Courtney Families and their Descendants, Livingston Parish, La. File prepared by D.N. Pardue and submitted by Donald W. Johnson ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Written by Hubert L. Perry - reprinted with permission. The Courtneys are one of the most illustrious families of the English nobility, and have inter- married with not a few of the Royal houses. They took a prominent part in the Crusades. The family of Courtenay took its name from the town of Court- enai, near Paris, about the time surnames first came to be used in France, shortly before the Norman Conquest. Sir Reginold De Courtenay came to England with the Duke of Normandy, afterwards Henry II of England, and Elenor, his wife, in the year 1151, and married Hawise D'Abrincis, daughter of Courtenay, Earle of Devon. Athon, the son of Chat- elain De Chateay Reynard, who in 1000, fortified the town of Cortenai, about fifty six miles south of Paris, was the founder of the Courtney family. We find that there was a Robert Courtney, an English emigrant who settled on the north side of the York river and Mattapong river in Virginia in 1680. In his will approved April 2, 1751 he names his wife Hannah and his children Phoebie (Phebe), widow of William Jones, Phillip Courtney, Thomas Courtney and John Courtney. They were at this time living in Onslow county, North Carolina. But we find later that there was a James Court- ney who served in the Revolutionary War under Cap- tain Cole. James Courtney was born in Craven County, South Carolina, October 17, 1764 and died in Simpson County, Mississippi on July 10, 1846. He had married Elizabeth McBroom and lived in Washington County, Virginia before coming to Mississippi. He had at least one son, Isaac Courtney who lived in Rankin County, Mississippi. The first Courtney that we can find in Miss- issippi territory was John Courtney who came in the same time that the Curtis families arrived. John Courtney had married Hannah Curtis, a daughter of Richard Curtis Sr., a Revolutionary soldier. Hannah Curtis had been born in about 1749 in South Carolina. John Courtney received several Spanish land grants in what is now Jefferson County and also in Amite County, Mississippi. He sold the lands in Jefferson County about 1800 and lived in Amite County as did most of the other Courtneys. When the 1792 Spanish census was taken, John Courtney and his family were the only Courtneys in Natchez District and in the census of Wilkinson County which took in what later became Amite. We find only John Courtney, Mary Courtney and Thomas Courtney in 1805 as heads of families. But in 1810 after Amite County was formed, we find that there were the following Courtney families. John Courtney (probably senior). 2 females under 21 and 2 females over 21. Benjamin Courtney, age over 21, living alone. Jonathon Courtney, age over 21, living with him a female under 21, probably his wife and a female under 21, probably his daughter. Jonas Courtney, age over 21, a female over 21, probably his wife and 3 males and 4 females under 21, probably his sons and daughters. Richard Courtney, age under 21, a female under 21, probably his wife and 2 males under 21, probably his sons. Thomas Courtney, age over 21, and a female over 21, probably his wife, 2 males and 1 female under 21, probably their two sons and a daughter. Ezra Courtney, a preacher came to Mississippi about 1802 or 804 from Black Creek, South Carolina where he was a preacher. His wife was naemd Elizabeth. At this time he had living with him a male over 21, a female over 21, probably his wife, four males under 21 and 3 females under 21. He was over 21. He died in Amite County in 1855. The U.S. Census of 1820 for Amite County shows only two Courtney families still living there. John Courtney over 45, and a female 16 to 26. Robert Courtney, age over 45 and probably his wife over 45. Also 1 male 26 to 45, 1 male 16 to 26, 1 male under 10. A female between 10 and 16, probably were his children. The 1830 U.S. Census of Amite County shows: Enoch Courtney family. James Courtney family. R.J. Courtney family. Mrs. S. Courtney family. J.A. Courtney family. James Courtney family in Jackson County. Jesse Courtney family in Simpson County. John Courtney family in Perry County. William Courtney family in Covington County. The early marriage records of Mississippi show the following marriages: Wilkinson County - Sarah Rebecca Courtney to Absalom Pennington February 8, 1806 Jonathon Courtney to Winfred Douglas February 12, 1807 Richard Courtney to Sophriana Davis February 27, 1809 Amite County - Elizabeth Courtney to Levi H. Curtis 1-7-1811 Phibi Courtney to Benjamin Curtis 4-25-1811 Enoch Courtney to Mary Ann Humble 4-23-1824 E.W. Courtney to Judy Loflin 7-18-1826 John A. Courtney to Jane Loflin 1-12-1827 R.J. Courtney to Mary Ingraham 4-14-1831 James Courtney to Sarah Forlow 11-27-1827 Early deed records of Amite County, Mississippi - John Courtney Sr., Lavinia Courtney 4-2-1813 John Courtney Sr., Richard C. Courtney 4-2-1813 John Courtney Sr., Jonathon Courtney 4-2-1813 Richard Courtney, Isreal C. Courtney 10-19-1813 Jonathon Courtney, Joseph Smith 3-24-1818 Richard Courtney, Joseph Francis 12-6-1818 Benjamin Courtney, Levi. H. Curtis 11-21-1820 James Courtney, Jonathon Courtney 11-21-1820 Benj. Courtney, Admr James C. Courtney 11-21-1820 Jonathon Courtney, Elias W. Courtney 3-10-1823 Elias W. Courtney, Jno. A. Courtney 12-27-1823 Elias W. Courtney, Lavinia Courtney 12-27-1823 This will give you some idea of the number of Courtneys in the area, all related but in what way I have as yet been unable to determine. I hope to some day untangle this web. So for the present we can only assume. According to a descendant, Elias W. Courtney, who married Julia Elizabeth Loflin in 1826, was a son of Thomas Courtney. Also Sarah Rebecca Court- ney, who married Pennington is supposed to have been a daughter of Thomas. I believe that W.E. was also a son of Thomas. Elias W. Courtney and Julia were living in Liv- ingston Parish, Louisiana in 1850. He was 57 & born in South Carolina. She was 43 and born in Georgia. Wade Courtney, 23, born in Mississipi and Melissa Courtney, 20, born in Louisiana were living with them. I believe that W.E. Courtney, (probably named as William) was born in South Carolina about 1789. Two of his sons named a son William; therefore the reason for assuming his name was William. Also W.E. named his oldest son Elias W., probably after the Elias W. who married Julia Loflin. If so, he may be his brother. Another reason to think that W.E. was the son of Thomas Courtney is the fact that all three of W.E. Courtney's sons, Elias W., Isaiah and John named sons Thomas. Our W.E. Courtney married some time around 1813 as his first son Elias W. was born in Mississippi in about 1815. But he must have moved to Louisiana prior to 1820 as John or J.E. was born there about that time. Isaiah was born in Louisiana in 1822 & richard in 1832. They then moved to Arkansas. In 1840, the U.S. Census shows us that W.E. and his family are living in Horsehead Township, Arkan- sas, Johnson County. At this time, W.E. Courtney is listed as being between 50 and 60 and his wife be- tween 40 and 50. There were two females between 10 and 15 in the family, probably daughters. There was a male 14 to 20 years old (John?), a male 10 to 15 (Isaiah?) and a male 5 to 10 (Richard?). A male 20 to 25 years old (Elias W.?), a female 15 to 20 (his wife?). There were 2 boys and one girl in this household under 5. This would have to be the children of Elias W., William, age 2, George and Sarah, age 1, (twins). The U.S. Census report prior to 1850 listed the head of household only and then the other members were listed under age groups. Therefore, there was very little information available from these re- ports. The 1850 and later census' gave much more. 1850 John County, Arkansas Census: NAME age-sex where born E.W. Courtney 35 m Ms. Milly Courtney 29 f Al. George W. Courtney 11 m Ark. Sarah Courtney 11 f Ark. John B. Courtney 10 m Ark. Irena Courtney 8 f Ark. Jonathon Courtney 7 m Ark. Mary E. Courtney 1 f Ark. Elizbeth Umberson 45 f Ky. Mary Snider 25 f Al. Clarissa C. 10 f Ark. Jane E. 5 f Ill. George Williams 17 m Ark. Living two houses from E.W. were his two brothers and their families. The other brother was living with Isaiah and was named Richard. Isaiah Courtney 28 m La. Elizabeth Courtney 24 f Tenn. William Courtney 8 m Ark. Jane Courtney 6 f Ark. Isaiah Courtney 5 mo m Ark. Richard Courtney 17 m La. (listed as deaf and dumb) John Courtney 30 m La. Milly Courtney 26 f Tenn. Thomas Courtney 7 m Ark. Reuben Courtney 1 m Ark. Jonathon Courtney 3 m Ark. William Courtney 12 m Ark. (son of E.W.) W.E. Courtney and his wife had died prior to 1850, therefore are not listed. It was shortly after this that the whole Courtney clan moved to Burleson County, Texas. Probably about 1852 as we can tell from where some of the children were born. 1860 Burleson County, Texas Census E.W. Courtney 44 m Ms. M. Courtney 40 f Al. George Courtney 20 m Ark. John Courtney 19 m Ark. Isaiah Courtney 8 m Tx. Richard Courtney 6 m Tx. R Courtney 27 m La. E. Courtney 19 f Ark. Elizabeth Humberson 48 f Ky. J.E. Courtney 39 m La. E. Courtney 35 f La. S.E. Hamilton 12 f Ark. Sarah 10 f Ark. Louise 5 f Ark. Elias Courtney 3 m Ark. Thomas Courtney 16 m Ark. 1860 Milam County, Texas Census Isaiah Courtney 30 m La. Jermetha Courtney 22 f NC Isaiah Courtney 10 m Ark. Margaret Courtney 8 f Tx. John Courtney 6 m Tx. Henry Courtney 4 m Tx. Thomas Courtney 2 m Tx. Both John and Isaiah served in the Civil War from Milam County. I have not attempted to trace any members of these two families to a conclusion. The oldest son of Elias W. Courtney was Will- iam as we know. He was born January 5, 1838 in Ark- ansas and diedin Burleson County, Texas on April 3, 1900. He married Mariah Letts in Caldwell on Nov- ember 16, 1863. He ran one of the first stores to open in Lyons, Texas. He had three children. The first was Sarah Elizabeth Courtney, born March 6, 1865 and died April 1, 1884. She is buried near her father in Opperman Hill Cemetery. Another daughter was Irena Courtney. He had only one son who was named William Courtney Jr. He was called "Little Bill." William Courtney, Sr. was called "Bill" and also "Pegleg Bill" as he had lost a leg. Little Bill seems to have been quite wild and restless. He always carried a pistol, which was not unusual, but he didn't mind using it. He was said to have been in quite a number of "shoot-outs" and finally was convicted and sent to prison. He escaped shortly after his imprisonment in 1889 and was soon captured and returned to prison. After serving his term, he returned home and married and was the father of three children. In 1914, Little Bill had rode the train from the Lyons station to Caldwell to transact some business. He returned to Lyons late that evening and as he stepped from the train he was met by a charge from a shot gun held by Reinhart Hein. He was hit but managed to make it inside the station where he hoped to escape any more shots. Hein ran around to a window of the station and fired the remaining shot into Bill, this time killing him. It is not quite known what caused the shooting, but some say that Bill had insulted Hein's wife on the streets of Lyons and this caused the trouble. Whatever the reason, Bill was dead. As we know, the oldest daughter of Elias W. was Sarah Courtney and she married James W. Perry. The next daughter, Elizabeth married a Ryan, then her daughter Mary Elizabeth Ryan married J.D. Stamps. J.D. Stamps had come from Mississippi where we was born. J.D. and Mary Stamps had several children. A son David Frank, whom grandpa called "cousin Frank" although folks of today didn't know why. They were actually second cousins. A daughter of J.D. & Mary Stamps, named Elizabeth married Gib Moore. This was the forebearer of the Moores in Burleson County. Around the early 1900's and when grandpa and grandma lived around the Deanville area, he always liked to go visit Lizzie Moore and her family. It didn't set too well with grandma as she thought he just wanted to be around Lizzie. He tried to tell grandma they were kin but she never could under- stand quite how and thought he only used this as an excuse. Well, we can see now how he was related to Lizzie Moore. The Courtneys lived around Lyons when they came to Burleson County. The first land being purchased from Daniel R. Perry, a cousin of James W. Perry. There still are some Courtneys livings in the county, as well as other descendants but most have moved to other parts of the state and country. W.R. "Dick" Courtney was the father of George Courtney who in turn was the father of John, George, Lester and Jess. A daughter, Mrs. William Jancik Senior of Caldwell is the only daughter. John Courtney married Minnie Nichols, a daughter of Jim and Mamie Nichols. A few early Courtney marriages of Burleson County were: J.H. Courtney to Germette Autry, Nov. 10, 1859 Thomas Courtney to Miranda Hatchett, January 1866 Isaiah Courtney to Sarah Albright, March 12, 1874. E.W. Courtney to Irene Pillow, October 31, 1877.