*January 16th, 2021 - the Abington Cemetery was finally located after searching since September 2019. It has been destroyed.

John Taylor Abington was the son of Rev. Bowles Abington, Sr. and Sarah Taylor. He was born on September 11th, 1801 in Stokes County, North Carolina.

He married Rebecca Taylor on February 25th, 1823. I don't know where this marriage occurred, but by mid-1823 they had settled in southeastern Obion County on Abington Hill.

1828 - An obituary for William Thomas "Billy" Shipp on January 27th, 1905, page 6 of the Commercial reads "He moved with his father to try his future in the Western district in 1828 and struck camp at the old Abington farm on Xmas eve of that year. "

1830 US Federal Census
John T. Abington in Obion County, Tennessee

Free White Persons - Males - Under 5 - 1 (Joseph T. Abington)
Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9 - 1 (William B. Abington)
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29 - 1 (John T. Abington)
Free White Persons - Females - Under 5 - 2 (Caroline Mathilda and Sarah Abington)
Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29 - 1 (Rebecca Taylor Abington)
Free White Persons - Under 20 - 4
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49 - 2
Total Free White Persons - 6
Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored) - 6

1840 US Federal Census
John T. Abington in Obion County, Tennessee

Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9 - 1 (Henry Abington)
Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19 - 2 (William B. and Joseph T. Abington)
Free White Persons - Males - 30 thru 39 - 1 (John T. Abington)
Free White Persons - Females - Under 5 - 2 (Narcissy Jane and Rebecca Malissa Abington)
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14 - 2 (Caroline Mathilda and Sarah Abington)
Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39 - 1 (Rebecca Taylor Abington)
Slaves - Males - 55 thru 99 - 1
Slaves - Females - 10 thru 23 - 1
Persons employed in agriculture - 4
Free White Persons - Under 20 - 7
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49 - 2
Total Free White Persons - 9
Total Slaves - 2
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves - 11

1847-1848 From December 23rd, 1847 to April 28th, 1848, John T. Abington served as postmaster for the former Cerro Gordo community until its discontinuation. According to the recollections of Mrs. Anita Holt and Mrs. Marie Menees, it is believed that Cerro Gordo was located about half a mile west of the Berea Church of Christ in a now heavily wooded area. Cerro Gordo was named for the hills and the gullies that ran through the area. These hills were flattened and the gullies were filled in sometime between the mid 1930s and late 1950s. (*Now that we have found the Abington Cemetery to be several miles southeast of that area, I don't know if that's correct... Maybe at one time Cerro Gordo referred to the entire area between Crockett Station and Cane Creek Church.)

1850 US Federal Census
John T. Abington in Obion County, Tennessee

John Abington, Age 48 (farmer, industry was agriculture)
Rebecca Abington, Age 42
William Abington, Age 25 (farmer, industry was agriculture)
Anne Abington, Age 19
Harley (Henry) Abington, Age 18 (farmer, industry was agriculture)
Narcissa Abington, Age 14
Malissa Abington, Age 10
Virginia Abington, Age 6

1857 John T. Abington's will was probated on May 6th, 1857 in Obion County, Tennessee. His exact death date is currently unknown. It is worth noting that John and his son William both died within a few weeks of each other.
*A court minute from June 1st, 1857, reads as follows. "Court appointed: (1) William Crittendon, Thomas W. Dickinson, and Burton L. Stovall to lay off one year's support for William Abington's widow and family."
*Another court minute from that same date reads "Last will of John B. Abington, dec'd, was produced in court and proved by witnesses E. P. Knox and William Taylor. Named executors or administrators were A. J. Bowers, G. W. Boyt, and J. R. Gardner."

1860 A court minute from Tuesday, February 7th, 1860 reads as follows.
"Submitted to the record were: . . . (3) settlement with James R. Gardner, guardian of E. W., N. J., J. H., and H. M. Abington, minor heirs of John T. Abington, dec'd..."

Known Children of John T. and Rebecca Taylor Abington per the Abington Family Bible:
1)) William B. Abington: September 24/25th, 1824 - May 16th, 1857
2) Joseph T. Abington: December 28th, 1825 - September 24th, 1843
3) Caroline Mathilda Abington: March 31st, 1828 - October 25th, 1920
4) Sarah "Sallie" Abington: November 29th, 1829 - abt. 1890
5) Henry Abington: December 8th, 1831 - December 1st, 1853
6) Marthy Abington: September 3rd, 1833 - October 25th, 1838
7) John L. Abington: February 17th, 1835 - February 27th, 1835
8) Narcissy Jane Abington: December 28th, 1835 - before September 15th, 1853
9) Granville M. Abington: February 23rd, 1837 - September 17th, 1839
10) Rebecca Malissa Abington: October 14th, 1839 - March 11th, 1877
11) Virginia Ann Abington: January 21st, 1844 - before May 1857
12) Susan Abington: May 10th, 1846 - August 1st, 1846.

His wife, Rebecca, most likely passed away in late 1874 or early 1875. 1875 was the first year she was not reported on Obion Co tax rolls, and there are no deeds showing that she sold any land the prior year.