Abner was an interesting person. I suspect he was “bigger than life.” During his lifetime he accumulated a substantial amount of property and died penniless according to his pension application.

He killed a man in 1847 while trying to arrest him; was then convicted of murder, sentenced to hang, and was subsequently pardoned by the Governor of Kentucky shortly before his scheduled hanging.  See his Murder Trial Documents

 

He joined the Company C, 39th Kentucky Mounted Inf. Reg. of the Union Army during the Civil war in 1862 when he was approximately 58 years old and lied about his age.  He received a medical discharge from the Army due to Rheumatism and swolen testicles due to riding a horse.

 

He had 5 wives and 10 children. He divorced Elizabeth McVey for cheating on him in 1855 after a year of marriage.  Of his 10 children the youngest Dan Rife James was born in 1886 three years before Abner died when he was 82 years old and bed-ridden with rheumatism. This was quite a guy!

 

Most of this is documented. On the documents page for the James family is the transcript of his murder trial, request for pardon and subsequent pardon from the Governor. I have the marriage certificates or documentation for his marriages. I have the document for his divorce from Elizabeth McVeigh. I also have his Civil War pension file which I have not transcribed which documents his marriage to Martha Rife and his fatherhood of Dan Rife. Although I must question if Abner was really Dan Rife’s Father, or if he said he was so that Martha would take care of him and in return she would receive his Widow’s Pension Benefits after his death. If someone would like to transcribe Abner’s Pension Document I would be more than happy to include it with Abner’s other documents. It should be very interesting.

 

On the documents page is a short story by Henry “Bud” Scalf which talks about Abner’s trial – Mountain Kinsman Ride . Although there are some errors in the story, it is very interesting.  Abner was also my 2nd great grandmother’s guardian so I have some interest in him. When she was 14 Abner was appointed her guardian. Again, why it took so long I don’t fully understand. Document from Floyd County 1845 film # 837276 Volume 8 pg 293 states: “David James, Mahala James and Samuel James, infant heirs of Samuel James, deceased, each being over 14 years of age came into official court and made choice of Abner James as their guardian. And it is ordered that said Abner James be appointed guardian of the said David James, Mahala James and Samuel James and also of Pernina Ann James infant heirs of said Samuel James deceased and who together with Hugh Harkins and Jacob made his security.”

 

Abner’s wives were: Margaret Campbell – George (died young probably), William Campbell (died during the Civil War, Nancy Jane, Susannah, Rachael; Elizabeth McVeigh – divorced; Milly Young – James P.M. and George D. – twins, Sarah Jane, Charlotte and Milly’s son from a previous relationship – Bobby; Elizabeth Gray; and Martha Rife – Daniel.

 

I have a lot of information on Abner with tax records, lawsuits and pension papers. Maybe transcribing them will be my winter project unless someone else is interested in doing it.