Abraham Pennington, the progenitor of Group 8, was probably born around 1690, possibly in the vicinity of Cecil County, Maryland. Records show he migrated to Virginia and later to Berkeley County, South Carolina where he died in 1756. Much has been written of Abraham and he is referred to in various deeds and records as yeoman, planter and Indian trader.
The identity of Abraham's parents is unknown. A possible good lead in the search for Abraham's parents is the will, dated 1739, of John Pennington of North East, Cecil County, MD (Vol. 22, Folio 94; described in Pennington Pedigrees, volume 29-2, p. 72; article by Sybil Hampton). The will of this John mentions "my brother Abram Pennington" who could possibly be the Group 8 progenitor. However, the parents of John and his precise relationship to "Abram" are unknown. More research is needed. Please contact me at rodpenn@iquest.net with any information or theories relating to the parentage of Abraham. Important note: I, personally, have not seen any evidence to even suggest that Abraham's mother was named "Mary Elkton", nor have I seen evidence to indicate his father was named Abraham.
Wives of Abraham. Abraham's wife at the time of his death was named Catherine, but it is apparent that he had one or more earlier marriages. In his book "Pioneers of Old Frederick County, Virginia", Cecil O'Dell points out that on 4 Nov 1719 Abraham "and his wife Mary" sold land to John Sargeant. However, in a 1724 sale of land by Abraham to William Cox, there is no wife signing the deed or releasing dower rights. Therefore, one can speculate that Abraham's wife Mary was deceased. A 1738 deed (see below) mentions his wife Catherine, who may be the same Catherine named in his will in 1755. Important note: I have not seen any evidence to suggest that Abraham was ever married to a woman named "Katerina Wiester" or "Wuester".
Sources of information. Abraham is found in numerous Maryland, Virginia, and South Carolina records and several books summarize and interpret these records in a very useful fashion. These include the following:
Abraham Pennington timeline
First-some comments and disclaimers
ABRAHAM PENNINGTON IN MARYLAND circa 1690-1728
circa 1690?: Abraham Pennington born. The location and precise date of his birth are unknown, but could have been in or around Cecil County, MD; or in nearby Philadelphia, PA.
14 May 1714: Abraham Pennington obtains 160 acres from William Teague of Baltimore County, MD. Land had belonged to William's father Edward. Located on Saw Branch, running into Hunago Creek, east side of Susquehana River. Also in 1724, Abraham received a 241 acre patent from Lord Baltimore (land records summarized in PP 29-2, p. 76, see also "Pioneers of Old Frederick").
4 November 1719: Abraham Pennington and his wife Mary sold the 241 acre patent to John Sargeant, and purchased from Sargeant a 100 acre tract (summarized in "Pioneers of Old Frederick")
13 April 1724: Abraham Pennington, Indian Trader, of Cecil County, MD to William Cox of Cecil County, 50 pounds common money for 16 acres added to "Pambrook", Abraham's dwelling (land records summarized in PP 29-2, p. 76).
1724-same date: Abraham Pennington of Cecil County, MD sells three tracts to Richard Bennett of Queen Anne County, MD: 60 acres Emory's Satisfaction (originally from George Emory on south side of Susquehana), Greenberry (assigned to Abraham by Matthias Van Bebber), and Jamica; also Sargent's Neck. 410 acres total (land records summarized in PP 29-2, p. 76).
1728: "Coxson's Rest" was surveyed for Thomas Wilcoxson. Located on north side of Potomac River, west of Catoctin Creek near present day Brunswick, Frederick County, Maryland. Abraham Pennington, "an Indian Trader from Cecil County", built his cabin on this land. The Catoctin Creek valley (between South and Catoctin Mts) seems to have been Abraham's "special hunting ground". (summarized in "Pioneers of Old Monocacy 1721-1743", Tracy and Dern, eds., as reported in PP 27-2, p. 62).
Click here for a webpage on Brunswick, MD mentioning Abraham Pennington.
ABRAHAM PENNINGTON IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA 1733-1751
29 Jan 1733/4: "Abram" Pennington, late of Cecil County, now a yeoman in VA colony", sells 160 acres to John Graham for 50 pounds sterling. Note: will of John Graham -probated 11 Feb 1739- gives wife entire estate, but at her death or remarriage "Pen Brook" to go to son William. "Pen Brook" had been deeded to Graham by Abraham Pennington (Cecil County, MD deeds summarized in "Pioneers of Old Frederick", see also PP 29-2, p. 760).
3 Oct 1734: Abraham obtains 600 acre patent on west side of Shenendoah River in Frederick County, VA (Virginia Land Patent Book 15, p.334 as described in "Pioneers of Old Frederick"). O'Dell describes this land as very near the location of present day Rippon, Jefferson County, West Virginia.
22 June 1738: Abraham and his wife Catherine sold 100 of the above mentioned 600 acres to Jacob Pennington for five pounds (Orange County, Virginia Deed Book 2, page 247 as described in "Pioneers of Old Frederick").
22 June 1743: Abraham of Frederick County, VA sells Christopher Beeler a parcel of land for 5 shillings. Parcel consisted of 500 acres in Frederick County on west side of Shenendoah River and was part of patent Abraham obtained 3 Oct 1734. Land description mentions Jacob Pennington's corner in the original line of the patent. Also, Abraham's wife Catherine was privately examined and relinquished her right of dower (PP 12-1 p. 42, 12-2, p. 38).
1 July 1751: Abraham receives a Fairfax grant of 600 acres "where he lives". Land is adjacent to land of Landon Carter, Mr. Wormleley, William Loftan, and Bartholomew Anderson on Wheat Spring Branch of the Shenendoah River. This land is south of Abraham's 1734 patent and is located in what is now Clark Co., VA (Northern Neck grants, summarized in "Pioneers of Old Frederick").
5 July 1752: Abraham sells the 600 acres to Thomas Scribling for 100 pounds ("Pioneers of Old Frederick").
ABRAHAM PENNINGTON IN SOUTH CAROLINA circa 1752-1756
circa 1752: In "The Penningtons of Big Buffalo", Ruth Dickey writes "Many settlers from PA, VA, and NC moved from the Shenendoah Valley down the Catawba Path to the territory drained by the Enoree River and its tributaries in SC. Abraham Pennington and his sons, Isaac, Jacob and Abraham were among the travelers. Some of these men had obtained patents for land in this region from the Governor of NC who claimed that the territory between the Enoree and Tyger Rivers was in Anson County, NC". Ms. Dickey emphasizes that these settlers "later had to apply for grants from the governor of SC for these same lands".
4 Feb 1752: Abraham petitions for land on Indian Creek, a branch of the Enoree River, in SC (NOTE-I NEED A REFERENCE FOR THIS).
21 July 1755: Abraham's will written, Berkeley County, SC. Names wife Catherine; sons Isaac (executor), Jacob, Abraham, John; daughter Abigal. Also mentions boy Thomas Largent "which I brought up". Witnesses: Able, Gabriel, and Abraham Anderson.
29 May 1756: Abraham's will probated.