The Abbott Family of Bradford, Pennsylvania

This name is derived from the Hebrew ab, “father,” through the Syriac. It had its origin in the monasteries of Syria, whence it spread through the east and soon became accepted generally in all languages as the designation of the head of a monastery. At first it was used as a respectful title for any monk, but was soon restricted to the superior. The name is spelled in a multitude of ways, but this branch uses the two “t’s” as did their American ancestor. The most distinguished member of the English family was George Abbot, born 1562, died 1633, archbishop of Canterbury, a strong manly character who wielded a powerful influence over the English king, James.

(I) Captain Thomas Abbott

Captain Thomas Abbott was born in England about 1632, died in Andover, May 15, 1695. In 1642 he was an inmate of the family of George Abbott, of Rowley, Massachusetts, supposed to have been a near relative. He lived in Rowley until 1659, then went to Concord for a time, settling in Andover, Massachusetts, where he was married. He was a farmer in Andover, where with others he owned a mill privilege. He took the oath of allegiance to the king February 11, 1678, and was styled captain, probably a militia title. He married, December 16, 1664, Sarah Stewart, who died in February, 1715, aged sixty-nine years. Children:

1. Joseph Abbott, born 1666, died young.
2. Thomas Abbott, 1668.
3. Sarah Abbott, 1671.
4. Joseph (2) Abbott, 1674.
5. Dorothy Abbott, died young.
6. Nathaniel Abbott, 1678.
7. John Abbott, of whom further.
8. Dorothy (2) Abbott.
9. Mary Abbott, 1686.
10. Ebenezer Abbott, 1689.

(II) John Abbott

John, son of Captain Thomas Abbott, was born in Andover, Massachusetts, September 23, 1681. He was a weaver and farmer. He married, April 11, 1710, Hannah Chibb, who died May 23, 1733. He married (second) October 29, 1734, Hepzibah Frye. Both he and his second wife were living in Andover, in 1763. Children:

1. Hannah Abbott, born about 1711.
2. Sarah Abbott, died young.
3. Mary Abbott, died young.
4. John (2) Abbott, of whom further.
5. Sarah Abbott, born August 5, 1722, married Timothy Noyes.
6. Mary Abbott, born November 12, 1727, married Samuel Griffin.

(III) John (2) Abbott

John (2), son of John (1) Abbott, was born in Andover, Massachusetts, February, 1718, died in Andover, Maine, in 1803. He was a farmer of Andover nearly all his life. He married, in Massachusetts, June 17, 1746, Hannah Farnum. Children:

1. Jonathan Abbott, born April 12, 1747
2. Philip Abbott, of whom further
3. Hannah Abbott, married John Johnson
4. Susannah Abbott, married Daniel Stevens
5. Betsey Abbott, married Peter Carlton
6. John Abbott, born January 24, 1769, married Ruth Lovejoy.

(IV) Philip Abbott

Philip, son of John (2) Abbott, was born in Andover, Massachusetts, October 4, 1749, died May 4, 1840, aged ninety years, in East Andover, Maine. He was a cooper and farmer, and moved to East Andover, Maine, about 1800, where he dealt quite extensively in land. He married, November 20, 1771, Elizabeth Frye, who died September 11, 1834, aged eighty-four years. Children:

1. Olive Abbott, born June 1, 1772, died 1809
2. Holton Abbott, born June 20, 1774
3. Isaac Abbott, born 1776
4. Philip (2) Abbott, of whom further
5. Timothy Abbott, born February, 1781, married Susan Pillsbury
6. Nathaniel F. Abbott, born 1783
7. Samuel Abbott, born 1785
8. Betsey Abbott, 1787
9. Lydia Abbott, 1789.

(V) Philip (2) Abbott

Philip (2), son of Philip (1) Abbott, was born in Andover, Massachusetts, in 1778. He settled in Yates county, New York, where his children were born. He married —– Harris. Among his children was a son:

1. Philip Harris Abbott, of whom further.

(VI) Philip Harris Abbott

Philip Harris, son of Philip (2) Abbott, was born in Yates county, New York, in 1816. He moved to Steuben county, New York, where he followed lumbering; later was in McKean county, Pennsylvania, settling in Bradford, in 1848. He was associated there with the Bennett Lumber Company, and later with Daniel Kingsbury, a large landowner and promoter of early Bradford enterprises. He married, in Yates county, New York, in 1836, Eliza, daughter of Abraham Covert. Children who grew to maturity, all deceased except Jane:

1. Philip Abbott, died unmarried.
2. Alzina Abbott, married Charles Fish.
3. James Polk Abbott, of whom further.
4. George Abbott, married Silence Cramner.
5. Calvin V. Abbott, born in Steuben county, July 9, 1850, died October 23, 1912; came to McKean county, in 1857, with his parents; owned a farm on Bennett brook road, Bradford; supplied building stone to contractors; married Lizzie Mulligan; children:
   1. Charles W. Abbott, of Watkins, New York.
   2. Abraham Abbott, of Bradford.
   3. Thomas Abbott, of Bradford.
   4. Calvin (J) Abbott, of Bradford.
   5. Harry Abbott, of Bradford.
   6. Fred Abbott, of Bradford.
   7. Mrs. A. A. Tibbitts, of Bradford.
   8. Mrs. J. W. Wilcox, of Bradford.
   9. Mrs. Henry Colley, of Bradford.
   10. Grace Abbott, of Bradford.
   11. Kittie Abbott, of Bradford.
   12. Estella Abbott, of Bradford.
6. Jane Abbott, now living at No. 24 Bennett brook road, Bradford; married William Wilson, deceased.

(VII) James Polk Abbott

James Polk, son of Philip Harris Abbott, was born at Ithaca, New York, August 25, 1844, died in Bradford, Pennsylvania, July 11, 1891. He was four years of age when his parents moved to Bradford, where he was educated in the public schools. He learned the shoemaker’s trade, which he followed until 1874, and then became proprietor of the St. Nicholas Hotel, one of the best hotels in the city. This was built on the site of the present public square. In 1876 he opened the Bennett Brook Hotel and successfully managed it until his death. He was also interested in real estate and oil production. He was a Republican in politics, and a member of the United Brethren church.

He married, in 1872, Sarah Jane Wagoner, born in Albion, New York, April 3, 1856, daughter of William Henry and Harriet Newell (Piett) Wagoner. Sarah Jane (Wagoner) Abbott survives her husband, and married (second) Byron M. Smith, born in Wayne county, New York. Children of James Polk Abbott:

1. Loyal Abbott, died in infancy.
2. James Emoroy Abbott, of whom further.
3. William Edward Abbott, born in Bradford, August 25, 1876; married, September 18, 1905, Cecil Victoria Landrigan, whose father was a soldier of the civil war in Colonel Kane’s Bucktail Regiment. Mr. Landrigan was responsible for the regiment’s bearing that singular title. While passing a market he cut the tail from a deer hanging there and stuck it in his cap. Colonel Kane at once noticed the circumstances, and then and there named them the Bucktail Regiment.
4. Albert Polk Abbott, born in Bradford, February 3, 1878, died there July 25, 1902.
5. Viola Pearl Abbott, born in Bradford, August 20, 1879; married (first) Thomas Powell, at the time of his death first assistant engineer of the Bradford fire department; married (second) Melvin L. Daugherty; child by first husband:
   1. James Powell, now a resident of Bradford.

John Henry Wagoner, grandfather of Sarah Jane (Wagoner) Abbott, was born in Germany, emigrated to the United States, and settled in Dansville, Steuben county, New York, and died in 1864, at the age of seventy-seven years. He married Sarah Van Alstyne, born in Germany, died in Dansville, in 1864, four months after her husband. Their children were:

1. Lambert John Wagoner.
2. William Henry Wagoner, of whom further.
3. Abigail Wagoner.
4. Catharine Wagoner.
5. Jane Wagoner.
6. George Wagoner.
7. Carl Wagoner.
8. Twins, who died in infancy.

William Henry Wagoner was born at Wheeler, Steuben county, New York, 1828, died 1891. He was a carpenter and mason. He married Harriet Newell Piett, and had children:

1. Amanda Wagoner, married Charles Burton, both now deceased.
2. Mary Wagoner, married a Mr. Williams, and lives in Bakersfield, California.
3. Sarah Jane Wagoner, of previous mention.
4. A child, died in infancy.
5. Harriet Wagoner, now deceased.
6. William Wagoner.
7. Venus Wagoner, married Thomas Crosterline, both now deceased.
8. Alida Wagoner, married Andrew Swanson, and resides in Carnegie, Pennsylvania.
9. William Wagoner, now deceased.
10. Josephine Wagoner, now deceased.

(VIII) James Emoroy Abbott

James Emoroy, son of James Polk Abbott, was born in Bradford, Pennsylvania, January 12, 1875. He was educated in the public schools of that city, which has always been his home. He began business life as a newsboy, and is directly responsible for the organization of the first newsboys’ union in the United States. Although it had but a brief existence of two years an offshoot, the Buffalo Newsboys’ Union, has been successful from its inception. Mr. Abbott next ran a small newspaper for a short time. He became correspondent and sales agent for several of the large eastern papers from 1896 to 1903. He then began the business of sign painting, an art in which he is naturally skillful. He is a Republican in politics, and has served on the election board; was a member of the first personal registration board of McKean county; was elected jury commissioner in 1909; and in 1911 was chosen county auditor for a term of four years. He is a member of the Keystone Guards and of the Order of Moose. He is unmarried.

See: Genealogy of the Allegheny Valley Pennsylvania

Source

Jordan, J. W. 1840-1921. (1913). Genealogical and personal history of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania. New York: Lewis Historical Pub. Co.

This genealogy is based upon the source cited above. Only the structure and formatting have been changed for clearer presentation; the genealogical and biographical content has been preserved.