William ABNEY

     William ABNEY, son of Sgt. George ABNEY and Sarah "Sally" GRIFFITH, was born in 1777 in Ninety-Six District, South Carolina.¹

He was probably one of the two males under age 16 listed in the household of his father, Sgt. George ABNEY, in the 1790 Federal Census of Edgefield District, South Carolina.

William ABNEY appeared on the 1810 Federal Census of Edgefield District, South Carolina, Wm. Abney PC or PG [attorney?, preacher of gospel?], one maile 26-44 [William, age 33], one female under 10, one female 26-44 [Abigail], and one slave. Listed next door was the household of Reason Gentry.

During the War of 1812 William ABNEY along with Absalom Troup ABNEY, Abney MAYS Jr. and Charles ABNEY and Thomas Hamilton ABNEY enlisted in Capt. John Coleman's company in Col. William Youngblood's 1st Regiment of South Carollina Militia.²

William married Abigail Gentry circa 1835 in South Carolina.

William ABNEY died in 1851 in Edgefield County, South Carolina.

William left a will dated 21 March 1851 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. The will mentions an unnamed wife and son William. He named his "friend and step-son" R. L. Gentry as executor. He asked that after payment of his debts his property remain in the hands of his wife and son William during their lifetime. and after theri death to be sold and divided equally among his children Witnesses were Wm. Coleman, Thos. H. Coleman and R. M. Scurry. It was recorded in Will book D pg. 423, on 8 Apr 1851.³

William ABNEY and Abigail Gentry appeared in a newspaper article 27 May 1857 in the Edgefield Advertiser, published in Edgefield, South Carolina. State of South Carolina, Edgefield District -- Before me, Lewis Culbreath, a Magistrate of said District, personally appeared Abigail Abney, widow of William Abney, dec'd, who was a soldier in the war of 1812, and John Quattlebum, Agent for the said Abigal Abney, in her effort to obtain the Bounty Land to which she was entitled for the service of her said service as aforesaid; and after being duly sworn, deposeth and sayeth, that application was made to the Department of the Interior for Bounty Land as aforesaid, number 138,048, for which they have been informed by the Department, that a Land Warrant for one hundred and sixy (160) acres, was issued and sent to Sleepy Creek P. O., Edgefield District, S.C., which said deponents say they never have received, sold, assigned, nor voluntarily disposed of, directly or indirectly; and for a duplicate warrant they intend to apply to the Department in due form of law. -- Abigal (her X mark) Abney, and J. Quattlebum, Agent. Sworn and subscribed before me, the 2d May 1857. Lewis Culbreath, M. E. D..

The State of South Carolina, Edgefield District -- Before me personally appeared Joseph Griffith and Jesse Cobb, and made oath, that the above named Abigal Abney and J. Quattlebum are the identical persons they represent themselves to be in the foregoing affidavit or caveat; and that they have full confidence in the correctness of said deposition. -- Joseph Griffith, Jesse Cobb. Sworn to before me the 2d May 1857. Lewis Culbreath. M. E. D.⁴

William ABNEY and Abigail Gentry were granted land 1 May 1860 in Crawford County, Iowa. For his service in as a private in Captain Coleman's company of South Carolia Militia during the War of 1812 William Abney received a 160 acre bounty land grant in Iowa. As he was deceased, his widow, Abagail Abney, received the grant and assigned the land to Erastus Partridge through the Council Bluffs land office. The land was in sections 10 and 3, township 82 N, range 39 W.⁵