Preble - Abigail Cobb Hadlock Spurling (1808-1874)

2018.407.2276

Preble - Abigail Cobb Hadlock Spurling (1808-1874)

Abigail was the daughter of Samuel & Sarah (Polly) (Manchester) Hadlock, of Islesford. She was a sister of the adventurous showman memorialized by author Rachel Field, Samuel Hadlock, Jr.. In 1825, she married Samuel Spurling (b. 4 Dec 1795, drowned 20 Oct 1837). When Sam Spurling died she was left with five children: Samuel Hadlock (b. 23 Jan 1827, d. 1895 in CA) Zulma Mills (b. 14 Oct 1831, d. ?); Civil War Medal of Honor recipient Andrew Barclay (b. 25 Mar 1833, d. 22 Aug 1906); Sarah Hadlock (b. 20 Jun 1835, d. 9 Jun 1919); Abigail Cobb (b. 29 Sep 1837, d. 28 Jul 1860). The widowed Abigail married her neighbor William Pitt Preble in 1839. Together they had seven more children (two died in infancy): William Henry (b. 1840); Wilhelmina Celeste Preble (b. 1842); Eunice C. Preble (b. 1844); Charles E. Preble (b: ABT 1847); Frances Almira Preble (b: 1849); Eber C. Preble (b: 1852); Eber M. Preble (b. 1855), As a 19th-century woman, Abigail is less visible in the historical record than her husband, but GCIHS collections show that Abigail supervised the Preble family and farm, and paid the household bills. As the first president of the Cranberry Isles Benevolent Sewing Circle, later known as Ladies Aid, Abigail was the driving force behind securing funds for construction of the Island's first church, the Union Meeting House. The church was dedicated in 1866; it cost $3,200. Abigail was not immune to the hardships of her times. She lost two infant sons and saw her eldest son off to live in California during the gold rush of 1849. Abigail Preble died at age 66 in 1874; her husband lived another 21 years.

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