FISHER Abel

Abt 1730 - Bef 1786  (< 56 years)

• Name	FISHER Abel
  Birth	Abt 1730	Mountmellick, Laois Co., Ireland   [1, 2]
  MILI	British Army  [3, 4]
  OCCU	Cape May, Cape May Co., NJ   [5, 6]
  	Sold oysters in exchange for domestic goods.
  RELI	Initially a Quaker. In 1784, helped found Methodism in Ligonier Valley  [7, 8, 9]
  RESI	Abt 1753 to 1773  [10, 11]
  	Address: Cape May, NJ
  RESI	Aft 26 May 1774  [12, 13, 14, 15]
  	Address: Fisher Farm Two Mile Run Ligonier, PA 15658
  Death	Bef 1786	Ligonier, Westmoreland Co., PA   [16, 17, 18, 19]
  	Address: Fort Ligonier Ligonier, PA 15658
  Burial	Bef 1786	Ligonier, Westmoreland Co., PA   [20, 21]
  	Address: Fisher farm Two Mile Run Ligonier, PA 15658
  Person ID	I199	Main
  Last Modified	1 Feb 2007

  
  

  Father	FISHER, Abel   d. Yes, date unknown
  Relationship	Birth
  Mother	Unknown
  Relationship	Birth
  Family ID	F100	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	HOOWE Rachel,   b. 12 Oct 1724, Edenderry, Offally Co., Ireland
  Marriage	27 Feb 1750	Ireland   [22, 23, 24]
  		Bible Record: Family of Matthias Fisher and Rachel Hoowe (family page)
  Children	1. FISHER Henry,   b. 25 Mar 1751, Cape May, Cape May Co., NJ  [Birth]   2. FISHER Elizabeth,   b. 3 Dec 1752, Cape May, Cape May Co., NJ  [Birth]   3. FISHER Abel,   b. 19 Apr 1756, Cape May, Cape May Co., NJ d. 18 Aug 1838, Ligonier, Westmoreland Co., PA (Age 82 years)  [Birth] + 4. FISHER Mathias,   b. 12 Feb 1758, Cape May, Cape May Co., NJ d. 17 Feb 1834, Westmoreland Co., PA (Age 76 years)  [Birth]   5. FISHER Elizabeth,   b. 20 Apr 1760, Cape May, Cape May Co., NJ  [Birth]   6. FISHER Rachel,   b. 12 Aug 1762, Cape May, Cape May Co., NJ d. Aft 1848 (Age > 87 years)  [Birth]   7. FISHER Thomas,   b. 29 Oct 1764, Cape May, Cape May Co., NJ d. 28 Feb 1848, Lawrence Co., PA (Age 83 years)  [Birth] + 8. FISHER Hannah,   b. 11 Feb 1767, Cape May, Cape May Co., NJ d. 5 Jan 1826, Westmoreland Co., PA (Age 58 years)  [Birth]   9. FISHER John,   b. 22 Sep 1769, Cape May, Cape May Co., NJ d. 5 Jan 1775, Westmoreland Co., PA (Age 5 years)  [Birth]
  Family ID	F82	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	28 Jan 2007

  
  

• Event Map		Birth - Abt 1730 - Mountmellick, Laois Co., Ireland OCCU - Sold oysters in exchange for domestic goods. - - Cape May, Cape May Co., NJ Marriage - 27 Feb 1750 - Ireland Death - Address: Fort Ligonier Ligonier, PA 15658 - Bef 1786 - Ligonier, Westmoreland Co., PA Burial - Address: Fisher farm Two Mile Run Ligonier, PA 15658 - Bef 1786 - Ligonier, Westmoreland Co., PA  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Notes

  Abel Fisher, son of Abel Fisher, was born at Mt. Mellick, Ireland, about 1730, and died at Fort Ligonier, Westmoreland County Pennsylvania. He served some time in the British army as a dragoon and, following his discharge he married Rachel Whoowee or Howee, a Quakeress who was born at Eddenderry (Edenderry). They immediately sailed for America, the voyage lasting three months, and landed in Philadelphia. Mr. Fisher left one brother, Henry and one half-sister, Nancy Lake, while his wife left brothers William and Mathias, and three sisters, Mollie, Nancy and Hannah. Of these relatives none were ever known to come to America except Henry Fisher. The family kept track of him for some time, but for many years now all trace of him and his family has been lost. After his arrival in this country, 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. While there he owned a small boat in which he carried oysters to Philadelphia and brought back domestic goods. In 1773, he concluded to immigrate to what was then the West. Procuring a wagon and a team of horses, he started for the redstone country, near the line between Westmoreland and Fayette Counties, Pennsylvania. After a terrible journey over bad roads and mountains, late in the fall they reached a point one mile west of Fort Ligonier, now Ligonier Borough, where their team gave out and refused to go any further. Here they remained through the winter and finally concluded to make the neighborhood their permanent home. Subsequently, Mr. Fisher purchased a tract of three hundred acres of land, two miles west of Ligonier, on the Two Mile Run. This land remained in the possession of the family for more than one hundred years. Just as they commenced to make an improvement on their land the Revolutionary War broke out, and as they were on the frontier, and exposed to Indian raids, the family removed to York, Pennsylvania, where the women remained until the close of the war. Mr. Fisher and the two oldest boys returned to Ligonier, and lived amidst constant alarms and danger, the Indians killing some of the settlers every year. Sometime, during the war, Mr. Fisher died in the fort, it was said, of pleurisy. As was common, with the early settlers he requested that he be buried on his own farm. A squad of soldiers accompanied the funeral procession and while they committed dust to dust, armed men stood around in the bushes to guard against surprise by Indians. He was an industrious and thrifty man, and under more favorable circumstances would have succeeded well. [25]

  
  

• Sources

  [SR1] Wilfred Jordan, editor, Colonial and Revolutionary Families of PA, ((New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1942), 568-576), 572, 974.8 D2c 1978. (Reliability: 2). ABEL FISHER, son of Abel Fisher, was born at Mt. Mellick, Ireland, about 1730... [SR18] Fisher Family Sketch - 21 Nov 1888, (Ligonier Echo, Ligonier, Pennsylvania, 21 Nov 1888), 21 Nov 1888. Abel Fisher was born in Mt. Mellick Ireland about 1730, (his father's name was Abel.) [SR18] Fisher Family Sketch - 21 Nov 1888, (Ligonier Echo, Ligonier, Pennsylvania, 21 Nov 1888), 21 Nov 1888 (Reliability: 2). He served some time in the British army as a dragoon... [SR1] Wilfred Jordan, editor, Colonial and Revolutionary Families of PA, ((New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1942), 568-576), 572, 974.8 D2c 1978. (Reliability: 2). He served some time in the British army as a dragoon... [SR18] Fisher Family Sketch - 21 Nov 1888, (Ligonier Echo, Ligonier, Pennsylvania, 21 Nov 1888), 21 Nov 1888 (Reliability: 2). Mr. Fisher, while there, owned a small boat in which he carried oysters to Philadelphia and brought back domestic goods which he exchanged for oysters. [SR1] Wilfred Jordan, editor, Colonial and Revolutionary Families of PA, ((New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1942), 568-576), 572, 974.8 D2c 1978. (Reliability: 2). While there he owned a small boat in which he carried oysters to Philadelphia and brought back domestic goods. [SR54] Mrs. C. Furnier Cairns and Mrs. Guy W. Hauger, Our Heritage in Ligonier Valley, ((Ligonier, PA: The Women's Club of Ligonier, 1965), 34, 40), 1965, 28, US/CAN 974.8 A1 No. 118. (Reliability: 1). The Ligonier Methodist Church was formally established by John Wesley in a letter postmarked Bristol, England, and dated September 10, 1874...Many of the fisrt meetings were held in the homes of Abel Fisher and Jacob Shaw [SR54] Mrs. C. Furnier Cairns and Mrs. Guy W. Hauger, Our Heritage in Ligonier Valley, ((Ligonier, PA: The Women's Club of Ligonier, 1965), 34, 40), 1965, 40, US/CAN 974.8 A1 No. 118. (Reliability: 1). Of all the families of the Ligonier Valley, perhaps none contributed so much to the beginnings of Methodism as did the ABEL FISHER family. It was in the Fisher home that many of the first Methodist services were held. [SR19] Fisher Historical Sketch - 28 Nov 1888, (Ligonier Echo, Ligonier, Pennsylvania, 28 Nov 1888), 28 Nov 1888 (Reliability: 2). In religion, the first generation was brought up according to Quaker principles, and as that people were a hundred years in advance of all others on the great moral questions that affect society, such as temperance, slavery and war, it was great advantage to them. They were total abstainers a century ago, and although not entirely exempt, yet it would be hard to find a family that has suffered less from the curse of strong drink. After settling at Ligonier, they were so completely isolated from their Quaker friends, that upon first appearance of the Methodists west of the Allegheny mountains, most of them united with them, and since then nearly all who have made any profession of religion, have been Methodists. [SR18] Fisher Family Sketch - 21 Nov 1888, (Ligonier Echo, Ligonier, Pennsylvania, 21 Nov 1888), 21 Nov 1888 (Reliability: 2). Mr. Fisher settled in Cape May, New Jersey where the family resided for about twenty years. [SR1] Wilfred Jordan, editor, Colonial and Revolutionary Families of PA, ((New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1942), 568-576), 572, 974.8 D2c 1978. (Reliability: 2). Mr. Fisher settled at Cape May, New Jersey, where the family resided for about twenty years, and where their children were born. [SR17] Deed: Fisher Farm (1774), 26 May 1774 (Reliability: 3). [SR18] Fisher Family Sketch - 21 Nov 1888, (Ligonier Echo, Ligonier, Pennsylvania, 21 Nov 1888), 21 Nov 1888 (Reliability: 2). In 1773, he concluded to emigrate to the then west. Procuring a wagon and a team of miserable horses, he started for the redstone country, near the line between Westmoreland and Fayette counties, Pa. After a terrible journey over bad roads and mountains, late in the fall they reached a point one mile west of Fort Ligonier, now Ligonier Borough; here their team gave out and refused to go any further. Here they remained through the winter and finally concluded to make the neighborhood their permanent home. Subsequently Mr. Fisher purchased a tract of land containing 300 acres, two miles west of Ligonier, on the Two Mile Run. This land remained in the family for more than one hundred years. [SR54] Mrs. C. Furnier Cairns and Mrs. Guy W. Hauger, Our Heritage in Ligonier Valley, ((Ligonier, PA: The Women's Club of Ligonier, 1965), 34, 40), 1965, US/CAN 974.8 A1 No. 118. (Reliability: 1). JOHN URCH HOUSE - R. D. #2, Ligonier ...Adam Fisher, well known for his work in the early Methodist Society, lived here... Adam Fisher should read Abel Fisher [SR1] Wilfred Jordan, editor, Colonial and Revolutionary Families of PA, ((New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1942), 568-576), 572, 974.8 D2c 1978. (Reliability: 2). n 1773, he concluded to immigrate to what was then the West. Procuring a wagon and a team of horses, he started for the redstone country, near the line between Westmoreland and Fayette Counties, Pennsylvania. After a terrible journey over bad roads and mountains, late in the fall they reached a point one mile west of Fort Ligonier, now Ligonier Borough, where their team gave out and refused to go any further. Here they remained through the winter and finally concluded to make the neighborhood their permanent home. Subsequently, Mr. Fisher purchased a tract of three hundred acres of land, two miles west of Ligonier, on the Two Mile Run. This land remained in the possession of the family for more than one hundred years. [SR1] Wilfred Jordan, editor, Colonial and Revolutionary Families of PA, ((New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1942), 568-576), 572, 974.8 D2c 1978. (Reliability: 2). Abel Fisher...died at Fort Ligonier, Westmoreland County Pennsylvania... [SR1] Wilfred Jordan, editor, Colonial and Revolutionary Families of PA, ((New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1942), 568-576), 572-573, 974.8 D2c 1978. (Reliability: 2). Sometime, during the war, Mr. Fisher died in the fort, it was said, of pleurisy. [SR54] Mrs. C. Furnier Cairns and Mrs. Guy W. Hauger, Our Heritage in Ligonier Valley, ((Ligonier, PA: The Women's Club of Ligonier, 1965), 34, 40), 1965, 40, US/CAN 974.8 A1 No. 118. (Reliability: 2). During the Revolutionary War, the women and children went to stay in York, Pennsylvania to avoid Indian attack, while Mr. Fisher and the two older boys stayed on the frontier. It was during the War that Mr. Fisher died. [SR18] Fisher Family Sketch - 21 Nov 1888, (Ligonier Echo, Ligonier, Pennsylvania, 21 Nov 1888), 21 Nov 1888. Sometime during the (Revolutionary) war, Mr. Fisher died in the fort (Ligonier), it was said of pleurisy. [SR1] Wilfred Jordan, editor, Colonial and Revolutionary Families of PA, ((New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1942), 568-576), 572, 974.8 D2c 1978. (Reliability: 2). As was common, with the early settlers he requested that he be buried on his own farm. A squad of soldiers accompanied the funeral procession and while they committed dust to dust, armed men stood around in the bushes to guard against surprise by Indians. [SR18] Fisher Family Sketch - 21 Nov 1888, (Ligonier Echo, Ligonier, Pennsylvania, 21 Nov 1888), 21 Nov 1888 (Reliability: 2). As was common with the early settlers, he requested to be buried on his own farm. A squad of soldiers accompanied the funeral procession, and while they committed dust to dust, armed men stood round the bushes to guard against surprise by Indians. [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. [SR18] Fisher Family Sketch - 21 Nov 1888, (Ligonier Echo, Ligonier, Pennsylvania, 21 Nov 1888), 21 Nov 1888. Abel Fisher... married Rachel Whoowee... [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 [SR1] Wilfred Jordan, editor, Colonial and Revolutionary Families of PA, ((New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1942), 568-576), 572, 974.8 D2c 1978. (Reliability: 2).