Person:Peter Looney (1)

Peter Looney
m. Abt 1715
  1. Thomas Looney1718 - Abt 1764
  2. Martha LooneyAbt 1717/18 - Bet 1763 & 1769
  3. Robert Looney, Jr.1721 - 1756
  4. Daniel Looney1723 - 1760
  5. Adam Looney1725 - 1770
  6. Samuel Looney1727 - 1760
  7. Louisa Looney1728 -
  8. Absalom Looney1729 - Bef 1796
  9. John Looney1732 - 1817
  10. Peter Looney1734 - 1760
  11. David Looney1735 - 1801
  12. Joseph B. Looney1740 - Est 1817
m. 11 Oct 1758
  1. Peter Looney1759 - 1851
Facts and Events
Name Peter Looney
Alt Name Peter Grancer Looney
Gender Male
Birth? 1734 Philadelphia, PA, USA
Marriage 11 Oct 1758 Augusta County, Virginia[Area later became Botetourt County in 1769]
to Margaret Lauderdale
Alt Marriage 11 Oct 1759 Augusta County, Virginiato Margaret Lauderdale
Death? 13 Apr 1760 Augusta County, Virginia
Reference Number? 1966

Peter Looney was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia

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Records in Augusta County, VA

From Chalkley’s Augusta County Records:

  • Page 421 - - 18th November, 1760. Margt. Luney's bond (with James Litherdale, Jno. Miller) as administratrix of Peter Luney (Looney).
  • JUNE, 1763 (B). Luney vs. Haines.--Margaret Luney, relict of Peter Luney, 1761
  • Vol. 2 - AUGUST, 1764 (B). Looney vs. Looney.--11th May, 1764. John Smith's deposition. He was present when the proposals were made that Robert Looney and wife desired to have confirmed. Some time after Colonel Buchanan was sent for to draw the articles, and Buchanan's statements are punctually true. The articles were lodged with deponent. Shortly afterwards defendant and wife made a demand of Peter Looney (now deceased) and David Looney of the house and land. Peter Looney immediately answered (which David agreed to), "choose the spot for the house and it shall be built, and show the land, and Colonel Buchanan and Colonel Smith shall lay it off." They insisted to have land over the creek, but Peter and David refused because it was contrary to the agreement. Then Robert and wife made a second demand of David Looney. The old woman said she chose to have the land in the orchard, which he agreed to, and further said if they chose to have the house where his barn stood, he would remove the barn. The widow Looney sent off for cattle to winter in consequence of the bargain. The first winter after the bargain David Looney wintered Robert Looney's cattle, and deponent several times saw David drawing firewood to the said Robert, and he saw widow Looney send a hand to cut wood for him. Sworn to before William Preston, Isiah Christian, Benjamin Hawkins. William Lawderdeal says that the econd winter after the above agreement, Margaret, the relict of Peter Looney, deceased, sent him to Robert Looney to get and drive what cattle fell to her share to winter, according to the agreement. Robert sent one cow. Thomas Ramsey deposes that Robert Looney was intoxicated with liquor when the articles were written, but was perfectly in his senses when they were signed. John Buchanan deposes plaintiffs are Peter and David Looney, defendants are Robert Looney and John Bowyer. There were proposals between defendants and plaintiffs about the making over his land to them, which bargain was afterwards concluded and deponent was sent for to draw the articles. Both parties repeated to him all particulars of the agreement, which he wrote down. Defendant Robert was drinking spirituous liquors too freely so that he lay down to sleep before writing was concluded. Deponent too(k) the articles home and after some time returned and found Robert awake and in his perfect senses. All executed. Part of the land belonged at that time to Absalom Looney. Deponent mentioned this to Robert, who said that Absalom had ordered his land to be sold, that he would buy it and throw it in with his other land and make it over to plaintiffs. Robert told deponent on Absalom's return from Carolina that he had paid Absalom £10 and he was well pleased with what Robert had done. The agreement was that the plaintiffs were to lay off five acres for defendant anywhere he chose on the premises, a certain rent to be paid yearly.
  • MARCH 17, 1768. - (507) Thomas Gray, orphan of Walt Gray, to be bound to Wm. Poage. Jonathan Smith appointed guardian to Peter Looney, orphan of Peter Looney. John Jackson appointed guardian to Jane Claypole, orphan of William Claypole.
  • JUNE, 1769 (F). McCain vs. Breckinridge.--Margaret Cain, formerly Margaret Looney, wife of Peter Looney, deceased. January 22, 1768.

Information on Peter Looney

http://home.flash.net/~johnsonl/p6_1_5.htm

EARLY LOONEYS IN AMERICA by Leroy W. Tilton PETER LOONEY BRANCH Peter2 Looney, son of Robert and Elizabeth Looney, was born in Philadelphia about 1733 or 1734 and was probably the first Looney born in America. Presumably his parents had recently landed at Philadelphia and rather soon made their way westward to enter Virginia from Pennsylvania between 23 Apr and 12 Nov 1735 with Alexander Ross and Morgan Bryan (see account of Robert1 Looney). The family lived on the Virginia side of the Potomac somewhere not far from Hagerstown, Maryland. He was, then, about five to seven years old when in 1739 or 1740 his parents moved to the James River settlements near Natural Bridge, Virginia. On 6 Mar 1754 Peter Looney became indebted to Colonel James Patton, probably for the 250 acres on Meadow Creek, a branch of Craig's Creek, Augusta County, which land he seems to have purchased from Patton on 8 March. In 1754 and 1755 Colonel Patton contracted with Peter2 Looney for 8,000 rails and the erection of a fence.

In 1756 Peter Luney, Sergeant, was in a detachment under Captain Smith appointed to garrison Fort Vause, one of the western defenses on the upper Roanoke, near the present Lafayette, Montgomery County, Virginia, during the French and Indian War. He was wounded and captured by the Indians when the Fort surrendered on 25 Jun 1756.

In July 1757, Peter gave an account of this adventure to a Philadelphia representative of the London Chronicle or Universal Evening Post. The edition of this London paper for 6-8 September 1757 gives a detailed account of the adventures of "Peter Lewney who, for about a year past has been among the French and Indians at Fort Detroit, and informs as follows, viz., that he was an Ensign of a Company of Rangers in the back parts of Virginia, consisting of 70 men, commanded by Captain John Smith. That last summer . . ., etc." In short Lewney was carried to Detroit where 300 French families lived. An Indian King adopted Lewney as a brother and he sat in their councils. He heard the French commander order Indians to go to Fort Dequesne and to Fort Cumberland and destroy all the English inhabitants. The Indians and some French left in April 1757. Lewney left Detroit with Indians going 280 miles to Niagara with furs to purchase Indian goods. End Page 1 The French had 30 men at the Fort at the Falls and 300 men with 24 guns at Fort Niagara. A French force of 280 men arrived on their way to Fort Duquesne. Lewney met Wm. Philips, who was captured at Oswego, New York, and agreeing to escape, they traveled 200 miles to Oswego without seeing an Indian. Thence they proceeded to the Mohawk River where they received food form friendly Indians. They arrived at Albany on 12 July. Lewney went to Virginia where his parents lived. "He was born in this town, and is about 23 years of age." (See Mississippi Valley History Review 13 pp 15, 76, 95).

It is important to note that Peter2 mentioned his parents in his interview with the reporter in Philadelphia in 1757 but mentioned no family of his own.

Peter2 Looney was still indebted to (the estate of) Patton on 17 Feb 1758; indebted as of 6 Mar 1754. Apparently Peter made claims for recompense for the losses (horse, saddle, bridle, rifle, etc.) Which he sustained at Fort Vause, and a committee recommended that he should receiver £46:16 as recompense and as a reward for his bravery. (See Journal of House of Burgesses. 1758- 1761), pp 221, 229).

Peter2 Looney married Margaret, the eldest child of James Maitland Lauderdale, about 1759, the year in which on 11 Oct he and his younger brother, David2 Looney, signed the important agreement with their father, Robert, about their inheritance of his lands in return for the building of a house and for their proposed care of their parents. (Margaret Looney was soon to be a widow and she married (2)James Cain or McCain, Sr. In Sumner County, Tennessee, there is said to be a will on file in which James Lauderdale in Sep 1796 names eldest daughter as Margaret Cain, widow and rel: ct of James Cain, deceased.)

On 11 Dec 1759, Peter Luney, Thos. Ramsey, John Potts appraised the estate of Robert Clark. On 13 Mar 1760, Peter Luney was one of the witnesses of John Bowen's will. Peter2Looney must have died between 13 Mar and 13 Apr 1760 when Peter Looney, heir at law of Peter Looney, deceased, served as a sergeant until taken prisoner by the Indians in the year 1756, etc., and that he never proved such service nor obtained any land. End Page 2 However, it is not yet certain that this proof of service was made before 1761 instead of 1760. For example, it was not until 8 Nov 1760 that Margaret Luney (with James Litherdale and James Mills) gave bond as admx of Peter Luney (Will Book 2, p 421). Errors concerning new and old style dates may be involved.)

The evidence recorded in certain suits, LOONEY vs. LOONEY in Augusta County Courts, shows merely that Peter Looney, Sr., died "soon after the agreement of 11 Oct 1759, leaving Peter, his eldest son, infant, etc." Also, it is shown that "widow Looney" made arrangements to winter cattle and set a hand to cut wood in accord with the bargain to which Peter, Sr., had been a party.

The appraisement of Peter Luney's estate, made by Geo. Adams, Thos. Ramsey, and Robt. Montgomery, was not recorded until 18 Aug 1761. It lists cash, etc., due from Jno. Mills, Thos. Ramsey, Joseph McMortry, Wm. Boyn, Wm. Bird, James Ledderdale and David Looney.

On 18 May 1762, Robt. Breckinridge was appointed guardian to Peter Looney, an infant, in order to prosecute a suit in Chancery against his grandfather. In June 1763 there is record of a suit vs Haines by "Margaret Luney, relict of Peter Luney, 1760".

Margaret m. James McCain, probably shortly before 18 Nov 1767 when James Ledderdale asked counter security from Margaret Looney, admx of Peter Looney, since intermarried with James McKain. On 16 Mar 1768, James McKain and Jonathan Smith gave bond to James Ledderdale to secure Ledderdale who, with John Mills, now dead, was surety of Margaret Looney as admx of Peter Looney. On the same day a final account of the estate of Peter Looney by James McCain and Margaret, his wife, showed cash payments to Daniel Smith, Robert Looney, Abraham (probably Absalom) Looney and David Looney, etc. On 17 Mar 1768 Jonathan Smith gave bond, with Joseph Luney, as guardian to Peter Looney, orphan of Peter Looney. On 22 Mar 1768 an order summoning James McCain and Margaret (Looney, wife of Peter) was dismissed. In June 1769 there was recorded a judgment as of 22 Jan 1768, in favor of Margaret Cain, formerly Margaret Looney, wife of Peter Looney, deceased, vs Robt. Breckenridge.

End Page 3 Botetourt County was formed from Augusta in 1769 and on 8 Dec 1772 Joseph2 Looney was appointed guardian to Peter Looney, son of Peter Looney, deceased, in room of James McCain and Jonathan Smith who were discharged from that office. (James McCain was second on a list of four, all heirs of Robert1 Looney, to be sued in Botetourt County, Virginia, on 12 Feb 1773.) On 15 Sep 1773, Wm. Crow, John Looney and John Mills, Jr. were ordered to allot to Margaret McClain, late Looney, wife of Peter Loony, deceased, her dower in the lands of which her husband was possessed. On 15 Nov 1775, with approval of the Botetourt Court, Peter Looney, orphan of Peter Looney, deceased, chose James Letherdale, Jr., for his guardian.

Just when James McCain and Margaret left Botetourt County and went south is not clear, but Peter3 Looney, Jr., served 33 days as a drover under his cousin, Bullock master John3 Looney (Robert2 Jr.) from Augusta to December 1776, probably in southern Washington County, Virginia, or in western North Carolina (including pre-Tennessee) Just after the men under Colonel Wm. Christian returned from the Cherokee expedition. James Cain signed, 6 Nov 1777, with Samuel Looney, other Looneys and Renfrows, a petition from the inhabitants of Lower Washington County, Virginia, protesting the erection of a Court House. It is known that James McCain once lived on a tract just west of land entered for Samuel Looney's orphans (in 1779) on the Holston River, near or below the mouth of Beaver Creek. North Carolina Land Grant 91 to James Cain, 240 acres in Sullivan County, North Carolina, on both sides of Big Creek was issued 23 Oct 1782. This was probably Margaret's husband.

From the first tax list of Sumner County, Tennessee, 1787, it is evident that James McKeen owned 120 acres. In that year he received a grant for 650 acres on Station Camp Creek in Sumner County. This may have been Margaret's son.

James McKain (perhaps Jr.) deeded lands on the west fork of Station Camp Creek, Sumner County, Tennessee, to Peter3 Looney in 1789 (Grant Book, p 308). (This deed not read by present writer; grantee may be Peter3 Looney of Absalom2.) James KcKeen was taxed for 366 acres in Sumner County in 1794 and James McKeen, Jr., was taxed for End Page 4 378 acres in 1793. By her second marriage, Margaret (Lauderdale) McCain is said to have had a son, Captain James McCain, who went to middle Tennessee with Donelson. (This man was probably not a Captain in 1779 but his father was no doubt too old.) Descendants of Peter3 Looney, Jr., can "prove" their Scotch ancestry from the Earls of Lauderdale and the Cunninghams. (See "The Lauderdales of Scotland" by Chas. J. Lauderdale.)

It seems probable that Peter2 and Margaret Looney had no other children than Peter3 Jr. The final record of the administration made no mention of others. In instruments of reord, Peter3 Jr. is mentioned merely as the eldest son but in one deed, 8 Feb 1785 (Botetourt County, Virginia, Deeds 3, p 318) Peter Luney, only son and heir at law of Peter Looney, LATE DECEASED, late of Botetourt County, transfers 180 acres on Long Run to Wm. Anderson.