Aged 43 yrs and 4 mos

Cemetery information taken from "Our Saluda Ancestors" Volume 3, published by the Saluda Historical Society, Aug 2000:
NATHANIEL ABNEY CEMETERY
Approx. 34.179240, -81.736710
This cemetery is 1/2 mile west of the Saluda River Bridge. Traveling from Newberry on Hwy 121, turn right at the first logging road. Go about 1/2
mile, graves are located on the left in a small grove of trees on a slight knoll. The land belongs to Southern Brick Company. No tombstones remain in this cemetery, having been removed since 1956. The cemetery is listed in the Long Family History as follows.

Abney, Nathaniel Capt.
Capt. S.C. Militia Revolutionary War

Abney, Joel1772Feb 14, 1816
Age: 43 yrs and 4 months.

Nathaniel Abney and Francis Higgins were authorized to establish a ferry near the present bridge on the Newberry-Saluda road in 1795 at Abney's Ford. Nathaniel Abney owned the land on the Saluda side and Francis Higgins owned the land on the Newberry side. Francis Higgins is buried to the right of Hwy 121 within sight of the present day bridge on the Newberry side. Other family members are buried here also. You can see the Higgins cemetery from the road. It is aout 50 ft. into the woods.

Recorded by Dot Bradley, Dwayne Black, & Mary B. Parkman.
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Joel ABNEY left a will dated 3 February 1811 in Edgefield District, South Carolina. "I, Joel Abney, being very sick, and knowing the uncertainty of life, do make and constitute this my Last Will and Testament..." Appointed his wife, Elizabeth Abney, sole executor. After disposing of his just debts his property was to be distributed equally among his children "on their severally arriving at the age of manhood or my daugther's marrying. My children being as follows. Viz. Narassi Abney, Elmina Abney, Elijah P. Abney, Mark M. Abney, Charlotte E. Abney, and Azariah L. D. Abney." He asked that his sister-in-law Miss Charlotte Pope have an equal share of the estate with his children "provided she shall throw in as an addition to my estate all her personal property at its real value..." "I also wish her to live in my family and keep her negroes in the family, clear of all expense or charge, as long as she remains single. To enjoy all the benefits and advantages of my family as usual." In the event his wife remarried she was to receive and equal share with his children and Miss Pope, or else one third of his estate. Upon her death her share to be equally divided among his children and Miss Pope. He also appointed his wife administrix to the estate of Thomas Hogan, deceased, and Walter Abney executor of the estate of William Rubard, deceased, of which cases he was currently administrator. He left to Joel Abney, Son of his brother Azariah Abney, one hundred dollars when he reached twenty-one. Joel Abney (seal). Witnesses: Azariah Abney, William Coleman, and W. Bodhun. Recorded 16 May 1816.6

Joel ABNEY died on 14 February 1816 in Edgefield District (now Saluda County), South Carolina, at age 41. According to his wife, he came into the house one day and said, "Fix me a bed, I am dying" and he was dead in a few minutes. She died within a year or two thereafter.7,8 He was buried in Nathanel Abney Cemetery, near Newberry.