General Notes

REFN: 260AN
REFN: P260
(2nd s/o Philip & Maria Brady Cable) was in Stony Creek, prior to summ
er of 1762. He moved into the area from Germantown about 1760. He settl
ed at the juncture of the two Indian trails, one running north and sou
th to Niagara Falls and Canada; the other going south from Brotherto
n, to the Indian villages in Tennessee. This crossing at Brotherton w
as a very important spot in the life of the Indians and later the early se
ttlers. Henry, George and James Brotherton were there when Cable and his l
arge family moved to the "crossing".
Abraham Cable built a log cabin just across the Indian trail from the Brot
herton boy cabin. They had located at a spring, where now the milk hou
se of Mr.& Mrs. Robert Bauermaster, or about where the barn now stand
s. It seems that when the Stony Creek road (now Rt. 31) was built throu
gh the settlement and it was located in the Bauermaster meadow, north of t
he house, before the present site was located, that it was planned that w
ay in order not to pass through the Brotherton, Cable holdings. Neverthele
ss, the eldest son, Jonathan born at Brotherton, 1761, later built his l
og cabin in the field just east of his father. By 1762 there must have be
en at least seven or eight cabins at the Brotherton crossing. There are fo
ur old foundation scars in the area; just across the road from the Chur
ch parsonage is an old hay barrack. This was located on the Christian Cab
le cabin foundation. (Christian was born, 1766, died 1828), buried on Calv
in Will Farm).
Abraham was born in 1729 in Switzerland. (Abraham was listed on the 1800 B
elin, Penn. roster of citizens of the 1800 Census as being past 45 yea
rs of age.)  He was naturalized in 1762, which caused a stir among the Bre
thren at Germantown because a member had to take the "Oath of Allegian
ce to the King of England" this was against the order of the Church for th
ey followed the strict letter of the Scriptures which said: but above a
ll things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the eart
h, neither by other oath; but your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; le
st ye fall into condemnation." James 5:12. The Naturalization Act declar
ed that the applicant had to have a signed statement from the clergy th
at he had attended a Communion Service within a period of three month
s. No elder at Germantown would sign the record. It is alleged that Rev. C
onrad Beissel signed the document. From that date on Abraham Cable was den
ied fellowship with the Brethren although he was baptized and reared in t
he Faith; indeed it is the belief of the author that he never really accep
ted all the teachings and beliefs of the  Church of Brethren. When he sett
led in Bruedersthal he became a part of the Brethren fellowship for it w
as the convenient and practical thing to do. From the very beginning of t
he Church in Brothers Valley there was separation in may fields and may pr
actices. Cable became the clerk as it was called in that day for the Breth
ren. Abraham had attended the Ludwig Hoecker Sunday School at Germantow
n, and the school held by Conrad Beissel at Ephrata. He had been indoctrin
ated very well by the Seventh day teachings at Ephrata. He played a lar
ge role in Martin's Church in Stony Creek.
Abraham was a well-read man for his day, he could read and write German, F
rench and English. He was a surveyor and mathematician. He had traveled f
ar and wiDe among the Indians besides being familiar with the law. In fac
t, his neighbors thought so much of him and his ability as a scribe and co
unselor that in October, 1771, they signed the following paper: (referr
ed to in Minutes of council of November 23, 1771) read in council 23d Nov
., yr 1771; & a Commission issued to Abraham Kebles a Justice of the Pea
ce & for the County of Bedford. (This is a direct quote as copied from t
he original document)  (It is said that he was the first such Justice Ea
st of the Allegh