-26-
Abraham(3) Looney was born about 1780 (DAR and tombstone), prob-
ably on Muddy Creek about 2 miles north of the Holston River, in Sulli-
van County, North Carolina, later Tennessee. Abraham married Elizabeth
Gammon (born 1786, died 1838), the daughter of the Honorable Richard Gam-
mon, and his wife, Sarah Gamble. Richard Gammon, son of George Gammon of
London, England, came to Baltimore, Maryland, and thence to Sullivan
County. It is said that he lived in luxury on his estate on the Holston
River, called 'Egypt Plantation'. He was a delegate from Sullivan County
when deliberations were in progress concerning the brief life of the
State of Franklin; he was also a representative in the convention that
formed the first constitution of the State of Tennessee. The Gammons
were devout Presbyterians and staunch Whigs.
In 1801, when David(2) Looney made his will, he named son Abraham
as the first of three executors, although Abraham was only 21 years of
age. The first record evidence found for Abraham is his deed of 25
August 1802, when as an Executor of his father's estate, he made a deed
to Robert Campbell, confirming a sale previously made by David(2), of
land in Stanley Valley, Hawkins County, Tennessee. Second, in 1805, he
relinquished to his elder brother, Robert(3) Looney, his own right and
title to 200 acres in Sumner County, Tennessee, that his father David had
agreed to give to Robert for a negro boy named Isaac, who by the will
had been given to their brother, "Davy". On this deed of 1805, his signature
is (uniquely) recorded as Abram C.Looney. (Was it really 'G' for Gammon
or Gamble?) Abraham Looney was a trustee of Jefferson Academy in Sulli-
van County, in 1806.
On 12 December 1807, Abraham and Mary Looney, Executors of David
Looney, signed a deed to William Maxwell, and same is recorded in Maury
County, Tennessee. There is a deed from Jeremiah Taylor to Abraham Looney
dated February 1809, for 101 acres that is recorded in Sullivan County.
Abraham was styled as 'of Sullivan County' on 20 and 21 March 1811,
when,
-27-
with brothers David and Joseph Looney and nephew, Isaac Acuff Looney,
deeds were signed for the sale and division of the lands on Duck River
in Maury County, Tennessee, which they inherited from the estate of
David(2) Looney. On 3 October 1811, Abraham received a grant from North
Carolina for 27 acres, probably in Sullivan County. On 17 November 1812,
a deed was signed by Abraham Looney as the Executor of David Looney, de-
ceased, to John Hamilton and the representatives of John Spergin, dec'd,
for 210 acres on Muddy Creek, Sullivan County. (Does this mean that Abra-
ham's mother, Mary McClelland Looney, co-Executor, was dead?) On 26 Ap-
ril 1813, Abraham Looney of Sullivan County sold 257 acres on Lytles
Creek to Adam R. Alexander of Maury County; also 27 acres to William Max-
well of the same county (Maury Deeds, 1; 178-180). A negro was sold by
Elijah Cross in Sullivan County on 14 November 1814, to Abraham Looney
and Joseph W. Looney was a witness. On 8 January 1816, Abram Looney of
Sullivan County bought three lots in Rogersville, from Andrew Campbell of
Williamson County, Tennessee. On 31 October 1818, Abram sold them to
Nicholas Fain, who had married Sarah Gammon, sister to Abraham's wife.
Thus, Abraham(3) Looney moved from Sullivan County to Hawkins County in
1816. Then, he probably moved to his Duck River lands in Maury County
between 1818 and 1820, because at the 1820 census of Maury County, Abra-
ham(3) and wife were listed there in the age group 26 to 45.
The record evidence cited immediately above contrasts with some
accounts of this family that agree in stating that Abraham(3) Looney came
to Maury County as a young man. On the other hand, the "Common Prayer
Book" of Sarah Gammon Fain has an entry to the effect that 'Abraham
Looney and family left Rogersville on 2 July 1825.' (had they already
been to Maury County and returned to Rogersville and were again leaving
Rogersville in 1825? Possibly Abraham was considered a young man at 40
or 45 years of age.)
-28-
NOTE: It would be well to ascertain what Looney, with William King, re-
presented Sullivan County in the State Legislature of Tennessee in 1815.
(see Library of Congress, Book #443, S8T2, page 62) This compiler knows
of no Absalom Looney of Sullivan County in 1815. Absalom(3) of Ben(2),
lived in Hawkins County, but Abraham(3) of David(2), did live in Sullivan
probably as late as January 1816, and was probably the Legislator. Abra-
ham is easily and often mis-read as Absalom.
The census record of 1820 for Abraham(3) Looney is of interest for
another reason. With them were living two males, 18 to 26, who, it would
seem, cannot possibly have been sons of this couple because the David(4)
(born 12 May 1808) was the eldest son, insofar as we know. It is sugges-
ted that Abraham's nephew, David Reasons(4) Looney, of Robert(3), was liv-
ing with his uncle Abraham(3) in 1820 in Maury County, Tennessee.
(David Reasons(4) Looney was not married in 1820 and not living with his
parents in Fayette County, Kentucky.)
At the 1830 census of Maury County, Abram(3) and wife were each
40-50; one boy (James) was 10-15; three boys (Abram M., ____?, and
Robert Fain) were all under 10; two girls (Jane and Eliza) were 15-20;
one girl (Anise) was 10-15. Also mentioned were 30 slaves. (It is inferred
that Abram's son, Joseph W.(4) had died before 1830.)
The name of Abraham(3) Looney is not found in the 1840 census of
Maury County, although his death did not occur until 1841, according to
DAR records and the tombstone at Columbia, Tennessee. Elizabeth Gammon
Looney, his wife, died in 1838, according to the same sources. Her tomb
stone indicates birth in 1776, as contrasted to 1786, in DAR records.
The "Common Prayer Book", of her niece, Nancy Fain McCarty, has entries:
"Elizabeth Looney died 2 October 1838; was born 19 September 1786, aged
52 years 13 days."
-29-
However, at the 1840 census of Wayne County, one finds A. Looney 50-60
years with another male of the same age group and a boy 20 to 30,
but no females. He had 40 slaves engaged in manufacturing and trades.
Apparently, nearby in the same country was George G. Looney and wife,
both 20-30, with no children and no slaves.
Twelve children of Abraham(3) and Elizabeth Gammon Looney are
listed in a paper entitled, "The Looney Family of Tennessee," written by
Judge Edmund Dillahunty Looney, grandson of Abraham(3), and made availa-
ble to the compiler by Rev. William J. Gammon, of Eldon, Missouri.(Living
in Montreat, North Carolina, in 1968 ). A 13th child, named James, is
mentioned by Speer in his, "Sketches of Prominent Tennesseans". His
name has been used for a son that must have been born ca 1816, if the children
were correctly enumerated at the censuses of 1820 and 1830. The census
record of 1830 indicates that there was another son born about 1822, but
no name is available.
The assignment of birth dates for these children is a good exam-
ple of the use of few data. The birth dates for Mary Looney, David Loon-
ey, and Robert Fain Looney are accepted from family records. The order
of listing agrees with that used by Judge Dillahunty, except for Joseph
W. Looney and George G. Looney. The birth date for Sallie G. Looney is
that deduced from the 1850 census. The other birth dates are positioned
with respect to the mother's marriage date and to those birth dates that
are known. Finally, the date assigned to Abraham M. Looney agrees well
with the 1821 indicated by the 1830 census, and all assignments are such
that all male and female group listings in the censuses of 1820 and 1830
in Maury County are approximately satisfied.
-30-
Abraham(3) Looney and Elizabeth Gammon Looney married 19 May 1802.
They were the parents of:
Mary(4) Looney.born 10 June 1804. See 4th generation.
Sallie G.(4) Looney. born ca 1806. See 4th generation.
David(4) Looney. born 12 May 1808. See 4th generation.
Richard G.(4) Looney. born say 1809. See 4th generation.
George G.(4) Looney. born say 1810. See 4th generation.
Jane(4) Looney. born say 1812. See 4th generation.
Eliza(4) Looney. born say 1814. md.Dr. A.F.Bracken, of
Somerville, Tennessee.
James(4) Looney. born say 1816. With parents in 1820, not
in 1830. James was mentioned tentatively by Moore
but by no one else.
Anise(4) Looney. born say 1818,d.age 15 (Speer) or 17(Mrs.
Ziegler)
Abraham M.(4) Looney. born ca 1820. See 4th generation.
Joseph W.(4) Looney. born say 1822. Was living with his
parents in 1830. died young, says Speer.
Robert Fain(4) Looney. born 5 August 1824. See 4th gener.
Adelaide(4) Looney. born say 1826. Listed by Speer as the
youngest, and died young.(Mrs. Ziegler says in
infancy). Not with parents in 1830.
It would be well to obtain the estate settlement records for
Abraham(3) Looney from Maury County, Tennessee.
.....
Continue with Part 7, David (2) Looney Branch (NEXT PAGE)
Return to Manuscript INDEX PAGE
Copyright © 1997, T T G