John (4) Looney (John 3) was born about 1771 it is estimated, probably in Botetourt County, Va., shortly before his parents sold their 213 acres to John Patton on 10 Nov. 1773, and about the time when his father as John Looney Jr. had assisted with the inventory of Robert (1) Looney, dec., in 1771. John (4) is probably the John Looney Jr. who on 3 Nov. 1790 was commissioned Ensign in Hawkins County, N.C. (Territorial Papers, U.S., Vol. IV, p. 437.) On 3 Oct. 1794 he had 100 acres surveyed on the north side of the Holston River, one-half mile below the mouth of Garmon Creek, land that John (3) Looney Sr. had obtained from William Fowler, who had entered same in 1785 on warrant #1495 (See John (3) Looney section).

John (4) probably migrated westward through Tennessee with or in advance of his father, Capt. John (3) Looney, and they were in Smith County about 1800 or earlier. John (4) may be he of Smith who went, temporarily, "to the Illinoise" in June 1804 as reported by Lee Sullivan, Sheriff of Smith County, in answer to a summons from Sumner County for John Looney who was wanted to give testimony.

John (4), or possibly his father John (3), obtained a North Carolina grant of 200 acres in Warren County on the waters of Collins River as assignee of Sutton Trulock who had performed military service to the State of North Carolina. Grant No. 1641, under the Trulock Warrant no. 1446, dated 20 Nov. 1784, was surveyed to John (4) Looney 19 Dec. 1807. (Warren Deeds A, p. 144.) Nashville, Book C, p. 206.) Both John (4) Looney and his father John (3) lived in Smith County at this time. It is probably John (4) Looney who was appointed Capt. in the 16th Regt. of Tennessee Milita of

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Smith County on 18 Nov. 1807. The 200 acre tract was in the 3rd division, sections 34 and 35. The owner, John Looney was described as of Smith County on 25 Aug. 1810 when he sold this tract of 200 acres to John Stinett of Warren County. (Warren Deeds A, p. 153-4)

On 3 Dec. 1811 John Looney of Smith County sold to William Overall, the Looney home place, on the South Fork of Smith's Fork on the south side of Cumberland River. (Waren Deeds D, p. 80) Soon thereafter, on April 9, 10, and 13, 1812, John Looney of Smith County sold 3 other tracts in that county to Samuel Garrison 135 acres, to Jas. Brown 84 acres, and to Alex Haas 166 acres, respectively, all on Smith's Fork. (Warren Deeds D, p. 135, 84,161.) Then on 3 Aug. 1812 John Looney of Maury County sold Geo. D. Staton 155 acres on Collins River in Warren County: and on the same day to William Barnes 100 acres on same Collins River. (Warren Deeds A, p. 321, 329.)

Tentatively, then, it is surmised on the basis of these deeds that John (4) Looney removed from Smith to Maury County, Tenn., between 13 April and 3 Aug. 1812. Perhaps he went down the Cumberland to Gallatin in Sumner County where, in a Record of Bill of Sales, 1805-1818, under date of 10 June 1812, it is found that John Looney, Maury County, sold a negro man, Ned for $475. On 1 Sept. 1812 John Looney of Maury County sold to Richard Hancock of Wilson County, 20 acres of land for $100. (Wilson Deeds E.)

From pension application papers it is found that John (4) Looney from 24 Sept. to 19 Dec. 1813 served as Sergeant under Captain John Gordon, commander of the Mounted Spies, Tennessee Militia, in the Creek War, and was wounded in the right thigh so that he was totally disabled for manual labor. Immediately, however, on 20. Dec. 1813 he volunteered and served until 8 Feb 1814 as 2nd Lt. in Capt. John Doak's Company, 1st Regt. of Mounted

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Riflemen, West Tenn. Volunteers under Col. N. T. Perkins on the expedition against the Creek Nation. They proceeded from Camp Carroll to Emuefou (?) and back, a distance of 314 miles. Less than two weeks after discharge John (4) Looney entered the 2nd Regt. of West Tenn. Militia as Captain of a Company under Col. Lowry and Lt. Col Hammons and served from 20. Sept. 1814 to 20 April 1815 as part of General Taylor's Brigade on the expedition to Mobile during which they travelled 614 miles and were as far east as Pensacola. On 11 Jan. 1815 he was a superannuary at a general court-martial at Mobile.

Following his return to Maury County after these three tours of service he sold, on 5 Nov. 1815, land on Smith's Fork, Smith County, to Samuel Lake (Smith Deeds D. p. 281) and on 18 Nov. sold 210 acres on Globe Creek, six miles southeast of Columbia, to John Brown, in trust. (Maury Deeds F, p. 278) Then in 1816 he sold 215 acres, where he then lived in Maury County, to James Davis. (Maury Deeds F, p. 326)

His application for a pension is dated 15 Aug. 1817 in Maury County and the physicians certified to total disability. On 15 Feb. 1818 he sold to Thomas Grant 23 acres beginning on John Brown's northwest corner. (Maury Deeds H, p. 401)

John (4) Looney left Maury county soon thereafter and went to St. Clair County, Alabama Territory, where he lived on 15 Feb. 1819 when he sold to Elisha Dodson the plantation on Barren Fork of Collins River, Warren County, Tenn. "where John Looney Sr. formerly lived.": (Warren Deeds D, p. 128) Likewise, on 21 and 22 Feb., same year, he sold land on Clear Fork of Smith's Fork, Smith County, Tenn. to Lawernce Lamberson Sr. (Smith Deeds E, p. 106, 164)

The John Lewney family in St. Clair County in 1820 consisted of two males over 21 and 7 under 21; one female over 21 and two females under 21; with 12 slaves. (Ala. Hist. Qrly, 1944)

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Land Office records in Washington, DC and data received from St. Clair County records show that John (4) Looney bought land there in 1820, Oct. 13, 79.6 acres at $1.50 per acre, the E 1/2 of NE 1/4 Section 14, Township 14, of Range 4 E. On 26 Feb. 1821 he purchased the W 1/2 of the same 1/4 section at $1.25 per acre. Patent for the second purchase is dated 29 Nov. 1822. On Dec. 22, 1823 John Looney conveyed this NE 1/4 section to his son Henry Looney.

It is said that John (4) Looney and his son Henry (5) Looney first came to Alabama with Jackson's Army, liked the country and returned to settle in the Choccolocco Valley but stopped near Ashville, St. Clair County. John (4) Looney died before 15 Jan. 1827 when John Chenault, Sheriff, was appointed administrator.

John (4) Looney left a wife, Rebeckah (born 1770-1780) who made her will 19 May 1841, proved 7 May 1842 naming sons and daughters. Supplementing the will with census and pension records, etc., one must conclude as follows concerning their children (probably all born in Tennessee):

        Henry (5) Looney, b. 1797.      See 5th Generation
        John (5) Looney, b. 1805.               See 5th Generation
        Asa Looney, b. ca. 1806/07, d. after 1830, probably, and before 1841.  
His heirs received $2 according to the will of Rebecca Looney, 1841.
        Issac (5) Looney, b. 1808               See 5th Generation
        Wiley (5) Looney, b. 1813               See 5th Generation
        Absolem (5) Looney, b. 1814.    See 5th Generation
        Sophia Looney, b. ca. 1808 or 1809, in Tenn., m. ca 1835 John Cooper,
b. 1806 in S.C.  In 1850 they lived in Coosa County, Ala., with children
                Alameth; b. 1836

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                Isaac b. 1837,
                John b. 1839,
                Pinkney b. 1841,
                Oliver b. 1843,
                Mary b.1845,
                Hu b. 1847, and
                Wm. b. 1849.

        Malinda Looney, m. 1830-1840, _______ Cooper
(Who was Beedy Looney who m. George Kieves in Madison County, Ala., 27 Oct.
1818; George Chennault on m. bond ?)

Robert (4) Looney (John 3) is a possibility that should be mentioned. His birth is estimated at 1774 at about the time his parents were preparing for the group migration to lower Washington County and the pre-Sullivan County called N.C. It is possible that he was the Robert who served in Capt. Beard's Company of Guards in the Territory south of the Ohio in 1791, but Robert (3) (David 2 Looney) is considered more likely for this service.

Robert (4) Looney probably moved westward in Tennessee, perhpas about 1800. But he could be the Robert Looney who was appointed Lieut. in a Cavalry Regiment, Washington district of Tennessee Militia on 30 July 1800. Certainly a Robert Looney was taxed in Warren county in 1812 (as were John and Stephen Looney, possibly his brothers).

Robert received a grant of 144 acres on Caney Fork of Collins River in Warren County dated 17 Nov 1813 as assignee of Robert Drury and Henry Cross (on their survey of 1808, entered 1810). (Warren Deeds A, p. 405)

Did this Robert (4) Looney die without direct heirs before his father's death in 1819 or 1820? Had he married Susan or Suasanna _________ who in 1825 married James Fergus in Cumberland County, KY?

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