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Biographical Information and Articles Include:
- Robert Looney
- Captain Joseph Looney
- Looney McCallie w/ Historic Photo's
- Absolom David Looney
- William Carrol Looney
- Elsie Looney
- Dr. William J. Heacker
- Early Looney Wills
- Dock Looney
- Robert Fain Looney
- Evidence of Early Looney Life in America
- Methods for Submission of Newsletter Articles and Family History Info.... Contribute Now!
Looney Genealogy
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In the Beginning: Robert Looney
Derived from a 1974 article appearing in "The Bulletin of North American Manx Assoc."
Little did Robert Looney, a Manx farmer from Ballagilley, Maughold realize that when he arrived in the New World about 1731, that he and his decendants would be recorded in the annals of their new land as frontiersmen and patriots. Records show that by 1734, Robert Looney and his wife, Elizabeth Llwellyn, and at least seven sons (they were to have 14 sons!) were in Philadelphia where they joined an expedition into the colony of Virginia.
The following year he settled on a patent of 291 acres - for which he was to pay the Crown land rent of one shilling a year- on the south bank of Cohongoronta (Upper Potomac) river, probably near present day Hagerstown, Maryland. By 1739-1740 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, where another Manxman, Isreal Christian, had prospered. They later donated lands for the county seat, and became influential in colonial politics.
In 1742 Robert gained another 400 acres in grants, and became one of the most prosperous farmers in the area, with his own mill, orchards, nursery, cattle and horses, and even operated a ferry across what may still be found today not far from Natrual Bridge - Looney's Mill creek. At least three of his sons served in the Augusta County Militia.
One of these sons, Absolem, was of a true frontier spirit, trapping and hunting in the rugged southwest of the colony, Virginia's last frontier. There, while living in caves to avoid the Indians, Absolem discovered a fertile valley, rich in blue grass pastures, to which he led his family and some followers and founded a new settlement, at least four years before that noted frontier explorer, Daniel Boone, arrived in the same area to build a fort only six miles from Absolem's homestead. To this day, the quiet valley, some seventeen miles from Bluefield, Virginia, is known as "Abb's Valley" in honor of its discoverer, Absolem Looney.
Indian attacks on these frontier communities were not uncommon, but soon the Indians were to be joined by a new ally, the French, and the settlers were swept violently into the bloody conflict between the Britsh and the French known as the "Seven Years War" or "French and Indian War". General Braddock, the British commander in Cief, was mortally wounded and his regiment turned to route at the "Battle of the Wilderness". Col George Washington commander of the Virginia Militia lost some of his men in the same engagement. The picture was grim, no regular army, no militia to protect the settlers. Robert Looney's son Peter, was captured by the Indians and held prisoner at Fort Detroit for almost a year, dying three years after his release. Another son, Samuel, was killed by the Indians in 1760, and the homestead of Robert's daughter Lucy Jane, was raided and looted by the Indians. Robert Looney, mindful of his responsibilities to his family and followers, errected a fort (Fort Looney). This was one of the few Forts which withstood capture and provided provisions to the militia until the end of the war in 1763. Absolem, recalled from Abb's Valley with his family to assist his father in building the fort, was to learn that those who remained in his valley settlement had been massacred by the Indians, a fate which would later befall him at Dunkard's Spring, VA between 1791-96.
But the end of the Indian Wars was not to spare the Looney family. During the American Revolution, two of Robert Looney's sons, Absolem and David were to see duty. Absolem in patriotic service under General George Washington and David as a Major in the Notrth Carolina Militia. Three of Absolem's sons, like the offsprings of his brothers, were to serve in the Virginia Militia, with one dying of gunshot wounds in both legs after his role in the American Victory at the Battle of King's Mountain in North Carolina.
Absolem's son Michael, homesteaded after the revolution in eastern Tennessee, where his log cabin stood until 1919 and where the 1,500 acre farm he acquired at a half-shilling an acre is still held by his heirs. Others moved westward into Missouri, and is documented in LeRoy Tilton's "Early Looney's in America". Seven branches of the family founded by Robert Looney's sons have extended into more than fifteen states.
Robert and Elizabeth Looney are presumed buried near the Reed Creek area of Augusta Co. (Botetourt Co.), VA. Another of his sons, Joseph, was a Captian in the Botetort County, Virginia Militia, and is described in a following article.
Captain Joseph Looney
By LeRoy W. Tilton, 1949
Joseph Looney, youngest son of Robert and Elizabeth Looney, was born about 1740, perhaps just about the time that his parents removed from the home on the South Bank of the Potomac, near Hagerstown, Maryland, to the Looney's Mill Creek section on the James River in what has become the Augusta County in 1738 and was to become Botetourt County in 1770.
Robert Looney gave to Jeremiah Jack a deed to the Potomac property and the recording was ordered by the Orange County court on 22 March 1739. Apparently, However, the deed was lost for in 1766 a new deed was recorded in Braderick County, (which had been taken from Orange). The first record of land surveyed to the family in the new location was dated April, 1740 to Robert Looney, Jr., and land later granted to Robert Looney was surveyed in June 1740 (Baylor's Book of Surveys at Frederick County Courthouse). These grants were dated 1742.
Joseph Looney had a license to marry in Botetourt county, 25 June 1764. (Believe this Augusta Co. as Botetourt founded in 1770. E. Looney 1767). His wife was Jane Bowen, Dau. of John and Lillie Bowen. On 20 Nov. 1764, Robert Looney deeded to son Joseph Looney for 160 acres at Sinking Spring on west side of James River. Joseph Looney was a witness on 26 Dec 1767 when John Smith sold slaves to Jonathan Smith; and again a witness on 27 July 1763 to John Bowen's will. On 14 July 1769, Joseph Looney patented 60 acres in Augusta Co. on South side of James River adjoining his former survey. In this same year, he obtained from the County Clerk a copy of the agreement of 11 Oct. 1759 between his father Robert and Robert's sons. Joseph was named executor with his mother Elizabeth in his father's will dated 14 Sept. 1769. Joseph was also named the residual legatee after the death of his mother. He proved the will in Botetourt Co. on 13 Nov. 1770. Joseph viewed a road on 10 Apr 1770 and was on a Grand Jury in Botetourt Co., 13 Nov 1770 as "one of the most capable freeholders of this county."
Joseph Looney and Jane Looney his wife deeded 160 acres on Sinking Spring to Conrad Wall on 13 Aug 1771. Joseph was on Grand Jury again 12 Nov 1771. In Apr 1772, as assignee of Jno. Smith he sued Robert Looney and James Lidderdale (Lauderdale) for debt. On 20 June 1772, Joseph patented 85 acres on Suane Run of Craig's Creek in Botetourt Co. Joseph, Adam and John Looney served on a Jury 12 Sep 1772. On 8 Dec 1772, Joseph Looney was appointed guardian to Peter Looney, son of Peter Looney deceased in a room of James McCain and Jonathan Smith.
On 11 Feb 1773, Joseph Looney and Jean his wife deeded to James Gilmer the 60 acres on South side of James River patented on 14 Jul 1769. Joseph Looney was on Jury 16 Sep 1778 with John Looney, his brother. The will of Lilly Bowen, 4 Apr 1780, Washington Co., VA, names child Jean Looney.
In 1781 Capt. Joseph Looney, Lt. Tosh (Toch?) and Ensign Wm. McClenachan marched a company to Yorktown and Fiatt Wyson, one of the men, states that he was present at the surrender. Capt. Joseph Looney is listed as present at Guilford Court House. On 9 Mar 1784, Joseph Looney and others were sureties for Pat Lockhart, Sheriff. On 14 Sep 1784, Joseph Looney was appointed to take list of all white persons in each family within the bounds of his company of militia, etc., on or before 1 Mar 1785.
On Nov 1784, Andrew Lewis of Botetourt Co. agreed to give an acre lot in the town of Point Pleasant, then being settled, to each of 18 men including Joseph Looney if they continued to defend the place. On 12 Sep 1786, he was again named to take list of people in his company of militia. Joseph Looney was Commissioner of the Peace in 1779, 1782, 1786, and 1788. On the Virginia tax rolls of 1782-1787, Joseph Looney appears in Botetourt Co. with 1 poll and 5 slaves.
Joseph Looney seems to have left Botetourt Co., VA about 1790/92 and settled in Knox Co., TN. In 1792, he was Justice of the Peace in Knox Co. Joseph Looney of Knox Co. of Territory of South of the Ohio River, on 14 Dec 1798, sold to Walter McDonald of Botetourt Co., 304 acres on Craig's Creek of James River (three surveys). Wittnesses were John Looney, Sr.; Peter Looney; Benjamin (of Absalom Looney); William Caldwell; Hugh Caldwell; and Henry Walker. Joseph Looney, Sr. was in Knox Co. in Apr 1802, when he sued William Murphy in court of pleas and quarter sessions. Joseph Looney, Jr. was mentioned.
The will of Joseph Looney was dated 5 Nov 1816 and proved in Jan 1818 in Roane Co., TN. The will mentions dau. Elizabeth Mansfield; dau. Jane Bogard and her eldest child, Betty Bogard; and son Joseph Looney, Jr. named executor, heirs of George Preston.
LeRoy W. Tilton, 1949
Methods for Contributing Bio's and Family History Info
By Jim Sullivan
Articles can be sent via Email (preferred), or snail mail to me at: Jim Sullivan, Box 101, Garrett Park, MD 20896, jsully7@usa.net or Jsully7@aol.com.
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