Abraham Shands was the fifth child of John Shands II and Margaret
Castleberry. His father John Shands II had two previous wives with children,
by which accounting, he was his father's eleventh child. Abraham and Polly lived near the home of Abraham's half-brother Anthony, on Cane Creek. Polly was a sister to Anthony's first wife Catherine, and second wife Frances.
At his death, Abraham's young sons were 5 and 2 years old.
He and Polly had 2 children: