Originally submitted to the ECHGS by Diana
Frymyer
Used here with their permission
Although Elijah Abney's pension records reveal little about him as a soldier, it brings to light a lot of things that have been questions as to who 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 who his parents were, all clues lead us to believe that he was the eldest child of Littleberry Abney (son of John and Patman Puckett Abney) and Elizabeth Abney (daughter of William Abney and Milly Graves). Both Littleberry's and Elizabeth's parents were married in Amherst County, Virginia.
Elijah served in the Civil War under Captain Cockrell in Company I of the 47th Regiment, Kentucky Volunteer Mounted Infantry, having enlisted in that unit 27 October 1863 at Camp Nelson in Kentucky. He was mustered out of that unit 28 November 1864 to reenlist in the 4th Kentucky Volunteer Mountaed infantry two days later. 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 in reference 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 fell from his horse during a ride on the enemy, and that the horse rolled over him. These men were of the opinion that Elijah's hernia was caused from too much hard riding during the war campaigns.
Patsy, Elijah's wife, states in her attempt to draw a widow's pension, that her husband died 15 May 1874 at the home of John White (married one of Littleberry Abney's daughters, Polly) on Cat Creek in Powell County. John White made statements that Elijah was sick when he came to his home for a visit, and that he died from the hernia that was caused from the late war. He also stated that from the general appearance of Elijah's body when he was being dressed for burial, that the hernia was definitely the cause of his death. we can't say for sure, but it would seem that since Elijah died in Powell County, that he is probably buried in that county since transportation of a corpse in those days was very poor indeed.
Patsy also states that before marriage, her maiden name was Barnett; that she and Elijah were married 1st January 1829 at the home of her father on Plum Creek in Estill County; that Richard Stevens married them. Berry Barnett and Leroy 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 their marriage records were in Montgomery County, and since since Montgomery County records have been burned, then this would be the reason that Patsy said she knew of no records of their marriage existed.
We feel that since Patsy says she was married at her father's home, if maybe she is the daughter of Henry Barnett and Celia Abney (John and Patman Puckett's daughter). If she is the daughter of this couple, then she and Elijah would have been first cousins.
Patsy was born about 1810 and according to the records she was still alive in the spring of 1891. She is believed to be the person buried on Ticky Fork beside the grave of Elizabeth Abney Centers and Tandy Centers. The stone in this small cemetery has these etchings scratched on it: P. Abney b.1810 deceased December, 1891.
Patsy was in destitution before her death and according to some depositions that were taken by some who were trying to help her get with no one legally responsible to care for her.
Patsy and Elijah had at least six children and are listed as 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
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