This project began with a client’s question: Was Abner Bishop really the father of Allen Bishop of Decatur County, Georgia? The very first step was to review all the evidence already gathered on both Allen and Abner—census entries, tax digests, deeds, and family records. By laying out what was known, I could see where the gaps were and decide how best to move forward.
Beginning in Decatur County, Georgia
The investigation then started with Allen in Decatur County. County records reveal that Abner Bishop was frequently involved in lawsuits—sometimes as plaintiff, sometimes as defendant. [i] This repeated appearance in court became a recognizable characteristic, one that would later help tie him to records outside of Georgia.
Allen’s census entries consistently listed South Carolina as his birthplace, which meant his father had to be documented there as well. [ii]
A Match in Laurens County, South Carolina
In Laurens County, South Carolina, I found an Abner Bishop who also appeared in numerous lawsuits. The pattern of legal entanglements closely matched what I had already seen in Georgia. A key case in 1807, Boyd vs. Charles Simmons and Abner & Boling Bishop, placed him there in company with Boling Bishop, likely a brother. [iii]
The last record of Abner in South Carolina was in November 1814, when Abner was suing Charles Simmons. [iv] After that, a gap appears—likely representing the period when the family migrated to Georgia.
From Pulaski to Decatur
Abner resurfaces in Pulaski County, Georgia militia records in 1814. [v] While his name appears in the continuing case in South Carolina there is no record he actually went back. Soon after, his name appears again in Decatur County records (which had been formed from Early County in 1823). There, he continued his familiar pattern of showing up in lawsuits, reinforcing the continuity with the Abner of Laurens County. [vi]
Census Clues and Family Relationships
The 1830 census in Decatur County offers additional insights. Alongside Abner, it also lists George Bishop, who may have been an older brother of Abner, and Samuel Bishop, possibly another of Abner’s sons. [vii]
This matters because Allen Bishop later named one of his own sons George. That George appears in the 1860 census of Jasper County, Texas. This naming pattern may reflect a family connection, suggesting that George of Decatur County was Allen’s uncle, and Allen chose to honor him by giving his son the same name.
Conclusion
By first reviewing the client’s evidence, then following Allen from Decatur back into South Carolina, the case becomes clear. The litigious Abner in Georgia mirrors the litigious Abner in South Carolina, making it reasonable to conclude they are the same man. The census record hints at additional family ties, which later echo in Texas, giving more depth to the family story.
The evidence strongly supports that Abner Bishop was Allen Bishop’s father, while also showing that Abner was part of a larger Bishop family network spanning South Carolina, Georgia, and Texas.
[i] Decatur County, GA, Superior Court Minute Book A (1825 – 1836), p 43, Abner Bishop vs William Clark, FamilySearch, (www.Familysearch.org: accessed 26 Sep 2025), citing FHL 008192313, img 32 of 724.
[ii] 1860 U. Census, Jasper County, TX, Post Office Newton, p 32, dwelling and family 205, household (hhld) of Allen Bishop, Ancestry.com, (www.Ancestry.com: accessed 26 Sep 2025), citing NARA publication M653, roll 1298.
[iii] Laurens District, South Carolina, Pleadings and Judgments, vol 32 (1804 – 1809), p 151, Writ Ass’t Roll No 398, John Boyd vs Charles Simmons, Laurens County, South Carolina, FamilySearch, (www.Familysearch.org: accessed 26 Sep 2025), citing FHL 008191367, img 403 of 822.
[iv] Laurens District, Sheriff’s Execution Book (1810 – 1816), p 135, Laurens County, South Carolina, FamilySearch, (www.Familysearch.org: accessed 26 Sep 2025), citing FHL 008191370, img 233 pf 265.
[v] Georgia Military Affairs, Vol 4, (1814 – 1819), p 291 (Pulaski County Militia), FamilySearch, (www.Familysearch.org: accessed 26 Sep 2025), citing FHL 008139112, img 291.
[vi] Decatur County, Georgia, Superior Court Minutes (1825 – 1836), p 10 [Bishop vs Hadley] and [Bishop vs Bromly], FamilySearch, (www.Familysearch.org: accessed 26 Sep 2025), citing FHL 008192313, img 15.
[vii] 1830 U. S. Census, Decatur County, GA, p 16, line 26, Ancestry.com, (www.Ancestry.com: accessed 26 Sep 2025), citing NARA publication M 19, roll 17.