Abel DONHAM Sr. was born 19 August 1777 in either Middlesex or Perth Amboy, Woodbridge County, New Jersey. He was the son of Nathaniel DONHAM Jr. and Keziah CROSLEY. At the time of Abel's birth, Nathaniel was serving in the 1st Regiment of New Jersey in the Revolutionary War. He deserted on 1 August 1777 and re-mustered in May 1778. This desertion was about two weeks before Abel was born. It appears that he probably left the army to be with Keziah when their son was born.
The 1880 Census for Abel's son Abel DONHAM Jr. lists that the father (Abel Sr.) was born in Pennsylvania, though other records have said that Abel was born in New Jersey. Apparently, the family did move to PA while Abel was still young.
In 1800 Ohio, Abel DONHAM married Elizabeth FERGUSON, born 21 March 1780 in Nottingham, Washington County, PA, daughter of Isaac FERGUSON and Elizabeth LEEDOM. They had fourteen children. Abel fought in the War of 1812.
Abel DONHAM wrote his will on 1 January 1847 and it mentions his wife Elizabeth. But Elizabeth then died 6 November 1851 in Clermont County, OH. On 2 September 1852 in Clermont County, Abel remarried to a widow Mrs. Sarah Ann HANCOCK.75 Abel died within the next eight months as his will was probated on 23 May 1853. I do not know how that was resolved in the courts. Abel DONHAM was buried at the Love Family Cemetery, Lindale, Ohio Township, Clermont County, Ohio. The will is as follows:76
I Abel DONHAM of Clermont County and State of Ohio being in perfect health of body and of sound and Disposing mind memory and understanding, considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of time thereof and being Desirious to settle my worldly affairs and thereby be the better prepared to leave the world when it shall please God to call me home, do therefore make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say First and prinsapally I commend my soul to Almighty God and my body to the Earth to be Decently interre there. I Divise and bequeath as follows, first I Give and Bequeath to Elizabeth DONHAM my wife all my real and personal Estate During her Natural life and when my wife Elizabeth ceases to be then all my property and Estate Real and personal to be sold and Divided as follows. I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Penina BUTLER one hundred Dollars 2nd I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Elvira VERNADER Two hundred and fifty Dollars 3rd I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Julyann WHIDDEN three hundred Dollars 4th all the balance to be equally Divided amongest the rest of my Children that is to say all the residue of my Estate. Namely John DONHAM my son, Lewis DONHAM my son, Abel DONHAM my son, and my Daughters Sarah FitzPATRICK, Mary BHYMER, Elizabeth TRACY, Cynthia FERGUSON, Highleigh RANDAL, Nancy COLE, and Evaline CHAPMAN, and lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint Enoch TRACY and Solomon FitzPATRICK my sons in law to be sole Executors of this my last will and Testament. In testimony whereof I Abel DONHAM have hereunto set my hand and seal this first Day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty seven. Witnesses: George SAPP and Cyrus P. HAYFORD.
CHILDREN OF ABEL DONHAM & ELIZABETH FERGUSON
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1 NAME: Sarah DONHAM
BORN: Abt 1800 PLACE: ,Clermont,OH
SPOUSE: Solomon FitzPATRICK
MARR: 2 Oct 1817 PLACE: ,Clermont,OH
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2 NAME: Mary DONHAM
BORN: Abt 1804 PLACE: ,Clermont,OH
DIED: 11 Feb 1897
SPOUSE: William B'HYMER
MARR: 18 Sep 1823 PLACE: ,Clermont,OH
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3 NAME: Keziah DONHAM77
BORN: Abt 1805 PLACE: ,Clermont,OH
SPOUSE: Hugh BARKLEY
MARR: 10 Jul 1826 PLACE: ,Clermont,OH78
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4 NAME: Elizabeth DONHAM
BORN: 1 Aug 1806 PLACE: ,Clermont,OH
DIED: 27 Oct 1881 PLACE: Monroe,Clermont,OH
BUR.: PLACE: Mt. Pisgah Cem,Clermont,OH
SPOUSE: Enoch TRACY
MARR: 23 Dec 1824 PLACE: ,Clermont,OH79
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5 NAME: Abel DONHAM Jr.
BORN: 11 Oct 1811 PLACE: ,,OH
DIED: 16 Sep 1892 PLACE: ,Clay,IN
BUR.: PLACE: Conaway/Cade Cem,Clay,IN
SPOUSE: Matilda REECE
MARR: 7 Apr 1831 PLACE: ,Clermont,OH
SPOUSE: Nancy GILBERT
MARR: 21 Jan 1874 PLACE: ,Clay,IN
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6 NAME: Hiley Ann DONHAM
BORN: 9 Feb 1813 PLACE: ,Clermont,OH
DIED: 12 Nov 1900 PLACE: Cincinnati,Hamilton,OH
BUR.: PLACE: Spring Grove Cem,Hamilton,OH
SPOUSE: Thomas Butler RANDALL
MARR: 6 Dec 1832 PLACE: ,Clermont,OH80
SPOUSE: John COX
MARR: 1880
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7 NAME: Permina DONHAM
BORN: Abt 1815 PLACE: ,,OH
SPOUSE: Timothy RARDIN Jr.
MARR: Abt 1830
SPOUSE: Lorenzo D. BUTLER
MARR: 10 Oct 1833 PLACE: ,Clermont,OH
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8 NAME: Cynthia DONHAM
BORN: PLACE: ,Clermont,OH
DIED: PLACE: ,,IN
SPOUSE: Isaac FERGUSON
MARR: 17 May 1829 PLACE: ,Clermont,OH
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9 NAME: Elvira DONHAM
SPOUSE: VERNADER
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10 NAME: Evaline DONHAM
DIED: PLACE: ,,IN
SPOUSE: Robert CHAPMAN
MARR: 8 Feb 1838 PLACE: ,Clermont,OH
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11 NAME: John DONHAM
BORN: PLACE: ,Clermont,OH
SPOUSE: Susanna REECE
MARR: 30 Jan 1825 PLACE: ,Clermont,OH
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12 NAME: Julia Ann DONHAM
BORN: PLACE: ,Clermont,OH
DIED: PLACE: ,,IN
SPOUSE: George WHIDDEN
MARR: 10 Oct 1839 PLACE: ,Clermont,OH
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13 NAME: Lewis Singleton DONHAM
BORN: PLACE: ,Clermont,OH
DIED: Aft 1855 PLACE: ,,IN
SPOUSE: Sarah FAGAN
MARR: 6 Nov 1828 PLACE: ,Clermont,OH
SPOUSE: Sarah Ann GILBERT
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14 NAME: Nancy DONHAM
BORN: PLACE: ,Clermont,OH
SPOUSE: Erin COLE
MARR: 4 May 1843 PLACE: ,Clermont,OH
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DESCENDENTS OF ABEL DONHAM & ELIZABETH FERGUSON
FOUR GENERATIONS, EXCLUDING THE DESCENDENTS OF
ABEL DONHAM JR. & MATILDA REECE, NANCY GILBERT
1 - Abel DONHAM, BORN: 19 Aug 1777 Perth Amboy, Middlesex County, NJ
DIED: 17 May 1853 Clermont County, OH
BUR.: Love Family Cem, Clermont County, OH
sp- Elizabeth FERGUSON, BORN: 21 Mar 1780 Nottingham, Washington County, PA
MARR: 1800 OH
DIED: 6 Nov 1851 Clermont County, OH
Dau of Isaac FERGUSON & Elizabeth LEEDOM
2 - Sarah DONHAM, BORN: Abt 1800 Clermont County, OH
sp- Solomon FITZPATRICK
MARR: 2 Oct 1817 Clermont County, OH
2 - Mary DONHAM, BORN: Abt 1805 Clermont County, OH
DIED: 11 Feb 1897
sp- William B'HYMER
MARR: 18 Sep 1823 Clermont County, OH
2 - Keziah DONHAM, BORN: 1806 Clermont County, OH
sp- Hugh BARKLEY, BORN: 1794 PA
MARR: 10 Jul 1826 Clermont, OH
2 - Elizabeth DONHAM, BORN: 1 Aug 1806 Clermont County, OH
DIED: 27 Oct 1881 Monroe, Clermont County, OH
BUR.: Mt. Pisgah Cem, Clermont County, OH
sp- Enoch TRACY, BORN: 24 Oct 1804 Steuben County, NY
MARR: 23 Dec 1824 Clermont County, OH
DIED: 17 May 1879 Monrow, Clermont County, OH
BUR.: Mt. Pisgah Cem, Clermont County, OH
Son of Henry TRACY & Martha MARTIN
3 - Olive TRACY, BORN: 29 Apr 1827 Clermont County, OH
DIED: 4 Apr 1907 Olney, Richland County, IL
BUR.: Olney, Richland County, IL
sp- John JEFFERS, BORN: Abt 1822 OH
MARR: 7 Jun 1845 Clermont County, OH
DIED: Bef Sep 1861
4 - Mahala Ann JEFFERS, BORN: Aug 1850 Monroe, Clermont, OH
DIED: Abt 1899 OH
sp- William Leonard PENNY, BORN: May 1837 Brown County, OH
MARR: 24 May 1865
DIED: 8 Sep 1905 Greenville, Darke County, OH
sp- Aaron L. OGDEN
3 - John TRACY, BORN: Abt 1832 Monroe, Clermont County, OH
3 - Ira TRACY, BORN: 13 Jan 1834 Monroe, Clermont County, OH
DIED: 30 May 1915
BUR.: Hill Cem, Defiance County, OH
sp- Alice Amanda PARKER
MARR: 2 May 1855 Clermont, OH
3 - Henry TRACY, BORN: Abt 1837 Monroe, Clermont County, OH
3 - Rosella TRACY, BORN: Abt 1840 Monroe, Clermont County, OH
sp- Jacob SNIDER
MARR: 11 Mar 1858 Clermont County, OH
3 - Enoch TRACY, BORN: Abt 1841
3 - William TRACY, BORN: Abt 1845 Monroe, Clermont County, OH
sp- Hattie Eliza PARKER
3 - Martha TRACY, BORN: Abt 1847 Monroe, Clermont County, OH
3 - Lewis K. TRACY, BORN: Abt 1852 Monroe, Clermont County, OH
2 - Abel DONHAM Jr., BORN: 11 Oct 1811 OH
DIED: 16 Sep 1892 Clay, IN
BUR.: Conaway/Cade Cem, Clay, IN
sp- Matilda REECE, BORN: 30 Jun 1814 OH
MARR: 7 Apr 1831 Clermont County, OH
DIED: 21 Apr 1871 IN
Dau of John REECE & Sarah MORDOCK
sp- Nancy GILBERT
MARR: 21 Jan 1874 Clay County, IN
DIED: 17 Nov 1923
Dau of Elisha GILBERT & Eleanore
2 - Permina DONHAM, BORN: Abt 1815 OH
sp- Timothy RARDIN Jr.
MARR: Abt 1830
sp- Lorenzo D. BUTLER
MARR: 10 Oct 1833 Clermont County, OH
2 - Cynthia DONHAM, BORN: Clermont County, OH
DIED: IN
BUR.: IN
sp- Isaac FERGUSON
MARR: 17 May 1829 Clermont County, OH
2 - Elvira DONHAM
sp- VERNADER
2 - Evaline DONHAM, BORN: IN
DIED: IN
BUR.: IN
sp- Robert CHAPMAN
MARR: 8 Feb 1838 Clermont County, OH
2 - Hiley Ann DONHAM, BORN: 9 Feb 1813 Clermont County, OH
DIED: 12 Nov 1900 Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH
BUR.: Spring Grove Cem, Hamilton County, OH
sp- Thomas Butler RANDALL, BORN: Bef 25 Apr 1813 Edgartown, Dukes, MA
MARR: 6 Dec 1832 Clermont County, OH
DIED: 1870/1880
3 - Elvira Amanda RANDALL, BORN: 1834 OH
DIED: Aft 1880
sp- (never married)
3 - Mary Jane RANDALL, BORN: 27 Jun 1836 Cincinnati, Hamilton, OH
DIED: 28 Dec 1928 Dayton, Butler County, OH
BUR.: Mt. Moriah Cem, Clermont County, OH
sp- George Marvin BACKUS, BORN: 19 Oct 1834 Livonia, Livingston, NY
MARR: 29 May 1856 Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH
DIED: 12 Aug 1888 Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH
4 - George Bodwell BACKUS
BORN: 14 Mar 1857 Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH
DIED: 13 Nov 1897
sp- Mary Elizabeth MEYERS
MARR: 19 Oct 1882 Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH
4 - Annie Wood BACKUS, BORN: 28 Oct 1858 St. Paul, MN
DIED: 29 May 1927 Dayton, OH
sp- Edward H. WREDE
MARR: 2 Jan 1880 Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH
4 - Jennie Marsh BACKUS, BORN: 18 Sep 1860 St. Paul, MN
DIED: 10 Sep 1915 Mobile, AL
sp- Samuel SMITH
MARR: 22 Nov 1882
4 - Waldo Comwell BACKUS
BORN: 13 Nov 1862 Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH
DIED: 11 Feb 1907 Avalon, Allegheny County, PA
sp- Emma Mary LIPPOLD
MARR: 1890 Louisville, KY
4 - Thomas Colvill BACKUS
BORN: 21 Dec 1864 Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH
DIED: 30 Dec 1864 OH
4 - Thomas Colvill BACKUS
BORN: 4 Mar 1866 Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH
DIED: 22 Aug 1910 Shreveport, LA
sp- Loretta HENSLEY
4 - Katie Randall BACKUS, BORN: 27 Jun 1869 Mitchell, IN
DIED: Plainfield, WI
sp- Orville WHITE
MARR: 12 Dec 1899
4 - Ross BACKUS, BORN: 6 Apr 1871 Oil City, PA
DIED: Sep 1875
4 - Jared Alonzo BACKUS, BORN: 1 Dec 1873 Oil City, PA
DIED: Jun 1875
4 - Frank Sill BACKUS
BORN: 27 Jan 1877 Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH
DIED: 14 Sep 1976 Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH
sp- Cora MADDOCK
MARR: 7 Jan 1902 Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH
4 - Bessie Wrede BACKUS
BORN: 27 Apr 1880 Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH
DIED: Feb 1961 Dayton, OH
sp- O. B. KNEISLEY
MARR: 25 Dec 1905
3 - Hezekiah RANDALL, BORN: Abt 1839
DIED: Aft 1850
3 - Alvin C. RANDALL, BORN: 11 Nov 1842 Cincinnati, Hamilton, OH
DIED: 24 Jan 1919 Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH
BUR.: 27 Jan 1919 Spring Grove, OH
sp- Sarepta L. HAWKINS
MARR: 6 Jul 1871 Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH
3 - Susan RANDALL, BORN: 1844
DIED: Aft 1850
sp- John COX
MARR: 1880
DIED: 1891
2 - John DONHAM, BORN: Clermont County, OH
sp- Susanna REECE
MARR: 30 Jan 1825 Clermont County, OH
Dau of John REECE & Sarah MORDOCK
3 - Matilda DONHAM
3 - Reece DONHAM
3 - Sarah DONHAM
3 - John "Jack" DONHAM
sp- Nancy HOWARD
4 - Laura DONHAM
sp- Lewis BARRETT
4 - Ruth DONHAM
4 - Elsie DONHAM
3 - Lewis DONHAM
2 - Julia Ann DONHAM, BORN: Clermont County, OH
DIED: IN
BUR.: IN
sp- George WHIDDEN
MARR: 10 Oct 1839 Clermont County, OH
2 - Lewis Singleton DONHAM, BORN: Clermont County, OH
DIED: Aft 1855 IN
BUR.: IN
sp- Sarah FAGAN
MARR: 6 Nov 1828 Clermont County, OH
sp- Sarah Ann GILBERT
DIED: Aft 1855
Dau of Jedediah GILBERT & Mary LINDSEY
3 - Benjamin DONHAM
3 - William DONHAM
3 - John W. DONHAM, BORN: Abt 1855
DIED: Aft 1902
sp- Susannah DONHAM, BORN: Abt 1859 IN
MARR: 18 Mar 1885 Clay County, IN
DIED: Aft 1902
Dau of Joseph DONHAM & Lucinda JEFFERS
4 - Ray DONHAM
4 - Sarah Ethel DONHAM, BORN: 1888
DIED: 1963
sp- Orville V. JEFFERS, BORN: 25 Jun 1883
Son of Erastus Freeman "Free" JEFFERS & Elva Angie RECTOR
4 - Melvin DONHAM
4 - Lucinda DONHAM, BORN: 17 Apr 1894
sp- Edsil THOMAS
MARR: 11 Oct 1906 Clay County, IN
Son of Kinney THOMAS
4 - Gladys DONHAM
4 - Marietta DONHAM
sp- Elmer JAMISON
4 - Nettie DONHAM, BORN: 2 Jul 1902 of Brazil, Clay County, IN
DIED: 17 Oct 1994 Clay County, IN
BUR.: Oak Hill Cem, Clay County, IN
3 - Mary Etta DONHAM
2 - Nancy DONHAM, BORN: Clermont County, OH
sp- Erin COLE
MARR: 4 May 1843 Clermont County, OH
sp- Mrs. Sarah Ann HANCOCK
MARR: 2 Sep 1852 Clermont County, OH
