Talk:James Fisk (politician)

Possible relationship to Willbur Fisk

I came across some information on Find A Grave that said James Fisk was the father of Willbur Fisk. I have not found this information anywhere else and Willbur Fisk's Wikipedia article shows that his father is the Honorable Isaiah Fisk, but there are no sources cited. I wondered if anyone else had any information regarding this? Thank you...--BuzyBody (talk) 17:53, 16 November 2012 (UTC)

Details on James Fisk children

Every source I checked on Willbur Fisk (or Wilbur) names his father as Isaiah (1763-1859). These include: Sketches of Eminent Methodist Ministers by John McClintock; The Life of Willbur Fisk by Joseph Holdich; and American Religious Leaders: Willbur Fisk by George Prentice.

Children of Congressman and Senator James Fisk and his wife Priscilla West that I have been able to identify include:

• Stephen (b. 1787)
• James Fiske(b. 1790)
• Susanna Fiske (b. 1791)
• Roswell Fiske (b. 1793)
• Priscilla Fiske (b. 1795)
• Parizade Fiske (b. 1796)
• Versa Fiske (b. 1798). She married Franklin Bradley.
• Aice Fiske (b. 1802)
• Zoroaster Fiske (b. 1804)
• Parma Fiske (b. 1805). She married Orlando Stevens and died in Minnesota on December 3, 1854.

I hope this helps.

Billmckern (talk) 11:49, 2 July 2013 (UTC)

James Fisk in the Fiske Genealogy

HON. JAMES FISK (Stephen. William, Nathan, Nathan. Nathaniel^ William. Robert. Simon, Simon, William. Symond), b. Oct. 4, 1763. Greenwich. Mass.: m. there Apr. 27, 1786. Priscilla West, b. Tolland. Conn., Nov. 20. 1763: d. Swant'on, Vt.. Aug. 19. 1840. She was dau. of Caleb West who res. in Greenwich, Mass. He was born at Greenwich. ]\Iass., Oct. 4. ^763- His father died before the subject of this sketch was old enough to realize the loss. A short time before he was sixteen he joined the Continental army under Gen. Washington as a private soldier, and during the remainder of the war cheerfully bore his share of the suf- ferings and hardships of those who fought for freedom. At his discharge from the army he returned to his native town, and, after at- tending a district school the first winter, was employed in teaching school during" several subsequent winters and labored by the montli the rest of the time until he was married, when he moved onto a piece of forest land which he cleared and re- duced to a state of cultivation by his own labor. He was elected a member of the Assembly of Massachusetts, from Greenwich, when in his 22d year, and continued a member of that body for six or seven years, serving during 1791-92-93-95 and 1896. Soon afterward he began to preach the doctrines of Universalism. Whert 35 years of age, in 1797, he removed to Barre in Vermont, and continued in the clerical profession for some time. Later he was elected to the General Assembly in the fall of 1801 which sat at Newbury. Soon after taking his seat in that bovly, by his talent, energy and integrity, he gained the confidence of his political party and the respect and esteem of his political opponents. He continued to be annually elected to the Assembly until he was chosen a Representative to Congress in 1805, and continued a member of that body until Mar. 4. 1815. During his career in Congress he was ever found the firm supporter of his country's honor. He was in favor of a resort to arms rather than resort to the haughty dictation of the self styled "Mistress of the Seas." He voted for the declaration of war in 1812 and supported that measure in the hall of Congress, and among his fellow citizens at home. Many now living well remember with what interest, in 1812 and 1813 in assemblies of the people, they listened to his voice, the voice of a Revolutionary soldier, as he vindicated the measures of the general government, descriljed the insults and indignities which had been heaped upon our government and people by a foreign power, and called upon them ta vindicate their rights and fame. He enjoyed the confidence and esteem of Jeffer- son, Madison and Monroe and their prominent supporters. In June, 1812, he was offered by President Madison the position of Postmaster General, but declined. FISKE GENEALOGY. 263 In July, 1812, he was appointed Judge of the territory of Indiana by James Madison with the advice and consent of the Senate, but declined the office. The stren- uous opposition of his friends to his leaving the State induced him not to accept the appointment. He was possessed of a good ninid, sound judgment, and was an excellent reasoner. He was of great integrity, and one of the few who held and was otifered positions of trust without seeking them; he was a man of unusual ability. He was both a personal and political friend of President Monroe, and at Montpelier on the morning of July 24, 1817. at eleven o'clock, he had the pleasure of delivering the address of welcome in behalf of the citizens of Montpelier and vicinity to the President on reaching Montpelier on his tour through the New England States. In 1802 he was Assistant Judge and in 1809 Chief Judge, of Orange County, Vermont, and in 1815 and 1816 he was appointed one of tlie Judges of the Supreme Court of Vermont. In 1817 he was/elected a Senator in Congress, which office he held but one year and resigned. He was afterward Collector of Customs for this district for eight years. He was marked for his decision. „of character, his strict integrity, his powers of persuasion and his kind, affable de- portment. He was a selfmade. a selftaught man. He has filled many offices with honor to himself and to his constituents. His last days were tranciuit and serene. In describing the speakers at the great war meeting in 1812, Mr. Thompson in his history of Vermont says: "On one side sat the small-sized, keen-eyed, ready-wit- ted and really talented James Fisk of Barre. who was then a member of Congress and who had now come on to act as the champion of the Democrats at this m,eet- ing." In 1809 the degree of A. M. was conferred upon him by Middlebury College. He enlisted for service in the Revolutionary wai in Nov., 1781, in Capt. Wm. Willis' Companj' in Col. John Brooks" Regiment of the Mass. line. He re- sided in Hardwick and Greenwich, Mass. He applied for a pension July 23, 1832, from Swanton, Vt.. where he was then residing. He was then 68 years of age. His pension was granted and he drew $70.66 per annum (see Coolidge and Mansfield's History of New England, p. 916). He d. Nov. 17, 1844; res. Swanton, Vt.

Frederick Clifton Pierce, Fiske and Fiske Family (1896), p. 262-63. Cheers! BD2412 T 21:00, 19 January 2023 (UTC)