Capt. Robert Abell, of Maryland

Captain Robert Abell, in Maryland prior to 1649, the progenitor of the posterity here given, is the second Abell America from England. The Christian names of his immediate descendants would indicate that he and Robert Abell, of Weymouth, Mass., 1630, the first immigrant, were of the same English ancestry, the Derbyshire branch Under appendix “B” a Richard Abell first appears in Orange County, Virginia, in 1782, as head of a family, who probably was the progenitor of all the Abells in Virginia. It may be possible that this Richard Abell of Virginia may have been a descendant of Richard Abell, who was sued and attached in St. Mary’s and Calvert Counties, Maryland in 1658, a brother or son of Captain Robert Abell. This might indicate that the Abells of Virginia, Maryland and Kentucky are descendants from a common ancestor who immigrated to America prior to 1649.

The first of the name to enter Maryland was Captain Robert Abell, in the earlier years of the settlement. It is not known whether he earned his title as commander of a ship or as a militia officer but the fact that his name is not connected with the ownership of real estate, and failure to find a will or other evidence of his dying in the Colony, impels the conclusion that he was a seaman, trading with the Colony, and after settling some or all of his children m the Colony returned to England and died there. It is cer¬ tain he was engaged in business in the Colony before 1649 for in that year he, by his attorney, Cuthbert Fenwick, sued one David O’Doherty for 1000 pounds of tobacco as is told in Maryland Archives. Family names, and location in St. Mary’s County indicate to a reasonable certainty that Captain Robert Abell was our ancestor though no other reference to him is found. A Richard Abell was sued and attached in St. Mary’s and Calvert counties in 1658 (the family settled near the line of separation) and he probably was the oldest son of the Captain though possibly a brother. Much study indicates that Captain Abell left in Maryland his sons, Richard, Samuel and probably one named Cuthbert, though latter may have been a son of Richard. There was a James also referred to in a record 1671, and a William in 1724, who may have been sons of either Captain or Richard. The names are unusual in the family though found. James Abell, a servant, was transported to Baltimore County in 1664; Charles Abell, a servant, transported 1669, and Robert Abell transported 1675 by James Inces into Baltimore County. Hendrick Abell, a cordwainer, came in on his own resources to Somerset County 1667, bringing his wife Sophia and children, Joseph, Macklett and Gartrick called servants and for which he got 200 acres of land.

Children of Captain Robert Abell or individuals of the same generation:

1. RICHARD.
2. WILLIAM.
3. CUTHBERT.
4. JAMES.
5. SAMUEL.

The Abells in America