William Abney

     William Abney, son of Robert Abney and Mary Webb, was born on 25 November 1713 in Measham, Derbyshire, England.¹ He was a barrister educated at Inner Temple, admitted 1733 and called to the bar in 1739. He refused a judicial appointment and retired to his estate. He was JP for Leicestershire and high sheriff in 1791. He purchased the Measham estate in Derbyshire, and built Measham Hall in 1767. He was one of the last landowners to maintain traditional open-handed hospitality to his tenants and neighbors, and also retained the fashion and dress, livery and behavior of his youth. He was a Whig in politics and a fierce supporter of the House of Hanover. In 1745 he led a party to Derby to oppose the advance of Bonnie Prince Charlie during the Jacobite uprising. This gentleman, like many of his predecessors, lived to an advanced period of life, and died, after filling all the duties of a country gentleman in the exemplary manner, in 1800.

The estate passed to his sons Robert and Edward, and then to latter's grandson, William Wotten Abney, who died relitively young, leaving a life interest in the house to his widow, Helen John Sinclair Abney. It then passed to W. W. Abney's cousin, Sir William de Wivelslie Abney. After his death in 1920 it passed to his heir, Lancelot Edward Guy Abney sold the estate to Measham Colliery. The colliery workings later undermined the house, which had to be demolished in 1959.²

William married Catherine Wootton on 20 June 1743 in Shenley, Hertfordshire, England. She was the daughter and heir of Thomas Wootton, Esq. and Catherine Clarke Wootton of Little Cannons, Hertshire.^3,2,4

William Abney died on 2 August 1800 in Measham, Derbyshire, England, at age 86.⁵ He was buried in St. Peter's Churchyard, Swepstone, Leicestershire, England.⁶