note that the previous census also had three women over 45 living with Abel. At least one of the older women in this census is probably the mother of the children listed in the census. There is no record of Abel having children.
    1810 US Census: Donegal Township, Westmoreland Co., Roll 51, p 875
    1810 US Census: Donegal Township, Westmoreland Co., Roll 51, p 875
    CENSUS 1830  Ligonier Township, Westmoreland Co., PA Find all individuals with events at this location  [9
    • Census lists Abel Fisher's household as two people: one "Free White Males 70-79" - Abel himself; and one "Free White Females 30 to 39." The female is likely Abel's niece Mary McDowell who never married, is known to have taken care of Abel late in his life, and who inherited most of Abel's estate upon his death in 1838. Mary would have been 32 in 1830.
    Census: 1830 U.S. - Ligonier Township, Westmoreland Co., PA, NARA Roll: M19-164; Page: 299; Family History Film: 0020638
    Census: 1830 U.S. - Ligonier Township, Westmoreland Co., PA, NARA Roll: M19-164; Page: 299; Family History Film: 0020638
    WILL 18 Aug 1838  Westmoreland Co., PA Find all individuals with events at this location  [10
    Death 18 Aug 1838  Ligonier, Westmoreland Co., PA Find all individuals with events at this location  [11, 12
    Address:
    Fisher Farm
    Two Mile Run
    Ligonier, PA 
    Burial Old Ligonier Cemetery, Ligonier, Westmoreland Co., PA Find all individuals with events at this location  [12
    Headstone: Abel Fisher Sr. - 1838 and Abel Fisher Jr. - 1876
    Headstone: Abel Fisher Sr. - 1838
    Headstone: Abel Fisher Sr. - 1838 and Abel Fisher Jr. - 1876
    Headstone: Abel Fisher Sr. - 1838
    Person ID I201  Main
    Last Modified 21 Aug 2010 

    Father FISHER Abel,   b. Abt 1730, Mountmellick, Laois Co., Ireland Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Bef 1786, Ligonier, Westmoreland Co., PA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age < 56 years) 
    Relationship Birth 
    Mother HOOWE Rachel,   b. 12 Oct 1724, Edenderry, Offally Co., Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Relationship Birth 
    Marriage 27 Feb 1750  Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location  [13, 14, 15
    Bible Record: Family of Matthias Fisher and Rachel Hoowe (family page)
    Bible Record: Family of Matthias Fisher and Rachel Hoowe (family page)
    Family ID F82  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family FORBES, Rachel 
    Marriage Y  [16
    Family ID F339  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 11 Jan 2007 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 19 Apr 1756 - Cape May, Cape May Co., NJ Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCENSUS - 1790 - Donegal Township, Westmoreland Co., PA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCENSUS - 1800 - Donegal Township, Westmoreland Co., PA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCENSUS - 1810 - Donegal Township, Westmoreland Co., PA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCENSUS - 1830 - Ligonier Township, Westmoreland Co., PA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsWILL - 18 Aug 1838 - Westmoreland Co., PA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - Address:
    Fisher Farm
    Two Mile Run
    Ligonier, PA - 18 Aug 1838 - Ligonier, Westmoreland Co., PA
    Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - - Old Ligonier Cemetery, Ligonier, Westmoreland Co., PA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Notes 
    • Abel, the oldest son, never married, but continued to live on the farm with his mother and sisters until he died of old age, his four score years. His education was very limited, but he could read, and did, until he became the best historian in that part of the country. He acquired the habit of fast reading, (or glancing) as he termed it, thus getting the marrow out of a book without reading one fourth of it. His thirst for knowledge continued to the last. When on his death bed, he requested daily to have the papers read to him. He was one of the most religious men the writer ever knew. His life went out calm as a summer evening. [17]

  • Sources 
    1. [SR1] Wilfred Jordan, editor, Colonial and Revolutionary Families of PA, ((New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1942), 568-576), 573, 974.8 D2c 1978. (Reliability: 2).
      Abel Fisher and his wife settled at Cape May, New Jersey, where the family resided for about twenty years and where their children were born.

    2. [SR1] Wilfred Jordan, editor, Colonial and Revolutionary Families of PA, ((New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1942), 568-576), 573, 974.8 D2c 1978. (Reliability: 2).
      Abel Fisher married, in Ireland, February 27, 1750, Rachel Whowee or Howee.
      Children:...
      3. Abel, born April 19, 1756; married Rachel Forbes

    3. [SR18] Fisher Family Sketch - 21 Nov 1888, (Ligonier Echo, Ligonier, Pennsylvania, 21 Nov 1888), 21 Nov 1888.
      Mr. Fisher settled at Cape May, New Jersey, where the family resided for about twenty years, and where their children were born.

    4. [S64] Bible Record: Family of Matthias Fisher and Rachel Hoowe, (George Grierson, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, Dublin, 1754) (Reliability: 3).
      Abel Fisher was born April ye 19 1756

    5. [S180] Old Ligonier Cemetery Photos, 27 Jul 2009 (Reliability: 3).
      Abel Fisher Sr
      Born 1760
      Died 1838
      Headstone indicates Abel born in 1760.

    6. [S227] Census: 1790 U.S. - Donegal Township, Westmoreland Co., PA , (Ancestry,com), 1790, Roll: M637_9; Page: 92; Image: 59; Family History Library Film: 0568149 (Reliability: 2).

    7. [S228] Census: 1800 U.S. - Donegal Township, Westmoreland Co., PA, (Ancestry,com), 1800, Roll: 41; Page: 1040; Image: 227; Family History Library Film: 363344 (Reliability: 3).

    8. [S229] Census: 1810 U.S. - Donegal Township, Westmoreland Co., PA , (Ancestry,com), 1810, Roll 51; Page: 875; Family History Number: 0193677; Image: 00221 (Reliability: 3).

    9. [S230] Census: 1830 U.S. - Ligonier Township, Westmoreland Co., PA , (Ancestry,com), 1830, NARA Roll: M19-164; Page: 299; Family History Film: 0020638 (Reliability: 3).

    10. [SR15] Abel Fisher, Will: Fisher, Abel - 1838, (Registrar of Wills), 18 Aug 1838, Will Book 2: p 403-404. (Reliability: 3).

    11. [SR18] Fisher Family Sketch - 21 Nov 1888, (Ligonier Echo, Ligonier, Pennsylvania, 21 Nov 1888), 21 Nov 1888 (Reliability: 2).
      ...continued to live on the farm with his mother and sisters until he died of old age, his four score years.

    12. [S180] Old Ligonier Cemetery Photos, 27 Jul 2009 (Reliability: 3).
      Abel Fisher Sr
      Born 1760
      Died 1838

    13. [SR1] Wilfred Jordan, editor, Colonial and Revolutionary Families of PA, ((New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1942), 568-576), 573, 974.8 D2c 1978. (Reliability: 2).
      Abel Fisher married, in Ireland, February 27, 1750, Rachel Whowee or Howee.
      Children:
      1. Henry, born March 25, 1751.
      2. Elizabeth, born December 3, 1752, died unmarried.
      3. Abel, born April 19, 1756; married Rachel Forbes.
      4. Mathias, of whom further.
      5. Elizabeth (again), born April 29, 1760.
      "6. Rachel, born August 12, 1762; married, as his second wife, Jacob Stewart. (Stewart I)
      7. Thomas, born October 29, 1764; married Prudence Shaw. In 1802 he removed to Mercer (now Lawrence) County, about four miles north of New Castle, where he spent his life. Died suddenly in 1848.
      8. Hannah, born February 11, 1767; married Samuel McDowell, and settled near Ligonier. They raised a large family, most of whom removed and settled in Mercer (now Lawrence) County.
      9. John, born September 22, 1769, was bitten by a rattlesnake and died within a few hours.

    14. [SR18] Fisher Family Sketch - 21 Nov 1888, (Ligonier Echo, Ligonier, Pennsylvania, 21 Nov 1888), 21 Nov 1888.
      Abel Fisher... married Rachel Whoowee...

    15. [S64] Bible Record: Family of Matthias Fisher and Rachel Hoowe, (George Grierson, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, Dublin, 1754) (Reliability: 3).
      Abell Fisher and Rachel Hoowee was Married February the 27 1750

    16. [SR1] Wilfred Jordan, editor, Colonial and Revolutionary Families of PA, ((New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1942), 568-576), 573, 974.8 D2c 1978. (Reliability: 2).
      Abel...married Rachel Forbes.

    17. [SR18] Fisher Family Sketch - 21 Nov 1888, (Ligonier Echo, Ligonier, Pennsylvania, 21 Nov 1888), 21 Nov 1888.