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Note: As of this writing (Fall of 1997) the early Loopers, in spite of efforts by many people, are still very much shrouded in mystery.
What follows are some snippets and clues which, hopefully, will
aid future research.
First off, Daniel Looper (ca 1750-c1808). We find him in Iredell County of Salisbury District of North Carolina in 1790. Owns
land on the fork of the Yadkin River in that part of Iredell County which later will be Alexander County, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, close to the Wilkes County line. During a
visit to Alexander County in 1993 his property was pointed out
to us, a mountain top and some bottom land. His property also
includes a Looper graveyard which is still in existence.
During the same visit to Alexander County, Lillian Looper, then in her late eighties mentioned that as a little girl she heard
her grandparents and granduncles talk about the relatives in
South Carolina. She was too small then to pay much attention to
the details and cannot remember names and places. This brings us to Joseph Looper (ca 1745 - 1829). While he is
well documented in Pickens County, South Carolina, his place of
birth and way to South Carolina are still a puzzle. Here are
some of the pieces: His first son Joseph (1765 - 1858) was born
in North Carolina, county still unknown. We know a little more
about his second child, Samuel (ca 1770 - 1845). He was also
born in North Carolina, Iredell County. Son number three, Jeremiah (1775 - 1861) also was a native of North Carolina,
except that Buncombe County is given as his place of birth. The
problem here is that Buncombe County was carved out of the
Salisbury District much later than 1775. It also does not make
very much sense to have Jeremiah born in Buncombe County, which is close to the South Carolina line and then for the family to move back(?) to Iredell County where the following son was born.
I think we really should look for his birth place as also being
in Iredell County. The next son who definitely gets us back to
Iredell County is Daniel (1789 - 1855). Kirby D. Watson, a
fellow Looper researcher, mentions a bible of Henry Looper
(1817) which gives Daniel's birthplace as Iredell County. Also,
a Mrs. Robinson, a descendant of Daniel, independent of Kirby
Watson, also gave Iredell County as Daniel's birth place. Son
Solomon (1789 - 1871) again was born in Buncombe County, North
Carolina. The problem again is that Buncombe County was not formed until 1792. But by 1790 Joseph already is listed in the
Pendleton District, South Carolina, census.
It appears that for a period of almost 25 years, Joseph must
have been a resident of North Carolina with Iredell rather than
Buncombe County as the most likely place. Unfortunately until
now we have not uncovered any deeds or other recorded
transactions to give us final proof. The closest civilized
settlements other than the town of Salisbury, were the Moravian
settlements of Bethabara, Bethany and Salem which now are with in the city limits of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The
Moravian Brethren were very concerned about the religious
well-being of settlers at the far off frontier and had preacher
on horseback who married couples and baptized their children.
The preacher kept a journal of his ministrations which is still
extant in the Moravian archives. An examination of the journal
did not turn up any mention of Loopers.
It appears that neither of the Loopers who we are interested in
were participants in the Revolutionary war. A thorough search of
applicable records by other Looper researchers failed to uncover
pension applications or other evidence.
Now let us turn to James Garrison (1747 - 1841). Facts that are
known about James are that he was born in Frederick Town, PA.
During the Revolutionary War James served as a soldier from
North
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