The Looneys descended from Robert Looney of Augusta and Botetourt Counties, Virginia, and said to have come from Ballagilley Farm about 3 miles south of Ramsey in Maughold Parish, Isle of Man; or possibly from Ballalooney in Amogary Parish. They claim that an 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, John, Benjamin, Michael, Samuel, 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 had - or 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 of Virginia. It is also suggested that it originated 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 son. (However, only 7 names above given are on the combined list of 10 plus 4.) The tradition has in some
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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) or Robert (2)Jr). 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 lawsuit by Wm. 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 Renfo " as the wife of John (2) Looney. Hetty is a nickname for Hester or 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 Looney family (John (2) Looney) 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, his ancestor. Of the 14 names above, only Josiah does not appear among the children ad grandchildren of Robert (1) Looney and his wife Elizabeth.
Some attention should be given to the idea that some of Robt's brothers came to America with him or at about the same time. Maryland muster rolls during the Revolution list John Looney ad a Thomas Looney. The 1790 census of Maryland lists several Loneys
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and Lunees, but no indications have been found that any of them are related to Robert (1) of Augusta County, Virginia.
If the John Lowney whose estate was appraised on 17 June 1762 (Augusta, Va., wills 5, 170) was related, it would probable be as a brother of Robert (1), but no indication of this has been found.
Nevertheless, the descendants of Robert (1) have spelled their names in many ways and care is necessary to eliminate the others not of the same immediate ancestry. For example, in Fayette County, Kentucky, one finds a Thomas Lonay in the 1810 census and a Jos. Lonney marrying a Frances Simpson in 1817 with Thomas Lonay as bondsman. Then Hugh Looney married Nancy Harris in 1837. But at the 1850 census Hugh Loney age 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, Rhoda A. 23, born in New Hampshire, also in the same county was Richard Looney 25, 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 man to New York City about 1850 and had a son Alexander who was father of Howard C. Looney of Washington, D. C. Relatives in Michigan 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, Md., 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 Northymberland County in 1790.
No record of Robert (1) Looney in America has been found earlier than 1734 when Robert and Elizabeth Looney were in
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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, 76, 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 dated 25 April 1735. (Executive Journal of the Council of 4, 229. See also William and Mary Historical Quarterly (2) 16, 617; and Hopewell Friends History. 1734-1934, p. 12.) Others among 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 Owens' 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 cultivating and improving 3 and part of every 50 acres of land fee rent of one shilling yearly, and by
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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 Looney received 1540 pounds of tobacco for 11 old wolf's heads at Orange County Court, 26 October 1738. Robert Luney was sued by John Harrison in 1740 concerning 1 long gun. Judgment was obtained by default in 1741 for 40 shilling and 135 pounds of tobacco (costs), but in 1742 it seems uncollectable and Robert Luney was not found in the sheriff's bailiwick. (These several actions are recorded in order Books 1, 2, & 3, of Orange Co., Va.) The homeplace 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 Jacks, but it seems not to have been done. (A second deed was made, perhaps 4 Nov. 1756, by James Jacks 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 merely recorded in Frederick Co. on that date.
Baylor's Book of Surveys in 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 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 the Augusta County was not organized, the suits in Orange County continued. Adam Payne sued Robert Luney of trespass in 1745, but after several continuances it was dismissed in 1744. Francis and John Marshall
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sued Robert Luney for debt in 1744, James Patton being security for Luney. The case was tried by jury 4 August 1744 and a verdict found against Luney for 18 pounds 1 shilling 6 pence, with 1 penny damage, and so recorded 5 October 1745. (Orange Order Book 4).
The old Looney home on the James stood on the sough bank of the river and the west bank 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.) Looney's Ferry estb. 1742)
From the Augusta County Court records as abstracted in Chalkleys Records of Augusta County, Virginia, much can be learned about Robert and Elizabeth Looney and their children. In 1745 he received some cash, probably from the estate of Daniel Monahan. The first court for the new county was held on 9 December 1745 when Robert Looney, John Newport, and Timothy Holdway were appointed to value improvements by Christian Zimmerman on 400 acres. A court order of 10 Feb. 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 John 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 through the infirmities of old age. There was some delay or dispute over the terms of the agreement and meanwhile Peter died in 1760. But again an
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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 firewood to Robert and also wintered cattle. Widow Looney sent a "hand" to cut wood for Robert, etc.
During these years both Robert and his sons furnished supplies to troops in service on the frontier. For example, on 15 Jan. 1759 Robert Looney signed a receipt for L6, 5s, - 5d 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 V 11, 190.)
In 1762 Robert is mentioned as exempt from county levy, probably because of age. Yet, in an old Survey Book in Rockingham Co., there is mention of a survey of 60 acres on the south side of James River for Robert Looney, dated 17 March 1762, of land adjoining other land of said Looney. (Augusta Surveys 2, 14.)
But on 15 November 1762 something happened that made it possible for Looney descendants to get considerable information about Robert and his family. One 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 taken or 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 drunk (intoxicated) when the instruments were signed, on 20 Nov. 1764 he deeded land, 160 acres at Sinking Springs to Joseph Looney. On 24 May 1765 it was decreed that John Bowyer
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should reconvey to each of the interested parties their lands. The agreement of 1759 was recorded in the 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 Oct. or Nov. before his will was proved 13 November 1770.
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