Person Page - 73

     John MADISON II was born circa 1660 in Saint Stephens Parish, King and Queen County, Virginia.

John married Isabella Minor Todd circa 1692 in King and Queen County, Virginia. They were the grandparents of President James Madison.

John MADISON II died circa 1728 in King and Queen County, Virginia.

     William "Uncle Bill" ABNEY, son of Michael ABNEY and Ann TURNER, was born in 1772 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. He was a farmer. He was well thought of in his section of Edgefield County, South Carolina; many people consulted him about politics, religion, and all other matters that came up in the neighborhood. He was generally considered one of the best informed men in the settlement.

Elizabeth SPRAGGINS gave a deed of gift to grandson William "Uncle Bill" ABNEY on 13 September 1792 in Newberry County, South Carolina. Deed of Gift (Recorded as Bill of Sale) from Elizabeth Turner to grandson William Abney, a Negro boy named March, "now in his actual possession"' Rec. October 14, 1801.¹

William married Ann BARNES circa 1801.

Following the death of his brother in law, James "Wiley" ABNEY, in December 1802, who left a young widow with two infant sons, William "Uncle Bill" ABNEY took his young son, William Thomas, to raise.^2,3 According to George Henderson Abney (1828-1924), a grandson of James Wiley Abney (son of Nathaniel Abney and Isabella Madison) and Maacah Abney, who married as first cousins: "After the death of my father's father (James Wiley Abney in 1802), my father (William Thomas Abney, 1799-1836) went to the home of his uncle Bill Abney (brother of Maacah), who was a welltodo farmer. He was well known and was considered the oracle of the community being consulted by a great many people, and upon many different subjects; but he was a little queer in some respects about certain things. His first wife was Ann Barnes, who died leaving several children; and his second wife was a Gentry. He lived not far from Stones Cross roads, near the Colemans. He lived to be a very old man and everybody liked him, and consulted him about religion, politics, the legislature and almost everything that came up about which the people were interested. It has always been my understanding that this Uncle Bill Abney was the son of George Abney , the Revolutionary soldier." (No, he was the son of Michael Abney), He lived with Uncle Bill until he was about 12, so left about 1811.³

The following 13 May 1811 court case concerning an unpaid bill appeared in Edgefield county probate records: Joseph Buffington vs. Peter Buffington and William Abney involving a note for $30.00 dated 8 Dec 1808. William Abney signed the note with an X. James Abney's name also appeared in the records, but his role was not clear. Note: In September 1811 Joseph Buffington sold William Chapman land on Watermelon Branch and Annie Buffinton relinquished her rights.⁴

William "Uncle Bill" ABNEY was named an heir in the will of Elizabeth (Spraggins) TURNER dated 19 July 1811 in Newberry County, South Carolina. "I give and bequeath unto the heirs of my son in law Michael Abney, deceased, to wit: Nathaniel Abney, James Abney, William Abney and Anny Buffington."⁵

William "Uncle Bill" ABNEY sold a tract of land to Abijah ABNEY on 23 December 1822 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. William Abney sells to "my son Abijah Abney" a 160 acre track of land on Big Tarpan Creek, waters of Saluda River, for $400.00. It was part of the lands granted to William Abney and bounded on west by Ralph Scurry, northwest by Edward Clark, east by Hiram Abney (part of same tract) and southwest by lands "belonging to the heirs of William Abney." William signed his name with a signature, not an X. Witnesses: Absalom Abney, Hiram Abney and Martha Abney. Proved by Hiram Abney 22 Jan 1830. Recorded 29 Jan 1830.⁶

William "Uncle Bill" ABNEY died after 1823 in Edgefield County, South Carolina.

     Ann married William "Uncle Bill" ABNEY, son of Michael ABNEY and Ann TURNER, circa 1801.

     Absalom P. ABNEY, son of William "Uncle Bill" ABNEY and Ann BARNES, was born on 9 August 1803 in South Carolina.^1,2

Absalom married Rosannah HALL on 4 January 1835 in Newton County, Georgia.²

Absalom P. ABNEY and Rosannah HALL appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1850 in Chambers County, Alabama. The household was listed as Absalom P. Abney, age 47, farmer, value of real estate $1,000, born South Carolina; Rosannah Abney, age 31, born South Carolina; Martha E. Abney, age 15, born Georgia; Mary E. Abney, age 13, born Georgia; Elvira and Elvina Abney, age 10, born Georgia; Thomas W. Abney, age 7, born Georgia; Permelia Abney, age 5, born Georgia; John Abney, age 3, born Georgia; and Synthia A. H. Abney, age 8/12, born Alabama.¹

Absalom P. ABNEY died on 7 September 1855 in Chambers County, Alabama, at age 52.²

     Rosannah HALL was born on 9 May 1817 in South Carolina.¹

Rosannah married Absalom P. ABNEY, son of William "Uncle Bill" ABNEY and Ann BARNES, on 4 January 1835 in Newton County, Georgia.¹

Rosannah HALL and Absalom P. ABNEY appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1850 in Chambers County, Alabama. The household was listed as Absalom P. Abney, age 47, farmer, value of real estate $1,000, born South Carolina; Rosannah Abney, age 31, born South Carolina; Martha E. Abney, age 15, born Georgia; Mary E. Abney, age 13, born Georgia; Elvira and Elvina Abney, age 10, born Georgia; Thomas W. Abney, age 7, born Georgia; Permelia Abney, age 5, born Georgia; John Abney, age 3, born Georgia; and Synthia A. H. Abney, age 8/12, born Alabama.²

Rosannah HALL appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1880 in Brownville, Lee County, Alabama. The household was listed as Rosannah Abney, daughter Cynthia Wall, granddaughter Ellen Wall, and Martha Cooper. Martha was kin to Rosannah's son-in-law, Benjamin Eli Cooper. These folks worked for a cotton mill. It is thought that they crossed the bridge over the Chattahoochee River to work at Clapp's Factory on the Georgia side of the river. Many of the families in Brownsville in 1870 and 1880 had ties to Clapp's Factory previously and the Columbus Manufacturing Company, which operated the mill at that time. That company also owned 170 acres on the Alabama side which probably contained factory housing. The Clapp's Factory was established in 1834 and operated until the mid-1880s. A village grew up around the factory and a cemetery was in use by 1856. Although families scattered after the mill closure, burials continued until at least 1904. Georgia Power currently owns the property and Oliver Dam was built at approximately the factory site.³

Her obituary appeared 18 March 1901 in the Ledger Enquirer, published in Columbus, Georgia. "Mrs. Rosa Abney died at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Cynthia Wall, on Gayle street, Phenix City, Monday morning at 12:45 o'clock after an illness of about six months debility. Mrs. Abney was 48 years of age and a member of the Christian Church. She was survived by one son, Mr. Thomas H. Abney, of West Point, Ga. and by three daughters, Mrs. Elvira Statham, Mrs. Frannie Cooper and Mrs. Cynthia Wall of Phenix City..." The funeral was conducted by Rev. Thomas Elder.

Rosannah HALL died on 18 March 1901 in Phenix City, Alabama, at age 83.^1,4

     Martha Elizabeth ABNEY, daughter of Absalom P. ABNEY and Rosannah HALL, was born on 28 September 1835 in Georgia.¹

Martha married John Edward Davidson on 25 January 1856 in Muscogee County, Georgia.²

     Mary Ellen ABNEY, daughter of Absalom P. ABNEY and Rosannah HALL, was born on 27 January 1837 in Georgia.¹

Mary married Henry Mims Newsome on 10 December 1855 in Muscogee County, Georgia.²

Mary Ellen ABNEY died on 18 September 1863 in Muscogee County, Georgia, at age 26.¹ She was buried in Clapp's Factory Cemetery, Muscogee County, Georgia. The site of the cemetery is lost.

     Elvira ABNEY, daughter of Absalom P. ABNEY and Rosannah HALL, was born on 11 October 1839 in Georgia.¹

     Elvina ABNEY, daughter of Absalom P. ABNEY and Rosannah HALL, was born on 11 October 1839 in Georgia.¹

Elvina ABNEY died on 13 July 1858 in Muscogee County, Georgia, at age 18.^1,2 She was buried on 14 July 1858 in Clapp's Factory Cemetery, Muscogee County, Georgia.²

     Thomas William ABNEY, son of Absalom P. ABNEY and Rosannah HALL, was born on 2 July 1842 in Muscogee County, Georgia.^1,2

Thomas began military service in 1862 when he enlisted as a private in Company G, Bonaud's Battery, 28th Georgia Siege Artillery.

Per Units of the Confederate States Army, by Joseph H. Crute, Jr.: "28th Artillery Battalion was organized at Savannah, Georgia, during the summer of 1863 with nine companies, later reduced to seven. All of its companies had seen prior heavy artillery service. It was assigned to the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, and took an active part in the fight at Olustee. In the spring of 1864 the unit was sent north as infantry. Companies F and H were assigned to Finegan's Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia, and five companies to Elliot's, then J.C. Fiser's Brigade, Army of Tennessee. Companies F and H were involved in the Petersburg siege south of the James River and the Appomattox Campaign and surrendered with no officers and 7 men. The other five companies served at Savannah and in the North Carolina Campaign. They surrendered on April 26, 1865. Major A. Bonaud was in command."^2,3

Thomas married Georgia Ann Mathews on 13 November 1866 in Beulah, Russell County, Alabama.^2,4

Thomas William ABNEY and Georgia Ann Mathews appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1 June 1880 in Beulah, Lee County, Alabama. The household was listed as Thos. Abner, a 37-year-old farmer; Georgia Abner, his 25-year-old wife; and their children: Julius, 11, son; Eddie, 4, son and Essie, 1, daugther. All were recorded as born in Alabama.

Thomas William ABNEY appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 7 June 1900 in Mill's Creek, Franklin County, Arkansas. The household was listed as T. W. Abney, 57, born July 1842 Georgia, farmer. It is not known why he is living separate from his wife and younger children. Possible he lived out on a farm while they lived in town.

Thomas William ABNEY died on 15 June 1929 in Oklahoma at age 86.⁵ He was buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Ardmore, Carter County, Oklahoma.^2,6

     Permelia Francis ABNEY, daughter of Absalom P. ABNEY and Rosannah HALL, was born on 11 July 1844 in Georgia.¹

Permelia married Benjamin E. Cooper on 7 November 1867.¹

Permelia Francis ABNEY died on 9 June 1917 at age 72.¹

     John W. ABNEY, son of Absalom P. ABNEY and Rosannah HALL, was born on 8 November 1846 in Georgia.¹

John W. ABNEY died in 1870.

     Cynthia Harriett ABNEY, daughter of Absalom P. ABNEY and Rosannah HALL, was born on 29 September 1849 in Chambers County, Alabama.¹

Cynthia married Henry W. Wall on 10 January 1869.¹

     Nancy Jane ABNEY, daughter of Absalom P. ABNEY and Rosannah HALL, was born on 22 November 1852 in Alabama.¹

Nancy Jane ABNEY died on 11 April 1863 in Muscogee County, Georgia, at age 10.¹ She was buried on 12 April 1863 in Clapp's Factory Cemetery, Muscogee County, Georgia.²

     William ABNEY, son of Capt. William ABNEY and Mary CLARK, was born in 1760 in Amelia County, Virginia.

William married Bathsheba POPE, daughter of Jacob Thomas POPE II and Elizabeth Dawkins, circa 1806 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. She was one of four Pope sisters who married Abneys. Elizabeth, Mary Ann and Susan married sons of Capt. Nathaniel Abney.¹

From George Henderson Abney's rememberances, "My grandfather married Bathsheba Pope. Three of my uncles, John Abney, Joel Abney and Azariah Abney were all brothers (sons of Capt. Nathaniel). They were cousins of my grandfather; and all four of them married sisters, the Popes. Uncle Azariah's wife was named Mary; uncle Joel's wife was named Elizabeth, sometimes called Betty. Uncle John died and his widow (Susannah Nunn) married a Spearman. Graves, I think was his name (Note: It was Edmund Spearman); but I think this was Uncle John's second wife. Aunt Betty wrote and told me of her husband's death. He came in and said "Fix me a bed, I am dying" and he was dead in a few minutes. She died within a year or two thereafter."^2,1

William ABNEY died in 1813 in Edgefield (now Saluda) County, South Carolina. He was buried in Nathaniel Abney Family Cemetery.

     Bathsheba POPE, daughter of Jacob Thomas POPE II and Elizabeth Dawkins, was born in 1788 in Edgefield County, South Carolina.

Bathsheba married first William ABNEY, son of Capt. William ABNEY and Mary CLARK, circa 1806 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. She was one of four Pope sisters who married Abneys. Elizabeth, Mary Ann and Susan married sons of Capt. Nathaniel Abney.¹

Bathsheba married second William Culbreath circa 1815 in Edgefield County, South Carolina.²

Bathsheba POPE died on 22 March 1849 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. Charlotte Culbreath's death on this date is recorded in the minutes for Chestnut Hill Church. She was buried in Nathaniel Abney Family Cemetery.

She was identified as his surviving wife in William Culbreath's obituary in the. "He intermarried with Barsheba Abney, a widow of __ Abney, and her maiden name was Pope, a sister of of the late Sampson Pope of Edgefield District, by whom she had __ sons and a daughter, two of whom now mourn their father's loss."²

     Charlotte Pope ABNEY, daughter of William ABNEY and Bathsheba POPE, was born on 11 July 1807 in Edgefield County, South Carolina.

George H. Abney recalled, "My mother was Charlotte Pope Abney, daughter of William Abney and granddaugher of old Captain William Abney of the Revolution, who lived near Chestnut Hill and was very wealthy.

My mother's father lived near Chestnut Hill. He owned several negroes and nearly all of the land in that neighborhood. He left the lands to grandmother and the negroes to the children. Grandmother (Bathsheba Pope Abney) later married Culbreath; later she died; then her husband died and my half uncle and aunt got most of the property.¹

Charlotte married first William Thomas ABNEY, son of James "Wiley" ABNEY and Maacah ABNEY, circa 1827 in Edgefield County, South Carolina.

Her husband, William T. Abney, worked as a carpenter, contractor and builder as well as a farmer. They lived on a farm about 26 miles from Edgefield, on the Edgefield to Chestnut Hill Road near the Saluda River. When he died he left her 1200 acres of land.

William died in December 1836 in Edgefield County, South Carolina, Per George H. Abney, "My father died at the home of his wife's father. He had recently returned from the Florida war; had measles, developed pneumonia and pleurisy and lived only a few days. After father's death, when we went to Chestnut Hill church, mother used to ride a horse named Blaze. She would get on the horse, take sister up front, put brother up behind and I walked. A Baptist preacher named Hodges preached father's funeral." leaving Charlotte Pope ABNEY as a widow.²

Charlotte Pope ABNEY appeared in a newspaper article 13 September 1838 in the The Edgefield Advertiser, published in Edgefield, South Carolina. South Carolina, Edgefield District. [George] Henderson Abney and others, vs. Charlotte Abney-- Partitian.

NOTICE is hereby given, that on the first Monday in October next, at Edgefield C. H. will offer for sale at public outcry, the lands of William T. Abney, deceased, (except that portion of them lying North of the Cambridge road, which has been assigned to Mrs. Charlotte P. Abney, containing four hundred and ninety niine acres, more or less, lying in the District of Edgefield, on the waters of Saluda River, and adjoining lands of Edward Clark, Benjamin Richardson, William Culbreath, Andrew Burnham, R. G. Mays and Richard Coleman, on a credit of one and two years, except cost, which must be paid in cash. Purchaser to give Bond and personal security and a Mortgage of the promise to secure the purchase money. J. Terry, C. E. E. D., Commissioner's Office, Edgefield, Sept 3d, 1838.

Charlotte married second Col. David PATTON on 16 July 1839 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. Col. Patton was from Elizaville, Fleming county, Kentucky where after their marriage she moved with her children. Rev. M. M. Abney performed the service.

Charlotte Pope ABNEY Married-- On Tuesday evening the 16th July by the Rev. M. M. Abney, Mr. David Patton, of Kentucky, to Mrs. Charlotte Abney, of Edgefield, S. C. on 1 August 1839 in The Edgefield Advertiser, Edgefield, South Carolina.

From George H. Abney's remberances, "After my father's death my mother married Col. David Patton of Elizaville, Ky. and went there with him to live, carrying all of the children except myself. I went a few months later, riding through the country. I remained there until I was about eighteen when I enlisted and went to the Mexican War."

"Some years after my mother's second marriage, her husband, Col. Patton, became interested with his brothers and some others in hog droving. He lost everything he had and all of my mother's property as well. He had endorsed papers for others; and everything we had, including our teams, were sold to pay those debts. Later Col. Patton was killed in a steamboat explosion on the Ohio river and his body was never recovered.?³

Charlotte Pope ABNEY died on 12 January 1888 in Elizaville, Fleming County, Kentucky, at age 80. She was buried in Elizaville Cemetery.

     William Thomas ABNEY, son of James "Wiley" ABNEY and Maacah ABNEY, was born in 1799 in Edgefield County, South Carolina.

His father died in December 1802 in Edgefield County, South Carolina, when William was only 3 years old. William's mother was left with two little boys. William went to live with his maternal uncle, William "Uncle Billy" Abney. Wiley lived with William and Anna Abney Buffington, a maternal aunt and uncle.

According to George Henderson Abney: "My father's Uncle Bill Abney did not treat him properly; made him work all the time, denied him proper clothes, frequently with only a shirt, with no trousers, and never bought him a hat. When he was about ten years old, a neighbor gave him a dollar and told him to buy a hat with it. Soon afterwards my father left there and engaged himself as an apprentice to a carpenter and builder, with whom he worked for some eight years; after which he became a contractor and builder on his own account. My father William Thomas Abney built old Zoar Church after he was married and while building it he boarded with Mrs. Mary Griffith, who was formerly an Abney, and who lived near Zoar church at the time."^1,2

George H. Abney further recalled, "When my father was about ten years old, and left the home of his uncle Bill Abney he did not know where he was going, but set out afoot. After walking many miles, up towards the mountain country (probably near Greenville, S.C.) he stopped at the home of a widow lady and asked for a bit to eat. She gave him a nice meal; asked where he was going etc., and being told he was looking for work, she asked him if he could build her a chicken house. He undertook the job, building it with small poles which he cut in the woods. After it was finished, except for the roof, she sent for a mechanic and tavern keeper who lived near to come and put on a roof, as she had no boards for the purpose.

When he saw the chicken house and how well it was made he asked who built it, and upon being informed he turned to my father and said "Little boy, how would you like to go to town, live with me and learn the carpenter's trade?" An agreement was reached, whereby he was to work for seven years as an apprentice, to get his board and clothes during that time, and at the end of that period he to receive $150.00 in cash; all of which was carried out. At the end of the seven years, father then hired himself to the same man for another year; saved the money and bought a horse, wagon and set of carpenter's tools and started out as a carpenter, contractor and builder.

He gradually employed others to work with him; built up a good reputation as a builder; built many of the best houses in that section. Later, his younger brother Wiley Abney left Buffingtons and joined him in that building work, which was very successful throughout.?³

William married Charlotte Pope ABNEY, daughter of William ABNEY and Bathsheba POPE, circa 1827 in Edgefield County, South Carolina.

George H. Abney said, "My father lived twenty six or twenty seven miles from Edgefield going out by the road to Chestnut Hill, or the road from Edgefield to Chapels Ferry. After passing Chestnut Hill about two miles, take right hand going towards Charleston or towards Columbia and Mt. Willing. Bill Strother bought father's place at the sale at $2.50 per acre. He built a fine home with a big dancing hall etc. My father made good money, but was like myself, too generous. Often when some poor man among his neighbors lost a horse, my father would make him a present of another one. He was always trying to help the fellow who was down. Father left a thousand to twelve hundred acres of land which Strother bought for $2800.00 Father worked at his trade as a builder and had two overseers on his farm. Uncle Harry Culbreath superintended for him one year. Some one poisoned father's horses once, and he lost nine of them in one day. We could never get sufficient proof to prosecute; but we were perfectly satisfied that this was done by John Mock, who owned a corn mill near by."

George added, "My father lived in the settlement ten or twelve miles below Chappels Ferry, near cousin Jack Abney (MJA note: This was John R. Abney, son of Watt.) My home was two miles from the Saluda river. My brother Lucien was named for Lucien Bonaparte; my brother William H., was named for my father and for uncle Harry Culbreath."⁴

William Thomas and his brother Wiley were carpenters and builders. Wiley is listed in the Cobb County, Georgia Census in 1840 and in the Elbert County, Georgia Census in 1860. He is also listed in the 1860 Slave Census. William Thomas was also living in Elbert County at least by 1847. Wiley purchased land in Mississippi from Wesley Boler, who was also from Elbert County, Georgia and had moved to Mississippi prior to the Abneys.

William began military service on 7 February 1836 in Edgefield County, South Carolina, when he enlisted as first lieutenant in Capt. David Denny's company of the 10th South Carolina Militia to fight in the 2nd Seminole Indian War (1835-1842) in Florida. He had vowed to whip on sight Charles K. Johnson, a teacher at Mt. Enon School, who he believed had unfairly whipped his son, George. Instead when the two soldiers met they became friends for life. William mustered out 10 May 1836 at St. Augustine, Florida and returned to Edgefield county. He came down with the measles, developed pneumonia and pleurisy and died at the home of his father-in-law.

According to George Henderson Abney, "My father was in the Florida war only three months; that was the limit of the enlistment. Thomas Carson and Ira Crumley went to that war with my father. They were both apprenticed to my father in the building trade, and after their return from the war they were building a fine residence for Ben Richardson. When my father died, he objected to the other two men completing the work; but let them go and hired father's old slave, Ned Abney, to complete the job."⁵

In December 1836 William Thomas died in Edgefield County, South Carolina, Per George H. Abney, "My father died at the home of his wife's father. He had recently returned from the Florida war; had measles, developed pneumonia and pleurisy and lived only a few days. After father's death, when we went to Chestnut Hill church, mother used to ride a horse named Blaze. She would get on the horse, take sister up front, put brother up behind and I walked. A Baptist preacher named Hodges preached father's funeral." leaving Charlotte Pope a widow.⁶ He was buried in Chestnut Hill Church Cemetery.

His estate was probated circa 1840 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. Guardianship records begin in 1840 and go through 1844. All five children are listed with their guardians and how much they received from the estate of William Abney whose administrator was Richard Coleman. It seems that after the first return in 1841 for the 1839-1840 year, they received nothing else. David Patton is mentioned in almost all of the returns for the children in one way or another whether for board, tuition, etc., or for sundries. Each child had a different guardian, so returns were not made at one time. The index is by the guardian's name too, and the info is not in any particular order other than the year.

Children listed are:
Susan E. Abney - E. P. Abney, guardian - received $1,543.54 from the estate of William Abney via Richard Coleman, Adm'r. She also received two separate payments from the Court of Equity of $273.79 and $248.51 in 1840. The other children received three similar payments.

Mary H. Abney - Edward Clark, guardian - $1,547.69; $273.79; and $249.43

George H. Abney - Richard Coleman, guardian - $1,576.32; $273.79; and $250.36

William H. Abney - William A. Strother, guardian - $1,576.37; $243.79; and $250.36

Lucian B. Abney - Middleton Graham, guardian - $1,547.69; $273.79; and $248.92
All of those were in 1840 on the 1841 return

As mentioned earlier, none of them received anything else.

From her research, Bootsey Cousins wrote, "The 1841 accounting didn't show much, but after I read what you have on your site and noticed a connection to Kentucky I noticed that at least three of the children -- George, Susan, and William had received something from Kentucky and their accounts paid for it. Two said they paid for postage, and one said it paid for a package from Kentucky."

The 1844 accounting showed that Mary's account was about $2,000, and George's, Susan's, William's, and Lucian's accounts were about $2,100 each.

1846 accounting says William's and Lucian's estates are about $2,100 each.

1847 accounting shows that George H. Abney is now Henderson Abney, and Richard Coleman says that he has paid nothing for him other than to give him cash for which Coleman has vouchers.

1847 accounting for Mary H. Abney shows that Archibald Clark, is now her guardian via his being administrator of the estate of Edward Clark.

It appears that most of the children of William Thomas Abney were paid in full of their part of their inheritances.

Edgefield, SC Guardianship records through 1856:

George Henderson Abney was "of age and settled with" $2,527.21 on February 22, 1848.

Mary H. Abney was "paid ward in part" $2,243.00 on July 29, 1851 and "in full" $277.97 on November 15, 1851.

Susan E. Abney was paid "in full through her legally appointed attorney" $1,955.68 in May 1853. As a side note, I saw where David Patton had been paid for buying her certain things including a guitar and all that went with it as well as for board through January 1, 1853.

Lucien B. Abney was paid "in full of legacy" $2,624.14 in 1856.

William H. Abney's "paid in full" was not found because it was probably in another book. There was a notice on his return for 1854 that said he was given cash to pay his expenses to Kentucky. Apparently he was just visiting, as you have him enlisting as a soldier in the Civil War in 1862. You say that William A. Strother bought the Abney land and that William H. Abney's money remained in Strother's hands, so maybe that is why I did not see where he was paid in full.⁷

From George regarding two slaves:

     George Henderson ABNEY, son of William Thomas ABNEY and Charlotte Pope ABNEY, was born on 15 February 1828 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. He was a farmer.

His father died in December 1836 in Edgefield County, South Carolina, when George was 8. He later recalled, "The most I ever heard about my father was told me by my Aunt Nancy Kelly. She told me that her husband Wiley Kelly had been to Zoar church and placed fresh earth at her mother's (my grandmother Maacah Abney) grave, and had placed larger stones at the head and foot."¹

He recalled, "I made a mistake in not getting more education myself, but while my younger brothers and sisters were in school and college I had to go to the field to work, to support the family. Mother wanted me to go to school, but some one had to work. Being the oldest of the family, it fell to my lot. Brother Lucien was a fine Greek and Latin scholar, and brother William was a finely educated man, well versed in law, and was judge for some time until his health failed and he had to give it all up.

My first school teacher was an old woman named Buzee; the next was Isaac Herring, an old man crippled in the leg. Afterwards I went to school to cousin Mark Abney (likely Mark Madison Abney) when Mount Enon had been in operation about one or two years. It was first a cabin school and afterwards moved to Mt. Enon".² From George H. Abney's remberances, "After my father's death my mother married Col. David Patton of Elizaville, Ky. and went there with him to live, carrying all of the children except myself. I went a few months later, riding through the country. I remained there until I was about eighteen when I enlisted and went to the Mexican War."

"Some years after my mother's second marriage, her husband, Col. Patton, became interested with his brothers and some others in hog droving. He lost everything he had and all of my mother's property as well. He had endorsed papers for others; and everything we had, including our teams, were sold to pay those debts. Later Col. Patton was killed in a steamboat explosion on the Ohio river and his body was never recovered.?³

When the Mexican War broke out he returned to South Carolina and on 20 January 1847 enlisted as a corporal in company L of the historic Palmetto Regiment. He fought in the battles of Vera Cruz, Contreras and Cherubusco, where on 2 August 1847 he was severely wounded in the right leg. He was awarded the silver medal for gallantry and discharged at Mobile 3 July 1848.

George said, "In the Mexican War, I was a corporal in Company L, William's Company; from Newberry, South Carolina. I first intended going in the Company of which Col. Toles was Captain, but they lacked three or four men having enough men in the Company and finding I would not be able to go in that Company, I then joined Company L.

I was wounded in the battle of Cherubusco. After I had been carried off the field to the shade of the hacienda, I with fourteen other wounded men was attacked by a band of thirty Mexican renegades, whom we captured and all of them were hanged the next day. I saw all of them hanging to the beams where they remained until the battle was over. Col. Joseph Abney was with me in that battle; a fine soldier.

When I returned from the Mexican War, I bought a farm on Saluda river. To reach my farm going from Edgefield, take road to Chapels or Newberry; but when you pass Richardsonville, leave the Edgefield road, take right hand and my farm was about twenty or twenty five miles from Edgefield, and two or three miles from Richardsonville, where I got my mail; though in going from Edgefield I did not always go by Richardsonville; but went by old Jim Attaway's home, then took right hand about a mile from my home."^4,5

He recalled, "After my return from Mexico I visited my uncle Wiley Abney in Elbert County, Georgia. I was living in Edgefield county, S.C., when cousin John Beck Abney and his sister visited me there. My sister was then in Edgefield and brother William took my horse and buggy and went after her."³

George married Anna GRIFFITH, daughter of William GRIFFITH and Mary "Polly" ABNEY, on 19 May 1849 in South Carolina. George recalled, "My wife was Ann Griffith, the daughter of William Griffith, who owned a good farm and fifteen negroes and who was in good circumstances. He had two sons, William and Joe. All of the family worked hard. They lived near the home of Col. Brooks, a very wealthy man who kept very fine liquor which he would sell to wife's father on credit until he ran up an account of $600.00 for liquors bought of Colonel Brooks. Both of his sons were heavy drinkers and at times very rough and for that reason my wife's uncle, old Joseph Griffith did not want me to marry Ann, who was his niece, because he thought too much of me. He told me to go to school and finish my education instead of getting married."^6,7

George recalled, "I have never had any children myself, but I have raised thirteen orphan children. It seemed that every one wanted my wife, Ann, to raise their children when they died. Mrs. Brown, with whom I am now living, is one of the children. I have never been drunk but once in my life. I did get drunk once in the City of Mexico, and that was my first and only time.

My people were all Baptists except Father, who was a Universalist. My wife was a Methodist, and I joined that church to be with her. My brother William was tendered the presidency of a college but declined it because he had lacked three months of graduating himself."⁸

In 1855 George and Anna (GRIFFITH) ABNEY moved from Edgefield to Fredonia, Chambers County, Alabama, which is about ten miles North of West Point, Georgia.

"Caleb Walton who married a Coleman, bought my farm for $2600.00 I lived in log house built for temporary use and had a space left for a residence; but I never built. However, Caleb Walton later built a frame dwelling on the spot I had left for that purpose."⁹

George saw military service on 25 July 1861 in Chambers County, Alabama, when he enlisted, at age 33, as 1st Sergeant in Captain Jeff Faulkner's Independent Cavalry Company which later became Co. B 8th (Wade's) Regiment Confederate Cavalry.¹⁰ He then enlisted at age 34 on 12 January 1863 in Fredonia, Chambers County, Alabama, in Co. A, 5th Battalion Hilliard's Legion which later became Co. A 10th Confederate Cavalry. After the end of the war he moved his family to Mississippi. George recalled, "When I enlisted in the Civil War, I was elected a Lieutenant of Cavalry, but after serving a few months I was very sick and was sent home because of my physical condition, which I regretted very much."^11,2

George appeared in a newspaper article 12 April 1916 in the The Edgefield Advertiser, published in Edgefield, South Carolina. The article was written concerning the death of his younger brother, William Henry Abney, and contained an account of the family history including the following about George: "When the war with Mexico was declared, George Henderson, then only nineteen years old, joined a company in Kentucky, but his stepfather and mother, on account of his youth, would not consent to his going and his name was taken off the rolls. He came back to South Carolina and joined Capt. Preston S. Brooks company. Again, however, the youth’s military ardor was nipped in the bud. This time his guardian, Richard Coleman, intervened and objected. Not to be outdone, the embryonic soldier passed over to Newberry District and joined is company commanded by Capt. James B. Williams and went on to the war as a corporal. In several of the battles he was distinguished for gallantry. He came back to Saluda at the end of the war bearing the wounds he had received. That endeared him to his people, and not long afterwards he married to Ann Griffith, the daughter of William Griffith, one of the substantial citizens and planters on that side of the district. A few years more past, and then he and his young wife went to Alabama, where he had planted and accumulated a goodly fortune, when the Civil War came on. He fought through that again to the end. In the cavalry sent by that state, of which he was an officer, none bore himself more valiantly; and he did not escape the marks that distinguish the hero. After the smoke of battle had cleared away, and he returned to his desolate home, he could not bear the scene, and went with his devoted wife to lands near Clay, Mississippi, to begin life anew. There his wife died in 1910, but he still lives at the ripe age of 88 or 89, one of the two or three surviving members of the Palmetto Regiment. The last survivor will receive the Andrew Jackson cup."

George Henderson ABNEY died on 19 May 1924 in Fulton, Itawamba County, Mississippi, at age 96.⁶ He was buried in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.

His biographical sketch appeared in an 1891 edition of Goodspeed's History of Mississippi, when he was living in Itawamba County, Mississippi.

     William Henry ABNEY, son of William Thomas ABNEY and Charlotte Pope ABNEY, was born on 21 June 1837 in Edgefield County, South Carolina.¹ He was an attorney and a judge. At one time he was the judge of the County Court and the Quarter Sessions in Kentucky, but overwork broke his health and he had to retire in 1872. He was educated at Newberry Academy in Lexington, South Carolina and then entered college in 1856 at Centre College at Danville, Kentucky. He transferred to Indiana Asbury University, a Methodist institution in Greencastle, Indiana which is today known as DePaul University. He left in 1857 to read law in Danville, Kentucky then returned to Edgefield county to study law in the office of his kinsman, Joseph Abney. He was admitted to the South Carolina bar in 1858.¹

William began military service at age 25 on 14 August 1862 in Edgefield, Edgefield County, South Carolina, when, even though exempt, he volunteered as a private in Company A 1st Battalion South Carolina Sharpshooter under Maj. Joseph Abney. He was promoted to ordinance sergeant on the battalion staff. On 30 Sep 1863 they combined with the 1st South Carolina Infantry to form the 27th Regiment South Carolina Infantry. On 31 Cot 1863 he was transferred by special order of the War Department to the 2nd South Carolina Artillery as ordinance sargeant. He also served as a war correspondent from Richmond for the Charleston Mercury and signed himself "Hermes."²

After the war he practiced law in Cinncinati then Elizaville, Kentucky. There he was elected a judge of the county court and the Quarter Sessions Court in Kentucky, but overwork broke his health and he was forced to retire from the bench in 1892. After his breakdown he lived the remainder of his life in an asylum in Lexington, Kentucky. There he learned several languages, wrote songs, articles and sermons, and otherwise lived the life of a gentleman but refused to work due, apparently, to what he believed was his fragile mental health. He never married.¹

William Henry ABNEY died on 7 December 1915 in Lexington, Kentucky, at age 78.¹ He was buried in Elizaville Cemetery, Elizaville, Fleming County, Kentucky.


His obituary appeared 12 April 1916 in the The Edgefield Advertiser, published in Edgefield, South Carolina. Judge William Henry Abney of Kentucky -- The announcement of the death of Judge William Henry Abney in Kentucky on December 7, 1915 has brought to the advertiser regret at his passing away, but it is also brought back to this journal pleasing regulations of the past. For a year or two prior to the war and during the war he was one of the most valued contributors. While Arthur Simkins was its editor, he enjoyed publishing poetry and prose from young Abney, who like himself, was an accomplished scholar and writer; and when James T. Bacon became the editor in 1863 he too was delighted at anything coming from his pen.

William Henry Abney was born on the Saluda of River in Edgefield District on June 21, 1837. His father was William Thomas Abney, who was first lieutenant in Capt. Denny's company in the Florida war, and had been elected senator for Edgefield District in the state legislature, but he had not taken his seat when he died in the latter part of the year 1836. His mother was also an Abney. She, Charlotte Madison Abney, was one of the three daughters of William Abney and his wife Bathsheba Pope; and William Abney was the third and youngest son of Capt. William Abney of the Revolution and his wife, Mary Clark, who came down from Halifax County, Virginia, and settled on lands about 4 miles south of Chappel's ferry on the Saluda granted to him prior to that war. A part of those lands were handed down to their son William and by him to his daughter Charlotte. In the old Abney graveyard there lie the remains of Capt. William, his son William, and their wives and William Thomas. That resting place of the old patriot and hero is just west of the juncture of the road leading from Charleston to Ninety Six fort and the road leading from Coleman's crossroads to the ferry.

William Thomas Abney left two sons, George Henderson and Lucian Buonaparte and one or two daughters. William Henry was a posthumous son, as we have seen. The young widow, when William Henry was about four years old, was met, admired and won by Col. David Patton of Kentucky, who took her and her children to his home in Fleming County in that state. William A. Strother bought their lands on the Saluda, and the money going to her children remained in the hands of the guardian of William Henry.

When the war with Mexico was declared, George Henderson, then only nineteen years old, joined a company in Kentucky, but his stepfather and mother, on account of his youth, would not consent to his going and his name was taken off the rolls. He came back to South Carolina and joined Capt. Preston S. Brooks company. Again, however, the youth’s military ardor was nipped in the bud. This time his guardian, Richard Coleman, intervened and objected. Not to be outdone, the embryonic soldier passed over to Newberry District and joined is company commanded by Capt. James B. Williams and went on to the war as a corporal. In several of the battles he was distinguished for gallantry. He came back to Saluda at the end of the war bearing the wounds he had received. That endeared him to his people, and not long afterwards he married to Ann Griffith, the daughter of William Griffith, one of the substantial citizens and planters on that side of the district. A few years more past, and then he and his young wife went to Alabama, where he had planted and accumulated a goodly fortune, when the Civil War came on. He fought through that again to the end. In the cavalry sent by that state, of which he was an officer, none bore himself more valiantly; and he did not escape the marks that distinguish the hero. After the smoke of battle had cleared away, and he returned to his desolate home, he could not bear the scene, and went with his devoted wife to lands near Clay, Mississippi, to begin life anew. There his wife died in 1910, but he still lives at the ripe age of 88 or 89, one of the two or three surviving members of the Palmetto Regiment. The last survivor will receive the Andrew Jackson cup.

Lucian Buonaparte became a physician and married in Kentucky. He died only a few years ago and sleeps in the beautiful cemetery at Elizaville, of which he was one of the founders.

William Henry was a precocious youth. After he had studied in the academy of his new home, his mother cast about to find a good place for him to begin his collegiate course. Her mind turned back to South Carolina. Chief Justice John Benton O'Neal had married Helen Pope, the sister of her mother; and who in her native state better than he to consult? The result was, the youth was sent back to the state and placed in an institution of learning then located at Lexington, for which afterwards removed to Newberry and became Newberry College. The idea seemed to have been, that after a course of preparation at Lexington, the boy would be entered in the South Carolina college at Columbia, of which the Chief Justice was a graduate. But, after year or two's successful study at Lexington, he went back to Kentucky to see his mother. For some reason, the plan as to his education was changed and he was entered in Centre College at Danville Kentucky, where he studied for some years; and next he was entered in college at Greencastle, Indiana, now known as DePaul University. After his college course was finished, he attended law lectures for a while, and then returned to South Carolina to study in the office of his kinsman Joseph Abney, at Edgefield, and to be admitted to the bar of this state. That was in 1857 or 1858. After diligent study, he was admitted to the bar of the common law courts at Columbia in 1859 and to the bar of the equity courts a little later. While a student here, he participated in the gaieties of youth. He was an excellent player of the guitar. He was amiable and made many friends. With at all, he was a member of the literary club and an omnivorous reader, and remembered to advantage what he read. By many he was considered a genius.

Soon the war came on, and in January 1861, he enlisted in the “Edgefield Rifleman,” a company of which his friend Cicero Adams was captain. The ladies presented the company with a flag of heavy blue silk. On one side was the large Lone Star of the state; and on the reverse side was the Palmetto tree with the shields of the state at the base and the coiled rattlesnake. The call then was for troops to serve six months. The brave young men marched away to Charleston. Our editor Col. Simkins, then wrote then: “the very noblest company of young men we have ever seen organized, left this village on Sunday for Charleston.” Once there, the company was incorporated in the first Regiment of South Carolina volunteers, commanded by Col. Mazey Gregg. They witnessed the fall of Fort Sumter. That being accomplished, the Regiment went on to Virginia, William Henry Abneywith it, and he participated in the battle of Vienna, the first one of the war. It was said at the time that he bore himself with great coolness and gallantry. At the end of the term of service his company was disbanded; and he returned to Edgefield ill with fever. He afterwards attached himself to Capt. Ira Cromley’s company of the Saluda the side of this district and accompanied it to Columbia; but his strength was not restored and he had to return. On the formation of a battalion of Sharpshooters, of which Joseph Abney was made major, he was tendered the position of ordinance sergeant of the battalion and accepted it and went again to the war with it. Afterwards he was transferred to the position of ordinance sergeant of forces known as the 2nd Regiment of South Carolina artillery. He was with the Rrgiment at Secessionville, James Island. Artillery duels with the enemy there lasted many months. After the evacuation of Charleston, he accompanied the 2nd Artillery, in Elliott's brigade, into North Carolina and was in the battles of Averysboro and Bentonville, and served until the surrender at Guilford Courthouse. In all this he had been distinguished for his courage and bravery; and then he did not feel that he could formally surrender. Some of his comrades in company K felt the same way. They chose him to lead them back to South Carolina and he did it. In his words, they “fully accepted the conditions” but they “preferred to go home, as they were.” Old soldiers will understand that feeling.

While he was away in the Army he wrote back communications for this journal and some for the Hamburg Republican, the Lexington Telegraph, the Charleston Mercury, the Charleston Courier, the Columbia Courant, the Mobile Register and the Richmond Examiner. He welded a factile pen.

At the close of the war, Edgefield District and the state was overrun by northern soldiers. There was nothing to detain our friend or induce him to settle here for the practice of his profession of the law. All here was gloom. So he returned to Kentucky. In 1870 he was elected judge of the county and quarter sessions court; but he worked too much, and in 1872 his health gave way, and he retired from the bench. It was never restored, but he lingered all these years. He was all the while interested in literature. As long as life lasted he was able to indulge in reading and that he enjoyed to the end. He was particularly fond of the French language; and he became a fine French scholar as some of his letters in that language attest. Although some of his writings were published in general D. H. Hill's magazine, “The land that we love,” and in some other journals and magazines like the Literary Eclectec. He never published a book. It is the fact that some of the most brilliant writers do not leave their productions in book form. We often regret that Arthur Simkins and James T. Bacon left no book. Had they done so what a treat it would be for us to read them.

We are glad to know that Judge Abney lived to a ripe old age and could enjoy some things in it despite his ailments. Peace be unto his ashes. ---- J. R. A.

     Dr. Lucien Bonaparte ABNEY, son of William Thomas ABNEY and Charlotte Pope ABNEY, was born on 9 April 1835 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. He was a physcian in Elizaville, Fleming county, Kentucky where he had moved when his mother married Col. David Patton.

Dr. Lucien Bonaparte ABNEY died on 5 November 1913 in Elizaville, Fleming County, Kentucky, at age 78.

     Mary Helen ABNEY, daughter of William Thomas ABNEY and Charlotte Pope ABNEY, was born on 12 May 1830 in Edgefield County, South Carolina.

Mary Helen ABNEY died on 17 November 1863 in Elizaville, Fleming County, Kentucky, at age 33.

     Susan Elizabeth ABNEY, daughter of William Thomas ABNEY and Charlotte Pope ABNEY, was born on 24 March 1832 in Edgefield County, South Carolina.

Susan Elizabeth ABNEY died on 25 December 1886 in Ohio at age 54.

     Anna GRIFFITH, daughter of William GRIFFITH and Mary "Polly" ABNEY, was born in October 1832 in Zoar Community, Edgefield County, South Carolina.¹

Anna married George Henderson ABNEY, son of William Thomas ABNEY and Charlotte Pope ABNEY, on 19 May 1849 in South Carolina. George recalled, "My wife was Ann Griffith, the daughter of William Griffith, who owned a good farm and fifteen negroes and who was in good circumstances. He had two sons, William and Joe. All of the family worked hard. They lived near the home of Col. Brooks, a very wealthy man who kept very fine liquor which he would sell to wife's father on credit until he ran up an account of $600.00 for liquors bought of Colonel Brooks. Both of his sons were heavy drinkers and at times very rough and for that reason my wife's uncle, old Joseph Griffith did not want me to marry Ann, who was his niece, because he thought too much of me. He told me to go to school and finish my education instead of getting married."^2,3

George recalled, "I have never had any children myself, but I have raised thirteen orphan children. It seemed that every one wanted my wife, Ann, to raise their children when they died. Mrs. Brown, with whom I am now living, is one of the children. I have never been drunk but once in my life. I did get drunk once in the City of Mexico, and that was my first and only time.

My people were all Baptists except Father, who was a Universalist. My wife was a Methodist, and I joined that church to be with her. My brother William was tendered the presidency of a college but declined it because he had lacked three months of graduating himself."⁴

In 1855 Anna and George Henderson ABNEY moved from Edgefield to Fredonia, Chambers County, Alabama, which is about ten miles North of West Point, Georgia.

"Caleb Walton who married a Coleman, bought my farm for $2600.00 I lived in log house built for temporary use and had a space left for a residence; but I never built. However, Caleb Walton later built a frame dwelling on the spot I had left for that purpose."⁵

Anna GRIFFITH died on 22 November 1910 in Fulton, Itawamba County, Mississippi, at age 78.⁶ She was buried in Mount Pleasant Methodist Church Cemetery, Tremont, Itawamba County, Mississippi.