George Fisher (1752-1823)
Generation No. 1
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Reliable records of the early Fisher family in Maryland are lacking. There are several interesting family lore stories surrounding the establishment of the Fisher Family in the colonies but none have ever been verified. We must therefore build upon what we know to be true based on existing documentation.

Head stone of George Fisher (1752-1823) Head stone of Elizabeth Fisher (1756-1838)
Greenwood Cemetery, Green Township
Harrison County, Ohio
St. Benjamin's Lutheran Church
St. Benjamin's Lutheran Church
A.K.A. Krider's Evangelical Luthern Church
Westminster, Maryland
The first Fisher known to us in America is A1 George Fisher, born 1752 in Virginia/Maryland, died September 11, 1823 in Green Township, Harrison County, Ohio. He married ca. 1780 Elizabeth _______ , born 1756 in Maryland, died October 19, 1838 in Green Township, Harrison County, Ohio. Both are buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Green Township, Harrison County, Ohio. George's will is dated August 30, 1823 was probated October 18, 1823. in which ten children are named.

George Fisher's father may have been  Thomas Fisher, born ca. 1728, died 1793 in the borough of York, York County, Pennsylvania (view will transcription & family information).Thomas Fisher married (1) Maria Eva King/Koenig, died 1786. Thomas married (2) Catherine Linebacher Graeff Miller, died 1821, buried Rose Hill Cemetery, York, Pennsylvania.

Prior to moving westward to Ohio, we know that George and Elizabeth lived near Frederick, Maryland for a number of years. They attended Krider's Evangelical Luthern Church near Westminster, Maryland. Records indicate that their first son Thomas was born in Baltimore County in 1775, James in Frederick County in 1783, Matilda in Washington County in 1794, and Harrietta in Carroll County in 1797. It is important to note the development of Maryland was rapid during these years and both state and county boundary lines were constantly changing. George Sr. born in 1752 could have been born in the same area as it was then a part of Virginia (in 1752).

The Fisher Family migration westward from Maryland would have taken place between 1797, when Harrietta was baptized at Kreider's Evangelical Lutheran, Pipe Creek, Carroll, County Maryland and 1800 when George Fisher's family is listed in the 1800 Census for Washington, County, Pennsylvania.

The 1800 Pennsylvania census for Canton Township Washington County enumerates George Fisher with the following members of his household:

* It appears that one son is not with the family. In 1801 George Jr. marries Esther Piper/Pheiffer in Taneytown, Maryland. - Did he stay behind in Maryland?

Map of Braddock's Road
Conestoga Wagon
Braddock's Trace in Ft. Necessity National Park
Ft. Necessity National Park
The Century Inn - October 2009
The Century Inn Kitchen
The Century Inn
On the National Road
Scenic Hill, Pennsylvania

Traveling Braddock's Road in 1797

It was almost certain that in the late 1790's the Fisher's would have traveled Nemacolin's Path - then known as Braddock's Road.

Nemacolin was a Delaware Indian who helped pioneer a route from Baltimore to Ohio in 1751 for the newly organized Ohio Company. Nemacolin's Path was also used by George Washington and General Edward Braddock's troops during the French and Indian War in 1754. It was cleared and widened to roughly 12 feet allowing for the troops to navigate the terrain. Later this route would be called the The National Pike or what we now know as U. S. Route 40.

I can only imagine what it would have been like to make a wagon trip, most likely in a Conestoga wagon, from Frederick County, Maryland to Wheeling in the late 1790's with a family of small children. At this time the only routes west were Indian paths and animal migration routes. The National Road was not constructed until the second decade of the nineteen century (1811-1818). A family undertaking this journey would have to walk, as the roads were barely passable by wagon. Small children would be carried in one arm and a rifle in the other to protect against any number of forest animals and Indians.

During the Revolutionary War, and for a number of years afterward, westward migration slowed leaving Braddock's Road overgrown and once again barely passable. But by this time taverns and towns had been built and were springing up along the route. Traveling from Fort Frederick west, George and Elizabeth would have first traveled on the Frederick Road to Fort Cumberland on Will's Creek, in present day Cumberland, Maryland. From here, the family would have been faced with ascending the great mountains of Northern Maryland through present-day Frostburg, Grantsville and Keyser's Ridge, Maryland.

After Keyser's Ridge, Braddock's Road turns northwest into Pennsylvania. At Uniontown, it meets up with Christopher Gist's Trace, later known as the Cumberland Road, which extends to Wheeling (West) Virginia.

In Hillsborough (present day Scenic Hill, Pennsylvania) they may have stopped at the then brand new Hillsborough Tavern (now known as the Century Inn), which opened in 1794 and is still in business today.

It is likely that after reaching Uniontown, the Fishers continued along Braddock's road toward Pittsburgh where they settled for at least 10 years in Canton Township, Washington County Pennsylvania. This is where George is living on September 5, 1805 when he applies for a land patent from the Steubenville Land Office for a 160 acre parcel of land in Jefferson County, namely: the Northeast Quarter of Section 10, Township 11, Range 5 (view Land Patent) . He makes the final payment for this land on December 13, 1811, and he is listed as still living in Washington County Pennsylvania on this document.

George moves to Jefferson County Ohio soon after December 13, 1811. George lives for another 13 years in Jefferson County and dies in 1823. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery Harrison County Ohio. No further record is found for his wife Elizabeth who dies in 1838.

George Fisher's Will

In the name of God, Amen. I George Fisher of the County of Harrison, Ohio, being weak and frail in body, yet of perfect mind and memory, and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and publish this my last will and testament.

First of all I resign my soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it and my body to the earth to be buried in a Decent Christian like manner at the discreation of my Executors herein after named. And as touching such worldly Estate where with it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I will and Dispose of the same in manner and form following. VIZ, First of all I direct all my lawful debts and funeral Expenses to be paid, Secondly I will and bequeath to my beloved wife Elizabeth Fisher one bed of furniture, two head of Milch Cows, six head of Sheep, one spinning wheel, half a dozen chairs, one dining table, and also twelve dollars worth of kitchen & cupboard furniture. I also Will and bequeath to my beloved wife Elizabeth Fisher the farm of land on which I now live, containing 150 Acres together with all and singular the rights and Profits of the same to be by her freely owned and enjoyed Durning her natural life. Item I Will and Direct that all and singular, my personal property of Every Description (Except such as is bequeathed to my wife) be sold immediately after my Decease, and the money arising therefrom to be put to Interest. I further will and direct that after the Decease of my wife Elizabeth Fisher, should she survive me that all my real Estate VIZ, the farm on which I now live be sold and the money arising from such sale together with the Proceeds of the sales of my personal Estate, to be Divided into ten Equal Shares, after the payment of my Just Debts and funeral Expenses. I further will and direct that Each of those shares be taken as follows, VIZ, to my son Tho's. Fisher I will and bequeath one share, To my Grandson George Fisher son of George Fisher Dec'd, I will and bequeath one share, To my Daughter Eve Gordon I will and bequeath one share, to my Grandson George Custard I will and bequeath one share, Except the sum of one Dollar, to my Son James Fisher I will and bequeath on share, to my Daughter Mary Welch I will and bequeath one share to my Daughter Gracy Snider I will and bequeath one share, to my Grandaughter Elizabeth Lee I will and bequeath one share, Except the sum of one Dollar, to my Daughter Matilda Rouse I will and bequeath one share. To my grandaughter Elizabeth Shrayer I will and bequeath one Share Except the sum of one Dollar, to my Daughter Elizabeth Custard, I will and bequeath the sum of one Dollar and no more, To my Daughter Susanna Lee I will and bequeath the sum of one Dollar and no more, To my Daughter Harrietta Shrayer I will and bequeath the sum of one Dollar and no more, Lastly I do nominate Constitute and appoint my wife, Elizabeth Fisher and my Son Tho's Fisher sole Executor of this my last will and testament, Declaring null and void all former wills and Testaments by me made and Declaring this and no other to by my last will and Testament the 30th day of Aug't 1823.

In the presence of
George Shues, Tho's Patton		 George Fisher (seal)
----------
State of Ohio
Harrison Co.
At a special Court of Common Plee's began and held at Cadiz in and for the County of Harrison and State of Ohio on the eighteenth day of October in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty three, personally appeared open court George Shues one of the subscribe witnesses to the foregoing last will and testament of George Fisher, Deceased and on his solemn oath did declare that he was present when the Testor George Fisher, signed and acknowledged the foregoing will, and that he saw him sign and seal the same and heard him pronounced and decree the same to be his last will and Testament, and that he believed the Testator to be of sound mind, memory and Judgment at the _________--of so doing
Attest, Wm Tingley, Clerk

---------------------------------
The ACCOUNT OF THOMAS FISHER AND ELIZABETH FISHER AS EXECUTORS OF THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF GEORGE FISHER, LATE OF HARRISON COUNTY IN THE STATE OF OHIO, DECEASED, SO FAR AS ADMINISTERED

Accounts of the Schedule of Debts due the Estate as returned in       $9.24 1/2
Account of Cash on hand at Death of Testator       $11.00
Sale of personal estate was on the 23 day of October A. D. 1833
Account of goods were sold on a credit of 1 year to amount of		       $298.04     
        $318.28 1/2
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Accounts charge themselves with the following sums received
Cash in possession of Testator, at the time of his death 11.00
Debts due the Estate Collected:
Aug of Henry Harner Book Account   .50
Nov of David Erbaugh do 4.55
do of John Zollars do   .33
do of Jacob Gutshall do   .75
do of Daniel Bear do 1.68
Dec 20 of Henry Dehuff do 1.12 1/2
Dec 20 of William Foreman do   .31
of Peter Renicker do 1.25
        10.49 1/2
----------------------
Receipts for sale of personal Estate, time of receiving not recollected but were
November 23rd A.D. 1824
of Henry Stonescriver     4.53 1/2
of Boston Roush   61.23 3/4
of Peter Renicker       .31
of George Dewalt     2.03
of Donimick Havenor     7.11 1/2
of John Bishop       .90
of George Custer   91.30 3/4
of Thomas Ford     6.62
of Mary Fisher     2.25
of Christian Snider       .75
of Mary Welsh     1.90
of Gabriel Kail     1.26
of Henry Snider   10.61
of James Duffield     1.00
of Adam Snider     1.00
of Henry Hisler       .32
of Jacob Roop     3.62
of David Miller     2.06 1/2
of James Mewherter       .50
of Elizabeth Custer       .83
of John Hughs     1.60
of John Reniker     3.09
of George Duffield   13.95
of Jacob Shafer     4.75
of John Shilling     3.33
of Peter Hay     1.60
of Abraham Noftzer     2.66 1/2
of John Fredericks     4.13
Elizabeth Fisher, one of accountants purchased at sale   32.87 1/2
Thomas Fisher one of accounts purchased at sale   23.68
  298.04
interest charged against accountants  119.74
  439.27.18
--------------------------------
Accounts claim credit for the following sums by them paid on account of the Estate
Debts paid
Oct 1823 to Thomas B. Carter Collector Tax for 1823   $2.00
9 Mar 1824 to Peter Shapler for Coffin   $6.00
12 March 1824 to Joshua Harrison for shroud   $3.00
15 May 1824 to Dr. George W. Diffield medical bill   $4.00
16 Sept 1824 to Samuel Veirs account   $3.25
18 Dec 1824 to Rev Daniel Rahouser   $1.50
29 Dec 1824 to Adam Snider, part of note $10.00
7 Mar 1825 to James Wilson account   $4.00
10 Mar 1825 to Joseph Swigarts   $1.50
27 Sept 1832 to Margaret Condswick Ballance of Notary fee $21.00

Cost of Administration exclusive of the sums to be allowed by the Court.

No.
1 20 Oct 1823 to Alexander Henderson & others Judges fee $  5.00
2 do to David Custer crier of sale $  5.00
3 17 Jan 1824 to Joseph Tingley printer's for notice $  1.00
4 23 July 1824 to James Thompson clerk at sale $  1.25
5 25 Dec 1824 to William Tingley clerks fees $  4.37 1/2
6 17 Feb 1825 to Robert Orr Esq. qualifying appraisers $    .50
7 10 Jan 1827 to Thomas Patton appraisers fees $   1.00
8 1st June 1831 to John Shilling appraisers fees $100.
9 1st June 1831 to John Zollars appraisers fees $100.
10 26 June 1832 to Samuel W. Bostwick Esq part of Attorney Fee $    5.00
11 18 Oct 1833 to Samuel W. Bostwick Esq. balance of attor. Fee $    5.00
to David Christy printer for final notice $      .50
to Wm Tingley Clerk for filling and recording acc. notice & etc $      .90
Fees subject to the allowance of the Court
Executors per cent 6 per cent on $319.53 is $  19.17
Masters fees for drawing, examining & reporting acc. $   5.00

Sept 8, 1832. The foregoing is a true account
signed Thomas Fisher, Executor
Approved & passed Sept. Term A. D. 1833 Liber C page 324 There is an error in the addition of the debts paid of $20.00 which with the interest to be deducted from the charges is $29.95 which should be added to the credits.
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This Account started on page 165 in the Ohio, Harrison Co., Probate records
LDS film 0894287

Children of George Fisher and Elizabeth _________:

The George Fisher Family History is a compilation of information gathered by Eric & Liz Davis. The html version was created by Eric and Elizabeth Fisher-Davis beginning in 2001.
Tree Outline of Fisher Generations