William Charles Preston Abney (1897 - 1953)

Born 15 Oct 1897 in Montmorenci, Aiken, South Carolina, United States

Descendants

Died 1 Feb 1953 at age 55 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States

Biography

William Abney is a part of US Black heritage.

William Charles Preston Abney was born in Montmorenci, Aiken, South Carolina. His birth year is seen variously between 1895 and 1899. He was the son of Mark Abney, b. 1869; and Mary Gibson, b. 1874. His parents were born in Edgefield, Edgefield, South Carolina. ^{[1] [2]}

In 1900, the Abney family lived on their rented farm in Shaws Township, Aiken, South Carolina. The family included Mark Abney, 31, born Jan. 1869 in South Carolina (parents b. SC), a farmer, who could not read or write; his wife of ten years, Mary, 26, b. Jan 1874 in SC (parents b. SC), a farm laborer, who had had three children, all of whom were living, and who could read and write; their children, all b. SC: John, 9, b. Feb. 1891; Juanita, 7, b. Feb. 1893; and (William) Preston, 5, b. Nov. (Oct.) 1895. ^[3]

On 5 June 1917 in Augusta, Richmond, Virginia, William Abney, 29, a resident of Augusta, GA, registered for the WWI draft. He was born 15 Oct. 1896 in Montmorenci, South Carolina. William worked as a butler for Mr. D.F. Jack, of Augusta, GA. William was single, short, of medium build, with brown eyes and black hair. ^[4]

William C.P. Abney, 15 Oct. 1895 - 1 Feb. 1953, died in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan. His last residence was 6064 Hartford Ave., Detroit, Michigan. He was a WWI veteran, and served as a Private in 51st Co., 157 D.B., from 17 July 1918 to 3 Dec. 1918. ^[5]

M1) William Abney, 24 (1896 SC), the son of Mark Abney and Mary Gibson; and Rose M. Young, 27, born in Georgia, the daughter of Jasper and AquillanYoung, were married on 14 February 1920 in Hamtramck, Wayne. Michigan. ^[6]

M2) William Abney, 26 (1899 SC), the son of Mark Abney and Mary Gibson; and Bessie Waters, 18 (1907 Tennessee), the daughter of Ernest Waters and Mattie Cowans, were married on 9 June 1925 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan. ^[7]

n 1930, the Adney family lived in their rented house on Kendall Avenue in Highland Park, Wayne, Michigan. Their rent was $35 per month. The household included William Abney, 32, born in South Carolina (parents b. SC), an auto factory laborer, and not a veteran; his wife, Bessie, 23, born in Tennessee (parents b. TN); their children, all born in Michigan, William, 3; Clara M., 2; and Mamie L, an infant. Also living with them were roomers, Howard and Doris McA——-. ^[8]

In 1940, they lived at 20030 Greenlawn Street in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan. They owned their home, valued at $700. The family included William Abney, 42, who worked in an auto plane foundry, who worked 26 weeks in 1939, earning $1500, and who had completed the seventh grade; his wife, Bessie, also completed the seventh grade; their ten children, all born in Michigan, William, Jr., 15; Clara, 12; Mamie, 10; Norman, 9; Marjorie, 8; Johnny, 5; Ernestine, 4; Etterline, 4; Robert, 3; and James, 1. They had lived in Detroit for at least five years. ^[9]

In 1950, the Abney family lived in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan. They had lived in the same house for at least one year. The entire household income for the previous year was $1000. The household included William Abney, 42, born in South Carolina; his wife Bessie, 42, born in Tennessee, who had earned $85 in 1949; their children, all born in Michigan, Mamie, 20, a grocery clerk; Norman, 19, a grocery clerk; Marjorie, 18; Phebe, 17; Ernestine, 14; Etterline, 14; Robert, 13; James, 11; and David, 9. ^[10]

His wife: Bessie (Waters) Abney, 1907-1965, Burial: Unknown. Their children:

1. Bishop William Charles Preston Abney, Jr., 1926-2007, buried in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
2. Mamie L. (Abney) Braden, 1929-2015, buried in Cascade Township, Kent, MI.
3. Norman Charles Abney, 1930-2014, buried un Cascade Township, Kent, MI.
4. Robert M. Abney, 1936-2010, burial: unknown. (Source: Find a Grave Memorial ID 173542065 for Bessie Waters Abney, with links to children)

William Abney and Bessie Waters are mentioned in the death records of their children:

1. Johnny Abney, nine years of age, died in 1944 in Lapeer, Lapeer, Michigan. ^[11]
2. Eleanor Jeannette Abney, one day old, in died 1943 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan. ^[12]
3. Clara Mae (Abney)Hendrick, b. 1928 Detroit, Michigan; d. 2006 ^[13]
4. William C. Abney, Jr., b. 1926 Detroit, Michigan; d. 2007. ^[14]
5. Phebe Etta (Abney) Marshall, b. 1933 Detroit, MI; d. 1990. ^[15]

research notes

He is not listed on FindAGrave as of Oct. 2023.

Sources

1. ↑ "South Carolina, Delayed Birth Certificates, 1766-1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2RD-3FB7 : 17 March 2018), William C P Abney, 1897; citing Birth Registration, Montmorenci, Aiken, South Carolina, United States, 27-1636, South Carolina Department of Archives & History, Columbia; FHL microfilm 1,573,950.
2. ↑ FamilySearch Person: LT3K-JNB
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1900", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3R3-3X3 : Sun Sep 17 08:57:02 UTC 2023), Entry for Mark Abney and May Abney, 1900.
4. ↑ "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZZQ-WMP : 29 December 2021), William Abney, 1917-1918.
5. ↑ "United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP8C-6NZG : 3 September 2021), William C Preston Abney, 3 Dec 1918; citing Military Service, NARA microfilm publication 76193916 (St. Louis: National Archives and Records Administration, 1985), various roll numbers.
6. ↑ "Michigan Marriages, 1868-1925," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N31M-L25 : 18 February 2021), William Abuey and Rose M. Young, 14 Feb 1920; citing Marriage, Hamtramck, Wayne, Michigan, , Citing Secretary of State, Department of Vital Records, Lansing; FHL microfilm 4210094.
7. ↑ "Michigan Marriages, 1868-1925," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NQ7K-342 : 18 February 2021), William Abney and Bessie Walters, 9 Jun 1925; citing Marriage, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, , Citing Secretary of State, Department of Vital Records, Lansing; FHL microfilm 4001716.
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X73S-PGX : accessed 15 April 2022), William Abney, Highland Park, Wayne, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 978, sheet 18B, line 54, family 259, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1073; FHL microfilm 2,340,808.
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KH9B-CM1 : 10 January 2021), William Aliney, Detroit Ward 16, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 84-1055, sheet 10B, line 80, family 216, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 1871.
10. ↑ "United States 1950 Census", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6FS6-KJ5X : Tue Oct 03 12:39:17 UTC 2023), Entry for James Abney and David Abney, 10 April 1950.
11. ↑ "Michigan Death Certificates, 1921-1952," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KF31-G9H : 13 March 2018), Bessie Waters in entry for Johnny Abney, 12 Mar 1944; citing Lapeer, Lapeer, Michigan, United States, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics, Lansing; FHL microfilm 1,972,840.
12. ↑ "Michigan Death Certificates, 1921-1952," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KFW8-RDW : 13 March 2018), Bessie Waters in entry for Eleanor Jeanette Abney, 10 Sep 1943; citing Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics, Lansing; FHL microfilm 1,972,906.
13. ↑ "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6KQ7-RG64 : 10 February 2023), Bessie Waters in entry for Gwendolyn Abney, .
14. ↑ "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6KQN-JKJZ : 10 February 2023), Bessie Waters in entry for William Abney, Jr, .
15. ↑ "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6KQH-L9KL : 10 February 2023), Bessie Waters in entry for Phebe Etta Abney, .