Person Page - 84

     Alpha BARBER was born on 28 December 1907.

Alpha married Lawrence S. HUNT, son of Jeffie Cleveland HUNT and Mary A. M. WEBB, on 3 August 1925 in Autauga County, Alabama.¹

Alpha BARBER died on 9 April 1989 at age 81.² She was buried in Stoney Point Cemetery.

     Olin W. HUNT, son of Jeffie Cleveland HUNT and Mary A. M. WEBB, was born on 13 December 1929 in Autauga County, Alabama.¹

Olin W. HUNT died on 25 October 1963 in Autauga County, Alabama, at age 33.¹ He was buried on 26 October 1963 in Pine Level Methodist Church Cemetery, Autauga County, Alabama.

     Howard Ellis HUNT, son of Jeffie Cleveland HUNT and Mary A. M. WEBB, was born on 1 April 1920 in Autauga County, Alabama.¹

Howard served in the U. S. Army Air Force during World War II. In March 1943 the "Prattville Progress" reported that he was an aviation cadet in Del Rio, Texas and had been selected to train as a navigator. He graduated the B-29 Flight Engineers Course 30 Sept 1945 at Hands Field, Texas as a 2nd Lt. He remained in the Air Force after the war, later serving in Korea and Vietnam. He retired with the rank of major.

Howard married Marjorie P. (--?--) circa 1945.

Howard Ellis HUNT died on 26 January 1984 in Autauga County, Alabama, at age 63.¹ He was buried in Stoney Point Cemetery.

     Willie Norine HUNT, daughter of Jeffie Cleveland HUNT and Mary A. M. WEBB, was born on 6 December 1922 in Deatsville, Elmore County, Alabama.¹

Willie Norine HUNT died on 17 November 1951 in Deatsville, Elmore County, Alabama, at age 28.² She was buried in Pine Level Methodist Church Cemetery, Autauga County, Alabama.

     Lark ABNEY Jr. was born after October 1822 in Monroe County, Alabama. He was born after the death of his father.

He was probably the male age 16 to 19 listed in the household of his father, Martha REARDON, in the 1840 Federal Census of Monroe County, Alabama.

     William married Emeline BLACK, daughter of Peter BLACK and Mary Elizabeth ABNEY, on 21 December 1867 in Calhoun County, Alabama.¹

     John William JONES was born in 1818.

John married Sophronia BLACK, daughter of Peter BLACK and Mary Elizabeth ABNEY, in 1837.^1,2

     Malinda married William D. BLACK, son of Peter BLACK and Mary Elizabeth ABNEY, on 30 October 1850 in Benton (now Calhoun) County, Alabama.¹

     Barthena married William D. BLACK, son of Peter BLACK and Mary Elizabeth ABNEY, on 2 June 1857 in Benton (now Calhoun) County, Alabama.¹

     Narcissa C. ABNEY, daughter of Joel P. ABNEY and Elizabeth "Betty" POPE, was born circa 1800 in Edgefield County, South Carolina.¹

Narcissa C. ABNEY was named an heir in the will of Joel P. ABNEY dated 3 February 1816 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. I wish my executrix to distribute my property equally among my children on their severally arriving at the age of manhood or on my daughters' marrying. It was probated 16 May 1816.^2,3

Narcissa married George Nunn on 31 July 1828 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. After a few years they left the Edgefield District and moved to Chambers County, Alabama.^4,5

She appeared on a census, enumerated 21 November 1850, in the household of her daughter Sarah and husband in Chambers County, Alabama. The household was enumerated as: John Bilbro, age 33, occupation Boating, born in Georgia and his wife Sarah Bilbro, age 28, born in South Carolina. in 1860 John was recorded as a steamboat pilot. Also in the household was Narcissa C. Nunn, Sarah's mother, a 50 year old widow, born in South Carolina with real estate valued $7000; John Nunn, age 15; Charlotte Nunn, age 11, Narcissa Nunn, age 7 and George Nunn, age 5. All of the children were born in Alabama. Narcissa's husband, George Nunn had died in 1844.

Narcissa C. ABNEY died in 1860 in Chambers County, Alabama.⁴ She was buried in Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery. This burial is not proven as there is no tombstone.

     Elmina ABNEY, daughter of Joel P. ABNEY and Elizabeth "Betty" POPE, was born on 4 March 1804 in Edgefield County, South Carolina.¹

Elmina ABNEY was named an heir in the will of Joel P. ABNEY dated 3 February 1816 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. I wish my executrix to distribute my property equally among my children on their severally arriving at the age of manhood or on my daughters' marrying. It was probated 16 May 1816.^2,3

Elmina married first Dr. Alfred Belden on 24 January 1827 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. He was from Massachusetts. They lived briefly at the homestead but moved to Richardsonville, Edgefield District, SC.

Alfred Belden died October 3, 1827, and Elmina moved back in with her family and gave birth to her daughter Narcissa Clementina Belden on February 7, 1827. She and her daughter continued to live with brother Elijah P. Abney and brother Joel Abney, Jr. [formerly Azariah S. D. Abney] until she married Rev. Frederick Rush.

Her daughter Narcissa Clementina Belden married Martin T. Leaphart/Leopheart on February 14, 1847. Narcissa Clementina Belden Leaphart died two weeks later on February 28, 1847.⁴

She appeared on a census, enumerated 18 December 1850, in the household of her brother Elijah Pope ABNEY in Edgefield County, South Carolina. She was listed as Elinor Beldin, age 46. Also in the household was her brother Joel Abney, Jr.

Elmina married second Rev. Frederick Rush on 21 July 1855 in South Carolina. He was a Methodist minister.

Elmina ABNEY appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 9 June 1860 near Saluda, Lexington County, South Carolina. The household was listed as E. Rush, a female 58 year old farmer, born Edgefield county, and Francis Rush, female, age 16, born Camden, South Carolina. Elmina had real estate valued $8000 and personal estate valued $8000.

She was mentioned in the newspaper article of Wilson ABNEY that appeared 28 November 1866 in the The Edgefield Advertiser, published in Edgefield, South Carolina.

She was listed as a resident in Clorian West and Rev. Robert M. Harrison's household in the census report on 18 August 1870 in Saluda Old Town, Edgefield County, South Carolina. She was listed as Elmina Rush, age 66, house keeper, born South Carolina.⁵

Elmina ABNEY died on 25 May 1889 in Saluda, Saluda County, South Carolina, at age 85.¹ She was buried in Bethany United Methodist Church Cemetery, Saluda, Saluda County, South Carolina.

John Abney Chapman wrote in his history of Edgefield county, "[Joel Abney] was the father also of two daughters, Charlotte, who never married, and Elmina, who first married a Dr. Belden. When I first remember seeing her she was a widow. She afterwards married a Methodist minister named Rush. She became a widow again and died in 1889 or 1890, at an advanced age. She was helpless and bedridden for several years before her death."⁶

     Elijah Pope ABNEY, son of Joel P. ABNEY and Elizabeth "Betty" POPE, was born in 1806 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. He never married and remained on the homestead and went into business with his brother Joel Abney, Jr. operating merchant, saw and grist mills. At one time, he was the guardian for Susan E. Abney, daughter of William Abney, dec'd.¹

Elijah Pope ABNEY was named an heir in the will of Joel P. ABNEY dated 3 February 1816 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. I wish my executrix to distribute my property equally among my children on their severally arriving at the age of manhood or on my daughters' marrying. It was probated 16 May 1816.^2,3

He was appointed postmaster on 8 August 1843 for Higgins Ferry, Edgefield County, South Carolina. His brother Joel received the appointment in 1852.⁴

Elijah Pope ABNEY appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 18 December 1850 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. The household was listed as E. Pope Abney, 44, farmer, with real estate valued at $5500. Living with him was his brother, Joel Abney, 35, farmer, and Elinor Beldin, 46. She was their sister Elmina (Abney) Belden, the widow of Dr. Alfred Belden.

Elijah Pope ABNEY died in 1854 in Edgefield County, South Carolina.¹

Elijah, Elizabeth "Betty" POPE and Charlotte E. ABNEY appeared in a newspaper legal posting 31 August 1859 in the The Edgefield Advertiser, published in Edgefield, South Carolina. Legal notice: The State of South Carolina/Edgefield District, Permelia Abney and others, vs. Joel Abney and others, in equity. As directed by the order of Chan. Wardlow, in this case, all and singular the creditors of Mrs. Elizabeth Abney, dec'd, of Charlotte Abney, dec'd, and of Elijah Pope Abney, dec'd, are required on or before the 14th day of October next, to appear before me and make proof of their respective debts; and are hereby notified that in default of their so doing they will be precluded from the benefit of the decree that will be pronounced in this cause. A. Simkins, C. E. E. D., Comm'rs Office, Aug 9, 1859.

     Rev. Mark Madison ABNEY, son of Joel P. ABNEY and Elizabeth "Betty" POPE, was born on 8 December 1808 in Edgefield County, South Carolina.¹

Rev. Mark Madison ABNEY was named an heir in the will of Joel P. ABNEY dated 3 February 1816 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. I wish my executrix to distribute my property equally among my children on their severally arriving at the age of manhood or on my daughters' marrying. It was probated 16 May 1816.

Mark Madison sold his interest in his father's estate to pay for college.^2,3 He was baptised on 13 November 1831.⁴ Mark graduated from the Furman Theological Institute in Edgefield and became a minister of the Gospel in the Baptist Church. Furman was founded in 1826 at Edgefield as a Men's Academy and Theological Institute. It relocated in Greenville, South Carolina in 1850. He was ordained as a minister of the Baptist Church on 11 May 1835.⁴

Mark married Permelia Willliams on 11 February 1840 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. They had daughters Mary who married John Williams; Elizabeth who married N. Douglas Timmerman; Charlotte; and Elmina.

The commissioner's report said that it appeared he had received what he should have received and that "His dress was superior to theirs [his brothers]. He was more liberally educated being destined for the ministry." . . . The significant fact appears also that some of his neighbors actually made gratuitous contributions of money to enable him to complete his theological studies: which could scarcely have occurred unless he had first received and expended his legacy under his father's will." (after Image 252 of 634) Another reference to him elsewhere says that he made no contribution to the others and never lived on the homestead again.⁵

Rev. Mark Madison ABNEY died on 29 September 1846 in Edgefield County, South Carolina, at age 37. He was survived by a widow and three children, aged mother, brothers and sisters.⁶ He was buried on 30 September 1846 in Antioch Baptist Church, Edgefield County, South Carolina.⁴

His obituary appeared 21 October 1846 in the The Edgefield Advertiser, published in Edgefield, South Carolina. "Mark Madison Abney died on September 29, 1846. He was born December 8, 1808. He was a Baptist minister.¹

     Charlotte E. ABNEY, daughter of Joel P. ABNEY and Elizabeth "Betty" POPE, was born circa 1811 in South Carolina.¹ She never married.

Charlotte E. ABNEY was named an heir in the will of Joel P. ABNEY dated 3 February 1816 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. I wish my executrix to distribute my property equally among my children on their severally arriving at the age of manhood or on my daughters' marrying. It was probated 16 May 1816.^2,3

Charlotte E. ABNEY died on 17 November 1844 in South Carolina. She died unmarried, intestate, and with no issue. Her estate nor her mothers had ever been administered. There was no proof that Charlotte had ever received anything from her father's estate, but she had lived in the household with her mother and siblings while her mother was alive and afterwards until her death.⁴

Elijah Pope ABNEY, Charlotte E. ABNEY and Elizabeth "Betty" POPE appeared in a newspaper article 31 August 1859 in the The Edgefield Advertiser, published in Edgefield, South Carolina. Legal notice: The State of South Carolina/Edgefield District, Permelia Abney and others, vs. Joel Abney and others, in equity. As directed by the order of Chan. Wardlow, in this case, all and singular the creditors of Mrs. Elizabeth Abney, dec'd, of Charlotte Abney, dec'd, and of Elijah Pope Abney, dec'd, are required on or before the 14th day of October next, to appear before me and make proof of their respective debts; and are hereby notified that in default of their so doing they will be precluded from the benefit of the decree that will be pronounced in this cause. A. Simkins, C. E. E. D., Comm'rs Office, Aug 9, 1859.

     Azariah S. D. ABNEY, son of Joel P. ABNEY and Elizabeth "Betty" POPE, was born in 1813 in Edgefield County, South Carolina.¹ Sometime after 1816 his name was legally changed to Joel Abney Jr.

Azariah S. D. ABNEY was named an heir in the will of Joel P. ABNEY dated 3 February 1816 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. I wish my executrix to distribute my property equally among my children on their severally arriving at the age of manhood or on my daughters' marrying. It was probated 16 May 1816.^2,3

He was a clerk in Richard Coleman's store and a teacher at a school for a period of time. He had lived on the homestead most of his life, but he did leave for about eight years during the time he was a clerk and teacher. After that, he returned home and went into business with his brother Elijah P. Abney. In 1846, they built a mill complex that consisted of a grist mill, flour mill, saw, mill, blacksmith shop on property that their mother Elizabeth Abney had deeded to them. In 1852, thy built "a substantial dwelling house with suitable out buildings" on the planation that had belonged to Joel Abney, Sr. The old home where he had resided before he died in 1816 had "become ruinous and in decay. The cost of these improvements were about two thousand dollars and were done by the said Elijah P. and Joel who by their own personal labor aided in the erection of the out buildings -- the lumber it is to be inferred being procured from their saw mill."⁴

Joel Abney Jr. appeared on a census, enumerated 18 December 1850, in the household of his brother Elijah Pope ABNEY in Edgefield County, South Carolina. He was enumerated as Joel Abney, 35, farmer. Also in the household was their sister Elmina (Abney) Belden, the widow of Dr. Alfred Belden.

He was appointed postmaster on 16 November 1852 for Higgins Ferry, Edgefield County, South Carolina. His brother Elijah had been appointed in 1843.⁵

Joel married Jane C. Rush on 6 March 1856 in Edgefield County, South Carolina.^6,7. They were married by Rev. J. M. Zimmerman. Jane C. (or Mary Jane) Rush was the daughter of Frederick Rush who married Elmina Abney, Joel's sister]

Joel Abney Jr. died on 26 January 1857 in Edgefield County, South Carolina.

His obituary appeared 18 February 1857 in the The Edgefield Advertiser, published in Edgefield, South Carolina. Departed this life at his residence in Edgefield District, on January 26, 1857, Joel Abney and his wife Jane Abney. The two deceased had been married only about two years. They died within 12 hours of each other. They left an infant daughter of only two weeks old (Elmina Narcissa Abney, who died in 1852.)⁸

He appeared in an administrator's sale notice 18 February 1857 in the The Edgefield Advertiser, published in Edgefield, South Carolina. By virtue of an order from William F. Durisoe, Ordinary, we will proceed to sale at the late residence of Joel Abney, dec'd, on Wednesday the fourth day of March next, all the personal property and estate of the said Joel Abney, consisting of about nine slaves, stock of horses, mules, cattle, hogs, household and kitchen furniture, corn, fodder, oats, &c. Agricultural and farming implements. Among the said slaves are two good millers, one first rate sawyer and blacksmith. The remaining slaves are very likely. Terms of sale-- a credit until the 25th day of December next. Purchasers to give bonds or notes, with two or more proved surities.

On the same day will be rented "THREE FINE MERCHANT MILLS," (consisting of Flour, Grist, and Saw Mills) on Saluda River, formerly owned by E. P. & J. Abney [Elijah Pope and Joel Abney]-- also the plantation and residence of the said Joel Abney.

The real estate will be rented until the first of January, 1858. Terms the same as above stated. Wilson Abney and M. W. Clary, Admrs. His estate was probated on 3 February 1857 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. The estate of Joel Abney, Sr. was filed February 3, 1857; Wilson Abney and M. W. Clary, Administrators. The estate package shows a lot of people being paid money as well as a lot of people paying into the estate. Wilson Abney, M. W. Clary, T. F. Coleman, and Thomas Carson gave bond for $20,000. Joel Abney had died in January 1857.

Among notes due was one note with the date 1855 (Due date?) for MRS. ABIGEL ABNEY for $12.55. Another note with an 1856 date is for MRS. ABIEGEL ABNEY. It was for $20.46. Both were listed as doubtful. In the listing of money received into the estate for Apgil 24, 1857, Mrs. A. Abney paid $20.00. I don't know where she was in the 1850 census, but she was definitely around in the mid 1850's.

One buyer at the estate sale was WILLIAM ABNEY. This might have been Abigail's son.

There was one other note for MRS. MARY BOOZER for $3.00 and was listed as doubtful. This might have been Mary Boozer, sister of Azariah Abney, who got murdered in Harrison County, Texas. There was only one mention of her.⁹

     Capt. William SPRAGGINS Jr., son of William SPRAGGINS Sr. and Martha ABNEY, was born in 1755.

William saw military service circa 1780 in Edgefield County, South Carolina, as a lieutenant in Lt. Col. Samuel Hammond's regiment of South Carolina state troops and in the militia before and after the fall of Charleston.¹

William married Nancy ABNEY, daughter of Nathaniel ABNEY and Isabella MADISON, circa 1787 in Edgefield County, South Carolina.²

Capt. William SPRAGGINS Jr. sold land to Matthew WILLS on 8 February 1792 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. Matthew Wills pays William Spragins five shillings sterling for a 40-acre tract originally granted to Peter Huber April 24, 1752 and conveyed by him to John Huber, son and heir, and then to Thomas Curtis and then to William Spragins on September 1, 1789. It was on the south side of the Saluda River. . . . Witnesses: James Carson, Sarah Carson, and William W [mark] Carter Release: February 9, 1792. Sum is blank. . . . . Recorded October 10, 1794.³

William married second Martha (Gooch?) circa 1794 in South Carolina.

Capt. William SPRAGGINS Jr. was a messenger or minister of the Mill Creek Church of Saluda County 1798-1799. It was constituted in 1794 as part of the Bethel Baptist Association. His father-in-law Nathaniel Abney was messenger in 1794 and 1797. with Nathaniel ABNEY in 1794 in Milll Creek Baptist Church, Saluda County, South Carolina.⁴

Matthew WILLS received land usage rights from Capt. William SPRAGGINS Jr. on 5 May 1794 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. "William Spragins . . . do for my self my heirs & Assigns engage to give unto Matthew Wills of the place aforesaid his heirs & assigns a free and uninterupted _[?] priviledge to make a dam across my spring branch which comes through sd Wills plantation at any convenient place that may suit to convey the water to the sd Wills mill and also the same privelidge to make a Rare? through my land from said dam provided the said dam is not raised to overflow said branch not that within 45 yards of my spring which I now use water of of the said priviledge to be vested in sd Wills his heirs and assigns for the space of 99 years no more from this date and then to devolve unto my heirs assigns for which bargain & __ __ hereby bond myself my assigns unto said Wills & his assigns in the sum of 500 pounds." Witnesses: John Abney, James Carson, and Samuel Spragins. "William Spragins . . . do [for my self my heirs & Assigns engage to give unto Matthew Wills of the place aforesaid his heirs & assigns a free and uninterupted _[?] priviledge to make a dam across my spring branch which comes through sd Wills plantation at any convenient place that may suit to convey the water to the sd Wills mill and also the same privelidge to make a Rare? through my land from said dam provided the said dam is not raised to overflow said branch not that within 45 yards of my spring which I now use water of of the said priviledge to be vested in sd Wills his heirs and assigns for the space of 99 years no more from this date and then to devolve unto my heirs assigns for which bargain & __ __ hereby bond myself my assigns unto said Wills & his assigns in the sum of 500 pounds." Witnesses: John Abney, James Carson, and Samuel Spragins. James Carson proved the transaction before Nathaniel Abney, JP on October 9, 1794. Recorded October 10, 1794. James Carson proved the transaction before Nathaniel Abney, JP on October 9, 1794. Recorded October 10, 1794.⁵

He sold land to Matthew WILLS on 6 September 1794 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. Matthew Wills pays William Spraggins five shillings sterling for three tracts of land containing 162 acres in Edgefield County in Ninety Six District. The first tract has 150 acres and is part of 375 acres originally granted to William Spraggins on June 5, 1786. Names mentioned with it are William Spragins, Matthew Wills, and John Gorman. The second tract containing ten acres is a part of a 250-acre tract originally granted to Peter Huber and conveyed by him to William Spragins. Names associated with it are William Spragins, Matthew Wills, and Mill Creek. The third tract contains two acres and is part of the above mentioned tract. Mill Creek is mentioned again. . . Witnesses: Jacob Brooks, Esau Brooks, and Sarah X [mark] Wills.

September 7, 1794: The sum is 52 pounds received and acknowledged. . . . Witnesses: Jacob Brooks, Esau Brooks, and Sarah X [mark] Wills. Proved before Nathaniel Abney, JP by Jacob Brooks September 7, 1794; Recorded October 10, 1794.⁶

Capt. William SPRAGGINS Jr. sold a tract of land to Matthew WILLS on 6 September 1794 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. Matthew Wills of Edgefield is "held and firmly bound" to William Spraggins for the sum of 150 pounds to be paid to William Spraggins . . . Matthew Wills "hath purchased a tract of land containing one hundred & fifty acres of land of Wm. Spraggins for the sum of forty pounds sterling money bearing date by lease & release the 6 day of September 1794" . . . Witnesses: Jacob Brooks, Esau Brooks, and Sarah X [mark] Wills. Proved by Jacob Brooks on September 6, 1794 before Nathaniel Abney, JP; Recorded March 16, 1797.⁷

He witnessed the sale of land from Samuel ABNEY Jr. and Mary KENNEDY to Moses Walton on 20 December 1797 in Edgefield County, South Carolina.⁸

Capt. William SPRAGGINS Jr. died on 15 January 1827 in Abbeville County, South Carolina. He was buried in Upper Long Cane Cemetery, Abbeville, South Carolina.

William left a will dated 23 October 1821 in Abbeville District, South Carolina. William discribed himself as "being sick and weak of body." To his beloved wife Martha Spraggins he left all his estate, both real and personal, to her during her natural life or widowhood. If she should remarry she would receive one third of the estate during his lifetime and upon her death it would revert back to the estate. To his son William Spraggins, "now living in Alabama", he left one Negro boy, Tom. To his son Thomas Spraggins, he left "the tract of land where I now live" containing 182 acres, plus another 18 acres being part of the 200 acres that he had purchased from Dabney Pucket. He also left him two Negro boys Frank and Allen, once he "comes of age or marries." The remainder of the estate he said should be equally divided among his four children, namely Tabitha Atkinson, Sarah Meek, William and Thomas Spraggins. He named John Meek and his son Thomas Spraggins his executors. The will was signed William Spraggins on 23 Oct 1821. Witnesses were: Richard Gaines, Thomas Gaines and John W. Anglin. It was proved 15 Jun 1827 by Thomas J. Spraggins, executor. Inventory was made in February 1827 by Thomas J. Spraggins and he was the only member of the family who bought any of the estate inventory.⁹