Vitals
| Birth | 9 Dec 1803 Windsor, Windsor, VT 1 |
| Death | 21 Apr 1879 (age 75) Flowerfield, St. Joseph, MI 9 |
| Burial | Riverside Cemetery; Three Rivers, St. Joseph, MI 10 Abisha's military tombstone |
| Occupation | farmer, brick maker, and well-digger 5 |
Marriage
| Spouse | Nancy Hyde NASON |
| Date | 30 Oct 1828 (age 24) |
| Place | Cavendish, Windsor, VT 11, 5 |
| Ceremony performed by the Rev. Mr. Skinner of Cavendish, VT. |
Children
| Frederick Alonzo 'Fred' HOISINGTON (13 Mar 1830 - 9 Dec 1907) |
| Capt. Norman Henry HOISINGTON (18 Oct 1831 - 9 Nov 1884) |
| John Milton HOISINGTON (25 Jul 1833 - 2 Jan 1912) |
| Lucien Julius HOISINGTON (16 Apr 1835 - 18 Jan 1880) |
| William Wallace HOISINGTON (12 Dec 1836 - 15 Aug 1862) |
| Susan Melissa HOISINGTON (8 May 1840 - 23 Jan 1883) |
| Emily Ann HOISINGTON (28 Apr 1842 - ) |
| Mary Jane HOISINGTON (23 Aug 1844 - 17 Aug 1877) |
| Edward Aaron HOISINGTON (30 Dec 1848 - 20 Feb 1934) |
| Flora Melitta HOISINGTON (28 May 1850 - 8 Oct 1934) |
| William 'Willie' HOISINGTON (abt 1858 - ) |
Notes
Birth:
A Hoisington genealogy states that Abisha was born in Compton, East Canada. However, there is a birth record for him in Windsor, Windsor, VT, which states that he was born on 6 Dec 1803 to Aaron and Hannah (Willson) Hoisington.
1810 Census (age 7) Windsor, Windsor, VT2
Residence bet 1821-1825 (age 18) Compton, East Canada , CAN; Compton, East Canada, CAN
Residence bet 1825-1828 (age 22) Windsor, Windsor, VT
Residence bet 1831-1835 (age 28) Castleton, Rutland, VT
Residence 1836 (age 33) Ft. Ann, Washington, NY
Residence bet 1840-1842 (age 37) Dusenberg, Warren, NY
Residence 1843 (age 40) Jackson, MI; Jackson, Jackson , MI
Residence bet 1844-1865 (age 41) Three Rivers, St. Joseph, MI
1845 State Census 3:
Three Rivers
Abishai Hosington,1,,1,1,,1,3,2,2,,,
Listed as Abisha HOISINGERAlso listed in St. Urges, St Joseph Co. in 1845 State Census per 1790-1870 Michigan Census index on ancestry.com
1850 Census:
Listed as Abisha HOVINGTON on 1850 US Federal Census
page 177, Fabius twp.
HOVINGTON
Abisha, 46, VT
Nancy, 43, NH
Frederick R., 20, VT
Norman H., 18, VT
John M., 16, VT
Lucien J., 14, VT
William W., 13, NY
Susan M., 10, NY
Emily A., 9, NY
Mary J, 5, MI
Edward A., 1, MI
Flora, 1 mo., MI
Also listed in Census of 1850, St. Joseph County, MI, Fabius Township, Vol. 9, pp.483-494.
"My stepson purchased a plat book of St. Joseph County, MI dated 1858. Low and behold, we found an entry for Abishia Hoisington in Fabius Township...his farm was in the western half of the southeast quarter of section 12 of Fabius Township. His land was bordered by the Rocky River on the east.and was approximately 70 acres." e-mail from Duane Hoisington 12/23/0110 Oct 1856 (age 52) bought property between the Rock River and Chelliings S. Wheeler Mill Pond in Fabius Twp.; Fabius, St. Joseph, IN4
St Joseph County, Michigan 1858 Atlas Index, G-H-I <http://members.tripod.com/~tfred/1858g-i.html>Hoisington, A. ...................... Fab ..... 12
Military 6,5,7:
Abishai enlisted in Co. G, 11th MI Inf. 8/24/1861, giving his age as 45 [he was actually 58]. Promoted to Drum Major 2/6/1862. Discharged at Nashville TN 8/27/1862 after the death of his son William Wallace. He was by occupation a brickmaker and farmer and at one time owned a fine place just outside the limits of Three Rivers MI. He was hurt at Jackson MI by the caving of a well he was digging receiving injuries that bothered him long after. (he was also a professional well-digger)
In 1861 he enlisted in Co. G of the 11th Mich Inft. as a drummer. Was made Drum Major of the Regiment served with the regiment in this capacity until the Fall of 62 he was discharged on Surgeon's Certificate in acct of chronic Rheumatism.Abisha Hoisington
Enlist Date: 24 Aug 1861
Enlist Place: Three Rivers (MI)
Enlist Rank: Private
Enlist Age: 45
Promoted to Full Drum Major on 6 Feb 1862
Served Michigan
Enlisted G Co. 11th Inf. Reg MI Disch at Nashville TN on 27 Aug 1862
Name: Abisha Horsington
Company: G
Unit: 11 Michigan Infantry. (1st Organization.)
Rank - Induction: Drummer
Rank - Discharge: Drummer Major
Allegiance: Union
Notes: Hoisington, Abisha
Pension papers indicate that he enlisted May 24, 1861 and was discharged 10 Sep 1862. His rank at enlistment was Musician and his rank at discharge was Principal Musician.
Listed in "Michigan Soldiers and Sailors" as:Hoisington, Abisha, St. Joseph county. enlisted in company G, Eleventh Infantry, as Drummer, Aug. 24, 1861, at Three Rivers, for 3 years, age 45. Mustered Sept. 4, 1861. Drum Major Feb. 6, 1862. Discharged at Nashvill, Tenn., Aug. 27, 1862.
Pension:
11 Sep 1862 (age 58) began receiving invalid pension; Three Rivers, St. Joseph, MI 5. He received $6.00 per month, $2 for his chronic diarrhea and $4 for his chronic rheumatism, which was a result of "hardship and exposure". He claimed and it was verified that he had enlargement of the joints in his hands and feet and recurrent bouts of diarrhea, which left him lame and caused him to be able to do very little labor. The examinining surgeon believed this to be a temporary condition and he was required to have semi-annual examinations. However, according to his personal doctor, C.W. Backus, the condition became chronic.
1870 Census (age 67) Flowerfield, St. Joseph, MI 8
44/44
Hoisington Abisha,66,m,w,farmer,6000,700,Canada,1,1,,,,,,,,1,,
Nancy,62,f,w,keeping house,,,,NH,,,,,,,,,,,
Edward,21,m,w,works on farm,,150,MI,2,,,,,,,,,1,
Flora M,20,f,w,at home,,,,,1,,,,,,,,,,,
Willie,12,m,w,attending school,,,,MI,1,x,,,1,,,,,
Clemins George,23,m,w,farm laborer,,,,MI,,,,,,,,,,1,
8 Aug 1876 (age 72) applied for an increase in his pension; Three Rivers, St. Joseph, MI 5
Death:
"Apr 21 1879 Hoisington, Abishai, male, married, 76y 3m 17d, died Flowerfield, general debility, b. VT, farmer, Fa: deceased Mo: not given" 9
Additional Information:
Description:
He was several times severely injured by having stone drop on him while engaged in walling ____ wells. Having his thigh broken at one time, and his collar bone broken at another. Injuries from which he never fully recovered. He was discharged from the army on Surgeon's Certificate in acct of chronic Rheumatism.
From the Hoisington Genealogy found at the Bentley Historical Museum on
9/22/97:
Abisha Hoisington was born in Compton, East Canada. December 9th 1803
His earlier ancestors were of English descent, his father being a native of Vermont and his mother of New Hampshire. Two years after his birth his parents removed to Windsor, Vermont. Here he remained until the age of eighteen, attending school in the winter, and assisting on the farm during the summer. He then in company with his mother returned to their former home in Canada, where he remained for a period of four years and then returned to Windsor and served an apprenticeship as a printer. Here he remained until the age of twenty five.
October 30, 1828 he was married to Miss Nancy Nason.
In 1843 he removed with his family, of wife six boys and two girls to Jackson Michigan.
In 1844 he came with his family to Three Rivers, purchased a farm in Fabius township, where he resided until April 1865, from thence he moved to the township of Flowerfield, upon the farm now favorably known as the old homestead. Where he quietly passed away April 21st 1878. Aged--75 years 4 months and 12 days.
He was a man possessed with many sterling traits of character, a lover of reading, the possessor of a good memory, his mind became well stored with useful knowledge. He was man of great fortitude, bearing the suffering and disappointments of life with patience, although a great sufferer during the later years of his life, he was seldom heard to murmur or complain. He was favorably known in the communties where he lived as Pap Hoisington. He was several times severely injured by having stone drop on him while engaged in walling ____ wells. Having his thigh broken at one time, and his collar bone broken at another. Injuries from which he never fully recovered. In 1861 he enlisted in Co. G of the 11th Mich Inft. as a drummer. was made Drum Major of the Regiment served with the regiment in this capacity until the __ of 62 he was discharged on Surgeon's Certificate in acct of chronic Rheumatism.
St. Joseph in Homespun-Index Page--Chapter 8 <http://members.tripod.com/~tfred/chap8.html>
P.77
Old Fabius township, once the hunting ground of Sagamon and his band of Indian warriors, the scene of depredations from grizzly old Shavehead's bands, has folk stories that thrill, but no less thrilling are its true stories of loyalty and patriotism. A stirring one of patriotic service is exemplified by the Hoisington family -- a father and six members of his family, who at the first call for volunteers, enlisted for service: Abishia, the father, as a drummer, assisted in raising troops and served as drum-major in Company G, 11th Michigan throughtout the war. His sons, Lucian J. in Company C, 6th regiment; William W. in Company E of the 11th Michigan, who died at Nashville; Captain Norman, in Company G, 13th Michigan Infantry and in company with many other Fabius men marched with Sherman to the sea; John M. served in Company C, 1st Michigan engineers. The sons-in-law, Benjamin Wells and H. C. Lambert, also served.
The spirit of these Fabius men instilled in the hearts of their descendents is perhaps most brilliantly illustrated by the life and service of Colonel Perry M. Hoisington who has won military honors in an adopted western state.
Spooner's Journal, Windsor, Vermont - published by Alden Spooner
For The Years: 1807-1810
Fitch, Ediah (Claremont, NH) Masonic Notice - Vermont Lodge No. 1, Windsor, May 10 A. L. 5808. At a regular communication of the brethren of said Lodge, voted that Ediah Fitch of Claremont, NH, in consequence of irregular and unMasonic conduct, be expelled this Lodge. Attest: Abishai Hoisington, Secretary.. N.B. The several printers in the United States are requested to insert the above in their paper. (noticed 12 Oct., 1807).
Sources
1. Windsor VT Vital Records, researched by Harriette Jensen and Linda Farnsworth. Book 1, page 98.
2. 1810 Census Windsor Co. VT. Transcribed from the orginal 030504.
3. Michigan Census, 1827-70 database. ancestry.com.
4. St. Joseph County MI Land Records.
5. Pension File #64791_Abisha Hoisington. National Archives, Washington, DC.
6. Civil War Service Records. ancestry.com.
7. Michigan Soldiers and Sailors Alphabetical Index. <08404.jpg>.
8. 1870 Census St. Joseph Co. MI. Flowerfield P.O.
9. St. Joseph County MI Death Records.
10. Photograph.
11. VT Chronicle. <http://www.dartmouth.edu/~lmfwelch/html/look1807.html>
Unless otherwise indicated in the text, data is from "Hoisingtons in America" by Harry Hoisington, privately published 1935 and on file at NEHGS, Boston.