FISH: The Stephen Fish Line

last updated Oct 22, 2001

Queries/Comments/Additions: mcmanus@dallas.net

from LESTER FISH's book p.387 (ref(0))

STEPHEN⁴ FISH OF READING,MASS

The earliest record found concerning Stephen Fish is dated Nov. 22, 1680, in the "Vital Records of Salem,Mass.," when he m. Mary Micrist. Assuming that he was 20 years old at the time, his date of birth would be 1660. Nothing has yet been found concerning his parentage, or date and place of birth, but he has numerous descendants who have been eminently successful in the mercantile field and in other lines of endeavor. If he was born about 1660, he may have been son of one of the eight immigrants of the Fish Family, or more likely a grandson. However, he was not found in a partial list that has been recorded of the children of these immigrants (with the exception of Edward Talbot, Md., and Joseph³ of Stamford, Conn.), and may have been himslef an immigrant, although John Dean Fish, the genealogist, failed to find him as such. He was married at Salem, and his first two children were born there, so he may have been closely related to one of the three brothers, Jonathan⁴, John³ and Nathaniel³, or he may have simply landed at the same town. The birth dates of the children of the other five Fish immigrants hover around the date 1660, while the birth dates of their children run from about 1680 to 1700, therefore it seems best to place Stephen in the fourth generation from John¹. We have no proof that he is a descendant of John, but this arrangement will serve to compare contemporary generations.

The genealogy of the descendants of his son (2897) John⁵, which was written by Julia Frances⁹ Fish, dau. of Libbeus and Polly (Holcomb) Fish of Batavia, N.Y., was graciously shown to me by Florence¹¹ (Fish) Yerington, R.N., of Los Angeles, a direct descendant. The genealogy of the (2901) Stephen⁵ Fish branch was furnished by Mrs. Lorenzo E.¹¹ Fish of Elsinore, Calif., whose husband is a direct descedant of Stephen⁵.

2894 STEPHEN⁴ FISH d. Feb 8, 1717 at Reading, a town near Salem, where he made his home for many years. He was ancestor

p.388

of the illustrious Vermont patriot, Col. Josiah⁷ Fish. His first two children were born at Salem, the others at Reading.

Children:
   2895  Mary⁵, b. Oct 13, 1681.
   2896  Sarah, b. Aug. 15, 1683.
  +2897  John, b. May 3, 1687; d. after 1732; m. Mary Lewis.
   2898  Ruth, b. Dec. 23, 1688.
   2899  Mary, b. Jan. 31, 1690/91.
  +2900  Ebenezer, b. July 8, 1693; d. June 3, 1726; m. Sarah _____ .
  +2901  Stephen, b. Dec. 15, 1695; d. Jan. 13, 1766; m. Abigail Parks.
   2902  Nicholas, b. May 9, 1698.
   2903  Benjamin, b. Feb. 28, 1701; d. May 7, 1703, age 2.

additional information about Stephen & his wife, thanks to H. Buddy Fish hfish@berkshire.net:

Stephen Fish was born about 1655-60. He married Mary Micrist on November 22, 1680 in Salem, Mass. They had seven children born in Reading, Massachusetts (see above). (some records indicate a dau. Mary born Oct. 13, 1681 and a dau. Sarah, born June 15, 1683, both in Salem) His wife's death is not recorded in the Vital Records of Reading. Stephen's will can be found in the Middlesex county court of Probate, docket no. 7537, dated 1718.

Mary Micrist (or Mecrest) was the dau. of Daniel Mackdonnell (aka Mecrest) and Sarah Dawes (dau. of William Dawes). Sarah later married John Craggen. Both Craggen and Mackdonnell were Scotish prisoners sent to the Colonies as indentured servants.

Additional from MagicLady@aol.com Oct 2001: Sara Dawes & John Craggin and they had several children -- one of which, Sarah Craggin married Francis Nurse Jr., son of Rebecca Towne Nurse. Rebecca Nurse is famous for being executed as a witch in Salem in 1690.

Note: The King Phillips War. The Nashaway indians were the native inhabitants of the country bordering the Nashua River. The town of Lancaster was first attacked Sunday, August 20, 1675. In a list of soldiers "credited" (instead of paid with cash?) in the Lancaster Garrison was a Stephen Fish, credited January 25, 1675-6, 3L, 1s, 8p (3 pounds, 1 shilling, 8 pence). Lancaster suffered heavy casualties during the King Phillips war. There is no indication of this Stephen's family association or his date of birth, hometown, etc., info is from the book "Soldiers In King Phillip's War ..." by George Madison Bodge, A.B., member of the New England Historical Genealogical Society ... Boston, Ma, printed for the author 1906, 3rd edition.

From the book "Soldiers in King Phillips War, being a critical account......3rd edition...." by George Bodge, Boston, printed for the author, 1910, a copy found in the Berkshire Anthenaeum, a library in Pittsfield, Massachusetts: page 355, Credited at Lancaster Garrison, January 25, 1675-76 (winter of 75/76, would be January 1676), (several officers and a list of soldiers, includes a Steven Fish), Steven Fish, 03 01 08 (3pound, 1shilling, 8pence).

As for Mary, wife of Stephen, I found records, once I knew what to look for, that indicated her mother married John Craggin (Craggon, etc.). This was after Mary was born. Mary's father appears to be Daniel MackDonnell, alias David Mecrest? They had one other child together, Bonini or Bononi Macrest (also Mecrest/Macress), brother to Mary. The records I found indicate both Daniel MackDonnell and John Craggin were Scotch prisoners sent to the colonies as servants.

Woburn Records of Births Deaths Marriages, Part X, Marriage Intentions, December 2, 1699 to December 31, 1890 ... ... arranged by Edward F. Johnson, Woburn Mass. 1919. Woburn located 1640, Incorporated 1642, A city 1889 (Fish names are not listed) CRAGGEN, John Jr., and Deborah Skelton, both of Woburn, Apr. 13, 1700

Woburn Records of Births Deaths Marriages, Part II, Deaths, 1640-1873... ... arranged by Edward F. Johnson, Woburn Mass. 1890, Andrews Cutler & Co., Steam Book & Job Printers, 1890 (no Fish names, some Fiske, none familiar) CRAGGEN (Cragen & Creagan), Rachel, d. of John., Mar. 18, 1680 Leah, d. of John, Mar. 18, 1680

Woburn Records of Births Deaths Marriages, Part II, Marriages ......... .... Edward F. Johnson
CRAGGEN, John and Sarah Dawes, Nov. 4, 1661 Abigail and John Knight, Mar. 2, 1687 Mercy and Thomas Shelton, Dec. 29, 1701 DAWES, Sarah** and John Craggen, Nov. 4, 1661 MACREST*, Benoni & Lydia Fifield, Sept. 12, 1681 *Macrest, a Scotch name; In 1659 David Mecrest, Scotsman, & Sarah Dawes are both sentenced to be openly whipt twenty stripes apiece - Middlesex

County Court records, Vol. 1, page 191 * *In 1656, Sarah Dawes aged about 21, and Daniel Mackdonnell, both servants of John Wyman, were convicted in court. Mackdonnell ..... from the north of Scotland .... Middlesex County Court Records, Vol. I, pages 113, 123
FISH, Ebenezer and Catherine Baker, both of Woburn, Mar. 16, 1742 George W. and Allie M. Munroe, both of Woburn, Nov. 27, 1872

Woburn Records of Births Deaths Marriages, Part I, Births, 1640-1873, ... ... arranged by Edward F. Johnson, Woburn, Mass. 1890, Andrews Cutler & Co., Steam Book & Job Printers, 1890
(Dawes, none recorded) CRAGGIN, Abigail, d. of John, Aug 4, 1662 John, s. of John, Sept. 19, 1677 Mercy, d. of John, Mar. 25, 1669 John, son of John & Deborah, Mar 25, 1701 Sarah, Aug. 10, 1664 Elizabeth, Aug. 3, 1666 Mercy, Anna, Aug. 6, 1673 John, Rachel, Mar 14, 1680 (Rachel, d. of John) Leah, d. of John, Mar. 14, 1680 Mary or Marah, none listed FISH, Thomas, s. of Ebenezer and Catharine, July 17, 1743 Olive, d. Ebenezer and Catherine, Feb. 1, 1747 Catherine, d. of Ebenezer and Catharine, Jan. 3, 1750 Ralph Waldo, s. of Austin A. and Sarah A., Nov. 6, 1871
This three volume set found in the Berkshire Anthenaeum library in Pittsfield, Mass. Nov. 10, 1999

Here's what we can put together from that and what was in the Woburn and Salisbury vital record books -

Sarah Dawes, d. of William Dawes, born abt. 1637-40, possibly in/near Woburn, Mass., along with Daniel** (aka David?) Mecrist (Micrist/Mackrist/Mackdonnell/MacDonnell) of northern Scotland, were servants of John Wyman of Woburn in 1657, when they were convicted in Middlesex county court. Her age was given at the time as about 21 and his as about 30. He said to have come to America about 7 1/2 years prior to this, leaving behind a wife and two small children. (But other records indicate that he and John Craggen and others were captured in the battle of Dunbar in Scotland and sent to America, arriving into Boston in May 1651.) Sarah had two children by Daniel, though they were never married.

Mary Mecrist (Micrist), born about 1659, probably in Woburn. She married Stephen Fish in Salem, Massachusetts Benoni Mecrest (Macrest*), a son born 1657, probably in Woburn. He died in Salisbury, Massachusetts August 7, 1690. Benoni (Benony) married Lydia Fifield September 12, 1681 in Woburn, Massachusetts.

As for John Craggen, I saw a reference somewhere which stated that he had been captured in the Battle of Worcester, not the Battle of Dunbar.

H. Buddy Fish

Additional from MagicLady@aol.com:

Another Fish connection: In the 1800's Cephas Fish married Jennie Towne, a direct decendant of Rebecca Nurse's brother, Jacob Towne.

In addition, in John Craggins will, he mentions his son-in-law, Stephen Fish and treats him as a son as far as the will goes. This leads us to believe that the reason there is much confusion regarding Mary Mecrest is because she also used her step-father's last name, Craggin. Apparently John Craggin raised Mary and her brother Benoni (a name often given to children born out of wedlock) though there is no mention of Benoni in John Craggins will.

The Craggin family story is that Sarah Dawes, as a child of around 11 or 12, met John Craggin aboard the Sara & John while he was being transported as a Scottish prisioner. (the battle of Dunkirk), and in fact saved his life by nursing him back to heath when he became sick and was about to be thrown overboard. I believe this to be nothing short of a delightful, romantic story (note the name of the ship, Sara & John), but many of the Craggin decendants were raised with it.

-- C. Kehoe
Decendant of Stephen Fish

2897 JOHN⁵ FISH (Stephen⁴), eldest son of (2894) Stephen and Mary (Micrist) Fish, was b. May 3, 1687, at reading, Mass.; d. there some time after 1732; m. at Reading, Apr. 18, 1711, Mary Lewis.

Children: 2904 Mary⁶, b. May 25, 1712. +2905 John, b.June 30, 1715; m. Susanna Taft; m.(2) Deborah (Sheffield) Ward 2906 Stephen, b.Apr. 3, 1721; d.Nov. 1, 1721, age 7 mos. 2907 Ruth, b. May 2, 1724. 2908 Experience, b.Sept. 22, 1730; m. at Mendon, Mass., Aaron Legg, Nov. 7, 1751 2909 Jacob, b.Jan. 15, 1732/33.

2905 JOHN⁶ FISH (John⁵, Stephen⁴), eldest son of (2897) John and Mary (Lewis) Fish, was b. June 30, 1715, at Reading, Mass.; d. at Mendon, Mass., some time after 1772; m. at Mendon, Aug. 15, 1739, Susannah Taft, dau. of Thomas and Deborah Taft of Mendon. She was b. there Mar. 15, 1713; d. Nov. 8, 1751. He m. (2) at Milford, Mass., May 7, 1752, Deborah (Sheffield) Ward, a widow, who was b. in 1726 and d. 1821.

Children (all born Mendon): 2910 Deborah⁷, b. Feb. 15, 1741; m. Joseph White, Mar 15, 1759 2911 Hannah, b. June 25, 1744; m. Solomon Ward, Oct. 1, 1765. +2912 Simeon, b. May 17, 1747; d. Mar. 9, 1825; m. Tabitha Taft. 2913 Lydia, b.Sept. 18, 1749; m. Samuel Gage, June 8, 1769. 2914 John, b.Nov. 7, 1750; d. Nov. 7, 1751. By his second wife: 2915 Susanna, b.mar. 1, 1753; m. Timothy Tyler, Dec. 10, 1774; m(2) Ebenezer Taft +2916 Josiah, b.Feb. 11, 1755; d. May 10, 1811; m. Elizabeth Hazelton; m.(2) Zeruiah (Phelps) Holcomb; m. (3) Ephraim Barnes. 2917 Mary, b.Dec.1, 1756. 2918 John, b.Feb. 10, 1759; d. in infancy. p.389 2919 Elizabeth, b. Mar. 26, 1761. 2920 Sarah, b. July 15, 1763; m. David Watkins. 2921 John, b.Feb. 26, 1766; d. in Maine; m. Rebecca Ober. 2922 Jacob, b.July 23, 1770; d. at Townsend, Mass.; Polly Shaw. 2923 Ward, b, b.Aug.15, 1772; d. at Townsend; m. Betsey Black.

2912 SIMEON⁷ FISH (John⁶, John⁵, Stephen⁴), eldest son of (2905) John and Susanna (Taft) Fish, was b. at Mendon, Mass., May 17, 1747; d. at Athol, Mass., Mar. 9, 1825; m. at Uxbridge, Mass., Nov. 10, 1768, Tabitha Taft, who d. at Athol Feb. 21, 1835, at 85.

Children (all born Mendon): +2924 Samuel⁸, B.Apr. 17, 1769; d. July 23, 1834; m.Betsey Kingsley. +2925 Ezra, b.Feb. 25, 1771; d.Mar. 31, 1848; m.Chloe Johnson. 2926 John, b.Apr. 7, 1774; d.Jan. 8, 1776, age 2 years. 2927 Hannah, b. May 15, 1779; m. Joshua Smith, Jan. 8, 1799. 2928 Eunice, b.Sept. 11, 1781; m. Absalom Ball, Dec. 5, 1803. 2929 Lucinda, b. Apr. 13, 178-; m. Reuben Fairbanks, Oct. 5, 1806.

2924 SAMUEL⁸ FISH (Simeon⁷, John⁶, John⁵, Stephen⁴), eldest son of (2912) Simeon and Tabitha (Taft) Fish, was b. at Mendon, Mass., Apr. 17, 1769; d. at Athol, Mass., July 23, 1834; m. about 1792, Betsey Kingsley.

Children (all born Athol): 2930 Joseph⁹, Dec. 21, 1793; m. Nancy Crosby, Oct. 8, 1818. 2931 Jason, b.Feb. 14, 1796; m.May 30, 1818, at Wayland, Mass., Sophia Merriam, who was b. Nov. 10, 1795, dau. of Elisha and Jane (Maynard) Merriam, and had: (2941) Frederick Appleton¹⁰, b. Oct. 11, 1819, at Athol. 2932 Nancy, b.Apr. 28, 1798; m.David Felton, Jan. 31, 1819. 2933 Francis, b.Nov. 16, 1800; d.Sept. 30, 1802, age 2 years. 2934 Lucinda, b. Mar. 26, 1803; m. Eben Goddard, June 12, 1823. 2935 Betsey, b. May 25, 1805; m. Samuel Newhall, May 28, 1826. 2936 Sally, b.June 9, 1807; m. Henry K.⁹ Fish, June 16, 1835. 2937 Samuel, b.Oct. 25, 1809. 2938 Esther, b. Jan. 21, 1812; m. Laban Morse, Apr. 16, 1838., 2939 Lucia, b.July 20, 1814. 2940 Horatio Kingbury, b. Oct. 22, 1818; d. Mar. 30, 1848; m. Feb. 4, 1846, at Gardner, Mass., Elizabeth Temple

2941 FREDERICK APPLETON¹⁰ FISH (Jason⁹, Samuel⁸, Simeon⁷, John⁶, John⁵, Stephen⁴), son of (2931) Jason and Sophia (Merriam) Fish, was b. at Athol, Mass., Oct. 11, 1819. Some time after his marriage he settled at Newfane, Vt., where he became a wheelwright. He m. Sarah (Moore) Gates, a direct descendant of William French who was killed in the War of the Revolution; and had a son (2942) Frank L.¹¹ Fish, b, at Newfane.

p.390

2942 JUDGE FRANK L.¹¹ FISH (Frederick¹⁰, Jason⁹, Samuel⁸, Simeon⁷, John⁶, John⁵, Stephen⁴), Jurist, son of (2941) Frederick and Sarah (Moore) (Gates) Fish, was b. Sept. 17, 1863, at Newfane, Vt.; d. Sept. 7, 1927, at Palmer, Mass., while on a visit there. Grad. from Saxtons River Acad. at Saxtons River, Vt., with Richard Arthur¹⁰ Fish of Ira, Vt. He studied law and practiced for many years at Vergennes, Vt., becoming prominent in the affairs of his state. He was appointed Associate Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court for the years 1926 and 1927. He m. Mary Jane Lyon.
Children (all born at Vergennes): +2943 Sarah Katherine¹², b. Oct. 2, 1893; m. William Knight. +2944 Frederick Lyon, b. Oct. 1, 1895; m. Harriet Meyers. 2945 Prudence Hopkins, b. Jan. 24, 1901; B. Mus. Oberlin 1924; m. Stanley Bussey of Salinsgrove, Pa., Aug. 20, 1941.

2943 SARAH KATHERINE¹² FISH (Frank¹¹, Frederick¹⁰, Jason⁹, Samuel⁸, Simeon⁷, John⁶, John⁵, Stephen⁴), dau. of (2942) Judge Frank L. and Mary Jane (Lyon) Fish, was b. Oct. 2, 1893; grad. from Middlebury College (Vt.), A.B. 1915. She m. William A. Knight, Sept. 15, 1917.
Children (2943a) Robert A.¹³ Knight, b. Feb. 26, 1920; and (2943b) Frank, b. June 15, 1925, Orange, Conn.

2944 COL. FREDERICK LYON¹² FISH (Frank¹¹, Frederick¹⁰, Jason⁹, Samuel⁸, Simeon⁷, John⁶, John⁵, Stephen⁴), Army Air Corps, only son of (2942) Judge Frank L. and Mary (Lyon) Fish, was b. at Vergennes, Vt., Oct. 1, 1895. B.S. Middlebury 1916. Entered the U.S. army as a pilot, and saw action at the front during the First World War. For the past fifteen years he has been a display advertiser. His hobby is music, and he has done considerable public singing. On May 16, 1942, he was commissioned a major in the Air Corps, and reported at Washington, D.C., for duty in the second World War. He was returned to inactive duty status as a Colonel. He m. Harriet Meyers, Dec. 25, 1917, and had: (2944a) Janet Preston, b. June 25, 1920, m. William Page; (2944b) Lois Ann, b. Aug. 4, 1925.

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2925 EZRA⁸ FISH (Simeon⁷, John⁶, John⁵, Stephen⁴), son of (2912) Simeon and Tabitha (Taft) Fish, was b. at Mendon, Mass., Feb. 25, 1771; d. at Athol, Mass., Mar. 31, 1848, age 77; m. at Mendon, June 27, 1798, Chloe Johnson (b. Mendon Apr. 18, continues in Lester page 391

FISH: The Stephen Fish Line

from LESTER FISH's book p.387 (ref(0))

STEPHEN4 FISH OF READING,MASS

STEPHEN⁴ FISH OF READING,MASS