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 the 1880 US Census the family now consists of just Charles and Margaret and one young female servant.  They are still farming, but the scale is diminished as Charles and Margaret are aging.  They had still owned the Federal City Road farm in 1875 according to the Combined Atlas Map of Mercer County published that year but also owned property on South Main Street in Pennington Borough. On March 29, 1878 they had sold their 140 acre farm, with its large English barn, for $10,500 to Ellen V. Baldwin, wife of David G. Baldwin.  The agricultural schedule lists Charles with just 28 acres and it is clear that he and Margaret were now living in Pennington on what came to be known as The Fish Farm.  Charles and Margaret had purchased this farm in two parcels on March 31 and April 1, 1865.  Today it is 65 South Main Street.  

Detail of 1875 Combined Atlas Map shows the 28 acre Charles Fish farm in Pennington on South Main Street.

1880 US Census - Pennington, Mercer County, New Jersey

Charles Fish white male age 71, farmer, born in NJ, both parents born in NJ
Margaret Fish, his sister, white female age 61
12-year-old female servant Minnie Bendy
[Minnie Bendy was the daughter of Wesley S. and Mary Bendy of Lawrenceville. She would live with Fish family members the next 25 years until the death of Margaret in 1905.]

1880 US Census - Agricultural Schedule for Charles Fish

Improved Acres 28
Value of farm $6,000
Value of implements $400
Value of livestock $350
Cost of fertilizer in 1879 $50
Amount of wages paid $240
Weeks of hired labor 44
Value of farm products sold, Consumed, or on hand 1879 $500

Grass lands
Mown 15 acres
Hay 7 acres

On hand June 1, 1880
Horses 2
Milch cows 2
Other Cattle 1

Calves dropped in 1879 3
Cattle sold living in 1879 3
Pounds of butter produced 250

Swine 4

Poultry - barnyard 22
Eggs produced - doz. 150

Acres Indian Corn 5
Bushels produced 200

Acres of Oats 5
Bushels produced 225

Acres of Wheat 7
Bushels produced 120