Abner Farrar

Abner Farrar was born September 16, 1768 in Mecklenburg Co. Virginia, the son of Thomas Farrar and Elizabeth Howard. Abner was seven years old when his father Thomas Farrar's first cousin, Thomas Jefferson, wrote the Declaration of Independence and was one of it signers just prior to July 4, 1776. Abner's father served in the Revolutionary War as a Patriot.

The 1782 Census of Heads Of Families in Virginia lists Abner's father,Thomas Farrar, in Mecklenburg County. The household consisting of eleven white persons, including Abner 14 years old at the time, and ten black persons (slaves). Abner's grandmother, Judith Jefferson Farrar age 84, is listed as Head of her household nearby consisting of one white person and four black persons (slaves). Abner's uncle William Farrar lives beside Judith Farrar. John Farrar (uncle?) also resides nearby.

Abner was 14 years old in 1782 when his mother Elizabeth Howard Farrar died.

The 1783 Census of Heads Of Families of Virginia lists Abner's father, Thomas Farrar, in Amherst County. His household consisting of ten white persons and one black slave. His mother Elizabeth Howard had died the year before; a William Howard is a close neighbor.

The 1785 Census of Heads of Families of Virginia lists Abner's father, Thomas Farrar, in Amherst County. His household consisting of eight "white souls". The property having one dwelling and two other buildings upon it. Neighbor William Howard's property listed as an Estate of the now deceased owner.

Abner's grandmother, Judith Jefferson Farrar, died in 1786, when Abner was 18.

The 1787 Personal Property Tax List of Mecklenburg Co. Virginia named the Head of Household, males 16 years and older, names of slaves, and the number of horses and cattle owned. Abner's father, Thomas Farrar (age 60 at the time), is listed with two white males age 16-21, and their names are also listed. They are sons Abner (19 years) and Thomas (17 years); one slave over 16 years, and seven slaves under 16 years; names listed: Pat, Jim, Nelson, Edmund, Charles, Ephraim, Billy and Nan. Two horses and seven cattle also owned.

Abner Farrar 23, married Catherine Carter Arrington 25, on December 19, 1791 in Halifax Co. Virginia. Catherine was the young widow of Richard Stone Arrington, and had a three year old son named Richard from her first marriage. Catherine Carter was the daughter of George Carter and Lucy Marshall. Her father died when she was very young and her mother Lucy was remarried to George Malone, who became a beloved step-father to Catherine and her siblings. Catherine was also known as "Katy Malone" before her first marriage.

About 1796 Abner and Catherine and their first two children, Elizabeth 3, and baby Jesse Carter Farrar, moved from Halifax Co. Virginia to Greenville Co. South Carolina. Daughter Thurza Farrar was born in 1798.

January 26, 1799 Abner Farrar, of Greenville Co. South Carolina, bought 130 acres of land in Franklin Co. Georgia on Indian Creek from William Quillin of Franklin County, Georgia for $500. Abner sold this land in 1807.

1800- Thomas Jefferson elected President of the United States. Jefferson was a first cousin of Abner's father and Abner's first cousin once removed.

Abner Farrar began buying hundreds of acres of land in the Greenville, South Carolina area in 1800.

The Farrar family had moved to Carnesville, Franklin Co. Georgia about 1801 from nearby Greenville, South Carolina, where Abner and Catherine's four youngest children were born; Francis Howard Farrar (1801), Lucy Farrar (abt 1804), Diannah Hillsman Farrar (1806), and William Malone Farrar (1809). Abner's plantation was located about two miles northwest of Carnesville, Franklin Co., Georgia, on Hunter's Creek, on land purchased in 1807 and 1808.

Abner Farrar is listed on the Franklin Co. Georgia Tax List in 1801, 1803, 1805. His name was shown as Abner Farrar, Esq. and Justice of the Peace when he endorsed Governor's passports for settlers to travel through the Creek Indian Nation in 1804. In 1806 Abner Farrar acted as attorney in Franklin County, Georgia for William Haley's deed.

In 1809, Abner's father, Thomas Farrar, died at Abner's home in Carnesville, Franklin Co. Georgia. His obituary appeared in the local newspaper and stated he was a first cousin of former President Thomas Jefferson. 1809 was the year President Jefferson retired from public life after two terms as president and numerous other accomplishments.

Abner was a prominent planter in Franklin Co. Georgia and raised his children on the large family plantation two miles from Carnesville. Abner and Catherine were very good to their children. They gave them a good education for the time, and saw that they were well dressed. The daughters were dressed as proper Southern Belles and wore beautiful evening gowns for social occasions. The children were taught to be proud of their Farrar and Carter heritege and were told stories about their ancestors including William Farrar, the first owner of Farrar's Island. Abner's father and his generation were among the last Farrar's to be born at Farrar's Island. Abner and Catherine's five youngest children were born during Thomas Jefferson's (their first cousin two times removed) service as third President of the United States. Some (or all?) of the children had red hair, a trait inherited from their Jefferson lineage.

In a lease dated March 22, 1818, from Abner Farrar to John Robbins, Robert Malone (Step-brother of Abner's wife Catherine) is shown as a witness.

On April 3, 1820 Abner Farrar (age 51) witnessed a deed in Franklin Co. Georgia in which Robert Malone (age 39; Abner's brother-in-law), representing Richard S. Arrington (age 31; Abner's step-son), sold 180 acres of land for $700 in Franklin County on Middle Fork Broad River, to Robert and Coleman Wood. The deed was recorded May 15, 1820.

When youngest daughter Diannah was fifteen years old she eloped with 21 year old Tillman Dixon Pruitt in February 1822. Abner and Catherine never forgave her and there was so much feeling on their part that Diannah never went back home, not even for a visit. Abner and Catherine Farrar may have thought Diannah was too young for the marriage. Tillman's father had died when he was four and an uncle was appointed guardian to oversee the father's estate.

Abner Farrar paid the poll tax in 1822 in Franklin Co. Georgia.

Former President Thomas Jefferson died July 4, 1826.

Son Jesse Carter Farrar named a son after Abner - Abner Mason Farrar born 1829.

Abner is listed as Abner "Farrow" in the 1830 DeKalb Co. Georgia census.

The 1832 Georgia Gold Lottery shows Abner Farrar in DeKalb County drawing land in Military District, Latimers; land lot #171; district 21; section 3.

Abner's brother Abel Farrar made bequests to Abner's son, Francis Howard Farrar and Francis' son Abel Farrar, plus to siblings and nieces and nephews, in his will of December 1833 in Monroe Co. Alabama.

1840 Census-- Abner is not listed under his own name. He is thought to be living with his son Jesse Carter Farrar in Marietta, Cobb Co. Georgia the year before his death. Jesse Carter Farrar's household in the 1840 Census of Cobb Co. Georgia includes one male (Abner?) age 70-80 years old.

Source: http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/m/a/y/Lyndall-J-Mayes/WE...