| 2 | Ibid. http://www.ststlocations.com/Archives/Donham/AppendixA.
Text From Source: Abel DONHAM Sr. was born 19 August 1777 in either Middlesex or
Perth Amboy, Woodbridge County, New Jersey. He was the son of Nathaniel DONHAM
Jr. and Keziah CROSLEY. At the time of Abel's birth, Nathaniel was serving in
the 1st Regiment of New Jersey in the Revolutionary War. He deserted on 1 August
1777 and re-mustered in May 1778. This desertion was about two weeks before
Abel was born. It appears that he probably left the army to be with Keziah when
their son was born.
The 1880 Census for Abel's son Abel DONHAM Jr. lists that the father (Abel Sr.)
was born in Pennsylvania, though other records have said that Abel was born in
New Jersey. Apparently, the family did move to PA while Abel was still young.
In 1800 Ohio, Abel DONHAM married Elizabeth FERGUSON, born 21 March 1780 in
Nottingham, Washington County, PA, daughter of Isaac FERGUSON and Elizabeth
LEEDOM. They had fourteen children. Abel fought in the War of 1812.
Abel DONHAM wrote his will on 1 January 1847 and it mentions his wife Elizabeth.
But Elizabeth then died 6 November 1851 in Clermont County, OH. On 2 September
1852 in Clermont County, Abel remarried to a widow Mrs. Sarah Ann HANCOCK.75
Abel died within the next eight months as his will was probated on 23 May 1853.
I do not know how that was resolved in the courts. Abel DONHAM was buried at the
Love Family Cemetery, Lindale, Ohio Township, Clermont County, Ohio. The will
is as follows (from Clermont County will book G, page 142. Dated 1 Jan 1847,
probated on 23 May 1853.):
I Abel DONHAM of Clermont County and State of Ohio being in perfect health
of body and of sound and Disposing mind memory and understanding, considering
the certainty of death and the uncertainty of time thereof and being Desirious
to settle my worldly affairs and thereby be the better prepared to leave the
world when it shall please God to call me home, do therefore make and publish
this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say
First and prinsapally I commend my soul to Almighty God and my body to the Earth
to be Decently interre there. I Divise and bequeath as follows, first I Give
and Bequeath to Elizabeth DONHAM my wife all my real and personal Estate During
her Natural life and when my wife Elizabeth ceases to be then all my property
and Estate Real and personal to be sold and Divided as follows. I give and
bequeath unto my Daughter Penina BUTLER one hundred Dollars 2nd I give and
bequeath unto my Daughter Elvira VERNADER Two hundred and fifty Dollars 3rd I
give and bequeath unto my Daughter Julyann WHIDDEN three hundred Dollars 4th all
the balance to be equally Divided amongest the rest of my Children that is to
say all the residue of my Estate. Namely John DONHAM my son, Lewis DONHAM my
son, Abel DONHAM my son, and my Daughters Sarah FitzPATRICK, Mary BHYMER,
Elizabeth TRACY, Cynthia FERGUSON, Highleigh RANDAL, Nancy COLE, and Evaline
CHAPMAN, and lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint Enoch TRACY and Solomon
FitzPATRICK my sons in law to be sole Executors of this my last will and
Testament. In testimony whereof I Abel DONHAM have hereunto set my hand and seal
this first Day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and forty seven. Witnesses: George SAPP and Cyrus P. HAYFORD.
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