Thomas K. Abbott was born around 1808 in New York to Nathan G. Abbott and Anna Gibson. He eventually settled in Freehold, Pennsylvania, and he married Tryphena Estee there around 1842. They had at least six children: Webster, born around 1843; Laura, born around 1844; Angelina, born around 1847; Margaret, born around 1849; George, born around 1851; and Grant, born around 1856. Abbott worked as a farmer in Freehold, and by 1850, he owned $3,000 of real estate. A decade later, he owned $4,500 of real estate and $800 of personal property, and by 1870, his wealth had grown to $8,000 of real estate and $8,000 of personal property. He died on January 31, 1873.