Abigail Marston

“The life we led, that doesn't go away. It's never over.”

–Abigail Marston

Abigail Marston is a major character featured in Red Dead Redemption.

With the addition of the Liars and Cheats DLC pack, Abigail Marston is also a multiplayer character model that may be selected in the 'Redemption' section of the Outfitter.

Background

Abigail Marston is said to have ridden with the members of the Van Der Linde Gang: Dutch van der Linde, Bill Williamson, Javier Escuella, and of course, John Marston. She was a prostitute and often slept with all of the members of the gang. She ultimately fell in love with John and became pregnant with their son, Jack, when she was 18, and later, their unnamed daughter. Abigail and John then sought protection for their children.

In 1906, John was gravely wounded in a botched bank robbery and left to die by the other members of the gang. John recovers and, seeing it as an opportunity to leave the gang and create a better life for his family, flees with Abigail and Jack. John purchases a farm on Beecher's Hope in West Elizabeth in the northern Great Plains, hoping to establish a homestead. Unlike her husband and son, Abigail cannot read as shown when John receives a telegram from Bonnie MacFarlane.

Interactions

Red Dead Redemption

In 1911, Abigail and Jack are abducted by Edgar Ross and agents of the newly appointed Bureau of Investigation. John is extorted into seeking out his former comrades throughout New Austin, Nuevo Paraiso and into West Elizabeth before their eventual release. During their time in captivity, Abigail stresses how difficult it was for Jack. She also hints that a guard made sexual advances but, with a little prompting on Mrs. Marston’s side, regretted that decision and no one tried it again.

Upon John's return to the ranch, Abigail criticizes him for having left, afraid that he had rejoined the gang. He assures her that that life is over, and things on the ranch return to some level of normality.

Abigail hates the crows that attack the silo, and asks John to get rid of them once and for all. Later, Abigail received a telegram from Bonnie MacFarlane telling them about the crops they lost from pests.

Some days after the reunion, the ranch is assaulted by Edgar Ross and a large contingent of U.S. Army soldiers and lawmen. Uncle is killed in the initial assault, with Abigail and Jack fleeing to the barn alongside John.

John demands that Jack ride Abigail to safety. John lies he will catch up. Accepting the realities of John's imminent sacrifice, Abigail and John declare their love and kiss before John sends the horse out the back door of the barn.

John returns to the approaching lawmen, and is shot and killed in a showdown by their overwhelming numbers. Hearing the gunshots cease, Abigail demands that Jack return to the ranch. There they find John's bloodied body. Abigail is seen mourning the loss, and clinging to Jack for support.

In 1914, Abigail Marston dies at the age of 37 from unknown causes, and Jack buries her on the ranch next to John and Uncle.

Undead Nightmare

During the Undead Nightmare DLC, John is in his house with Abigail and Jack. They are all talking about general things, like a book Jack is reading, however they mention that Uncle hasn't returned from what he was doing yet. Abigail states that, because of the storm, Uncle has probably taken shelter in a dry place nearby and will stay there until the storm subsides.

Later, when John and Abigail are in bed, an undead Uncle tries to attack them, and John beats him back with a lamp, seemingly killing him or knocking him out. Abigail shows disgust at the bloodied body and turns away, sickened. John runs to get his gun from the barn, but when he comes back, Uncle has attacked Abigail and is biting her in the neck. John shoots Uncle in the head and tends to Abigail.

At John's call, Jack comes outside and sees Uncle's corpse, but is preoccupied with his mother's state. He runs to help his mother despite John's warning, however, Abigail turns to a zombie and bites Jack, turning him into a zombie as well. John runs to fetch his lasso from the barn and he then hogties both of them, and after giving them both a plate of food, he leaves them in the house and sets out to find a cure.

Mission Appearances

Red Dead Redemption

"The Outlaw's Return" (Boss)
"Pestilence" (Boss)
"Old Friends, New Problems" (Boss)
"The Last Enemy That Shall Be Destroyed"

Undead Nightmare

Quotations

Multiplayer

"I see you ain't learn no manners."
"I've had enough of this."
"Call yourself a man."
"What's the matter with you?!"
"You really are a strange man."
"You've clearly had one too many blows to the head."
"You damn fool."
"Oh, ain't you quite the gentlemen all the sudden."
"You think I'm afraid of you."
"I'll kill you mah self!"
"Oh, like hittin women do you?!"
"Are you completely insane?!"
"You idiot!"
"Clumsy oaf."

Trivia

John and Abigail share the same first names as the second President of the United States, John Adams, and his wife, Abigail.
It is often joked that she is a bad cook by her family, and she sarcastically tells John when he returns to Beecher's Hope not to worry as, during her abduction, she was enrolled in a cookery school.
In the mission Pestilence, Abigail reveals that both her and John were orphans.
If killed while the invincible cheat is on, there will be an earthquake for a few seconds. The same thing happens if Jack or Uncle are killed. The next time the player dies, the "You have killed a member of your family" message will appear in place of the normal death screen.
She appears on the back of the Undead Nightmare map.
She becomes very jealous when she hears Bonnie's name, seeming to believe John was attracted to her to the point she went with him to deliver corn to the ranch just to meet her.
Her appearance and personality are very similar to the character of Etta Place in the western Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid.
In multiplayer, she wears different clothes than in singleplayer. In single player her outfit is a blue-violet top with a belt wrapped around it, and a pink plaid long skirt. while in multiplayer her outfit is a white and blue plaid top with the same belt wrapped around it and her skirt is replaced by blue pants so the player can ride a horse.
In the earlier trailers for Red Dead Redemption her hair seems to be long and down.
While the reason for Abigail's death in 1914 remains a mystery, some have speculated that she may have contracted Tuberculosis sometime prior to, or during the events of the game. While playing as John and exploring the Marston ranch, the player may find Abigail coughing quite regularly, as people who suffer from the infectious disease experience chronic coughing.