| Notes |
- Moved to Oppenheim, New York in 1820
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Notes from another researcher:
Abijah Clemons was a Revolutionary War soldier with three different times of service. First, for 30 days in 1777 he was a private in Capt. John Nichols' company, Colonel Jonathan Holman's regiment, when they marched on 27 Sept 1777 to reinforce the Continental Army under General Gates in the Northern department.
In 1778, he served a total of 4 months and 14 days in Capt. William Tucker's company, Colonel Jacob Gerrish's regiment. He enlisted on 10 July 1778 and was discharged on 23 November 1778.
Finally, in 1780 he served 14 days, enlisting on 29 July 1780 and being discharged on 8 August 1780, during which time he marched to Tiverton, Rhode Island, on the alarm of 29 July 1780.
Abijah and Elizabeth Clemons stayed in Charlton, Worcester County, Massachusetts for the birth of three sons, all well documented in the :Vital Records of Charlton." They must have left about 1782. Family tradition says that Abijah had been though Oppenheim, New York, during his march to reinforce General Gates in 1777 and that he came back after the war. But it took him a while.
The 1790 census shows Abijah Clemens in Swanzey, New Hampshire, with a household of 1 male over 16, 6 males under 16, and 2 females. This fits family information precisely. Abijah Clemens was not in New Hampshire in 1800 nor in New York state, but he may have been in Ashfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts, since that is where at least two of his sons, Salem and John, found brides.
By the US census in 1820, Abijah Clemons was still in Columbia County, New York, probably in the same place but not part of Lebanon township; Only Salem Clemons was still living nearby. Both John and Oliver Clemons were already living in Oppenheim, Montgomery County, New York. We have no proof that John and Oliver were sons of Abijah, except for family tradition which claims that all tall the Oppenheim Clemons were descended from Abijah and Elizabeth (McIntire) Clemons of Charlton, Massachusetts. However, the patterns of family associations are very clear.
By the US census of 1830, John and Oliver had been joined in Oppenheim by their youngest brother, Daniel Clemons. Daniel Clemons' descendants have a family Bible to prove that Daniel was the youngest son of Abijah and Elizabeth (McIntire) Clemons. In "The History of Fulton and Montgomery Counties," Frothingham repeats the same claim.
Family tradition has it that Abijah and Daniel came to Oppenheim in late 1820 to join the rest of the family and that Abijah returned to Canaan to die. At one time it was believed that all eight children of Abijah and Elizabeth Clemons has settled in the Mohawk Valley, but documentary search fails to find any mention of Joseph, Salem, Asa, of Abijah himself in the Oppenheim records. The Congregational Church records of Canaan, Columbia County, New York, record the deaths of Asa in 1812 and of Abijah in 1822. It is not known when Elizabeth died, but she probably died before Abijah.
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Swanzey, New Hampshire
First granted in 1733 as "Lower Ashuelot", Swanzey was one of the fort towns established by Colonial Governor Jonathan Belcher of Massachusetts, which then held authority over the province of New Hampshire. It was chartered in 1753 by Governor Benning Wentworth, and named "Swanzey" at the suggestion of Governor William Brenton of Rhode Island. Governor Brenton was a large landowner in "Brenton's Farm", now Litchfield, New Hampshire, and Swansea, Massachusetts, named after Swansea in Wales. The town was the site of many battles during King George's War.
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Ashfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts
Ashfield was first settled in 1743 and was officially incorporated in 1765. The town was originally called "Hunttown" for Captain Ephraim Hunt, who died in King William's War, and who had inherited the land as payment for his services. The first permanent settlement was in 1745, by Richard Ellis, an Irish immigrant from the town of Easton. The town was renamed upon reincorporated, although there is debate over its namesake; it is either for the ash trees in the area, or because Governor Bernard had friends in Ashfield, England.
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Fulton County, New York
In 1838, Fulton County was split off from Montgomery, shortly after the Montgomery county seat was moved to Fonda, New York. The creation of Fulton County was engineered by Johnstown lawyer Daniel Cady, whose wife was a cousin of Robert Fulton
Fulton County was created on 1838-04-18 by a partition of Montgomery County, resulting in a county with an area of 550 Square Miles
In the mid-1700s, Sir William Johnson, founder of Fort Johnson in Montgomery County and of Johnstown, arrived in the area that would become Fulton County. Sir William Johnson, 1st Baronet, was an Irish pioneer and army officer in colonial New York, and the British Superintendent of Indian Affairs from 1755 to 1774. His homes, Fort Johnson and Johnson Hall are current New York State Historic Sites.
Shortly after the American Revolutionary War, the manufacture of gloves and leather became the primary industry of the area. At one point, Johnstown and Gloversville became known as the Glove and Leather capital of the world. The largest rise in population and growth came as a result of the fruits of these businesses.
Many residents of Fulton County can trace their ancestry back to the glove and leather trades. Today few glovers, tanners and leather dressers still exist in the area, although some companies have adapted to the changes in the market and kept themselves competitive.
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Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution
Clemons, Abijah. Private, Capt. John Nichols's co., Col. Jonathan Holman's regt.; marched Sept. 27, 1777, to reinforce Continental Army under Gen. Gates in Northern department; service, 30 days; roll dated Charlton; also, Capt. William Tucker's co., Col. Jacob Gerrish's regt.; enlisted July 10, 1778; discharged Nov. 23, 1778; service, 4 mos. 14 days; also, Capt. Abijah Lamb's co., Col. Jacob Davis's (Worcester Co.) regt.; enlisted July 29, 1780; discharged Aug. 8, 1780; service, 14 days, travel included; marched to Tiverton, R. I., on the alarm of July 29, 1780.
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1810 Federal Census
2 males 10-15
1 male 45 and over
1 female 45 and over
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1820 Federal Census
1 male 16-26
1 male 45 and older
1female under 10
1 female 10-16
1 female 16-26
1 female 45 and older
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Abt 1742 - 1822 (80 years)