Fisher Family Genealogy

FISHER Thomas

Male 1791 - 1873  (82 years)


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  • Name FISHER Thomas  [1, 2
    • From History of McDonough County, Illinois - 1885, Springfield, IL: Continental Historical Co., 1885: Thomas Fisher was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, March 11, 1791, and died at his home in Blandinsville, in 1868. He settled in McDonough county in 1844, coming from Hancock county, Illinois, where he had settled in 1840. His first wife died, and he was again married to Elizabeth Brown, by whom there were four children.
    • Also from History of McDonough County, Illinois - 1885: Mathias Fisher is a native of Illinois, having been born in Hancock county...He remained on a farm in that county until eight years of age, his parents then removing to McDonough county and making a settling in Blandinsville township, on section 29, near the present site of the village of Blandinsville. His father rented at first, and remained there until 1856, when he removed to Henderson county, and seven years later to Hancock county, where he remained a number of years, following, as he did in each of the other county's, agricultural pursuits. He again came to McDonough county, and settled near Blandinsville, where he died in 1874.
    • Above is in error. Thomas died in 1873.
    Birth 11 Mar 1791  Ligonier, Westmoreland Co., PA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    CENSUS 1800  Donegal Township, Westmoreland Co., PA Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    • Census lists three "Free White Males Under 10," presumably Mathias and Martha's' sons John, Abel and Thomas; one "Free White Males 10 to 15," not clear who this might be; one "Free White Males 45 and over," Mathias himself although he would have been only 42 years old in 1800; one "Free White Females Under 10," Mathias and Martha's' daughter Mary; one "Free White Females 16 to 25," Mathias' wife Martha.
    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  [4
    • Census lists as living in Mathias Fisher household one "Free White Males Under 10" - presumably youngest son Thompson Fisher; one "Free White Males over 16 and under 26" - presumably son Thomas Fisher, John and Abel likely having married by this time; two "Free White Males 45 and upwards" - one being Mathias and the other unknown; one "Free White Females Under 10" - presumably daughter Rachel; one "Free White Females over 10 and under 16" - daughter Mary; and one "Free White Females over 26 and under 45" - Mathias' wife Martha Thompson.
    1810 US Census: Donegal Township, Westmoreland Co., Roll 51, p 875
    1810 US Census: Donegal Township, Westmoreland Co., Roll 51, p 875
    CENSUS 1840  Hancock Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    • This census is hard to sort. Male 40-50 is certainly Thomas. Female 30-40 his wife Elizabeth Brown who he married in 1838. Male 5-10 is son John K. Male 20-30 is unknown. Could be William N. but he is found in 1850 and 1860 censuses back east and serves in a PA regiment during the Civil war before later moving to Kansas. One of the females 5-10 is Margaret the other is unknown. The two females 10-15 are Sarah and Mary. All three of these girls are known to have moved to IL as they were later married in IL. They would have also likely been too young for Thomas to leave behind in Pennsylvania when he moved to IL. Next oldest daughters Clarissa and Nancy are known to have stayed in Pennsylvania where they marry and feature in various census after 1840.
    1840 US Census: Hancock Co., IL, Roll 60, p 208
    1840 US Census: Hancock Co., IL, Roll 60, p 208
    RESI 1846  Blandinsville, McDonough Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Blandinsville - Elder Josiah Terrel preached the first sermon in 1846, and organized the church same year, with the following named persons, as original members: Thomas Fisher and wife...
    CENSUS 01 Oct 1850  Township 8 N 6 W, Henderson Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location  [6
    • Occupation: farmer
    • A few errors by census-taker: John and Margaret were born in Pennsylvania to Thomas and his first wife Mary Kells Fisher. Cyrus should read Matthias. Have seen no other reference to Matthias' first or middle name being Cyrus.
    1850 US Census: Township 8N 6W, Henderson  Co., IL
    1850 US Census: Township 8N 6W, Henderson Co., IL
    CENSUS 22 Aug 1860  LaHarpe Township, Hancock Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    • Occupation: farmer
      Value of real estate: $800
      Value of personal estate: $550
    1860 US Census: LaHarpe Township, Hancock Co., IL, p 716
    1860 US Census: LaHarpe Township, Hancock Co., IL, p 716
    Death 17 Jun 1873  Blandinsville, McDonough Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Burial South Cemetery, Blandinsville, McDonough Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Headstone: Thomas Fisher 1873
    Headstone: Thomas Fisher 1873
    Person ID I115  Main
    Last Modified 17 Dec 2022 

    Father FISHER Mathias,   b. 12 Feb 1758, Cape May, Cape May Co., NJ Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 17 Feb 1834, Westmoreland Co., PA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 76 years) 
    Relationship Birth 
    Mother THOMPSON, Martha   d. 18 Aug 1829, Westmoreland Co., PA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Relationship Birth 
    Marriage Aft 1782  Ligonier, Westmoreland Co., PA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Mathias Fisher married Martha Thompson, who died August, 1828. Her father was a staunch Presbyterian and objected to the marriage on the grounds that Mathias Fisher had never been baptized. However, she had no such scruples and left her father’s house, never to enter it again. Following the marriage they settled on a part of the old Fisher farm. [8]
    • He paid his addresses to Miss Martha Thompson, but her father being a staunch Presbyterian, objected to the match because Mr. Fisher had never been baptized. Miss Thompson, however, had no such scruples of conscience, but ran away, as they called it then; she left her father’s house and never entered it again. [9]
    Family ID F81  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 KELLS Mary,   b. 3 Mar 1797, Shippensburg, Cumberland Co., PA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 15 Feb 1837 (Age 39 years) 
    Marriage 30 Mar 1815  [8
    Children 
    +1. FISHER William Nicholls,   b. 11 Mar 1816, Westmoreland Co., PA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 16 Jul 1881, Burlingame, Osage Co., KS Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 65 years)  [Birth]
    +2. FISHER, Jane Iona,   b. 15 Jan 1818, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1 Oct 1906, Novelty, Knox Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 88 years)  [Birth]
    +3. FISHER, Martha,   b. 31 Oct 1819, Lawrence Co., PA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 11 Apr 1899, Waycross, Ware Co., GA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 79 years)  [Birth]
     4. FISHER, Eleanor,   b. 14 Jan 1822, Hickory Township, Lawrence Co., PA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 12 Jul 1905, Eastbrook, Lawrence Co., PA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 83 years)
    +5. FISHER, Nancy,   b. 28 Jan 1824, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 10 Sep 1902 (Age 78 years)
    +6. FISHER Clarissa,   b. 14 Sep 1826, Westmoreland Co., PA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 11 Jan 1909, Burlingame Township, Osage Co., KS Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 82 years)  [Birth]
    +7. FISHER Mary,   b. 16 Oct 1828, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1907, Novelty, Knox Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 78 years)  [Birth]
    +8. FISHER, Sarah,   b. 19 Jan 1831, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location  [Birth]
    +9. FISHER John Kells,   b. 5 Mar 1833, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 19 Dec 1891, Hire Township, McDonough Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 58 years)  [Birth]
    +10. FISHER Margaret Phoebe,   b. 31 Jan 1835, Eastbrook, Lawrence Co., PA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 7 May 1911, Brownville, Nemaha Co., NE Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 76 years)  [Birth]
     11. FISHER, Ralph,   b. 31 Jan 1835, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 13 Mar 1835, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 0 years)
    Photos
    Photo: Thomas Fisher and Mary Kells Family Siblings
    Photo: Thomas Fisher and Mary Kells Family Siblings
    Shown: John K. Fisher, Mary "Polly" Lockett, Sarah (Pollock), Jane (Botts), Nancy (Hinckson), Clarissa (Roberts), Eleanor (McNickle)
    Family ID F75  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 17 Dec 2022 

    Family 2 BROWN Elizabeth,   b. 25 Aug 1806, Mercer Co., PA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 29 Oct 1900, Blandinsville, McDonough Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 94 years) 
    Marriage 22 Feb 1838 
    Children 
     1. FISHER, Joseph,   b. 19 May 1839   d. 26 Mar 1840 (Age 0 years)
    +2. FISHER Matthias,   b. 24 Sep 1840, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 22 Feb 1915, Illinois Bend, Adair Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 74 years)  [Birth]
    +3. FISHER Thomas H.,   b. 3 Jun 1843, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1 Jun 1914, Blandinsville, McDonough Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 70 years)  [Birth]
    +4. FISHER Abel,   b. 23 May 1845, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 4 Aug 1924, Blandinsville, McDonough Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 79 years)  [Birth]
    +5. FISHER Josiah,   b. 3 Jun 1848, Henderson Co., Illinois Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1900-1901 (Age 52 years)  [Birth]
    Family ID F40  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 17 Dec 2022 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 11 Mar 1791 - Ligonier, 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 - 1840 - Hancock Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsRESI - 1846 - Blandinsville, McDonough Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCENSUS - 01 Oct 1850 - Township 8 N 6 W, Henderson Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCENSUS - 22 Aug 1860 - LaHarpe Township, Hancock Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 17 Jun 1873 - Blandinsville, McDonough Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - - South Cemetery, Blandinsville, McDonough Co., IL Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Notes 
    • John Fisher was a soldier of the War of 1812, and came from the Ligonier Valley in Westmoreland County. He settled the tract, including the site of Eastbrook, about 1819; this was the third tract he had located upon, the first being in 1809. His brother, Thomas Fisher, came afterwards. [10]
    • Col. John Fisher...built the first grist mill in Hickory Township, and in partnership with his brother, Thomas Fisher, built the first woolen mill, and together they owned 500 acres of land. [11]
    • Received $100 from his father Mathias Fisher on Mathias' death in 1834:" I give and bequeath to my son Thomas Fisher the sum of one hundred payable by my son Abel within one year of my decease which shall be in full of his claim." [12]

  • Sources 
    1. [S67] History of McDonough County, Illinois - 1885, (Continental Historical Co., Springfield IL, 1885), 1885, 644, 977.342 H2. (Reliability: 2).

    2. [S67] History of McDonough County, Illinois - 1885, (Continental Historical Co., Springfield IL, 1885), 1885, 871-872, 977.342 H2. (Reliability: 2).

    3. [S605] 1800 US Census, Pennsylvania , (Ancestry.com), 1800, Roll 41, p 1040 (Reliability: 2).

    4. [S604] 1810 US Census, Pennsylvania, (Ancestry.com), 1810, Roll 51, p 875 (Reliability: 2).

    5. [S607] 1840 US Census, Illinois, (Ancestry.com), 1840, Roll 60, p 208 (Reliability: 2).

    6. [S602] 1850 US Census, Illinois , (Ancestry.com), 01 Oct 1850 (Reliability: 2).

    7. [S601] 1860 US Census, Illinois , (Ancestry.com), 22 Aug 1860, p 716 (Reliability: 3).

    8. [SR1] Wilfred Jordan, editor, Colonial and Revolutionary Families of PA, ((New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1942), 568-576), 575, 974.8 D2c 1978. (Reliability: 2).

    9. [SR19] Fisher Historical Sketch - 28 Nov 1888, (Ligonier Echo, Ligonier, Pennsylvania, 28 Nov 1888), 26 Oct 1888 (Reliability: 2).

    10. [S387] Aaron L. Hazen, 20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, (Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, IL, 1908), 1908, 246-247, 31833012051915. (Reliability: 2).

    11. [S387] Aaron L. Hazen, 20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, (Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, IL, 1908), 1908, 408, 31833012051915. (Reliability: 2).

    12. [SR23] Mathias Fisher, Will: Fisher, Mathias - 1834, (Registrar of Wills), 9 Dec 1833, Will Book 2: p 303. (Reliability: 3).