George Fisher (1752-1823)

A1 George Fisher. The first Fisher known to have been born in America is George Fisher, born 1752 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, died September 11, 1823 in Green Township, Harrison County, Ohio. He married 15 Mar 1774 Catherine Elizabeth Hencock , born 1756 in Pennsylvania/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 was Thomas Friederich 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. George Fisher acquired 400 acres of land next to his father's land in Germany Township, York County, Pennsylvania on March 24, 1794. He also shows up in the 1783 tax records of York County, along with his father, Thomas Fisher Sr.

Prior to moving westward to Ohio, we know that George and Elizabeth lived near Littlestown, Pennsylvania, then 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:

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.

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 ---------------------------------

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

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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

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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


Greenwood Cemetery, Green Township Harrison County, Ohio


St. Benjamin's Lutheran Church A.K.A. Krider's Evangelical Luthern Church Westminster, Maryland