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Ancestral Lineage

Origins of

the Surname

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Migrations of the

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Family history

     The earliest known ancestor of this family line is James Abbott born about 1665 in England.  James came to the Colonies from Somersetshire, England about 1690. It is most likely that he landed at the city of New York.  Shortly after his arrival he crossed the East River to Long Island. Here married Martha (Nee?), this according to records of old “Newtown Township”, Queens County, New York.  James Abbott bought land in Newtown Township on December 14, 1693 and made other land purchases there.  The August 1698 census of Newtown shows six inhabitants in the household of James "Abett", presumably James, Martha and four children.  A May 1701 deed record notes James Abbott as, "Jeams Abbott, tanner of Foster’s Meadow, now a resident within ye Province aforesaid", i.e.," ye towne of hemsted and ye Island nassaw in quens county."  According to the aforementioned document he bought 100 acres of land in Hempstead, on Long Island from John Jackson.  No doubt the family settled at this location as he bought other land there in 1714.  Around 1735 James moved into nearby Suffolk County in an area then known as Half Hollow Hills now located near Dix Hills in the Town of Huntington.  Here he and several of his sons owned adjoining tracts of land in the “Half Hollow Hills” section.  He is first recorded in this area on 5 April 1737, when as "James Abitt, Sener" he purchased "the house, barn, orchard and all other buildings" where he was then living from his son, Benjamin Abbott.  James was probably still living in “Half Hollow Hills” when died without a Will sometime after 1754.  He and Martha had at least six children: James, born about 1693, Benjamin, born in 1694, Abdon, born between 1695-99, Joseph, born about 1698, John, born about 1700 and Elizabeth, born about 1712.

     Abdon Abbott, I, son of James and Martha Abbott was born sometime between. 1695-1699 in Newtown Township, Queens Co., New York.  He married Martha Abbott (Nee?) circa 1719 in New York. Of this union a son Abdon, II was born around 1720.  Abdon probably resided in the “Half Hollow Hills” section in the Town of Huntington until he removed his family from Suffolk County, New York around 1745 and settled in Salem County, New Jersey.  He died 1756 in Pilesgrove Twp., Salem Co., New Jersey.

      Abdon Abbott, II is believed to be the son of Abdon Abbott,I (c.1695-1756) for the following reasons: Abdon Abbott was bond for estate of Abdon Abit and witnessed will of Martha Abit,  He would have been the oldest son, so may not have been named in the will if his inheritance was "understood".  Most researchers cite the place of his death as Pittsgrove, Salem, New Jersey.  It is well known that Adbon Abbott, II was well established at this location thus a positive geographical connection. Many genealogista have suggested that the father of Abdon Abbott, II is Joseph Abbott, brother of Abdon Abbott, I.  Apparently this notion arose from The Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey, wherein the following is quoted, "The only reason for suggesting Abdon Abbott as the son of Joseph is that it does not seem as though any other second generation man could have been his father.”  It is believed that this evidence is extremely thin.    Abdon Abbott, II Abdon was born 1720 at Hempstead, Nassau County, New York.  Apparently Abdon accompanied his father and mother when they moved to Salem County, New Jersey sometime prior to 1745.  Here he married Elizabeth Blew a native of Pittsgrove Township in Salem County. At least eight children were born to this marriage between 1748 and 1759.  Abdon’s Last Will and Testament of 1790 names seven children and four sons-in-law. 

     We are descended through Abdon and Elizabeth’s daughter Anna Abbott born c. 1759 at Pilesgrove Township.  Anna married Benjamin Franklin Peachee I, a native of Salem County, circa 1784.  At least seven children were born to this union between 1784 and 1800.  One being our 5^th great-grandmother Alice "Elcy" Peachee born in Salem County 1786.  Anna and her family migrated from Salem County to Mason County, Kentucky circa 1794.  She died between 1826 and 1828 it is most likely that this event occurred in Fleming County, Kentucky. 

Direct ancestors

Additional information about the persons in our database  as   well  as   a   complete

listing of individuals with this surname may be reviewed by clicking on this LINK.

Descendant Register

Generation 1

James Abbott-1 was born on Abt. 1665 in Somersetshire, England. He died on Aft. 1754 in Huntington, Suffolk Co., New York. He married Martha Abbott (nee?). She was born on Abt. 1673 in Newtown, Queens Co., New York. She died on Aft. 1712.

Children of James Abbott and Martha Abbott (nee?) are:

·      James Abbott, B: Abt. 1693 in Newtown Twp., Queens Co., New York, D: 1765 in Amwell, Hunterdon Co., New Jersey.

·      Benjamin Abbott, B: 1694 in Newtown Twp., Queens Co., New York, D: Apr 1747 in Makefield Twp., Bucks Co., Pennsylvania.

·       Abdon Abbott I, B: Bet. 1695-1699 in Newtown Twp., Queens Co., New York, D:  1756 in Pittsgrove Twp., Salem Co., New Jersey, M: Abt. 1719 in New York.

·       Joseph Abbott, B: Abt. 1698 in Hempstead, Queens Co., New York, D: 1740 in Queens County, New York, M: Abt. 1719 in Long Island, New York.

·        John Abbott, B: Abt. 1700 in Hempstead, Nassau Co., New York, D: 1740 in Long Island City, Queens, New York, USA, M: 18 Apr 1727 in Huntington, Suffolk Co., New York.

·        Elizabeth Abbott, B: Abt. 1712 in Hempstead, Nassau Co., New York, D: 1810 in New Garden, Chester, Pennsylvania, USA.

Generation 2

Abdon Abbott I-2(James Abbott-1) was born on Bet. 1695-1699 in Newtown Twp., Queens Co., New York. He died on 1756 in Pittsgrove Twp., Salem Co., New Jersey. He married Martha Abbott (Nee?) on Abt. 1719 in New York. She was born on Abt. 1700 in Huntington, Suffolk Co., New York. She died on Abt. 1753 in Pittsgrove Twp., Salem Co., New Jersey.

Child of Abdon Abbott I and Martha Abbott (Nee?) is:

·        Abdon Abbott II, B: 1720 in Hempstead, Nassau Co., New York, D: Abt. Jun 1790 in Pittsgrove Twp., Salem County, New Jersey, M: 16 Oct 1745 in Pittsgrove Presbyterian Church, Salem Co., NJ.

Generation 3

Abdon Abbott II-3(Abdon Abbott I-2, James Abbott-1) was born on 1720 in Hempstead, Nassau Co., New York. He died on Abt. Jun 1790 in Pittsgrove Twp., Salem County, New Jersey. He married Elizabeth Blew on 16 Oct 1745 in Pittsgrove Presbyterian Church, Salem Co., NJ, daughter of John Blew and Elizabeth Shute. She was born on Abt. 1724 in Pittsgrove Twp., Salem Co., New Jersey. She died on Bef. 1790 in Pittsgrove Twp., Salem Co., New Jersey.

Children of Abdon Abbott II and Elizabeth Blew are:

·        Joseph Abbott, B: 29 May 1739 in Pittsgrove Twp., Salem Co., New Jersey, D: 24 Apr 1804 in New Providence, Union Co., New Jersey.

·        John Abbott, B: Abt. 1748 in Pittsgrove Twp., Salem Co., New Jersey, D: 1834 in  Woolwich Twp., Gloucester Co, New Jersey, M: Abt. 1772 in Salem County, New   Jersey.

·        Benjamin Abbott, B: 04 Jun 1747 in Pittsgrove Twp., Salem Co., New Jersey, D:  1817 in Rowan County, North Carolina.

·        Abdon Abbott III, B: 1749 in Pittsgrove Twp., Salem Co., New Jersey, D: Aft.  1836 in Makefield Twp., Bucks Co., Pennsylvania, M: Sep 1779 in Penns Neck, Salem Co., New Jersey.

·        Mary Abbott, B: 1751 in Pittsgrove Twp., Salem Co., New Jersey, D: 1834 in  Pittsgrove Twp., Salem Co., New Jersey, M: 08 Apr 1784 in Pittsgrove Twp.,  Salem Co., New Jersey.

·        Elizabeth Abbott, B: 1753 in Pittsgrove Twp., Salem Co., New Jersey, D: 18 Aug 1841 in Greenwood Twp., Crawford Co., Pennsylvania.

·        Sarah Abbott, B: 1755 in Pittsgrove Twp., Salem Co., New Jersey, D: Pittsgrove Twp., Salem Co., New Jersey, M: 31 Oct 1786 in Salem County, New Jersey.

·        Martha Abbott, B: 1757 in Pittsgrove Twp., Salem Co., New Jersey, D: 1834 in  Pittsgrove Twp., Salem Co., New Jersey, M: Aft. 1790 in New Jersey.

·        Anna Abbott, B: Abt. 1759 in Pittsgrove Twp., Salem Co., New Jersey, D: Abt.  1826 in Fleming County, Kentucky, M: Bef. 1784 in Salem County, New Jersey.

Generation 4

Anna Abbott-4(Abdon Abbott II-3, Abdon Abbott I-2, James Abbott-1) was born on Abt. 1759 in Pittsgrove Twp., Salem Co., New Jersey. She died on Abt. 1826 in Fleming County, Kentucky.  She married Benjamin Franklin Peachee I on Bef. 1784 in Salem County, New Jersey. He was born on 26 Dec 1756 in Pittsgrove Twp., Salem Co., New Jersey. He died on 01 Aug 1835 in Washington Twp., Daviess Co., Indiana.

Children of Anna Abbott and Benjamin Franklin Peachee I are:

·        James Peachee, B: 24 Dec 1784 in Cumberland County, New Jersey, D: 27 Dec 1867 in Daviess County, Indiana, M: 19 Jun 1811 in Mason County, Kentucky.

·        Alice "Elcy" Peachee, B: 1786 in Cumberland County, New Jersey?, D: 1854 in  Cynthiana, Pike Co., Ohio, M: 05 Jul 1802 in Mason County, Kentucky.

·        Elizabeth Peachee, B: 1788 in Cumberland County, New Jersey, D: Aft. 1860 in Fleming County, Kentucky, M: 03 Aug 1812 in Fleming County, Kentucky.

·        Susan Peachee, B: 1790 in Cumberland County, New Jersey, D: 1879.

·        Sarah Peachee, B: 1795, D: 1842, M: 27 Nov 1811.

·        Martha Peachee, B: 1799 in Mason County, Kentucky?, D: 1835 in Kentucky.

·        Benjamin Franklin Peachee II, B: 20 Jun 1800 in Mason County, Kentucky, D: 31 Dec 1860 in Washington Twp., Daviess Co., Indiana, M: 01 Mar 1819 in Fleming County, Kentucky.

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Origins of the surname

An Introduction

to the Surname

Source/Meaning

of the Surname

History of

the Surname

More About

Surnames

An Introduction to the Surname

The practice of inherited family surnames began in England and France during the late part of the 11^th century.     With the passing of generations and the movement of families from place to place many of the original identifying names were altered into some of the versions that we are familiar with today.  Over the centuries, most of our European ancestors accepted their surname as an unchangeable part of their lives.  Thus people rarely changed their surname.  Variations of most surnames were usually the result of an involuntary act such as when a government official wrote a name phonetically or made an error in transcription.  Research into the record of this Abbott family line indicates that the variations, meanings and history of this surname is most likely linked to that area of Europe where English traditions are commonly found. 

Source(s) & Meaning(s) of the Surname

Most of the modern family names throughout Europe have originated from with of the following circumstances: patronym or matronym, names based on the name of one's father, mother or ancestor, (Johnson, Wilson). Each is a means of conveying lineage; occupation (i.e., Carpenter, Cooper, Brewer, Mason); habitational (Middleton, Sidney, or Ireland) or topographical (i.e. Hill, Brook, Forrest, Dale); nicknames (i.e., Moody Freeholder, Wise, Armstrong); status (i.e. Freeman, Bond, Knight); and acquired ornamental names that were simply made up.

     Abbott is an English and Scottish name that originated from Middle English abbott ‘abbot’ (Old English abbod) or Old French abet ‘priest’.  Both the Old English and the Old French term are derived from Late Latin abbas ‘priest’ (genitive abbatis), from Greek abbas, from Aramaic aba ‘father’.  This was an occupational name for someone employed in the household of or on the lands of an abbot, and perhaps also a nickname for a sanctimonious person thought to resemble an abbot.  In the U.S. this name is also sometimes a translation of a cognate or equivalent European name, e.g. Italian Abate, Spanish Abad, or German Abt.

History of the Surname

     Surnames as we know them today were first assumed in Europe from the 11th to the 15th century. They were not in use in England or Scotland, before the Norman Conquest of 1066, and were first found in the Domesday Book of 1086. The employment in the use of a second name was a custom that was first introduced from the Normans who had adopted the custom just prior to this time.    Soon thereafter it became a mark of a generally higher socio-economic status and thus seen as disgraceful for a well-bred man to have only one name.  It was not until the middle of the 14^th century that surnames became general practice among all people in the British Isles.

     This surname is generally of early English origins, predating the Anglo-Saxons and before the Norman Conquest of England by Duke William of Normandy in 1066 A.D.  The Abbott surname was first found in the counties of Oxfordshire, Huntingdon, Bedfordshire and Cambridge from very ancient times. The Abbott name has also been in Ireland since the 14th century. In Irish the name is Aboid. It is quite numerous in Dublin. The surname also occurs widely in Scotland where it is either of English origin or a translation of MacNab, which also means 'son of the abbot'.

     The original spelling was 'abbod', Ralph Abbod being recorded in Somerset in 1272. The patronymic is usually indicated by the suffix 's', and very occasionally as 'Abbotson', Dorothy Abbotson being recorded at St Botolphs Bishopgate, London, on November 11th 1823. The various spellings include such rare forms as Habbett and Labbet.

     The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Alfwoldus Abot, 1117, County Norfolk.  Early records of the name mention Walter Abbot, which was dated circa 1190, in the Danelaw records of Lincolnshire.  A Walter Abbott was recorded in the year 1200, in the City of London.  Other early recording examples include Walter Abat, in the Assize Court Rolls of Yorkshire in 1219 and Henry Abbod, of the County of Oxford was documented in the year 1273.  Marageta Abbot of Yorkshire was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379.

     Later recordings of the surname include Elizabeth Abbet, who married Henry Waterman at the church of St Lawrence Poutney, London, on January 11th 1600. George Abbot (1562 - 1633) was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury in 1611, whilst Elizabeth Abbitt was recorded as 'living in Virginea, over the river' on February 16th 1623, making her one of America's earliest colonists.  Edward Sanders and Ann Abbitt were married at St. Antholin, London in 1720.

     The associated arms are recorded in Sir Bernard Burkes General Armory. Ulster King of Arms in 1884.  The Coat of Arms most associated with the name has the blazon of a red field, a gold chevron between three golden pears.

     Notable persons having the Abbott surname are: Bud Abbott (1895–1974), American actor; L. B. Abbott (1908-1985), American cinematographer, cameraman and special effects expert ; Horace Abbott (1806-1887), American manufacturer; and Gypsy Abbott (1887-1952), American actress.  A listing of other prominent persons with this surname can be found at Abbott (surname).

Variations of the surname

Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to unfold and expand often leading to an overwhelming number of variants.  As such one can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames because in early times, spelling in general and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized.  Later on spellings would change with the branching and movement of families.  Spelling variations of this family name include: Abbott, Abbot, Abbotts, Abbett, Abbet, Abott, Abbe, Abbie and others.

The complexity of researching records is compounded by the fact that in many cases an ancestors surname may also have been misspelled.  This is especially true when searching census documents.   The Soundex Indexing System was developed in an effort to assist with identifying spelling variations for a given surname.  Soundex is a method of indexing names in the 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920 US Census, and can aid genealogists in their research.  The Soundex Code for Abbott is A130.  Other surnames sharing this Soundex Code:  ABAT | ABBOT | ABBOTT .

Searching for more Information about this and other surnames?

Click LINK button to view our Surname Locator and Resources page.

Amorial bearings, symcbols and mottoes

In the Middle Ages heraldry came into use as a practical matter. It originated in the devices used to distinguish the armored warriors in tournament and war, and was also placed on seals as marks of identity. As far as records show, true heraldry began in the middle of the 12th century, and appeared almost simultaneously in several countries of Western Europe.  In the British Isles the College of Arms, (founded in 1483), is the Royal corporation of heralds who record proved pedigrees and grant armorial bearings.

Gallery of Images

Descriptions of the

Armorial Bearings

Motto(es) of

this Surname

More About Hearldic Bearings

Image gallery

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

Fig. 4

ARMORIAL BEARINGS

The associated armorial bearings for this surname and close variant spellings are recorded in Burke’s General Armorie and Reitstap’s Armorial General.  The additional information, presented below, is offered with regard to the armorial bearings depicted above:

FIGURE 1: This coat-of-arms was granted to John Abbott, Esquire of Braemar House, Lancaster Gate, Paddington, in England.  The black shield contains a gold pale on which is a crosier, on the field of a chief of the second are three water-bougets.  The crest (not shown) features two crossed black crosiers and a golden unicorn's head erased.

FIGURE 2: These arms are attributed to an Abbot in Burke’s General Armorie. The ermine shield contains a black engrailed bend with three gold crescents. The crest (not shown) shows an erect blue vested arm with an ermine sleeve holding in the hand a silver crescent.

FIGURE 3: These armorial bearing were granted to William Abbot of Hartland, in Devonshire, England was granted this coat-of-arms circa 1539.    On a black shield is a voided cross between four golden eagles.  The Crest (not shown) features a sitting blue griffin with gold beak and wings. 

FIGURE 4: In 1638 these armorial bearings were bestowed upon Sir Maurice Abbot the Lord Mayor of London. The arms feature a red shield containing a gold chevron between three golden pears.  The Crest reveals a golden unicorn’s head coming out of a ducal coronet between two silver ostrich feathers.

MOTTO(ES)  

     A motto is a word or sentence usually written upon a scroll and generally placed below the shield, but sometimes, especially in Scotland, above the crest.    Many ancient mottoes were war-cries such as the Douglas motto of “Forward.”    Many mottoes refer to the name of the bearer, for example “cole regem” for Coleridge.   In general most mottoes convey a sentiment, hope, or determination, such as the Cotter motto “Dum spiro spero” where the meaning is “While I have breath I hope“.     Mottoes are often used by several successive generations, but may be changed at any time by the grantee. The languages most in use are Latin, French, and English.  Exceptions are seen in Scotland where they are often in the old Lowland dialect, and in Wales, often in the language of the principality.   

The following listed mottoes and their translations are attributed to Abbott or Abbot:  Benedic fontes, Domine translated as Bless wells, O lord!;  Labore / By labour;  Age officium tuum / Act your office;  Clamamus, Abba, Pater / Whereby we cry, Abba, Father;  Toujours pret, or prest / Always ready

Heraldic bearings

The art of designing, displaying, describing, and recording arms is called heraldry. The use of coats of arms by countries, states, provinces, towns and villages is called civic heraldry.   A Coat of Arms is defined as a group of emblems and figures (heraldic bearings) usually arranged on and around a shield and serving as the special insignia of some person, family, or institution.  Except for a few cases, there is really no such thing as a standard "coat of arms" for a surname.  A coat of arms, more properly called an armorial achievement, armorial bearings or often just arms for short, is a design usually granted only to a single person not to an entire family or to a particular surname.  Coats of arms are inheritable property, and they generally descend to male lineal descendents of the original arms grantee.  The rules and traditions regarding Coats of Arms vary from country to country. Therefore a Coat of Arms for an English family would differ from that of a German family even when the surname is the same. 

Some of the more prominent elements incorporated into a  coat of arms are :

Crest - The word crest is often mistakenly applied to a coat of arms.  The crest was a later development arising from the love of pageantry.  Initially the crest consisted of charges painted onto a ridge on top of the helmet.

Wreath or Torse – The torse is a twist of cloth or wreath underneath and part of a crest. Always shown as six twists, the first tincture being the tincture of the field, the second the tincture of the metal, and so on.

Mantling – The mantling is a drapery tied to the helmet above the shield. It forms a backdrop for the shield.

Helm or Helmet - The helmet or helm is situated above the shield and bears the torse and crest. The style of helmet displayed varies according to rank and social status, and these styles developed over time, in step with the development of actual military helmets.

Shield or Arms - The basis of all coats of arms.  At their simplest, arms consist of a shield with a plain field on which appears a geometrical shape or object.  The items appearing on the shield are known as charges.

Motto - The motto was originally a war cry, but later mottoes often expressed some worthy sentiment. It may appear at the top or bottom of a family coat of arms.

Searching for more information about heraldry? Click on the button at the  right to take a look at our webpage featuring links to websites having images

of a wide variety of arms, crests, and badges.  They may also feature additional heraldry resources as noted in the accompanying descriptions.

Ancestral locations

Researching the locations where our ancestors lived has provided us with valuable evidence needed to fill-in the gaps in our family trees.  It has also led us to many interesting facts that enhance the overall picture of each family group.

Locations of

Direct Ancestors

Locational Distribution

of  this Surname

Where In the World

are my Ancestors?

Locatiof Direct Ancestors

The names of states and counties on the following list were derived from the known places where the Direct Ancestors in the “Ancestral Lineage” (see above) were born, married, and / or died.

COUNTRY

STATE

COUNTY / SUBDIVISION

UNITED KINGDOM

England

Somerset

UNITED STATES

OF AMERICA

New York

Queens Co., Suffolk Co.,

New Jersey

Salem County

Kentucky

Fleming County

Use this LINK to find out more

about the locations listed above.

Locational distributionstors

     Knowing the geographical areas where the surname you are researching is clustered and distributed is an indispensable tool in deciding where to focus your research.  We believe that the “Public Profiler” website will open up to you a wide range of solutions which implement current research in spatial analysis.  This site provides an array of local spatial information tools useful to the genealogist.

          The information presented below shows where the Abbott surname is distributed within the United States as well as in the British Isles, the country of origin of this family.      Statistics show that there are approximately 400 persons per million of population with this surname, within the British Isles, and 226 persons per million within the U.S.A.  Canada is found to be the country in the world where this surname is the most highly clustered having almost 458 persons per million of population.

United States of America

Key

European Country of Origin

Click on the LINK to the right to see more information about the World distribution of a surname.  You can get

greater detail for any of the following maps by clicking on the area, i.e state, county that you are interested in.

Wjere are my ancestors Ancestors

Resources which enhance our knowledge of the places inhabited by our ancestors are almost as important as their names. The LINK to the right will take you to Maps, Gazetteers,   and  other  helpful   resources 

that will assist in discovering Ancestral Locations.  These web sites comprise only a small portion of what is available for researchers interested in learning more about where their ancestors lived.

Migration routes

       Tracing our own family’s paths of migration can prove crucial in identifying previous generations and eventually, figuring out where and how they arrived in the “New World” as well as where they eventually settled.  Knowing the network of trails American pioneers traveled can help you guess where to start looking.  The trail map(s) provided below may assist you in understanding the routes that our direct ancestors of this family may have taken to find new homes and opportunities in the vast area now encompassed by the United States.

      During the 17^th, 18^th and 19^th centuries hundreds of thousands of Europeans made the perilous ocean voyage to America.  For many it was an escape from economic hardship and religious persecution.  For most it was an opportunity to start over, own their own land, and make a better future for their descendents.  Immigration records show a number of people bearing the name of Abbott, or one of its variants, as arriving in North America between the 17^th and 20^th centuries.   Most of these immigrants came from the British Isles.  Some of these immigrants were:  George Abbot of Andover Massachusetts born in Yorkshire died at Andover in 1681. George Abbott emigrated with his three sons and settled in Rowley Massachusetts in 1630. Arthur Abbott settled in Marblehead but removed to Ipswich Mass. and joined Winthrop in 1634 in the settlement of that town. Francis Abott settled in New York State in 1853. The early migration of the family is covered in the Abbott genealogy written in 1847.

Use the following links to find more early immigrants with this surname:

$ Search Ancestry.com Immigration Records; or Free Ship’s Passenger lists at OliveTreeGenealogy.com

The Development of an Historical Migration Route

It is understood that in many if not all cases we do not know exactly what routes our ancestors took as they migrated throughout the United States.   As such certain assumptions have been utilized to re-create the migration path presented above.  With regard to 18^th and 19^th century land routes we assume that they travelled along few trails and roads that were in existence at the time.  Research shows that a great many of these old paths and trails are today designated as U.S. Highway Routes.  For example, a major east-west route of migration known as the National Road is now U.S. Route 40, and a primary north-south migration route of the 18^th century followed the Great Indian War and Trading Path is now U.S. Route 11.  In some situations the re-created migration route may travel along state routes that connect or run through the seat of a county as that populated place is probably the oldest settlement in the area. The use of water as a migration route is also likely.  For example, during the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries many families travelled west on the Ohio River as they moved on the new lands in Missouri or the Old Northwest Territory.  As such when applicable water routes have been included as the possible migration route.   

ABBOTT Migrations c.1690 – c.1826

     James Abbott arrived via ship from England during the year 1690.  He probably landed at New York City.  By 1693 he had crossed the East River and lived in Newtown, Queens County.     Around 1701 the lure of cheaper land further to the east lead James to the Town of Hempstead a distance of about 20

     Around 1745 Abdon Abbott I, approximately age 50, and his son Abdon Abbott II, now a 25 year old single-man decided to leave the Long Island area in order to pursue an interest in land located in southern New Jersey.  The Abbotts could have employed several possible routes and means of transportation to reach there eventual destination in Salem County, New Jersey.  The simplest and most expensive would have been to take a water-route from New York south along the New Jersey shore,

here they would travel along the road to "Farnsworth Landing", now called Bordentown, New Jersey.   By 1745 Joseph Borden had founded a transportation system to carry people and freight between New York City and Philadelphia. This exploited Bordentown's natural location as the point on the Delaware River that provided the shortest overland route to South Amboy, from which cargo and people could be ferried to New York City. From here the Abbotts’ would have had to decide whether to employ the water route down the Delaware River to Philadelphia or directly to Salem, or to continue on the land route south to Salem County.  It is probable that they chose to continue with their wagon as the water travel would have been more expensive and their destination was only about 65 miles distant from Bordentown.  Along the southern New Jersey thoroughfare also named “King’s Highway.  This route had been established in 1681 and was the first road connecting to the county of Salem to the main portion of the original King’s Highway.  Whether by land or by water the Abbots’ would eventually reach the town of Salem.  Salem, the seat of Salem County, is located on the Salem River and was founded by John Fenwick in 1673.   By 1745 it had been an important port engaged in shipbuilding and trade.   Upon their arrival in Salem County they would settle in that portion of “Old” Pilesgrove Township that became Pittsgrove Township in 1769.

      Around the year 1794 Anna Abbott, daughter of Abdon II and Elizabeth Abbott, and her husband Benjamin Franklin Peachee I left Salem County and migrated west to new opportunities in Kentucky.   By this time Anna had bore at least seven children.  Although the route they took to their ultimate destination

reached Mason County, Kentucky.  Around 1820 Anna and Benjamin moved to nearby Fleming County, Kentucky.  Anna Abbott died between 1826 and 1828 it is most likely that this event occurred in Fleming County. 

Source documents

The documents contained within this “Source Documents Archives” have been located during our research of this family, and used as evidence to prove many of the facts contained within the database of this family’s record.   We have source documents related to the following persons within our database with this surname.

·    Abdon Abbott - 1790 Will Abstract

·    Abdon Abbott, III - Accused of supporting Great Britain, 1778

·      Elizabeth ABBOTT Peterson - 1840 Last Will and Testament

This Link will take you to our

archive of source documents.  

You are welcome to download any of the documents contained within this archive that does not cite a copyright.  Should you encounter a problem obtaining a copy you may get in touch with us via the contact information found at the end of this web-page.

     Most of these documents can be considered as primary or secondary evidence.  Primary evidence is usually defined as the best available to prove the fact in question, usually in an original document or record.  Secondary evidence is in essence all that evidence which is inferior in its origin to primary evidence. That does not mean secondary evidence is always in error, but there is a greater chance of error.  Examples of this type of evidence would be a copy of an original record, or oral testimony of a record’s contents.  Published genealogies and family histories are also secondary evidence.

     Classifying evidence as either primary or secondary does not tell anything about its accuracy or ultimate value.  This is especially true of secondary evidence.  Thus it is always a good idea to ask the following questions: (1) How far removed from the original is it, (when it is a copy)?; (2) What was the reason for the creation of the source which contains this evidence?; and (3) Who was responsible for creating this secondary evidence and what interest did they have in its accuracy?

SOURCE:  Greenwood, Val D., The Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy, 2^nd edition, Genealogical Publishing  Co., Baltimore, MD 21202, 1990, pgs. 62-63

Web resources

This search engine may

provide you with additional

information to assist with

your research about this topic.

·             Our Surname Locator And Resources web page contains the following: (1) links that will take you to an updated listing of all surnames as posted in our three databases at the Rootsweb WorldConnect Project; (2) the Surname List Finder a tool that finds sound-alike matches for a given surname from among RootsWeb's thousands of surname lists; (3) the Soundex Converter that can be used to find the soundex code for a surname, plus other surnames/spellings sharing the same soundex code;  (4) Surname Message Boards the world's largest online genealogy community with over 17 Million posts on more than 161,000 boards; (5) Surname Mailing Lists of all surnames having mailing lists at RootsWeb, as well as topics that include (6) Surname Heraldy, and  (7) Mapping a Surname. 

·             Your genealogy research of this surname can be facilitated by use of Surname Web. This website links to the majority of the surname data on the web, as well as to individual family trees, origin and surname meaning if known, and many other related genealogy resources. 

·             Surname Finder provides easy access to free and commercial resources for 1,731,359 surnames. On each surname specific "finder" page, you can search a variety of online databases all pre-programmed with your surname.

·             Use All Surnames Genealogy to get access to find your surname resources .  There are almost 1300 links in this directory.

·             SurnameDB Free database of surname meanings - This site SurnameDB.Com contains a large FREE to access database (almost 50,000 surnames) on the history and meaning of family last names.

·             Public Profiler / World Names - Search for a Surname to view its Map and Statistics.

·             Linkpendium Surnames - Web sites, obituaries, biographies, and other material specific to a surname.

·             Cyndi's List - Surnames, Family Associations & Family Newsletters Index - Sites or resources dedicated to specific, individual family surnames.  

Free Records & Databases

All of the records and databases we’ve collected are FREE and can be accessed and searched online without having to pay for a subscription.   We have divided our collected into 14 record types as follows: Biographical; Birth; Cemetery; Census & City Directories; Church; Court; Death; Immigration & Naturalization; Land; Marriage; Military; Newspapers; Occupational; and Tax Records.    We try not to list any sites that have only a few records for the purpose of getting you to a website that will charge a fee to actually see the record beyond just a name.  

This Link will take you to our

collections of FREE Records.  

The following Link will take you to our library of genealogy reference books.   Here you will find bibliographies, family histories and books about names.  In addition, there are texts that pertain to ethnic and religion groups, history, geography as well as other books that will assist you with your research.

This Link will take you to our

collections of reference books.  

Images gallery

During our research we have collected images and photographs that are of general interest to a particular family.  Some of them are presented on this website because we believe they tend to provide the reader with additional information which may aid in the understanding of our ancestors past lives.

This Link will take you to our

collection of family photographs.  

Use the power of Google™ to find more interesting images about this topic. This button will link you to the Google Images Search   page.   Enter   the   topic   you   are

searching in the box and click “Search Images”. At the “Images” display page you will see the image, as well as the website of which it is associated.

About this webpage

CONTACT INFORMATION

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We do like to hear from others who are researching the same people and surnames.

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photos, stories, and other appropriate information about this topic.

RULES OF USE
You are welcome to download any information on this page that does not cite a copyright. 

We only ask that if you have a personal website please create a link to our Home Page.

-- This webpage was last updated on --

01 January 2012