"The name of Fisher is self-explanatory, being originally given to one who obtained his living by fishing. Some historians state that the family was originally Norman, but if seems more probable that it is of Saxon derivation as the early forms of the name in England were, in many cases, the same as those used in Germany and Holland today.Information given me by William David Fisher (born 1882) who was told by his grandmother, Sarah Edwards Fisher, second wife of Richard Thomas Fisher is this:'Richard Thomas came to America from England at the age of Twelve years to escape the wrath of a stepfather. He brought with him a chest of carpenters tools.' He may or may not have come by himself from England. Did his family come with him and later he ran away? This is not clear in my mind. Some say that he settled in Orange County, Virginia. I went to Orange County court house and in court records found a business transaction dated 1823 between John Fisher of Culpepper County and William S. Fisher of Fauquire County and Robert Fisher of Orange County. There was no connection, except later names used in the family of Richard Thomas, to him. My search was not thorough. Did he come alone from England?"
My grandmother was Anna Fisher the sister of Charles Fisher and he helped to raise his younger sister. The family was extremely close. My grandfather James Carter Baker (Jim) was the brother to your Frances Baker. All the children of both familes were like brothers and sisters, in fact more so than today since they lived together and did everything together. I notice you haven't tackled our Baker line which is similiar to the Fisher line in that both came from Va as runaways boys.Personally I feel that my grandmother the youngest child of Thomas Fisher was the best informed of the family in that her mother lived with her to the time of her death in Whitakers. Also your g grandfather, my uncle Charles was an older child and knew a lot about the family. Their story was that Thomas Fisher ran away with a travelling salesman from Va (They thought on the Rappahanock River) when 10 to 12 years of age. He was out transplanting corn on a Sunday morning and this man came along and he went with him. The story goes that he was living with his uncle (who we think was named Charles also) since his parents were dead. He was born 1810 and we think his father was killed in the war of 1812. There was supposed to be a sister also. It is said the uncle was cruel to him. Anyway he came with this man to Nash County and stayed with the Arrington family. We have always been told he was born in Virginia. I have searched there and as you know others have but we cannot find his home. Of course, many Va records have been destroyed over the years. My grandmother was two when he died of cancer of the mouth and throat. It is said that the cancer ate a hole in his throat and they would make up biscuit dough to close the hole. Anyway he died a rather young man and left small children with no income. Grandmother Sarah had to look for help from the family and the children were put in several homes for awhile. There is another story that he was kin to Pres. George Washington coming from his daughter Aunt Caroline and my grandmother. I do remember visiting Aunt Caroline. One of her daughters was named Mollie Washington. Cousin David had the story that you are referring to and he and grandmother were close, so I don't know???? I remember him also.
My other comment is that I have only seen his name as Thomas Fisher. If you find any evidence that Richard was part of his name let me know. Our other grandfather was Richard Baker and I can't find a second name for him either.
Garland Avent
Interview of Henry Grady Fisher born May 2, 1890, Woods NC. Son of James Albert Fisher born April 09, 1861 and Grandson of Thomas Fisher, born August 11, 1810 in Virginia. Grady Fisher 99 in May and died when he was 100. His mind is very sharp at this interview conducted by Thomas Luther Fisher, Jr., US Marshall and his brother, Gary Fisher, Map Topographer and Minnie Jo Fisher Gay, researchers.Thomas Fisher, Census 1860 Halifax County was born 1810 in Virginia and married Caroline W. Fisher December 23, 1835, (Raleigh Gazzette records.) She died 1850.
Thomas Fisher's second wife was Sarah Edwards and they married in 1853. James Albert Fisher born April 09, 1861 is the fourth child of this union and Thomas Fisher died when Albert was about 12 years of age.
The following info was passed to Grady from many sources but he quotes his father quite frequently. Grady's story quoted as he gave it to us and backed by video tape.
Sarah Edwards is the sister of George S Edwards of the Wholesale Company, Rky Mt, NC. James Albert Fisher purchased a farm at Cedar Rock, NC and he and his wife and a brother of Grady are buried on the farm beneath concrete slabs in the power lines right of way. This farm is located about 5 miles from the Rest Home where Grady was resident at this time. Henry Grady Fisher was hired in 1913 at a rate of $6.00 per week and retired in 1956 at a salary of $350. per week. He was Auto Mechanic with the State Highway Dept. Grady said his father told him Thomas Fisher and two older brothers came over from England on a Freight Ship. Albert, at 12 years, would likely not remember Thomas calling his brother's names. He mentioned one going to South Carolina and said there were plenty of Fishers in SC and Virginia. [Note: He may have meant Thomas Fisher's father, our Thomas was born in Virginia.] He did not know about the tale that Thomas was chopping in the field in Virginia and a peddler came by on a wagon and Thomas threw down his hoe and went with the Peddler. (There was something about a step father and had had enough.) He did say that when Thomas was grown he got him a mule and wagon and became a Peddler of Tobacco Products, manufactured and homemade, and peddled in North Carolina and Virginia. One day Thomas was held up and the robber took his money and was getting on his horse to leave. Thomas said "I am a hero where I come from" and threw his hat on a tree stump. "I want you to shoot my hat full of holes so I can show people how near I came to getting killed." The robber laughed, took out his automatic pistol and shot the hat five times. Thomas then took out his single shot muzzle loaded pistol and took his money back.Grady said his dad would laugh hard as he told the story and I am sure was as proud as we are to be descended from such a quick witted ancester. Henry Grady Fisher Interview Continued..... Grady told of a Jewish Peddler spending the night in Woods, North Carolina at the home of Mr. White a farmer, I suppose. The log cabin the peddler slept in was dobbed with mud between the chinks in the logs and there was something bright and shiney in the mud and it was gold. That was the beginning of the Gold Mines. He then said Thomas Fisher overseered at the goldmines at Woods. (Mr White was probably too busy at his goldmines to farm.) Grady said "Thomas Fisher's second wife, Sarah Edwards inherited a farm on the outskirts of Battleboro. The same farm John Thomas Fisher, Sr. later bought." [My Grandfather, John Fisher, told me the same thing. He said there were two farms, M C Braswell got one, John got one, now Wiley Fisher's and Willis Fisher's. Allen Taylor, a large land owner lost his land during slavery times and for other reasons and he and an Edwards woman (Sarah's mother) had three sons, Charles, Bear, and Bill Taylor.] Thomas Fisher died of Galloping Cancer, according to Grady, he wore a piece of scorched linen on a cut on his lip for years and then one morning his neck began to bleed where the cancer had eaten the artery and he bled to death before nightfall. [Sarah and the children lived for a while in Franklin Co and Grady said she lived with us. When Anna married she live with her. She died in 1900 at Anna Fisher Baker's home. Note: Anna lived in Edgecombe County and Sarah Fisher is shown with her in June 1900 Census.] Note: Grady did not say anything about the Carpenter's Tools in the possession of David Fisher that presumably came over from England. This was one of the first traditional stories I heard. There was a brace and bit.
The Family of Caroline Gay Click here
This page was created by Ray Viverette
