Brothers William R. Sweeney b.14 Aug 1841 in Smyth County, Virginia and d. 20 Dec 1928, in Kanahawa, West Virginia and Robert W. b.26 Oct 1846 in North Carolina and d.08 May 1925 in Walton, West Virginia, Roane County, were the sons of Edward Sweeney b.01 May 1815 in Rutherford County, NC and d.19 Sep 1881 in Bufflick, WVA.

William and Robert as well as their brother Thomas b.1843 served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. William and Robert served in Company E, 23rd Virginia Infantry, and Robert was wounded t the Battle of Droop Mountain in November 1863.

In September 1864, Robert and William were captured near Winchester, VA by Union forces undr the command of General Phillip Sheridan. They both were sent to Lookout, MD, a Union prison camp. Both William and Robert were released in April 1865 after taking an oath of allegiance to the Union.

After the war was over, William and Robert came to settle in the Walton area of Roane County. Brother Thomas remained in the Tazwell, VA area. Robert married Martha Ann Taylor, b.1848 and d.25 Oct 1873. She was the daughter of Farthe and Elizabeth Taylor. The had 4 children Amanda b.29 Aug 1867 d.29 Dec 1959, William b.Feb 1870, Emma b.10 May 1873 d.1917 and Ardelia b.31 Dec 1872 d.22 Jun 1961.

Martha died in 1873 and is buried in the Board Cemetery near Wellford in Kanawha County. Robert married Sarah Ryan on 25 Apr 1875 in Walton, WVA She was b.17 May 1854 and d.14 Sep 1927. There were eleven children born to this union.

James Robert Swiney b.04 Mar 1877 d.24 Feb 1896
Nancy Virginia "Jenny" Swiney b.04 Mar 1877 d.20 Sep 1879
Henry E. "Jack" Swiney b.12 Nov 1879 d.28 Dec 1962
Sarah Florence Swiney b.25 Sep 1881 d.03 Oct 1884
John Herbert Swiney b.19 Jan 1884 d.06 Oct 1973
Rebecca Ann Swiney b.03 Nov 1885 d.10 Aug 1958
Wilfred Darius Swiney b.31 Jan 1888 d.15 Oct 1962
Samuel Morgan Swiney, Sr b.01 Dec 1889 d.Apr 1971
George Howard Swiney b.21 Oct 1892 d.12 Apr 1936
Amos Woodson Swiney b.29 Aug 1894 d.25 Nov 1946

William R. Sweeney moved to the Bufflick area of Kanawha County, near Clendenin. He married Elizabeth Mary Taylor in 1868. (she was an Aunt to Robert's first wife (Martha) She was b.Nov 1833 and d.01 Aug 1925. Her parents were Thomas Taylor and Mary Owens. William and Elizabeth had 5 children:

Thomas b.18 Jan 1868 d.07 Jul 1936
Sarah L. Swiney b.16 Apr 1871 d.30 May 1911
Andrew J. Swiney b.16 Apr 1871 d.10 Jun 1931
Susanah Swiney b.10 Apr 1874 d.17 Dec 1952
Unamed Swiney b.1878

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Posted by John Walters, October 31, 2006 07:36AM