Abraham Tyson was born in Beaufort County in about 1725. Later a resident of Pitt County, Tyson died in about 1775, leaving behind several children. Prior to his death, Tyson owned enslaved people, and the ownership of those enslaved individuals transferred to his children upon his death. For his son Joel Tyson, who was still a minor, an enslaved boy named Jim Bowser was held in trust for him until Joel reached the age of majority.