John D'ABNEY

     John D'ABNEY, son of Thomas De ABNEY, was born circa 1341 in Derbyshire, England.¹

John D'ABNEY witnessed the Black Death or bubonic plague, a pandemic that ravaged Europe between 1347 and 1351. It is the most fatal pandemic recorded in human history, causing the death of 75–200 million people in Eurasia and North Africa. A ship from Calais carried the plague to Melcombe Regis, Dorset, in August 1348. It reached Bristol almost immediately and spread rapidly throughout the southwestern counties of England. London suffered most violently between February and May 1349, East Anglia and Yorkshire during that summer. The Black Death reached the extreme north of England, Scotland, Scandinavia, and the Baltic countries in 1350. There were recurrences of the plague in 1361–63, 1369–71, 1374–75, 1390, and 1400.

William De ABNEY, John D'ABNEY, Robert D'ABNEY and Arabella D'ABNEY were included on a tax list in 1380 in the Peak District, Derbyshire, England. The Poll Tax of 1379-80 (which caused the Peasants Revolt of 1381) included William Abney and his grandsons Robert and John. Arabella was probably also a granddaughter. The Poll Tax of 4 Richard II [1380] includes William de Alboney and his wife, Robert and Arabella Abbony of Castleton, and John de Abbeny and his wife of Eyam (probably including Stoke.)

John D'ABNEY was given possession at Eyam in a poll tax of Richard II (1377-1399) in 1388.²

On 9 Jul 1397 a pardon was granted in York county to John de Abbenay of Offerston,for noit appearing to answer John, duke of Lancaster, touching a debt of 500 marks.³

John D'ABNEY of Castleton on 23 April 1398 released to John Wylde of Abney, all of his lands and tenements which were of Robert del Cloghe in the village and fields of Abney. Note: John releases the lands of his ancestors in Abney, inherited from his grandfather William de Abney in Abney, Derbyshire, England.^4,5

From the Plea Rolls of Derby, in 1 Henry V [1413], John Sherwvnd, the elder; John Sherwynd, the younger; William Sherwynd; John de Nedeham; William Fox, of Banmford [Baumford], the younger; Richard Fox, of Hathersegge; James Fox; and John de Abbeney, the younger, were attached at the suit of Nicholas Longford, knight, for breaking into his free warren at Hethersegge on the Morrow of St. Martin, 3 Henry IV [1401], and taking 4 stags, 3 bucks and 6 does, 100 hares, 40 rabbits, 20 pleasants, and 40 partridges, and for continuing the trespass from the above date up to the date of the writ, viz. 6th May, 1 Henry V [1413], and for which he claimed £100 as damages.

The defendants appeared by attorney, and denied that Nicholas held either warren or chace within the village of Hethersegge, or that they had taken the number of hares, etc., as stated; and they also pleaded that Nicholas held warren and chace conjointly with Stephen Thorp, chivaler, and Robert Eyr, who were living and were not named in the writ.

Nicholas replied, that at the date of the writ he was the sole tenant of the warren and chace, and appealed to a jury, which was to be summoned for the Octaves of St. Michael. A postscript shows the suit was adjourned to the Octaves of St. Hillary.⁶