Abeel and Allied Families

and the party was allowed to escape unmolested.

     Their journey was through a vast and unbroken wilderness, and both captors and prisoners nearly died from hunger. They lived on dogs, roots and herbs and such other food as they could pick up. After reaching Fort Niagara, Anthony Abeel was made to run the gauntlet, his father being excused on account of his age. Anthony was notified that the Indians would attempt to stop him, and he would have to fight his way. Soon after he started, a young Indian stepped into the path and faced him. Anthony dealt him a powerful blow under the ear, much to the amusement of the crowd, and before they could recover he reached the goal without receiving a blow.

     In May, 1781, the Abeels were confined in the Prevot at Montreal with thieves, murderers, deserters and captive Americans. They suffered great hardship, and, in May of the following year, they determined to break their parole and endeavor to escape. On the evening of the 10th of September, 1782, everything being in readiness, they went to their room to go to bed, but jumping out of the window with their packs they groped their way to the lower end of the island, seized a boat and began the descent of the St. Lawrence. After many mishaps and much suffering, the party reached the headquarters of Gen. Bailey, upon the lower Coos on the 29th of September. They were treated with great kindness, provided with clothes and shoes and an abundance of food, and, after resting, continued their journey home.

     David Abeel died Feb. 1813, in the 87th year of his age, and was buried
upon a ridge between his house and the highway.

Gerrit Abeel son of David and Neiltje (Van Bergen) Abeel, was born in Catskill, March 27, 1757. About 1785 he moved to Catskill Landing, and built for himself a stone house. He was for many years a judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Greene County. Though not a lawyer by profession, he was endowed with strong common sense and an innate love of justice which was administered impartially, and his rulings seldom appealed from. He died Oct. 23, 1829. He married Elizabeth Cantine.

Their Children were:

David Gerrit, born April 1, 1783; Anthony, Eleanor, Charles Cantine,
Betsy, Ann, Catharine, Mary, John, Moses.

David Gerrit Abeel, eldest child of Gerrit and Elizabeth (Cantine) Abeel, was born April 1, 1783; died April 29, 1868. He married April 28, 1804, Nellie Goetschius, daughter of Jacob and Catharine Schuneman.
Their children were: Eliza Catharine, born Oct. 18, 1805; unmarried.

Amelia Emeline, born Feb. 23, 1807; married May 8, 1839, Jeremiah
Romeyn. Gerrit Nelson, born Oct. 15, 1809; married Dec. 6, 1836, Alida
Wynkoop; died 1874.

Eleanor, born Feb. 1, 1812; married, 1st, George Phillips; 2d, Frank
Parsons. Jane, born Dec. 23, 1815; died March 27, 1862; unmarried.

Charles Cantine, born Aug. 5. 1817. John, born June 30, 1821.

Christine C., born Sept. 1, 1825; married Henry Seelye.

Frances Mary, born Jan. 8, 1828; married June.25, 1850, Abram Winne.
 

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