Samuel ABNEY Sr.

     
     Samuel ABNEY Sr. was born between 1735 and 1740 in Halifax County, Virginia, son of George ABNEY and Unity (?).^1,2 He was a farmer.
     Samuel ABNEY Sr. was named an heir in the will of his father, George ABNEY, dated in 1765 in Halifax County, Virginia.²
     Samuel ABNEY Sr. sold a tract of land to Michael ABNEY on 29 August 1768 in Halifax County, Virginia, From a Halifax county, Virginia deed book 7, page 364 on 29 Aug 1768, "Michael Abney of the Province of South Carolina have appointed my brother Samuel Abney of Halifax County, Virginia, my true and lawful attorney to sell a tract of land in County of Halifax and Parish of Antrim first granted to George Abney, 170 acres."³
     Samuel married Martha Harriett HAMILTON, daughter of Sir James HAMILTON and Eleanor STEWART, in 1770 in Edgefield District, South Carolina. They lived on Tosety Creek, off the Saluda River.⁴ He was granted land 19 February 1772 near the town of Saluda, Old Ninety-Six District, South Carolina. This land was on Tosety's Creek off the Saluda River. His brothers lived nearby.
     Samuel saw military service in 1781 in Old Ninety-Six District, South Carolina, during the American Revolution. He served as a private and sergeant in the South Carolina militia under Gen. Andrew Pickens. The group were irrregulars, without bayonets. During the Battle of Eutaw Springs, September 8, 1781 they fought in the front line and Samuel was fortunate not to have lost his life during the battle. Casualties were high, Gen. Nathaniel Green lost 693 men and the British Col. Stewart lost 408. Bodies were everywhere; most had to be buried where they fell. Samuel somehow got home to his family, only to be murdered in front of them by Tory raiders.
     From a Biographical Sketch of the Career of Major Wm. Cunningham: "Leaving Cloud Creek, Cunningham, with the main body of his men, proceeded up the Cherokee road towards Saluda Old Town, burning and slaughtering as he went. One of his victims was Samuel Abney, whose houses he gave to the flames. His approach drove the male inhabitants off, either seeking places of security, or in the search after a sufficient force to contend with the unexpected marauders. It was in vain that the women threw themselves at his feet and entreated that their dwellings might be spared to them, at a season when the winter was rapidly approaching. They were perhaps only too fortunate that they got off with their lives."
     The story according to the Annals of Newberry is that William "Bloody Bill" Cunningham's Tories found him sick in bed with a fever and in spite of the best efforts and prayers of his wife they hauled him out of the house and killed him in his wife's arms-- the sword that killed him passing through him and entering his wife's body also. His house, corn crib, and everything was burnt, and the only comfort left his widow was her infant son. He had crawled away and hid himself in some tall weeds nearby.
     On 19 Aug 1782 South Carolina Revolutionary accounts show "paid Martha Abney, widow of Samuel, killed by Cunningham, 8 pounds 15 pence."^5,6,7
     Samuel ABNEY Sr. died in the fall of circa October 1781 in near Saluda, Ninety-Six District, South Carolina.⁶