General Notes

a native of Somerset, Ireland, crossed the Atlantic about the time of the Revolutionary war, and settled in New York State, where he was married to a lady of that state, to whom was born a large family, Edward being the second eldest.

Lycoming PA
Another curious case, between John Toner and Morgan Sweeny, appears on the records. Toner settled on the Indian land in 1773, a few miles west of the Dougherty improvement; but he exchanged his place for another, on which he resided, with the view of making a permanent home for himself and family. When the war broke out and there was a call for men he was disposed to enlist, but hesitated for fear he would forfeit his improvement under the Fair Play law. His friends, however, promised to protect his claim for him and he entered the army.

In 1775 Sweeny entered into a contract with him (Toner) to lease the land under conditions that he should make certain improvements on the place for the benefit of Toner. This lease was deposited in the hands of a third party to hold. Mrs. Sweeny, however, managed to get hold of the lease and she and her husband destroyed it, thinking by so doing to make the place their own. They continued to occupy it till driven off by the Indians. In the meantime Toner was absent from the settlement in the service of his country. When he returned from the army he found Sweeny in possession of his improvement and he refused to give it up, denying that there was any contract or lease requiring him to do so. Toner brought a suit of ejectment in the court and won.