Posted on: Guernsey Co. OH Queries Forum Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Oh/Guernsey/1248 Surname: BEVARD, ABELS ------------------------- I got the following from Tom Abels and thought you might be interested in it. thanks Tom Larry, I saw your posting in the Guernsey Co. Queries. Another researcher is also checking out this same line, Nila Boone, (Nilajeancb@aol.com). She is descended from Phoebe Ables, dau. of Mary Ann (Bevard) Abels. (Its spelled both ways Abels / Ables). Nila asked me why I thought Mary Ann Bevard was the mother of Phoebe and not Hannah McPeek (John Abels' 1st wife.) I sent her the following information: ----------------- Regarding why I placed who with who on the wives of John Ables. Our own family oral history always stated that John Ables had 3 wives. The LDS library lists them as Nancy McPeek, Mary Ann Bevard, and Margaret House. The birth dates that I have for his children are: Bethuel, b. 1831 Rachel, b. 1832 James D., b. 1834 Rebecca, b. 1836 Nancy E., b. 1838 Margaret, b. 1839/40 d. age 3 John T., b. 1841 Sarah J., b. 1842 Hannah Phoebe, b. abt 1848 Susan M., b. abt 1850 The Marriage Book in Guernsey Co., OH, lists John Ables as marrying Nancy McPeek on 16 Nov, 1830, 10 months before Bethuel was born. The 1850 census declares the John Ables family as: John 44 b. OH Mary A. 44, b. MD Rachel 17, b. OH James 14, b. OH Rebecca 13, b. OH Nancy 11, b. OH WIlliam 9, b. OH Sarah 7, b. OH Hannah P. 2, b. OH Susan M. 8 mo., b. OH The 1860 census declares it as: John 51 b. OH Mariam 55 b. MD WIlliam 19 b. OH Sarah 17 b. OH Hannah 12 b. OH Susan 10 b. OH The 1880 Census declares it as: John b. OH Phoebe McAfee 32 b. OH (dau) William U. McAfee 10 b. OH (grandson) John McAfee 8, b. OH (grandson) He is not listed in the 1900 Census and I have yet to look up McAfee in Guernsey County for the years in question. I assumed due to the 6 year gap between the birth of daughters Sarah & Hannah and that John was married to Hannah McPeek in 1830 and Mary Ann Bevard in 1850 that Mary Ann was the mother of the latter two. I assumed he was still married to Nancy in 1838 when his daughter, Nancy was born. I have yet to find a record of his marriage to Mary Ann Bevard. (I have also found it spelled Brevard.) Her parents were William Sr. Bevard & Mary ____. Both said they were born in Ireland. However, the 1911 "History of Guernsey Co., Ohio" by Sarchett (I have a copy), lists Mary Ann Bevard as the mother of 9 children and lists them as listed above omitting Bethuel. But it lists no other wives. John Ables is buried at Mt. Zion Cemetery in Jackson Twp., Guernsey Co., OH. I have been there and have pictures of the markers. His says: "Father and Mother" "Rev. John Abels died May 3, 1888 in his 81st year" "Mary Abels 1805 - 1880" I have not found any documentation (other than the LDS records) about his wife Margaret House. In amongst the family documents I have is a tin-type picture of a heavy-set woman. On the back in yellowed tape is a label, "Mother of John Ables, the preacher". I have not formally identified her. His real mother, Ann Borton, I believe died in 1813 -- long before tin-types were available. Maybe it was his 2nd wife, Alzannah Cochran. I believe it is really the wife of John Ables, not his mother. That would make it Mary Ann (Bevard) Ables. A reduced picture size is attached: -------------------- That was what I sent Nila. I'll also attach the picture described above. Tom Abels tomaabels@aol.com