Looney -Absalom - Branch

Shaw and Thomas Whitworth. The description mentions Wm. T. Lewis, James Clark's line, and Wm. Brown's line; and Thomas H. Shaw relinquished rights and title to said land.

In the 1820 census of Lincoln Co., Tenn., Jonathan Looney is found, over 45 years of age with 1 female in same age group, and 1 male 16 to 26; no slaves. He was a farmer. A Tenn. Grant to a Jonathan Looney was made in Giles County in 1821 (book R, p. 200, Nashville)

An inventory of the personal estate of Jonathan Loony was recorded in Lincoln Co. on 9 Jan. 1824, as made by John Enochs, Admr.

An axe was sold to Jane Loony for $1.00. (Line, Wills and Inventories 1810-1824, p. 383.)

It is not unlikely that Jonathan Looney was killed by Indians. According to William 6 Gaines Looney (Absalom 2 Branch), Jonathan was captured by Indians in 1783 when his cousin Ben 3 (Robert 2) was killed near Comberland Gap. (See account under Ben 3 (Robert 2) Looney). William 6 Gaines Looney also says near the beginning of his "Genealogy" which he wrote for his children, "Jonathan Looney was reported to his brother Michael Looney to have been killed by Indians..."

On 31 May 1827 for $700. Jane Looney sold to David Rhoten 110 +/- acres on E. fork of Mulberry Creek where Wm. Brown lived, mentioning corner of a 20-acre tract sold by John Silvertooth to Anthony Crowford. Witnesses were J.H. Shaw and F.G. Landers. (Linc. Deeds H, p. 75).

On 11 June 1827 Thomas H. Shaw conveyed to Jane Looney 110 +/- acres on E. Fork of Mulberry Creek, the consideration being the surrender of a bond which Jane "held on Shaw" for her maintenance during

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life. Witnesses: F. G. Landers and J. Landers. (Link, Deeds H, 76)

No record evidence has been found to show who were the children of Jonathan 3 and Jane (Haberson) Looney. Circumstantial evidence suggests that among them were:

        Jonathan 4 Looney b. say 1789.  See 4th Gen.
        Joseph 4 Looney b. say 1792.  See 4th Gen.
        Absalom 5 [(3) wbl] Looney was b. say 1763 (estimate by L.W.T.),

probably on the 180-acre tract on James River in Augusta Co., Va. (Mrs. Oscar Hughes Looney gives his birth as 1769, but this would make him only 11 when he enlisted in 1780.) He doubtless moved with his parents to the stone Run place on Craig's Creek when he was a young child. from the pension application of James Harbison (W 7707 BlWt 71, 190-160-55), it is known that both he and Absalom Looney volunteered in Botetourt Co., Va., in "the faul before the battle of the Cow Pens" (that is, in the fall of 1780) and served 6 months.

On page 201 of White's Mountain Men there is reference to an Absalom Looney as present at the Battle of King's Mountain. It is there stated or suggested that this Absalom was a son of Major David Looney, but David 2 Looney of Sullivan Co., N.C., has no son Absalom. David 2 did have a son Abraham born at about that time. There is no trace or suggestion that Adam 2 had a son Absalom, and Abraham 4 (Robert 3, Adam 2) was not over 5 or 10 years old in 1780. Therefore, an Absalom Looney, if at the Battle of King's Mountain, could be no other that Absalom 3 of Absalom 2 of Abb's Valley (unless we are to believe that Absalom 2 Looney at the age of

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about 51 was there himself with his brother David 2 aged 44).

James Harbison, born 1763, was later to marry Absalom's younger sister Ann, born ca 1767. Others who, according to Harbison, volunteered at the same time and served with them and were discharged at the same time were John Hawkins, James Mathers, Michael Shaw, William Reynolds, and William Walker. Harbison says they entered the service under Capt. James Robinson (Major David Campbell) and marched to South Carolina and were within 6 days' march of the battle of Cow Pens (17 Jan. 1781). They passed over through King's Mountain and thence to Ramsour's Mill, crossing on the dam in the night. Near the Mill they joined Morgan's Regiment and marched the Island Ford on Catawba River; and marched down the river to the Horse Ford. They heard the guns when General Davidson was killed on Catawba River, then marched to Salisbury in North Carolina, thence to Bland Ford on the Yadkin River. There were in a small battle with the British and Captain Henley was taken prisoner. They then marched to Virginia on the Dan River where they were discharged. His application was dated 13 Nov. 1832. This, of course, is also a statement of the service of Absalom 3 Looney.

The reference to Harbison's application is probably a satisfactory reference for the Revolutionary service of Absalom 3 Looney. It seems very unlikely, however, that he was at the Battle of King's Mountain for which the date is 7 Oct. 1780. Additional pertinent information may be obtained from other pension application papers: John Hawkins, Va., S5451; Wm. Reynolds, Va. S5982; Wm. Walker, Va., S6340, S7800, and S14780.

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After the Revolution Absalom 3 Looney may have gone to Western North Carolina. In 1783 the Commissioners Absalom Looney, Isaac Shelby, and Anthony Bledsoe came to the Cumberland District to survey the lands set apart by the legislature of North Carolina for its soldiers of the Continental Line and others. (Tenn. Cousins, p.673). It is difficult to see how this could be other than Absalom 3 Looney unless it was David 2 Looney rather that absalom who was the Commissioner.

On 7 Aug. 1789 absalom 3 Looney acquired from Wm. Lee a claim to 640 acres on Little War Creek, near the mouth of Was Creek, on the southeast side of clinch river. (the entry, No. 2189, had been made by Stephen Williams in 1779.) North Carolina Grant No. 311 was issued 27 Nov. 1792 to absalom Looney and it recites, "where he now lives." (Nashville Book 3, p. 232; Case 423, N.C. Land Records, Raleigh, N.C.)

In 1793 Absalom 3 Looney and his brother Michael 3 Looney testified in a suit of Simmons vs Tillery and Wilson, Washington District of Tenn. the land in question was on Big Creek in Hawkins County. absalom and Michael et al proved that Wilson paid John Bishop 2 horses, seemingly on 1 Sept. 1787.

Absalom Looney is mentioned as Justice of the Peace as early as September 1790. Gov. William Blount's Journal shows that he was reappointed for Hawkins Co. on 27 Sept. 1794. (territorial Papers of the U.S. IV, 462.) On 15 Aug. 1797 Absalom Looney and William Elsey witnessed a deed from Wm. McClean to Wm. Vaughan for $400 for 250 acres on Little War Creek on the north side of Clinch Mountain. (Hawkins Deeds 2, 433). Also on 15 April 1800

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Absalom Looney and James Cope witnessed a deed from Wm. Vaughan to John Helton ( $200) fir 100 acres on north side of Clinch Mountain on a branch of Little War Creek; same was proved February 1801 by Absalom Looney. (Hawkins Deed 1, 353.)

John Seveir's Journal, November 1802, shows that the Commissioners on the night of Sunday, 21 November, staid at Michal Looney's (on big Creek in Stanley valley) and on Monday 22d he and General Rutledge crossed Clinch Mountain at Looney's Gap and traveled down the lower creek (probably Little War Creek) to Abs. Loony's.

Either Absalom 3 Looney (b. ca 1763) or Absalom 4 b. ca 1782 ( son of Benjamin 3 and Mary (Johnson) Looney) was a member of a Masonic Lodge in Hawkins Co., Tenn., in 1805. (Tenn. Cousins, p. 58).

The Track Book in the Land Office at Huntsville, Madison Co., Ala., shows an entry on 18 Sept. 1809 by Absalom Looney for the southwest 1/4 of Section 12, township 4 South, Range 1 west, 160.19 acres in Madison County. The land records in Washington, D.C., however, indicate that Looney was an assignee of John Hunt who had entered 28 Aug. 1809 and it was a re-entry by Looney on 18 Sept. 1809.

Meanwhile, Absalom 3 was still in Tennessee where the tax list for 1810, Captain Looney's Company (probably Captain John), Hawkins County, included John Looney, 300 acres, 1 white poll; and Absalom Looney, Esq. 640 acres, 1 white poll and 1 black poll. Soon, on 27 Nov. 1810, by dead registered 6 May 1811 (Hawkins Deeds 6, 296), Absalom 3 Looney of Hawkins County sold to Mathias Click of same, for $1000, 640 acres in Hawkins on north side of Clinch Mountain and south side of Clinch River, including the mouth of War

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