Heathcock Genealogy Database - Person Sheet
Heathcock Genealogy Database - Person Sheet
NameElijah Fisher , GGG Grandfather
Birthca 1785, NC
Death14 Dec 1838, Hinds Co MS Age: 53
FatherBailey Fisher (ca1735->1821)
Spouses
1Elizabeth Dees 269, GGG Grandmother
Birth1793, NC
Deathaft 1840 Age: 47
FatherSampson Dees (1758-1817)
Mother(Unknown) (Unknown) (ca1760-<1810)
ChildrenPenelope (ca1810->1880)
 Sampson D. (1812-)
 Jacob S. (ca1815-)
 Hiram G. (ca1818-<1869)
 Catherine (ca1820-1875)
 David D. (ca1822-~1864)
 Anna Elizabeth (1825-1902)
 Mary Jane (1827-1897)
 William (ca1812-1843)
Notes for Elijah Fisher
Elijah Fisher was born in North Carolina, probably Sampson County. His father was most likely Bailey Fisher (see following research notes). He is linked by geography and by mention in court documents with a Penelope (Penny) Fisher, who married Jacob Alfred Sessums in about 1797. Penny Fisher Sessums was said by her descendants to be “full-blooded Choctaw Indian” and it was said that she was given her surname by her Indian father. Elijah Fisher signed a deed between Jacob Sessums and his wife Penelope. In later Federal census records, Jacob Sessums is found close to Elijah Fisher: Christian Co KY in 1810, Hinds Co MS in 1820 (where they were next-door neighbors). Another piece of circumstantial evidence linking Elijah Fisher with Penelope Fisher, wife of Jacob Sessums, is that Elijah named his first daughter Penelope.

In the 1810 census of Hopkinsville, Christian Co KY, there is a listing for Elijah Fisher, a few pages away from the listing for Sampson Dees. This Elijah Fisher family included:
1 male <10
1 male 16-26 (presumably Elijah)
2 females <10 (one possibly Penelope)
1 female 16-26 (possibly Elizabeth Dees)

Hopkinsville was settled in 1796 by Bartholomew and Martha Ann Wood, a couple from Jonesborough, Tennessee. The Wood family established a permanent settlement in the vicinity of present-day West Seventh and Bethel Streets, near what would become known as the Old Rock Spring. Wood staked a claim, based on his service in the American Revolutionary War, on 1,200 acres (5 km2) of land. He built a second cabin on what is now the northeast corner of Ninth and Virginia streets and a few years later built a home southeast of Fourteenth and Campbell streets, where he died in 1827. Wood's settlement soon attracted other settlers, and a pioneer village emerged.434 The population of Hopkinsville in 1810 was 313.

Sampson Dees left Kentucky and went to Warren Co MS, probably about 1815. We know that he was still in Hopkinsville, KY in 1814 when he married Ruthy Potts. Sampson died in Warren Co in 1817 and his will mentioned his daughter, Elizabeth Fisher.

It is possible that Elijah and Elizabeth Fisher left Western Kentucky for Mississippi earlier, namely in January or February of 1812. A family tradition recounts tales of how the family left Kentucky “during the big earthquake,” no doubt referring to the devastating New Madrid earthquake, which had major shocks in December of 1811 and January of 1812 and which continued for some months into the year of 1812. These family tales appear mainly to have come from the children of Otho and Adelia King, who would have heard the stories from Otho’s mother Mary Jane Fisher. Although Mary Jane wasn’t born until about ten years after the New Madrid quakes, the events were certainly vivid enough to leave indelible memories. For a fascinating account of the New Madrid quake, complete with numerous eye-witness accounts, visit “The Virtual Times, The Great New Madrid Earthquake.”435 See also David Yarrow’s “Panther Across The Sky, Tecumseh and the New Madrid Earthquake,” for another fascinating aspect of the earthquake.436 Hopkinsville, Kentucky is only 153 miles from New Madrid, Missouri, the epicenter of the 1811/1813 quakes, which were felt as far away as Charleston, South Carolina and Washington, DC.

The Mississippi Territory was first established May 7, 1798, was enlarged on March 27, 1804 after the Louisiana Purchase, was enlarged again on May 14, 1812 when a part of Spanish Florida was added, and was divided into the new state of Mississippi and the Alabama Territory on December 10, 1817 (Alabama became a state on December 14, 1819). Here is a map showing the extent of Mississippi on these dates: http://heathcock.org/genealogy/ms-terr.pdf

The 1818 Census of Lawrence Co MS has a listing for Elijah Fisher; 1 male >21; 1 female >21; 5 females <21; 1 slave.437

The 1820 Census of Lawrence Co MS has a listing for Elijah Fisher; 5 males, 4 females

Elijah Fisher (Miscellaneous Townships): 3-1-0-0-1; 0-2-1-0-1; 1 male slave >45

Note that comparing the 1818 Territorial and 1820 Federal census, it appears that Elijah’s family added three sons and lost two females in the intervening two years. However, the total family size was 7 in 1818 and 9 in 1820, so there is the possibility of a mis-recording in 1818.

Next door in 1820 is listed Jacob Sessums, who had previously lived in Sampson Co NC (1800) and Christian Co KY (1810) and who was married to Penny Fisher, possible sister of Elijah Fisher.

Jacob Sessums (Miscellaneous Townships): 1-1-0-1-1; 0-2-1-0-1; 1 male slave 26-45; 1 female slave 26-45

The 1824 Listing of Births, Deaths, and Persons of 70 Years for Hinds Co MS, recorded Elijah Fisher with one birth during that year.

The 1830 Census of Hinds Co MS has a listing for Elijah Fisher; 7 males, 4 females.

He is also named on tax rolls: Lawrence County (1819, 1820), Hinds County (1822, 1823, 1824, 1825, 1827, 1830, 1831, 1837).438

Elijah Fisher died in Hinds County sometime in late 1838 or early 1839. His will, dated December 14, 1838 and probated in March, 1839, mentions his wife Eliza Fisher, three youngest children, David D. Fisher, Ann Eliza Fisher, and Mary Jane Fisher, son Jacob F. Fisher, and son-in-law Almond Robbins.439 Almond Robbins married Catherine Fisher in Hinds County on March 24, 1834.440 To see a copy of the Elijah Fisher will, visit David Tharp’s web site: http://www.tharpgenealogy.com/getperson.php?personID=I7821&tree=THARP.

In 1869, Emily Fisher Tharp and her husband John Tharp sold their interest in 200 acres of land originally patented by Elijah Fisher. In the deed of sale, it was said that “the said interest hereby conveyed being an undivided interest of one seventh in and to all of said lands. It being the entire interest in said lands inherited by said Emily Tharp from her deceased father Hiram Fisher and her deceased brother Joseph Fisher.” This is evidence that at the time of Elijah’s death, or upon the death of his widow Elizabeth, the 200 acres of land he has patented in 1825 and 1835 was divided between his seven surviving children at the time. The will itself mentioned four children by name (Anna Elizabeth, David D., Jacob S., Mary Jane) and one more (Catherine) by way of her husband, Almond Robbins. Of the known children, not mentioned were Penelope and Hiram. We know that Hiram was the recipient of a 1/7 share because he passed it on to his daughter Emily Fisher Tharp. Probably the other 1/7 share was Penelope Fisher, who had married Martin Stricklin in 1825.

Note added 7 Mar 2012: It has been learned that there was an additional son, Sampson D. Fisher, who married Catherine Howell in Hinds Co in 1838, then relocated to Panola Co TX. The research that has identified Sampson Fisher as a son of Elijah was carrier out by Notha Stevens, who found a transcript of testimony given in support of Applications for Enrollment of the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes, 1898-1914. In this testimony, William H. Fisher, son of Sampson D. Fisher, testified that his father had brothers named Jacob, David and Hiram, and that his father lived about 4 miles from Jackson in HInds Co MS. The full transcript of the tesimony is attached as a note to the page for William Hudson Fisher.

In the 1880 census, Elijah’s daughter Anna Elizabeth Langford gave his state of birth as Kentucky. However, Kentucky was not admitted to statehood until 1792. It is likely that she remembered that he came to Mississippi, where she was born, form Kentucky and erred in answering the 1880 census question. She did record her mother’s state of birth as North Carolina.
Notes for Elijah Fisher
Two Elijah Fishers, by Clayton Heathcock, December 2006

Elijah Fisher #1 was in the Mississippi Territory as early as 1797. Here are things that can reaonably be ascribed to this Elijah:

1. The first record of Elijah (Elias) Fisher was in 1797, when he made an improvement on 640 acres on Buffalo Creek in the area that became Wilkinson County in 1802.
2. In December of 1800, Elijah signed a Memorial to Congress protesting the form of government that had been forced upon the inhabitants of the new Territory.
3. On August 13, 1801 he married Mary Lanehart in Adams County. Mary Lanehart was the daughter of Adam Lanehart, who was in the Natchez District as early as 1782.
4. Between 1802 and 1804, Elijah lived in Adams County.
5. Elijah is listed in the 1805 Census of Wilkinson County, Mississippi Territory; 1 male over 21, 2 females.
6. It is not known when this Elihah Fisher died.
7. Elijah’s father-in-law Adam Lanehart died in Wilkinson Co MS 26 Feb 1828 and his estate was probated there. His daughter Mary is mentioned in the probate records, including one record in 1830 granting support to Mary for the care of Adam Lanehart’s two minor children, Amy Ann and Adam C.
8. Mary Fisher is listed in the 1850 Census of Catahoula Parish LA; Mary Fisher, 65, b MS, Adam Fisher, 31, b MS.

Elijah Fisher #2 was the husband of Elizabeth Dees of Hopkinsville, Christian Co KY. Following are possible records of this Elijah Fisher:

1. 1810 Census of Hopkinsville, Christian County, Kentucky; 1 male <10, 1 male 16-26, 2 females <10, 1 female 16-26.
2. 1816 Census of Claiborne County, Mississippi.
3. 1818 Census of Lawrence County, Mississippi; 1 male over 21, 1 female over 21, 5 females under 21, 1 slave.
4. Lawrence County tax roll (1819, 1820).
5. 1820 Census of Lawrence County, Mississippi; 3 males under 10, 1 male 10-16, 1 male 26-45, 2 females under 10, 1 female 10-16, 1 female 26-45, 1 male slave 14-26.
6. In 1825, Elijah Fisher was listed as giving consent at the marriage of Penelope Fisher to Martin Stricklin in Hinds County.
7. Hinds County tax roll (1822, 1823, 1824, 1825, 1827, 1830, 1831, 1837).
8. 1830 Census of Hinds County, Mississippi; 1 male 5-10, 1 male 10-15, 2 males 15-20, 1 male 20-30, 1 male 30-40, 1 male 50-60, 2 females under 5, 1 female 15-20, 1 female 50-60.
9. Elijah Fisher died in Hinds County on December 14, 1838. His will, probated in March, 1839, mentions his wife Eliza Fisher, three youngest children, David D. Fisher, Ann Eliza Fisher, and Mary Jane Fisher, son Jacob F. Fisher, and son-in-law Almond Robbins (Almond Robbins married Catherine Fisher in Hinds County on March 24, 1834).
10. After Elijah's death, Elizabeth Fisher continues to be listed in the census records. In 1840 she still lived in Hinds County, with two sons and two daughters: "Elizabeth Fisher, 1 male 15-20 (probably David), 1 male 20-30 (probably Jacob), 2 females 10-15 (Anna Elizabeth and Mary Jane), 1 female 50-60 (Elizabeth).
Research notes for Elijah Fisher
THE KENTUCKY LAND GRANTS; Volume 1, Part 1
CHAPTER IV GRANTS SOUTH OF GREEN RIVER (1797-1866)
THE COUNTIES OF KENTUCKY
page 312

Grantee: Fisher, Elijah
Acres: 100
Book: 10
Survey Date: 25 May 1799
County: Christian
WaterCourse: W Fk Red R
Research notes for Elijah Fisher
1839 HINDS Circuit Court Records441
PAGE 214-215+101 175th CASE
Plaintiff Thaddeus Benedict, adminstrator for Josiah H. Benedict, deceased
Defendants Almand Robbins and Jacob Fisher, adminstrators for Elijah Fisher,
deceased
note for $182.50 in 1836 + $400 damages
Judge J. H. Rollins, 7th Judicial Distrcit
Hays and Sons, attys for plaintiff
Rucks and Yerger, attys for defense
No jury. Judge Rollins dismissed case on 11 Dec. 1842.
County case number #14916

*****************

Elijah Fisher is recorded as entering three land purchases:

Mississippi Land Records442

Name: Elijah Fisher
Land Office: JACKSON
Document Number: 806
Total Acres: 80.12
Signature: Yes
Canceled Document: No
Issue Date: 12 Mar 1825
Mineral Rights Reserved: No
Metes and Bounds: No
Statutory Reference: 3 Stat. 566
Multiple Warantee Names: No
Act or Treaty: April 24, 1820
Multiple Patentee Names: No
Entry Classification: Sale-Cash Entries
Land Description:
1 E½NE CHOCTAW No 6N 1W 36

Name: Elijah Fisher
Land Office: JACKSON
Document Number: 1732
Total Acres: 80.12
Signature: Yes
Canceled Document: No
Issue Date: 1 May 1826
Mineral Rights Reserved: No
Metes and Bounds: No
Statutory Reference: 3 Stat. 566
Multiple Warantee Names: No
Act or Treaty: April 24, 1820
Multiple Patentee Names: No
Entry Classification: Sale-Cash Entries
Land Description:
1 W½NE CHOCTAW No 6N 1W 36

Name: Elijah Fisher
Land Office: MT SALUS
Document Number: 8787
Total Acres: 40.17
Signature: Yes
Canceled Document: No
Issue Date: 21 Sep 1835
Mineral Rights Reserved: No
Metes and Bounds: No
Statutory Reference: 3 Stat. 566
Multiple Warantee Names: No
Act or Treaty: April 24, 1820
Multiple Patentee Names: No
Entry Classification: Sale-Cash Entries
Land Description:
1 S½W½SE CHOCTAW No 6N 1W 25
Research notes for Elijah Fisher
Families possibly related to Elijah Fisher or Sampson Dees who were listed in the 1800 census of Sampson Co NC
[Research on Ancestry.com census records, 16 Jan 2010, Clayton Heathcock]
Code: M or F; 0-10, 10-16, 16-26, 26-45, >45; Free persons except Indians not taxed; slaves

Spencer Fisher (Fayetteville): 2-0-1-0-0; 0-1-0-0-0; 0; 0
Bailey Fisher (Fayetteville): 0-1-0-0-1; 0-0-0-0-1; 0; 2
Southy Fisher (Fayetteville): 0-1-1-0-1; 0-0-0-0-1; 0; 12
John Fisher (Fayetteville): 2-0-0-1-0; 2-0-0-1-0; 0; 0
Thomas Fisher (Fayetteville): 1-0-1-0-0; 2-0-1-0-0; 0; 0
Daniel Dees (Fayetteville): 0-0-0-1-0; 1-0-0-1-0; 0; 0
Hardy Dees (Fayetteville): 1-2-0-0-1; 1-1-2-0-1; 0; 0
Sampson Dees (Fayetteville): 2-1-1-1-0; 2-1-0-1-0; 0; 0
Jacob Sessoms (Fayetteville): 1-0-1-0-0; 1-0-1-0-0; 0; 0 [Married Penelope “Penny” Fisher]
Mary Sessoms (Fayetteville): 2-1-1-0-0; 1-0-0-1-0; 0; 0
Isaac Sessoms (Fayetteville): 0-0-1-0-2; 1-0-0-0-2; 0; 0
Richard Sessions (Fayetteville): 1-3-3-0-1; 0-1-1-0-1; 0; 20
Solomon Sessoms (Fayetteville): 4-1-1-0-1; 0-2-1-1-1; 0-0

There are also a number of Dees families in Fayetteville, Richmond Co NC. One of these is a Sampson Dees, male 16-26, no other family members listed.

Families possibly related to Elijah Fisher or Sampson Dees who were listed in the 1810 census of Christian Co KY
[Research on Ancestry.com census records, 16 Jan 2010, Clayton Heathcock]
Code: M or F; 0-10, 10-16, 16-26, 26-45, >45; Free persons except Indians not taxed; slaves

Elijah Fisher (Hopkinsville): 1-0-1-0-0; 2-0-1-0-0; 0; 1
Spencer Fisher (Hopkinsville): 4-2-0-1-0; 0-0-1-1-0; 0; 0
Sampson Dees (Hopkinsville); 1-1-1-0-1; 1-1-1-0-0; 0; 5
William Dees (Hopkinsville); 0-0-1-0-0; 1-0-1-0-0; 0; 0
Jacob Sessons (Hopkinsville); 1-1-0-1-0; 3-1-1-1-0; 0; 1 [Married Penny Fisher; 3rd entry after William Dees]
John Potts (Hopkinsville); 1-0-0-1-0; 1-0-0-1-0; 0; 7 [Possible father of Ruthy Potts, Sampson Dees 2nd wife]
Research notes for Elijah Fisher
Reviewing the 1800 Sampson Co NC census listings:

Spencer Fisher (Fayetteville): 2-0-1-0-0; 0-1-0-0-0; 0; 0
Bailey Fisher (Fayetteville): 0-1-0-0-1; 0-0-0-0-1; 0; 2
Southy Fisher (Fayetteville): 0-1-1-0-1; 0-0-0-0-1; 0; 12
John Fisher (Fayetteville): 2-0-0-1-0; 2-0-0-1-0; 0; 0
Thomas Fisher (Fayetteville): 1-0-1-0-0; 2-0-1-0-0; 0; 0
Elijah Fisher (Cumberland):  1-1-0-2-0; 3-2-2-1-0; 0; 0 [Murdered by his son Parker in 1808]443

The only four who could possibly have been the Elijah Fisher who went to Christian Co KY and later to Hinds Co MS are the ones in bold red and underlined above.

The Spencer Fisher, John Fisher and Thomas Fisher sons are too young for Elijah (he wouldn't have been old enough to witness a deed in 1803)

The Bailey Fisher son was 10-16 (b 1784-90).  This could have been Elijah if he was born in 1784 or 1785, which would make him 18 or 19 in 1803.

The Southy Fisher 10-16 son (ditto as above).

The Southy Fisher 16-26 son (b 1774-1784).

The Elijah Fisher 10-16 son (b 1784-90).
Notes for Elizabeth (Spouse 1)
Elijah Fisher and Elizabeth Deeds are reported as the parents of Catherine Fisher.269

After Elijah's death, Elizabeth Fisher continues to be listed in the census records. In 1840 she still lived in Hinds County, with two sons and two daughters: "Elizabeth Fisher, 0001100000000 0020000100000".444 This corresponds to the following dates:

1 male 15-20 (probably David)
1 male 20-30 (probably Jacob)
2 females 10-15 (Anna Elizabeth and Mary Jane)
1 female 50-60 (Elizabeth)

Daughter Catherine and her husband Almond (“Amon”) Robbins are listed as relatively near neighbors.

This accords fairly well with the likely birth dates for Elizabeth Dees (b 1793) and the four children mentioned in Elijah’s 1838 will (David D. Fisher, Jacob Fisher, Ann Eliza Fisher, Mary Jane Fisher).

It has been reported that Elizabeth Dees married a man named Fisher:445

Children of Sampson Dees and Elizabeth Williams are:
175 i. Polly Ann Dees, born 1789 in Sampson Co., NC.
176 ii. Altezas Dees, born 1791. She married ? Wolf.
177 iii. William Lancaster Dees, born 1781. He married Peggy Groves 17 Oct 1806.
+ 178 iv. Denson Andrew Dees, born 1785 in Johnston Co, NC; died 1861.
+ 179 v. Luke Dees, born 1785; died 1848 in Calloway, Co., Ky.
180 vi. Elizabeth Dees, born 1793. She married ? Fisher.
181 vii. Sally Dees, born 1795. She married Thomas Barnes Jones 07 Dec 1813 in Christian Co, Ky.
Last Modified 15 Mar 2012Created 3 Jul 2023 using Reunion for Macintosh
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