Person:Abraham Ash (2)

Abraham, second son of Henry, settled in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. Bedford County later became Somerset County. Old Bedford County was erected from Cumberland County in 1771. The area was immense for it held within its limits twenty present counties or at least parts of twenty counties. Somerset County was created in 1795 from the western part of Bedford County, lying between the Allegheny Mountain range to the Laurel Hill range, and was named for Somersetshire, England. It was bounded on the south by the Mason-Dixon Line, and on the north by Cambria County, which was part of Somerset County prior to its formation in 1804. No military event took place in Somerset County, but five army expeditions passed through it's area.

In the 1800 census of Bedford County, Abraham's family had 4 male children under age 10, one female under age 10, one female between 10 and 16, as well as he and his wife, aged 45 and older. Abraham died in 1833.

In 1830 Census of Bedford Co., Cumberland Valley, 068: Abraham Ash, one male 60-70, one female 50-60, two males 10-15, 1 female under 5, one 5-10, 3 10-15. Also in 068 GEORGE ASH is listed. (see George Ash)

Abraham Ash's first wife was Mary. Their first child was born when Mary was 15 years old, and Abraham was age 22. She died at age 44, her youngest child being 9 years old. Abraham remarried and had another child within fifteen months. He was 52 and Catherine was 31. This probably does not represent hastiness on the part of the widower as much as it represents the valuable work done by the partner in a marriage. Running a farm without the labor provided by a spouse would have been very difficult. Catherine was the daughter of Mattias Coontz (Coonce/Koontz). Catherine was married to George Reed and had two sons. Her husband had gone to Missouri to stake out land and never returned. She may have also been married to a ___ Wilson (or Wilison), if step-daughter Nancy Wilson was hers.

Abraham Ash and Mattias Coontz both lived in Washington County, Maryland in the 1790 Federal Census. In the Bedford County Will Book 2, p. 209, will of Mattias Coontz, made May 9, 1821, probated April 24, 1826: To son Daniel, to receive $75, George Coontz $75; Daughter Elizabeth Wilson $75. All his movable property was to be divided between the three children of his daughter Catherine, namely George, Dishe(?), and Nancy. The rest and residue of the estate went to "my beloved son-in-law Abraham Ash, for him to maintain and keep me while I am alive and when I die to burry me decently". Abe Ash was named executor, and witnesses were Jacob and George Adams.

Abraham Ash moved to Flintstone Bottom from Hagerstown (Washington County, Maryland) in 1795. He died in that area in 1833. His children were Jacob, David, George, Henry, Abraham, Amos, Emanuel, Jesse, Mary (Bowser), Catherine (Keifer), Eliza (Miller), Rebecca (Ingard), Tillie (Rose), and Sarah (Drowden). In 1884 the following were still living --- George, Henry, Emanuel, Jesse and Catherine. (Taken from the following source):

History of Bedfored, Somerset and Fulton Counties, Pennsylvania with Illustrations and Bigraphical Sketches of Some of its Pioneers and Prominent Men - Chicago: Waterman, Watkins & Co. 1884 - pg 376 Section on History of Bedford County. "Abraham Ash, Sr, moved to Flintsone bottom from Hagerstown, in 1795. He died in 1833. His children were: Jacob, David, George, Henry, Abraham, Amos, Emanuel, Jess, Mary (Bowser), Catharine (Keifer), Eliza (Miller), Rebecca (Ingard), Tillie (Rose) and Sarah (Drowden). George, Henry, Emanuel, Jesse, Catharine, Rebecca and Tillie ares still living. Amos Ash was born in 1802 and died in 1862. In 1832 he married Mary Bennett, who is still living, being now seventy four years of age. Her son Abraham, who resides on the old Ash homestead, is one of the progressive and prosperous farmers of this locality."

In the 1850 census of Bedford County, Abraham's second wife, Catherine, was living with her daughter, Tabitha Ash Rose.

In Bedford County Pennsylvania deeds, Instrument #006928, Book P, p. 656, dated April 19, 1930, the following is written: Know all men by these presents that Abraham Ash and Catherine his wife of Southampton Township, Bedford County, State of Pennsylvania, for and in consideration of the sum of two thousand dollars, to them in hand paid by Henry Ash and Amos Ash of the same township, county, and state aforesaid, at and before the ensealing and delivering hereof, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, having granted, bargained, sold, released and confirmed unto the said Henry and Amos Ash their heirs and assigns all our estate right, ...?, interest, property claim and demand whatsoever of, into, or out of a certain improvement on tract of land situated in the township, county and state aforesaid on the waters of Flintstone Creek joining land of William Digfield (?) on the south, Martin's Mountain on the West, Jonathan Dicken on the north and Janas (?) mountain on the east, containing three hundred acres or thereabout be the same more or less. To have and to hold the said improvement and tract of land and premises hereby bargained and sold or mentioned or intended so to be with the appartenances unto the said Henry and Amos Ash their heirs and assigns forever. And the said Abraham and Catherine, his wife, their heirs and said hereby granted premises unto the said Henry and Amos Ash, their heirs against them the said Abraham Ash and Catherine, his wife and their heirs against all and every other person or persons whatsoever lawfully claiming or to claim by, from or under them or any of them shall and will warrant and forever defend by these presents the said Henry and Amos Ash, their heirs or assigns taking upon themselves to clear the said land out of the office. In witness whereof we have set our hands and seals this fifteenth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-nine. Signed Abraham Ash and Catherine (X mark) Ash. Received on the day and date of the above written and foregoing deed of the aforenamed Henry and Amos Ash the sum of two thousand dollars, it being the full consideration money by me...Elizah Perdew.

In newspaper abstracts of South Central Pennsylvania, the following appears:

    "253.  EAM January 9, 1800.  Letters remaining at P.O., Hagers Town:  Abraham Ash, nr Ritter's Ford."

Land records indicate that his sons Henry, Jacob, George purchased land in Liberty in Seneca County, Ohio in October 1833. (Jacob had purchased land there earlier, in November of 1831. George also purchased land in Jackson Township. Jacob's son, Edmund, purchased land in Jackson Township in 1847. Abraham's son, Abraham, probably came between 1831 and 1833 with his wife, Phoebe, whom he married in 1827. They would have had a one year-old child. Liberty Township, Seneca County, Ohio, was established in 1833.

Southampton Township, Somerset County, was organized in 1799. Nearly all people were descendants of the pioneers.

In "1783 Listing of Inhabitants, Somerset, County, PA", there were no Ash members listed at that time.

1. ↑ .

   Heads of Families-Maryland, 1790

2. ↑ .

   "History of Bedford County, Southampton Township, Pennsylvania", P. 376;
   History of Seneca Co., Ohio, 1886, Warner-Beers, p. 1055. Bedford Co. Will Book 3, p. 38, probated, Aug. 5, 1833.