Note from Curator (Pam Wilson, Dec 2019): The parentage of this James Abercrombie (or Abercromby), who settled in Laurens District of South Carolina, is uncertain, as are the names of his wife/wives (most commonly listed as Hannah Pickard and perhaps also Kathleen Thomson), as well as his death date.

He lived along Reedy and Rabun Creek in what is now Laurens County, SC. Land records are needed to be added to this profile.

Three of his daughters married three brothers of the Dial family in Laurens County, SC. See "Martin Dial and Related Families with their Ancestors, Descendants and Connections" published by Hastings Harrison in 1959 and https://wc.rootsweb.com/trees/250414/I187/-/individual.

Many family trees connect him as a son of James Abercromby, the 2nd Baronet of Birkenbog in Scotland (James Abercrombie, MP, 2nd Baronet of Birkenbog) and his wife Mary Gordon, although evidence for this connection is lacking. While he must have clearly stemmed from one of the Abercromby branches in Scotland, he was likely a younger son who did not inherit land or title. However, since James was a common name in the many branches of the Abercromby/ie family, placing this James in terms of his parents will need more decisive evidence. Also, he is frequently named in internet family trees as Captain James Alexander Abercrombie, but the source of both the Captain and the middle name are sketchy and not supported adequately by documentation, so I've removed them here.

He probably migrated to the American colonies before 1732, if the reference to James Abercrombie in Charleston, SC (below) refers to him. However, it is critical to disambiguate him from other James Abercrombies in the colonies at this time, especially James Abercromby, MP of Brucefield, and Colonial Agent in the Carolinas, who was in the Carolinas between approx. 1730-1760. The following is about this James of Brucefield (NOT the subject of this profile), although claims have often associated the James Abercrombie of Laurens with some of these deeds and facts:

DISAMBIGUATION: Re. this other James Abercrcomby, of Brucefield (Clackmannanshire, Scotland): "In 1730 Abercromby left England for South Carolina, having received an appointment as attorney general for the colony. He held this position for fifteen years and, during the period from 1739 to 1760, also served as a member of the South Carolina assembly. He was one of the South Carolina commissioners appointed to run the boundary line between that colony and North Carolina in 1735 and 1736. During the French and Indian War (1754–63) James Abercromby held two positions: from 1757 to 1765 deputy auditor general for plantations and from 1758 to 1764 agent for the Royal American Regiment, which was commanded by a cousin also named James Abercromby."

Owned Royal Land grants between 1736 - 1739. [not sure which James this was]

Not sure which James this was: One of 12 patriarchs of First Scotch Presbyterian Church, Charleston, SC. [see excerpt below] Probably one of founders of St. Celia Society organized Charleston 1762.

from Charles Knowles Bolton, Scotch Irish Pioneers in Ulster and America (Boston, 1910), pp. 284-285:

Chapter XV: The Scotch Irish in South Carolina after 1718

Settlements which were so far to the south that they were constantly menaced by the Spaniards and their Indian allies grew slowly. At Port Royal and Charleston the Scotch, both free men and deported prisoners taken in battle, were very early in residence.

About the year 1685 an Independent, or as some called it, a Presbyterian church was organized, and it had a prosperous history for half a century. The career of its chief minister, the Rev. Archibald Stobo, has already been referred to. His successor, the Rev. William Livingston, from the North of Ireland, preached from 1704 to 1720, when he died. 1

In 1731 or 1732 about a dozen members of this first church, including James Abercrombie, John Allen, Daniel Crowford, 2 John Bee, 2 John Fraser, 2 George Ducaff or Ducat, 2 and James Paine or Payne, 2 withdrew and formed a new organization, worshipping in a small wooden building, with the Rev. Hugh Stewart for their minister. These families were alarmed by an evident trend in the sentiment of the majority toward Congregationalism, and since they adhered loyally to the Westminster Confession they wished to be free to maintain a minister of their own faith.

Some of the founders of this seceding or Scotch Presbyterian church in Charleston in 1732 were probably Scotch Irish.

Footnotes

1 His descendants bear the names of Tunno and Stewart. Charleston Year Book for 1882, p. 381.

2 Assigned pews in the old church in 1732, and thus were not as yet known as seceders. Fraser and Ducat were members in 1724.

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The Jury Lists of South Carolina, 1778-1779:

James Abercrombie on list of men living on "Upper Part of the Middle Division Between Broad and Saludy Rivers" (p. 94)

A John Abercrombie is listed among the Petit Jurors for the Parish of St. Philip and St. Michael (p. 9)

South Carolina Deed Abstracts

27 Mar 1770, James Abercrombie and Joseph Kellett were witnesses to a deed between John Mehaffey, planter, and Elizabeth his wife to Thomas Mathews, Jr. both of Berkeley County, for 150 a on South fork of Raburn's Creek, a branch of the Saludy River.

Please note that the FindaGrave profile is INCORRECT,

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Apr 18 2018, 5:52:20 UTC

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