Edward Abney

Sir Edward Abney (6 February 1631 – 3 January 1727/28) was an English civilian and politician.

Life
He was born in Newton, Leicestershire, the son of James Abney of Willesley, then in Derbyshire, now in Leicestershire, who had been Sheriff of Derbyshire in 1656. His younger brother was Thomas Abney, later Sir Thomas Abney, Sheriff and Lord Mayor of London. Edward was educated at Ashby School, Measham school and Christ's College, Cambridge, where he graduated BA in 1652–3. He was a Fellow of Christ's College from 1655 to 1661.

Abney concentrated on civil law, and in 1670 became one of the six clerks in chancery, a position he held to 1682. Knighted in 1673, he served as MP for Leicester Borough from 1690 to 1698.

Blind for the last 28 years of his life, Abney died on 3 January 1728.

Family
Abney married twice. His first wife, Damaris Andrewes, was the daughter of Thomas Andrewes (died 1653), a London merchant, son of Sir Thomas Andrewes (died 1659), Commonwealth Lord Mayor of London. Her mother was Damaris Cradock, daughter of Matthew Cradock (died 1641), first Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Company. At the time of their marriage in 1661 Damaris Andrewes was the stepdaughter of the philosopher Ralph Cudworth, Master of Christ's College, Cambridge, of which Abney was until that year a Fellow. With Damaris, he had a son and three daughters. His second wife was Judith, daughter and coheiress of Peter Barr, merchant, of London, with whom he had two sons. His estate was left to Thomas, the younger son of his second marriage, the elder being considered insane. Ancestry: England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858 for Edvardi Abney: PROB 11: Will Registers: 1723-1729: Piece 619: Brook, Quire Numbers 1-47 (1728): In the Name of God Amen I Sr Edward Abney of Willesly in the County of Derby Knight being of sound and disposeing mind and memory and hoped be God at present in good health but considering the greate uncertainty of life do make and ordaine this my last Will and Testament as followeth I committ my soule into the hands of God my Creator and my body to the Earth to be buried in a decent manner according to the discretion of my Executor hereinafter named hopeing through the satisfaction and righteousness of Christ my Redeemer to be made partaker of Eternall happiness And as for my reall and personall Estate I dispose thereof as followeth Imprimis whereas my Eldest Sonn Edward Bar Abney is totally uncapable of the management of any Estate And it is my intention and designe to sue and take out a Commission of Lunacy against him in order to prevent his haveing any more of my Estate then what may be necessary for his maintenance and subsistance but since the same cant be immediately done in order therefore to continue and perpetuate as much as may be of my Estate in my family and to my name forever I give devise and bequeath to my Sonn Thomas Abney all my Estate reall and personall whatsoever and wheresoever after the payment of my debts and legacies And all my Mannors lands tenements and hereditaments whatsoever in the Counties of Derby Leicester and Stafford as farr as in and lyeth to my Sonn Thomas and his heires forever Item I give unto my servant Thomas Hemworth the sume of Tenn pounds and to his wife Catharine Hemworth the sume of Tenn pounds and to the Reverend Doctor Hutchinson of Parkington the sume of Tenn pounds to buy him mourning withall Item I do hereby constitute and appoint my Sonn Thomas Abney my sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament Item I desire and request it of the Reverend Doctor Hutchinson to assist and advise my Sonn Thomas in the management of his affaires and in the performance and execution of this my Will and lastly I doe hereby revoke and annul all former wills by me at any time made In wittness whereof I the said Edward Abney have to this my last Will and Testament whereof I have caused two parts to be made both of the same tenour and Effort and each containing one sheete of paper | sett my hand and seale to each part thereof this Nineteenth day of September Anno Dm 1718 E Abney signed sealed published and declared by the Testator as His last Will and Testament in the presence of us who subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence and at the request of the Testator Mich Hutchinson Tho Henworth Thomas White