Martha Harriett HAMILTON

     Martha Harriett HAMILTON was born circa 1750 in England, daughter of Sir James HAMILTON and Eleanor STEWART.¹
     There is much doubt as to her parents and siblings. John Chapman in his History of Edgefield mentions some Hamiltons that lived on Persimmon Creek not too far from the Abneys: "Captain John Hamilton and his brother Edward. These, however, did not come to Edgefield until after the Revolutionary War. Of this I am not right sure. Captain Hamilton was an officer in the British army, serving under his brother Col. Hamilton, who commanded a regiment in the left wing of the army at the Battle of Camden and aided greatly in the defeat of the Americans. These Hamiltons were Scotch, but they had been living in South Carolina—Lee, in his memoirs, says Norfolk, Virginia—engaged in mercantile pursuits before the war, but, unfortunately, took the wrong side in the contest, as many good men did. At their death they left very little property. I know of no descendants."²
     Martha married Samuel ABNEY Sr., son of George ABNEY and Unity (?), in 1770 in Edgefield District, South Carolina. They lived on Tosety Creek, off the Saluda River.³
     Martha Harriett HAMILTON was Following the murder of Sam in the fall of 1781 Martha was left a widow with four young children and one more on the way. in 1781 in Edgefield District, South Carolina.
     By her mark, Martha (X) Abney, widow of Samuel Abney and his Administratrix, on 29 October 1785 requested that Sam's payment for "Services done the State in Collonel Robert Andersons Return" be delivered to William Hill. The original claim dated 7 July 1785 read "Mr. Samuel Abney Sen. his account of Militia Duty as private & Sergt. before, and since the reduction of Charlestown" and amounted to sixteen pounds, one shilling and five pence sterling.⁴
     Martha Harriett HAMILTON appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1790 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. The household was listed as one white male under 16 [Zachariah], four white females [Martha and daughters, Martha, Rebecca, & Dorcas] and one slave.⁵
     Martha Harriett HAMILTON died in 1817 in Edgefield District, South Carolina.⁶