Abner Casey (abt. 1700 - aft. 1790)

Born about 1700 in Ulster, County Tyrone, Ireland

Ancestors

Husband of Harriet (Green) Casey — married 1725 in Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland

Descendants

Died after 1790 after about age 90 in Newberry, Newberry, South Carolina, USA

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Tresia Bond [send private message], Carolyn Murray [send private message], Scott Grant [send private message], and Kari Holtz [send private message]

Biography

Abner Brooks Casey was born about 1700 in Ulster, County of Tyrone, Northern Ireland.
He was probably the son of John Nicholas Casey and his wife Sarah.

In about 1725 two brothers, Peter and Abner Casey came to America from Tyrone Co., Ireland, most likely to escape political and religious turmoil. This was during the reign of English King George I.
“In the reign (1714-27) of George I unfair rents, famine and crop failure drove more thousands of Irish to America.” ^[1]
Tyrone county was an Scots-Irish county in Northern Ireland. They witnessed much tension and fighting between the native Irish and the Scots immigrants from Scotland. The Caseys were probably native Irish since there were O'Caseys all over Ireland and not just in Northern Ireland.

In 1725 Abner was about 26 years old when he sailed to America. The boat docked at Baltimore and Abner and Peter settled in the colony of Maryland near Baltimore.

Marriage

By 1725, Abner married Harriet Green (1705-1786) (prob in Maryland, though it's possible he married before arriving in America).
Abner's wife was Harriet Green, a woman of Welsh descent. She immigrated from Wales. Her birth date is given as 1701 and sometimes 1716.
OR
She was born in Baltimore, MD about 1705.

About 5 years after arriving the brothers moved away.
Peter moved to Hampshire Co., (W)V in the 1730's where he married Mary Magdalea Dupuis and lived for the remainder of his life.

______________________________
ALTERNATE STORY:
Abner Brooks Casey born ca 1700 in Tyrone County, Northern Ireland came to the colonies with brother Peter Casey. He and Peter Casey left Ireland about 1738. He may have arrived at Baltimore, but he went to the Roanoke River area in Virginia and then to South Carolina, arriving before 1749.
Peter and Abner Casey were said to have settled in the colony of Maryland near Baltimore. They later moved to Hampshire County, West Virginia, where Peter Casey lived for the remainder of his life.
When Abner Casey and his family lived in the Roanoke River Valley of Virginia there was an abundance of fish and wild game and other natural resources were in abundance. They lived in the Valley until about 1748 when he and his family and other families of the community migrated to the western part of South Carolina and settled in Old District 96 in what now is Newberry and Spartanburg County in the colony of South Carolina.
There are problems with dates in this story. ______________________________

From “History of Jefferson County, Illinois”:
“The Casey family was and is the most numerous, perhaps, as well as the most prominent, of all the pioneer families of Jefferson County. Abner Casey, the progenitor of the family in America, was born in the County Tyrone, Ireland, and there, upon arriving at the years of maturity, married a Welsh lady, who, like himself, possessed great physical and mental powers. They emigrated to American somewhere about the middle of the eighteenth century and settled in Virginia, close neighbors to Edmond Randolph. Their children were all born while they lived on the Roanoke, and were Levi, Randolph and a daughter--Randolph being named for their illustrious neighbor.” ^[2]
The Randolphs were a prominent family in Virginia. However, the famous Edmund Randolph was born in 1753, several years after Randolph Casey was born in 1737. Edmund’s father was John Randolph, a cousin of Thomas Jefferson. John was a Loyalist but his son Edmund was a patriot. John’s father, also John Randolph, died in 1737, so perhaps that was who Randolph Casey was named for.

Move to Virginia

Abner moved first about 200 miles SW to Virginia and settled on the James River (possibly near Lynchburg, VA), then soon afterwards moved about 50 miles SW to the Roanoke River Valley (near present Roanoke, VA), where they stayed until about 1760. Most of their children were born here.
The Roanoke Valley is about twenty miles long, from the Roanoke River gorge near Virginia's Explore Park in the east to Shawsville in the west, and as much as ten miles wide around Roanoke City though the width is closer to five miles in most areas.^[3] "The first European settlers ventured into the valley around 1740; they were primarily Scotch-Irish immigrants."^[4] Settlement around Roanoke was sparse until after the French & Indian War ended in 1763.
Abner and Harriet Green Casey had eight sons and one daughter between the years of 1726 and 1760. They are also shown as having five slaves before moving to Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Move to South Carolina

the family moved to Spartanburg, SC and settled in Old District 96 which is now Newberry and Spartanburg counties in South Carolina. “They family moved to South Carolina about the year 1760 (or 1748) and settled in Old district 96 (which is now Newberry and Spartanburg counties), located near Spartansburg, where they lived until after the close of the Revoluntionary war. They were stanch patriots and bore an active and honorable part in the war for liberty and independence...”

From “A History of Newberry County, SC”:
p. 62 - “First grand jury drawn consisted of . . . Abner Casey . . .”
p. 65 - list of justices of peace 1791-1800 included Abner Casey ^[5]

SC State Records
1770, Apr 18 - Abner Casey, plat for 100 acres in Berkley County, (Broad River, Enoree River, Saluda River)^[6]

Abner Casey's Residences over time

• 1770, owned 100 acres, 96th District, Newberry County, South Carolina
• 1 Dec 1777, sold property to Levi Casey in South Carolina^[7]
• 1778, Miscellaneous Act No. 1123 - The Determination of Jury Lists for District Ninety-Six 79. The Jury Lists of South Carolina, 1778-1779, page 78 and 79 Page 78 shows his residence in the Middle Division between Broad and Saludy Rivers; page 79 lists name
• 1779, Ninety Six, Greenwood, South Carolina^[8]
• 1779, Ninety-Six District, no township listed ^[9]
• 1780, Ninety-Six District, Ninety Six District at Little River bottom, Broad and Saludy. Remarks: He is on "A List of Petit-Jury Men and Jury Men in Civil Causes" from "Little River between Broad & Saludy." ^[10]
• Before 1786, Age: 86 Newberry County, South Carolina Justice of the Peace. A list of Justices of the Peace of Newberry County, South Carolina from 1791-1800 included the name of Abner Casey. Abner was also on the first Grand Jury in that county.^[11]
• 1790, Newberry, South Carolina, USA
• 1800, an Abner Casey is listed with four households between him and John Casey in the Spartanburg District of South Carolina.^[12]
• Abner Casey was gifted a land grant in the uncharted territory of Kentucky for his service during the Revolutionary War as follows:

Grantee: Abner Casey

Number of Acres: 160

Township: S E Qr Sec 4

Range: T-3 R-3 E

Book Number: 1

Page number: 274^[13]

Death

Abner died After 1790 and before 1800. He was buried in the Casey Family Cemetery, Whitmire, Old 96 District now Newberry County, South Carolina, USA Plot: on family land near Whitmire.^[14] This Cemetery likely lost

He might be buried Whitemire Cemetery, Newberry, SC. The bounty maps show Abner to have land just south of Whitemire and it supposedly contains a lost Casey family cemetery on it with Abner and Harriet buried there. Levi owned land just SE of Abner's and some say the Casey cemetery was located there. Other brothers, John, Jesse & Randolph, also owned land in the same vicinity.

A family cemetery located on the land belonging to Abner Casey or one of his sons was in existence when Abner Brooks Casey died. The cemetery was on land near the Whitmire community in Old Ninety-Six District which is now Newberry County. The cemetery has long been lost along with all the souls buried there. It was named the Casey Family Cemetery and was located at Whitmire in Old 96 District. That is believed to be Abner Casey's final resting place.

Children

Abner had eight sons and one daughter between the years of 1726 and 1760.
OR
Abner Casey possibly married twice and had many sons and two known daughters. His known sons were: Jesse Bartholomew Casey, John Casey, Randolph Casey, James Casey, Benjamin Casey, Christopher (Columbus?) Casey, Levi Garrett Casey, Moses Casey and Aaron Casey. The known daughters are Sarah Casey and Nancy Casey.

It is believed that Harriet died in Old 96 District in South Carolina. Some researchers believe that Abner Brooks Casey had more than one wife, but no substantiation has been discovered; those researchers give a marriage date of around 1751.Harriet Green Casey's death date varies from one source to another, but is believed to be between 1786 and 1790.

1. Jesse Bartholomew Casey, b abt 1726 Baltimore, MD; m Phoebe Jane Holloway; d 1811 SC
2. John Casey, b 1727, Baltimore, MD; m Isabella Allison; d aft 1816, Spartansburg, SC
3. Benjamin Casey, b Jan 27, 1731, Anne Arundel, MD; (He was not the Benj. Casey who d Apr 14, 1779, Frederick Co, VA; that man was the son of Peter Casey;^[15] & perhaps also the man who m Julia Carson); this Benj was unmarried.
4. James Casey, b 1733, Roanoke Valley, VA; m Nancy ?; d Spartanburg, SC
5. Moses Casey, b 1735, prob James River; m Abigail Pennington
6. Sarah Casey, b 1735, prob James River; m Philip Trapnal (maybe)
7. Randolph Casey Sr, b ab5 1737, prob Roanoke Valley, Va; m Charity Pennington; d bef Nov 1814, Smith Co, TN
8. Christopher Casey, b 1740, Roanoke Valley, Va; m Sarah Smith; d Aug 2, 1840, prob Cole Co, MO
9. Gen. Levi Garrett Casey, b 1749, Roanoke, VA (or SC); m Elizabeth Duckett; d 1807 Washington, D.C.
10. Nancy Casey, b 1751, Roanoke (or SC); m Aaron? Pickett
11. Aaron Casey (no info)

Abner's sons, Benjamin, Levi and Randolph were in the Second Carolina Regiment under Col. Elijah Clark and fought in the Battle of King's Mountain. And served with Francis Marion "the Swamp Fox."

Abner Casey himself aided the cause and may have also seen service during the Revolutionary War. Abner's sons Randolph Casey, Benjamin Casey, Christopher Casey and Levi Casey all saw service during the Revolutionary War. Levi Garrett Casey rose in rank to Brigadier General and was one of the Overmountain Men who fought at the major battles including King's Mountain and Cowpens. Br Gen Levi Casey was close friends with and fought with many notables of the Revolutionary War. He became a legislator and a member of the Senate serving a number of terms after the war. He died at age 59 of a massive heart attack while serving in Washington City and had just been re-elected to serve another term.

The Casey family distinguished itself over the generations. Many of the Casey men served in the military. Others were senators, congressmen, and gave valuable service to the infant country of their choosing. There were notable people within the ranks of their heritage. Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) was one of Abner Brooks Casey's famous descendants through his son Benjamin Casey's lineage. (Benjamin Casey, William Casey, Margaret, Jane, Samuel Clemens). Levi Garrett Casey's wife Elizabeth Duckett Casey is considered a forgotten heroine of the Revolution as she provided supplies to the cause and has been inducted into the DAR as a patriot. No doubt, there are countless others who deserve recognition.

Descendants of Abner Brooks Casey through his son Jesse Bartholomew Casey. Pictured are William Casey and wife Missouri Cook Casey and their extended family.

The William and Missouri Casey homestead about 1900. L to R: Tisha Casey holding Roy, Ben Casey, Cora, Jim Hicks holding Mabel, Bertie, Button, Calvin, Jeff, Aunt Sis and Uncle Ben McKinney, Dock, Price, Lonnie, Missouri, and Mandy holding Edna. The children in front are Mack, Ralph, Alpha, Bertha, Manferd, and Claudia. The house, built before the Civil War, is still standing.^[16]

A study of the Old 96 District might be useful to genealogists; Levi Casey was appointed as one of the men to initially break up the huge district and make more manageable districts or counties:

The Old "Ninety-Six" District of South Carolina was created (original) in 1769 and was abolished in 1798. (The 96th District from 1785 to 1798 consisted of present day Union County) It consisted of (present-day)

Abbeville County (formed 1785)

Part of Abbeville County to Greenwood County (formed 1897)

Part of Abbeville County to McCormick County (formed 1916)

Edgefield County (formed 1785)

Part of Edgefield to Aiken County (formed 1871)

Part of Edgefield to Greenwood County (formed 1897)

Part of Edgefield to Saluda County (formed 1896)

Laurens County (formed 1785)

Newberry County (formed 1785)

Spartanburg County (formed 1785)

Part of Spartanburg County to Cherokee County (formed 1897)

Union County (formed 1798)

Part of Union. County to Cherokee County (formed 1897)

Sources

1. ↑ Book of Knowledge, “The Story of Ireland”, p.2942
2. ↑ History of Jefferson County, IL, p143-4
3. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roanoke_Valley
4. ↑ https://www.roanokecountyva.gov/805/History
5. ↑ “A History of Newberry County, SC” (Vol 1, 1749-1860, by Thomas H. Pope)
6. ↑ Colonial Plat Books S213184, Vol 14, page 22, item 2
   http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/ - search “Casey, Abner”
7. ↑ Deed Abstract: Sold land to Levi Casey Misc 1 DEC 1777 South Carolina
8. ↑ Colony of South Carolina Records of 1716 to 1783, record for Abner Brooks Casey, page 12
9. ↑ Early Census Index of South Carolina, 1790-1890
10. ↑ South Carolina U.S. Census Reconstructed Records, 1660-1820
11. ↑ A list of Justices of the Peace of Newberry County, South Carolina from 1791-1800
12. ↑ 1800 United States Federal Census for Abner Casey, South Carolina, Spartanburg District
13. ↑ The Kentucky Land Grants. Louisville, KY, USA: Filson Club Publications, 1925.Original data: Jillson, Willard Rouse. The Kentucky Land Grants
14. ↑ Find A Grave Memorial# 145634659
15. ↑ Benj. Casey - https://lists.rootsweb.com/hyperkitty/list/casey.rootsweb.com/1998/12/
16. ↑ From County Tyrone to Taney EARLY HISTORY OF THE CASEY FAMILY, by Margaret Casey, White River Valley Historical Quarterly, Volume 1, Number 11 - Spring 1964

• Freeman, Mary Jo. Profile of Abner Brooks Casey (archived). "Willard & Related Families", RootsWeb, 9 October 2017.

Acknowledgements

• Biography by Carolyn Murray
• Other Contributors: Mary Jo Freeman