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Captain Thomas Arthur CARNEY (KEARNEY)

Captain Thomas Arthur CARNEY (KEARNEY)[1]

Male Abt 1732 - 1783  (~ 51 years)

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  • Name Thomas Arthur CARNEY (KEARNEY) 
    Prefix Captain 
    Born Abt 1732  Orangeburg, South Carolina, British Colonial America Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    FamilySearch ID GJ9Y-HLH 
    Name Arthur CARNEY (KEARNEY)  [2
    _UID 9C08137314704D8FA601A7F0368C3B4A0FEF 
    Died 1783  Georgia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I112681162  Carney Wehofer Feb 2024 Genealogy
    Last Modified 4 Dec 2023 

    Father Arthur KEARNEY, Carney,   b. Abt 1710, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 16 Aug 1764, Chowan County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 54 years) 
    Mother Sarah Ann ALSTON,   b. 11 Sep 1713, Chowan County, North Carolina, British Colonial America Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 16 Aug 1764, Edgecombe County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 50 years) 
    Married Abt 1730  Chowan County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F14056  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Indian Woman CHOCTAW,   b. Abt 1740, Indian Territory Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Children 
     1. Iklannabee (Ikenaby, Iklanby) John CARNEY,   b. Abt 1758, East Choctaw Indian Territory Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Abt 1855, Choctaw Indian Territory, Mississippi Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 97 years)
    Last Modified 29 Aug 2016 
    Family ID F50573638  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Elizabeth ADERTON,   b. Abt 1733, Rowan County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Abt 1769, Mississippi Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 36 years) 
    Children 
     1. John CARNEY,   b. 1748-1752, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1838, Davidson County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 86 years)
     2. Trader Arthur CARNEY (KEARNEY),   b. Abt 1750-1760, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 6 Jul 1804, Mississippi Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 44 years)
     3. Jeremiah CARNEY (KEARNEY),   b. 1767,   d. Yes, date unknown
     4. Margaret CARNEY (KEARNEY),   b. 1769, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Bef 23 May 1793, Midway, Liberty, Georgia Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 24 years)
    Last Modified 29 Aug 2016 
    Family ID F50573639  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 3 Matilda,   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Married Abt 1775 
    Children 
     1. William CARNEY (KEARNEY),   b. 28 Feb 1779,   d. Yes, date unknown
    Last Modified 29 Aug 2016 
    Family ID F50573649  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Photos
    ColonialRedEnsign.jpg
    ColonialRedEnsign.jpg
    Early Indian Tribal Trading Map
    Early Indian Tribal Trading Map

  • Notes 
    • I preface this particular person's lineage with the caveat that this is a 'best evidence' assumption based on facts and DNA evidence. Positive proof of Iklennabee's and John Carney's (B:1748-1750) father is NOT available and based on conclusions.

      Background: It is concluded that the father of Iklennabee was likely a white man who married a Choctaw Indian woman. In Choctaw language, iklanna means 'half' in relation to blood (brother), and the full meaning was "Half-blood Warrior". Many Choctaw families helped their daughters select a trader as husband. Both Traders and elite Choctaw families sought these unions but chiefs like Franchimastabe and Taboca controlled the actions of such foreigners who wished to become part of Choctaw Society. Elite power became increasingly associated with these foreigners and their imported goods. Only elite Choctaws had marriageable access to traders and only elite Choctaw women married these traders in the late eighteenth century.

      DNA testing of several Carney Family volunteers has confirmed the Mississippi John Carney (B: 1775) line is related through an exact match with 37 markers to the Tennessee John Carney (B: 1748) line. Despite other researchers speculation, we cannot merge Iklannabee into John Carney (B: 1748) who is believed to be his half-brother. Reasons: (1) That John Carney has children with sufficient documentation proving that they were born and partially raised in the North Carolina and then arrived in Tennessee territory in 1783 - Iklannabee birthdate firmed up about 1758 and would have been father at 12. (2) Iklannabee was Indian in appearance, and ? breeds were not then allowed to own land in Tennessee/North Carolina or serve as juror. (3) It is shown in several Censuses that John and his children were never mentioned to be anything other than white.

      This leads us to conclude that John of Tennessee and John of Mississippi have a common male progenitor although the evidence points out it cannot be the same father, thus a generation is skipped and John of Tennessee is actually the uncle of John of Mississippi. These families are found together in eastern North Carolina, which later became Tennessee with ample evidence of association with each other and each other's friends and acquaintances. This father/grandfather of the two men, points to a Carney/Kearney man who probably entered the country from Ireland around 1731, arriving in all probability in either eastern Florida (later state of Mississippi), or colonial Georgia. Some evidence points to his being a Flax Linen Spinner/Trader from Northern Ireland who took up Trading in the new land, and some evidence points to his coming in as an Irish-Scott brigade soldier/farmer given land and passage by the French Military in exchange for service, and may indeed be the same former Flax Spinner. We do not know if this was a trader or soldier for certain. Not long after his arrival in America, this first Arthur Carney from Ireland had a son, Arthur Carney (Kearney), born in about 1735. It is known that he also had a son named Jeremiah (brother to Arthur B:1735) and another son named William who was a prolific and successful trader among the Indians (documentation maintained). Arthur Carney B: 1732 is also known as Thomas Arthur Carney but apparently usually used his middle name Arthur in most documentation.

      Arthur Carney (B:c-1732) became a trader also, sometime after age 19 and his authorized area for trading was in Choctaw Territory, whereby this authority required he remain at his trading site 6 months out of the year. Most traders spent somewhat less, around 3 to 6 months of the year actually at their post, plus travel time - and like others, Arthur maintained a tobacco plantation and a white wife and family back 'home' for the other 6 months of the year. Documentation shows that Arthur was an active trader and land holder and was quite a successful businessman.

      Arthur was offered, and took a Choctaw Indian wife - whose name is uncertain, but was from a prominent family; and from this union his wife bore Iklannabee, born around the year 1758. Arthur was married to a white woman also while in North Carolina and later Georgia where he based some of his holdings. Her name was Elizabeth Aderton, as noted in several dealings outlined below. From this marriage, Arthur had at least one daughter, Margaret Carney, and three sons - Jeremiah Carney (not Jerry), Arthur Carney (Indian Trader), and John Carney B:1748. Pending further documentation, Arthur may have a possible fourth son, a trader William Carney who died in 1795 without children.

      The French withdrew from east Florida/Mississippi October 16, 1762 and ceded their claims in eastern Florida (Louisiana, Mississippi, etc) to Spain. The following year, the treaty of Paris gave Britain nearly all of France's holdings in America, setting the stage for dispute and conflict and a confusion of loyalties for the colonist. Who did they recognize as the true masters and heirs and to whom would they side with when the war of Independence broke out in 1776?

      By October 1775 all branches of government in the Georgia Colony were gone except for the Judicial branch after being overtaken.
      In December 1775 what was left of the Provincial Congress appointed a new Council of Safety. They were to organize a battalion to defend Georgia. On Jan 7th, 1776 the battalion was further organized by elected and commissioned field officers. This is when the prominent and wealthy ARTHUR CARNEY was "elected or commissioned" as a "Company Officer" with a rank of Captain, of the Fourth Company. John McIntosh, Jr Captain and Lachlan McIntosh JR 1st Lt were commissioned for the third Company. Capt Carney had 2 Lieutenants, 4 Sergents, 4 Corporals and 48 Sentinels in his company.

      In August 1777, Captain Arthur Carney was taken prisoner by the British at St. Simons Island, Georgia "Their crews captured and carried away Captain Arthur Carney, five citizens, several negroes, and as much household furniture as could be conveyed in the barges." For any number of possible reasons, Arthur deserted to the British on the "10th of August 1777, and subsequently joined the enemy." His son Arthur (B: 1755/D:1804) was also a Tory he too sided with the British. After the war 100,000 loyalist were dispersed to all parts of the Empire, from Britain to Mississippi, West Indies, Canada and Florida.

      Unfortunately, Arthur did not survive the war and was killed during the waning hours of the war in 1783. His property of 300 acres at Sunbury, was put up for auction in August 1781 as confiscated property, even before his death. This disposal of assets continued after his demise with other properties of "late the property of Arthur Carney...being persons named in the Act of Confiscation and Attainder, as enemies to the State." Public sale held at Sunbury February 1785. This was followed by Confiscated Estates sales in St. Patrick's Parish (now Glynn County), and others.

      Partial Documentation (more on file):
      1761- P 495 Jacob Lockerman of St Johns Parish, to ARTHUR CARNEY. Bill of Sale dated 1761, for his stock of cattle in said parish, and two flats (Boats) Witnesses L James Aderton, George Noble.

      COMMENT: This sale witness, James Aderton confirms the ties our Arthur Carney with his wife Elizabeth Aderton and her family.

      P 88 Kenneth Baillie, John Elliott, Grey Elliott, Trustees for the Town of Sunbury to ARTHUR CARNEY. Deed dated May 5, 1760 , for town lot 393 in Sunbury, size 70X130'. No Witnesses.
      P89 James Maxwell, Kenneth Baillie, John Elliott, Trustees of the Town of Sunbury, to Samuel Tomlinson. Deed dated Jan 4, 1762 for lot #314 in Sunbury, size 70x130'. Witnesses: James Lockerman, Abraham Williams, Transfer recorded with deed, from Tomlinson to Arthur Carney, dated Dec 27, 1762

      P 90 William Braswell to ARTHUR CARNEY. Bill of Sale for slave dated 9-11-1763. Witnesses: Alexander Kilpatrick, Sanders Colson. Deed signed by William Bracewell.

      P255 Marriage Contract dated Sept 22, 1763, between Cornelius Rain and Margaret Lucas, widow, whereby her property consisting of six negroes is to remain hers, free from any clam on his part of his liabilities. Witnesses ARTHUR CARNEY and Elizabeth Carney. Probated by Arthur Carney in St Johns Parish before Francis Lee. J. P. of said Parish.
      COMMENT: This marriage Contract probated by Arthur, and witnessed by him and his wife Elizabeth further document his wife as Elizabeth Aderton.
      Thursday, July 28, 1763, Savannah, Georgia, Newspaper Clippings (Georgia Gazette) Notices: I hereby acknowledge that the words I inadvertently dropped to the prejudice of the characters of Arthur Carney, planter, and William Baker, carpenter, in respect to their being privy to or concerned in clandestinely conveying away horses from the northward, is without proper foundation and I never knew anything dishonest in either of them (Signed) John Hobbs. St John's Parish

      December 1764 Colonial Records of Georgia - Text version of Arthur petition for 500 acres
      A Petition of Arthur Carney, setting forth that had granted him two hundred and fifty Acres of Land ...
      Desirous to obtain an additional Tract having a Wife two Children and ten negroes Therefore praying
      for five hundred Acres upon a Branch of Turtle River not be defrauded of his Quit Rents the Prayer of the Said Petition is granted---Dec 1764
      P9
      Samuel Tomlinson of St George Parish, carpenter, to ARTHUR CARNEY Bond for Title dated Dec 27, 1762, agreeing to make title to 250 acres on the Altamaha River bounded S. E. by George Moore, Witnesses: John Martin, Abraham Williams.

      Arthur Carney Land Grant
      100 Acres St Philip Parish
      Surveyed Nov 18, 1760 Plat Book C page 38
      Granted May 21 1762 Grant Book D, Page 134
      Bounded on the Southwest by Thomas Goldsmith and North by Josiah Powell
      (This was in the 1732-1758 District of Ogeechee (above Canoochee River) 1758-1777 Parishes of St Phillip Effingham County by 1777, Below the Canoochee River was in Chatham County by 1777 (Savannah)
      St Simons was St James Parish, From the Altamaha to the Turtle River became St David Parish from the Turtle to the Little Satilla, St Patrick, Little Satilla to the Great Satilla, St Toms, Great Satilla to the St Mary's St Mary - created in 1765

      Carneys Cowpen - In 1776 Bernard Romans Travel south of the Altamaha River The Trip to Brunswick was in April 1773 but the trip to St Mary's Rivers was in Summer of 1776; The Kings Rd to St Augustine? Follows the Old Post Rd at the county line of Brantley and Glynn Counties. One evening Bartarm stopped at a cowpen, probably Carney's Cowpen "Carneys are in the Earliest Land Grants of GA English Crown Grants as early as 1747. He lodged that night at a cowpens, identified by Francis Harper as belonging to Arthur Carney, a prominent planter in that sparsely settled region...

      Land Summary:
      Carney, Arthur 100 acres, St. Philip Parish, May 21, 1762
      150 acres, St. John Parish, December 3, 1761
      500 acres, south side of the Altamaha River, February 3, 1767
      500 acres, St. Patrick Parish, June 7, 1774
      300 acres, St. Thomas Parish, November 1, 1774
      150 acres, St. David Parish, November 1, 1774
      300 acres, St. Patrick Parish, December 6, 1774
      P 119 ARTHUR CARNEY of St. David's Parish, palnter, to JAMES BUTLEr ST Patrick's Parish, planter. Deed dated Dec #, 1773. Conveys 300 acres in St Patrick's Parish granted Feb. 3, 1767, to John, William and Jane Carney; thereafter said John CARNEY by his Power of Attorney dated May 15, 1773, appointed said Arthur to sell his undivided interest in said lands: and William and Jane Carney had also granted the grantor Arthur their Power of Attorney to do the same. Witnesses Robert Andrew, Andrew Cunningham. Probated by Andrew before James Spauling. JP
      P122 ARTHUR CARNEY and Elizabeth his wife, of ST. David's Parish, James Butler of same place. Deed dated Dec 3, 1773, conveying 250 acres in St Patrick's Parish deeded by John Duncan and Catherine his wife to said Arthur Carney on Jan 2, 1772, same lying on south side of a branch of Turtle River. Witnesses: Andrew Cunningham, Robert Andrews. Probated by Andrews before James Spaulding J. P. Siad land having bene granted said John Duncan July 2, 1771

      Additional Sources: Over 500 pages of Notes, Records and Files at the Carney DNA Project Jim Carney www.avocadoridge.com/jim March 2010

  • Sources 
    1. [SAuth] Jim Carney, compiled by James H Carney [(E-ADDRESS), & MAILING ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE], Buderim, Queensland 4556 AUSTRALIA.

    2. [S1160] FamilySearch Family Tree (http://www.familysearch.org), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ((http://www.familysearch.org)), accessed 17 Nov 2022), entry for Thomas Arthur CARNEY (KEARNEY), person ID GJ9Y-HLH. (Reliability: 3).