THE ABELL JFAMILY IN AMERICA ROBERT ABELL OF REHOBOTH, :MASS. HIS ENGLISH ANCESTRY AND HIS DESCENDANTS OTHER. ABELL F AMIUES AND IMMIGRANTS ABlELL FAMILIES IN lENGLAND By HORACE A. ABELL, RocHESTER, NEw YoRK LEWIS P. ABELL, Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA THE TuTTLE PuBLISHIXG CoMPANY, lNc. RUTLAND, VERMONT PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. IN 1940 THE ABELL FAMILY IN AMERICA Jhe .'Jfrmorial 13earirzss­ ef 1Zobert3:fbeH, /;; 1;1},c,fl {I t/,,11.J ' ,- //11r/u/ \\' u1 riz \\' ..\Br:u., Halrinwre, \Ian land 1 JJr,'.1'jr/t'i!/ 1d' 'Tl1r' , -J1j1,!/ J-. (il}!il\' iJ! , in1(Ti1"d \\ \LTEB \\", \BELL 1·, \l'l'Rl·Tl·\1.l<I'\ f'OR IIJ, IEKY HI 11'1 I I, l'()(ll'LIZ \ !JO'\ \\.ll Ill' J\IE\sl-: l\!'EIU·:SI l\ TIIL \!',fl.I. f .\\!IL\" Ill' !OR\ \\ Hll'II II-\' \1 \Ill I'll,,[ BI.I: l'H 1-: I'! HLll' \ I IO\ UI ! l l t·.> l l\ l.l'Ul-Z! i-... Table of Contents Page Illustrations . 7 Appreciation . 9 Origin of the name Abell 10 Introduction . 11 Interpretation of the Armorial Bearings of Robert Abell 17 Family Numbers 18 Abell Families in England 19 Thomas Abell, The Martyr 32 Manors Held by Abells . 34 The Tomb of John Abell 35 Maternal Lines of Robert Abell 36 Robert Abell of Rehoboth, Mass. 39 First Generation 43 Second Generation . 46 Third Generation . 56 Fourth Generation . 68 Fifth Generation 85 Sixth Generation 111 Seventh Generation 147 Eighth Generation 193 Ninth Generation 234 Tenth Generation 254 Appendices: A Abells from Leicestershire, England 261 B Abells of Orange and Albemarle Counties, Va. 264 C Jeremiah Abell's family, of Rockingham Co., Va. 269 D Abells from Yorkshire, England 271 E Abells from England to Erie, Pa. 273 F Abell families in Kentucky 274 G Abell families in Maryland 278 H Abell families in Virginia . 283 I Family of Francis Abell, who came to America with the British troops 286 J Captain Robert Abell of Maryland, and some of his des­ cendants 290 K Abells from Plymouth, England 306 L Jeremiah Abell's family of Virginia and South Carolina 308 M Abells of Shenandoah County, Virginia 311 Index 315 List of Illustrations Coat-of-Arms Frontispiece Opposite Page Walter W. Abell 4 Group Portrait-Abell Family in America 9 L. P. and H. A. Abell 11 Group Portrait-Coats-of-Arms 19 Thomas Abell Symbol 33 Chart of Abells of Stapenhill 36 Three Abell Charts 38 \Vil! of George Abell . 42 King Philip's Chair 45 Gravestones-Preserved and Joshua Abell 47 Print of Signatures 49 Map of Norwich-First House Lots 51 Gravestones-Joshua and Caleb Abell 53 Royal Commission to Robert Abell 69 Capt. Daniel Hodges Abell, No. 141 111 Arunah S. Abell, No. 146 113 ,Jo,,hua Leroy Abell, No. 269; CoL Thomas Grisv.-old Abell, Ko. 211; Mosely \V. Abell, No. 210; George Austin Abell, No. 262 1:35 Robert Abell and Sons 139 Group Portrait-Arunah S. Abell and others 1.51 Hon. Silas Palmer Abell, No. 312; Dea. Eliphalet Abell, No. 298; Capt. George Abell, No. 150; Col. Charles C. Abell, No. 271 155 Edith Abell, No. 384 . 189 Hon. Charles Emmet Abell, No. 394; Dr. Ira H. Abell, No. 272; Hon. Oliver Clinton Abell, No. 236; Col. William Hawks Abell, No. 347 193 Henry Abell, No. 297; Mr. and Mrs. James Wood Price, No. 423 201 Opposite Page Mr. and Mrs. Stephen H. Abell . 205 Col. David Hunter Abell, No. 324; Erasmus Darwin Abell, No. 330; Hon. Henry Edward Abell, No. 439; Hon. Frank D. Abell, No. 560 207 Hon. James Madison Abell, No. 307; Hon. Charles Judson Abell, No. 450; Dr. Paul White Abell, No. 520; Dr. Charles Gordon Abell, No. 415 211 Arthur Maynard Abell, No. 484; Winfield Veazey Abell, No. 519; George Lester Abell, No. 528; Louis Ray- mond Abell, No. 574 221 Walter W. Abell and Mrs. Katherine Abell . 243 Dr. Edmund Joseph Abell, Appendix A, No. 3 263 THE A.BELL F"!fl.Y l's .\\IERW\ OrganizPd in _\"p,y York,-"·\., .Jum· 23. 1n:-m. t" c11111rn,•111"rntl' tl1l' tri-c1•11t<'lllliul anniversar\' of thP anival of RohPrt Ah,.Il, who land('d at :--,t11•111. :\Ia.,,., :mo _\'Pars ago: in ,JunC' Hi30. 10 Ii Ii \I 1!', 1.·, JI l I ., ! ,) ('H \FlTJ-:H :\[U!llr:I{, \\!J ()\Tl< J-:[{, \\'alter \Y. _-\hell. /'(f xi,/(11/ ltilti111111,•, :\Id 2. H()f"a("P .\. _-\l,1,JI. j-"j,-s/ l"i,·1 /'11si1/111/ & f{i,fu,-i1111 H,wlll·,t,-1. \ \_ :J \\"infield\" _.\1,,.11,:,,rn11il\"ir, /',,., \1·11 \,,1k, \ \ & Hi,·n,id,., 1_ ·,,1111 I. .Jolin T ..\liPII, T/,i,-,/ \"ir1· l'usil/111/ :-;,,utl, (h,i11g,·. \ ./. 1.,-11·i, !'. Ahdl. ,",l('J't/(/r!/, T111/.'!/J'u ,\: JI /slu• 1/111 l,i,, .\n_u:,•le,, (',ilit. Ii. ( 'l,11k .-\ . .-\h(•l/, :-st .-\IIJa11,. \"t. I. ll,•1111· ('_ .\hell. f.1111,·il!t-. \. \ ,-.;_ :-,a iii,; ( ·.. \ht•!!. ( l11t<t1i11, ( ';lllada 9 . .-\rtl1m :\I. .-\i>l'II, lh,ti11g,-,,11-ll11d»,11. \_ \ 10. :'lliss Lura !-: .-\lwll. Hrid,f.!t'JH11't, ( 'r>llll 11. :\Ir·_ :\Iargu1·rit1· .-\lwll lb1·1111111. [{,,c!Jl•,t,•r. \. \. l 2. :\Jr,_ Lillian .-\hell :\k ( :a1-r-1. H," ,id,·. L. I I :l. :\Ii" :\Iargart't :-sixx, · lln,,,khn, \. \. 1-1. :\Ii-,. Wintil'ld \"_ .-\lwll, \,.,k, \ \. ,\: l{i,·1·1,i;I,·. < ·"1111 I.",. :\Ir, . .-\rtl1m :\I. .\hell. ILt,til!g,-1J1i-!IIJd,1J!I, \. \ l!i. :\Ir,. /,a.H'lla (:11n!1111 :-,i,,. Jln,,,kh-11. \ \. l i :\Ir, :'II. ( 'Jiff,, :\lill1•1, ]L,,tilll'.'·»ll-Il11d,1J)i, \ \ l'i :\[1·, .-\ln11·d,1 1;,,r,l,,11 Pi,·k,-1i11S'". llr,,,,kh ,,. '\ \ Appreciation Those members of the Abell Family in America who will read . the subsequent chapters, will find records, dates and names of allied families, strangers to them in many instances, yet a part of our history both in England and America. I fear, however, that many of our family will read the lines of history in a casual manner, as if the references were merely gathered hither and yon for the asking, not realizing that the compilation of this work is the result of untold research, of years of patient scrutiny of the archives of the past, both here and abroad. In order to dispel the foregoing idea that may be in their minds, this foreword is addressed to any members of the Abell family who are without a full comprehension of the tremendous amount of work preceding the publication. The volume is the result of over twenty-five years' study of the subject. But for this study, our family would be without a published history, which so few families in this country possess. The publi­ cation of the Abell Family in America record without due credit to those who are responsible for its being, without acknowledgment of the family's debt to them, would be the height of ingratitude. The records here presented are based upon intelligent research and delving into the documents of over three hundred years. If this labor were not acknowledged by the members of the Abell family, we would be remiss in our duty to those to whom full and entire credit belongs. To Horace A. Abell of Rochester, New York, primarily and Lewis P. Abell of Los Angeles, California, secondarily, historians of the Abell family, each and every member of our family is indebted for this priceless genealogy. I therefore, on behalf of the Abell Family in America, salute Horace and Lewis who have made possible this publication and without whose endeavors this volume would be non-existant. WALTER W. ABELL President, The Abell Family in America O:rigin of the Nrune Abell From Various Sources Abal-"There is a Teutonic word Ahal, signifying strength, which may be more probably that which is found in the French Abeillard, with which we have a name Ablard to correspond." Abel-"Many Old Testament names such as Abel, may be con­ nected with Medieval spectacles" (plays). Abel-Hebrew. Breath, a breath vapor, evanescence, transitori- ness, vanity. Abel, Able-Hebrew. Breath-emanation. Abell-A name which has not a very genuine sound as a surname. Abell-Is on the Roll of Battle Abbey, Holinshed's copy, 1080-1086. Abell-As the name of an under-tenant in the county of Kent is given in the Domesday Survey. Abell-Is sometimes taken from Abeele. "The son of Abel" (Baptismal)-Much more popular in medie­ val society than in the 19th century; among the peasantry, however, Abel still receives a certain amount of attention as a front name. Ahal-Anglo-Saxon, denotes strength. Abel-Assyro-Babylonian, denotes son. Abel-Hebrew, denotes breath, evanescense. Abel-Danish and Swedish. Abel, Ebel-German. Abels, Eble-Dutch. Abeels-Flemish. Abbeele-Flemish. Abell-Norman. Abell-English. Abell-Welsh. Pronunciation (Lippincott's Pronouncing Biographical Dictionary): A-bell'. Abell, John (1660-1716)-English singer attached·.. to chapel of Charles II. l.1-:11 ,~ I'. ,\1u-:1.1. ll1111.\c·1,: A. A1rn1.1, I 11:-- A11~1•!<·~, ( ':tlif()riii:1 l·/0('!1<·,t<'I', :\c•\1· Y"rk THE ABELL FAMILY IN AMERICA INTRODUCTION IN THE ADOPTION OF THE ABOVE TITLE for this work there was considered primarily only the descendants of Robert Abell, of Weymouth and Rehoboth, Mass., as the first of this name in America, and the purpose of the subsequent pages was to show as fully as possible all those direct descendants bearing the same family name and as many as reasonably convenient of the known allied lines, who lived and acted in that brief space of time from Robert Abell the immigrant down to the present era.