Abner VANCE

                   Abner Vance migrated into the southwestern part of Virginia (Clinch River Valley, Russell Co) sometime arount 1790. He was of the Baptist faith and spent much of his time preaching. One of Abner's daughters (and it is thought to have been Elizabeth) ran off with Lewis Horton. After several months Lewis Horton returned with the girl and dropped her off at her parent's home. It is said that Abner and Susannah pleaded with Lewis to marry the girl. He refused and turned to ride away. Abner went into the house and returmed with his gun ans shot Horton as he was riding away. Horton died a few hours later. Abner became a fugitive. He left Russell County that night, Sept. 17, 1817, and traveled along the Tug and Guyandotte Rivers where he spent the next two years. Abner returned to Russell County at the urging of his family to stand trial. Public opinion was that Abner would be "freed" due to his "reputation as a preacher". On his arrival he was locked in jail and held without bail. The trial ended in a hung jury. A second trial was held in Washington County, VA. There Abner was found guilty and sentenced to hang. The case was taken to the court of appeals but the lower courts decision was upheld. Petitions for the release of Abner Vance were circulated but to no avail. Abner was hanged on July 16, 1819 in Abington, VA. A short time afterwards a courier arrived with a pardon from the Governor. Susannah left and migrated into the Tug, Big Sandy and Guyandotte River Valley.