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An American Family History

Abigail Fiske Mixer
Children of
Lieutenant Nathan Fiske
& Elizabeth Fry

  • Nathan Fiske
  • Elizabeth Fiske Ball
  • Martha Fiske Parks
  • Deacon Nathan Fiske
  • Susannah Fiske
  • Abigail Fiske Mixer
  • William Fiske
  • William Fiske
  • Anna Fiske

    • Deacons played a respected and important role in early New England churches. They sat in a raised pew near the pulpit and had special duties during communion.

    Abigail Fiske Mixer was born on February 18, 1675/76 in Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of Lieutenant Nathan Fiske and Elizabeth Fry.

    She married Deacon John Mixer on August 15, 1695 in Watertown. John was born on March 5, 1668/69 and was the son of Isaac Mixer, Jr. and Rebecca Garfield. He was a tanner. The Mixers came in the Elizabeth with the Bradstreet family.

    Their children were Abigail Mixer (June 26, 1696), John Mixer (January 22, 1698/99), Elizabeth Mixer (December 30, 1702), and George Mixer (December 27, 1704).

    They moved to Connecticut and were the first settlers of Ashford in 1710. In Ashford John was the first Town Clerk, and Treasurer, Tavern Keeper, Selectman, and Deacon.

    In 1721-22 John and two daughters, Abigail and Elizabeth, moved to Suffield, Hartford County, Connecticut. They settled on the 50 acre homestead grant of Isaac Cakebread, near "Rawlins Brook." He was a selectman in 1724, and 1730.

    The ship “Elizabeth” sailed from Ipswich England in April, 1634 with William Andrews, Master. On board were Richard and Ursula Kimball and their children, Ursula’s mother Martha Whatlock Scott and her brothers Roger and Thomas Scott. Humphrey and Bridget Bradstreet sailed on the same ship. They arrived in July at Boston.
    Lady Day Before 1752 the year began on March 25th. Dates between January 1st and March 24th were at the end of the year, not the beginning.

    In early New England towns policy was set by men gathered in town meetings. Day-to-day operations were handled by a board of 3 to 5 selectmen. They oversaw public resposibilites such as the policing, roads, and fences.
    A Trainband (or training band) was a company of the Militia. In the colonies, it was the basic tactical unit. Trainbands were not combat units. Generally, a man was required to join the local trainband and received periodic training for several decades. In wartime, military forces were formed by selecting men from trainbands.

    History of the Town of Rindge, New Hampshire by Ezra S. Stearns

    Isaac Mixer [Sr.], aged 81, wife Sarah, aged 38, and son Isaac, aged 4 years, embarked at Ipswich, England, for New England, April 10, 1634, and in 1637 his name is found upon the records of Watertown, Mass. He was admitted freeman, May 2, 1638, and d. 1655; his widow d. Nov. 24, 1681. He was clerk of the train band 1654, and in his will he bequeathed to his dau. "one half my vessel Diligent." He left one son and one dau. 

    Isaac Mixer [Jr.], the son, was b. in England 1630. He md. Sept. 19, 1655, Mary Coolidge, dau. of John and Mary Coolidge, of Watertown; she d. March 2, 1659-60; he md. (2d) Jan. 10, 1660/1, Rebecca Garfield, dau. of Edward, Jr., and Rebecca Garfield, of Watertown; she d. March 16, 1682-3; and he md. (3d) 1687, Mary (Lothrop) French, widow of Capt. William French, of Billerica, and dau. of Thomas and Mary Lothrop. He d. Nov. 22, 1716, leaving fifteen children.

    Any man entering a colony or becoming a a member the church, was not free. He was not forced to work, but his movements were carefully observed to see if they followed the Puritanical ideal. After this probationary period, he became a "freeman." Men then took the Oath of a Freeman where they vowed to defend the Commonwealth and not to overthrow the government.

     

    Documentary History of Suffield by Hezekiah Spencer Sheldon

    Deacon John Mixer was the son of Isaac of Watertown, Mass., b. March 5, 1668/69. Mar. Abigail Fiske, Aug. 15, 1695. He was a "Tanner" at Watertown. (See Hist. of Watertown) He removed to Connecticut, and was the first settler and planter of Ashford, Ct., in 1710. He was also its first Town Clerk, and Treasurer, Tavern Keeper, Select Man, and Deacon.

    In 1721-2 the community there were greatly disturbed by his removal to Suffield, at which date himself and two daughters were dismissed to the church here. (Hist. of Windham Co.) Whether he followed his trade here is unknown. Relocated on the 50 acre homestead grant of Isaac Cakebread, near " Rawlins Brook." He was a Select Man here in 1724, and 1730. His son John mar. Abigail the dau. of the Rev. John Woodbridge of W. Springfield, Oct. 30. 1734. All trace of Dea. John Mixer after 1730 in the Suffield Records disappears.

    		  

     

         

    ©Roberta Tuller 2012
    tuller.roberta@gmail.com