Jonathan Bay ABNEY

     Jonathan Bay ABNEY, son of Paul ABNEY and Eleanor HAMILTON, was born on 20 March 1776 in South Carolina.^1,2 He was also known as John.

He was probably the male age 16 to 25 listed in the household of his father, Paul ABNEY, in the 1800 Federal Census of Edgefield County, South Carolina.

During the War of 1812, Joel P. ABNEY, Azariah ABNEY and Jonathan Bay ABNEY enlisted in in Capt. Zachary Smith Brooks' Company of state cavalry between 1800 and 1815 in Edgefield District. Joel was a cornet. There were three John Abneys in the unit, one was first sargeant and another was secretary.³

John ABNEY sold a tract of land to Paul ABNEY on 11 February 1800 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. For $100 he sold 425 acres being part of 900 acres originally granted to said John Abney on Tosetys Creek of Saluda River, adjacent to land of James Carson now belonging to Major Thomas Butler. Witnesses were William W. Abney and James Barnes. Signed by John Abney. Proven 11 Feb 1800 by William and Nathaniel Abney JP. Recorded 26 Mar 1800.⁴

John ABNEY sold a tract of land to his brother-in-law James BARNES on 11 February 1800 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. For $35 he sold 50 acres originally granted to John Dean on the Bounty and conveyed by George Dean brother and heir at law to said John Dean to said John Abney on branch of Tosetys Creek of Saluda River bounded by lands of Paul Abney, James Summers, John Abney, Kennedy, and vacant. Witnesses were Paul Abney and William (X) Abney. Signed by John Abney. Proven 11 Feb 1800 by Paul Abney and Nathaniel Abney JP. Recorded 26 Mar 1800.⁵

Jonathan married first Martha "Patsy" WILLS, daughter of Matthew WILLS and Martha ABNEY, on 6 March 1800 in Edgefield County, South Carolina.^6,7,8

Jonathan Bay ABNEY sold a tract of land to William Yarbrough of Abbeville District on 13 January 1806 in Edgefield District, South Carolina. For 50 pounds he sold the land whereon Polly Abney, widow of Samuel Abney [Jr] deceased, now resides, bounded on the south by land whereon James Carson now lives, north and northwest by land whereon Mary Bladon reside and land of James Hill, John Coleman, and Nathaniel Abney, northeast by Azariah Abney, southeast by Jesse Sanfords land. Witnesses John Bolger and John Carson. Signed John Abney. Proven 13 Jan 1806 by John Carson and Nathaniel Abny JP. Recorded 25 Mar 1806.⁹

Martha died on 20 October 1817 in South Carolina at age 32 leaving Jonathan Bay ABNEY as a widower.^1,2

John married second Agatha GRIFFITH, daughter of Joseph GRIFFITH and Mary Ann Boulware, on 25 January 1819 in Edgefield District, South Carolina. She was the daughter of Joseph Griffith and Mary Ann Boulware. They were of Welsh decent.^1,7,8

John ABNEY was named executor and an heir in the will of Paul ABNEY dated 24 October 1819 in Edgefield (now Saluda) County, South Carolina. I give to my son John Abney five negroes namely: Juda, Sarah, Mary, Ben and Sam. He is to pay his sisters 100 dollars each in twelve months after receiving the negroes.¹⁰

Jonathan Bay ABNEY died on 2 October 1823 in Edgefield County, South Carolina, at age 47.^11,12

John ABNEY was mentioned in the obituary of John Nathan CHAPMAN on 3 August 1854 in the Edgefield Advertiser. It menitoned that Chapman, "He learned his trade from his father-in-law, John Abney, Esq.¹³ "