Abner Vance
Abner Vance (-July 16, 1819)
He was hung for killing Horton.[1]
After his death a folk song was made about him.[2]
He was an Indian fighter and saved men from Indian attacks.[3](Source says more, just throwing stuff in here. Currently editing on phone.)
His murder and execution is considered a founding event for the Vances settlement in Tug Fork Valley. Many of his descendants would be involved in the Hatfield-McCoy Feud.
Sources to read through
https://wvancestry.com/Files/Frontier_Forts_of_Southwestern_Virginia.pdf
Early Life
He was born in North Carolina.[1] His name doesn't appear on census records but based on calculations from his wife's birth year he was born between 1760 to 1770.[4](Don't have access to this book)
After he served in the American Revolutionary War he moved to Russell County, Virginia[1] sometime between 1780 to 1799.[4] In 1792, he pushed Mingo people out of Guyandotte river.[5]
He married Miss Susannah Howard.[6] They produced eight children.[1]
Murder
Trial
In June 1818, Abner applied for a coram nobis.
The application was approved.
A new trial was awarded.[7](pp132-133) (Havent added everything in this book yet.)
Execution
He was executed on July 16, 1819 in Washington County, Virginia.[8]
Legacy
100 years later, Crockett Harrison a granddaughter of Abner Vance at this point was residing in Logan county. Miss Harrison was visited by a traveler she soon realized the traveler was a Horton.[9](Might be importing for a different article in the future.)
Abner Vance’s murder of Horton is considered a founding event for the Vance family’s settlement in Tug Fork.[10] Abner Vance was the grandfather to Devil Anse’s mom and Jim Vance.[11] According to author Lisa Alther, stories of Vance’s hanging had a big impact on Devil Anse Hatfield.[12]
Vance song (pending title)
A song called Vance Song has been sung about the murder.[13](The book says more about this)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Swain 1927, p. 75.
- ↑ "The Vance Song by Abner Vance". YouTube. 21 April 2011.
- ↑ Swain 1927, p. 21-23.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Burgess 1978, p. 219.
- ↑ Hatfield 1974, p. 18.
- ↑ Burgess 1978, p. 217.
- ↑ Appeals, Virginia Supreme Court of (1826). Cases Decided in the Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia. Department of Purchase and Supply. Search this book on
- ↑ Hearn, Daniel Allen (2015-07-13). Legal Executions in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia: A Comprehensive Registry, 1866-1962. McFarland. p. 201. ISBN 978-0-7864-9540-5. Search this book on
- ↑ Hatfield 1974, p. 19.
- ↑ Sullivan, Ken. "Hatfield Family". West Virginia Humanities Council. Retrieved 2025-04-22.
- ↑ Waller 2012, p. 20.
- ↑ Alther 2013, p. 19-20.
- ↑ Cohen, Norman (2008-09-30). American Folk Songs: A Regional Encyclopedia [2 volumes]. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. pp. 187–189. ISBN 978-0-313-08810-0. Search this book on
Bibliography
- Hatfield, George Elliott (1974). The Hatfields. Big Sandy Valley Historical Society. Search this book on
- Sellards, Harry Leon (1993). Hatfield and Phillips Families of Eastern Kentucky and Southwestern West Virginia. H.L. Sellards, Jr. Search this book on
- Sellards, Harry Leon (1978). Burgess, Mullins, Browning, Brown, and Allied Families. McClain Print. Company. ISBN 9780870123153. Search this book on
- Rice, Otis K. (1906). A History of Middle New River Settlements and Contiguous Territory. Standard Ptg. & Publishing Company. ISBN 9781789875317. Search this book on
- Swain, George (1927). Burgess, Mullins, Browning, Brown, and Allied Families. G. T. Swain. ISBN 9780598483393. Search this book on
- Burgess, James A. (1978). Burgess, Mullins, Browning, Brown, and Allied Families. McClain Print. Company. ISBN 9780870123153. Search this book on
- Waller, Altina L. (2013-02-05). The Feud: Hatfields and McCoys: The Epic Story of Murder and Vengeance. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 19–20. ISBN 978-0762779185. Search this book on
- King, Daniel Allen (2015-07-13). Legal Executions in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia: A Comprehensive Registry, 1866-1962. McFarland. p. 201. ISBN 978-0-7864-9540-5. Search this book on
- Johnston, David (1906). A History of Middle New River Settlements and Contiguous Territory. Standard Ptg. & Publishing Company. ISBN 9781789875317. Search this book on
- Cohen, Norman (2008-09-30). American Folk Songs: A Regional Encyclopedia [2 volumes]. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. pp. 187–189. ISBN 978-0-313-08810-0. Search this book on
- "Abner Vance (1760-1819) - Find a Grave Memorial". www.findagrave.com.
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