Samuel ABNEY IV

     Samuel ABNEY IV was born on 10 September 1835 at the Abney Plantation "Trail's End" in Randolph, Bibb (now Chilton) County, Alabama, son of Thomas Hamilton ABNEY and Mary Ann Gosden.^1,2
     Samuel ABNEY IV appeared on a census, enumerated 1 June 1840, in the household of Thomas Hamilton ABNEY and Mary Ann Gosden in Bibb (now Chilton) County, Alabama.³
     Samuel ABNEY IV appeared on a census, enumerated 1 June 1850, in the household of Thomas Hamilton ABNEY and Eliza Ann Echols in Bibb (now Chilton) County, Alabama.⁴ He and Zachariah ABNEY attended the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa between 1855 and 1857. According to family tradition, they were the first twins to graduate from the University.^5,6 He was teaching school in 1858 in Montevallo, Shelby County, Alabama. The story goes that one time he and his twin brother, Zach, switched places and the students never noticed.⁶ Brothers Samuel and Alexander Hamilton ABNEY purchased a store in the name of Abney and Brother, "Merchants and Traders and Co-partners doing business at Pittsburg..." , from Wright and Beasley on 4 June 1860 in Pittsburg, Upshur County, Texas.⁷
     Samuel ABNEY IV was found in the census of 21 June 1860 living in a rooming house in Pittsburg, Upshur County, Texas. The household was enumerated as Eratus Kelsey, age 38, carpenter, $300, born New York; Jane Kelsey, age 27, Georgia; Thomas Kelsey, age 7, Texas; Louisa Kelsey, age 3, Texas; William Kelsey, age 1, Texas; Wm. Bedard, age 42, sharpening, $200, North Carolina; Wm. Bragg, age 36, coachmaker, Conneticut; W. V. Barten, age 23, loafer, Alabama; S. ABNEY; age 22, loafer, Alabama; J. L. Colliers, age 24, Postmaster, Georgia; R. M. (B. M.?) Burt, age 28, loafer, born Georgia; and E. P. Heath, age 21, bootmaker, Georgia.⁸
     Upon returning to Alabama at the start of the war, Samuel enlisted in Centreville at age 26 on 24 April 1862 in Co. H, 44th Alabama Infantry. He was enlisted by F. M. Goode for three years or the war. He apparently never reported for duty as he is reported AWOL in July. Then in December 1862 his captain again listed him AWOL with the note: "This man originally joined 44th but before going into camp of instruction joined another organization and cannot be found. He will hereafter be dropped."⁹ This is confirmed by the fact that on this date Sam was also enlisted in Randolph by the same Capt. Francis M. Goode for three years or the war in Co. D, 5th Battalion (Mounted), Hilliard's Legion. He served as 5th sergeant of his company. Apparently Sam decided that he preferred riding to walking!⁹
     On 12 Aug 1862, while in the vicinity of Loudon, Tennessee, Company D was detached from Hilliard's Legion as escort for Brigadier General Thomas J. Churchill and served in that capacity throughout the Kentucky Campaign until 10 Nov 1862. Hilliard's Legion was disbanded 25 Nov 1862 near Murphreesboro, Tennessee. The 5th Battalion (Mounted) and the 19th Georgia Cavalry Battalion combined 29 Dec 1862 to form the 10th Confederate Cavalry. They saw action in the Battle of Stone's River between 30 Dec 1862 and 3 Jan 1863 as part of Gen. Joseph Wheeler's Cavalry Brigade. On a 31 Dec 1863 roster of Co. D 10th Confederate Cavalry Sam is listed as "on detached service in Capt. Marshall's Battery by order of Col. Scott since 1 Aug 1863." This transfer was permanent according to a 1 Mar 1864 roster.¹⁰
     The sequence of events is confusing, but at some point this unit was merged into Capt. John W. Morton's battery of Tennessee Light Artillery serving in Jackson's Division of Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest's Cavalry. On 1 Dec 1863 Sam was appointed corporal and later promoted to sergeant. He surrendered with the battery 4 May 1865 at Citronelle, Alabama and was paroled at Gainsville, Alabama 10 May 1865. Before returning home he spent one day in a Confederate hospital in Jackson, Mississippi.¹¹
     Samuel ABNEY IV appeared on a census, enumerated 1866, in the household of Thomas Hamilton ABNEY in Bibb County, Alabama.¹²
     Samuel married Martha Anne WALKER, daughter of William WALKER and Sarah Virginia SHELTON, on 20 April 1870 at the front parlor of the Walker House in Isabella, Chilton County, Alabama. Sam's best man was Anderson Baker.^13,14 Sam wrote the following letter to Martha during their courtship:

Home Dec. 4th 1869

Miss Mattie, as George is going down today, I could not resist the temptation of writing you a few lines. Last Sabbath I had the inestimable happiness of being near you, which to me is happiness. I hope you are well, and in your usual, calm, and serene mood. How my thoughts pass and repass the space that separates us. You must come up before Jamie goes away. Come up next Saturday. I beg your pardon. I had forgotten you had prohibited me from writing, but you must excuse me this once. I know you are so matter of fact, you cannot tolerate nonsense. So please excuse Miss. I have to practice some little imposition to get this in Fannie's notes as George has resolved not to carry any note for me.

I must again ask you to pardon this.
My heart kisses you xxxxx
                         Sam Abney

[Two note pages, handwritten, from Sam Abney to his future wife, Martha Walker. Fannie may be Sam's cousin Fannie Woodruff who was born about 1838. George could be her brother. They were children of Sam's sister Frances Abney (Mrs. Newton) Woodruff (1820 - 1896). The bottom of the last sheet has in my mother's handwriting: "Grandfather Abney". AHB, 9/95 ].¹⁵

     Samuel ABNEY IV and Martha Anne WALKER appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1 June 1870 in Chilton County, Alabama. The household was listed as Sam Abney, age 30; and Martha Abney, age 19. Sam's occupation was farming.¹⁶
     Samuel ABNEY IV and Martha Anne WALKER appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1 June 1900 in Maplesville, Chilton County, Alabama. The household was listed as Sam Abney, age 64, born September 1835 in Alabama. His father was born in South Carolina and his mother in Delaware. His occupation was farming. Sam's wife was Martha Abney, age 45, born October 1854 in Alabama. Both of her parents were also born in Alabama. Their children were: Zack, 25, a store clerk, born January 1875; Saroah [Sarah], 23, born November 1877; Estel [Estelle], 21, born August 1878; Irma, 19, born March 1881; May, 17, born June 1882; Margaret, 16, born June 1884; Evelyn, 14, born December 1886; William, 12, born April 1888; and Nellie, 9, born January 1891. Also living in the household were Sam's sister, Vaginia [Virginia], 73, born June 1826 in Alabama, and boarders, Gussie Knupp, a music teacher, age 27, born October 1872 in Alabama and a black farm laborer, Will Hall, 25, born March 1875 in Alabama.¹⁷
     Samuel ABNEY IV appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 15 April 1910 in Maplesville, Chilton County, Alabama. The household was listed as Samuel Abney, age 74, farmer, born Alabama. His father was born in South Carolina, while his mother was born in Delaware. His wife, Martha, age 64, was born in Alabama, as was her mother, while her father was born in North Carolina. Sam and Martha had been married 39 years and had 10 children. Living with them were daughter, Evelyn L., age 25, and son, William H., age 23, both born in Alabama. The family lived near Maplesville on the Montgomery Road.¹⁸
     Samuel and Zachariah ABNEY were participates in the Confederate Veterans Reunion and dedication of the new Confederate Monument on 22 July 1910 in Bibb County Courthouse, Centreville, Bibb County, Alabama. He was very shaken by the death of Evelyn Lilly ABNEY on 24 March 1911 in the Abney House, Maplesville, Chilton County, Alabama. She was said to have been a very beautiful girl ("the prettiest of the lot") with lots of beaux. The died of a sudden illness while away at school.^19,20
     Samuel ABNEY IV died on 12 February 1917 in Chilton County, Alabama, at age 81. He died after being ill with influenza for about nine days.¹⁴ He was buried in the Abney Family Cemetery.