James Wiley ABNEY

     James Wiley ABNEY, son of James "Wiley" ABNEY and Maacah ABNEY, was born on 15 January 1803 in Edgefield District, South Carolina.¹ James Wiley ABNEY was generally known as Wiley. After his father's death a month prior to his birth, Wiley's mother was left with two little boys. His brother William went to live with his maternal uncle, William "Uncle Billy" Abney. Wiley lived with William and Anna Abney Buffington, his paternal aunt and uncle.

Wiley and his brother William Thomas were carpenters and builders. Wiley is listed in the Cobb County, Georgia Census in 1840 and in the Elbert County, Georgia Census in 1860. He is also listed in the 1860 Slave Census. William Thomas was also living in Elbert County at least by 1847. Wiley purchased land in Mississippi from Wesley Boler, who was also from Elbert County, Georgia and had moved to Mississippi prior to the Abneys.

Wiley married Eleanor Ward HAILEY on 19 April 1832 in Dekalb County, Georgia.¹

On 26 April 1872 New Ireland Baptist Church organized in Newton County, Mississippi, with the following charter members: John Boler, Martha Boler, Wiley Abney, Elender [Eleanor] Abney, James A. Abney, George H. Abney, Sarah A. Abney, Nancy E. Abney, James T. Rucker, Susanah E. Rucker, J. M. Pool, S. G. Harris, N. Staton, Elizabeth Staton, W.G. Taylor, and Jane Taylor.

James Wiley ABNEY died on 22 May 1890 in Union, Newton County, Mississippi, at age 87.^1,2 He was buried in New Ireland-Abney Cemetery.