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Captain David Abeel
Capt. David Abeel, son of Johannes and Catharine
(Schuyler) Abeel (brother to Christoffel, the father of John, father of
Corn Plant), was born at Albany, N. Y., April 27. 1705, died Oct. 2o.
1777. At an early age, after his father's death, he was sent to New York
and apprenticed to Mr. Schuyler in the dry goods business, and soon after
reaching his majority he engaged in the flour and provision business,
which he carried on successfully for many years. He held the position of
Captain of the company of militia of foot of the city and
county of New York, for many years until 1772. His
commission was signed by Leonard Lispenard, Colonel. He
married, Feb. 24, 1726, Mary Duyckink, born Oct. 4, 1702,
daughter of Garret Duyckink, and Mary Abeel. They had David,
Jr., born 1727 (married July 2, 1752, Neiltje Van Bergan Van
Katckel), James, born May 12, 1733, Garret, born May 2,
1734, Annetti, bap. March 1, 1753.
Col. James Abeel, Patriot of the Revolution, second son of David
and Mary (Duyckink) Abeel, was born in Albany, N. Y., May 12, 1733, died
in New Brunswick, N. J., April 20, 1825. He enlisted early in the War of
the Revolution and was Captain 1st Battalion, New York City Militia, Col.
John Lasher, Sept. 14, 1775, Major of same August-November, 1776. This was
known as the First Independent Battalion. It was a favorite corps,
composed of young men of respectability and wealth, and when on parade
attracted great attention. Its companies bore separate names, and the
uniforms of each had some distinguishing feature. Major Abeel's old
company, which he commanded as Captain, was known as the "Rangers." As
reorganized in the summer of 1776, the regiment had for its field
officers, Col. John Lasher, Lieut. Col. Andrew Stockholm and Major James
Abeel.
When it was decided by Washington to fortify New York
city, the First Independent Battalion constructed Bayard's Hill Redoubt on
the west side of the Bowery, where Grand and Mulberry streets intersect.
This regiment bore an important part in the battle of Long Island, which
was fought August 27, 1776. It was attached to Gen. John Morin Scott's
Brigade. Johnson's description of the battle states that: "As the report
came in that the enemy intended to March at once upon Sullivan, Washington
promptly sent him a reinforcement of six regiments, which included Miles'
and Atlee' s, from Sterling's brigade, Chester's and Silliman's from
Wadsworth's, and probably Lasher's and Drake's from Scott's." The
suffering of this regiment after the battle are described in a letter from
Gen. Scott, dated the 29th: "You may judge of our situation, subject to
almost incessant rains, without baggage or tents, and almost without
victuals or drink, and in some parts of the lines the men were standing up
to their middles in water." This regiment took part in the subsequent
events immediately following the retreat of the American Army from Long
Island.
Col. Abeel was subsequently attached to the staff of
General Washington as Deputy Quartermaster General, New Jersey Continental
Line, during the winter the army was encamped at Morristown, and had
charge of the transportation between Philadelphia and West Point, residing
at the time in his own house at Morristown.
He married, March 23, 1762, Gertrude Neilson, daughter
of Dr. John Neilson, who came from Belfast, Ireland, about 1740, with his
brother James, who settled at New Brunswick as a shipping merchant and
ship owner. Dr. Neilson married Johannes, daughter of Andrew Coeyman, who
came from Holland with his mother, the widow of Andreas Coeyman, and
settled on the Hudson, on Coeyman's patent, afterwards removing to
Raritan, or Raritan Landing. Dr. Neilson died in 1745, as the result of an
accident.
He had one
son, John, a distinguished
officer of the Revolution, and a daughter Gertrude, who was married to
Col. James Abeel.
Col. James Abeel, by his wife Gertrude (Neilson) Abeel,
had issue: David, born Jan. 13, 1763, Johanna, Sept. 13. 1764 (married
Leonard Blucker, and had three children, Gertrude, Feb. 23, 1786, James,
Dec. 28, 1786, Maria, Sept. 26 1788) ; Maria, born Nov. 30, 1766, died
June 16, 1767; John Neilson, born Dec. 1, 1786.
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