| Notes |
- note on Find a Grave:
1st Wife - Married Ruth Hedges (1722-1761)in 1742. Children: Jacob, Joseph, Abraham Jr., Isaac, Rebecca, Mary.
2nd wife after death of Ruth: Martha Roberts Wheeler(1742-1780). Children: Ruth, Hannah, Daniel, John
Abraham Van Meter, son of John Van Meter and Margaret Molenaur, was born in 1721 in Somerset County, New Jersey.
Abraham, true to the instincts of family, settled down as a breeder, grazier, and trader of horses and cattle and carried on extensive business relations with the settlers along the Ohio River frontiers. He established trading posts on the border and at the crossings of streams in the wilderness. In addition to the trading, he and his sons acted as guides and counsellors to the pioneers. In the days preceding the Revolution, they had become known as active, reliable frontiersmen.
While engaged in these trading tours, Abraham had ample opportunity of observing the character of the country, the advantages it offered, and the inducements to purchase. As a result he was able to provide for himself and friends certain settlement rights which he located on the waters of Short creek in Ohio County and then in Virginia, now West Virginia.
Abraham found it necessary, for the protection of the neighborhood, to erect a stockade on Short Creeek, near its junction with the Ohio River. This post became known in border history as Van Metre's Fort, and it became the rendezvous for the settlers during attacks by the Indians on the settlement. This fort subsequently fell into the possession of Abraham's son, Joseph Van Metre, during his father's lifetime, and then he, in turn, willed it to his son, Morgan Van Metre. This fort was situated in Richland township, now Brooke County, West Virginia, and is believed to be the first fort erected in this part of Virginia.
Abraham Van Metre's loyalty and service to the Colonies during the Revolution included his participation in the defense of the border when it was infested by the British, renegade Tories, and their Indian allies. When the Virginia Convention assembled in 1776, Abraham was present and among those who signed a petition to the Congress May 18th.
Abraham died in the year 1783 and was buried on his farm near Martinsburg, West Virginia.
Sources: A Story of a Van Matre Family, Joseph M Van Matre, A story of a Van Matre Family. (Cassville, Wisconsin: J.M. Van Matre, 1984?); A Van Metre Family Record, Frances C. Van Metre, [Rockwell City, Iowa?] : [publisher not identified],February 1934; An American Family History Abraham Van Meter by Roberta Tuller 2020. https://www.anamericanfamilyhistory.com/West%20Virginia%20Families/Van%20Meter%20Family/Van%20Meter%20Abraham%201721.html
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1721 - 1783 (62 years)
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