Robert Lee Toney, Sr.

Margaret Lillian "Marnie" Porter's notes:

Robert Toney, Sr. and his brother Poindexter Toney were the first settlers on the Big Coal River, then Virginia, now WV. When the land west of the Allegheny Mountains was opened for settlement, Congress gave large land grants to soldiers who wanted to settle there. Robert Toney received a land grant on Big Coal River extending from Joe's Creek along Big Coal River for five or six miles, including all of Toney's Branch. At the same time, his brother Poindexter Toney received a large land grant farther down the river, including Peytona.

Robert, Toney, Sr. and Poindexter Toney came to Big Coal River, staked their claim, planted a crop, then went back east for their families. When they returned they found that Indians had burned their cabins and bears had destroyed their crops.

Robert Toney, Sr. had a son Robert Toney, Jr. He was born on the new land and lived there all his life. He was active in politics and served in the Virginia Legislature which met in Williamsburg, VA. He rode horseback from Big Coal Creek to Williamsburg to attend.

Robert Toney, Sr. had a stroke and was paralyzed the last ten years of his life. After his death, his daughter Nancy and husband John Armstrong Porter moved into the home which now belonged to their son Andrew.

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