Mary Ann Holmes

     Mary Ann Holmes, daughter of Capt. Benjamin HOLMES and Mary Ann CECIL, was born on 30 March 1793 in Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware.^1,2

Mary Ann Holmes and Benjamin John HOLMES were adopted circa 1796 in Richmond, Virginia, by James Gosden/Gausden. Mary Ann assumed the name Mary Ann Gosden after her mother remarried.

Mary married Thomas Hamilton ABNEY, son of Samuel ABNEY Jr. and Mary KENNEDY, on 24 December 1817 in Richmond, Virginia. Mary's father or step-father was a very well-to-do man and they inherited his fine house which he had built on his second wife's property.³

Mary Ann Holmes was named an heir in the will of James Gosden/Gausden dated 14 April 1818 in Richmond, Virginia. She was willed the Gosden House upon the death of her step-mother.

She was probably the female age 16 to 26 listed in the household of her husband, Thomas Hamilton ABNEY, in the 1820 Federal Census of Richmond (Independent City), Henrico County, Virginia.

Mary Ann ABNEY and Thomas Hamilton ABNEY purchased a government land patent 6 December 1828 in Bibb (now Chilton) County, Alabama. They purchased 125.5 acres of the northeast quarter of section 4, township 21-N, range 12-E. Section 4 contained 527.5 acres..⁴

Thomas and Mary Ann purchased a government land patent 9 January 1829 in Bibb (now Chilton) County, Alabama. They purchased 72.75 acres of the east half of the southeast quarter of section 4, township 21-N, range 12-E..⁵

Mary Ann Holmes and Thomas Hamilton ABNEY appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1 June 1830 in Bibb (now Chilton) County, Alabama. The household was listed as one male age 30-39 [Thomas]; one male age 5-9 [Alexander]; one male under 5 [Cinncinatus]; one female age 20-29 [Mary Ann]; two females age 10-14 [Mary Cecil, Frances]; one female age 5-9 [Aurelia]; and two females under 5 [Virginia, Amanda].⁶

Thomas and Mary Ann purchased a government land patent 1 September 1830 in Bibb (now Chilton) County, Alabama. They purchased 160.3 acres in the southeast quarter of township 22-N, range 12-E, section 33 which is the site of the plantation. Thomas' brother-in-law James Sample had the northeast quarter and John Killingsworth was also nearby..⁷

Mary Ann Holmes and Thomas Hamilton ABNEY appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1 June 1840 in Bibb (now Chilton) County, Alabama. The household was listed as one male age 40-49 [Thomas]; one male age 15-19 [Alexander]; one male age 10-14 [Cinncinatus]; one male age 5-9 [Henry]; three males under 5 [Sam, Zach, Thomas]; one female age 40-49 [Mary Anne]; one female age 20-29 [Mary Cecil]; one female age 15-19 [Aurelia]; two females age 10-14 [Virginia, Amanda]; and one female under 5 [???]. Living with them was one female age 60-69 [Mary Kennedy Abney]. They owned 13 slaves.⁸

On 3 April 1848 Mary Ann ABNEY died in Bibb County, Alabama, at age 55 leaving Thomas Hamilton a widower.³ She was buried in Abney Family Cemetery, Maplesville, Chilton County, Alabama.