- On December 19, 1802, Stephen Rentphrow [Sr.] made his Will, which was recorded when it was probated in Knox County, Tennessee. It reads:
In the name of God amen, I Stephen Renfrow of Knox County and State of Tennessee, being of sound and perfect mind and memory and blessed by God, do this Nintheenth day of December 1802 publish this my last will and Testament,
that is to say, first I do hereby set free my Negro winch Jean and her forth child named Will on account of singular service performed to me.
2. I give and bequaith to the Lawful heirs of John and Stephen Renfrow my beloved sons both deceased an equal share with Elizabeth Looney, Ester Looney, also Moses Looney son of my beloved wife.
3. My Plantation and all my Personal and Real estate to be sold to the highest advantage and divided amoung the Legatees after the decease of my Wife, and further that it may be fully understood the Heirs of John and Stephen Renfrow be considered as two Heirs, and their Heirs to receive there shar[e] or fifth part of said estate when they are of full age from the Executioner, all Debts and Funeral expense being paid off.
4. And lastly I do const[it]ute appoint, and ordain Moses Looney son of my Wife to be my whole and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament in witness whereof I Stephen Rentfrow have set my hand and affixed my seal this 19th day of Decemr. 1802.
Signed sealed published and his declared by Testater in presence Stephen Rentphrow of us Jno Adair and Wm. Sample. mark
On the second Monday in July 1804 in the Knox County Court Moses Looney was appointed the executor as follows:
Whereas it appears to the Court here that Stephen Rentphrow Late of this County is dead and hath made his last Will and Testament in Writing in which he hath appointed Moses Looney his Executor which Will hath been exhibited into Court and proved as the Law directs, It is therefore Ordered by the said Court that Letters Testamentory of all and singular the Goods and chattels rights and credits which were of the said Stephen Rentphrow deceased issue to the said Moses Looney he having qualified agreeable to Law ...
Chas. McClung, Clerk
(both above from Knox County Estates, Vol. 1, pp. 149-50)
By late 1805 the Knox County Court ordered James White and Thomas Brown "commissioners to make settlement with the Administrator of the estate of Stephen Rentphrow deceased and make report thereof to next Court." (Know County
Estates, Book 1, p. 182). At the January 1806 session of the Court the commissioners filed their report and by this time Stephen Bishop was administrator of Stephen Rentphrow's estate.
Stephen Bishop admr. of the estate of Stephen Renphrow deceased
To Amount of sale ..................... $281.26
By different Vouchers amounting to ..... $13.16
By balance due the estate ............. $268.10
On a Settlement with the Administrator of the estate of Stephen Renphrow there appears to be due the said estate yet in the hands of the Administrator Two hundred sixty eight dollars & Ten Cents Jany 17th 1806
James White
Ths. Brown
(Knox County Estates, Book 1, p. 186)
(These are my notes) It is believed that the Est[h]er Looney and Elizabeth Looney who are mentioned in Stephen's Will were his daughters. Esther married
John (2) Looney, son of Robert (1) and Elizabeth Looney. Elizabeth Looney
married Capt. John (3) Looney, son of Robert (2) Looney, Jr., son of Robert (1)
Looney. Moses (3) Looney, who Stephen mentions, was a son of Robert (2) Looney, Jr. and Margaret Rhea Looney (who as a widow, married Stephen Renfro). Moses would have been Stephen's step-son. Capt. John (3) Looney would have been both his son-in-law and step-son.
According to Leroy W. Tilton, the known children of Robert (2) Looney, Jr. and Margaret Rhea Looney were:
Capt. John C.3 Looney . 1744-1819 .. m. Elizabeth Renfro, Warren Co., Tennessee
Moses3 Looney ......... 1748-1824 .. m. Sarah Holston, Knox Co., Tennessee .....
Samuel3 Looney ........ 1754-1779 .. killed by Indians in Washington Co, VA ....
Benjamin3 Looney ...... 1756-1783 .. m. Mary Johnson, Hawkins Co., TN ..........
?Mary3 Looney .......... ____-____ .. m. _______ Grimes
Hope this helps. In our new book, Most Distinguished Characters on the American Frontier, Robert Looney ... and Some of His Descendants ... (1998), on p. 354, endnote 32, it states where to find proof that Esther Renfro Looney,
who had married John (2) Looney, was a daughter of Stephen Renfro (The Library of Virginia, Botetourt County Legislative Petitions, December 6, 1817, a petition by John Walker).
Hope this helps.
Madge Looney Crane
http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/LOONEY/1998-07/0901467064
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| Notes |
- "I have no proof on this line: Most of the information I had entered into this database had been taken from the records of Dr. D. O. Manshardt. I
received an email on 7-24-2001 from Dennis Cox in Colorado (formerly of Knox Co., TN.) detailing this information that I have recorded here.
Starting with Peter through Amanda Mary Renfro. Dennis is a direct descendant and researches the Stephen Renfro line.
He received an scanned copy of an actual old Knoxville newspaper article showing Stephen, Jr. dying at the hands of the Creeks during their repulse from east Tn by McClellan. He also has Stephen, Jr.'s probate, dated 1794 which lists his wife Margaret Renfro; however no maiden name was given. He also stated that Stephen, Sr. was more than likely not the son of William and Elizabeth Renfro but he and other researchers think Stephen, Sr. the sibling of Peter, ca later 1690/1700. I have used his information for this line through Amanda Mary, 1828 md."
Curd Cox.
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KEGLEY'S VIRGINIA FRONTIER By: F. B. Kegley
Page 250: Pay to Militia for French and Indian War allowed by Assembly 1758 to Stephen Rentfroe of Bedford (no amount given) for services allowed.
Page 254: Stephen Rentfroe of Bedford (Pay for Provision for militia) 1758
Page 257: Joseph Rentfroe, Bedford Co.; Stephen Rentfroe, Bedford co.; also James Rentfroe, Bedford Co.
Page 300: November 17, 1761, John Neely, 171 acres on Rentfro's Branch of Roanoke (Goose Creek), Renfroe's line, corner Geo Robinson. 137 acres on Robinsons Branch of Roanoke, corner of Bryan Cuff, corner Stephen Rentfro, Corner Geo Robinson and Rentfro's tracts. From Baptist McNabb and Catherine L155.
Page 403: 1771, Road from Stephen Rentfro by Beaver Dam Spring to Court House laid out. Fincastle Town.
Page 416: November 10, 1774, John Paxton - Grant 213 acres from John Looney and Elizabeth and Stephen Rentfro and Margaret; Margaret McLain, the late wife of Peter Looney, her dower; William Ward - Grant 220 acres on Back Creek etc.
Page 493: November 4, 1772, William Preston 144 acres from Stephen Rentfro, Buffalo Creek
Page 506: William Preston purchased 191 acres on Buffalo Creek from Stephen Rentfroe. Also purchased 3 tracts of 400 acres each where upon Rentfroe formerly lived. He had already purchased from Rentfroe (1760) 2 additional tracts 226 acres and 144 acres adjoining the homeplace of 191 acres. Rentfroe's home place became the Preston home, Greenfield, in 1761 and remained to this day. One part of the house are thought to be logs of the original pioneer home. Preston's son, John, became proprietor of the Greenfield estate.
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=deloreswilley&id=I05907
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Abt 1707 - 1804 (~ 95 years)
