Henry Orlando Abney

     Henry Orlando Abney, son of Henry Madison ABNEY, was born in 1829 in Alabama.

He was probably one of the two males under age 5 listed in the household of his father, Henry Madison ABNEY, in the 1830 Federal Census of Monroe County, Alabama. He was also known as Orlando.

Henry Orlando Abney was named an heir in the will of Henry Madison ABNEY dated 30 November 1830 in Claiborne, Monroe County, Alabama. His father's estate was divided between he and his brother, Orlando Henry Abney.¹

From September 1847 Monroe county Orphan Court Edmund W. Roberts was appointed guardian Ad Litem for Henry O. Abney, a minor. Other records show the annual settlement of account of minor, Henry O. Abney. The sum of $12,735.52 was charged to administrator. Submitted cost of $5,703.07 for minor.^2,3

Henry saw military service on 22 September 1849 in Monroe County when he was commissioned quartermaster in the 11th Division, 8th Brigade, 26th Regiment.

Henry married Ann Maria Randle on 17 December 1849 in Lowndes County, Mississippi.⁴

On this day, 1 Aug 1850, came Edmund W. Roberts, guardian of Henry Orlando Abney, a minor, for settlement. Also came HO Abney in his own proper person. This was when Henry reached adulthood and the guardianship ended.

Orlando Abney and Ann Maria Randle appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 11 November 1850 in Monroe County, Alabama. The household was listed as H. O. Abney, a 21 year old farmer with property valued $3500; his wife Ann, age 22, born South Carolina; and Mary Morri(or Moore), age 90, born South Carolina. They owned 20 slaves.

Orlando Abney was named an heir in the will of Dabney Palmer ABNEY dated 29 September 1857 in Mobile, Alabama. "To Henry O. Abney of Monroe Co. in trust of 3 children of Joel Boyles and Elizabeth Abney, late wife of said Boyles, and named Martha Lucinda Boyles, Salome Boyles, and Thomas H. Boyles. To Henry O. Abney in trust for children of Hugh Rankin and Clarissa Jane Abney, his wife." He was the administrator of Dabney Palmer ABNEY's estate on 29 November 1858 in Monroe County, Alabama. Dabney was a son of Lark Abney.

Henry Orlando Abney purchased a government land patent 1 November 1858 in Monroe County. He bought 120 acres in township 9 north, range 7 east, section 22 in the River Ridge community. He also purchased 80 acres in the southeast quarter of section 2, township 8 north, range 8 east which is located along the ridge road near the Axle community.³

Orlando Abney was a state senator for Monroe County between 1859 and 1860. He was also a merchant operating H. O. Abney & Co. in Claiborne. An ad in the Southern Champion published in Cliaiborne, dated 27 January 1860, stated that they had bought out S. M. Pettibone & Co. and would do business in "the old stand of S. M. P. & Co.where a large and desirable stock of Dry Goods, Groceries, Crockery, Hardware, Boots & Shoes, Clothing, etc. may constantly be found at prices as low as the lowest."

In a 15 Jan 1945 article in the Montgomery Advertiser, Peter A. Brannon quoted from period correspondence of Dr. John Watkins of Burnt Corn. Mr. Brannon writes, "H. O. Abney and Company, at Claiborne, who sold bacon, fine liquors, hats, hardware, groceries, rope, and baggage, also sold Miss Sarah Watkins, daughter of the doctor, corset laces at fifteen cents each. She paid 35 bits for a yard of belt ribbon and six bits for a bottle of cologne. Mr. B. F. Watkins, the old doctor's son, bought a fine pair of boots, it was a pair of fine boots as well, and paid ten dollars for them."

Henry Orlando Abney and Ann Maria Randle appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 25 September 1860 in Burnt Corn, Monroe County, Alabama. The household was listed as Orlando Abney, a 31 year old merchant born in Alabama with property valued $40,000. Also in the household was his wife, Ann, age 31, born North Carolina, and children: Sally 9, Mary 3, and Henry 2. There was also Salam Boyles, a 13 year old female born Alabama. Note: Elizabeth Lark Abney (1816), daughter of Lark Abney, married Joel Boyles. They had a daughter, Salome Boyles.

From Alabama Pioneers: "Mr. Orlando Abney was a resident of Claiborne in its heyday, his home, a one and one-half story building. with well cared for grounds shaded by large water oaks, and further beautified with myrtle and native yewpon, was located on Abney avenue, one-half mile off Main street. Abney avenue ran westward from Main street, and at right angles to that thorougfare. Mr. Abney was a slave owner, and a prominent man in the civic and social life not only of Claiborne, but of the entire county."⁵

Henry saw military service on 13 September 1861 in Monroe County, Alabama, when he served as captain of the Sandy Williams Guards, Company H, 1st Alabama Cavalry. On that date he posted a letter in the Claiborne Southerner seeking men to enlist in the cavalry company being raised in Claiborne. The company was to be armed and equiped entirely by private individuals. He resigned 26 Jun 1862 as captain and was replaced by James Hightower. The 1st had fought at Shiloh 6-7 Apr 1862 with light loss and at Blackland 4 Jun 1862. Perhaps his resignation was a result of a wound or illness. It could also explain his death the following year.

On 31 Aug 1911 Mr. Q. Salter wrote to the Monroe Journal, "In July 1861 I came home from school a 16 year old boy and joined Captain H. O. Abney's cavalry company. We left Claiborne with about 50 men, mostly boys under 18 years of age, but after reaching Montgomery our company was filled up from other counties and mustered into the First Alabama Cavalry. We commenced our fighting operations two days before the battle of Shiloh and from then on we followed Gen. Joe Wheeler in all of his raids and battles which ended in North Carolina. I reached home the last of May or first of June, 1865. I do not remember which."

In 1863, H. O. Abney bought one acre of land containing lots 23 and 24 within the town of Claiborne for $1250.⁶

Henry Orlando Abney died in 1863 in Claiborne, Monroe County, Alabama. His estate was probated on 27 August 1863 in Monroe County, Alabama. The General Assembly of Alabama approved an act to authorize M. McCorvey, Monroe County judge of probate, to settle the estate of Henry O. Abney, deceased. His estate was inventoried 14 Oct 1863 and Ann M. Abney was administratrix.

Henry Orlando Abney appeared in a newspaper article 5 January 1867 in the The Monroe Journal, published in Monroeville, Alabama. Sale of Valuable Property -- By virtue of the decrees rendered by the Probate Court of the County of Monroe, the undersigned, as administrator of the estate of Henry O. Abney, deceased, will sell at public auction, in the town of Claiborne, in said county, on Tuesday the 1st day of January 1867, all the real estate of said decedent subject to sale, and consisting of a tract of land of thirty five acres, with the buildings thereon, situated on Perdieu Hill near Claiborne. Also a lot of land lying and fronting on Monroe street in said town of Claiborne.-- Terms of sale cash. D. K. Smith, adm'r.