Deacon Samuel Fisher was born in the North of Ireland, in the year 1722, and was of Scottish descent. His father was a weaver. He came to America in 1740, in the 19th year of his age. The ship in which he came was usually spoken of as "The starved ship." The vessel was so scantily supplied with provisions, that, long before the voyage was completed, one pint of oatmeal for each individual on board, and a proportionate allowance of water, was all that remained. Mr. Fisher once went to the mate with a tablespoon to obtain some water, which was refused him, there being but two-thirds of a bottleful on board. Mr. Fisher's custom was to take a spoonful of meal and having moistened it with salt water, to eat it raw. The passengers and crew, having subsisted in this manner for fourteen days, were at length reduced to the necessity of eating the bodies of those who died. Even this resource failed them; and, at length, Mr. Fisher was selected to give up his life to preserve the lives of the rest. Providentially, however, a vessel hove in sight; and their signals of distress being observed, they obtained relief, and he was saved. So deep an impression did the horrors of that passage make upon the mind of Mr. Fisher, that, in after life, he could never see, without pain, the least morsel of food wasted, or a pail of water thrown on the ground carelessly. On his arrival in this country, he was bound by the Captain to a man in Roxbury for the payment of his passage. He came to Londonderry, N.H., about one or two years after, and became a member of the family of Mr. Matthew Taylor, whose daughter, Sarah, he married, when he was twenty-five years of age. He was made ruling elder in the church in this place during the ministry of the Rev. David McGregor, and remained in this office until he was no longer able to perform its duties on account of his age. He was well-instructed in the great principles of the gospel. He had a most happy faculty of improving the occurrences which took place about him for the religious instruction of his family. Mr. Fisher was married three times, and had twelve children, eleven of who arrived at adult age, and ten of whom survived him. Ten of his children were married, and most of them lived to an advanced age. The average age of four of them was ninety-one years. His descendants, in the year 1850, were nine hundred and fifteen, and are scattered through nearly all the States of the Union, through Nova Scotia and Canada. Some of them are ministers and some elders in the church. It is estimated that three-fourths of those over twenty years of age are professors of religion. Mr. Fisher died in Londonderry, New Hampshire, April 10th, 1806, aged 84 years.
Janet, his daughter, was born in New Hampshire, in the year 1750. She was married to Matthew, the eldest son of Samuel and Eleanor Archibald, in 1767. She came to Nova Scotia with her husband, who had returned from Truro to New Hampshire, and they were married there. They had seven sons and five daughters.
Samuel, son of Deacon Samuel Fisher, was born in Londonderry, New Hampshire. He removed to Nova Scotia in 1767. He was married to Mary, daughter of Eliakim Tupper, Esq. and Elizabeth Newcomb. He settled on the interval farm that is now owned by Mr. Samuel Butler and Mr. Patterson, on the south side of the Stewiacke River in 1784. He was a worthy man; he went by the name of Deacon Fisher also. He died in Stewiacke, May 12th 1812. His wife died April 23rd, 1812. Elizabeth Fisher, their eldest daughter was born in 1787. She was married to Adam Johnson Sept. 1806. They had two sons and five daughters. She died February 14th, 1843. Mr. Johnson died August 8th, 1823. Sarah Fisher, their second daughter, was born in 1789. She was married to Eddy Whidden in 1807. They had five sons and five daughters. She died December, 1835. Mr. Whidden died in 1858. Rachel Fisher, their third daughter, was born in 1791. She was married to Patrick Tupper. They had a family. They removed to Ohio in 1821. Ebenezer Fisher, their eldest son, was born in 1793. He was married to Olivia Carter, of Onslow. They had seven sons and one daughter. He died at Wallace in June, 1867. Nancy Fisher, their fourth daughter, was born in 1795. She was married to Daniel Tupper in 1814. They had three sons and three daughters. She died August 10th, 1846. John Waddell Fisher, their second son, was born in 1798. He was married to Margaret Godfrey. They had one daughter. He died in 1827. Charlotte Fisher, their fifth daughter, was born in 1800. She was married to Daniel C. Upham, of Otterbrook, Oct., 1826. They had two sons and three daughters. James Fisher, their third son, was born in 1802. He learned the saddler trade with Mr. Knight in Truro. He removed to Ohio, U. S., and he died there in 1870. Mary Fisher, their sixth daughter, was born in 1804. She was married to Richard Best. They removed to New Brunswick. Margaret Fisher, their seventh daughter, was born in 1806. She was married to Samuel Fulton. They had four sons and one daughter. Mr. Fulton died. She was married to James Wilson, of New Annan. They had two sons. She died at Bass River in 1868.
