Starling G Abernathy (1809 - 1888)

Born 9 Oct 1809 in Lincoln County, North Carolina, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth Caroline (Ware) Abernathy — married 12 Feb 1835 in Jefferson County, Al

Descendants

Died 27 Feb 1888 at age 78 in Calhoun County, Arkansas, USA

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Biography

BIRTH

Starling G Abernathy, son of William Abernathy and Sarah M Rockett

Starling is spelled with "A" on official documents (deeds, estates, marriage)

Middle initial: G, per census records

Possible middle name Gibbs, per undocumented source

Birth: Oct. 9, 1809, per cemetery headstone

Place of Birth: assume Lincoln Co. NC, based on the following:

1) All of Starling's census records say born NC

2) Appears all Abernathy families in 1830-1840 Jefferson Co. AL, originated NC.

3) Majority of Abernathy families in 1800-1830 NC, were located in Lincoln Co.

DEATH

Death: Feb. 27, 1888, per cemetery headstone

Place of Death: Calhoun Co. AR, per last census and burial

Find A Grave Memorial# 90426357 (headstone pictured)

Sterling Abernathy, Sr

Birth: Oct. 9, 1809

Death: Feb. 27, 1888

Burial: Ricks Cemetery, Harrell, Calhoun County, Arkansas

Created by: macw

Record added: May 20, 2012 ^[1]

PARENTAGE

Starling G Abernathy, the assumed son of William Abernathy

Circumstantial evidence for William as father:

1) The 1830 census of William (father) indicates a son the age of Starling.

2) Starling is missing from father's 1840 census (makes sense for marriage).

3) Starling's 1850 household includes 18 yr old William (brother).

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

5) Starling's sister (Mary Abernathy) married wife's brother (Elam Ware).

6) Starling's move from Jackson Co. AL, to Pontotoc Co. MS is consistent with the family group of William Abernathy. Starling and his wife, 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 Starling and his wife were not close to the Abernathy siblings in 1850, their move to Pontotoc Co. MS is consistent with this family group.

In addition, Starling's parents cannot be located in 1850 (assumed deceased), which is consistent with Starling caring for his younger brother William in 1850.

MARRIAGE

1st Marriage:

ancestry.com, Dodd, Jordan R., comp.. Alabama Marriages, 1809-1920

Name: Starling Abernathy

Spouse: Elizabeth Ware

Marriage Date: 12 Feb 1835

Marriage Place: Jefferson

Surety/Perf. Name: Thomas D. Armstrong^[2]

1st wife: Elizabeth Ware, is daughter of George Ware and Ruth.

Children by 1st wife are:

Mary, Martha, James, Sarah, John, Samuel, Seleta, and Sterling

2nd wife: Agnes M Webb, is widow of George W Craven.^[3]

married between 1864 (death of 1st wife) and 1870 (census)

Children by 2nd wife are : Julian and Agnes

CENSUS / TIMELINE

1830 Census: Jefferson, Alabama, p.15

Name: Wm Abanathy

2 - Males - 5 thru 9: ........... [Robert and James]

1 - Males - 15 thru 19: ....... [Richard]

1 - Males - 20 thru 29: ....... [Starling] <-----------

1 - Males - 40 thru 49: ....... [WILLIAM]

2 - Females - Under 5: ....... [Elizabeth and Martha]

2 - Females - 15 thru 19: ... [Mary and Nancy]

1 - Females - 30 thru 39: ... [SARAH]

Total Free White Persons: 10

1830 Census Notes:

Living next to Samuel Abernathy (assumed B-in-law, the husband of Eleanor)

1835: marriage of Starling Abernathy to 1st wife, Elizabeth Ware

1840: sale of land, in Jefferson Co. Alabama, Jan-1840

1840 Census: Pontotoc, Mississippi, p.4

Name: Starling Abbunathy

1 - Males - Under 5: ........... [James]

1 - Males - 15 thru 19: ....... [?]

1 - Males - 30 thru 39: ....... [STARLING]

2 - Females - 5 thru 9: ....... [Mary and Martha]

1 - Females - 20 thru 29: ... [ELIZABETH]

Persons Employed in Agriculture: 3

Total Free White Persons: 6

Total Slaves: 1

Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves: 7

1840-1841: moved to Mississippi

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 of Sterling]

1860 Census: Pontotoc, Pontotoc, Mississippi, family#202

S G Abernathy ............. 50 ... NC … farmer, real estate $2000, personal $2000

Elizabeth Abernathy ... 42 ... AL

John S Abernathy ....... 12 ... MS … attends school

Saml C Abernathy ........ 8 ... MS … attends school

Sterling G Abernathy ... 6 ... MS … attends school

Saleta C Abernathy ...... 2 ... MS

1860 Census Notes:

Living next to family#200: Elizabeth's brother: James A Ware 56, Martha 39

Living next to family#203: Rufus T Abernathy 43 NC (not sure of relationship)

1860-1864: moved to Arkansas

1864: death of 1st wife Elizabeth Ware-Abernathy, burial in Calhoun Co. AR

186x: marriage of Starling Abernathy to 2nd wife, Agnes M Webb

1870 ???, cannot locate census

1880 Census: Jackson, Calhoun, Arkansas, P.12

S. G. Abbernathy ........ 70 ... NC,NC,NC

Agness Abbernathy ... 50 ... AL,SC,SC ... [2nd wife]

Jullian Abbernathy ..... 13 ... AL,NC,AL

Agness Abbernathy ... 11 ... AL,NC,AL

1888: death of Starling Abernathy

1900 Census: Franklin, Calhoun, Arkansas, family #130

Joe H Rowland ........... 43 ... AR,NC,AL ... Jun-1856 ...school teacher

Agnes A Rowland ...... 31 ... AR,AR,AR ... Jul-1868 ... m. 10 yrs, 4 children, 3 living

Nellie M Rowland ........ 7 ... AR,AR,AR ... Jul-1892

Lila E Rowland ............. 4 ... AR,AR,AR ... Apr-1896

Robert W Rowland ...... 2 ... AR,AR,AR ... Feb-1898

Ages M Abernathy .... 70 ... AL,AL,AL ... Nov-1829, mother-in-law, widowed <----

1909: death of 2nd wife, Agnes Webb-Craven-Abernathy

LAND DEED

Abstract Deed - Sale of Land in 1840

Jefferson County, Alabama

Grantor: Starling Abernathy

Grantee: John Bell

Written: January 5, 1840

Terms: two hundred dollars

Land: the South West quarter of the South East quarter of Section fourteen Township nineteen Range four West containing forty acres 20/100 of an acre

Source: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/jefferson/deeds/abernath56gdd.txt

Additional Comment: On all Jefferson County Alabama Probate records so far, whether deeds or estate papers, Starling's name is clearly spelled with an 'a'.

CHILDREN

MARY:

1852 marriage: Mary J. Abernathy, Moses Ward, Pontotoc Co. MS, 13 May 1852

1855-1857: death of Mary, per youngest child Lena(b.1855)

........ husband married her sister Sarah in 1857

Burial (no picture): Mary Jane Abernathy Wood - Find A Grave# 90443161

Burial husband: Moses Wood (1831-1880) - Find A Grave# 5724001

MARTHA:

1857 marriage: Martha E. Abernathy, Lovinski Ivy, Pontotoc Co. MS, 8 Jan 1857

1860 census: Martha E Ivy 22 AL, Lovinske 28 AL, Clark, Arkansas

1860-1870: death of Martha

1870 husband: Lovinski Ivy age 38 (widowed), Calhoun, Arkansas

JAMES:

1860: ???

1865 marriage: James Abernathy, Sarah Wood, Calhoun Co. AR, 24 Dec 1865

........ married 1st cousin; Sara is daughter of Mary Ann Ware-Wood

1870 census: Jas Abernatha 30 AL, Sallie 26 AL, Calhoun, Arkansas

1880 census: J H. Abbernathy 42 AL, Sallie 38 AL, Calhoun, Arkansas

Burial (no picture): James Harvey Abernathy - Find A Grave# 106251295

SARAH:

1857 marriage: Sarah M. Abernathy, Moses Wood, Pontotoc Co. MS, 3 Dec 1857

1860 census: Sallie Wood 18 MS, Moses 29 AL, Calhoun, Arkansas

.... 2 children Lena (b.1855) & Martha (b.1853) belong to sister Mary

.... household includes W J Abernathy 25 (Sarah's uncle - the brother of Sterling)

.... living next to Ainsworth family

1870: ???

Burial: Sarah Melvina Abernathy Wood Ainsworth - Find A Grave# 90443931

Burial husband: Moses Wood (1831-1880) - Find A Grave# 5724001

JOHN:

1867 marriage: John W Abernathy, S A Talbott, Calhoun Co AR, 17 Oct 1867

1870 census: Jno W Abernathy 23 MS, Annie 24 AR, Calhoun, Arkansas

1880 census: John Abernathy 32 MS, Sarah 31 AL, Calhoun, Arkansas

1900 census: John W Abernethy 52 MS, b.May 1848, widowed, Greer, Oklahoma

1929 burial: John W Abernethy - Find A Grave Memorial# 46139381

1882 burial (no picture): Sarah Ann Talbot Abernethy - Find A Grave# 73282844

1947 burial: Sallie Ann Talbot-Brown Abernethy - Find A Grave# 46139447

 ??? two wives named Sally Ann Talbot ???

SAMUEL:

1874 marriage: Samuel C Abernathy, Martha I Gray, Calhoun Co. AR, 22 Jan 1874

1926 Burial: Samuel Crawford Abernathy - Find A Grave Memorial# 81905895

1940 wife: Martha Jane Gray Abernathy - Find A Grave Memorial# 81905883

SELETA:

1873 marriage: Ann Salita Abernathy, Asa Smith, Calhoun Co. AR, 08 May 1873

1929 burial: Sceleta C. Abernathy Smith - Find A Grave Memorial# 47061793

........ obit included in find-a-grave

1926 husband: Asa Andrew Smith - Find A Grave Memorial# 112121775

STERLING:

1875 marriage: Sterling G Abernathy, Emma Smith, Calhoun, 08 Apr 1875

1931 burial: Sterling Gibbs Abernathy, Jr - Find A Grave Memorial# 90444421

JULLIAN (child by 2nd wife):

1919 burial: Julian Rockett Abernathy - Find A Grave Memorial# 90427595

1931 wife: Loula Lenora Martin Abernathy - Find A Grave Memorial# 90427722

AGNESS (child by 2nd wife):

1955 burial: Agnes Abernathy Rowland - Find A Grave Memorial# 5946423

1940 husband: Joel H Rowland - Find A Grave Memorial# 5946440

Research Notes

Slaves

• 1840: M, 10 thru 23
• 1850:
  • M, 47 (b. 1803), Black
  • F, 22 (b. 1828), Black
• 1860:
  • M, 35 (b. 1825), Black
  • M, 36 (b. 1824), Black
  • F, 30 (b. 1830), Black

Sources

1. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #90426357
2. ↑ Jefferson County Marriages Starling Abernathy & Elizabeth Ware, February 11, 1835.
3. ↑ Marriage: "U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900"
   Source number: 1367.000; Source type: Electronic Database; Number of Pages: 1; Submitter Code: VNK
   Ancestry Record 7836 #1402 (accessed 19 August 2023)
   Sterling Gibbs Abernathy marriage to Agnes Minerva Webb.

• "Into the Setting Sun," self-published genealogical study by Arvord Abernethy, Hamilton, Texas
• FamilySearch Person: KCX7-GQW
• 1840 Census: "1840 United States Federal Census"
  Year: 1840; Census Place: Pontotoc, Mississippi; Roll: 218; Page: 149; Family History Library Film: 0014842
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8057 #3245344 (accessed 19 August 2023)
  Starling Abbunathy in Pontotoc, Mississippi.
• 1850 Census: "United States Census, 1850"
  citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: M432; Line: 25; Digital film/folder number: 004200051_002_M9C8-QRQ; FHL microfilm: 443592; Image number: 4; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N01170-5
  FamilySearch Record: M4LF-M5Y (accessed 19 August 2023)
  FamilySearch Image: S3HY-6QX9-2QR
  Sterling Abernathy (40) in Pontotoc, Pontotoc, Mississippi, United States. Born in North Carolina.
• United States Census 1850 (Slave Schedule): "United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1850"
  citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: M432; Line: 30; Digital film/folder number: 004200059_005_M9C8-D9S; FHL microfilm: 443600; Image number: 40; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N01171-3
  FamilySearch Record: HRWM-CP2M (accessed 19 August 2023)
  FamilySearch Image: S3HT-XXXD-5H
  Sterling Abernathy, slave owner, in 1850 in Pontotoc, Pontotoc, Mississippi, United States.
• 1860 Census: "United States Census, 1860"
  citing Page: 31; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: M653; Digital film/folder number: 005170170; FHL microfilm: 803590; Image number: 35; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N01744-2
  FamilySearch Record: M6GC-NXK (accessed 19 August 2023)
  FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GBSC-8B5
  S G Abernathy (50) in Pontotoc, Mississippi, United States. Born in North Carolina.
• United States Census 1860 (Slave Schedule): "United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1860"
  citing Page: 17; Line: 7; Digital film/folder number: 005170182; FHL microfilm: 000803602; Image number: 505
  FamilySearch Record: WKLY-8F2M (accessed 19 August 2023)
  FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GBSC-LXC
  S G Abernathy, slave owner, in 1860 in Pontotoc, Mississippi, United States.
• 1880 Census: "United States Census, 1880"
  citing Volume: 2; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T9; Affiliate Line Number: 00070; Digital film/folder number: 005157257; FHL microfilm: 1254039; Image number: 539; Sheet number: 103; Sheet letter: D
  FamilySearch Record: MN7B-CRT (accessed 19 August 2023)
  FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9YBM-J2N
  S G Abbernathy (70), married, Farming, head of household in Jackson Township, Calhoun, Arkansas, United States. Born in North Carolina, United States.