Absalom Looney Sr. (1729 - abt. 1796)

Born 1729 in Ballagilley, Isle of Man

Husband of Margaret Eleanor (Moore) Looney — married 1750 in Augusta, Virginia, United States

Descendants

Died about 1796 at about age 67 in Dunkards Spring, Botetourt, Virginia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: William Thompson [send private message], Greg Looney [send private message], and Sheila Sinclair [send private message]

Biography

Absalom Looney Sr. performed Patriotic Service in Virginia in the American Revolution.

Absalom Looney Sr. is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A071512.

Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/), "Record of Absalom Looney", Ancestor # A071512. Absalom was born in 1729 in Ballagilley, Maughold, Isle of Man [Wales].^[1]

He married Margaret Eleanor Moore in 1750.^[2] After serving in and surviving the Revolutionary War, he was killed by arrow near New Castle, Virginia in 1791.

Absalom Looney had siblings who are of importance to those who live in the state of Alabama. Absalom Looney's brother Rhea Looney was the great-grandfather of William Baruch Looney who had Looney's Tavern, either in Winston County or Lauderdale County, Alabama. Absolom Looney's brother John Warren Looney still has descendants in the counties of northern Alabama. Those include: great-grandchild William Henry Looney (died in Texas) and son Tuberville Looney's family of children named: Wiliam Looney, John Looney, James Bailey Looney, and Henry Looney.

No doubt one of his young descendants, named Zachary Jacob Birdwell died in an auto accident in 2011 in Danville, Morgan County, Alabama. He was but 17 years old and headed to class at his high school.^[3]

The Will of Absalom Looney

Dated September 28, 1791

In the name of God Amen. I Absalom Looney of Botetourt County, VA. being in imperfect health and of sound memory thanks be to the Almighty God for the same, and the knowing the uncertainty of this earthly life do make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following:

Item I give and bequeath to my son Michael Looney 5 shillings as his part of my estate.

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Potts 5 shillings as her part of my estate.

Item I give and bequeath unto my son Peter Looney 5 shillings as his part of my estate.

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Swanson 5 shillings as her part of my estate.

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Margaret Calwell 5 shillings as her part of my estate.

Item I give and bequeath unto my son Jonathan Looney 5 shillings as his part of my estate.

Item I give and bequeath unto my grandson Absalom Looney 5 shillings as his part of my estate.

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Ruth Looney 5 shillings as her part of my estate.

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Ann Harberson 5 shillings as her part of my estate.

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Catharine Looney 5 shillings as her part of my estate.

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Priscilla Caldwell 5 shillings as her part in my estate.

Item I give and bequeath unto my son Benjamin Looney all of the remainder of my estate not before bequeathed to him and his heirs forever.

Lastly I constitute and appoint John Smyth and Steven Flolstine excuators of this my last will and testament.

I revoke and make void all will or wills by me formerly made in witness whereof I have here unto set my and seal this 28th day September 1791.

Signed and sealed and published. Absalom A. Looney

In the present of:

Dave Givens

Jim Summerfield

Richard Summerfield

William Givens^[4]

The Looney Family

Robert and Elizabeth Looney came to America from the Isle of Man, Great Britain, with their family, settling first in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and later in colonial Maryland. Soon thereafter they moved west to the new frontier and settled in Augusta County, Virginia on the James River. There on Looney Creek, Robert and Elizabeth raised their family, established the first ferry crossing of the James River, built a mill, grew crops and raised livestock.

Due to the constant conflict between France and England, as well as the threat of Indian attack, a fort was ordered built in 1755 around the Looney homesite. This fort was named Fort Looney and was at the junction of Looney Creek and the James River. This fort was part of a series of forts ordered built along the frontier to protect settlers and to keep the French from claiming the territory. Fort Looney was visited in 1756 by Col. George Washington, future first president of the United States.

The Looney sons were frontiersmen and pioneers. Some fought and died with the British against the French and Indians. Some were killed by Indians during frequent frontier raids on settlers while others helped to explore and expand the frontier boundaries first into southwestern Virginia and eventually into Tennessee Indian Territory.

The Looney sons and grandsons fought against the British in the War of Independence. John Looney was wounded in the siege of Savannah, Georgia in 1779. He was later granted a total disability pension of $8.00 per month for this service by special Act of Congress in 1837.

In 1783, Absalom Looney went to survey lands in the Cumberland District, "Wilderness", of Tennessee which were to be set aside for soldiers of the Continental Line and others. The first court in Sullivan County, Tennessee was established in the home of Moses Looney in 1780. Absalom Looney was appointed Justice of the Peace for Hawkins County, Tennessee in 1790. As the frontiers moved west and south, the Looney families also flourished and expanded to new territories.

Absalam was born about 1729. He passed away about 1791. Deed book 6, 474. Source: Kegley's Virginia Frontier, Pg. 80Au.

Absalom Looney was born Ballagilley, Maughold, Isle of Man. He was the son of Robert Looney and Elizabeth Llewellyn.

He married Margaret Eleanor Moore in 1750 and the marriage record is available through the U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900.

Absalom was a Revolutionary War soldier and his service has been proven for any desiring to join the DAR through his war service.

It is said that Absalom Looney died at Dunkards Spring, VA.

Absalom Looney BIRTH 1729 Maughold, Garff, Isle of Man DEATH 1796 (aged 66–67)^[5] Botetourt County, Virginia, USA BURIAL Unknown^[6]

Family Members Parents Robert Hunter Looney 1692–1769

Elizabeth Llewellyn Looney 1696–1770

Spouse Margaret Eleanor Moore Looney 1729–1791 (m. 1750)

Siblings Thomas Looney 1718–1760

David Looney 1735–1810

Joseph Lewellyn Looney 1740–1816

Half Siblings Robert Looney 1721–1756

Children Michael Looney 1751–1839

Elizabeth Luna (Looney) Potts 1753–1811

Peter H Looney 1755–1830

Absalom Looney 1763–1818

Sources

1. ↑ Alternate information on his birth and death are b. 1729 in PA, and d. September 28, 1791 in Bluefield, Botetourt County, VA
2. ↑ Marriage record is available through the U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900
3. ↑ Decatur Daily newspaper article titled, Vigil for a life cut too short, by Bayne Hughes Aug 18, 2011
4. ↑ Virginia Wills
5. ↑ Probate June 1796: "Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900"
   Will Books, 1770-1869; General Indexes to Wills, 1770-1972; Author: Virginia. County Court (Botetourt County); Probate Place: Botetourt, Virginia
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 62347 #1785767 (accessed 4 March 2023)
   Absolum Looney probate, June 1796, of 28 Sep 1791 will in Botetourt, Virginia, USA.
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 06 October 2020), memorial page for Absalom Looney (1729–1796), Find A Grave: Memorial #33862979, ; Maintained by 47117651 (contributor 47117651) Unknown.

• DAR record https://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A071512
• 1754, Sep 18 - Absalom Looney, 180 acres on Long Run, a branch of James River, corner of Robert Looney, Sr., from Daniel Looney. Deed book 6, 474. Source: Kegley's Virginia Frontier, Pg. 80Au.
• 1754 - Oct - Absalom, 248 acres on south side of James River. Source: Kegley's Virginia Frontier, Pg. 81
• 1767, Sep 10 - Absalom -grant on Craig's creek of 166 acres. Absalom, grant of 54 acres on Stone Run of Craig's Creek. Source: Kegley's Virginia Frontier, Pg. 358
• 1770, Dec. - Absalom 70 acres on Stoney Run on Craig's Creek. Source: Kegley's Virginia Frontier, Pg. 456

Absalom left and went to the beautiful valley of the Bluestone of New River, which became known as Abb's Valley. Source: Kegley's Virginia Frontier, Pg. 163 Source: History of Tazewell County and southwest Virginia, 1748-1920, Pg. 232

Abb's valley got its name for Absalom Looney, who is supposed to be the first white man to see it. Absalom left the valley with his family shortly after Mr. Poage, which was after the killing of a Mr. Richards by the Indians. Richards had come to Mr. Poage's blacksmith shop to have some work done and had to stay the night. The next morning he went out to dress a deer to take back with him and was killed by Indians. This left the Moore family alone, who were later killed by the Indians. Only 3 children of their children survived. Source: The captives of Abb's Valley : a legend of frontier life, Pgs. 12, 18-19

Absalom came to Abb's valley on a hunting expedition before 1770. He also came for the purpose of finding ginseng to export to China, which was a very valuable exportation even at that time. He lived there for a year in a cave to escape discovery by the Indians. Upon returning home he told his kinsman, Capt. James Moore about the beautiful valley. James Moore and his brother-in-law, Robert Poage moved to Abb's valley in 1770/71. When the Indians began to attack the settlement in 1774 Robert moved his family back to Rockbridge. The Moore family was massacured by the Indians and only three children survived, James, Mary and Joseph. At the time of the massacure Joseph was with his grandfather, Poage. Source: History of Tazewell County and southwest Virginia, 1748-1920, Pgs. 412-414 & 514

Absalom settled in Abb's valley in 1771 and James Moore and Robert Poage came in 1772. 1770-1783 - James River Communities in Botetourt County - Captain Looney's Company, Absalom is listed with 5 horses and 20 cattle, son, Absalom Jr., with 1 stallion, Joseph Looney with 5 horses and 17 cattle and John Looney with 5 horses and 11 cattle. Source: Kegley's Virginia Frontier, Pg. 465 1782 - 114 acres on Craig's Creek. Source: Kegley's Virginia Frontier, Pg. 457 1787 - 70 acres on Stony Run. Source: Kegley's Virginia Frontier, Pg. 458

In his will he gave all his children (those I listed) five shillings each and then what was remaining to go to Benjamin. The executors of his estate were John Smith and Stephen Holstine. The will is dated the 28th day of Sep 1791. Will is located in Fincastle, Botetourt County, VA Provided by Madge Looney Crane and Phillip L. Crane