Nathaniel ABNEY

     Nathaniel ABNEY, son of George ABNEY and Unity Meredith, was born on 4 April 1734 in Halifax County, Virginia.^1,2 He was also known as Capt. Nathaniel. He was a farmer and ferry operator. In 1795 a ferry was authorized to be established at Abney's Ford and operated by Nathaniel on the south side of the Saluda river and Francis Higgins on the north side.³

Nathaniel married Isabella MADISON, daughter of Henry MADISON and Elizabeth Coleman, on 18 April 1758 in Augusta County, Virginia. Nathaniel was a young man of rather wild tastes, fond of horse racing and gaming, and for these reasons Isabella's family forbade their marriage and they were forced to elope. They were married by the famous Rev. Patrick Henry, her brother-in-law. There is a family story that since her family forbade the marriage and it was against the law for a man to run off with a lady; she got the horse and he rode behind, i.e. -- she ran off with him. Patrick Henry, is said to have given her the idea.^4,5

Nathaniel ABNEY and Capt. William ABNEY sold a tract of land to Mattox MAYS on 22 December 1761 in Halifax County, Virginia. Nathaniel Abney and William Abney of Halifax County to Mattox Mays of Lunnenburg County for £65, 370 acres on both sides of Mayses Creek beginning at a red oak thence north to Ellis' line including all houses, orchards, etc. Witnesses were William Hill, Abraham Abney, Joseph Mayes, Joseph East and John Mayes.⁶

He was a defendant in a suit of May Court, 1763 as "Nathaniel, son of George." He was apparently a hell-raiser and his father had to bail him out of much trouble, which could account for him being omitted from the will. He is also the Nathaniel Abney living on George Abney's land in Halifax County. He is believed also to be the Nathaniel Abney who was counterfeiting in Amelia county, Virginia, where his brother was paid for defense of the frontier, and his brother Dannett was married. It is also the county that his brother-in-law, Mattox Mays was from. There are too many connections not to believe the Nathaniel Abney counterfeiting there was not him. But he showed himself famously in the American Revolution, and cleaned up his reputation.^7,8

Nathaniel ABNEY was granted land 5 October 1763 in Berkeley County (Ninety-Six District), South Carolina. He received a royal land grant for 100 acres near Ninety-Six. The land plat had been certified 2 Aug 1763. Berkeley was one of the original proprietary counties created in 1682. It extended from the coast inland to the later Edgefield area.⁹

Nathaniel ABNEY was granted land 29 October 1766 in Granville County, South Carolina. He received a royal grant for 200 acres in Granville county on Saluda River, adjacent Joseph Thomas. The plat had been certified 20 Sep 1766. Granville was another of the original proprietary counties that extended inland from the coast.¹⁰

Nathaniel ABNEY was granted land 23 February 1768 in Berkeley County, South Carolina. The grant for 200 acres on Mudlick Branch, a branch of Little River, was surveyed 6 May 1766 and the plat certified 4 Aug 1767. It was bounded on the east and southeast by William Neale.^11,12

Nathaniel ABNEY was granted land 21 December 1769 in Colleton County, South Carolina. The royal grant was for 100 acres, adjacent Solomon Woods land. The plat was certified 7 Oct 1769.¹³

During the Revolution Nathanial served as a Captain in the 3rd South Carolina Rangers under Col. Thomson during June 1775, and as captain and lieutenant of militia under Major Andrew Williamson during Williamson's Expedition and the First Siege of Ninety-Six. In a report of the militia and volunteers on duty in the fortified camp at Ninety-Six on Sunday, the 19th of November, 1775, under the command of Major Andrew Williamson was Capt. Nathaniel Abney commanding—3 officers, 2 sergeants, 18 privates. According to Wikipedia: Patriot forces under the command of Major Andrew Williamson had been dispatched to the area to recover a shipment of gunpowder and ammunition intended for the Cherokees that had been seized by Loyalists. Williamson's force, numbering over 500, established a stockaded fort near Ninety Six, where it was surrounded by some 1,900 Loyalists [under the command of Maj. Joseph Robinson and Capt. Patrick Cunningham].

Because the war was in its early days and the partisan war in the southern back country had not become as brutal as it would be later in the war, the siege was conducted desultorily, and was effectively a stalemate. After two days the Loyalists withdrew, having lost four killed and 20 wounded to one Patriot killed and 12 wounded.

Joseph Hamilton of Ninety-Six District commanded the patriot artillery with 17 men and three swivel guns. Capt. Andrew Hamilton commanded a company from Camden District. Are they connected Martha Harriett Hamilton and Eleanor Hamilton who married into the Abney family?

The Provincial Congress in Charleston ordered Col. Richard Richardson to "silence the discontents of the backcountry" and "deliver up the bodies of all principal offenders"-- those loyal to the British government. Richardson learned that Tory leaders Patrick Cunningham and Col. Joseph Robinison was camped near the Cherokee lands on the Reedy River and sent a detachment of 1300 men under Col. William Thomson of the 3rd South Carolina Rangers on an all-night 25-mile march in pursuit. Nathaniel commanded a company. They surprised the 200 Loyalists at dawn on 22 Dec 1775 and captured 136 prisoners, as well as much-needed supplies, arms and ammunition. Cunningham and Robinson themselves narrowly escaped what was called the Battle of Great Cane Break. It took place in the southern part of present day Greenville county.¹

Nathaniel ABNEY appeared as Head of Household on the census of 1779 in Old 96 District, South Carolina. The census also included these related households: Samuel ABNEY Sr., Dannett ABNEY, Capt. William ABNEY and Paul ABNEY.¹⁴

Nathaniel ABNEY sold a tract of land to his son, John ABNEY, on 30 January 1792 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. John was referred to as a deputy surveyor, and both men were residents of Edgefield county. The sale for 100 pounds was for 250 acres being part of 400 acres orginally granted 16 Dec 1766 to Henry Metcalf and given in his will to his son Henry who conveyed it to Thomas W. Waters who with his wife Sarah conveyed it to Nathaniel Abney. The tract was on the south side of the Saluda River adjacent to where the Long branch of Tosety's Creek crosses the head of Wolf Trap's Branch, the widow Abney[Harriett?], Paul Abney, and Alexander Kenida[Kennedy]. The sale was witnessed by Azariah Abney, Thos. Pulley, Joel Abney on 27 Oct 1792. It was recorded 3 Sep 1793.¹⁵

Nathaniel ABNEY was a messenger or minister of the Mill Creek Church of Saluda County in 1794 and 1797. It was constituted in 1794 as part of the Bethel Baptist Association. His son-in-law William Spraggins was messenger 1798-1799.¹⁶

In 1795 Nathaniel ABNEY and Francis Higgins were authorized to establishment a ferry near the present day bridge on the Newberry-Saluda Road in Abney's Ford on the Saluda River. Nathaniel Abney owned the land on the Saluda side and Francis Higgins owned the land on the Newberry side. It was one of the most important ferries on the Saluda river. It continued to be operated by one or both of these families until the Civil War.

Francis Higgins is buried to the right of Hwy. 121 within sight of the present day bridge on the Newberry side. You can see the cemetery from the road about 50 ft. into the woods.^17,8,3

Nathaniel ABNEY died on 29 July 1806 in Edgefield, Edgefield County, South Carolina, at age 72.^4,18 He was buried in Nathaniel Abney Cemetery, Saluda County, South Carolina. The cemetery is 1/2 mile west of the Saluda River Bridge. Traveling from Newberry on Hwy. 121, turn right at the first logging road. Go about 1/2 mile, graves are located on the left in a small grove of trees on a slight knoll. The land belongs to Southern Brick Company. No tombstones remain, having been removed since 1956.^18,17

Nathaniel left a will dated 29 July 1806 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. In the name of God, Amen. I, Nathaniel Abney, of the state of South Carolina, and District of Edgefield, being sick, but of perfect memory, revoking all others, do appoint this to be by Last Will and Testament. First; It is my desire that my beloved wife Isabella, shall have a negro man named Jim, and his wife named Lucy, and their children, and a negro woman Agge, and her mother named Nooney, also all my stock of horses, cattle, sheep and hogs, and all my plantation tools, waggon and household furniture to be at her own discretion, during her natural life, and then to be equally divided amongst all my children, in any manner that a majority thereof may think proper, in such division. My four grand daughters Tabetha Adkerson, Isabelle Spragins, to be considered as one of my children, and the part that may fall to the lot of my daughter Sarah, I hereby leave in the hands of my executors, to be at her disposal during her natural life, and then to be equally divided amongst her children. Third: It is my desire that my daugthers, Sarah and Bettey shall have a piece of land, laying on the Panther Branch containing two hundred and fifty acres, equally divided between them. Fourth: It is my desire that there shall be no account given by any of my children of property that I have given them, at any time heretofore except a negro boy named Anthony, in the possession of my son Azariah, which it is my desire, shall be given up when a division of my property shall state place. Lastly, I do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my three sons John, Joel, and Azariah, to be my true, and lawful executors, to see that the true intent, and meaning to this my Last Will and Testament be punitivally fulfilled. Witness my hand and seal this 29th of Jully 1806. Signed, sealed and published by the above named Nathaniel Abney, as and for his Last Will and Testament, in the presence of us whose names are underwritten. William Culbreath, John JnLoua, Merideth Wm. Moon. Nathal. Abney (Seal). Recorded in Will book A page 237, recorded May 13th 1807. Jn. Simkins O.E.D.¹⁹