Biography

Thomas may have been born in Nansemond county, Virginia - his father Barnaby was a Burgess there, and a Jamestown settler: "Kearney lived in Nansemond County; records show he owned 460 acres there. He served as a Justice in Nansemond in 1678 and was a Major in the Nansemond County, Militia in 1680. In 1684, he was elected to serve as the Burgess from Nansemond. He was still living in the county as late as 1697, when he authorized Captain Joseph Godwin to serve as his attorney. Since he was living in Nansemond as late as 1697, he probably died there. ...Although the name of Barnaby Kearney’s wife is unknown, he had two sons who have been proven: (1) Barnaby Kearney II, who married Elizabeth Godwin, the daughter of Thomas Godwin II, who also married Martha Bridger; and (2) Thomas Kearney, who married Sarah Alston."^[1] He married Sarah Alston on 1 June 1732, in Edgecombe, Pender, North Carolina, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons. He died , between August 1764 to October 1764, in Halifax, North Carolina, British Colonial America, at the age of 59.

Slaves Mentioned in Will

16 August 1764, I Thomas Kearny...

to my loving wife Sarah Kearney three Negros that is Sharper, Didchers & Fennll as also ten cows, six sows, two of the old Work Horses & half of all my household furniture...

loving Son Edmund Kearney four Negroe Fellows nam'd Scipio, Cato, Pompey & Lowil(?) which he has now in his possession and also two Negroe Girls nam'd Sarina & Hester...

to son Philip Kearney six Negroes Viz Jack, Brutus, Kingall(?), Trusa(?), Cyrus & Anakil that is now in his possession as also all the Negroes that is at the home plantation that is not already bequeathed, all my stock of cattle and hogs...(signed). April Court 1764.^[2][3][4]

Thomas Kearney was a slave owner. See Slaves of Thomas Kearney, Halifax County, North Carolina for more details.

Research Notes

According to William and Mary College Quarterly, Thomas was an Irish Lord, from Knockonglass, Tipperary, Ireland, who emigrated in 1700, and his Will is witnessed with a Lord's seal.^[5](see image) If he is indeed the Thomas mentioned as son of Barnaby Cornelius Sr., he would likely have been born before 1700, although his mother's death in 1690 appears to be conjecture. DOB set to "before 1690" pending further research.

Sources

1. ↑ Jamestowne.org
2. ↑ "North Carolina Probate Records, 1735-1970," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-LGCZ-9CZ9?cc=1867501&wc=32G7-YW5%3A169764201%2C170579401 : 21 May 2014), Edgecombe > Estates, 1730-1747 > image 57 of 92; county courthouses, North Carolina.
3. ↑ [1] Slaves Named in Wills Halifax County, North Carolina, 1758-1854 King George County, Virginia, 1721-1804 Halifax County Will Book Volume 1, 1758-1774
4. ↑ Probate: "North Carolina, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998"
   Halifax County, North Carolina, Wills; Author: North Carolina. County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions (Halifax County); Probate Place: Halifax, North Carolina
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 9061 #1902482 (accessed 10 October 2023)
   Thomas Kearny probate on 16 Aug 1764 in Halifax, North Carolina, USA. Residence Halifax, North Carolina.
5. ↑ Genealogies of Virginia Families: From the William and Mary ..., Volume 2, pg 353 By William and Mary College Quarterly Staff