Early Looney in America, by Leroy W. Tilton

In this year 1809 the name of Absalom4 Looney was in the list of those in Capt. McCoy’s Company (with Isam4 , Michael Looney, and Mary Looney (widow)). Absalom had one white poll, no land, and 3 black polls; Mary had 164 acres and one black poll.

In 1810 Absalom4 Looney seems, then, to be obtaining his second land-30 acres in Stanley Valley by Tenn. Grant No. 1879, 26 Dec. 1810. On 1 March following, he sold one of his slaves. Lucy, and her 2 year old child Jean, to John Caldwell for $420.

Absalom4 Looney was Col. of Hawkins County Militia in 1812.

Absalom did not keep his land in Stanley Valley very long, but sold it on 20 Feb. 1814 to James Johnson for $1500-all 218 acres of it, on both sides of Big Creek, part of a tract granted by North Carolina Grant No. 180 to Benjamin3 Looney and also the Tenn. Grant No. 1879 to Absolom4 Looney-reserving to Mary Looney her right of dower. (Hawkins Deeds 4, p. 496.)

Then on 24 April 1816, by Tenn. Grant No, 3770 Absalom4 Looney received 150 acres (perhaps on his entry of 11 Feb. 1813); also 45 acres on north side of Clinch River where Valentine Collins formerly lived. Again Absalom soon sold part of this land, 45 acres where Valentine Collins formerly lived, to James Johnson by deed of 5 Feb. 1817 for $250. (Hawkins Deeds 8, p. 64.) On April 30 1817 Absalom4 Looney had a Tenn. Grant No. 5093 for 10 acres on Big Creek and he sold this to Jacob B. Groves 6 May 1819. (Hawkins Deeds 10, p. 2 & 52.)

On May 20 1818 Absalom4 Looney of Hawkins County sold to Jos. McCalla for $200, 100 acres in Gravelly Valley adjoining Thomas Hopkins, Wm. Larkins, and David Looney, on Larkin’s Branch. (Hopkins Deeds 9, p 79.)

In the year 1818 Nancy (Long) Looney died. Her sister Ruthe stated that Nancy was in poor health for many years. Absalom4 married (2) in 1818

End Page -46-

Eleanor (“Mellie”) b. ca 1796, daughter of Samuel Wilson (1775-1853) and his wife Mary Ingram (1779-1859).

In or about 1821 Absalom4 Looney, Samuel Wilson, and William Powel entered into partnership for the purpose of carrying on the mercantile business in Surgoinsville and purchased, as Absalom Looney & Co., a house and 2 lots in Surgoinsville (where Absalom lived in 1822); 3 other lots in Surgoinsville; an interest in a tanyard on lands of John A. Rogers in Surgoinsville; and with Thomas Gillenwaters formed a partnership for digging for salt in Poor Valley, and purchasing tracts adjacent to the salt wells, and purchased kettles and equipment for the salt making business; and Powel bought Gillenwaters interest, and Absalom Looney & Co. are indebted to the merchants in Baltimore, etc., etc.; now Looney deeds all his interest in the real and personal property of tan companies to Wilson & Powel, and also his interest in 23 acres adjoining William Lyons; 8 Jan. 1822. Wit: Wm. I. Wilson and Richard Steel. (Hawkins Deeds 11, p. 59.) (See Knoxville Register 4 Dec. 1821 for Private Acts of the Legislature for Benefit of Absalom Looney et al.).

On 12 July 1822 Absalom4 Looney of Hawkins made a deed of trust of certain furniture, stock, and farming equipment to John F. Johnson of Hawkins and to John4 Looney of Jackson Co., Ala., to secure payment of Absalom’s debt of $214.50 to Benjamin5 Looney of Hawkins Co., and $130 to Polly Looney (widow) of Franklin Co., Tenn. Wit: Sam’l Wilson and James Johnson. (Hawkins Deeds 11, p. 66.)

On 27 Aug. 1822 Absalom4 Looney sold to William Stuart for $300 a house and lot in Rogersville (bought of Wm. Hicks and wife 28 May 1821). Meanwhile, on 18 Feb. 1822, John Long made a deed of gift to his five grandchildren, John5 Looney, Alzina Looney, Joseph5 M. Looney, Matilda C. Looney, and Absalom5 Looney. Witnesses were: James Johnson, Nancy D. Long, and James T. Long.

End Page -47-

Absalom Looney and family removed to Know County, Tenn. about 1822 and made their home with his uncle, Moses3 Looney, who died soon, on 12 July 1824.

The Knoxville Register, issue 26 May 1824, contained a notice: The partnership heretofore subsisting between Absalom Looney, Samuel Wilson, and Samuel Powel of Hawkins Co., Tenn., usually conducted under the style of A. Looney & Co. was dissolved by mutual consent some years ago. Signed: Samuel Wilson, Samuel Powel.

Absalom4 Looney was executor and probably principal legatee of the will of his uncle Moses3 Looney, probated in 1824 in Knox Co. (There is another report that Absalom and family did not remove to Knox Co. until 1827.) In 1830 Absalom’s mother, Mary Johnson of Hawkins County, named him as executor and legatee of her will. (The date of her death and date of probate of her will has not been ascertained by the writer.)

At the 1830 census of Knox Co., Tenn., Absalom4 Looney and wife Eleanor had in their household 5 males and 3 females, all under 30. His aunt Sarah, widow of Moses3 Looney, lived alone, as a neighbor, except for 6 slaves.

A. Looney, of Knox County, on 29 Aug. 1831, deeded to James M. Cooper for $50, 25 acres in Carter’s Valley. The witnesses were Benjamin Looney and Daniel Wills. (Hawkins Deeds 14, p. 200.) On 14 April 1834, Absalom Looney of Knox Co., Tenn., deeded to Henry and James Patterson of Hawkins Co., for $20, 35 acres including a place called the pond spring, on the waters of Marshall’s Creek. (This was also called Big Creek.) The witnesses were Benjamin Looney, John Looney, Robert young. (Hawkins Deeds 17, p. 102.)

In Nov. 1838 Absalom was administrator of the estate of Sarah Looney, wife of Moses5 Looney. (Knox Estates 6, p. 289.)

In 1840 Absalom4 Looney and wife were still in Knox Co., with 3 males and 5 females. (Their son John5 was also there as head of a household.)

End Page -48-

Absalom4 and family removed to Sparta, Bienville Parish, La., between 1848 and 1850. At the census, taken Sept. 20 1850, their household consisted of Absalom Looney, 68, farmer; Ellender 54; Benjamin F. 17; Lucinda 14 and Jane C., 12, all born in Tenn. (Bossier Parish census of 1860 should be searched.) Eleanor, mother of the above children, died 1858 or 1859; Absalom4 Looney died in 1858 or 1859 in Bienville Parish, La.

	The children of the first marriage were:
		John5 Looney		b. 9 April 1804	See 5th generation
		Alzira (or Eliza) Looney  	m. 26 Nov. 1829 Mullens (Knox Co., Marr.)
		Joseph5 McMinn Looney	b.  ca1813
		Matilda G. Looney	m. 15 Dec. 1831 Allen Johnson b. 1807
			Moved to MO. 1841 where she d 1851, and he returned
			to Hawkins Co. 1852 and m.(2) Polly, perhaps Gamble.
				8 Children, including James L. Johnson 1840-1925.
		Absalom5 Looney	b. 3 May 1818	See 5th generation
	The children of the second marriage were:
		Samuel5 Wilson Looney	b. 3 Aug. 1819	See 5th generation
		Nancy Long Looney 	d. young      11 Sept. 1827
		Robert Johnson Looney	b. ca 1823	See 5th generation
		Sarah Looney		b. say 1825, m. 29 Dec. 1841, Knox Co.
			John M. Pearson.  Lived Bienville Parish, LA. in 1861.
		Eleanor Looney		b. say 1828, m. 20 Nov. 1846, Knox Co.,
			Thomas Jefferson Badgett.
		Mary I. Looney		b. say 1830, m. ante 1850 Lemuel M. Boyd.
			Living in Bienville Parish, La. in 1861.
		Benjamin Franklin Looney b. 1833		See 5th generation	

End Page -49-

		Lucinda Looney		b. 1836
		Jane C. Looney		b. 8 Oct. 1837; m. July 1859 at Sparta, La.,
			to David Lee Foster.  Their children included Lucy Foster, who
			m. her 1st cousin Samuel Ingram Wilson (1848-1889).
			Lived at Salem, Texas.  She d. 10 Jan 1916 at Bryan, Texas.

Moses4 Looney (Samuel3 ) was born about 1777 in lower Washington Co., VA., or perhaps in pre Tennessee and probably was with the family of Elijah Cross, his stepfather, on a farm about 5 miles from Blountville in the South Fork of the Holston River. This could be the Moses Looney whoa was taxed in Roane Co., Tenn. in 1805.

On Feb. 15 1812, Moses4 Looney deeded to Elijah Cross 197 acres in Sullivan County, Tenn., being one-half of the 394 acres entered 1 Feb. 1780, adjoining Jas. McKain and the ‘older Rentfro’ (N.C. entry #1806, Nashville, Tenn.), and recorded 8 July 1814 in Sullivan County.

On 29 Dec. 1819 Moses4 Looney of Roane Co., Tenn., deeded to Wm. Dalton 80 acres on north side of Clinch River bought of James Glasgow. Then on 10 Mar. 1820, being still of the same county, he deeded 240 acres in Raccoon Valley of White Oak to Elijah Billings of Roane County. Moses4 Looney gave receipt for $10.00 according to the will of his uncle, Moses3 Looney, dated 1823.

The inventory of Moses Looney, Jr., appears in Estate Book 6, p. 438-9, Knox Co., Tenn. (See also Estate Book 7, Dec. 1841, p. 286; E. I. Looney, Admin.)

Judging from the will of Moses3 Looney, dated 1823 (see account of Moses3 (Robert2 Jr. Branch)),

Moses4 of Samuel3 Looney had children:

End Page -50-

Continue with Part 2, Robert Looney Jr. Branch (NEXT PAGE)

Return to Manuscript INDEX PAGE