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Note: -four years and ten months. This would put his birth year at June 1787, not the 1789 as all the other records show.
Not shown living in Unadilla in the 1850 census.
1855 Unadilla census has John, age 65, living with son Amos. Born in Vermont.
1860 Unadilla census has John, age 61, living with son Amos. Should be age 71. Born in New York.
1865 Unadilla census has John, age 76, living with son Amos. Born in Vermont.
1870 Unadilla census has John, age 83, living with daughter Mary Jane DeForest. Born in New York.
1875 Unadilla census has John, age 86, living with daughter Mary Jane DeForest. Born in New York.
The History of Otego and John's family say John waw born in Connecticut, or at least came from Connecticut. ~~~~~~~~~~~
Worcester, NY, Times, July 5, 1878: John Fisk, one of the oldest residents of Unadilla died on the 24th inst.
Oneonta Herald, 6/28/1878: DIED In Unadilla, June 21, John FISK, in his 90th year.
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John Fisk enlisted from Otego, Otsego County, NY, on September 12, 1812, and was a corporal in Saunder's Co., of the New York Militia. He was taken prisoner in the battle of Greentown, held at Fort George until October 17, 1812, and then exchanged. John re-enlisted in this war in Machias, Cattaraugus County, NY, on JUly 28, 1814, and was discharged August 20, 1814.
John's first enlistment was spent as a substitute for a James Ward of Otego. When this small body of soldiers grew impatient and eager to fight, General VanRensealaer sent them across the Niagara to attavck the British at Queenstown Heights. This small group drove the British and Indians from their positi9on and killed their general - General Brock. General VanRensealaer then returned to the American shore to bring over the rest of the army, but the Militia, denying the constitutional rights of their commander to take them out of the state, refused to go across. In the meantime, after a desperate struggle, the abandoned Canadian side were compelled to surrender. This was when John Fisk was held in captivity, then later released in exchange.
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John's parentage is still unknown, but it is strongly suspected that his father was Samuel Fisk, also in Otego the same time as John. Samuel was from Connecticut and was a Revolutionary War deserter. It is said, but no proof has been currently found, that John had a brother named Elisha. It has been proven that Samuel Fisk is the father of Elisha. There is some evidence that John may also have had a brother named Samuel, another brother named Amos, and a ister named Thankful. Samuel and Amos also served in the same outfit as John in the War of 1812. Samuel later moved to the same ton in PA as Elisha and Elisha's father Samuel. Both Samuel and Thankful were born in Vermont.
{RE:Samuel Fisk. 1790 census finds him in Montgomery County, NY (later to become part of Otsego County). 1800 census has him in Otego, Otsego County. 1810 census has him in Franklin, Delaware County, NY, not far from Unadilla. 1820 has him in Unadilla. It was after 1820 that Samuel moved to PA to be near his son Elisha. Military service: Samuel Fisk--Kirtland Co.; enl. May 8, '77 for duratin of war. Des. July 1, '80. Col. William Douglas, 6th Regt CT Line 1777-1781.}
John and his wife Mary and Elisha and his wife Jane (Vermillea) joined the Otego Baptist Church in 1825 and were still members June 18, 1828.
From History of Otsego County, New York: John Fiske, familiarly known as "Uncle John", is still living in this vicinity, where he settled in an early day. He was a soldier in ther War of 1812, and participated in the engagement where Colonel Saunders was killed. Hiram, Amos, Albert, and Charles were sons. Charles was killed in the army. A daughter married John DeForest, who is said to have been accidentally shot, soon after the clos of the war, by one Rogers. A family of Rogers wer also early settlers here, from hich the vicinity derives its name.
Note: John's pension application was executed on April 14, 1871, and states that he was aged eighty
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