By Michael Schreiber
Sophia was a younger unmarried sister of Hannah Collin. Their grandparents, Felix and Barbara, emigrated from Switzerland in 1730, and settled in New Jersey, along the Delaware River. Their parents, Jacob Fisler and Sophia Klein, were children on board the same ship. Sophia Klein’s parents, so the story goes, were killed by the ship captain for their money. The Fislers then paid her fare, so she would not be sold as an indentured servant. Fourteen years later, Jacob Fisler & Sophia Klein married.
Jacob and Sophia had 11 children. Their daughter Hannah was born in 1749, and met Nils Collin when he was pastor at Trinity Church in Swedesboro, near where the Fislers lived. They were married in 1786 in Swedesboro. Later in the same year, the Rev. Collin transferred to Gloria Dei, where he served as pastor 1786-1831.
Sophia Fisler, born Feb. 24, 1752, came to live with them as housekeeper soon after that. Her name appears in church records at least as early as 1793. Hannah died of yellow fever in Sept. 1797 at age 47, after suffering for nine days with the disease. The Rev. Collin wrote, “The God of consolation gave me support under this dispensation.” We can imagine that Sophia tended Hannah in her illness — and stayed on after her death.
Conservation Assessment
Sacred
to the memory of
Miss Sophia Fisler
who departed this life
September 3rd 1816
aged 65 years
Regretted by numerous
Relatives and friends
Particularly N. Collin
Having lived with him.
And his wife, her sister,
Eleven years, and since
Her decease, been for
Nineteen, a prudent
Neat and trusty manager
Of his household.
Type of Marker: Headstone and footstone
Material: Marble
Issues: Biogrowth, blistering, delamination, sugaring
Recommended Treatment: Cleaning w/biocide, consolidation, fill cracks
Evaluation
Historic Integrity: Intact
Structural Integrity: Good
Material Integrity: Good
Legible Inscription: Poor
Marker Details
Inventory Number: 70
Plot Number: 206
Historic Number: 439
Ledger Book Number: 102
Cemetery Section: 4
Orientation: West
Marker Height/Length (in): 36
Marker Width (in): 22
Marker Thickness/Depth (in): 2
Footstone Height (in): 18
Footstone Width (in): 17
Footstone Thickness (in): 2