[1] Upon completion of his education in 1857 he returned to the family station "Glengarry", near Wingen in the upper Hunter Valley, where his mother had gone from Muswellbrook in 1847 upon the death of his father.

[1] Abbott was admitted as a solicitor in 1865, and practised law in Murrurundi, specialising in land cases.

[1][2] Abbott was nominated as a candidate for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for the district of The Williams at the by-election in January 1866, in opposition to Marshall Burdekin who had been appointed colonial treasurer in the fourth Cowper ministry, however he withdrew in favour of Frederick Manton to avoid splitting the liberal vote.

[11] Abbott resigned as leader in May 1887 as he supported Parkes' plan to reform the standing orders of the Legislative Assembly, against the views of his followers.

He was known for his work involving property laws of Australia, and as a New South Wales delegate for the Federation Conventions of 1891, 1897, and 1898 where he was Chairman of Committees.

In 1883, at East Maitland, he married Edith (née Solomon); they had one son, Joseph Palmer (Joe) (1891–1965) and three daughters.

Abbott lived for a time in Tarella, an Italianate mansion in Amherst Street, Cammeray, which he built c. 1886.