William Wootton Abney Jr.

     William Wootton Abney Jr., son of William Wootton Abney and Elizabeth Richardson, was born on 5 January 1807 at Melbourne in Derbyshire, England.^1,2

William Wootton Abney Jr. inherited the estates of Measham from his grandfather, Edward Abney, after his death in 1827. Edward's son, William's father, had died before him.¹

William married Helen Jane Sinclair Buchanan on 6 May 1828. She was the eldest daughter of James Buchanan, Esq. of Craig End Castle, county Stirling, Scotland, by Lady Janet Sinclair, his wife, daughter of James, 12th Earl of Caithness.¹

William Wootton Abney Jr. appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1841 in Measham Hall, Measham, Derbyshire, England. The household was listed as William Abney, age 34; Helen Abney, 30, born Scotland; Matilda Buchanan, 20, born Scotland; John Burton, 25, servant; William Bill, 15, servant; Ann Litherland, 25, servant; Agnes Johnstone, 30, Servant; and Catherine Glover, 20, servant.

William Wootton Abney Jr. appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1851 in Measham Hall, Measham, Derbyshire, England. The household was listed as William Wooton Abney, 44, land owner and Justice of Peace, born Talford, Yorkshire; Helen John Sinclair Abney, 44, wife, born Glasgow, Scotland; Fanny Buchanon, 5, niece, born St. Petersburg, Russia; Loussa Buchanon, 3, niece, born Petersham, Surry; Eric Buchanon, 2, nephew, St. Petersburg, Russia; Andrew Buchanon, 1, nephew, Leamington, Warwickshire; Mary Jones, 24, house servant; Jane Wardie, 22, house servant; Caroline Behte, 27, ladies maid, Hannah Hughes, 32, house servant; Ann Thompson, 28, house servant; Sarah Morton, 23, house servant; Mary Davis, 22, house servant; Thomas Newell, 50, butler; and Thomas Ridgway, 18, footman.

William Wootton Abney Jr. appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1861 in Measham Hall, Measham, Derbyshire, England. The household was listed as William Wootton Abney, 54, born Cheshire; Helen Abney, 50, wife, born Glasgow, Scotland; Eric Buchanon, 12, nephew, scholar, born Russia; Andrew Buchanon, 11, nephew, scholar, born Warwick, Leamington; Thomas Ridgway, 27, butler; John Kirby, 28, coachman; Ann Froud, 31, housekeeper; Ann Freeman, 22, housemaid; Sarah Chapman, 23, housemaid; Ellen Chapman, 20, housemaid; Sarah Woolley, 22, cook; Fanny Litherland, 24, ladies maid; and Thomas ??, 36, servant.

On 22 July 1866 William Wootton died in Measham Hall, Derbyshire, England, at age 59 leaving Helen Jane Sinclair a widow.³ He was buried in St. Laurence Courtyard, Measham, Leicestershire, England.

From the 5 Nov 1866 issue of The London Gazette: "Notice is hereby given, that all creditors and other persons having any claims or demands upon or against the estate of William Wootton Abney, late of Measham Hall, in the county of Derby, Esq. (who died at Measham Hall, aforesaid on the 22nd day of July 1866, and whose will, with one codicil, was proved by Helen John Sinclair Abney, of Measham Hall, in the county of Derby, Widow, the Right Honorable Sir Andrew Buchanan, G.C.B., Her Majesty's Ambassador at the Court of Russia, James Buchanan, of Craigend Castle, in the county of Stirling, Esq., a Lieuteanant in Her Majesty's Navy, and Edward Buchanan, of Craigend Castle, aforesaid, Esq., the executors named in and appointed by, the said will and codicil, in the District Registry in Her Majesty's Court of Probate for the county of Derby, on the 22nd day of October 1866), are, on or before the 21st day of December, 1866, to send into the said executors, or to me, as their Solicitor, at my office in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, in the county of Leicester, particulars of their respective claims or debts, or in default thereof, the said executors will, at the experaton of the above period, proceed to apply and distribute the assets of the said testator among the parties entitled thereto, having regard to the claims or debts only of which they shall have then had notice; and will not be liable for the assets, or any part thereof, so distributed to any person of whose claim or debt they shall not have had notice at the time of such distribution.-- Dated the 25th day of October 1866." W. E. Smith, Solicitor to the Executors.³