First Families of Orangeburgh District, South Carolina

Inabinet (Inäbnit, in Äbnit)

The Hans in Äbnit Family

First Generation

1. Hans in Äbnit, the son of Lienhart in Äbnit and Elsi Jossi, was baptized 30 Jul 1682 in Grindelwald, BE, Switzerland1 and died in 1735 aboard the ship Samuel enroute to Carolina.2 He married Maria Kauffman  on 10 Sep 1711 in Grindelwald [Research note a.].3

“On March 13 [1735] Hans in Aebnith of Wärgistal in Grindelwald paid the emigration tax of 10 percent on the 900 pounds which he is taking with him to Carolina.”4

George Haig laid out 50 acres of land and town lot #249 in Orangeburgh Township for Maria Hinderapnit on 3 Dec 1740.

Children of Hans in Äbnit and Maria Kauffman were:

2.i.Maria in Äbnit, baptized 30 Sep 1713 in Grindelwald, BE, Switzerland.5

+3.ii.Johannes in Äbnit, baptized 24 Nov 1715 in Grindelwald, BE, Switzerland.6

+4.iii.Christian in Äbnit, baptized 24 Nov 1715 in Grindelwald, BE, Switzerland.7

+5.iv.Peter in Äbnit, baptized 25 Dec 1718 in Grindelwald, BE, Switzerland.8

+6.v.Andrew in Äbnit, baptized 28 Nov 1723 in Grindelwald, BE, Switzerland.9

Second Generation

3. Johannes “John” in Äbnit was baptized 24 Nov 1715 in Grindelwald, BE, Switzerland and died in Carolina. He married Margaretha Nägly on 30 November 1740 in Orangeburgh Township, South Carolina.10

George Haig laid out 250 acres of land and town lot #158 in Orangeburgh Township for Hans Indorbuit on 26 Sep 1735. The 250 acres indicates a family of five -- himself, his mother and brothers Christian, Peter and Andrew.

Children of Johannes in Äbnit and Margaretha Nägly were:

7.i.Balthasar in Äbnit, born 12 Mar 1748, baptized 20 Mar 1748 in Orangeburgh Township, South Carolina.11

Andrew Hall surveyed 242 acres on Cords Branch, Charleston District for Baltus Inabnet on 27 Feb 1786.12

ii.Christian in Abnet, born 17 Mar 1750, baptized 1 Apr 1750 in Orangeburgh Township, South Carolina.13

Thomas Platt surveyed 300 acres on Four Holes Swamp, Orangeburgh District for Christian Inabnet on 10 Apr 1786.14

9.iii.Samuel Inabnet, born 24 Oct 1751, baptized 1 Dec 1751 in Orangeburgh Township, South Carolina.15

On 7 February, Samuel Inabnet petitioned to certify two plats each for 50 acres and a town lot, In Orangeburgh Township. Said plats originally surveyed for Christian Handerapnit and Andrew Handerapnit.16

10.iv.Margaret Inabnet, born 2 Jan 1754, baptized 13 Jan 1754 in Orangeburgh Township, South Carolina.17

11.v.Caspar Inabnet, born 21 Feb 1756, baptized 7 Mar 1756 in Orangeburgh Township, South Carolina.18

12.vi.Peter Inabnet, born 6 Jul 1758, baptized 23 Jul 1758 in Orangeburgh Township, South Carolina.19

Thomas Clark surveyed 150 acres on Cockea Creek, Orangeburgh District for Peter Inabnet on 3 Mar 1786.20

13 vii.Ann Inabnet, born 1760, married John Staley before 7 Sep 177321. John Staley was a witness to the will of John Inabnet which mentions daughter Ann Stelle (Staley)22.

4. Christian in Äbnit was baptized 24 Nov 1715 in Grindelwald, BE, Switzerland and died in Carolina.

Christian and Johannes were twins. Although Christian was baptized first, the fact that Johannes became head of the family on his father’s death suggests that he was the first born.

George Haig laid out 50 acres of land and town lot #248 in Orangeburgh Township for Christiana Hinderapnit on 3 Dec 1740.

5. Peter in Äbnit was baptized 24 Nov 1715 in Grindelwald, BE, Switzerland and died shortly after 27 Mar 1744 in Bern, BE, Switzerland.

George Haig laid out 50 acres of land and town lot #247 in Orangeburgh Township for Peter Hinderapnit on 3 Dec 1740.

Peter in Äbnit returned to Switzerland in early 1744 in an attempt to recruit colonists. He was promptly arrested and questioned by the authorities in Bern. Although he vehemently and consistently maintained his innocence of the charges, he was condemmed to stand in the stocks and then be banished forever. Instead of leaving Switzerland at once he was discovered in Basel a month later and sent back to Bern. After questioning again on 27 Mar 1744 he was imprisoned in the Käfigturm (cage-tower). He was killed in an attempted escape when he fell from the rope he was using to lower himself to the ground. He was buried beneath the place of public execution in Bern.23

6. Andrew in Äbnit was baptized 24 Nov 1715 in Grindelwald, BE, Switzerland and died 30 Nov 1750 in the Santee River Swamp in South Carolina.24 He married Mary Nägly in Orangeburgh Township, South Carolina.25

George Haig laid out 50 acres of land and town lot #250 in Orangeburgh Township for Andreas Hinderapnit on 3 Dec 1740.

Children of Andrew in Äbnit and Mary Nägly were [Research note b.]:

13.i.Maria Inabnet, born 27 Jul 1750, baptized 30 Sep 1750,26 and died 24 Apr 1759, aged 8 years 9 months.27 All in Orangeburgh Township, South Carolina.

Research Notes

a.       It’s not possible to determine the parents of Maria with certainty. Several Maria Kauffmans were baptized in Grindelwald in the 1680s, there are no death records and the marriage record does not mention her parents. The primary candidates are: Maria Kauffman, daughter of Hans Kauffman and Maria Gorner, bapt. 31 Mar 1683 and Maria Kauffman, daughter of Christian Kauffman and Anna Gsteiger, baptized 2 Feb 1684.

b.       According to his burial record, Andrew left a wife and three children but Maria (Mary) is the only child who appears in the records.

References to this surname are found in OGSGS Newsletters: Vol. 1, pp. 33, 34, 41, 44, 56, 97,99, 101, 131; Vol. 2, pp. 7, 40, 47, 117, 124, 140-142, 150, 159; Vol. 3, pp.7, 8, 31, 32, 41, 59, 61; Vol. 4, pp. 2, 39, 50, 68, 69, 72; Vol. 5, pp. 2, 3, 8, 9, 23, 38, 39, 63, 120, 137, 144, 145, 147; Vol. 6, pp. 37, 38, 41, 60, 61, 72, 90, 133, 141; Vol. 7, pp. 32, 101, 154; Vol. 9, pp. 27, 32; Vol. 10, pp. 4-6, 113, 116; Vol. 11, p. 45; Vol. 12, p. 45.

Information provided by Jim Rickenbacker on August 24, 2011. Update by Carol Mciver on March 5, 2017.


1 Evangelische-Reformierte Kirch Grindelwald (Berne), "Kirchenbuch, 1557-1805". FHL INTL Films 2041448 and 2041449.

2 Leo Schelbert ed., America Experienced: Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Accounts of Swiss Immigrants to the United States, "Hans Georg Strigger, May 11, 1736", p.36.

3 Evangelische-Reformierte Kirch Grindelwald (Berne), "Kirchenbuch, 1557-1805". FHL INTL Films 2041448 and 2041449.

4 A. B. Faust and G. M. Brumbaugh, Lists of Swiss immigrants in the Eighteenth Century to the American Colonies, Vol. II, p. 54.

5 Evangelische-Reformierte Kirch Grindelwald (Berne), "Kirchenbuch, 1557-1805". FHL INTL Films 2041448 and 2041449.

6 Evangelische-Reformierte Kirch Grindelwald (Berne), "Kirchenbuch, 1557-1805". FHL INTL Films 2041448 and 2041449..

7 Evangelische-Reformierte Kirch Grindelwald (Berne), "Kirchenbuch, 1557-1805". FHL INTL Films 2041448 and 2041449..

8 Evangelische-Reformierte Kirch Grindelwald (Berne), "Kirchenbuch, 1557-1805". FHL INTL Films 2041448 and 2041449..

9 Evangelische-Reformierte Kirch Grindelwald (Berne), "Kirchenbuch, 1557-1805". FHL INTL Films 2041448 and 2041449..

10 Joop Giesendanner, "The Book of Record, Orangeburgh, SC", http://www.xs4all.nl/~sail/: Marriage of Johannes in der Abnet x Margaretha Nägelij, 30 Nov 1742.

11 Joop Giesendanner, "The Book of Record, Orangeburgh, SC", http://www.xs4all.nl/~sail/:.Baptism of Balthasar in Abnet, 20 Mar 1748.

12 SC Archives, Inabnet, Baltus, plat for 242 acres on Cords Branch, Charleston District. Series: S213190, Volume: 0011, Page: 00297, Item: 001

13 Joop Giesendanner, "The Book of Record, Orangeburgh, SC", http://www.xs4all.nl/~sail/:.Baptism of Christian in Abnet, 1 Apr 1750.

14 SC Archives, Inabnet, Christian, plat for 300 acres on Four Hole Swamp, Orangeburgh district. Series: S213190, Volume: 0011, Page: 00296, Item: 001

15 Joop Giesendanner, "The Book of Record, Orangeburgh, SC", http://www.xs4all.nl/~sail/:.Baptism of Samuel Inabnet, 1 Dec 1751.

16 Brent Holcomb, Petitions for Land from the South Carolina Council Journals Volumw VI: 1766-1770. P.268.

17 Joop Giesendanner, "The Book of Record, Orangeburgh, SC", http://www.xs4all.nl/~sail/:.Baptism of Margaret Inabnet, 13 Jan 1754.

18 Joop Giesendanner, "The Book of Record, Orangeburgh, SC", http://www.xs4all.nl/~sail/:.Baptism of Caspar Inabnet, 7 Mar 1756.

19 Joop Giesendanner, "The Book of Record, Orangeburgh, SC", http://www.xs4all.nl/~sail/:.Baptism of Peter Inabnet, 23 Jul 1758.

20 SC Archives, Inabnet, Peter, plat for 150 acres on Cockea Creek, Orangeburgh district. Series: S213190, Volume: 0011, Page: 00295, Item: 002

21 Georgie I. A. Lefvendahl, Some of the Inabnit, Inabnet, Inabinet, and Inabinett Families of Colleton, Charleston and Lower Orangeburg Districts and Counties, Privately Published by the Author, 1970, p.9.

22 Georgie I. A. Lefvendahl, Some of the Inabnit, Inabnet, Inabinet, and Inabinett Families of Colleton, Charleston and Lower Orangeburg Districts and Counties, Privately Published by the Author, 1970, p. 10.

23 A. B. Faust and G. M. Brumbaugh, Lists of Swiss immigrants in the Eighteenth Century to the American Colonies, Vol I, pp. 16-20.

24 Joop Giesendanner, "The Book of Record, Orangeburgh, SC", http://www.xs4all.nl/~sail/:.Death of Andrew Inabnet, 30 Nov 1750.(45).

25 Joop Giesendanner, "The Book of Record, Orangeburgh, SC", http://www.xs4all.nl/~sail/:.Marriage list made after 1747 (45).

26 Joop Giesendanner, "The Book of Record, Orangeburgh, SC", http://www.xs4all.nl/~sail/:.Baptism of Maria Inabnet, 30 Sep 1750.

27 Joop Giesendanner, "The Book of Record, Orangeburgh, SC", http://www.xs4all.nl/~sail/:.Death of Mary Inabnet, 24 Apr 1759.