Introduction

The Charles Fish Family and Farm

"Snapshots" of the Charles Fish Family and Farm
1830   1840   1850
1860   1870   1873
1880   1891   1900

Fish Family Farmhouse

Fish Family Grave

Fish Family Genealogy

In 1850 we see the family at about the time the Charles Fish Barn was constructed.  Beginning with the 1850 US Census every member of the household is listed separately so we can understand each member more fully.  In this census, Andrew is listed first and it is clear that Andrew and Charles are joint owners of the farm.  There are two live in workers, one for the household and one for the farm.

There is a mystery in this census.  Who was nine year old Joseph Fish?  About all we know at this point is that he was raised like a son in the family of three unmarried siblings.  See the information on the Fish genealogy for more about who he might have been.

1850 US Census - Hopewell Township, Mercer County, New Jersey

Andrew Fish white male age 56, a farmer, real estate value $3,500 born in NJ
Charles Fish white male age 40, a farmer, real estate value $3,500 born in NJ
Margaret Fish white female age 30 born in NJ
Joseph Fish white male age 9 born in NJ
William Casshman, white male age 19, a laborer born in Holland
Grace Howell white female age 15 born in NJ

1850 US Census - Agricultural Schedule

We get our first "snapshot" of the type of farming the Fish family was carrying out about the time they built their barn in the 1850 Agricultural Schedule of the Census.  The enumeration was made on August 15, 1850 and the information given by Charles Fish as the head of the farm. The census enumerated other agricultural products, but only those for which values were given for Charles Fish have been included below.  Items, such as oxen, that had a value of "0" have not been listed.

When looking at this picture of their farming, remember that the barn played a central role in their farming practices and that at least some of the animals were housed in it and many of the crops were processed and stored in the barn.

Improved Acres 120
Unimproved  Acres 20
Cash value of farm $7,000
Value of Implements and Machinery $320

Horses 4
Milch cows 6
Other Cattle 4
Sheep 18
Swine 14
Value of Livestock $590

[The quantities below represent what was produced on the farm during 1849.]
Bushels of Wheat 155
Bushels of Rye 20
Bushels of Indian Corn 600
Bushels of Oats 657
Lbs of wool 60
Bushels of Irish Potatoes 30
Bushels of Buckwheat 71
Lbs of Butter 500
Tons of Hay 50
Bushels of Clover seed 12
Bushels of other grass seed 5