The Looneys descended from Robert Looney of Augusta and Botetourt Counties, Virginia, are said to have come from Ballagilley Farm about 3 miles south of Ramsey in Maughold Parish, Isle of Mann; or possibly, from Ballalooney in Amogary Parish. They claim that their ancestor fought with Marlborough in Flanders (ca. 1708-1709) in the reign of Queen Anne. According to persistent tradition in these Looney families, they are descended from John and Llewellen Looney who had 14 sons; namely: Moses, Josiah, James, Peter, Jonathan, Adam, Benjamin, Michael, Samuel, John, Robert, David, Joseph and Abraham. Sometimes Absalom is given instead of Abraham. The tradition of John and Llewellen and their 14 sons is widespread and has received considerable attention. It has been considered that John and Llewellen were the parents of Robert(1) who married Elizabeth and lived in Augusta and Botetourt Counties, Virginia. It was also suggested that it originates from the fact that Robert(1) and Robert Jr. had a combined total of 14 children, the births extending from ca 1718 to 1740 and from ca 1743 to 1754 for the sons. (However, only 7 names above given are on the combined list of 10 plus 4.) The tradition has in some cases been traced to Judge Benjamin F. Looney of Greenville, Texas, who states that he copied it from the Bible (since burned) of his grandfather (who was Absalom(4), Benjamin(3), Robert Jr.(2)). Judge Looney's record from the same source for the children of Robert(2) Looney is in agreement with information obtained from the will of Moses(3) Looney and the will of Mary, widow of Benjamin(3) Looney. Records in Hawkins County, Tennessee, of a law suit by William Gardner against Mary, widow of Benjamin(3) Looney, also confirm Judge Looney's account. Finally, it seems that the Bible of Absalom(4) Looney recorded the name of "Hetty Renfro" as the wife of John(2) Looney. Betty is a nickname for Hester of Esther and the Bible record named their sons John, Stephen, Robert and Peter. The searches made in compiling this account of the Looney family have verified the wife's name, and the children named have (chronologically at least) permitted a reasonable interpretation of the John(2) Looney family that otherwise seemed impossible. In brief, the only error that has been shown in connection with the records from the Bible of Absalom(4) Looney is the apparent complete elimination of one generation--that of Robert(1) and his wife, Elizabeth. Therefore, the compiler thinks it probable that John Looney and his wife ------- Llewellen (as Judge Looney writes her name) were the parents of 14 sons (and doubtless some daughters) of whom the 11th (as Judge Looney specifies) was Robert Looney, his ancestor. Of the 14 names above, only Josiah does not appear among the children and grandchildren of Robert(1) Looney and his wife Elizabeth. Some attention should be given to the idea that some of Robert's brothers came to America with him or at about the same time. Maryland muster rolls during the Revolution list a John Loney and a Thomas Looney. The 1790 census of Maryland lists several Loneys and Lunees, but no indications have been found that any of them are related to Robert(1) of August County, Virginia. If the John Lowney, whose estate was appraised on 17 June 1762 (Augusta, Va., Wills 3, 170) was related, it would probably be as a brother to Robert(1), but no indication has been found. Nevertheless, the descendants of Robert(1) have spelled their names in many ways and care is necessary to eliminate others not of the same immediate ancestry. For example, in Fayette County, Kentucky, one finds a Thomas Lony in the 1810 census and a Joseph Lonney marrying a Frances Simpson in 1817 with Thos. Lonny as bondsman. Then Hugh Looney married Nancy Harris in 1837. But at the 1850 census, Hugh Loney, aged 51, with wife Nancy is recorded as born in Ireland. Again, in Strafford County, New Hampshire, at the 1850 census, there is listed Francis Looney, 48, born in England, with wife Roda A., 23, born in New Hampshire. Also in the same county was Richard Looney, 25, born in Nova Scotia. A Thomas Looney came from the Isle of Mann to New York City about 1850 and had a son, Alexander, who was father of Howard C. Looney of Washington, DC. Relatives in Michegan were: Howard M. Looney and Walter Looney, Pontiac; Robert Looney and Thomas Looney, Oakland County. Ellenor Looney and Robert Looney, both born in Ireland, were in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in 1870. Moses Loney with wife Frances and children Amos and William were in Harford County, Maryland, in 1776. Lott Loney and Kitt Loney were in nearby Maryland at the same time. In Virginia, Joseph Lunee, Tarpley Lunee, and Ellis Lunee were in Northumberland County in 1790. No record of Robert(1) Looney family in America has been found of date earlier than 1734 when Robert and Elizabeth Looney were in Philadelphia at the time their son Peter was born. This is known only because of an interview that Peter had on 28 July 1757 at Philadelphia with a correspondent of the "London Chronicle: or Universal Evening Post". The issue for September 6-8 gives an account of Peter's captivity for about a year among the French and Indians at Fort Detroit. Peter stated that he was about 23 years of age, had been born in Philadelphia, and was on his way from Albany to Virginia where his parents lived. (Miss. Valley Hist. Rev. 13, 17; 15, 95.) It is probable that, in 1734, Robert and Elizabeth and their older children, at least 7 sons, had recently arrived in America and that they soon moved westward through Pennsylvania. This family was one of 70 that entered the Colony of Virginia with Alexander Ross and Morgan Bryan, of the Province of Pennsylvania, according to an agreement made as set forth in an order of the Lieutenant Governor and Council of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia date 23 April 1755. (Executive Journal of the Council of Virginia 4, 229. See also Wm. and Mary Historical Quarterly (2) 16, 617; and Hopewell Friends History, 1734-1934, p. 12.) Others among the 41 who were "imported" into Virginia at the same time were: John Mills, John Mills Jr., James Davis, Edward Davis, Evan Thomas, Nathaniel Thomas and Thomas Anderson. Robert Luna (like the others who entered Virginia with Ross and Bryan) received a patent from George the Second. Robert's was dated 12 Nov. 1735 for 294 acres on the south bank of the Cohongoronta (Upper Potomac) River, near Samuel Owen's plantation, to be held as of the King's Manor of East Greenwich in the county of Kent, in free and common socage, not in Capite or by Knight's services, by paying for every 50 acres of land fee rent of one shilling yearly, and by cultivating and improving 3 and part of every 50 acres of the tract within 3 years. This property was probably not far from Hagerstown, Maryland, where, according to some accounts, one of the Looney children once attended school. Robert Lowney received 1540 pounds of tobacco for 11 old wolf's heads at Orange County Court, 26 October 1738. Robert Luney was sued by Jno. Harrison in 1740 concerning 1 long gun. Judgment was obtaine by default in 1741 for 40 shillings and 135 pounds of tobacco (costs), but in 1742 it seemed uncollectable and Robert Luney was not found in the sheriff's bailiwick. (These several actions are recorded in Order Books 1, 2 and 3 of Orange Co., Va.) The home place had been sold to Jeremiah Jacks before the suit. On 22 March 1739, the Orange County Court ordered the recording of the deed from Robert Luna to Jeremiah Jack, but it seems not to have been done. (A second deed was made, perhaps 4 Nov. 1766, by James Jack acting for Robert Looney of Augusta Co.; David Looney et al being witnesses to the power of attorney which was dated 13 June 1766, or possibly recorded in Frederick Co. on that date). Baylor's Book of Surveys at Frederick County Courthouse shows that Robert Looney had a survey on Lunie's Mill Creek in April 1740. The Looney family probably moved south through the Shenandoah Valley about 1739 or 1740. Robert Looney obtained a grant of 250 acres on James River and on Lunie's Mill Creek; also 400 acres on Luie's Mill Creek on 30 July 1742. These lands are not far from Natural Bridge in what had become Augusta County in 1738 (but not organized as such until 1745) and in 1769 became a part of Botetourt County. Consequently, since Augusta County was not organized, the suits in Orange County continued. Adam Payne sued Robert Luney for tresspass in 1745, but after several contunuances, it was dismissed in 1744. [obviously one of these dates is wrong as the suit wouldn't have been dismissed the year before it was filed - EGL] Francis and John Marshall sued Robert Luney for debt in 1744, James Patton being security for Luney. The case was tried by jury 4 August 1744 and verdict found against Luney for 18 pounds 1 shilling 6 pence, with 1 penny damage, and so recorded 3 October 1745. Ornage Order Book 4.) The old Looney home on the James stood on the south bank of the river and the west bank of the creek. There was a ford across the James at the mouth of the creek, but it was seldom usable and the family operated a ferry at the eddy just above the creek. Robert and his sons hunted, ran the ferry and a mill, grazed cattle and horses, and developed a nursery and orchards. (See Kegley's Virginia Frontier, p. 163; also West Va. Blue Book 1924, and Roanoke Times 4 June 1961.) From the Augusta County Court records, as abstracted in Chalkley's Records from Augusta County, Virginia, much can be learned about Robert and Elizabeth Looney and their children. In 1743, he received some cash, probably from the estate of Daniel Monahan. The first court sitting for the new county was held on 9 December 1745 when Ro. Looney, John Newport, and Timothy Holdway were appointed to value improvements by Christian Zimmerman on 400 acres. A court order of 10 February 1745/6 appoints Robert Looney as an appraiser. On 20 August 1747, his wife was excused from attendance at court, being aged and infirm, and a commission was appointed to take her testimony. In 1750, Robert Looney and Jno. Smith were sureties for Elizabeth Barber, administratrix of George Barber. On 11 October 1759, Robert Looney made an agreement with his sons, Peter Looney and David Looney, by the terms of which much of his land and other property were given to these sons who were to build a house for their parents and care for them. There was some delay or dispute over terms of the agreement and meanwhile Peter died in 1760. But again, an agreement was reached. David was even willing to move the barn in order to build the house where his parents wanted it. Peter's widow sent for the cattle that she was to "winter" as her part of the bargain. David drew fire wood to Robert and also wintered cattle. Widow Looney sent a "hand" to cut wood for Robert, etc. During these years both Robert Looney and his sons furnished supplies to troops in service on the frontier. For example, on 15 January 1759 Robert Looney signed a receipt for L6-5s-3d in payment for beef for the use of Colonel John Buchanan's company. (Wisc. Hist. Publ., Preston and Va. Papers, Calendar Series Vol. 1, 44. See also Henning's Statutes vii, 190.) In 1762, Robert is mentioned as exempt from a county levy, probably because of age. Yet, in an old Survey Book in Rockingham County, there is mention of a survey of 60 acres on the south side of the James River for Robert Looney, dated 17 March 1762, of land adjoining other land of said Looney. (Augusta Surveys 2, 14.) But on 13 November 1762, something happened that made it possible for Looney descendants to get considerable information about Robert and his family. On this day, Robert Looney and Elizabeth deeded to John Bowyer 250 acres, the land that was patented in 1742 on 30 July. This seems to have included not only the land verbally given to sons Peter and David, but also land previously given to sons Absalom and Daniel. Consequently, certain suits were brought by the heirs of Daniel and of Peter against Robert Looney and John Bowyer, and these affairs were discussed in the court records at length. Robert(1) was active at least as late as August 1764 when he pleaded in answer to such suits that he was intoxicated when the instruments were signed. On 20 November 1764 he deeded 160 acres of land at Sinking Springs to Joseph Looney. On 24 May 1765 it was decreed that John Bowyer should reconvey to each of the interested parties their lands. This agreement of 1759 was recorded in this same month. John Bowyer deeded the lands to David Looney, to Peter Looney Jr., son of Peter Looney, deceased, and to Margaret Looney, daughter and heiress of Daniel. In May 1768, there is recorded an account or record of settlement between Robert Looney and Irwin Patterson's estate. From this it seems that Elizabeth Looney bought one looking glass and sundry goods on 10 May 1745/6; also that ferriage at 20 shillings per annum for 10 years was due from Patterson's estate to Looney. Certain entries at the October Term of Court in 1770 indicate that Robert was living then, but his death occurred in October or November before his will was proved 13 November 1770.
Abraham McClelland was a brother of the wife of David(2) Looney. And John Looney, who also acted as security for Joseph(2) Looney, the executor, was Robert's son, about 38 years old at that time. John(3) Looney, grandson, was the eldest son of Robert(2) Jr. (decd.) and the legal heir by right of primo geniture. It is unfortunate that Robert(1) Looney did not name all of his children in his will. The muster roll of the Augusta County Militia, Company 8, under Captain George Robinson includes Thomas, Rob, Dan and Adam Looney, in the order mentioned, and the date of this list has been fixed by Waddell as 1742. Probably, Robert(1) was too old for service at that time. This roll is here accepted as a clue to the relative ages of the older sons of Robert(1) and Elizabeth. It is surmised that no other son was as old as 16 in 1742. With the possible exception of Samuel, the above and 6 others are established as sons of Robert(1) Looney by references to the Augusta County records. According to Notable Southern Families (Vol. 2, pp. 304, 313) a Louisa Looney married Captain John Shelby of the military organization of Washington County, Virginia. According to a D.A.R. application paper, (Lineage 78, 382) John Shelby Sr. (b. 1724-d. 1794) went to join his brother Moses in North Carolina in 1750 where he married Louisa Looney. He established a station in the Wautauga District known as Shelby's. Their children were: John Jr. (married Elizabeth Brigham); David (married Sarah Bledsoe); Evan, Thomas, Isaac; Louisa (married Wm. McCrab); and Catherine Shelby (married ------- Evans). Also, according to D.A.R. lineages, Lucy Jane Looney married 1753 Stephen Holston (1729-1776) son of Henry Holston Sr. (Lineage 68, 301; 149, 235.) Among their children was James Henry Holston (1754-1825) who married Lucy Austin (1764- ). Doubtless there were outher daughters. It is not unlikely that some of them may have married men named Clark, Crow, Mills, Rowland, or Smith who were closely associated with the Looneys. Mrs. Edward Spear Atkinson of 1502 Stuart Avenue, Houston, Texas (in 1947) and Mrs. Louisa P. Bosworth of Woodstock, Vermont (in 1945) are interested in various families of early Sullivan County, N.C. In a letter to the compiler from Mrs. Bosworth in 1945 one finds, "Have you any record of the marriage of Abraham McClellan to Julia Ann Looney?" Mrs. Atkinson says he was md. twice, and Julia Ann Looney was his first wife. He [Abraham McClelland] was very evidently the son of John and brother of William who md. Barbara Walker, of Mary who md. Robt. [sic] Looney, and of ----- [Jane] who md. ----- [Samuel] Gamble." (David instead of Robt. Looney was, of course, intended.) Then, in an undated letter of February or March 1947, Mrs. Atkinson included a list of 9 children of William McClelland who married 22 December 1766 Barbara Walker born 1741. Among these children were:
5) Abraham McClelland b. 1 Nov. 1776, m. Julia Ann (or Annis) Looney. The basis of these reports are not known to the compiler and their interpretation with respect to Looney is not clear. As Mrs. Atkinson observed, the Abraham McClelland, son of Wm. and Barbara, was not old enough to have had a daughter marrying in 1802; but it is plain that Abraham McClelland, brother of Mrs. David Looney, was too old to have had a first wife's only daughter that merried in 1802; and especially so because later he had a Rachel who married, ca1759, James Gregg. Thus, if weight is given to the Wallace report, there remains no implication that Julia Annis Looney was one of the daughters of Robert(1) Looney. There is some possibility that these reports may pertain to the Adam Looney Branch of this family (which see). There are other questions of early date. One is the identity of Mary Looney who owned land on the south side of Looney's Mill Creek adjacent to the 196 acres (adjoining Joh Mill's land) that were surveyed for John Looney on 4 March 1768. (Rockingham Co. Surveys 1, 137.) With reference to the 196 acres, Kegley says, "line of his own land and Mary Looney's land." Does this indicate that a Mary Looney had married John Mills at about this time? Professor Taylor thought that Mary, as used here, was an error for Margaret, widow of Robert Looney Jr., but Robert Jr. died in 1756 and Margaret was called Renfro as early as 1763. On the other hand, she and her son John(3) did not sell their 213 acres on Looney's Mill Creek until 1773. (See Robert Looney Jr. Branch.) There was also a Margaret Looney who had a survey of 250 acres on Looney's Mill Creek in 1755, according to Kegley. Peter(2) Looney bought 250 acres on the Creek in 1754, but was not married until ca1759 and died in 1760. His widow Margaret seems not to have married James McCain before 1767 and thus may have had the land surveyed in 1765, but not in 1755. The following is a tentative list of the children of Robert(1) and Elizabeth Looney, with approximate and adjusted best estimates of dates of birth, death, and marriage:
Thomas(2) Looney (b. ca1718, d. 1746) was the first of the Looneys named on the muster roll of Augusta County, Virginia, in 1742 and probably the eldest son and heir of Robert and Elizabeth Looney. The basis for thinking that Thomas(2) Looney died in 1746 is an entry in Augusta Order Book 1, 26, dated 15 April 1746: "Petition of Margaret Lundy--her clothes taken by David Logan, Constable on attachment vs. her deceased husband Thomas Lundey at suit of Daniel Harriss, be returned." Mr. W.C. Weaks of Terre Haute, Indiana, and his cousin, Miss Mabel C. Weaks of New York City, have a record of the birth about 1745 or 1746 of a Louisa Looney who married James Brigham. They have considered that her mother was Margaret Harmon, daughter of Captain Hedrick Adam Harmon, an immigrant from Germany credited with being one of the first permanent settlers on New River in the early 1740's. (Harmon Genealogy of Southern Branch, by J. N. Harmon of Tazewell, Va., 1925.) There may have been another child. Mary, orphan of Thomas Lundey, was ordered bound out to Wm. Williams who was about to remove to Carolina. (Order Book 3, 181, 28 Aug. 1751.) Summers in his History of S.W. Virginia, page 51, mentions that the home of Adam Harmon near Inglis' Ferry on New River was visited by Indians and furs and skins stolen. On 19 November 1760, David(2) Luneys gave bond as administrator of the estate of Thomas Luney. (Wills 2, 424.) Loues Looney, grandchild of Adam Harmon, obtained judgement against Adam Harmon at November Court 1764 on his L10 bond, dated 28 February 1754, to Loues Looney, with lawful interest from 29 July 1746. (Query: Was this the date of birth of Loues Looney?) Witnesses were John Crockett and Ann Crockett. Loues Looney deposed by commission on 22 August 1766 and then on 26 December 1766 at Fort Chiswell James Grigham and David Looney addressed the following to Mr. William Thompson at Back Creek: "We your Humble Servants have this day met and compromised the matter in regard to the money attach'd in your hands on behalf of Louicy Looney with Henry Harmon on his leaving Twenty pounds Virginia currency in your hands." Document 2QQ98, Preston and Va. Papers in Wisc. Hist. Soc.) According to the views as outlined, Loues was about one year old when her father, Thomas, died at age 27; about 6 when her sister Mary was bound out to Wm. Williams; about 19 when she obtained judgment against her grandfather; and 21 when she collected her inheritance. Also one understands why there are no records of other heirs of Thomas Looney. On the other hand, one may ask why, if he died before 15 April 1746, was Thomas Looney cited on 19 November 1746 to work on a road from Adam Harmon's to the north branch of Roan Oak. Perhap his estate was obliged to furnish a man. His name on a delinquent tax list in 1755 could refer to his estate, and David Looney's appointment as administrator on 19 March 1760 could, of course, be a replacement, perhaps after Margaret's death. Louice (Looney) and James Brigham were living in lower Washington County on 6 November 1777 when the names James Brigham and Peter Looney are adjacent on a petition protesting plans for the erection of a court house at a location deemed inconvenient. This Peter is considered as Peter(3) (b. 24 Nov. 1755, son of Absalom(2)) who later, with wife Rachel (perhaps a Harmon), settled in Sumner County, Tennessee, as did James Brigham. James Brigham had grants from the State of North Carolina in 1779, 1781, 1782, 1787, and 1790, etc. Some of the land was in Sullivan County near lands of David Looney, Robert Gray, George Maxwell, and David Maxwell. According to Historic Sullivan, James Brigham operated the first tavern in Blountville, Hawkins County, Virginia [Virginia or Tennessee? - EGL] He donated 30 acres in 1792 for the town of Blountville. He was a Revolutionary soldier. The will of Jaes Brigham, wife Louisa, is of record in Book B.B. (1811-1815), page 77, Montgomery County, Tennessee. Daniel(2) Looney (b. ca1723, d. ca1760) was on the muster roll of August County in 1742. He patented 180 acres on Long Run on 20 August 1748, probably called the Draper place. He lived there in 1753 or 1754 when Robert asked Absalom(2) and his family to come settle because of danger from the Indians at the outlying settlement where Absalom was living on the Bluestone, a branch of New River. Robert asked Daniel to give the 180 acres to Absalom in exchange for some of Robert's land. Daniel made a deed to Absalom on 18 Spetember 1754 for the 180 acres, mentioning ... and Absalom. Colonel Buchanon testified that Daniel, on his death bed and in the presence of his father, Robert, stated that the land was his and was to descend to his daughter; and that Robert did not object or say anything against this. Accordingly, on 19 October 1765, John Bowyer deeded the land to Margaret, heiress and only child of Daniel Looney, deceased. Deed Records indicate that Margaret Looney married John Miner who, on 23 October 1782, received a North Carolina grant of 250 acres on the Holston River. On 19 October 1784, John Miner and wife Margaret of Sullivan County, North Carolina, for L100 sold to John Mills 37 acres on James River below Looney's Mill Creek. Botetourt Deeds 3, 325.) This is probably a part of land that Margaret inherited from her father, Daniel Looney. In Sumner Deeds 1, 424, there is recored one dated April 1797 from David Looney of Sullivan County to Margaret Miner for 106 acres for $200. (Deeds 3, 10.) Among the marriage records of Sumner County, Tennessee, is: Daniel Looney Minor married Elizabeth Breley, 24 October 1805. Samuel(2) Looney (b. ca1727, d. after 1752) was not on the muster roll of Augusta County in 1742. He was named on May 20, 1752, in Augusta County to assist William Smith, overseer, on the road along the Calf-pasture [river] from William Grey's to Ro. McCutcheon's Mill and then to Robt. Campbell's.
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