Originally submitted to the ECHGS by DianaFrymyer
Used here with their permission
Although Elijah Abney's pension records reveal littleabout him as a soldier, it brings to light a lot of things that have been questions as towho he was and who he married. According to the Estill County Census records,Elijah was born ca 1810, and although no actual record has been found stating exactly whohis parents were, all clues lead us to believe that he was the eldest child of LittleberryAbney (son of John and Patman Puckett Abney) and Elizabeth Abney (daughter of WilliamAbney and Milly Graves). Both Littleberry's and Elizabeth's parents were married inAmherst County, Virginia.
Elijah served in the Civil War under Captain Cockrell inCompany I of the 47th Regiment, Kentucky Volunteer Mounted Infantry, having enlisted inthat unit 27 October 1863 at Camp Nelson in Kentucky. He was mustered out of thatunit 28 November 1864 to reenlist in the 4th Kentucky Volunteer Mountaed infantry two dayslater. He was mustered out of this unit on the 17th August 1865 at Macon, Georgia,due to a hernia that was incurred in the line of duty. Although Elijah's wife,Patsy, was unable to draw a widow's pension due to the fact that Elijah's records inreference to his disability discharge were missing, several men made depositions that,while in a charge on the enemy that Elijah was unable to sit upon his horse, that he fellfrom his horse during a ride on the enemy, and that the horse rolled over him. Thesemen were of the opinion that Elijah's hernia was caused from too much hard riding duringthe war campaigns.
Patsy, Elijah's wife, states in her attempt to draw awidow's pension, that her husband died 15 May 1874 at the home of John White (married oneof Littleberry Abney's daughters, Polly) on Cat Creek in Powell County. John Whitemade statements that Elijah was sick when he came to his home for a visit, and that hedied from the hernia that was caused from the late war. He also stated that from thegeneral appearance of Elijah's body when he was being dressed for burial, that the herniawas definitely the cause of his death. we can't say for sure, but it would seem thatsince Elijah died in Powell County, that he is probably buried in that county sincetransportation of a corpse in those days was very poor indeed.
Patsy also states that before marriage, her maiden namewas Barnett; that she and Elijah were married 1st January 1829 at the home of her fatheron Plum Creek in Estill County; that Richard Stevens married them. Berry Barnett andLeroy Puckett made depositions that they were at the at the wedding of this couple. No records for this marriage exists in Estill County, and one wonders if maybe theirmarriage records were in Montgomery County, and since since Montgomery County records havebeen burned, then this would be the reason that Patsy said she knew of no records of theirmarriage existed.
We feel that since Patsy says she was married at herfather's home, if maybe she is the daughter of Henry Barnett and Celia Abney (John andPatman Puckett's daughter). If she is the daughter of this couple, then she andElijah would have been first cousins.
Patsy was born about 1810 and according to the records shewas still alive in the spring of 1891. She is believed to be the person buried onTicky Fork beside the grave of Elizabeth Abney Centers and Tandy Centers. The stonein this small cemetery has these etchings scratched on it: P. Abney b.1810 deceasedDecember, 1891.
Patsy was in destitution before her death and according tosome depositions that were taken by some who were trying to help her get with no onelegally responsible to care for her.
Patsy and Elijah had at least six children and are listedas follows:
Malinda "Jane" Abney, born about 1831 and died between 1880 and 1900; married James Puckett, 8 Aug 1846
Elizabeth Abney, born about 1833 and died about 1879 (?); married Tandy Centers, 8 May 1850
John Abney, born about 1835, died during Civil War and left 3 orphans for Elijah and Patsy to raise; married Mary Jane Adams, 28 Dec 1858
William Morton Abney, born about 1837, married Lucinda Adams, 28 Nov 1858
Allen Abney, Jr., born about 1841, married Lucy Ann Barnes, 16 Jul 1860 (Allen believed to be named for Littleberry Abney's son Allen)
Mary Jane Abney, born about 1846, married Jordan Muncy, 11 Nov 1864
DISCLAIMER: All materials furnished on these pages are for free, non-commercial use by individuals. The information presented on them was either obtained from sources permitting free distribution, submitted by other researchers, or generated by myself. Any commercial use or distribution of the information obtained from this location without the consent of the author is strictly prohibited. Individuals posting or otherwise contributing material to this site do so in recognition of its non-commercial nature. The content of the information submitted by other researchers has not been verified and therefore the Estill County KyGenWeb and it's Coordinator can not be held responsible for this content. If you have a problem with a particular entry, please contact the submitter of said entry. All information is copyrighted by the author. Any reproduction is strictly prohibited unless permission is granted by the author. Send all questions and/or comments to Harlan.