James Fisher was born in Sussex or Hastings, England, in 1750. He married and and died in his native land. He was a member of the Episcopal church. His children were:
- William, married in England, Rachel ————. He was the first of the family to come to the United States, where he located on a farm in Guilderland, Albany county, New York. He married and had children, Rachel and James, who married and had issue.
- Sarah, born in England, where she married ———— Sillsby. After becoming a widow she came to America with her son, Thomas Sillsby, who became a well-known Hudson river pilot and captain. She married (second) in Albany, New York, ———— Pinkerton, to whom she bore two sons.
- Samuel, born in England, came to the United States and settled in Albany, New York, where he was drowned in the Hudson river. He was married.
- Jane, born in England; married in the United States.
- James, see forward.
(II) James (2), son of James (1) Fisher, was born in England, September 14, 1780, died in Rotterdam, Schenectady county, New York, February 11, 1871. He was a ship yard worker in England. In Rotterdam he followed agriculture. He was a member of the Episcopal church.
James Fisher married, in England, Hannah Fuller, born in Sussex, March 18, 1786, died in Rotterdam, January 28, 1858. Her parents came from England to Albany in their old age, her mother dying there a few days after her arrival, her father, a year later. Children:
- William, born May 9, 1809, died November 31, 1891. He was bookkeeper and confidential clerk fifty-two years for Erastus Corning, the noted Albany merchant.
- Rev. Thomas, March 16, 1811, died at Rotterdam, March 8, 1885. For twenty-five years he was a minister of the Baptist church. He married Phoebe Weaver, who died at the age of eighty-five. Of their seven children, four are living, and are married.
- Mark, March 2, 1813, died in England at the age of four years.
- Mary, May 9, 1816, died January 8, 1893; married William Weaver of Iona, Michigan, where they died in old age, leaving four children.
- George, see forward.
- James (3), May 8, 1820. He was the first American-born child of his parents. He died in Rotterdam, March 16, 1907. He was a farmer, well-known and highly regarded. He married Lucy Bine, now deceased. Of their nine children, there are now living, Philip, Henry, Watson, William and Rev. John C., a Methodist minister of Vermont.
- Elizabeth A., March 5, 1822, died in Seward Valley, New York, July 25, 1861. She married Rev. William Sand, a Methodist minister, and left four children, Arthur, Robert, Fanny and Lilly.
- John, September 2, 1824, died in Rotterdam, New York, October 7, 1890. He was a farmer, mason and builder. He married Elizabeth Stafford, also deceased, leaving children: Rev. Martin, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church; Robert, Nancy and Catherine P.
- Sarah, July 28, 1826, died in Rotterdam, New York, October 12, 1841, unmarried.
- Robert, April 26, 1828, died in Rotterdam, February 25, 1838.
- Elinor F., born in Rotterdam August 13, 1830; married John Rouch, born October 4, 1823, died in Schenectady, December 3, 1887. She survives her husband, and lives in Schenectady with her daughter. She is the mother of sixteen children, five of whom are living: Hannah, Mary F., Celia N., Robert J. and Naomi F., who married Arthur Wessels, and has two children, Leland C. and Hilda.
(III) George, fifth child of James (2) and Hannah (Fuller) Fisher, was born in England, January 14, 1818, the last English-born child of his parents. He was but six months old when the family came to the United States, sailing on a war vessel that consumed six weeks in the passage across the ocean. He was educated in the public schools of Albany county, and settled in Rotterdam, Schenectady county, where he followed farming all his life and died, January 3, 1894. He was a devoted member of the Methodist church and one of the strong supporters of the Fisher church in Rotterdam, founded, built and largely supported for many years by the Fisher family. They were a family noted for their piety and religious works. He was a Republican in politics, and held many of the town offices.
George Fisher married (first) in Rotterdam, Ann Fuller, born in England, came to the United States with her parents, and died in Rotterdam in 1851. Ann (Fuller) Fisher had brothers, William, Thomas, James; sisters, Ann and Harriet, all of whom came to the United States. George Fisher married (second) Marion Crouch, born in England, came to the United States at the age of thirteen, and is now living (1910), at the age of eighty. Child by first marriage: 1. George W., see forward. Children by second marriage: Emma, Harvey, Edward,and an infant.
(IV) George Washington, only child of George and Ann (Fuller) Fisher, was born in Rotterdam, Schenectady county, New York, April 26, 1846. He was educated in the public schools, reared a farmer and remained on the home farm until his marriage. In 1895 he removed to Schenectady where he established a wood, coal and feed business, which he has since continued in successful operation. He is an energetic, capable and prosperous business man of high standing in his community. He is a member of the Methodist church, and a Republican in politics. He is an Odd Fellow, being a member of Alliance Lodge, No. 867.
George Washington Fisher married in Rotterdam, in 1895, Ida Ralph, born in Guilderland, Albany county, New York, April 26, 1867, daughter of Charles Ralph, born in England, came to the United States, where he married Sarah Fisher in Schenectady county. The Ralphs were members of the Methodist church, and had children: Sherman, Fred, Charles, Grace and Ida, all now of Schenectady county. George W. and Ida (Ralph) Fisher have children:
- Arthur W., born January 23, 1897;
- Earle G., May 10, 1900;
- Sarah, April 8, 1905.