(Photo contributed by Lester Teachman)
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| Abraham Teachman, 1773-1871. (Photo contributed by Lester Teachman) |
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| Charles Ross Teachman. (Photo contributed by Anne Rollinson) |
Because of his long life, Abraham Teachman is an important branch of the Teachman family tree. Abraham married Sarah Conger in about 1802 and the couple quickly started a family. The marriage did not last long, however. Sarah died in giving birth to Merina in 1809. Abraham never remarried.
Abraham is first found in New Jersey tax lists in August of 1810 in Essex County, Orange Township. He is in the same location in the September 1811 Tax List and the July 1814 Tax List. He appears on the Essex County, Orange Township tax list through 1821. From Essex Co., NJ Tax Ratables 1778-1822: 1810, p. 15, Teachman, Abraham, 1 house holder; 1811, p. 31, Teachman, Abraham, 1 house holder, not in the militia; 1812, Teachman, Abraham, p. 15, 1 house holder; 1813, Teachman, Abraham, p. 15, 1 house holder; 1814, Teachman Abraham, 1 house holder; 1815, p. 15, Teachman Abraham, 1 house holder; 1820, p. 11, Lyon Samuel, 1 householder, .53 cents; p. 16, Teachman Abraham, single, $1; 1821: p. 13, Lyon Samuel, line crossed through name; p. 19, Teachman Abram, 1 house holder .45 cents; 1822: p. 18, Teachman, Abraham, 1 householder, .60 cents. He lived in Essex County, Orange Township until 1838, when he closed-up house and went to live with his daughter, Mary Ann Lyon, in 1838 in Bath, Steuben County, NY.
In the 1850 Census, Abraham was living with his daughter, Mary, and her family - husband Samuel and children Aaron, John and Jane. The Lyons were farming. Abraham was 77. He was listed as being born in New York and 45-year-old Mary was listed as being born in New Jersey. In October of that year, he was a passenger on the night train of the Erie Railroad when the engine hit a cow lying on the track. Three people died in the accident. Abraham was slightly injured.
On 1 June 1852, Abraham purchased about 86 acres from Masterton More and John Gordon in the South part of Lot 36 in the Northeast division of township number four in the Second range of Township Bradford (?) for $520. On 1 September of the same year, he sold about 44 acres to his son, Sidney of Bradford County. The land was in Township 4 in the 2nd Range with one border on Mud Creek.
By 1860, situations had changed and Abraham was living with his grandson, John Lyon. Even after he retired, Abraham liked to keep busy with physical labor. In testimony concerning Abraham's will, A.B. Beckwith reported speaking with him shortly before he died: "I found testator in the woodhouse splitting some short wood. I then had a conversation with him. I asked him how his health was and he said it was very good. I asked him why he split wood - he said 'not because I am obliged to.' Said he split wood from choice for health as a daily business." Abraham died 18 September 1871 and is buried in Grove Cemetery, Steuben County, New York.
From The Steuben Courier, Wednesday, 27 September 1871, p. 2 col. 4: "Died, TEACHMAN - At the residence of Mr. Kitchell Lyon, in the town of Rathbone, on Monday, Sept. 18, 1871, Mr. Abram Teachman, aged 98 years and 8 months. Born in 1772, he was about 3 years old when the Revolutionary war began, at the battle of Lexington, April 18, 1775. He has thus lived through the first and last great struggles in which our country has engaged. And what progress in the settlement of the country, in the increase of its population, and in all the arts and sciences! He live many years on the Lyon farm, about 3 miles below Bath, at the home of Samuel Lyon, his son-in-law. His life was peaceful, and his death happy."
The children of Abraham and Sarah did not remain in New Jersey. Sidney C. and Mary Ann moved to New York. William Allen migrated to Massachusetts. Little is known of Merina. She married Samuel Ross and it is believed they moved to Missouri. She died at a young age.
Sidney C. Teachman, (Abraham) like his sister, Mary, moved to New York State, settling in Bath, Steuben County. On 24 Apr. 1836, he married Lucy Earl, probably in New Jersey. Their first son, Isaac was born there in 1839. The other three children, William in 1841, Emeline in 1843, and Sidney in 1853 were born in New York indicating the move came in about 1840. Sidney purchased his first property on 1 January 1851 from Masternon Ure and John Gordon. It was the northeast part of Lot number 36 in the Northwest division of Township 4 in the 2nd Range of townships in the county containing just six acres for $28. In September of 1852 he purchased about 44 acres from Abraham for $500. In 1855, Sidney C. lived in a log home and raised barley, buckwheat, corn and some potatoes with livestock to meet the needs of the family plus a little extra. Two cows produced enough cream to make 200 pounds of butter. Sidney farmed until he retired between 1860 and 1870. In the 1870 census, he and Lucy are living with Isaac and Mittie.
Isaac P. Teachman (Abraham, Sidney) followed in his father's footsteps and became a farmer. In the 1870 census, his real estate was valued at $2,000. In 1860, he was attending the academy at Tyrone in Schuyler county. During the Civil War he served with the NY 189th Infantry. He enlisted at 31 Aug. 1864 at Urbana, NY as a private. On 14 Sept. 1864, he mustered into "H" Co. He was mustered out on 30 May 1865 at Washington, D.C. Between 1860 and 1870, he and Mittie Knapp were married. After 1880, Sidney, Lucy, Isaac and Mittie moved to Tioga County, NY. Mittie died at Barton on 18 March 1886. One year later, Isaac married Margaret Hyde and they settled in Waverly, NY where he became part owner of a meat business.
Emeline Teachman (Abraham, Sidney) married Albert J. Disbrow, probably after the Civil War. Albert enlisted on 28 August 1862 at the age of 30 and mustered out on 13 June 1865 in Fort Barry, VA. He served with in Co. "G" of the 50th NY Engineers and was recognized for distinguished service. In 1880, the family was living in Bath, Steuben County, NY and Albert worked as a farm laborer. New York, however, was not the final stop for the family. In the early 1890s, a move was made to Manton, Wexford Co., MI. It was there that Albert retired. Albert, Emeline, Grace and Emma are buried in Fairview Cemetery at Manton.
Sidney Teachman's (Abraham, Sidney) life took a completely different turn. He married Adelaide Hopkins in about 1876. In 1880, the couple was living in Putnam Co., NY, north of New York City. Sidney farmed for awhile, but eventually went to work for the railroad. By 1900, the family was living in Yonkers in Westchester Co. Sidney's son, Irvin, also worked for the railroad. After Adelaide died, between 1920-1930, Sidney went to live with his son.
Mary Ann Teachman (Abraham) married Samuel Lyon in about 1825. In 1825, the family moved to Dryden, Tompkins county, NY. In about 1838, they moved to a farm near Savona in the Township of Bath. They lived there for about 30 years. Samuel prospered as a farmer. In 1850, his real estate was valued at $5,000. In 1855, Samuel lived in a frame house. He was a more diversified farmer than his brother-in-law Sidney C. He raised winter wheat, oats, barley, corn, and a few potatoes. He also had an apple orchard that produced two barrels of cider; 32 sheep that gave him 100 pounds of wool; poultry which provided $15 worth of eggs and five cows which gave enough cream to make 400 pounds of butter. Samuel and Mary are buried in Grove Cemetery, Steuben County, NY.
William Allen Teachman, (Abraham) like his brother and sister, decided to leave New Jersey. He, however, migrated to Massachusetts where he met and married Hope Manchester VanZant. Hope had a daughter, Eleanor, from a prior marriage that William adopted. A blacksmith by trade, William worked hard to support his growing family. William, Hope and their children moved a great deal, living in New Bedford and Taunton in Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island. He died of consumption, according to family records, "a broken man" in 1856 and is buried in Rural Cemetery in an unmarked grave in the Lewis family lot.
Sidney Manchester Teachman (Abraham, William Allen) was a woodworker and toolmaker. He enlisted in the Army from Massachusetts during the Civil War. At the age of 17, he enlisted as a private for a nine months term in the Massachusetts Militia Volunteers and was discharged 22 June 1863. On 16 Sept. 1863, he mustered into "F" Co., Massachusetts 3rd Heavy Artillery. He was mustered out on 18 September 1865 at Washington, D.C. He migrated to Conneticut and in 1870 to Providence, Rhode Island. He is buried in Parting of the Ways Cemetery in Acushnet, MA.
William Lyon Teachman (Abraham, William Allen) died without seeing his daughter. He succombed to Lock Jaw on 9 July 1868 in New Bedford, MA. His daughter, Carrie, was born in Westport, MA on 14 Jan. 1869.
Abram/Abraham Lawton Teachman (Abraham, William Allen) began his adult life, like many of his predesors, as a farm laborer earning a living off of the land. Soldiers were needed to fight in the Civil War and on 13 December 1864 he mustered into the "26th" Co., Massachusetts Unattached Infantry, serving until 12 May 1865. Within a year after his discharge, he married Hannah M. Durfee in New Bedford, MA. He also worked at other occupations. In 1880, he was a stone mason. On 18 Sept. 1899, Hannah died in New Bedford. In 1901 he remarried (see George Herbert Teachman), Lizzie Teachman. He relocated to Dartmouth, MA and in 1910 was involved in the poultry business. Abraham died2 Aug. 1929 in Dartmouth, MA. Lizzie died 7 Nov. 1929 in New Bedford, MA.
Frank Bolton Teachman, (Abraham, William Allen), spent much of his life taking care of the property of others. His first job was as manager of the farm at Hill-stead, the estate of Theodate Pope Riddle and is now a museum of French impressionist paintings. Frank worked for various Farmington, MA, home owners including George D. Chase. In 1902, he purchased four acres of land from Henry S. Jordon.
George Herbert Teachman, (Abraham, William Allen), worked as a carpenter. He and his wife, Elizabeth, and their children lived in New Bedford, MA.
Corabelle Teachman, (Abraham, William Allen, Abraham Lawton) deserves special mention. Born on 5 Dec. 1875, she died 29 Jan. 1972 in Brockton, MA. A retired Methodist deacon, she graduated from the Chicago Training School in 1909 and was ordained a minister in 1929. She served as deaconess in churches in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Illinois, Iowa, Tacoma, WA and South Carolina. She also pastored churches in Montana, Idaho and Washington before retiring in 1941. While serving in Idaho, she crossed paths with two nieces of Ruth Miller Teachman (Luke N., James H.). From a letter James H. wrote to his nephew in Oklahoma in 1931: "I am enclosing a copy (of family history information) from Idaho, given me by Miss Corabelle Teachman. Ruth's (wife) relation there got us in touch with each other which speaks for itself."
Special recognition and thanks go to A.E. Teachman, Anne Rollinson, Colleen Lofrese, George Teachman, Christine Legge and Deborah Guida for the work they have done and help they have provided. Without them, this site would not be possible.