From an article in THE NORTH AMERICAN MANX ASSOCIATION, Spring of 1974, entitled, 'Looney of Ballagilley', by Ed Sayle, I came upon an interesting document . Mr. Sayle says that Robert Looney was a Manx farmer from Ballagilley, Maughold, who arrived in the new world about 1731, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with at least seven sons. From there, the Looneys joined an expedition into the Colony of Virginia. The following year, which would be 1732, Sayle goes on to say, Robert settled on a patent of land of 291 acres on the south bank on the Cohongoroata (or Upper Potomac) River, probably near present day Hagerstown, Maryland. Then, he says, by 1739 or 1740, Robert Looney and his family moved southward through the Shenandoah Valley, finally settling on a grant of 250 acres on the James River, in what was to become Augusta County, Virginia, and later part of Botetourt County, Virginia. These dates are significant as they relate to the birthplace of David Looney, the son of Robert and Elizabeth. If his birthdate of 1734 is correct, then he must have been born in Maryland. If the later dates prove to be correct, he is likely to be the first or the second son who was born in America. It also places him seventh or eighth in the list of sons.
David met and married Mary Ann McClelland, the daughter of Abraham McClelland, likely of Bedford County, Virginia, in either 1755 or 1756. A man reached his maturity, legally, at the age of 21, so he rarely contracted a marriage before reaching his majority. A marriage in 1755 or 1756 makes his earlier date of birth , 1734, much more likely and more reasonably correct.
David is seen in the court records of Augusta County, Virginia, on August 18, 1761, in the matter of his appointment as Administrator of the Estate of his brother, Daniel Looney." The widow, Jane Looney, now Evans, prays for the administration of the estate to be granted to her. CHALKLEY, Vol. 1, page 54. For David Looney to handle legal matters such as the administration of an estate, he had to have reached his majority.
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IBID, page 339; is 'Looney vs. Looney, dated 1759, which is the court
action in which brothers Peter Looney and David Looney bought land from
their father, Robert. The sale of this land occassioned quite a few
entries in the early records of Augusta County. David and Peter had to
be of age to purchase land and to bring suit on their own against their
father over the rights to this land.
In 1766, David and his wife, Mary, sold this homeplace near the older Looney parents on Looney's Mill Creek, near the James River, and by 1770, they had moved into the Holston on lands along the Indian frontier.
By 1774, the family had settled into a cabin on Muddy Creek, two miles north of the Holston River, in what was then Washington County, Virginia, but which became Sullivan County, North Carolina and eventually, Tennessee.
The earliest look at the activities of David Looney as a young man can be found in THE PRESTON AND VIRGINIA PAPERS, Draper Collection of Manuscripts, Calendar Series, Volume 1, page 37: 'On October 30, 1758, David Looney submitted a statement of account against the county of Augusta for 7 1/2 bushels of salt'. This one entry is in the handwriting of William Preston, Augusta County Militia, and should be proof of service in the Colonial era, the French and Indian War. We know he was also involved in Dunmore's War, from the same source, the letters of Col. William Preston in letter #3QQ80. Colonel Arthur Campbell at Royal Oak, writing to Colonel Preston, says he will 'write Colonel Looney' and ends the letter by requesting further orders. This letter was dated 19 August, 1774.
A few days later, letter #3QQ81, dated August 22nd, 1774, from Rev. John Brown to his brother-in-law, Colonel William Preston, Brown mentions the Indian depredations, Preston's dangerous situation and that the companies of Captains Matthews, McClanahan and McDowell are marching on the Shawnee towns.
But by September, 1774, the CHEROKEES were attacking settlers on the Clinch River . On October 1st, 1774, Colonel Arthur Campbell again writing to Preston, tells of the Indian attack on Moore's Fort on the Clinch, and "that Captain Looney is unable to go on pursuit." All of this war activity preceeds the Revolutionary War, and is service to the Colony of Virginia, hence proof of the patriotic service of David Looney in the very earliest times.
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An article published in the NORTH CAROLINA GENEALOGY, Spring & Summer,
1974, Vol. XX, No. 1, entitled, 'Fincastle Virginia Militia, 1776 ', has
"the roster for the company of 'Captain David Looney's Company, Militia,
on the Frontiers of Fincastle, 1776." Shown in Captain David Looney's
Company are these Looney names; John Looney, Benjamin Looney and Peter
Looney. The amount of that payroll was 305 pounds, no shillings, and 6
pence. "June 11, 1777; Received of Thomas Maddison the amount of this
pay roll. Signed; David Looney. Test. James McCorkle." (Notice,
David signed his name , rather than by mark.)
In the payroll of Captain John Shelby's Company of Militia, 1776, are the names of Michael Lewney and Samuel Leuney. There is also a citation for pay due the "six spies at Moses Loonay's garrison under the command of Captain David Looney on the frontiers of Fincastle." "Washington County; This day, David Looney, swore to the above list. Signed James Martin. Jan'y 24th, 1777."
The first county court for Sullivan County was held in 1780, at this same garrison of David's brother, Moses Looney. David Looney was active in the protection of his neighborhood, his county, his colony and his country during the entire course of his life, and with his proven leadership and abilities, his military rank steadily advanced from Captain, Major, Lt.Colonel, and Colonel. He was a young captain in the Colonial wars, a young major in the militia in the earliest days of the Revolution, when he served in the North Carolina Mililtia. His service was under the command of Colonel Isaac Shelby, who later appointed David Looney to the rank of Colonel. David served the duration of the Revolution and the fight for American Independence from Great Britain.
When victory was achieved, he was awarded numerous land grants for his service to the cause of freedom. The book, NORTH CAROLINA LAND GRANTS IN TENNESSEE, 1778-1791," lists many of the grants he received , plus those for some of his brothers, nephews, and his eldest son, David Looney, Jr.
At war's end, David remained active in the militia, but he also began to take an active leadership role in the growth and developement of Sullivan County, North Carolina.
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The General Assembly of North Carolina had, in October, 1779, passed
legislation setting up a neighboring county to Washington County. This
new county was named Sullivan County, to honor Revolutionary War hero,
General John Sullivan. The Justices of the Peace in the newly formed
county, were, among several others, Isaac Shelby and David Looney.
The men met on February 7th, 1780, at the log home/ fort of Moses Looney
to organize the government of the new county. Quoting the, SULLIVAN
COUNTY NEWS, Vol.36, #6, dated February 7th, 1980, which was the 200th
birthday of Sullivan County;
"John Rhea was appointed Clerk and Nathan Clark, Sheriff. Isaac Shelby exhibited a commission from Governor Caswell, of North Carolina, dated November 19th, 1779, appointing him Colonel-Commandant , of the county. Other commissions appointed were Henry Clark, Lieutenant-Colonel, David Looney, First Major, and John Shelby, Second Major , according to the documents.
Looney's Fort is still standing. Behind the protective covering of the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Pope, Sr., the log fort is virtually intact and Sullivan Countians have the unique privilege of standing in the exact location where their county was officially organized 200 years ago." This article ends with a quote from Mr. and Mrs. Pope, "We are just the caretakers. We may own Looney's Fort, but, in a sense, it belongs to all the people of Sullivan County."
>From the book, THE BIOGRAPHICAL DIRECTORY OF THE TENNESSEE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, Volume 1, is found an entry for David Looney: "Looney, David (1738-1810) ( Note- I think these dates are both wrong.) North Carolina HOUSE OF COMMONS, 1780, 1784; representing Sullivan County, (then North Carolina, now Tennessee); House 1st General Assembly, 1796-1797, representing Sullivan County. A Franklinite. Was born in Augusta County, Virginia in 1738; son of Robert and Elizabeth (Llewwllyn) Looney. In Revolutionary War. Appointed a Colonel in 1779 under Isaac Shelby to protect the Frontier of Virginia. Received large grants for military service; one of the early settlers of Sullivan County from Virginia; built a blockhouse on Muddy Creek; farmer and landowner. Married to Mary McClelland, daughter of Abraham McClelland.
Children; David, Jr.; Abraham M.; John L.; Joseph;
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Robert, Sarah (Mrs. Samuel Gregg); Annis (Mrs. Hugh Crawford); Elizabeth
(Mrs. John Vaughan); Mary (Mrs. Jeremiah Taylor); sometimes Justice of
the Peace and entry taker for Sullivan County (note-this must refer to
taking the first 1790 US Census, which was burned in Washington, in the
War of 1812.); Represented Sullivan County in the North Carolina
Constitutional Convention , 1788. Member of the Tennessee
Constitutional Convention, 1796. Died in Sullivan County, Tennessee, in
1810. Grandfather of A.M.Looney, uncle of Peter Looney, sometimes
(also) members of the Tennessee General Assembly."
All the above statements are footnoted in the book as to the sources, which are; Moore, 'Tennessee, A History,'III, page 321; NSDAR, 'Roster and Soldiers, 1938'; Williams,'The Lost State of Franklin', page 317; Speer, 'Prominent Tennesseans', page 121; Ramsey, 'Annuls of Tennessee', page 121; and the NSDAR Lineage Book, Volume 65, page 168.
A photocopy of an article written by LeRoy W. Tilton, which appeared in the NATIONAL GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY QUARTERLY, Vol. #34, 1, March 1946, is entitled, "Will of Colonel David Looney of Sullivan County, Tennessee." This says, "With the exception of the deed books , all records at the Court House of Sullivan County, Tennessee, were burned on 23 September, 1863, but a certified copy of the will of David Looney, Senr., has been found in Middle Tennessee, by Professor Rupert Taylor, of Clemson, South Carolina.
The copy was made 15 December, 1829, by G.W.Netherland, D.Clerk, and addressed to Prof. Taylor's great-uncle, Captain David L. Taylor ( Note, I believe this man is the grandson of David Looney, the son of David's daughter, Mary Looney, who married Jeremiah Taylor, and who had a son, David Taylor. Can anyone document this?), Hartsville, Sumner ( now Trousdale) County, Tennessee. " This document satisfactorily confirms some DAR lineages now on record and provides a solid basis for applications from the descendants of all of his children. This Revolutionary ancestor, the son of Robert and Elizabeth Looney, of Augusta County, Virginia, was born c. 1735 or 1736, probably in Orange (now Frederick) County, Virginia, and married ca. 1756, Mary McClelland, probably of Bedford County, Virginia. Many entries concerning him are found in the Virginia County records of Augusta, Bedford, Botettourt, Fincastle, Montgomery and Wanshinton, but documentary evidence concerning his immediate family has seemed almost nonexistent. In 1766, David and Mary Looney sold their home place on Looney's Mill Creek, near the James River in Augusta (later Botetourt)
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