The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
Abner Broach was reportedly born in Chesterfield county, Virginia, and was living there when he enlisted in the VA militia on 28 August 1780 at age 19. He was “…5’ 7.5”, fair hair, dark eyes & fair complexion (sic).”
The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning, and History lists “Broatch. A Dumfriesshire surname of local origin from Broats in the parish of Kirkpatrick-Fleming… Broach & Brotch are variants.” Although the surname, Broach, might be Scottish, the forename, Abner, is English—from a Biblical personal name, meaning in Hebrew ‘God is (my) light,’ which was popular among the Puritans, especially among early settlers in New England, but also in the southern states.
Abner’s antecedents could have been part of a more recent generation of the Broaches who were in the Virginia colony as early as the 1600s. Or, his parents could have migrated from another American colony. For instance, Abner’s parents might have been part of a so-called Welsh Neck Baptists migration from Pennsylvania and Delaware to Virginia and South Carolina. Alternately, Abner’s parents might have been recent immigrants. For example, a Thomas Smith (alias Broach) was sentenced to “transportation” (i.e., banishment) at Middlesex Quarter Sessions in May 1751 and transported from England to Virginia. Thomas might have served his sentence, married & had a child about when Abner was born (i.e., in 1761).
Sometime after 1780, Abner migrated from Virginia to South Carolina, initially to Marlboro County & then to Darlington County between 1787 and 1797.
By 1 December 1787, Abner, at about age 26, married a “Peanalipy” (possibly a phonetic spelling of Penelope) in South Carolina. There is no record of any issue from the marriage. Some time in or after 1787, but in or before 1789, Abner married Sarah Perritt in South Carolina. Sarah’s parents were Samuel & Hannah Perritt. Sarah was born about 1766 in South Carolina and died before 1840 at about 74.
Abner & Sarah had at least 11 children over their 16-year marriage, 1793 to 1809:
Abner Broach (b. 1790)
James Broach (b. 1793)
Elizabeth Broach (b. 1800)
Clarissa Broach
Mary Broach
Charles Broach
John Broach
George Broach (b. 1803)
William Broach (b. 1804)
Samuel Broach (b. 1809)
Robert Broach.
During his life, Abner transitioned from millwright to what was then termed a planter. Shortly before Abner married Sarah, he began acquiring four pieces of property that would become the extent of his plantation.
Abner continued establishing himself as a person of some note in his community, appointed a Constable in October 1807. With this official position and his plantation, he seemed to be building a promising future. Unfortunately, he died in March 1809 at about age 48.
After his death, Abner’s property was subsumed into what became the Oaklyn Plantation which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Abner might have been buried on this property. If so, he is in an unmarked & unfound grave.
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