Introduction

The impetus for this study is to ascertain the origins of Dr. David Fisk (1772-1829) of Windsor and Cavendish, VT, who was the progenitor of some Fisks of Fiskburg, KY, including my own ancestors. Fiskburg is the name of a hamlet and the surrounding farms at the southern extremity of Kenton County, KY. The research has been complicated by an unusual number of genealogical traps and conflicting bits of evidence; it therefore remains very much a work in progress. Among the problems encountered are:

-The relevant ancestral line invented by F. C. Pierce (Dr. David is #1331) for his massive "genealogy" of the Fiske-Fisk families (1896) is grossly improbable, but has been accepted without question by many "hypertext" family historians. Pierce’s book followed the norm of the era in trying to link as many of the same surname to a single clan in order to sell as many books as possible.

-Sons of Dr. Fisk did not know where he was born. In 1896, son John Flavel Fisk told Carll Lewis, the Lewis genealogist, that his own records began with the marriage of David Fisk and Abigail Sargeant. In June of that year, F. C. Pierce wrote "I have at last found your ancestor…" in hopes of getting John Fisk to purchase a photo placement in his book.

-There were several Fisks (not to mention a few Fishes), who were in Fiskburg before 1830 and who have not been linked to this clan, despite the minute size of the community.

-Many records of early Deerfield, MA were destroyed.

-There was virtually no relationship between half-brothers David Leroy Fisk and John Flavel Fisk even though they lived at opposite ends of the same county most of their lives.

Having said all this, there appears to have been a family relationship among the principals of this study, which we hypothesize as follows:

Hypothetical structure:

Daniel Fisk of Petersham and Deerfield. (1716-bef. 1808)

Near the center of Brookside Cemetery in Chester, VT are two similar sharply etched slate gravestones; "Elizabeth Fisk / wife of Daniel Fisk / died March 13 / 1808 age 82", and "Eben Fisk died 23 DEC 1815 at 45 yrs".

This Daniel Fisk was the son of John and Lydia (Adams) Fiske of Watertown and Sherborn, MA. He married Elizabeth Goddard, born 04 Sep 1726, daughter of Edward and Hepzibah (Hapgood) Goddard. The Goddard Genealogy published in 1833 says that Daniel Fisk of Deerfield, (no other background given) m. Elizabeth Goddard and had nineteen children. While this genealogy gave no sources, it was one of the very earliest of the genre, and the author was at that time actually close to family knowledge and papers covering many events of the eighteenth century. This story was picked up, with due credit given, and without modification, by Bond in his Watertown compendium (p232,249), and repeated in subsequent Goddard recapitulations. However, Bond did not identify the parents of Elizabeth Goddard’s Daniel, keeping him separate from the Watertown/Sherborn family. There is yet no document proof that the two Daniels are the same, although the high station of the Goddard family would suggest that a Daniel Fisk marrying into the family would be the only logical documented candidate in the area.

After Daniel Fisk and Elizabeth Goddard married in 1743 in Shrewsbury, the couple went on to settle in Nichewaug (later Petersham), where several land records were created in Worcester County Deed Books (WD). The handwriting on the deeds is difficult, and they were interpreted somewhat differently by Paul Randall in his Fiske Family MSS (PR), p.200, in the History of Petersham (HP) by M.C. Coolidge, 1948, and by myself.

On 29 Oct 1747 (WD 24:480), Daniel, school master of Nichewaug (predecessor of Petersham) bought house lot 18 of 66 acres for £300 from Sam'l Wilson of Nichewaug, yeoman. This was a considerable purchase for a schoolmaster, possibly financed by his prosperous father-in-law.

On 25 May 1748 Daniel Fisk "of Nichewaug…schoolmaster", sold half of Lot 18 to (his father-in-law) Edward Goddard of Shrewsbury (WD 45:293) for £200. On the same day, Daniel Fisk "of Nichewaug…schoolmaster", bought one acre of Lot 18 from his father-in-law, Edward Goddard of Shrewsbury (WD 28:227) for the same £200! The only conclusion that can be drawn from these two deeds is that Daniel Fisk gave his father-in-law half of Lot 18 less an acre he needed, probably to satisfy an obligation (perhaps having borrowed to make to original purchase).

On 12 Jan 1750/1, Daniel Fisk "of Nichewaug…schoolmaster", acquired another 35 acres for £40 from John Stowell, Jr. of Nichewaug, being the south part of Lot 68 (WD 31:90, writing sometimes looks like Lot 65). On 01 Oct 1750, John Stowell Jr. sold another 3 acres of this lot to Abraham Byham (or Bryan), blacksmith in a transaction witnessed by Daniel Fisk (WD 31:167). On 18 Oct 1750, Stowell sold yet another half acre of the same lot to Edward Goddard, witnessed by Daniel and Elizabeth Fisk. On 03 Sep 1753, Daniel Fisk, schoolmaster of Nichewaug, sold a small piece of land to Byham the blacksmith described as a piece of land in Lot 60 adjoining Lot 68 included by mistake in the original sale to Fisk (WD 37:556). Finally, on 16 May 1761, Daniel Fisk, "of Petersham, schoolmaster", sold his holding of Lot 68 back to John Stowell of Petersham for £93/6, and the deed, attested on 29 Sep 1762, was signed by both Daniel and Elizabeth Fisk his wife (WD 56:216). At this point, Daniel Fisk should have been left with half of Lot 18 plus one acre.

Edward Goddard, Esq. of Shrewsbury, and often styled as gentleman, made his will on 02 Dec 1773, four years before his death. In it, he left considerable property in Shrewsbury, Petersham and Templeton to his sons and made provisions for his daughters. The only surviving one married was Elizabeth Fisk, to whom he left "£32, which is the value of the note I hold on her husband dated 12 Jul 1762." This seemingly sour note indicates that the Fisks may have been estranged from Goddard at this point and that Daniel was probably still alive.

The land records and Goddard’s will provide clear links from the Daniel Fisk and Elizabeth Goddard who married in Shrewsbury, to Daniel and Elizabeth Fisk of Petersham. The Petersham VRs list only four births for Daniel and Elizabeth: Ebenezer (1743), Daniel (1746), Betty (1748) and Sarah (1758). Were there really fifteen other kids, as the Goddard Genealogy asserts?

They apparently moved on to Shutesbury, two towns west, a town with scarcely any records. An early Hampshire Co. record (2:441) shows a Daniel Fisk, yeoman, (and Elisa [sic] Fisk) of Shutesbury selling property in that town to Arch. Leonard and Isaac Sampson on 9 Nov 1769. The deed mentions Elizabeth crossed out as shown, and is then co-signed by Elisa Fisk. (A record in Hampden Co. (12:96) dated 25 Sep 1772, but indexed as 1769 shows a Daniel Fisk selling to the same two gentlemen. This must be verified to ascertain it is more than just a transcription duplicate.

The incomplete records transcribed from the Deerfield ledgers into the History of Deerfield pose as many questions as they answer:

Daniel Fisk fr. Shutesbury 1766; Rev. Sol.; of Dfd. 1792. He m. Mary Vaughn of Leverett; a weaver. This could have been his son Daniel^B b. 1746. There are no other obvious possibilities. The Montague VRs (73) show the intentions of Daniel Fisk of Montague and Mary Vaughn of Shutesbury stated on 9 Aug 1783.

Daniel, taxed 1771. He m. 14 OCT 1773 Hepzibah Wells [Deerfield VR 185,242]. This could have been the same person. Again, no other obvious candidates.

The next property transactions involving a Daniel Fisk in this area involve the town nearly adjacent to the northwest of Shutesbury, Montague; and Deerfield, across the Connecticut River. On 5 Sep 1770, Daniel ^A Fisk of Montague, yeoman, bought property from Jno. Ashley in Deerfield (Franklin Deeds 14:60). Did the schoolmaster of Petersham, become a yeoman? While another Fiske family (usually with the E) was relocating at that time from Upton and Hardwick to far northwest Deerfield (which became Shelburne), they did not have a member named Daniel until 1765. The first property is described as being in the East Mountain Division East of Deerfield Town Plat, the East end of lots 9-12 containing 28 3/4 acres, bounded on the

north: Thos. Dickenson's prop.

east: partly Ct. Riv.; partly Jno. Wells' land. (father of Hepzibah)

south: partly Jno. Wells' land; partly Jeremiah Nims'.

A middle 18 acres of the same land was sold on 1 Jul 1797 to Jos. Stebbins, described as follows:

north: Thos. Dickenson's prop.

north: heirs of John Clapp

east: Jno. Root

south: Nathan Cobb

west: Ct. River

He then sold this lot to his son Daniel ^C, the 2nd of Deerfield, yeoman. Daniel ^C the 3rd sold the property to Lemuel Clark on 26 Jan 1799 (12:328) and discharged this debt in full on 28 Jan 1799. (12:17-18). The sale to Clark was witnessed by Daniel "2nd"^C.

On 19 Apr 1798, Daniel ^C, of Montague, and his wife Caty, bought from Daniel ^B of Montague two 2-acre plots in Montague, bounded on the

1. 2.

north: Daniel ^B prop. Cold Brook

east: Nathan Smith River [?]

south: Moses Root Daniel ^B prop.

west: Ct. River Ct. River

Daniel ^C and Caty also sold these tracts to Lemuel Clark on 26 Jan 1799.
 

The old tax ledgers of Deerfield show these Fisks, always among the poorest listed:

Ebenr. Fisk 1 11 2/8

Danl Fisk 0 15 3/16

Danl Fisk Jr, 1 - -

1771 State Tax

Daniel Fisk (12 acres)

Ebe'r Fisk (7 acres)

1772 Town Tax:

Dan'l Fisk Jr. 2 26 3/16 [no 2^nd Daniel or Ebenezer]

1775 Town Tax

Daniel Fisk 1 24 5/14

Ebenr. Fisk 1 12 0/9 [did he then leave for the War?]

177? Town Tax [prob. 1777 or 8]

Daniel - 41 -

[fragment undated, but appears to consolidate both Fisk properties.]

1779 (Dec.) Town Tax

Wid. Mehitable - 10.24 -

1784 State Tax

Daniel Jr. 1 - -

1786 (Dec.) Town Tax

Mrs. Mehitable - 14/3 -

1787 Town Tax

Mrs. Mehitable - 0/14 ?

1788 (Dec.) Town Tax

Wd. Mehitable - 14/3

Daniel 2nd 1 3/0 0/11

1789 Town Tax

Dan'l Jr/ only
 
 

Daniel Fisk Jr. of Deerfield, MA (1746-1832)

Property transactions shown under his father.

Deerfield History: Daniel, in military service from 01 May to 01 Aug 1775. (p.209). Daniel and Ebenezer Fisk, shown on Muster Roll with Eber Allis, 20 Apr 1775 (p. 701). Daniel Fisk, Jr., voted with Zebediah Allis, 01 Jan 1781 (p. 740).

Lt. Ebenezer Fisk of Montague, MA. (1743-1779)

We are concerned with the records of three Ebenezer Fisks:

The inventory of the Lieutenant contained a piece of property bounded as follows:

north: by John Kendall

east: by the Connecticut River

south and west: Samuel Eustis

It is very clear that the land is in Deerfield although this is not explicitly stated.

In 14 Feb 1782, Samuel Eustis sold two lots to Mr. Lemmon (Hampden, 23:355). The second is as a lot in Deerfield, East Mtn. Division, on Lot #5, bounded as follows:

east: on land lately belonging to Lt. Ebenezer Fisk dec.,

south: on the [first of the two lots]

The relationship with Ebenezer Fisk of Chester is more difficult to ascertain. He was buried next to Elizabeth Goddard Fisk (wife of Daniel) in Brookside Cemetery in Chester, VT. Ebenezer of Chester was born in 1770 according to his gravestone (age 45 in 1815). The similarity of the two gravestones suggests a close relationship which would most obviously be that of grandmother-grandson. The most likely hypothesis is that he was the son of Ebenezer of Petersham, or he could have been the son of another of Daniel and Elizabeth Goddard Fisk's children. The only brother known, despite the original Goddard Genealogy claims of nineteen children, was Daniel ^B, whose only recorded marriage was in 1773. There is no known birth record of him, yet there are records of the two certain children of Lt. Ebenezer Fisk of Deerfield: David and Nathan. One disquieting conflict remains: if Ebenezer of Chester was in fact born in 1770, shouldn't he have qualified as a minor in 1785 and therefore be mentioned in the guardianship that applied to David and Nathan? No heirs of Lt. Ebenezer of Montague other than David and Nathan are mentioned.

Inventory of Lt. Ebenezer Fisk, dec., was taken 31 MAY, 1785, in Hampshire Co., MA. His file includes a statement dated 28 FEB 1785 by Moses Gunn of Montague that Ebenezer would [expect to] deal impartially with his heirs. Guardianship of two minor boys, Nathan and David, heirs of the Lieutenant, given to Mehitable Fisk, widow, and Moses Allis [believed to be her brother]. There is no date record of Ebenezer's marriage to Mehitable and no record to ascertain her maiden name. We rely on two slender clues. First, the vital records of Ebenezer (birth of two sons, death at West Point) are only in the records of Montague, MA, even though Ebenezer was from Deerfield and his property at death was in Deerfield. One plausible explanation for the records being in Montague was that his wife was from Montague. There happened to be only one Mehitable in Montague of the appropriate age to marry Ebenezer: Mehitable Allis, b. Montague 16 SEP 1749, dtr. of Zebediah a town founder and Mary (Baker) Allis, original settlers of Montague, or Hunting Hills as it was then called. In fact, her birth record and the name on record as mother of Ebenezer's sons was in both cases a variant of Mehitable. Second, the Moses Allis aforementioned was the brother of Mehitable Allis. Finally, there is no conflicting record of Mehitable Allis after her birth (in fact, there is no record at all).

An Ebenezer Fisk signed the 1768 petiton for the set off of Shelburne (Hist. of Deerfield, p. 585), but this is likely the other Ebenezer Fiske who lived in the northwest corner of town in what became Shelburne. This Ebenezer then became first constable of Shelburne (op.cit., p.586).

From a MSS in PVMA Library, Deerfield: 22 APR 1774: a complaint by [neighbor] John Kendall of a physical attack by Ebenezer Fisk of Deerfield, witnessed by a Daniel Fisk and his wife, among others.

The documentary record of Lt. Ebenezer Fisk in the Revolution is confused by some of his records being listed under "Fish" and by the acceptance by the DAR of Lineage Records which confuse this soldier with the son of Dr. Ebenezer Fiske of Epping, NH, as misstated in Pierce's Fiske-Fisk Genealogy.

Mass. Soldiers & Sailors, V:720 lists records under three separate Ebenezer Fisks:

[1] Ebenezer Fisk, Deerfield. Private, Capt. Jonas Lock's Co. of Minute-men, Col. Williams's regt., which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775; service, 20 days; [History of Deerfield notes that Locke was in the commissary department, which is consistent with Ebenezer's later attachment to Quartermaster Jackson. p. 701, a Private Daniel Fisk of Deerfield performed the same service for 33 days.] also, Capt. Reuben Dickenson's Co., Col. Benjamin Ruggles Woodbridge's (25th) regt.; company receipt for advance pay dated Charlestown, July 27, 1775; received wages as Sergeant; also, Private, same Co. and regt.; muster roll dated Aug. 1, 1775 [again joined by Pvt. Daniel of Deerfield, MS&S V:717]; enlisted May 1, 1775; service 3 mos. 8 days; also, company return dated Prospect Hill, Sept. 28, 1775; also order for bounty coat or its equivalent in money dated Prospect Hill, Oct 26, 1775 [also applied to Pvt. Daniel of Deerfield]. [The above record covers at least two soldiers.]

[2] Ebenezer Fisk. Private, Capt. Haffield White's co., Col. Rufus Putnam's (5th) regt.; muster rolls for Feb.-Apr., 1781, dated West Point; enlisted Feb. 16 1781; enlistment 3 years. [clearly someone else]

[3] Ebenezer Fisk, Lieutenant, Col. Michael Jackson's regt.; Continental Army pay accounts for service from Jan. 1, 1777 to April 4, 1779; also, same regt.; return of officers dated Boston, Nov. 20, 1778; regimental return approved April 9, 1779; reported died April 4, 1779; also, Col. Michael Jackson's [8th Mass.] regt.; account of the seven years half pay allowed agreeable to resolve of Aug. 24 1780, to widows and orphans of officers who were killed or died in service; half pay allowed to Nov. 25, 1785. (which may explain why there was no pressure to settle the meager estate until 1785). There are also four records under Ebenezer Fish. Three are quite different situations, but one is the same: Ebenezer Fish [p. 678]. Quartermaster, Col. Michael Jackson's regt.; account rendered against the United States by Massachusetts for amounts paid officers and men of said regt. on account of depreciation of their wages for the first three years service in the Continental Army from 1777 to 1780. (See Ebenezer Fisk. [sic]) Finally, the record of Col. (later Major) Michael Jackson in the same book (VII, 681) makes it clear that he was in West Point through much, if not all of, 1779. While it was the winter of 1779-80 that was most notorious for it harshness, various correspondences during the year indicate that the company was ill-fed, sick and barely clothed most of the time. Lt. Ebenezer may have died of these deprivations.

The Historical Register of Officers in the Continental Army (F. B. Heitman, Washington, 1914, p. 227) has this entry under Ebenezer Fish: (Mass). Ensign Sergeant 16th Continental Infantry, 1st Jan. to 31st Dec., 1776; 1st Lt. 8th Mass., 1st Jan. 1777; Regimental Quartermaster, 28th Sep., 1778; Capt. Lt.,1st Jan, 1779, died 4th Apr., 1779.

The War records suggest that Lt. Ebenezer Fisk of Deerfield and a Daniel Fisk of Deerfield were closely related, perhaps brothers.

Ebenezer Fisk of Chester, VT (1770-1815)

This "gentleman", as he is called in his later land deals, is mistakenly tied to the family of Dr. Ebenezer Fisk of Epping, NH by the Fiske-Fisk Genealogist, F.C. Pierce. Even after Mr. Pierce advised the Charles Fisk of Covington of Ebenezer's supposed origin in Epping, etc. (letter, 1896), there was no acknowledgment of this link by the family, many of whom were keenly interested in their forebears.

While the Fisk name sometimes has an "E", and sometimes doesn’t, the Kentucky Fisks and Chester Fisks consistently did NOT use the "E". The Epping Dr. FiskE and his family nearly always appear with an E. The Epping Dr. Fiske did have a son Ebenezer who Pierce says was born 12 MAR 1767, and his probate records include guardianship papers which place his son Ebenezer's birth between 1764 and 1770. The Guardianship appointment of 20 FEB 1778 lists Ebenezer, Cotton and Ezekiel as being under fourteen. (Rockingham Probate 5061) This implies birth from 21 FEB 1764 through 1773. Guardianship addendum of 12 JUL 1785 lists three in same order as minor children. Probate of 20 DEC 1780 sets off two shares of his fathers estate as the eldest son, implies Isabella is older, and mentions Cotton and Ezekiel. There is no evidence of anyone named Daniel or David. There is no reference in later years among the Kentucky Fisks to any one named Cotton or any Fisks in New Hampshire.

The Chester Ebenezer Fisk's gravestone shows he died 23 DEC 1815 ae. 45, making his birth year as 1770. The will of the Chester Ebenezer Fisk and his property records do not indicate that he had a first wife before Azubah Hoyt, or that he was a doctor, or that he had children, all claimed by Pierce. The Chester Ebenezer is also far too young to have been the father of David, since Ebenezer married Azubah Hoyt 08 JAN 1794, and David married Naomi Lewis by 1796. Pierce gives David's birth date as 10 OCT 1772 which matches the existing family record and was probably supplied by a member of the Kentucky family.

Next to his gravestone is the similar slate stone for Elizabeth, wife of Daniel, died at age 82 in 1808. Daniel Fisk left no records in Chester. It is almost certain that this was Elizabeth Goddard Fisk, widow of Daniel Fisk of Sherborn and Petersham, MA, who was born in 1726. There was no other known spouse Elizabeth of a Daniel Fisk born in that year. After 1815, graves of Bartons (relatives of Abigail Sargeant) were placed between them.

In the 1800 Census he is listed as Ebenezer FisH, 1m 10-15, 3m 16-25, 2m 26-44 [born between 1756-1774], 1f 16-25, 1f 26-44. The homestead appears to have contained an additional family.

Azubah was referred to later in family letter abstracts as Azubah, not Grandma or Aunt. Azubah Hoyt Fisk referred to herself as "sister" when writing Abigail Sargeant Fisk): Mr. Fisk ...is to go to Saratoga to spend a few weeks. Mrs. Fisk [presumably alive but indisposed, and not the same as Azubah] would write you that your friends in this place are in comfortable health. Your true friend and Sister, Azubah Fisk."

Ebenezer, styled a housewright or builder, bought property in 1793: from his soon-to-be wife Azubah's cousin Jonathan Caryl, Jr.(9 SEP, Liber 125D); 1794: Bought prop. from Lucius Hubbard (21 APR, Liber 184D,247E) 179?: Bought from Francis Hoit and Wait Ranney (75E, 131E) and many subsequent transactions, none with another Fisk. Ebenezer left a substantial estate with farm animals and implements. He also left reference books, including Blackstone's Laws. (There is nothing about the estate to support the Pierce Genealogy assertion that he was a doctor.)

Based on Azubah's self-reference as Sister when writing Abigail Sargeant Fisk, and also referencing Belle Andrews Fisk’s "Grandfather Fisk" who was David Fisk, the most likely story is that David and Ebenezer were brothers.

The Chester Town Records contain a transcribed Brookside Cemetery card which shows Eben Fisk died 23 DEC 1815 at 45 yrs., and the gravestone reads the same clearly.

Their position in the Cemetery is of significance, since they are the first buried in what became a Hoyt plot (four rows north of the main entrance road) as follows from right to left (west to east): Francis Hoit, father of Azubah, 1839 Anna Hoit, mother of Azubah, 1842. Azubah (Hoyt) Robbins, her probable granddtr.-in-law, 1838 ELIZABETH FISK, 1808 Eben (ezer) Fisk, her prob. grandson, son of Lt. Ebenezer, 1815. Jabez Barton, Eben's brother-in-law, 1813. Sophia (Hoyt) Barton, Jabez' wife, 1862. Ebenezer F(isk?) Barton, their son, 1823. Anna Hoyt, unm. sister of Azubah and Sophia, 1827. Notice that both Fisks and both Bartons died and were buried before the various Hoyts followed!

Since we are reasonably certain that David Fisk of Norwich, Cavendish and Kenton Co., KY, was son of Lt. Ebenezer Fisk, who was both the son of Daniel and Elizabeth Goddard Fisk, and the brother of Ebenezer Fisk of Chester, who was apparently childless, it follows that the Chester Ebenezer was probably another undocumented son of Lt. Ebenezer who is buried next to his grandmother. It would help solidify this hypothesis had Ebenzer of Chester been identified as a minor child of Lt. Ebenezer and Mehitable in 1785 in Deerfield.

In 1805, the Town of Swanzey, NH, wrote to Deerfield asking that Deerfield pay the expenses of one Elizabeth Fisk, who had become a public burden. On 16 Sep 1805, the Overseer of the Poor in Deerfield replied that she was not an inhabitant of Deerfield and that Deerfield wasn't about to pay (original at PVMA, Deerfield Poor file). Farnum Fisk, a Selectman of Swanzey, then replied on 15 Nov that he was personally acquainted with "some of the affairs" and was sure she belonged to Deerfield. How this was resolved, and whether this was the Elizabeth who died at Chester two years late, is not known. On the one hand, her husband Daniel seems to have gone downhill once he left the shadow of her well-to-do father. On the other, she ended up being well cared for by Ebenezer in Chester, judging from his estate and the size of her gravestone.

David Fisk of Norwich and Cavendish, VT (1772-1829)

David Fisk is still a genuine mystery.

In the 1880 Census, son John Flavel Fisk said the birthplace of both his parents is "unknown". Son David Lewis Fisk said his father was born in "the U.S.". John Flavel Fisk wrote to Carll Lewis (editor of the Lewisiana genealogy magazine) in 1896 that the first record he had of his family was the marriage of his parents (he was making an inquiry about the relationship of the Fisks to the Lewises (card from C. Lewis the J.F.Fisk, 3 JUN 1896 in ABM collection). This is because his father died when he was only 14.

First we must dispose of the assertions of the Fiske-Fisk Genealogy by F. C. Pierce, that David was the son of Ebenezer Fisk of Chester, VT, who in turn was the son of Dr. Ebenezer FiskE of Epping, NH. This matter is discussed in detail under Ebenezer Fisk of Chester.

While there is no likely connection between David and Ebenezer of Chester, and Dr. Ebenezer FiskE of Epping, the two Fisks in Chester were most likely brothers. David's descendants communicated with Azubah as a member of the family, and she in turn signed a letter to Abigail Fisk as "your sister": "Mr. Fisk ...is to go to Saratoga to spend a few weeks. [Is this Azubah's husband?] Mrs. Fisk [Is this Azubah referring to herself in the third person, or her mother- or grandmother-in-law, presumably alive but indisposed] would write you that your friends in this place are in comfortable health. Your true friend and Sister, Azubah Fisk."

After researching every aspect of the Fisk/Fiske family prior to 1800, I am struck by how very few unrelated records exist other than the ones mentioned here. It does appear that they all belong to one of the few Fisk families that earlier research failed to connect. At the same time, I am mindful that Genealogist Pierce's urge to connect unrelated Fisks is what caused so much confusion in the first place.

In conclusion, I believe the evidence supports (and never contradicts) this hypothesis:

John and Lydia (Adams) Fiske of Watertown, MA, moved to Sherborn and had son Daniel in 1716. Daniel in turn moved to Shrewsbury where he married Elizabeth Goddard, dtr. of Edward Goddard, also from Watertown, and Hepzibah Hapgood of Marlboro. They moved to Petersham and had, among others, Ebenezer, born in 1743. They then moved to Deerfield about 1765, where Ebenezer married Mehitable, dtr. of Zebediah and Mary (Baker) Allis of Montague. They were the parents of this David Fisk, who was born on 10 OCT 1772 per family records, or 15 NOV per Montague town records, which may have recorded a baptismal date. Ebenezer Fisk of Chester was probably his older brother, born about 1770.

David Fisk somehow associated himself with Dr. Joseph Lewis of Windsor, VT. He ran a cobbler shop on the grounds of the grist mill that Lewis acquired in 1793, apprenticed in medicine, and married daughter Naomi Lewis.

The first record of the adult David Fisk is the birth of his son David Lewis by wife Naomi Lewis in Windsor, VT. The Windsor Liber does not mention his first name. Their supposed marriage record in the same book does not mention his first name either, nor does it mention her last name. This is all very odd. David Fisk, however, is clearly identified in Joseph Lewis's will as husband of Naomi Lewis. There is no evidence of David's whereabouts at the time of the birth of David Lewis Fisk in 1800, when his first name is conspicuously missing from the record, or at the time of Naomi's death, again pointedly recorded as Naomi LEWIS. The Lewis Gen. says Naomi died "in Kentucky", but it is exceedingly unlikely that David went down to Ky. with Naomi before 1800, lost her, then returned to get Abigail.

By 1804, the new physician clearly had decided to put down roots in Cavendish, VT. He, described as "physician of Cavendish", purchased half an acre there on 28 APR 1904 (Cavendish TR 6:207) for $25 from Leonard and Jabez Proctor. The lot was on the Turnpike Rd. to the east of Steel's Store, and measured 4.5 rods n/s by 18 rods e/w. On 19 JUL 1904, "Dr. David Fisk of Cavendish" married "Mrs." Abigail Sargeant in Chester.

David Fisk in New York:

Census of 1810:Manlius, Onondaga, NY (069), 1m10-16,2f0-10.

Census of 1820:Manlius, Onondaga, NY (090). 3m10-16,if16-26.

From Onondaga, or Reminiscences, Joshua Clark, Syracuse, 1849: p. 220 "Dr. Ward was the first settled physician in the present town of Manlius [settled 1790-5],... Dr. Fisk and Dr. Washburn once did a thriving business here." P. 253: "Dr. Daniel Denison first commenced practice of medicine in [Oran, founded 1798], 1814, and is still at it. Previously, Drs. Ward Weed and Fisk of Eagle Village [settled 1790] had officiated at this place." When this info. was copied into Clayton's History of Onondaga, p. 375, it came out: "Dr. FisH and Dr. Washburn, also well known physicians, resided in [Eagle] village.
 
 

Sometime after David Fisk’s death in 1829 (Family records), his wife Abigail apparently took up residence in Cincinnati. Her children attended the Freeman Cary Academy outside of Cincinnati during its first years of operation (1835-41). Oldest son John F. was married in 1842 at the home of a Mrs. Fenton Lawson, who may have taken the family under her wing. The 1850 Censsus shows Abigail living next to step-son David Lewis Fisk in Fiskburg with an unknown younger man.

David Lewis Fisk of Fiskburg, KY

The Kling DAR submission, referring to an unknown source says that he "floated down the Ohio with his cousin Partridge from Connecticut. He reached Morning View, KY (up the Licking River) ill with typhoid, and was nursed back to health by Sarah Abercrombie, who he married. His Norwich birth record shows "David Lewis Fisk son of [blank] Fisk, & Naomi his wife, March 27th, 1800," indicating father may have already left Naomi.

The record for his kids births is in the Kling DAR submission, original source unknown. 1850 Census: ae. 50 from Vermont, wife Mary 39, kids Charles, 10 (listed out of order, age err), Sarah 12, Lucy 10, Florence 8, Ami 3, all born KY. In 1870, he and Mary Jane were living with Ann M., 26, Mary L. 20 and Harley B. 18. He was living with Enos Fisk in the 1880 Census.

John Flavel Fisk of Covington, KY

Named for John Flavel (Presbyterian divine and author, 1630?-1691).

In a letter to his son dated 08 Feb 1858, he noted that "I commenced life on my own [when he was 14]...much younger than you now are [16] without a father's care and protection. And all that I am I have made by myself and for myself."

After leaving Genesee Co. or Onondaga Co., NY, he was in Hamilton Co. OH by 1837 and studied there at the Freeman Cary Academy. In 1841, he received a late baptism at the ? Church, Pleasant Hill, OH. In about that year, he began teaching at the Germantown Academy, Mason Co., KY and then became principal of the Maysville Academy until 1844 or 1847. He read law in Maysville under Frank Hord (KG&B) and then attended a law school in Covington run by Gov. James T. Morehead and Judge Pryor. He was admitted to the Bar in Covington in 1848.

1850 Census: ae. 34, Lawyer, b. NY, wife Eliz. 28, b. OH, kids Charles H., 6, Virginia, 3, and Sarah E., 7/12, all b. KY

In 1857 he was elected to the Kentucky State Senate from Campbell and Kenton Cos. In 1859 he was listed in G. Hawes' Kentucky Gazetteer on p.56 as partner of Cambron & Fisk (S.H.C. & J.F.F.), Covington attorneys.

In December, 1859, he was elected Speaker of the Kentucky Senate which made him ex-officio Lt. Gov. of Kentucky. He played a key role at the end of the 1860-1 Senate by passing a resolution the the "Stars and Stripes" be flown from the State Capitol [in support of the Union]. At the beginning of the 1861-2 Senate, this was done, and the enthusiasm generated by this act coalesced Union support in the State and discouraged welling rebel sentiment.

During the ensuing year, Kentucky government became a stalemate because Governor Magoffin has secessionist leanings but was not supported by either house. He was asked to resign but refused because this would have left the Governorship in the hands of Lt. Gov. Fisk, who was implacably pro-Union. To break the impasse, Lt. Gov. Fisk offered to resign first. This permitted the Governor to resign and be replaced by a compromise candidate, James F. Robinson. Following these actions, the Senate then re-installed Fisk as Lt. Governor, which position he retained until deciding to not seek re-election to the Senate in 1865.

In 1870, his Census listing (Roll 478, 235) shows John, ae. 54, b. NY, worth 20000 + 18000 (a LOT!)., with Elizabeth 48, b. OH, Robert, 18, Isabella, 14, John Jr., 11, and Elizabeth 7, all b. KY

In the 1880 Census, he lists origin of both mother and father as "unknown". From 1890 to 1895, the family summered on Peak's Island off Portland, ME. In 1896, Genealogist Pierce wrote John F. Fisk during his vacation on Peaks Island (ME) telling him that he had "found" his family line (the erroneous line to Dr. Ebenezer of Epping) and asking him to put his photo in then genealogy for "only $10." John F. Fisk was also corresponding with the editor of Lewisiana (Carll Lewis), trying to establish details concerning the relationship to Naomi Lewis. Apparently, John's father's untimely death in 1829 occurred before anyone in the family really could query him about his ancestry, and the Gov. failed to get many questions answered.
 
 

The other Fisks of Fiskburg, KY

The 1820 Census shows three Fisk households in Campbell Co., KY, headed by John, William and David.

The 1830 Inventory and sale of the estate of a David Fisk, presumably the one listed above, showed Susan and William as administrators. Participants in the auction sale included David L. Fisk as well as George, Susanna, William and Justan.

These Fisks do not figure into Campbell Co. Land records except for a sale by Thomas Loyd in 1834 (Campbell L:198) to Benjamin (Franklin?) Fisk, William Fisk, David Fisk (no middle name) and Samuel Rick, and a sale of possibly the same property on Cruises Creek by a William Fisk in 1845 (Campbell D4:44).

A William Fisk m. Ann Stubbs on 6 Oct 1829; and Cynthia Stephens on 8 Apr 1832 (Campbell Marr. 71) . He was witness to the marriage of his presumed dtr., Margaret, to Augustus Regnier/Raynor on 6 Nov 1831. Margaret Regnier stated her birthplace as Maine in the 1850 Census. She may be related to the Pegie Fisk listed in the Fisk Genealogy (#5302-27, p. 504), dtr. of David Fisk of Thomaston and Camden, ME, who supposedly went to Kentucky in 1817. This family is quite removed from any of the Fisks discussed above and has not been thoroughly researched.  For work in progress, see Fiskburg Fisks from Maine.