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Archiver > ABERNATHY > 1999-02 > 0919999083


From: (by way of Chris Lamesfield <>
Subject: RE: [ABERNATHY-L] George ABERNATHY, 1600's, Scotland
Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 22:18:03 -0500


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When I first started digging deeper into family research, I
called an Abernethy researcher in Texas (who, by the way,
told me about Arvord Abernethy). She told me the story of
Robert Abernethy as she had heard it.

Robert Abernethy was a minor officer in the Battle of Dunbar,
against Oliver Cromwell's troops. After the battle, the
survivors were split up into three groups; the common
soldiers, who were forced to swear allegiance to the Crown
of England; the high-ranking officers, who were taken to
London and executed; and the minor officers, who were given
the choice of being executed (probably hanging) or being
sent to the colonies.

Robert chose the latter, as we all know. He was an
indentured servant for 5 years; during that time, he
was actually paid for his services, as well as given
room and board. He sent the money overseas, to book
passage for his sweetheart. The day his indentureship
ended, he married her.

Some of this story is documented, such as his marriage.
Other parts of it are, so far, undocumented. I still
can't find his name listed on any ship that arrived in
1652, but since he was a prisoner, that may be
understandable.

As it stands, it is an entertaining story and one that
would deserve to be fully documented, if possible.

Brian Abernathy

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Non-HP-BKRockett
> Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 1999 21:05 PM
> To: Non-HP-ABERNATHY-L
> Cc: Non-HP-BKRockett
> Subject: Re: [ABERNATHY-L] George ABERNATHY, 1600's, Scotland
>
>
> writes:
>
> << It seems that Cromwell wanted the prisoners processed as
> SLAVES, not
> indentured servants. The Governor, however, chose the latter. >>
>
> I have a copy of an article from a book John Marks Abernathy
> wrote about the
> Abernathy family history and in this article it states that
> Cromwell ordered
> that prisoners of lower rank not be killed but be sent to the Colonies
> instead.
> While many of my notes mention Robert, only one mentions a
> George Abernathy
> but he is in Scotland in 1346 ... way to early to suppose him to be an
> ancestor of Robert in my opinion.
> I was hoping to find out where this later "George" might be
> and what the links
> to our Robert might be.
> Happy hunting,
> Barbara
> in NC
>
>
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