Abner Coker was born in Baltimore, MD. sometime around 1767. He married Susan Dunn on September 30, 1807 and they appear with their family in the 1820 Baltimore County census records where he appears to have lived most of his life.

The 1820 census records for Baltimore lists the family as "free colored" in a household of:

• 2 males (14-26)
  
• 1 male (26-45) "Abner"
  
• 5 females (under 14)
  
• 1 female (14-26)
  
• 1 female (26-45) "Susan"
  

Abner died on November 8, 1833 in Baltimore and his obituary which appeared in the November 11, 1833 Baltimore American Newspaper makes it quite clear that he played a prominent role in his community as the minister of the Bethel AME Church. The obituary also notes that Abner left as widow and nie or ten children to survive him.

Some of the children of Abner and Susan Coker were :

1. Martha Coker (June 1830 - August 1905)
2. Henrietta Coker
3. Margaretta Coker
4. Priscilla Coker

In 1809, an "Abner Coker" was listed among the property owners in Centreville, Queen Anne County, MD. but it is not clear it this was a separate individual.

There is no proof yet that Rev. Abner Coker was the brother of Moses Coker or Daniel Coker although Moses later named one of his sons, Abner Coker .