Samuel ABNEY IV

     Samuel ABNEY IV, son of Thomas Hamilton ABNEY and Mary Ann Holmes, was born on 10 September 1835 at the Abney Plantation "Trail's End" in Randolph, Bibb (now Chilton) County, Alabama. He and his brother Zach were identical twins.^1,2

Samuel ABNEY IV appeared on a census, enumerated 1 June 1840, in the household of Thomas Hamilton ABNEY and Mary Ann Holmes in Bibb (now Chilton) County, Alabama.³

Samuel ABNEY IV appeared on a census, enumerated 1 June 1850, in the household of Thomas Hamilton ABNEY and Eliza Ann Echols in Bibb (now Chilton) County, Alabama.⁴ He and Zachariah ABNEY attended the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, between 1855 and 1857. According to family tradition, they were the first twins to graduate from the University, and that has been confirmed by school records. He later read law in the office of Senator John T. Morgan in Selma and was admitted to the bar there in 1859.^5,6,7 He was teaching school in 1858 in Montevallo, Shelby County, Alabama. The story goes that one time he and his twin brother, Zach, switched places and the students never noticed.⁶ Brothers Samuel and Alexander Hamilton ABNEY purchased a store in the name of Abney and Brother, "Merchants and Traders and Co-partners doing business at Pittsburg..." , from Wright and Beasley. When Sam returned to Alabama at the start of the war, Alexander managed the business and sent Sam his share of the profits on 4 June 1860 in Pittsburg, Upshur County, Texas.^8,9

Samuel ABNEY IV was found in the census of 21 June 1860 living in a rooming house in Pittsburg, Upshur County, Texas. The household was enumerated as Eratus Kelsey, age 38, carpenter, $300, born New York; Jane Kelsey, age 27, Georgia; Thomas Kelsey, age 7, Texas; Louisa Kelsey, age 3, Texas; William Kelsey, age 1, Texas; Wm. Bedard, age 42, sharpening, $200, North Carolina; Wm. Bragg, age 36, coachmaker, Conneticut; W. V. Barten, age 23, loafer, Alabama; S. ABNEY; age 22, loafer, Alabama; J. L. Colliers, age 24, Postmaster, Georgia; R. M. (B. M.?) Burt, age 28, loafer, born Georgia; and E. P. Heath, age 21, bootmaker, Georgia.¹⁰

Sam wrote the following letter to his brother and business partner, Alexander, in Texas:

Randolph, Bibb Co., Ala.
Sept the 28th '61

A. H. Abney, Esq.

"Dear Brother, I received your letter some days since, but I have been so busy, I have had no time to write and now I have time, I am at a loss what to write. There is dearth in the way of news. We are on the height of expectation. We expect every day to hear of a general engagement between our army on the Potomac, or near there, and the Federals.

I suppose you have not heard that Zach & George [their brother Zachariah Abney and nephew George Woodruff] are near Washington. They are in Gen. Johnston's Division. They went on the 1st of June in the Bibb Greys, a company from this county. Zach writes home very interesting letters home. He says he has undergone great hardships, but braved them cheerfully. He went as a private, but his mess was composed of high-toned gentlemen. You know it is almost impossible for a man of sense to get office of any kind in this county.

There was a host of people at this place on the day the Bibb Greys took the Cars. The people gave them a dinner on that day. Zach was called on at the of the dinner. He came out and made a very appropriate and touching address, so much so, that I was surprised, but few refrained from tears. I went with him to Selma, bade him adieu on board the steamer. There were three other companies aboard, thousands of people on the wharf, banners floating in the wind, Dixie performed by a good band. It was altogether a grand sight. They set sail amid the waving of snowy-white handkerchiefs and deafening show of devotion to the Sacred Cause in which we are engaged.

I take a daily paper from Selma. I get the regular dispatches, and am in constant tremor of expectation.

I am very glad to hear from you and family. I think you have cause of exultation to come out successfully against so many opponents. I was very glad to hear of your success, also the family.

Our family are all well. Sis Frances is slightly unwell at present. She has had a very severe spell of sickness. Our county has been very sickly this summer. A good many deaths near this place.

Our ladies all over the County have sewing and weaving societies. They manufacture all the cloth. They do not send to factories for thread nor cloth. They make it all at home. Virginia and Sis Frances have made Zach & George some clothes and trimmed them up nicely. You would think the cloth was made in New York. I am beginning to think the women are worth more than the men. If you could see me flying around you would think so.

The militia is being organized in this state. The officers have been elected all over the state nearly. Your brother S. was elected Colonel at this place last Saturday. I am going to Tuscaloosa to attend military school a few weeks. Had I known my uniform and sword would have cost me so much I believe I should not have offered for the position. I beat nearly four to one. Dr. Shelton was my opponent.

I do not know what to say about our business. I know you will manage it right as to money. I should like to get a few dollars. It seems that land is very doubtful as [?] lost nearly all his money. I have placed [?] by current expenses, and back Zach and George in the field. It is no small matter, but you need to put yourself to no trouble. Now be certain you put yourself to no trouble -- and manage as you see proper. The car will be down in a few minutes so I must close. The family sends love to you & family present -- my brotherly regards to your family.
Your Bro, Samuel Abney.⁹


Upon returning to Alabama at the start of the war, Samuel enlisted in Centreville, Alabama, at age 26 on 24 April 1862 in Co. H, 44th Alabama Infantry. He was enlisted by F. M. Goode for three years or the war. He apparently never reported for duty as he is reported AWOL in July. Then in December 1862 his captain again listed him AWOL with the note: "This man originally joined 44th but before going into camp of instruction joined another organization and cannot be found. He will hereafter be dropped."¹¹ This is confirmed by the fact that on this date Sam was also enlisted in Randolph by the same Capt. Francis M. Goode for three years or the war in Co. D, 5th Battalion (Mounted), Hilliard's Legion. He served as 5th sergeant of his company. Apparently Sam decided that he preferred riding to walking!¹¹

On 12 Aug 1862, while in the vicinity of Loudon, Tennessee, Company D was detached from Hilliard's Legion as escort for Brigadier General Thomas J. Churchill and served in that capacity throughout the Kentucky Campaign until 10 Nov 1862. Hilliard's Legion was disbanded 25 Nov 1862 near Murphreesboro, Tennessee. The 5th Battalion (Mounted) and the 19th Georgia Cavalry Battalion combined 29 Dec 1862 to form the 10th Confederate Cavalry. They saw action in the Battle of Stone's River between 30 Dec 1862 and 3 Jan 1863 as part of Gen. Joseph Wheeler's Cavalry Brigade. On a 31 Dec 1863 roster of Co. D 10th Confederate Cavalry Sam is listed as "on detached service in Capt. Marshall's Battery by order of Col. Scott since 1 Aug 1863." This refers to Captain W. R. Marshall's Tennessee Light Artillery Company, also known as the "Brown Horse Artillery." The transfer was permanent according to a 1 Mar 1864 roster.

On April 25, 1863 it was reported in Colonel J. S Scott's Cavalry Brigade, which was on outpost and special duty. Colonel Scott, in reporting on the raid his brigade made into Kentucky beginning July 25, 1863, reported the Brown Horse Artillery, with four guns, as part of his force. This expedition went to Williamsburg, London, Richmond, Winchester, Irvine, Stanford and Somerset, Kentucky, recrossed the Cumberland River at Smith Shoals, and retired to Concord, Tennessee, where the brigade was located on August 7, 1863. Colonel Scott reported five days and nights of fighting, with a heavy skirmish at Rogersville, five miles from Richmond, and again at Stanford, Kentucky. Here he reported that Marshall's Battery with the howitzers from Robinson's were run forward and cleared the town.

This was the last report found on the battery, and what its subsequent fate was is not known.¹²

The sequence of events is confusing, but at some point this unit was merged into Capt. John W. Morton's battery of Tennessee Light Artillery serving in Jackson's Division of Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest's Cavalry.

On November 7, 1863, Morton's Battery, with four officers and 67 men was assigned as part of the tiny force with which General Forrest moved to West Tennessee to assume command of the cavalry forces in West Tennessee and North Mississippi. On November 28, the battery was reported at Okolona, Mississippi with four rifled guns, and this constituted its armament for the rest of the war. It may have been about this time that Sam joined Morton's Battery of Tennessee Light Artillery.

He enlisted as a private, but on 1 Dec 1863 Sam was appointed corporal and later promoted to sergeant.

The battery was engaged in the Battle of Tishomingo Creek, or Brice's Crossroads on June 10; and again in the Battle of Harrisburg, July 15. General A. Buford, in reporting on this battle, stated: "On July 13, about 5:00 P. M., with Belrs Brigade, and Morton's Battery, I attacked the enemy (Major General A. J. Smith) on his right flank during the march."

On September 24, the battery was with General Forrest at the capture of Athens, Alabama, and on his subsequent raid to Pulaski, in Middle Tennessee. On October 29, it formed part of the force at Fort Heiman and Paris Landing which shelled and captured the steamer Mazeppa, with two barges; and on October 30, the steamer Cheeseman. A shell from Morton's Battery was credited with disabling the Mazeppa, thus leading to its capture. On November 4, with Morton as acting Chief of Artillery, and Lieutenant Tully Brown in command of the battery, the battery took part in the bombardment and burning of the Federal Depot at Johnsonville, Tennessee.

Hardly pausing for breath, it then moved into Middle Tennessee the last half of November in General Forrest's operations in support of General John B. Hood's invasion. In his reports of this campaign, General Forrest made specific mention of Morton's Battery twice. He reported that on December 1, he moved across the Harpeth River (near Franklin) and advanced up the Wilson pike where he struck the enemy in considerable force at Owen's Crossroads, and ordered Morton to open upon him with his battery. On December 3, Morton's battery was mentioned as taking part in the shelling and capture of Stockade Number Two on the railroad from Nashville to Murfreesboro.

Following this campaign, Forrest's forces withdrew into Mississippi, where, on February 13, 1865, in the reorganization of his forces, Morton's Battery was attached to Brigadier General W. H. Jackson's Division. Sam surrendered with the battery 4 May 1865 at Citronelle, Alabama and was paroled, along with the rest of Forrest's command, at Gainesville, Alabama in 10 May 1865. Before returning home he spent one day in a Confederate hospital in Jackson, Mississippi.¹³

Samuel ABNEY IV appeared on a census, enumerated 1866, in the household of his father Thomas Hamilton ABNEY in Bibb County, Alabama. Sam and Zach were the two males, 30-40.¹⁴

Samuel married Martha Anne WALKER, daughter of William WALKER and Sarah Virginia SHELTON, on 21 April 1870 at the front parlor of the Walker House in Isabella, Chilton County, Alabama. Sam's best man was Anderson Baker.^15,16,17 Sam wrote the following letter to Martha during their courtship:

Home Dec. 4th 1869

Miss Mattie, as George is going down today, I could not resist the temptation of writing you a few lines. Last Sabbath I had the inestimable happiness of being near you, which to me is happiness. I hope you are well, and in your usual, calm, and serene mood. How my thoughts pass and repass the space that separates us. You must come up before Jamie goes away. Come up next Saturday. I beg your pardon. I had forgotten you had prohibited me from writing, but you must excuse me this once. I know you are so matter of fact, you cannot tolerate nonsense. So please excuse Miss. I have to practice some little imposition to get this in Fannie's notes as George has resolved not to carry any note for me.

I must again ask you to pardon this.
My heart kisses you xxxxx
                         Sam Abney

[Two note pages, handwritten, from Sam Abney to his future wife, Martha Walker. Fannie may be Sam's cousin Fannie Woodruff who was born about 1838. George could be her brother. They were children of Sam's sister Frances Abney (Mrs. Newton) Woodruff (1820 - 1896). The bottom of the last sheet has in my mother's handwriting: "Grandfather Abney". AHB, 9/95 ].¹⁸


Samuel ABNEY IV and Martha Anne WALKER appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 28 August 1870 in Chestnut Creek, Baker (now Chilton) County, Alabama. The household was listed as Sam Abney, age 30; and Martha Abney, age 19. Sam's occupation was farming. He had real esstate valued $800 and personal estate $500.¹⁹

Samuel ABNEY IV and Martha Anne WALKER appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 2 June 1880 in Beat 7, Chilton County, Alabama. The household was listed as Samuel Abney, a 44-year-old farmer; his 34-year-old wife, Martha Abney; daughter Augusta, 8; son Zachariah, 7; daughter Sarah, 5; daughter Estelle, 3; daughter Emma [Irma], 2; and sister-in-laws Virginia, 50 and Sarah Abney, 60 of Virginia. All of the other family were born in Alabama.

Samuel ABNEY IV and Martha Anne WALKER appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 18 June 1900 in Maplesville, Chilton County, Alabama. The household was listed as Sam Abney, age 64, born September 1835 in Alabama. His father was born in South Carolina and his mother in Delaware. His occupation was farming. Sam's wife was Martha Abney, age 45, born October 1854 in Alabama. Both of her parents were also born in Alabama. Their children were: Zack, 25, a store clerk, born January 1875; Saroah [Sarah], 23, born November 1877; Estel [Estelle], 21, born August 1878; Irma, 19, born March 1881; May, 17, born June 1882; Margaret, 16, born June 1884; Evelyn, 14, born December 1886; William, 12, born April 1888; and Nellie, 9, born January 1891. Also living in the household were Sam's sister, Vaginia [Virginia], 73, born June 1826 in Alabama, and boarders, Gussie Knupp, a music teacher, age 27, born October 1872 in Alabama and a black farm laborer, Will Hall, 25, born March 1875 in Alabama.²⁰

Samuel ABNEY IV appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 15 April 1910 in Maplesville, Chilton County, Alabama. The household was listed as Samuel Abney, age 74, farmer, born Alabama. His father was born in South Carolina, while his mother was born in Delaware. His wife, Martha, age 64, was born in Alabama, as was her mother, while her father was born in North Carolina. Sam and Martha had been married 39 years and had 10 children. Living with them were daughter, Evelyn L., age 25, and son, William H., age 23, both born in Alabama. The family lived near Maplesville on the Montgomery Road.²¹

Samuel and Zachariah ABNEY were participates in the Confederate Veterans Reunion and dedication of the new Confederate Monument on 22 July 1910 in Bibb County Courthouse, Centreville, Bibb County, Alabama. He was very shaken by the death of Evelyn Lillie ABNEY on 24 March 1911 in the Abney House, Maplesville, Chilton County, Alabama. She was said to have been a very beautiful girl ("the prettiest of the lot") with lots of beaux. The died of a sudden illness while away at school.^22,23

He appeared in a newspaper article 17 August 1911 in the Prattville Progress, published in Prattville, Alabama. "Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Abney, of Maplesville, attended the funeral of their brother, Capt. Z. Abney, near Prattville last Friday. Mr. Samuel Abney is a twin brother of the deceased, the only child now left of the large family of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hamilton Abney, who settled many years ago in Bibb county. The two brothers were so much alike in physical appearance that many who knew the deceased so well in life could scarcely realize they were not still with him in life at the funeral Friday."

Samuel ABNEY IV died on 12 February 1917 in Chilton County, Alabama, at age 81. He died after being ill with influenza for about nine days.¹⁶ He was buried in Abney Cemetery.

His obituary appeared 15 February 1917 in the Prattville Progress, published in Prattville, Alabama. The many friends of Mr. Abney will be pained to hear of his death at his home east of Maplesville. His death occurred last Monday night. He was 84 years old. He was a twin brother of Mr. Zack Abney who was for many years Autauga county's popular register in chancery and who died in 1911. They were very much alike in personal appearance. Samuel Abney was a good citizen and the world around him was made better and brighter by his life.