Recently my son, Phillip, and his family, and I took our annual Looney research trip. This must be at least trip number 12 (including several to Richmond, 1 to Frankfort, 2 to Nashville, and 1 to Raleigh). This year we went back to Nashville again. Our main goals were to find out more about David (2) Looney, James McCain, and the 2 Peter Looneys of Sumner County. We also wanted to trace the Maury County land records because David (2) Looney had land there. Thanks to Bob Reese for letting us know this. We wanted to share some of our findings, so over the next few days the following postings will appear: 1) David (2) Looney deceased by 1806, possibly by December 1804. The dates 1810-11 have often been given as his date of death. 2) Report on Peter Luna's Cemetery, Fishing Ford road, Marshall Co., TN 3) Report on Peter Looney's Cemetery, Station Camp Creek, Sumner Co., TN 4) Data (tax records, lawsuits, etc.) to help separate the two Peter Looneys in Sumner Co., TN 5) David (2) Looney, an original owner of a lot in Nashville, TN These summaries will not show the delight and awe we felt when finding these graves, records, etc. We were offered help whenever we needed to find places and the people of TN were wonderful. DEATH OF DAVID (2) LOONEY Most records (especially DAR) state that David Looney died in 1810. If the Sullivan County deed records are searched, it is clear that by 1811 the heirs of David Looney were dividing up their lands. Someone might look at these records and conclude that David died about 1810. The original recording of David Looney's Will and all court minutes burned during the Civil War. A copy of his Will was later produced by Prof. Rupert Taylor, which David Looney made in 1801. Has anyone ever seen when the Will was probated? If a copy of his Will was made which Prof. Taylor got, why wasn't a copy made of when it was probated? Anyone have any date on when the Will was probated? In Maury County, TN where a 5,000 acre grant owned by Alexander Breckenridge and David Looney ended up, Breckenridge made George Breckenridge his power of attorney on Sept. 6, 1806, "... to meet and confer with the heirs of David Looney dec[ease]d late of Sullivan County ..." To support that David Looney was deceased by an earlier date than 1810, a Maury County record made on December 12, 1807, is helpful. Abraham Looney, as executor, and Mary Looney (wife of David), as executrix, "... of the estate of David Looney dec[ease]d ..." sold William Maxwell 300 acres from the 5,000 acre tract. In tracing the land that David Looney owned, the 411 acres on Goose Creek is of interest. According to David (2) Looney's Will, this land was left to his son, David (3) Looney. This land ended up in Smith County, TN where in December 1804 David (3) Looney sold the lower part of about 156 acres (from Mapper, not stated in deed) to Jeremiah Taylor (his brother-in-law). He later made 4 other deeds by 1819, selling all the 411 acres. Usually David (3) Looney would not have been able to sell land until he had a legal title or right. Wouldn't the probate of the Will occur first, then heirs could sell off the land? Was David (2) Looney's Will already probated by December 1804? These records certainly move David Looney's date of death back to 1806, and possibly prior to December 1804. The documentation on the deeds are: Dec. 1804 Smith County Deed book B, pp. 252-53 Sept. 6, 1806 Maury County Deed book B, pp. 47-49 Entered in Court in June 1809 Dec. 12, 1807 Maury County Deed Book A, pp. 20-21 Entered in Court March 1808 More to come in a day or so. Madge Looney Crane and Phillip L. Crane