Abiel Jenners
was born 5 January 1774 in Concord, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. His parents were David Jenners and Sarah
Buttrick. The Buttricks were an old
Middlesex County family and I will post more about them at some point. David Jenners is one of our mysteries. I have found Abiel’s name spelled “Abial” and
his surname spelled “Janners” and “Jenner.”
On 16 March
1789, Abiel appeared before a local justice of the peace, Ephraim Wood, and
requested that Joseph Buttrick be named his guardian. Abiel was 15 years old. I suspect that the Joseph Buttrick named as
his guardian was his maternal grandfather.
He did, however, have an uncle named Joseph Buttrick who this might have
been; that uncle Joseph was only 20 years old in 1789, so I believe Abiel’s
guardian was his grandfather. On 9 April
1789, Joseph Buttrick, Willard Meriam, and Nathan Barrett filed a bond with
Oliver Prescott in Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, related to Joseph acting as
Abiel’s guardian. Joseph was named as
principal and Willard and Nathan were listed as ‘surety.’ On these documents, Abiel’s father, David, is
named and noted as having “absconded.”
According to
family documents, Abiel moved from Concord to Washington City (now D.C.) in
June 1795 when he was 21 years old.
On 17 May
1796, Abiel married Deborah Young in Washington City. The "Washington
Gazette" for 11-15 June 1796 says, "Married...
May 17, Mr. Abial Jenners, to Miss Deborah Young." Deborah was the daughter of William Young
and Ruth Jackson.
Abiel and
Deborah’s first child, Martin, was born 25 April 1797 in Washington City.
A few
references have been found to Abiel in Washington City. In July 1797, there was mail waiting for him
at the post office. In September 1797,
Abiel turned a mulatto man over to the sheriff of Prince George’s Co.,
Maryland.
Abiel and
Deborah’s second child, William Morduit Jenners, was born 9 November 1798 in
Washington City.
In January
1799, a letter from Concord, Massachusetts was waiting at the post office for
Abiel.
On 25 April 1800, the following notice appeared in a Washington
newspaper: "Taken up as a
Stray and brought before me by Abiel Jenners, a bay mare her legs, main [sic]
and tale [sic] black, no visible Mark or brand shod before, about four years
old and thirteen hands high. - Com
Coningham Enrolled April th 28th 1800."
On 3 June 1800, a daughter, Sarah, was born to Abiel and Deborah.
Abiel and his
family were living in Washington at the time of the 1800 Federal Census. The following individuals were listed in the
household: 2 males under ten (probably Martin, age 3, and William, age 2); 1
male between 16 and 26 (probably Abiel, age 26); 1 female under ten (probably
Sarah, age less than a year); 1 female between 26 and 45 (probably Deborah, age
27) and three slaves.
These slaves were probably Juda, Flora, and Jeffry, the three slaves
named in the indenture dated 12 December 1800 between Abiel and his widowed
mother-in-law, Ruth (Jackson) Young.
Abiel owed Ruth $800 and he deeded the three slaves, a horse, and a cow
to Ruth in payment of the debt. The
indenture reads:
"This
Indenture made this twelfth day of December in the year of our Lord eighteen
hundred by and between Abiel Jenners of the City of Washington of the one part
and Ruth Ann Young Adimistratrix of the Estate of William Young deceased of the
other part. Whereas the said Abiel
Jenners did some time ago receive and order from the said Ruth Ann Young upon
the Commissioners of the City of Washington which was accepted and paid to the
said Abiel amounting to the sum of Two Thousand two hundred and twenty two
Dollars and whereas a part thereof to with the sum of eight hundred Dollars
remains unaccounted for by the said Abiel and is now due from him to the said
Ruth Ann Young. Now for securing to her
the said sum of Eight hundred Dollars in manner herein after mentioned This
Indenture Witnesseth that the said Abiel Jenners for and in consideration of
the previous [?] and of the further sum of five shillings to him in hand paid
by the said Ruth Ann Young the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged Hath
given Granted bargained and sold and by these presents doth give grant bargain
and sell to her the said Ruth Ann Young one negro woman named Flora and her two
Children named Juda a Girl and Jeffry a boy One Grey Horse bought of Timothy
Beane and one red Cow with a white face.
To have and to hold the Same negroes Horse and Cow to her the said Ruth
Ann Young her Executors Administrators and Assigns to Her and their Sole use
and [unreadable word] for ever - provided that if the said Abiel Jenners, his
executors or Adminsitrators shall well and truly pay or cause to be paid unto
the said Ruth Ann Young her Executors, Administrators or assigns the aforesaid
sum of eight hundred Dollars with all lawful Interest due thereon in one year
from the date hereof then the foregoing Indenture to be null and Void,
otherwise to be in full force and Virtue in Law. In Witness Whereof the said Abiel Jenners has
hereunto set his hand and seal the day and year first herein before written.
Sign'd Seal'd and deliver'd
in
the presence of
Abiel Jenners {seal}
Richar'd
Spalding [?]
L.
Amariah Frost
On
the Back of which Bill of Sale was there endorsed to wit
City
of Washington December 12th 1800. Received of
Ruth Ann Young five shillings in full for the consideration of the writing
Bill of Sale
Witness
Rich'd
Spalding
Amariah
Frost
Abiel Jenners
Prince
Georges County to wit on the Twelfth day of December 1800 before me the
subscriber one of the Justices of the peace for Prince Georges County came
Abiel Jenners within named and acknowledged the within Indenture to be his act
and Deed
Acknowledged before
Amariah Frost
Enrolled
December 30th 1800"
On 27 June 1801, Abiel and Deborah’s daughter, Sarah, died. She was a year old. Her grave has not been found.
In January 1802, Abiel moved his family to the Broad Run area of
Loudoun Co., Virginia and settled on a farm he named “Concord Farm.” This “plantation” was located along Broad Run
and Horsepen Run in southeastern Loudoun Co. and consisted of 638 acres. If I am correct, this land was near what is
now Dulles Airport.
In May of 1802, Abiel petitioned the county regarding a road near his
farm: "Loudoun Co., VA Road Case #127
Loudoun
County [unreadable] May the 11th 1802 -
On the Petition of Abiel Jenners It is Ordered that James Coleman Jr., Johnson
Cleveland, Alexander Young and William Horseman or any three of them being
first qualified before some Justice of this County do view the most convenient
way for turning the ox road from the ford of Broad Run to the So. Side of his
plantation and make Report thereof to the Court the conveniences and
inconveniences that may attend the same.
Teste
C Binns Clk
In
Obedience to an Order from the county Court of Loudoun to us Directed for
Viewing a way to Turn the Ox Road, We being first Sworn are of Opinion that the
way shown to us by Abiel Jenners is Nearer and as good or better Ground for a
Road than where the Road Runs at present the way shown to us was Beginning at
the Old Ford on the South Side of Broad Run then leaving the Old Road to the
Right Crossing a Small Branch at About 12 or 15 poles and so on Nearly a
Straight course to the South part of Mr. Jenners Plantation into the Old Road.
Given
under Hands the 4th Day of December 1802.
Johnston
Cleveland
Alexander
Young
William
Horseman.
Loudoun
&tc
The
within Commissioners were Qualified before me according to the law given under
my hand the day & year aforesaid John
Lyons"
[written
across paper *for Abiel Jenners*]
Jenners,
Abiel
for
a Road
1803
July the 11
returned
and ordered to be established accy"
From looking on the map near the area where I believe Abiel’s land was,
I see that current day Rt. 606 is also called “Old Ox Road.” I suspect this is the road under discussion
in the above document.
On 23 July 1802, a son, David, was born on Abiel’s farm near Broad Run
in Loudoun Co., Virginia.
On 9 May 1803, a deed for two lots of land consisting of about 633
acres was recorded between Abiel Jenners and Ferdinando Fairfax. Abiel paid $7,000 for this land. I will not include the full deed here, but it
refers to land along Broad Run and Horse Pen Run that adjoins land owned by
Thomas Marshall, William Horseman, and John Janney.
On 16 March 1804, a daughter was born to Deborah and Abiel. They named her Sarah Y. Jenners.
By 1805, Abiel had moved again.
This time to “Hamilton Farm” near Paolian Springs, near Waterford, in
Loudoun Co. In April 1805, a deed was
recorded showing Abiel purchasing 358 acres from John Hamilton and his wife,
Winifred. A deed of trust between Abiel
and Deborah, Robert Braden, John Littlejohn and Charles Binns, guaranteed that
Abiel would pay the $7,177 for the land within three years. The land adjoined William Fox, James Rice,
Robert Braden, and Charles Bennett.
According to local sources, this piece of land is located along Rt. 662
between Rt. 9 and Waterford and is now called “Hedgeland Farm.”
On 29 April 1805, Abiel bought fire insurance for his house and barn
from the Mutual Assurance Society. The
house was insured for $600 and the barn for $1200.
A deed dated 11 June 1806 indicates that Abiel sold Hamilton Farm to
Samuel Brook for the same amount he paid ($7,177). However, other indications are that the
family was still living on Hamilton Farm for a few years after 1806.
On 19 February 1807, Deborah gave birth to twins: a son who died at
birth and was not named and a daughter, Mary Dulin Jenners.
On 21 March 1807, Abiel wrote the following note which is
apparently in his own handwriting:
"To the Clerke of Loudoun County,
Sir, you will please to strike of the suit against Mr. John Virt in Chancery to
stay money in John McIlhoney's hands as we have settled the business and the
money is going to him. Test - George
Crop. Abiel Jenners”
In 1808, an
indenture was filed by Robert Braden, John Littlejohn and Charles Binns
releasing Abiel from the deed of trust that guaranteed his purchase of Hamilton
Farm. He had paid them what he owed and
the farm was now his.
On 26 June 1809,
Deborah gave birth to another set of twins: a son who died at birth and was not
named and another son, Saurin Jenners.
On 1 February
1810, Abiel was named executor in the will of Stiles Jackson in Loudoun
County. I have not yet determined how
Stiles might be connected to Abiel, but I do know that his mother-in-law ‘s
maiden name was Jackson, so that may be the connection. Stiles left a widow, Elizabeth, and a minor
son, John. Abiel was named John Jackson’s
guardian.
In June 1810,
Abiel attended the estate sale of Joseph Braden, Sr. and purchased a drawing
knife.
While there are
plenty of documents placing Abiel in Loudoun Co., Virginia in 1810, I have not
found him on the federal census for that year.
His name appears on many county documents as a witness or a party to the
proceedings during this time.
On 15 January
1811, a son, Alba, was born on Hamilton Farm in Loudoun County.
On 18 April
1813, Abiel and Deborah’s youngest child, Ann, was born.
On 25 March
1815, Abiel was named one of 12 directors of the Loudoun Company, the first
bank formed in Loudoun Co. at a meeting held at Joseph Talbott's tavern on Main
Street in Waterford, Virginia. On 24 November
1815, at a meeting of the Loudoun Company directors, Abiel was appointed to
meet a deputation in Winchester on 27 November 1815 to prepare a petition to
the Virginia legislature regarding a charter for the bank. On 26 January 1816, Abiel was one of the
directors appointed to examine the books and accounts of the Loudoun Company. And on 28 September 1816, Abiel was
re-elected as a director of the Loudoun Company.
In December 1816, he was one of the men appointed to appraise the
property of Joseph Braden, Jr. after Joseph’s death.
On 14 December 1819, Abiel was one of the men named to settle a dispute
over land between William and Jane (Caldwell) Wright and Jane’s brother, Moses
Caldwell.
On the 1820 census, Abiel is found with his family outside Waterford in
Loudoun Co., Virginia. The household
included 18 slaves.
In February 1820, Abiel was named administrator of the estate of
Stephen Ball. And in 1821, he was named
executor of the estate of John McGeath.
In March 1821, Abiel vouched for his son, David’s milling business in an
advertisement in the Genius of Liberty.
In November 1821, Abiel bought William Wright’s farm from William’s
heirs. The following advertisement
appeared in the Leesburg newspaper, "Genius
of Liberty," on 18 December 1821:
"WILL BE SOLD, To the highest
bidder, On Saturday, the 29th Inst. in the town of Waterford, THE FIVE SLAVES,
belonging to the estate of Wm. WRIGHT, deceased, and consisting of three males
and two females. Terms of sale will be
60 days credit. Abiel Jenners, and
Samuel Paxson, Administrators. Dec. 18,
1821. -- 69ts."
David Jenner's
memoirs state, "1822... this year
father built the house at the Rite's place and lived there one year..." The Wright farm was apparently located just
north of Waterford.
According to the account book of
an unidentified Waterford merchant, Abiel Jenners made the following
transactions during 1822-23:
16
April 1822 "1 pr shoes returned, 4 3/4 yds cotton;"
6
Feb 1823 "1 lb nails;"
12
Feb 1823 "6 yds cotton, 1/2 lb yarn #14, 1 pr specticles (sic), 1 nest?
ceder (sic) ware per wife;"
15
Feb 1823 "1 pr snuffers?, 1/2 lb cotton yarn;"
26
Feb 1823 "1/2 lb cotton yarn returned;"
28
Feb 1823 "1/4 yd silk, silk th'd;"
15
March 1823 "1 bottle spirits turpentine;"
24
March 1823 "12 lb nails;"
26
March 1823 "6 lb nails;"
28
March 1823 "to James Higdon's note $20;"
2
April 1823 "8 lb nails;"
3
April 1823 "14 lb nails;"
29
April 1823 "4 3/4 yds cotton per wife;"
29
April 1823 "to Asa Brown $2.50;"
9
June 1823 "1/2 yd Jaconete (?) muslin, 1/2 lb roll brimstone;"
2
August 1823 "2 oz Indigo, 1 box pins, 1/2 pr ditto per wife;"
11
August 1823 "iron furnished Powell Shry $10;"
27
August 1823 "cr Ben Kins $4.23;"
24
Sept 1823 "1 yd book muslin, 1 pr gloves per Salley."
On 15 February 1824, Abiel wrote his will. It follows:
"I Abiel Jenners of Loudoun
County do make this my last will in manner following. First as soon after my decease as the Crops
on hand are taken care of, I will and direct that all my Personal property
including Slaves shall be sold on the Usual Terms of such sales Reserving
however to my beloved Wife Deborah all the furniture about the house and
provisions such as the land produces to keep her one year. this I give to do with as she pleases. And for the payment of my Debts I will first
the sale of the sale of the farm I bought of George Tavner [?] and if that and
the money owing to me and the sale of the Personal property will not pay off my
Debts, the land I bought of William Wright's heirs must be sold but if it will
sell for as much as will pay up by reserving my Wife her life Estate in it to
be sold in that Way and give her the life Estate in it. And Further I hereby give her all and every
part and parcel of my Estate that shall be left after the payment of my
Debts. And if anything is left after her
decease I give it to my five youngest children having given the three Eldest
One Thousand Dollars each heretofore.
Lastly I do hereby appoint my Worthy Friend John Braden my Executor to
carry this my Will into effect empowering him to make all conveyances for My
lands and further I hereby empower him or either of my sons to make or complete
any conveyances to land that I have been concerned in in any way. My Executor is to sell my Ninth share in the
Farm belonging to the heirs of Michel Cooper deceased. Michel of Whom I bought it will make
conveyance to the purchaser. Given under
my hand and seal this 15th day of February in the year of our Lord 1824. Abiel Jenners {Seal}
At
a court held for Loudoun County October 11th, 1824 a Paper purporting to be the
last Will and Testament of Abiel Jenners deceased was presented to the Court
and proved to be in the hand writing of Abiel Jenners dec'd by the oaths of
Rich. H. Henderson, Thos Marlon and John H. McCabe and ordered to be recorded
and on the notice of John Braden the Executor therein named who made oath
therein according to Law, Who together with John Wright and Robert Braden his securities
entered into and acknowledged their Bond in the penalty of Thirty Thousand
Dollars conditioned according to Law. A certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form. A Copy Teste C Binns, Cl[erk]"
On 13 April 1824, Abiel’s daughter, Sarah (Sally), married Jonathan
Bradfield at the family home on the Wright Farm in Loudoun Co., Virginia.
On 6 May 1824, Abiel was one of the signers of a petition of Waterford
area residents regarding flour prices.
On 10 May 1824, Abiel witnessed two deeds for Robert Braden which
provided land for Robert’s sons, Noble and Burr. Burr would later marry Abiel’s daughter,
Mary.
Abiel Jenners died at 6 p.m. on his farm near Waterford, Loudoun Co.,
Virginia, on 26 September 1824. He was
50 years old. He was buried in Waterford
Union Cemetery. There is no date on Abiel's
tombstone. His tombstone reads: "In Memory of Abiel Jenners, What tho
no Sculptur'd Monument thy Virtues Scan
O Earth, thou never didst contain a better Man".
The following notice appeared in
the "Genius of Liberty,"
October 5, 1824 (Tuesday): "Abiel Jenners departed this life on
first day (Sunday) evening about 6 o’clock on the 26th ultimate in the 52 year
of his age. He was born at Concord in
the state of Massachusetts and emigrated when a young man to the city of
Washington at which place he married Deborah Young, a native thereof, and
removed with his family to this county in 1802, where he has resided ever
since. He was a very industrious and
skilled farmer, a kind neighbor and useful citizen having served for several
years in the station of a magistrate, with reputation to himself and advantage
to the neighborhood. Sensible as the
loss of such a man is felt by a community, it is in the domestic circle and in
the bosom of his own family that that loss is irreparable. He was a kind husband and very affectionate
father and spared no expense within the limits of his circumstances (which were
not inconsiderable) to educate and provide for his children. Long will they mourn his loss; but there is
one who has promised to be a husband to the widow and a father to the
fatherless, if they put their trust in him.
Let not therefore, the afflicted mourn as those without consolation."
 |
| "Genius of Liberty" Leesburg, VA, 5 Oct 1824, pg 3 |
In November 1824, an inventory of Abiel’s estate listed as property:
"1
black woman (Hannah), 1 black man (Lige), 1 man (Cupid), 1 man (Sam), 1 man
(Thornton) considered an encumbrance." One other slave has
been identified, a Lewis Berry, who ran away from his new master in June 1826.
On 2 November 1824, the
following ad appeared in the local newspaper, "The Genius of Liberty:" "Loudoun
Land for Sale Will be offered for sale on
the 18th November inst. on the premises all the real estate of the late Abiel
JENNERS. This property is situate within
a mile of the town of Waterford on the road leading from thence to Nolands
Ferry and consists of Two Tracts of Land
Adjoining: The one containing one
hundred and ten acres to which is attached a mountain Wood Lot of thirty acres,
distant about one mile. The buildings upon this tract, are of the most
commodious kind, the Mansion House having, upon the lower floor, four rooms,
and upon the second five lodging chambers together with all necessary out
houses. Besides a very good Orchard
there were planted out last fall one hundred fruit trees of the first
character, all of which are in a flourishing condition. A large portion of the tract is enclosed with
a stone fence--it is at present in a highly improved condition from the
application of plaster and clover. Within thirty steps of the door there is a
large and never failing spring of the purest water. The other tract contains one hundred and
sixty acres, a very large proportions of which is finely timbered--This tract
is also in a high stage of improvement at present. There was strewed upon a portion of this
land, summer before last, about one thousand bushels of lime, the advantage of
which is now beginning to develop itself in a very striking manner. A large
portion of this tract is also inclosed [sic] with a stone fence. The buildings
are good--fine water--an excellent orchard, and abundance of good meadow land
well taken in timothy. There have been
sown down this fall, upon the two pieces, one hundred acres of small
grain. These farms will be sold together
or separate to suit purchasers. the
terms--one third of the purchase money in hand, and the balance in one, two,
three, and four years. There will be offered for sale at the same time, A Lot
Of two or three acres upon which is a good log Dwelling and Stables, adjoining
the large tract above described. Also
one-ninth share of a Tract of Land Of which Michael COOPER died seized, situate
in the German Settlement. The Personal Property will be offered for sale upon
the same day, among which are NINE shares of Stock in the Ashby Gap Turnpike.
[placed by] John BRADEN, Executor"
The sale took place on 18 November 1824.
John Braden was still filing accountings regarding Abiel’s estate in
Loudoun County as late as June 1832.
