The Looney Family–– American pioneers

"Always remember that every person is someone's child."

The Looney family migrated to America in the early 1700s from the Isle of Man, a British Crown Dependency. First landing in Pennsylvania, the American patriarch Robert Looney along with his wife Elizabeth and their children migrated southward where Robert owned 200+ acres of land near the Potomac River in Frederick County, Maryland. They soon moved south to the mountains of southwest Virginia, settling in present day Botetourt County.

There they built a fort during the French and Indian War, managed a trading post at Looney's Creek, and operated a ferry at the James River near present-day Buchanan, Virginia. Only recently has Looney's Creek in Botetourt County, Virginia been renamed Mill Creek. There is a memorial marker near Buchanan, Virginia which honors the Robert Looney family. Archaeological studies have been successful at the fort and ferry area of Robert Looney's home.

General George Washington is documented as having visited Robert Looney's fort where Elizabeth Looney baked bread for accompanying soldiers. The fort, that had been built and manned by Robert and his sons, was later named Fort Faquier.

Robert Looney lost several children and to Indians. Robert's son, Robert, Jr. was killed and scalped by Indians in 1757. His son, Peter Looney, was captured and held captive by Indians during the French and Indian War. Peter escaped from the Michigan encampment to tell the story in Philadelphia, but later was killed. Several others were killed by Indians.

Robert Looney's sons were active in the French and Indian, Lord Dunsmore War, Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and his many descendants would be active in all future military confrontations. During Lord Dunsmore War, one of Robert's sons, Captain David Looney, had a very famous lieutenant serving in his company–– Daniel Boone. Captain Joseph Looney later settled, like Stephen Renfro, in Knox County, Tennessee.


Nancy Hendrickson Looney's (pictured) husband Joseph Looney was a corporal in the War of 1812.








Looney & Renfro
Stephen Renfro had two daughters, and both married a John Looney - one nephew to the other. Elizabeth Renfro married the nephew: John Looney son of Robert Looney, Jr. Esther Renfro married the uncle, John Looney son of Robert, the Patriarch. Robert Looney Jr's. widow (Margaret Rhea Looney) married Stephen Renfro. So...

Captain John Looney of the Revolutionary War married his step-sister, Elizabeth Renfro. This branch migrated west and it is believed it is this branch of the family that produced John Looney, Chief of the Cherokee. An interesting account of William Bauck Looney, which I believe is probably associated with this branch is found here.

John Looney "the uncle" married Esther Renfro and stayed in Virginia. It was written in the Nat’l Intelligencer, Wash., D.C., 12 July 1821 that Esther Renfro was the "first white female born west of the James River in Botetourt County, Virginia."

While our family members are direct descendants of Patriarch Robert and his sons Absalom and John, Stephen Renfro is also a direct grandfather through the marriages. It seems the Looney and Renfro families intermarried and migrated together.

Absalom was a patriot in the Revolutionary War and an explorer known as "The Hunter" who founded the beautiful Abbs Valley in Tazewell County, Virginia. On a 1995 personal visit to New Castle, Virginia one of his descendants spoke of a local mountain peak named for him in there named "Ab's Knob." I was taken to a spring and told it was where Absalom had been killed by an Indian arrow.

Our direct branch of the Looney family: (Robert Looney(1) m. Elizabeth,) and (John(2) m. Esther Renfro) family remained in Virginia. In those 18th century times the Looney family was huge and the nephews and uncles were often sharing the same name. By some accounts Robert Looney had twelve sons. Other accounts indicate that there was another Looney of the same era perhaps a brother or father of Robert, named John.

This was initially said to be Moses Looney of Alabama, yet accounts have been published saying this is actually his son, William. On showing this picture to my elderly mother she commented that it must be "a Looney" because the facial features match those of my grandfather's brothers. Though the family name is rare today, Looney descendants are plentiful and nationwide.






This branch pictured is married with the Subletts, a family of French Huguenots. Many from this family were gifted musicians. My grandfather is seated to the right, playing the violin.

Grandmother Etta Sublett Looney, (seated right) pictured beside her husband, George Nicholas Looney (center), is a direct descendant of Abraham Sublett whose family fled France and found safe haven in Holland before coming to America, 1700. Seated left is Alexander Caldwell Looney, who fought the Civil War south side, although friends with his West Virginia neighbors. He resided only a mile or so from the West Virginia state line in Craig County, Virginia. Behind them are the children and spouses, my grandfather being the "baby" of this family was born in 1901.


My Dad, Lt. Commander Garmen Montell Looney passed away when I was ten years old. He was a World War II veteran, reservist, and Navy Pilot. He had been called to active duty and was awaiting orders when he passed away during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He was a wonderful person and so was his family.

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