BIOGRAPHY OF CHARLES AND JAMES ABERCROMBIE
Submitted by Gerry Hill ( [email protected])
CHARLES ABERCROMBIE
Charles Abercrombie was born 4 Mar 1742 Bath, Va. To Robert Sr. & Jane Gresham.
He married 18 Dec 1769 Mecklenburg Co Va. To Edwina Malinda “Dicey” Boothe born 6 Oct 1751 Meck.- Sep 1804 Hancock Co Va.
Dtr of Rev. Sol. John Booth & Ann
Charles Received a grant for Greene Co. Ga. Mar.10, 1761. He and his brother Robert
fought in the Revolution North
Carolina Line- 3rd Regiment. Charles was a Major.
During the Revolution-Charles owned a store in Orange County and Governor Tyron’s army passed by the store on its
way to quell the Regulator uprising at the Battle of Alamance. Governor Tyron stopped in and bought twelve axes from Charles Abercrombie.
Around this time, Charles built a large fort for safety and it was used freely by his friends and neighbors.
1780 Feb. 5 pg. 444 Charles of Orange to Robert of Orange 1000 lbs. 1474 acre
Charles received bounty land in Hancock Co Ga. (Probably that part of Greene that became Hancock)
In 1782-Charles finally sold out and to his brother Robert, and moved to Greene Co. Ga.
In 1784 he had land grants in Hancock, Greene and Washington Co Ga.
In 1787 Charles and his Father-in-law John Booth sustained damage from Indians, and Charles had 3 horses stolen in Greene
Land boundaries were changing at a fast rate about this time-and next In 1789 the Constitution for Georgia was adopted at the
convention held in Louisville Ga., the seat of the Government. Charles Abercrombie was a delegate from Hancock Co. Ga..
1791-93, 1793-99 the Georgia Senate was again moving this around in this area.
Charles served as a Representative for Greene Co. Ga. In 1794-Charles Abercrombie and his son-in-law Thomas Raines were in Hancock.
One year later in 1795 very shortly after the county was formed, Charles and his brother Robert gave the land the
court house is still situated on… and a plaque is out front to this effect.
1796-99 Charles was a senator from Hancock. There are many, many land dealings in the next few years and
by 1812 Charles paid tax on 47 slaves, 2071 acres in Twiggs, 202 ½ acres in Morgan, 202 ½ acres in Putnam, and 13,000 acres
in Glynn Co, plus Hancock Co., and Orange Co. NC.Sept. 29,1821 the Darien Ga. Gazette announced that Major
Charles Abercrombie had died the 23rd in his 77th years. A valiant officer in the Revolution, honored several times with
public office and mentioned his bounty land for service.
His wife “Dicey” had died in 1804, and he never married again.Children of Charles & Dicty:
Edmund 12 Jan 1773 married a Brewer & Mary PollardSarah “Sally” 29 Jan 1775 Orange married Thomas Raines
Wiley (Willie) 17 Feb 1777 married a Sturgis & 3 others. Children by 3
Leonard 2 Feb 1779 married Sarah “Sallie” Comer Jane 25 Dec 1781 named for his sister married Bolling Hall
John Booth 12 Aug 1785 Orange married Elizabeth Grimes
Anderson (General 1812) 28 Aug 1786 Greene married Sidney Grimes
Nancy 3 Jun 1788 Greene married William Barnes Charles 8 Apr 1790
James (Capt 1812) 17 Feb 1792 married Evaline E. Ross
Milo-1792
Mary 1794
Elizabeth 1798
McCall's ROSTER OF REV. SOL. In Ga. (c 1941)
THE HISTORY OF HANCOCK CO GA Vol II by Elizabeth Wiley Smith
Ancestors, Famlies,Genealogies (c 1974) p 56
"Abercombie" Owen, in History of Al
Pg. 140, 352 ORANGE CO RECORDS VI
HISTORY OF THE GEORGIA MILITIA- Vol 1 Campaigns & Generals
Abstract of Graves of revoltionary patriots Vol 1, serial:
8542 volume 4
Family bible found in Southern Bible Records, Vol I page 1, Memory A. Lester
Charles Abercrombie Bible-Jeanette Holland Auston omp. Ga.
Bible Records. Baltmore Md. 1985
Hist of Ga. by Knight Pg 86 Vol.1;
NC Col. Records. V 23 p 995
3rd Report NSDAR to the Smithsonian Institution pg. 347
Index to Georgia Tax Digest Vol III 1804-1806 Hancock Co 1804 Barnes Dist
The Story of Ga and GaPeople p 612 by Gev. Geo. G. Smith
D.A.R. National numbers 98406, 628674, 36117, 84991.
State Records of NC vol 13 Page 281
Upson Co History pgs 28,213,258,679,837,1007
DAR Patriot Index page
SolIn Ga Vol 111 Page 1
Knights page 302-375. Georgia Genealogical Mag 1968 Page 1987
Hancock Co Ga Early Records by Marie DeLamar and Wynn from
Wash. Mem. Lib.
Page from book by Carolyn Walker Nottingham of Thomaston dated
Christmas 1913.
(Carolyn wrote Upson Co. Ga. History-and this is her family)
Charles Abercrombie-Major
NC Line 3rd Regiment
Received bounty land in Ga for his services.
McCall's ROSTER OF REV. SOL. In Ga. (c 1941)
Sons of Charles Abercrombie----------------
Anderson Abercrombie- General
Enlisted as Pvt in war of 1812. Rose to rank of Adjutant Gen.
Wounded at battle of Calebee. Indians were his friends and did not molest him or home when hostilities broke out with
settlers. He rep. Hancock Co Ga in House. Early 30's moved to Russell Co Al. settled on a large plantation. He was a
Presbyterian and Democrat.
James Abercrombie Capt-
HISTORY OF GEORGIA MILITIA Vol I Campaigns & Generals pg. 255
He commanded the Montgomery Troops in 1817 and served in the
legislature and in Congress. He and his Montgomery Troop were
part of reception party formed for Lafayette when he toured
Al. Thomas S. Woodward's REMINISCENCES OF THE CREEK, Or
MUSCOGEE INDIANS. Contained in Letters to Friends in Georgia
and Al. (Mont.Al, 1859, reprinted, Birm. Al. 1939) He moved to
Fl 1859 and died near Pensacola 2 Jul 1861..being buried in
Columbus Ga w. Brewer, Ala. Her History Resources, War Record
& Putlic Men from 1540 to 1872 (reprinted Tusc. Al. 1964) 513
LTTC John H Napier III Martial Montgomery Ante Bellum Mil.
Act. in the Al Hist Quarterly 29 3 & 4 Mont Al Fall & Winter 1967 110
A Cpl. under Maj. Freeman's and Wig Congressman from Al. abt 1832.
James Abercrombie age 69 born Hancock Co Ga moved to Pensacola
Fl. Last two years served County in State Legis. 1838 and Senator 1848 Russell Congress 1851-53 Russell.. Remains
brought to Columbus Ga buried beside wife. Died 2 Jul 1861 Pensacola Fl. son James Jr. d 3 Jul 1871 Pensacola Fl.
Columbus Enquirer-Sun, Columbus Ga Issue 3 Jul and 10 Aug 1861.
He came to Monroe Co..now Dallas Co in 1812. To Montgomery
about 1819. While living in Mont. proprieter of old Hotel,
Monrfomery Hall in 1849. Blue's History of Montgomery.
John W. Booth- Pvt. NC
1771-DAR proof used by Mary Hightower Chatfield Wheeless on her DAR Papers Vol. 16 P 002 Col.
Rec. of NC Vol 2 p 182 NC Historical and Gen. Rec. also see #84991 Carolyn Nottingham.
Pvt. Feb. 19 1771, Capt. Faif. ord. Co. 1 Col. Armst. 8th Reg. NC
1776--Pvt. in Capt. Rainford's Co. Col Armstrong's Regiment NC Troops.
1777-From Dec.1966-Jan 1967 issue page 29 Georgia Magazine
WHAT'S YOUR FAMILY LINE? by Adelle Bartlett Harper.. Pvt. in NC line a native of Orange Co
went into the Rev. War three years in Capt. Raiford's Co. on Feb. 19, 1777, 8th Reg.
Settled in Hancock Co Ga near his son-in-law Charles Abercrombie.
Major Robert Abercrombie
List of field Officers of Rev. Army, Orange Co NC
Bolling Hall (Sorry, I don't have more on McCall's etc)
See issue Dec 1966-Jan 1967 page 29 Ga. Magazine "What's Your
Family Line?"
by Adelle Bartlett Harper
She gives lineage, history..
Rep. from Ga. pursued classical studies. 16 in Rev. War to
Hancock in 1792
Washington, 24th of June, 1813
Risdon Moore:
A few days past, I received your letter of the 17th ult. It
gave me real satisfaction to hear of yours and your family's
health and that you were pleased with the country in which you
reside. The events which have taken place since we have had
the pleasure of seeing each other, are truly important, not
only as they respect the time present and the citizens of the
United States who are now living, but after generations and
ages which are yet to come. In defence of these rights, which
are essential to us, an independent free people - rights
founded on the principles of reason and justice, secured to us
by the law of nations and of nature, we have taken up arms.
But an appeal was not made to this last resort, until every
effort to obtain redress by negotiations and other pacific
means, which a sincere desire to avert the calamities of was,
had been but tried in vain. England had plundered us of our
property; she had captured nine hundred and seventeen American
vessels and their cargoes, and, after condemnation under her
orders in council, in many instances, she had them sent to
France, and there disposed of the cargoes; her ministers had
insulted our Goverment at our own capital; she had fired on
our public and private ships, and murdered our sailors on
board our own ships and within our own waters. She had caused
the Indians to murder even the helpless women and children on
the frontiers, and she had enslaved by impressment, more than
six thousand American citizens.
Every right which we held sacred as individuals or as a nation
have been violated. We had no choice left but submission to
the unjust demands of our cruel task masters, or, by
resistance, to regain those rights consecrated by the blood of
the patriots of the Revolution to the citizens of the United
States. Dare we hesitate in the choice? No; to have doubted
for one moment after we had the most incontestable evidence,
that no redress for the injuries we had substained would be
offered on peaceable terms, would have been political apostacy
to the sucess of the struggle in which we are now engaged. One
on which more depends than did on that of the Rveolution, for,
had we then failed to obtain our independence, it still, by an
after struggle, might have been acquired, but once obtained,
it now abandoned, it is gone forever. We are to lay taxes - it
is impossible to carry on war without money. The opposition
will no doubt sieze this occasion to alarm the fears of the
people, then pecuniary immediate interest will be touched, and
this has become too painful not to have its weight when used
by a party to alienate the affections of the people from their
goverment, a party not governed by principle, patriotism or
truth, who, I fear, will stop at nothing to obtain their
infernal purposes. You may think these expressions to harsh,
but see what epithet is too severe to be applied to men who
call themselves Federalist, the followers of Washington, who
are using every exertion to thwart the very goverment - who
refuse to give the smallest aid to their country when engaged
in war with a foreign nation; whose whole exertions are used
to condemn their own goverment, and to justify that of the
enemy, to deceive and mislead people. One
of the leaders of the Federals, too, a man from New York, in
just a speech delivered a few days ago, said he considered the
war as wicked, unjust and impolitic, and everyone who has
aided in carring it on as a murderer; that those who had
loaned money, he hoped that they may never receive a cent
again; that owing to the forebearance, magnanimity and
humanity of the enemy, our towns were not laid in ashes, and
our streets were not running with blood. If every citizen of
the United States could know the real principles by which this
party is actuated, i should not be apprehensive of that
calamity being produced they are endeavoring to bring to our
country.
We live in an important era of the world; the whole civilized
world are engaged in war. What will be the ultimate result is
in the womb of time. But our cause is just, and I rest with
confidence on Him who holds the destines of nations in His
hands, and will do right.
The war in which we are now engaged has not been waged through
ambition, but for the protection of our rights.
A few years ago, the Federalist endeavored to goad us into war
for the protection of our rights. The goverment was then
accused of want of energy, but now, we are driven in
self-defence from our peaceful attitude, they cry out for
peace, and although every effort has been made to procure a
restoration of peace, their opposition continues. Our late
success in Canada, I hope, will at least check the Indians,
and if the campaign has been judiciously planned and executed
with that judgement and precaution which should guide all of
our operations, the upper province must fall into our hands.
Our misfortunes have all proceeded from inattention and
neglect. i hope we shall profit by experience. The British
fleet at Hamptom Rhoades has received considerable
reinforcements, and, in two attempts to land some of their
troops, have been beaten off with considerable loss. It is
said that from a party which landed at Big point, near the
mouth of the Narseymand River, two companies deserted. The
capture of the Chesapeake, by Capt. Lawarence, was a result of
his ardor and zeal. The mediation of Russia is looked to with
great anxiety, and from which restoration of peace is
expected. i suppose Mr. Gallatin and Mr. Baynard, our
mimisters, are at St. Petersburge by this. i believe the
mission would terminate satisfactorily to our most sanguine
wishes, if it were not for the operations of the Federalist.
Their conduct caused the war, and they may be justly charged
with its continuance.
Yours Sincerely,
Bolling Hall.
Bolling Hall- a Representative from Georgia; born in Dinwiddie Co. Va. Dec. 5, 1767; pursued classical studies; served in the
Revolutionary War at the age of 16; moved to Hancock Co. Ga. in 1702; held several local offices; member of the State house
of representatives 1800-1802 and 1804-1806; elected as a War Democrat to the Twefth, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth Congresses
(March 4, 1811-Mar 3, 1817); retired to private life, moved to Alabama in 1808 and engaged in planting near Montgomery;
chariman of the reception committee to welcome General Lafayette in 1824; died on his plantation, "Ellerslie," in
Autauga (now Elmore) Co. Al., Feb. 25, 1836; Interment on his estate.