William J Abernathy (1832 - 1911)

Born 22 Dec 1832 in Jefferson County, Alabama, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Mary G Stewart — married 13 Feb 1868 in Pontotoc County, Mississippi, USA

Died 3 Jul 1911 at age 78 in Pontotoc County, Mississippi, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: L Adcox [send private message]

Biography

BIRTH / DEATH

William J Abernathy

Middle initial "J", per records of marriage, death, census

Possible middle name: Jackson, per undocumented source

Birth: Dec. 22, 1832, per cemetery headstone

Place of Birth: assume Jefferson Co. AL, based on the following:

1) Father William has 1830 & 1840 census in Jefferson Co. AL

2) Our William was born between 1830 & 1840 census.

3) Our William's own census records show born in Alabama

4) Possible place of birth: Calhoun Co. AL, per undocumented source

Death: Jul. 3, 1911, per cemetery headstone

Place of death: Pontotoc Co. MS, per burial and last census location

Find A Grave Memorial# 50531513 (headstone pictured)

William Jackson Abernethy

Inscription: W. J. Abernethy <-----

Birth: Dec. 22, 1832

Death: Jul. 3, 1911

Burial: Ware Cemetery, Woodland, Pontotoc Co. MS

Created by: Anonymous

Record added: Apr 01, 2010

Note: double-headstone with wife

PARENTAGE

William J Abernathy, son of William Abernathy

Circumstantial evidence for father:

1) The 1840 census of William (father) indicates a son the age of William.

2) William is 18 yrs old in 1850, and living with brother Starling

3) William's move from Jackson Co. AL, to Pontotoc Co. MS is consistent with the family group of William Abernathy.

William and his brother Starling, moved during the same time period (1840-1850) as other Abernathy families. These "other" families appear to be Abernathy siblings (children of William Abernathy). The assumption of siblings is based on their extremely close proximity to each other on 1850 census. Even though William and his brother Starling were not close to the Abernathy siblings in 1850, their move to Pontotoc Co. MS is consistent with this family group.

In addition, William's parents cannot be located in 1850 (assumed deceased), which is consistent with William living with older brother Starling.

MARRIAGE

Dodd, Jordan, Liahona Research, comp.. Mississippi Marriages, 1826-1900

Name: W. J. Abernathy

Spouse: M. C. Stewart

Marriage Date: 13 Feb 1868

Location: Pontotoc County, Mississippi

Wife: Mary G Stewart, daughter of Redmond Stewart and Mary

CENSUS / TIMELINE

1840 Census: Jefferson, Alabama, p.27

Name: William Abernathy

1 - Males - 10 thru 14: ....... [William] <-------

1 - Males - 50 thru 59: ....... [WILLIAM]

1 - Females - 5 thru 9: ....... [Amanda]

2 - Females - 10 thru 14: ... [Elizabeth and Martha]

1 - Females - 40 thru 49: ... [SARAH]

Total Free White Persons: 6

1840 census Notes:

Living next to brother: Richard Abernathy

184x: death of parents

1850 Census: Pontotoc, Mississippi, family #28

Sterling Abernathy ...... 40 ... NC … farmer … real estate $1000

Elizabeth Abernathy ... 33 ... AL

Mary Abernathy .......... 14 ... AL … attends school

Martha Abernathy ...... 12 ... AL … attends school

James Abernathy ........ 10 ... AL … attends school

Sarah Abernathy .......... 9 ... MS … attends school

John Abernathy ............ 2 ... MS

William Abernathy ..... 18 ... AL … farmer … attends school [brother] <-------

1860 Census: Summerville, Jackson, Calhoun, Arkansas, family#39

Moses Wood ...... 29 ... AL

Sallie Wood ........ 18 ... MS ... [maiden Abernathy, daughter of Sterling]

Martha Wood ...... 7 ... MS ... [step-daughter]

Lina Wood ............ 5 ... MS ... [step-daughter]

W J Abernethy .... 25 ... AL .... [uncle of Sallie/Sarah]

1868: marriage of William Abernathy and Mary C Stewart, in Pontotoc Co. MS

1870 ??? cannot locate census

1880 Census: Pontotoc, Mississippi, family#378

W. J. Abernathey ........ 46 ... AL,NC,NC ... farmer

M. C. Abernathey ....... 36 ... AL,SC,SC

M. M. Abernathey ...... 10 ... MS,AL,AL ... [Mary]

Redman Abernathey ... 8 ... MS,AL,AL ... [William]

J. M. Abernathey .......... 5 ... MS,AL,AL

B. S. Abernathey .......... 3 ... MS,AL,AL ... [Benton]

M. E. Abernathey ......... 1 ... MS,AL,AL ... [Mattie]

1900 Census: Beckham, Pontotoc, Mississippi, family#345

W J Abernathy ............. 66 ... AL,AL,AL ... Apr-1834 ... farmer, owns w/mortgage

Mary C Abernathy ...... 55 ... AL,SC,SC .... Jun-1844 ... 5 children, 5 living

William R Abernathy .. 27 ... MS,AL,AL ... Feb-1873 ... farmer

Benton Abernathy ..... 23 ... MS,AL,AL ... Oct-1876 ... farmer

Mattie Abernathy ....... 21 ... MS,AL,AL ... Dec-1878 ... school teacher

Annie Abernathy ........ 19 ... MS,AL,AL ... Dec-1880 ... student

John G Abernathy ...... 17 ... MS,AL,AL ... May-1883 ... farm laborer

1900 Census Notes:

Living close to family#349: nephew: R.B. Abernathy 49 MS, (son of Richard)

1910 Census: Beat 5, Pontotoc, Mississippi, family#52

William J Abernathy ..... 76 ... AL,AL,AL ... farmer, owns, free of mortgage

Mary C Abernathy ....... 64 ... MS,SC,SC ... 8 children, 6 living

William R Abernathy ... 36 ... MS,AL,SC

Jim Fitzpatrick .............. 16 ... MS,MS,MS ... black, hired hand

1910 Census Note:

6 children living: includes everyone except Mary, who died Jan 1910

1911: death of William Abernathy

1912: death of wife, Mary Stewart-Abernathy

CHILDREN

MARY M Abernathy:

1900 census: M M Abernethy 30 MS,MS,MS (cousin, single), Adair, Missouri

........ living in household of future husband and his 1st wife

1901 husband's 1st wife: Maggie Frances Abernethy(1866-1901)

1909 marriage estimated per birth of child

........ married 1st cousin John U Abernathy (son of James)

1910 burial: Mallie May Abernethy(1869-1910) - Find A Grave# 50530570

1910 census: John V Abernethy 54 MS,GA,SC (widowed), Quitman, Mississippi

1951 husband: John Uriah Abernathy(1856-1951) - Find A Grave# 41638273

........ double-headstone w/daughter Mary Antionette Arnold

J. M. Abernathy:

J.M. (son of William) should be living, per his mother's 1910 census "6 children living". I am not convinced that J.M. is Jim Mark. Cannot find anything that links Jim Mark Abernathy to Pontotoc MS (or surrounding area).

His in-laws were in Pelahatchie, Rankin Co, MS in 1880, and Hill Co, TX by 1900.

1900 census: Mark Abernathy 24 MS,NC,NC (single, border), Hill, Texas

1906 marriage: J M Abernathy, Mary Stingily, 04 Dec 1906, Hill, Texas

1910 census: J Mark Abernathy 34 MS,MS,MS, Mary 24 MS, Hill, Texas

1917 draft registration: Abernathy, Jim Mark, b.14 Nov 1874, live Hill Co. TX

1920 census: J Mark Abernathy 44 MS,MS,MS, Mary 34 MS, Hill, Texas

1930 census: J Mark Abernathy 55 MS,AL,MS, Mary L 44 MS, Hill, Texas

1940 census: Mark Abernathy 60 MS, Mary 53 MS, Hill, Texas

1953 death record for J M Abernathy, shows parents UNKNOWN

1953 burial: J. Mark Abernathy(1874-1953) - Find A Grave # 20253352

........ duplicate Find A Grave # 122783353

1968 wife's death record: Mary Abernethy, born Pelahatchie [Rankin Co.] MS

........ shows parents George W Stingily and Luticia Tibbs

1968 wife: Mary Stingily Abernethy(1886-1968) - Find A Grave # 121704627

........ duplicate Find A Grave # 20253372

Note: daughter is NOT Francis b. 29 Mar 1908, McLennan, TX (per birth record)

The Delayed Birth Record for Francis, has parents W T Abernathy, Flora Taylor

WILLIAM Redman/Redmond Abernathy:

Middle probably REDMOND, after maternal grandfather, Redmond Stewart.

1910 census: William R Abernathy 36 MS (single, w/parents), Pontotoc, MS

Cannot locate after 1910 census with parents.

Cannot locate 1917/18 draft registration (probably did not qualify)

Probably died 1914. Assume headstone is for "our" William.

Headstone says: W R Abernethy Feb 17 1872 - Apr 2 1914

Reference: William R. Abernethy(1872-1914) - Find A Grave# 50531415

Note: This burial is next to brother: John Gilbert Abernethy 1883 - 1939

BENTON Abernathy:

1910 census: Beuton S Abernethy 29 MS,MS,MS (single), Quitman, Mississippi

1913 marriage: to Elizabeth "Bessie" Jackson (estimated per birth of child)

1918 draft registration: Benton Sterling Abernethy, b.31 Oct 1876, live Quitman

1920 ???

1930 census: B S Abernathy 50 MS,MS,MS, Elizebeth 43 MS, Quitman, MS

1940 census: Berton Abernethy 63 MS, Bess 53 MS, Mississippi

........ next to sister Annie Abernethy age 58 single

1945 husband Benton S. Abernethy Sr (1876-1945) - Find-a-grave #50532502

1963 burial: Elizabeth Jackson Abernathy (1886-1963) - Find-a-grave #50532544

Note: Benton and his wife are named in their son's obituary on Find-a-Grave.

SON: Benton S Abernethy, Jr (1916-2005) - Find A Grave # 117422690

son's obit: "... his parents, Benton S. Abernethy Sr. and Elizabeth Jackson Abernethy ..."

MATTIE M Abernathy:

1906 marriage estimated per census in 1910 (married 4 years)

1910 census: Mattie A Harris 30 MS,MS,MS, J A 34 MS, Tallahatchie, MS

........ household includes single sister Annie

1920 census: Mattie Harris 41 MS,MS,MS, John A 46 MS, Tallahatchie, MS

1930 census: Mattie Harris 50 MS,MS,MS, John A 56 MS, Tallahatchie, MS

1940 census: Mattie Harris 60 MS, J A 65 MS, Tallahatchie, Mississippi

1952 burial: Mattie A Harris(1878-1952) - Find A Grave# 12180532

1959 husband: John A Harris(1873-1959) - Find A Grave# 12180530

ANNIE Abernathy:

1910 census: Annie Abernathy 28 MS,MS,MS (single) Tallahatchie, MS

........ living with married sister Mattie Harris

1920 ???

1930 ???

1940 census: Annie Abernethy 58 MS (single), Pontotoc, Mississippi

........ living next to brother Benton Abernathy

1965 burial: Annie Abernethy(1880-1965) - Find A Grave Memorial# 11060203

........ same cemetery as sister Mattie Harris

JOHN GILBERT Abernathy:

1910 ???

1917 draft registration: John Gilbert Abernethy, b. 28 May 1883, Webb Drug Co

........ nearest relative Mrs John A Harris [sister]

1920 census: John Abernathy 33 MS,NC,NC (single) Tallahatchie, MS

1939 death record: John Gilbert Abernethy, parents WJ Abernethy, Mary Stewart

1939 burial: John Gilbert Abernethy(1883-1939) - Find A Grave# 15307023

Sources