John Abbott (abt. 1799 - 1858)

Born about 22 Aug 1799 in North Carolina, USA

Ancestors

Died 19 Sep 1858 at about age 59 in Washington County, Indiana, USA

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Biography

John was born about 22 August 1799 in North Carolina. He was the son of James Abbott and Elizabeth Copeland. He passed away on 19 September 1858 in Washington County, Indiana and is buried in Walnut Ridge Cemetery, Kossuth, Washington County, Indiana.^[1] (Note birth date is calculated based on gravestone which gives death date 19 September 1858, aged 58 years, six months and 28 days.)

According to the US 1850 Census (APPENDIX B) John Abbott, and the Copelands, James, Hugh, and Mary migrated to Jackson County, Indiana. James and Hugh appear to have migrated to Indiana between 1810 N.C. Census and the 1820 Indiana Census. (APPENDIX B). In the 1850 Indiana Census (APPENDIX B) the age and birth state are listed. William M. Copeland who is probably James Copelands son appears to be the youngest Copeland , 36 to be born in N.C. So the migration to Indiana could not have started before 1814. Also many of the N.C. deed records refer to Copeland land or list Copelands as witnesses throughout about 1815.

In the 1850 Indiana Census, David Copeland, 32, appears to be the oldest blood Copeland to be born in Indiana. This means that the migration to Indiana was complete by 1818 at the latest.

Using the N.C. and Indiana migration dates would make it highly probable that the migrations occurred between 1816 - 1818.

According to Tradition 1 (TABLE 1) , Hiel had a brother named John. According to the 1850 Indiana Census (see appendix B), John Abbott, of N.C. lived with the David Copeland in Indiana [Tradition 5]. Based on the 1850 Census (see appendix B), John Abbott was born in 1800.

Only heads of household are listed in the 1810 and 1820 census. Presumably Mary Copeland moved with her brothers, but there is no documentation to that effect. We know that she appeared in the household of David Copeland as recorded in the 1850 Indiana Census.

Recently uncovered documentation [Appendix D Ref 3 D] suggests that Marry married Powel Stamper. Perhaps Mary arrived later as a widow or migrated with her husband. Further research on the Stamper connection needs to be pursued.

There are two John Abbotts in the 1820 Census but neither appear to be our John Abbott. These John Abbotts appear to be father and son, since they live right next to each other in Clar. County.

Our John Abbott appears in the 1830 Indiana Census living in the same household with James Copeland. However by 1830 Hugh Copeland no longer appears to live in Jackson County. Again it is not clear whether John was not in Indiana in 1820 or the census simply listed the head of the household and John living with the Copelands , was not listed. There is also a reference of Lerona Abbott, married in Jackson County in 1834 (Appendix G). It is possible that she is the John Abbotts daughter but that will require more research.

The Indiana Census records for 1840 show James Copeland and John Abbott, but by the 1850 census [appendix B] , James is gone and John, now is listed for the first time as a carpenter [TRADITION 6] ; lives with David Copeland, who we assume to be the son of James Copeland.

The 1850 Census is more definitive than earlier censuses. The 1850 census is the first where all the members of the household are listed and their ages and birth places are given. Mary Copeland, A 65 year old from N.C. resident appears for the first time since the 1804 Minutes Of Court Of Pleas and Quarter Sessions from N.C. [Appendix E Ref. F]. and the 1808 N.C. deeds [Appendiz D Ref. 3 D]

The 1850 census shows a Wesley Abbott , 22, living with the Leonard Shumaker Family. It is possible that Leonard a 37 year old Indiana native , Is related to the Leonard Shoemaker listed in Book P, page 407 on the Iredell County, N.C. Deed Abstracts [Append D Ref. 4 A] M His wife Elizabeth is 34. Leonard and Elizabeths daughter, Eunice was only 7, so Wesley was not living with his in-laws.

By the 1860 Indiana Census, (appendix B) John Abbott is no longer listed. Wesley now appears to be John W. Abbott, presumably using John after his fathers death. While still living in Jackson County, John W. appears to have moved to the townships of Carr. Leonard Abbott is also in the 1860 census, is of interest. It's possible that he is John W. Abbotts son and that John W. named his son after Leonard Shumaker rather than his father which raises questions about his relationship with John Abbott.

As mentioned earlier Hugh Copeland disappeared from the Indiana Census by 1830, and while not as definitive as the census, the Putnam County Marriage records suggest that Hugh Copeland moved to Putnam County. If Sophronia and Wickliff are descended from Hugh Copeland, then Hugh was in Putnam County from 1836 to 1845, but it is a weak case. In Sophronia's case we have no compelling documentary evidence connecting her to Hugh. The strongest evidence of a connection between Hugh and Sophronia comes through Sophronia's husband , Richard Lanning and Land Lanning in Book P, Page 407 of the Iredell Co. N.C. Deed Abstracts [ Appendix D Ref. 4 A]. Wickliff Copeland is an entirely different matter. According to the "1891 History of Harrison County, Iowa:

"Copeland - Wicliffe B. Copeland , takes rank among the early settlers of Harrison County. He came to St. Johns in November 1852, and remained there two years, and in February, 1855 removed to the site of his present home (1891), Having taken claim in the fall of 1852 and moved a small shanty to the place (which had been built by the Mormons) which he used until he could erect a log cabin which had the primitive puncheon floor, and shakes for roofing. Their nearest post office and trading point was Kanesville, (Now COUNCIL BLUFFS), Mr. Copeland was born in Jackson County, Indiana in January 1823. He is the son of Hugh and Charlotte (Alexander) Copeland. The father was a native of North Carolina, born in 1786 and died in Fremont County, Iowa aged about 86 years. Our subjects mother was a native of the South, and died in Fremont County, Iowa in 1861. When our subject was twenty years old, he commenced trying the realities of life for himself. He worked as a common laborer until he was married in 1845, to MALINDA FRAZIER, a native of Tennessee, who was the daughter of Thomas and Mary (SHAFER) FRAZIER. Her father died in Indiana in 1851, and her mother in Pottawattamie County, Iowa in 1870.

Mr. and Mrs. Copeland are the parents of nine children. F.J. ; Mary J; Vincent S; Amanda J; Oliver H; Perry; Catherine S; William T; and James H. When Mr. Copeland came from Indiana to Harrison County, he made the trip by ox teams , and was a year on the road, for they stopped at Ottumwa and also in Missouri. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church.

"Source 1891 HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA. "

Further insight is offered by in the following discussion of one Hugh W. Copeland , presumably a son of our Hugh Copeland. "Copeland, Hugh W. , farmer section 7, P.O. Sidney; born in Putnam county, Indiana, March 10, 1831, where he resided until 1836, where he removed with his parents to Illinois , and thence to Missouri in the following year. In 1851, he came to Fremont county, and in the following year went to Wapello County. Here he was married , December 1853 to Miss Sarah C. Turberille, by whom he has three children living; James H., Walter R., and Carrie H.; and two deceased. In 1855 he returned to Fremont County and has since resided here. HE enlisted August 15, 1862 in company E, twenty - ninth Iowa, and in August of the following year , on account of disability was transferred to the veteran corps and ordered to Indianapolis, where he remained until mustered out. He was one of the lay delegates to the M.E. Conference at Des Moines, in 1879, of which church both he and his wife are members.

With the information above, the 1860 IOWA census [appendix B] comes alive with meaning. While we can not be sure that ALL of the Copelands listed in the 1860 IOWA census are related we can draw conclusions based on the available information . For instance , the Copelands in Fremont, Harrison, and Pottawattamie counties are almost surely related. The 1870 U.S. Census for Fremont County, Iowa [ appendix B] provides more detail.

Spouse: Elvira Wilson Shows up in the 1830 - 1850 census In Jackson County, Indiana. The 1850 census shows John Abbott living with David Copeland, probably James or Hugh's son.^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ Find A Grave Memorial# 48778785
2. ↑ Entered by Lynna McMillan.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Lynna McMillan for starting this profile.