According to some accounts, the Looneys are said to be of Scotch origin. More often they are considered to be from Ireland where the O’Looneys were chiefs of Muintir Loney, a district known as the Monter Loney Mountains in the county of Tyrone. It is also a Munster surname found chiefly in Cork and Clare, Ireland. Variants of the name are O’Lowny, Lowney, O’Luinis, Lonney, Lunny, Luna, etc.

The Lonneys descended from Robert Looney of August 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, VA. 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). He 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 Looneys 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 who 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 Augusta County, Virginia.

If the John Lowney, who’s 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 a 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 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, Maryland, in 1776. Lott Loney and Kit 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 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 know 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 given as 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.656

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 1755.657 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 November 1735 for 194 acres on the south bank of the Cohongoronta (Upper Potomas) River, near Samuel Owen’s plantation, to be held as of the King’s Manor of East Grenwith 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 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. Judgement was obtained 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 is seems not to have been done. (A second deed was made, perhaps 4 November 1766, but 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 to 1740. Robert Looney obtained a grant of 250 acres on James River and on Lunie’s Mill Creek; also 200 acres on Luie’s Mill Creek on 30 July 1742. These lands are not far from the natural Bridge in what had become Augusta County in 1738 (but not organised as such until 1745) and in 1769 became a part of Botetcourt County. Consequently, since Augusta County was not organised, the suits in Orange County continued. Adam Payne sued Robert Luney for trespass in 1745, but After several continuances, it was dismissed in 1744. [Obviously on of these dates is wrong as the suit wouldn’t have been dismissed the year before it was filed - SAM] Francis and John Marshall sued Robert Luney for debt in 1744, James Patton being security for Luney. The case 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 1745.658

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.659

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 Robert Looney, John Newport, and Timothy Holdway were appointed to value improvements by Christian Zommerman 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.660

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 send 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.661

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 of the south side of the James River for Robert Looney, dated 17 march 1762, of land adjoining other land of said Looney.662

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 Bower 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 Bower, 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.