Life History: Abraham Daniel Washburn Part 1

THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM AND TAMER WASHBURN

Much of the information on Abraham, Tamer, and Flora Clarinda contained in this
sketch is taken from the writings of Lorena Eugenia Washburn Larsen, a daughter of
Abraham and Clarinda - see Sketch of the Life of Abraham Washburn. Other materials in the sketch are footnoted to indicate the source. This sketch was compiled by Larry D. Washburn.

Abraham's Early Years
Abraham was born the 17th of March 1805 at Nine Partners, Duchess County, New York, son of Daniel Washburn and Nancy [Ann] Wright (While Nancy often used the name Ann, in her father's will she is listed as Nancy. Ann is a common nickname for Nancy). He had two brothers, Isaac and Jacob (actually, Abraham had three brothers. There was an older brother bom in 1803 who died as an infant. Jacob died 13 September 1884) and one sister Philena. His father was a farmer, one of the early settlers of Mt. Pleasant, New York.
His first ancestor in America, William Washburn, was a pioneer of Connecticut and Long Island. We have in our possession a copy of a deed of apart of Long Island from the Indians to William Washburn and others. William Washburn still had property in England, and his son John died while there looking after family interests in that country. As we come down the line of ancestors, they were pioneers of Weschester and Duchess, and other counties of New York.('The correct spelling is Dutchess County and Westchester County. Abraham and Tamer Washburn descended from a line of English ancestors dating back to the time of the Norman Conquest. The name Washboume developed from two Saxon words--"wash," meaning a fast-moving current, and "bum" or "bourne," a brook or small stream - see Daughters of the Utah Pioneers lesson for October 1988, written by Beatrice B. Malouf, a great-granddaughter of Abraham Washburn).
Abraham Washburn's father died the 14th of July, 1813. His mother had delicate health from the time of the death of her husband until her own death the 8th of March, 1824. Young Abraham had many responsibilities as a child, he being the oldest of the family of children. At an early age he assisted his mother in the management of the farm, and in caring for the younger children.
From the time of his father's death he helped his mother with washing, ironing, and cooking, and the many home duties, and as he grew older he took charge of the family affairs, and was like a father to the family. He looked after the education of himself and the children, and put the boys out to learn trades when they were at the proper age, as no boy's education was complete in those days until he mastered some trade. He put his younger brother Jacob out to learn the cooper's trade, but young Jacob was not satisfied. He rebelled and ran away, but Abraham brought him back, and he finished his apprenticeship, but did not follow the trade for long. As he grew to manhood he decided his job was too small for him, so he studied for the ministry and was a minister in one of the Methodist churches of New York City until his death which occurred after 1870.
Abraham was educated in the schools of those early times, plus continual study through his entire life, and late in life was pronounced by educators a well educated man. His trade was tanner and shoemaker.
Tamer's Early Years
Tamer Washburn was born 4 July 1805 in Mt. Pleasant, Westchester, New York. She was the ninth child in a family of eleven children, and all eleven children were born in Mt. Pleasant (The eleven children were, Oliver F., Richard, Isaac, Jane, Amy, Noah, Mary, Abraham, Tamer, Sarah L., and Jesse). Both her parents and grandparents were long-term residents of New York. Her father, Jesse Washburn, had also been born in Mt. Pleasant, and her mother, Susannah Tompkins, in Greenburgh, Westchester, New York.
Little is know about Tamer previous to her marriage to Abraham. We know that like Abraham, she was raised a Quaker. Tamer's father, Jesse died on 26 July 1809, a few weeks after her fifth birthday. Her mother, Susannah (Tamer's mother, Susannah Tompkins Washburn died in Westchester County. She is listed in the Chappaqua Book of Deaths as "Sukey" Washburn. Sukey is a common nickname for Susan or Susannah), lived until 1861 and apparently did not remarry. It appears that Susannah did not come west, but remained in New York and died in Mt. Pleasant.
Abraham and Tamer Marry
On the 16th of March, 1824, shortly after the death of his mother, he married Miss Tamer Washburn, who was born July 4, 1805 at Mt. Pleasant, New York. She was the daughter of Jesse Washburn and Susannah Tompkins. Her father, Jesse, was the brother of Abraham's grandfather, Daniel Washburn. After his marriage, Abraham went into the business of tanning leather and making shoes. A shoe store was one department of his business house. He was very successful in each department and his business grew with the years.
Ten children would be born to this marriage. Another child, William Davis, was adopted. Of these eleven children, only five would survive to marry (While family tradition is that William Davis or Davidson was adopted, it is not known whether a legal adoption took place. It is known that he was taken into their home and raised by the Washburns. He was bom in 1820 in Bedford, Weschester, New York, and died in either 1841 or 1842 (see Jesse Ordean Washburn, Hyrum Smith Washburn, 1853-1924,-p. 1). While living in Mt. Pleasant, their first child, Daniel, was bom 23 July 1826. Mary Ann was born 15 November 1828, and just over eighteen months later, Emma (or Amy) Jane was bom 28 July 1830.