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Vance, Abner hanging 18190716 The Logan Banner 19791123

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(2/2) Account Of The Hanging Of Abner Vance
Abner Alexander Vance Sr. (1760-1819)
. 23 Nov 1979

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Vance-4

Biography
Daughters of the American Revolution
Abner Vance Sr. is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A101861.
SAR insignia
Abner Vance Sr. is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: P-310104
Rank: Patriotic Service
1776 Project
Rev. Abner Vance Sr. performed Patriotic Service in Virginia in the American Revolution.
U.S. Southern Colonies Project logo
Abner Vance Sr. was a North Carolina colonist.

Abner Vance Sr. lived in Appalachia, in North Carolina.
Came to South-West Virginia after Revolutionary War.

NOTE: See attached Abner Vance, September 4, 1782, Salisbury, Rowan, North Carolina Revolutionary War Pay Vouchers, 1779-1782.jpg
From The Logan Banner", Nov 23, 1979: One of the most legendary characters in Logan County history was Abner Vance.[1]

The Vance Song by Abner Vance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H02IGi2KBis
The "Abner Vance Song" by Wild Country, Elaine Vance & Kara Yeager -- Vocals in Louisville, KY 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EGxMbEcBXk
He was a Revolutionary War veteran from North Carolina, an Indian scout, and a surveyor. He took Oath of Allegiance 1777 Pittsylvania County, VA. The SAR cites service sources: Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Feb 1985, Vol 23 No 1 pg 6; Muster Roll Pittsylvania VA and “Virginia tax payers, 1782-87” other than those published by the United States Census Bureau, by Augusta B. Fothergill and John Mark Naugle

Horton Murder and Rumored Affair:
There is debate as to why Abner, shot and killed Dr. Lewis Horton. One popular version states that it was because Dr. Horton had “ruined” her reputation with the affair.

However an examination of the records, including an account by the judge of Abner’s first murder trial (Judge Peter Johnston), indicates that the shooting of Dr. Horton was accidental and that the intended target was Dr. Horton’s brother, Daniel Horton. At the time of the shooting the two Horton brothers were on horseback next to each other with their backs towards Abner Vance. The bullet hit Dr. Lewis Horton in the back just below the shoulders.

In the days before the shooting Abner had been informed that Daniel Horton had “sworn upon his life”. Whether Daniel actually threatened to kill Abner or that Abner was misinformed is unknown. What is known is that Abner did believe that Daniel had said it. On the day of the incident Abner grabbed his gun, went down to the Clinch River and waited.

Both Horton brothers had confronted Abner Vance in their respective capacities as Justice of the Peace (Daniel) and Constable (Lewis). Abner Vance and Daniel Horton had been involved in a dispute over various matters including “a charge of breech of the peace” that Daniel had sworn out against Abner Vance and his sons, John & James.

Dr. Horton lived for 6 days after being shot before he died. During this time Abner went into hiding. When Dr. Horton died Abner was charged with Murder while Abner’s son Richard was charged as accessories after the fact.

As Dr. Horton laid on his deathbed he drew up his will. The unmarried man made mention of a child he had with a woman named Wilson. He did not mention Elizabeth Susannah Vance or any children he might have had with her. This lends credence to the belief that Dr Horton and Elizabeth did not have an affair nor had children from this alleged affair.

Dr. Lewis Horton’s brother Daniel was a married man with children at the time of the shooting. He had not run off with Elizabeth or anyone else. Court records indicate that Justice of the Peace Horton was in town and having multiple disputes with Abner Vance during the time of the alleged elopement.

There is no mention anywhere in the records of either Dr. Horton’s elopement with Elizabeth Vance, and, in fact, in 1817 Elizabeth already had two daughters, Nancy and Sarah, and was quite possibly pregnant with a third. So while the actual cause of the animosity between Vance and the Hortons is not clear, an elopement with Abner’s daughter almost certainly doesn’t play a role.

We know one more fact about Elizabeth Vance that makes her involvement in the Horton affair unlikely. DNA research on the part of various Vance descendants, coupled with local knowledge passed down through the families, has shown conclusively that some, perhaps all, of Elizabeth Vance’s children were fathered by John Ferrell. John Ferrell was an early settler in the Tug Valley (his family was closely connected with the Hatfield family). He owned a mill near the current town of Matewan, West Virginia, and it was he, not her father Abner, who apparently bought (or helped buy) land for Elizabeth and their children on the Kentucky side of the river (we’ve seen copies of the deeds). So it was John Ferrell who brought Elizabeth and her children to the Tug Valley, who set them up on land just up the river from his own home, and who continued to take care of her, as far as we can tell, until his death.

Multiple Trials:
Dr. Lewis Horton died in September 1817. Court records show that on various dates in October 1817 Abner Vance and Susannah Vance were indicted for Murder while William Wingo and John Webb Bell were indicted as "Accessories BEFORE the Fact". Richard Vance was indicted in November 1817 as an "Accesory AFTER the Fact". Abner Vance was tried and convicted of Murder in April 1818. He was sentenced to be "hanged by the neck til he be dead." The sentence was to be carried out in July 1818. Also in April 1818 the murder charge against Susannah Vance was dropped while the accessory charge against Richard Vance moved forward.

Court records show that it was "Susannah Vance, spinster" who was indicted for Murder alongside Abner not "Susannah Vance, wife" or "Mrs. Abner Vance". "Spinster" is a term used for a woman of marriageable age who is unmarried. This indicates that it was Abner's daughter Susannah who was indicted and not Abner's wife Susannah.

After the trial was over Abner filed an appealed which he won in June 1818. The Court ruled that he should have been allowed to present evidence of temporary insanity. Although Abner was sentenced to be hang in July of 1818 he was given a stay so that a 2nd trial could be held.

In September 1818 Abner was re-indicted for Dr. Horton's murder. It was believed that 12 unbiased jurors could not be found in Russell County. One of the individuals requesting a change of venue was Daniel Horton who wrote a letter to the Virginia State Assembly in December 1818. The Virginia State Assembly declined the request.

Judge Peter Johnston, the presiding judge in the 1st trial, wrote a letter to the Virginia State Assembly requesting that the laws regarding the use of the temporary insanity defense be expanded. Judge Johnston specifically cited the Vance-Horton case. He did this in December 1818.

An attempt was made to find 12 unbiased jurors for the 2nd trial but it was unsuccesful. Judge Johnston moved the 2nd trial to Washington County.

The 2nd trial was held in May 1819 with Judge Johnston once again presiding. Unfortunately no records can be found for the 2nd trial. Abner was found guilty. He once agained appealed requesting a 3rd trial and a change of venue away from both Russell and Washington Counties. The appeal was denied.

Abner Vance was hanged on 19 July 1819. The story regarding that a stay of execution was ordered but didn't arrive until after Abner was hanged is a part of the legend of Abner Vance for in the records there is no entry that such a stay had been granted. Therefore no such stay arrived after Abner's death.

Vance Song:
Some versions of the Vance Song contributed to me by Paul P. Vance, 11/13/94: Note by Paul Vance: This version was contributed by Edith Martin, my aunt Mae Vance Lowe's daughter. It is supposed to be a ballad written by my GGG grandfather Abner Vance:

To You All Farewell Come my friends and good old neighbors The truth to you I'm going to tell How my heart beats with contemplation To think to bid you all farewell It grieves my heart, It grieves it Sorley The thought of bidding you all farewell But when I'm a far an distance country I hope to me you will all prove kind On hills and rivers and high cap mountains The howling billows between us call My mind to you it is unfold My love to you can never be told There is one thing I wish to tell you It lays so heavy on my mind Some of my friends, they have been faithful and some proved to me unkind I've been a man of constant sorrow I have seen trouble all my days I'll bid farewell to Carter County where I was both born and raised

In his letter, Paul P. Vance says this is "one which my Cousin Edith Martin gave me, which her mother had given her. It's original was hand written on line paper and it was really old".

The following is taken from copies that Paul sent to me from a book, pages 18-27: The Vance Song While he was in the prisons, Abner Vance probably spent many lonely hours singing hymns and ballads. The ballad which he composed while awaiting the trials has kept his memory alive and it is believed to be the first ballad written in the area. Numerous folk singers still sing "The Vance Song," however, there are many variations. Ballad singers are like storytellers, both singers and narrators often forget a word or phrase and just add something of their own and go ahead with the song or story. The version which follows was written in 1950 for Jean Ritchie by her great uncle, Jason Ritchie, of Knott County, Kentucky. Jean said, "My guess is that Uncle Jason wrote it from memory as he had heard it sung by his parents and grandparents." No changes or corrections were made.

I The woods are green on Sandys banks Peace in they valley dwells Wild bears lie up in laurel groves And red bucks roam the hills II But Vance no more wil Sandy see Or drink its cristial waves A partial judge has sealed my doom And Vance has found his grave III By the help of all my enemies Fals witnesses and all They have took me from my home And confined me in these walls IV Then Daniel Bill an Louis Their lies against me swore They planned to take my life away That I should bee no more VI But together we shall be again When gabriles trump shall blow Perhaps, when I am with Christ above They will rol in a gulf below VII The judge with me offended was Altho his life once I did save When I intervened in his behalf When he stood near the grave VIII The friendships I have shown for others Has not been shown to me The justice I dealt out to them Is none the worse for me IX Green is the leaves on Sandys bank And soft the west wind blows The hills are covered with laurel bloom The air perfumed with rose X But Vance no more to Sandy can go Or breath that sweet perfume This day my eyes must close in death Then Ile rest in my toomb XI But heaven has spoken peace to me This body wil soon decay That blood that flowed on Calvarys hill Washed all my sins away XII The holy dove is standing by To bare me to some happy shore Where partial courts and liering tongs Wil batter nevermore

One hundred and sixty-four years [at the time this article was written] have gone down the river of time since the tragic death of Lewis Horton. His remains are mouldering in an unidentified grave somewhere in the area. No one seems to know exactly where. He appears to be the forgotten Horton, however, his nephew and namesake, Daniel's son, Lewis Horton, carried the name on. A few years after the tragedy the name Lewis Horton reappears on Russell County Court records. Young Lewis was awarded many civic positions in the county. He took charge of the prized tract of land that his Uncle Lewis owned when he died. Lewis II added more acres to the estate and at the beginning of the Civil War the Lewis Horton homestead was a model, southern plantation.

The sun still shines bright on Clinch's hills and soft the west wind blows. The woods are green, red, and gold along the river banks. Dickensons Ford community is quiet and peaceful with the exception of the whistles of the diesel engines when they announce their approach at the Raven crossing. Abner Vance's cabin home is gone. His eighteen acre tract on the south side of the river is meadow and pasture. On the north side of the Ford the narrow strip of land between the railroad and river has changed very little since 1817. In warm weather fisherman and picnickers enjoy the shade of the giant sycamores and swim in the nearby Dickenson Hole. In an unmowed meadow about 100 yards from the Ford, wild goldenrods shower their tiny petals on Abner Vance's neglected grave.

The continual trials, many long trips to the courthouses, and Abner's death was without doubt a traumatic ordeal for the Vance family. Evidently they left Clinch Valley a short time after Abner's death. However, a son, William, remained in the community. He probably stayed in the Abner Vance home. Doc Appeared on 1782 Tax List of Montgomery Co., VA. Possibly buried in Raven Va. Is recognized as a Patriot by the DAR because of the 'Oath of Allegiance.' Per Grace Dotson had to be at least 16 years of age in 1777 as he took the Oath of Allegiance in Pittsylvania Co., VA. In 1797 purchased 45 acres of property in Russell Co., VA. and in 1789 was on the Upper District of Russell Co., VA per Glenna Hensley.

Occupation: "Spy/Scout of the Revolution" Patriotic Service per DAR, Long Hunter

Decendents of Abner Vance (Dau. Adina-Alena) DECENDENTS OF ABNER VANCE (1) Abner VANCE was born abt. 1753-63 Probably in North Carolina, Possibly Buncombe Co. His parents has not definately been proven. There has been some speculation as to his parents, one being Ephraim VAUSE (VANCE) and Theodosia HEWLINGS, but not proven by ant official documents or bible records.

In 1777 Abner VANCE and Matthew VANCE swore the Oath of Allegiance in Pittsylvania Co. Va. In 1777 a young man had to be 16 years of age before he could take the Oath, apparently Abner VANCE was born before 1761.

In 1779 Abner VANCE married Susannah HOWARD in Lebanon , Va. Russell Co. Susannah Was the Daughter of Abraham HOWARD and Jane (ALLEN). They made their home in Russell Co. Va. and this was where their children were born.

Abler Sr. hung in Arlington Va July 16, 1819 for the killing of Horton, reputed father of Nancy Vance. https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/78617/hatfield-family-cemetery

Children of Abner VANCE and Susannah HOWARD:

John VANCE b. 1781 Tabitha (Tabby) VANCE b. 1782 William VANCE b. 1789 Adina VANCE b. 1791 Richard VANCE b. 1792 James H. VANCE b. 1784 Elizabeth VANCE b. 1794 ——Nancy VANCE b. 1794—— Abner VANCE Jr. b. 1796 Millie "Mary" VANCE b. 1796 Sarah VANCE b.1811 Acenthia VANCE b. Minerva VANCE b. 1811 Elijah VANCE b. 1803 Isabella VANCE

"sang a Ballad of Abner Vance at the gallows upon last request" Birthdate: 1759 Birthplace: Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States Death: July 16, 1819 (59-60) Abingdon, Washington County, Virginia, United States (Hanging) Place of Burial: Sarah Ann, Logan County, West Virginia, United States

Immediate Family: Son of Matthew Mathias Vance and Anne Barber Vance

Husband of Susannah Vance

Father of John Vance; Tabitha Mary "Tabby" Browning; James "Jim" Vance; William Harvey Vance; Alena Dempsey and 25 others Brother of Alexander Vance; Thomas Vance; William Vance; Elizabeth Hoge 'Deliz' Hetfield; Jesse Vance and 7 others

Occupation: "Spy/Scout of the Revolution" Patriotic Service per DAR, Long Hunter

NOTE: See attached Abner Vance, September 4, 1782, Salisbury, Rowan, North Carolina Revolutionary War Pay Vouchers, 1779-1782.jpg
VANCE, ABNER [2]
Ancestor #: A101861
Notice: FUTURE APPLICANTS MUST PROVE CORRECT SERVICE (WHY?)
Birth: CIRCA 1759 NORTH CAROLINA
Death: 6- -1819 ABINGDON WASHINGTON CO VIRGINIA
Notice: FUTURE APPLICANTS MUST PROVE CORRECT SERVICE (WHY?) COMMENTS (Overview): 1) CANNOT VERIFY THAT THIS IS THE MAN WHO TOOK OATH OF ALLEGIANCE 2) PITTSYLVANIA CO, 1777. SEE DATACF 6/2009
RESIDENCE: 1) County: PITTSYLVANIA CO - State: VIRGINIA; 2) County: MONTGOMERY CO - State: VIRGINIA
SPOUSE: 1) SUSANNAH HOWARD
Child son: WILLIAM VANCE, [Spouse #] Spouse: [1] NANCY X
Sources
"The Letter of Judge Peter Johnston Relative to the Trial of Abner Vance" written by Judge Johnston to Virginia General Assembly. Published in 1818/19 in the "Journal of the House of Delegates of the Commonwealth of Virginia", written by Thomas Ritchie printer for the Commonwealth.
“Journal of the House of Delegates” by William Brockenbrough
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/L69Y-B4V
Russell County Virginia Court Records
Source S-2051561183
Repository: #R-2068617806
Title: U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900
Author: Yates Publishing
Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2004.Original data - This unique collection of records was extracted from a variety of sources including family group sheets and electronic databases. Originally, the information was derived from an
Note:
APID: 7836::0
Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
Find A Grave: Memorial #91114519 (accessed 18 June 2025)
Memorial page for Abner Vance (1760-16 Jul 1819); Maintained by Sandra Sain (contributor 47392377).
http://timothyv.tripod.com/index-23.html
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34769080/susannah-vance
https://www.geni.com/people/Reverend-Abner-Vance-Sr/4994209725870054396
Hardesty, Hatfields & McCoys, Revisited - The Legend of Abner Vance, In Three Parts Available here
Journal of the House of Delegates, Virginia, 1818, pp. 60-61 Available here
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