Abraham Pennington

In 1728 Abraham Pennington records the first white man's domicile near what is now Brunswick and Knoxville, Maryland. His activities in the business of Indian trading began the Sixth Settlement. The land on which he lived was known as Coxson's Rest and was later included in Hawkins "Merry-Peep-O-Day and the C and O canal. The waterfalls in the Potomac near his cabin was called "Abraham's Falls".

From http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/v/a/r/Carl-Harvel-Varnel...

"The Pennington's came to SC., it is believed, from Fredrick Co., VA., which is the most northern part of VA., close to PA. The boundaries here were for a long time, in dispute. In the VA. State Library, in Cartmells's SHENANDOAH VALLEY PIONEERS AND THEIR DESCENDENTS p. 19 is found the following reference: First Court Records of November Session, 1743, the third item in Court Minutes p. 20 "Abram Pennington in open court acknowledged his Deed of Lease to Christopher Beeler". Records of survey of land for early settlers were established there as "squatters" at earlier date than official survey.
The Penningtons moved further south into Orange Co., VA. and later into SC. Abraham Pennington petitioned the King for land on Indian Creek in SC. on 4 Feb., 1752. Abraham in his Will dated 1755 names his wife Catherine, his sons: Isaac, Jacob, Abraham, John and a daughter Abigail. Isaac is named executor being the oldest son.
Son Jacob petitioned for land in 1749, stating that he is from PA. Son Isaac stating that he is from VA., petitioned for 50 acres of land near the Sante and Collins Rivers, so that he might establish an iron works. These petitions were made on the same day as those of his brother-in-law, Charles King, 1 April 1754.

From http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=merrygo&i...

There is no proof that he is the son of Abraham Sr. & Mary Elkton, but it's a good guess. No will has been found for Abraham Sr., so no certain list of his children exists.
Abraham Jr. was born in Cecil County, Maryland, right in the NE corner of Maryland. He was later called an Indian trader and a yeoman farmer, just like his father.
There was supposedly a marriage of Abraham Pennington to Katrina Weister in 1714, in the Christ Church, Phildelphia records (however the Christ Church database does not show such a record. The only Pennington marriage it has is for Thomas Pennington in 1744. There are some Penningtons in the baptismal records, but no Abraham.)
IF there was a Katrina: Katrina died in 1744 and he may have married 2nd to Catherine Williams. (Or possibly Catherine was the anglicized name of Katarina). An 1738 deed shows his wife as Catherine, as does his will of 1755. But there is a big gap in the age of the children between 1718 & 1731, which usually indicates that there has been a change in wives! His son Isaac married Mary Williams, so maybe Catherine was a second wife related to her.

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF ABRAHAM PENNINGTON

(Will dated July 21, 1755, probated May 29, 1756, in Berkeley Co., SC)

Abraham Pennington's will:

In the name of God Amen I Abraham Pennington of Berkley County in the Province of South Carolina being feabel and weak of Body but of sound mind and memory thanks to almighty God therefore and calling to mind the mortality of my Body and knowing it is appointed for all meant once to Dye do therefore make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say first and principally I Recommend my Soul into the hands of Almighty god who gave it me and my body I Recommend to the Earth from whence it was taken to be buried in a Christian like and decent manner by my Executor here After named and touching such worldly Estate where with it hath Pleased God to bless me with in this world I give Demise and Bequeath in manner and form following Imprimis after all my Lawful and Just Debts and funeral Charges are paid Which I do owe either in law or equity

Item I give and bequeath to my eldest son Isaac Pennington my feather bed and furniture and one shilling sterling money for his birth right.

Item my son Jacob hath already received his portion.

Item my son Abraham hath already received his portion.

Item my son John hath already received his portion.

Item my daughter Abigail hath already received her portion.

Item I give and bequeath unto the boy Thomas Largent which I brought up one gray mair branded on the near thigh with A and one gray mair colt of two years old past with a white spot on the knee branded with T on the near thigh and one bay yearling mair colt branded on the near thigh T and also one young horse colt which came of the gray mair.

Item I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Catherine all of the other part of remainder of my movable estate and I do nominate constitute and appoint my son Isaac Pennington to be my whole and sole executor and do utterly revoke disallow and disannul all and every other and former willstestaments legacies and bequests and executed by me at any time heretofore made willed or bequeathed and do ratify and confirm this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament and in testimony have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty first day of July in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ on thousand seven hundred and fifty and five.

Abraham Pennington's mark (X)

Signed sealed published and pronounced by the said Abraham Pennington to be his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us: Able Anderson, Gabriel Anderson, Abraham Anderson.

notes

No evidence of his marriage to Katerina Weister per this: http://members.iquest.net/~rodpenn/abe1.htm

• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igmpostem.cgi?op=show&app=d...
• http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/v/a/r/Carl-Harvel-Varnel...