Hemenway's "Vermont Historical Gazeteer" contains the following:
"The Blanchards, Abiel, Peter, Joel, Abel, Rheuben and Simon, sixbrothers born in Hollis, NH, came to Peacham about 1780, strong,stalwart, fearless men fitted for the privations and hazards of pioneerlive, they left a numerous prosperity, and while many are dispersedabroad, a number bear the name around the old homestead." In variousaccounts of the early settling of Vermont, they are referred to as the"six gigantic brothers" who helped settle Peacham. Abiel was one of theso called "proprietors" of the town.

He served as a private ‎(NH)‎ during Revolutionary War.