John (2) Looney, son of Robert (1) and Elizabeth Looney of Looney’s Mill Creek of James River in Augusta (now Botetourt) County, Virginia, was born about 1732 +-2, probably just before the family came to America.
In 1749 his name was on the tax list there (possibly taxed for a hourse only, and thus not necessarily over 16 years old). John (2) was married about 1756 or 1757 to Esther, daughter of Stephen Rnefro Sr. (Will (1802-1804), Estate Book 1, Knox Co., Tenn., 149.) She is said to have been in 1739 or 1740 the first white female born west of the James River in that part of Virginia that later was to become part of Botetourt County. (Nat’l Intelligencer, Wash., D.C., 12 July 1921.)
John (2) Looney was security with Robert Rowland on 17 March 1756 when his sister-in-law, Margaret (Rhea) Looney, administered on the estate of her deceased husband, Robert (2) Looney Jr. On 11 October 1759 by the terms of an agreement recorded in May 1765 between Robert (1) and some of his sons, John (2) was to receive the hourses (except 2) and 1/3 of the cows (except 3). On 6 May 1761 John Luney witnessed a power-of-attorney from Charles Milliken of Orange County, North Carolina, to John Buchanan. (Augusta Deeds A, 277.) On 17 February 1762 he assisted in the appraisement of the estate of Christian Hicks. (Augusta Wills 3, 113.) In 1765 J. Looney on Sinking Spring was mentioned as a processioner (but this could be Joseph (2) Looney).
On 27 September 1767 John (2) Looney purchased of his older brother Adam (2) Looney the 271 acres known as the Meadow Run or Bryan’s Creek tract which Adam had bought from Colonel James Patton in 1752. On 4 March 1768
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John Looney had 250 acres surveyed on Looney’s Mill Creek along his own patent line; also 196 acres adjoining John Mill’s land. (Rockingham Co. Surveys 1, 137.) The 250 acres were pruchased from his nephew Peter (3) Looney, but the deed was not made or recorded until 12 January 1796. (Botetourt Deeds 5, 347.)
When Joseph (2) Looney proved the will of Robert (1) Looney in Botetourt County on 13 November 1770, John (2) Looney was security with Abraham McClellan. On that day both John (2) and Joseph (2) were on the Gand Jury in Botetourt County, and John was named as “one of the most capable freeholders of this County.” On 14 May 1771 John (2) Looney succeeded John Mills as overseer of roads, and was again on the Grand Jury. On 13 November 1771 John (2) was on a jury. On 9 September 1772 John Looney and Henry Smith made bond for Jonathan Smith. On the following day John and Joseph Looney were on a jury.
On 12 September 1772 Adam, Joseph, and John Looney were on a jury. On 15 September 1773 Wm. Crow, John Looney, and John Mills Jr. were ordered to allot to Margaret McClain, late Margaret Looney, wife of Peter Looney deceased, her dower in the lands of which her husband was possessed. The next day John and Joseph Looney were again on a jury.
John (2) Looney (assignee of John Perston (who was assignee of George Slaughter) had a survey of 147 acres (64 by entry of 13 June 1781 and 83 by entry of 1791) all on a branch of Stone Creek, waters of Craig’s Creek in Sinking Creek Valley, joining his own tract and his tract known as Peter Looney’s place. (Botetourt Survey Book 3, 28; begining entry 1799.) The grant was dated 25 March 1801. (Grants I, 47, 572.) On 14 December 1796, with others, John Looney witnessed a deed to Walter McDonald from Joseph (2) Looney (of Knox Co., pre Tenn.) for 304 acres in 3 surveys on James River. On 12 February 1805 John Looney purchased 183 acres, the
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Flaggy Spring tract on waters of Craig Creek, from John Tanlor and wife Mary. (Botetourt Deeds 8, 537.)
Then on 8 and 9 June 1807, by a series of 6 deeds, John Looney (joined by his wife Esther in one instance) gave land for love and affection or nominal fees to his children Eleanor, Jane, John, Joseph, David, and Esther. (Botetourt Deeds 9, 306-313.)
At the 1810 census of Botetourt County John (2) Looney appears, over 45, with female over 45, living with Robert Looney, 16 to 26, female 16 to 26, and no children; the name of head of householed being listed “Jno. & Robt. Looney.” On 25 January 1810 John (2) Looney deposed (record in Augusta Co.) concerning George Roepack who settled on Sinking Creek of New River (later Giles Co.) in 1754. On 23 March 1816 John Looney and Esther his wife deeded 315 acres to Robert Looney for 800 pounds. (Botetourt Co. Deeds 12, 98.) On 13 April 1817 a tract of John Looney’s in Botetourt County was divided between his sons David Looney (85 acres) and Joseph Looney (82 acres). (Survey Book 3, 407.) John’s son Robert sold his land and removed from Botetourt at about this time. Did John (2) Looney die about 1817? The name of John (2) Looney is not found in the 1820 census of Botetourt County.
Esther, widow of John Looney, died on 26 February 1821 in her 82d year, on Sinking Creek, Virginia. (Natl. Intellingencer, Washington, D.C., 12 July 1821.) (Search of the 1820 census record of Botetourt County should show a female aged 80 to 90 in the family of some descendant.)
The family records of Benjamin (6) F. Looney (Robert Looney Jr. Branch), onetime Attorney General of the State of Texas, state that John (2) and Hetty (Renfro) Looney had 4 sons, to wit: John, Stephen, Robert, and Peter. (Hetty was a nickname for Hester or Esther.) The Botetourt County deeds as cited above show daughters Jane, Esther, Eleanor, and
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sons Joseph, John, David. That Robert was a son is proved by his marriage bond in 1809, signed by John Looney Sr. as father. In correspondence with the writer, Coyd A. Looney named Mary and Martha as daughters in this family.
In order to assign estimated birth dates to the children of John (2) Looney, the mother’s age is accepted as given in the printed death notice, it has been assumed that the older sons are listed by Judge Ben F. Looney in order of their ages, some marriage dates are available, several census records give approximate ages, the bounty-land papers give the ages for Joseph and Robert, and a precise birth date for Joseph is given by Coyd A. Looney. With dates as adjusted or the whole family, the children of John (2) and Esther (Renfro) Looney would seem to be:
John (3) Looney b. ca 1757. See 3rd Gen. Stephen (3) Looney b. ca 1758. No trace except Judge Ben F. Looney’s report of his existance. Robert (3) Looney b. ca 1760. See 3rd Gen. Peter (3) Looney b. ca 1761. See 3rd Gen. Jane (3) Looney b. ca 1763. See 3rd Gen. Mary (3) Looney b. ca 1766. Probably the Mary Looney who m. Henry Cartill 4 July 1786. Bond signed by John Looney as witness and surety. (Botetourt Mar. Reg., 30.) Martha (3) Looney b. ca 1769. Coyd A. Looney said: “Married a Cuningham.” Possibly a child b. 1773. Was this the Rebecca or Elizabeth who m. Robert or James Bloomer and had dau. Mary Bloomer b. ca 1798, m. ca 1815 Wm. Garrison of Tazewell and removed from Russell Co., Va., to Ozark, Mo., in 1834? A descendant is Mrs. Pearl Blankenship Weddle. End page 4
Esther (3) Looney b. ca 1777. Esther m. John Walker; bond 14 June 1802 signed by John Looney Sr., father, and by John Looney Jr., brother. George Walker was witness and surety. (Botetourt Mar. Reg., 127.) On 9 June 1807 Esther and John Walker, her husband, received 125 acres by deed from her father John (2) Looney, same being a part of the Peter Looney land. (Botetourt Deeds 9, 313.)
Eleanor (3) Looney b. ca 1780, m. (Botetourt bond) 18 Dec. 1805 George Walker Jr. (Botetourt Mar. Reg., 153.) She d. ante 8 June 1807 when her parents, John (2) and Esther Looney, deeded the Flaggy Spring tract of 183 acres on Sinking Creek to son-in-law George Walker and the late ----- Looney, his wife. (Botetourt Deeds 9, 306.)
Joseph (3) Looney b. 4 Jan. 1783. See 3rd Gen. John (3) Looney b. ca 1784. See 3rd Gen. David (3) Looney b. ca 1786. See 3rd Gen. Robert (3) Looney b. ca 1787. See 3rd Gen.
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