In August 1998 the Archeological Society of Virginia published in their Newsletter a review of the book about Robert (1) Looney. This review was written by Col. Howard A. MacCord, Sr., who conducted the excavations in 1968-69 at the Robert Looney home site at the mouth of Looney's Mill Creek in Botetourt County, Virginia.
MOST DISTINGUISHED CHARACTERS ON THE AMERICAN FRONTIER
REVIEWED BY H. A. MacCord, Sr. , Richmond VA.
The book's subtitle just about says it all! "Robert Looney (b. 1692-1702, d. 1770) of Augusta (now Botetourt) County, Virginia and some of his descendants, with histories of the Great Road, Looney's Ferry, Crow's Ferry, Anderson's Ferry, Boyd's Ferry, and Beale's Bridge."
This hard bound volume has 442 pages, 31 photographs, 76 maps, 18 plats of landholdings, and 124 documents (scanned copies of originals in various courthouses, libraries, etc.).
Unquestionably, a tremendous amount of time and loving, devoted dedication went into this study of the immigrant Robert Looney and many of his descendants. The authors visited almost every place they mention in the text, and where possible, they photographed buildings, landscapes, or remains. Where gaps exist in the data, they point them out, and they relate their efforts to fill in the gaps, thus hoping to save future researchers time, effort and expense.
Robert Looney came (probably) from the Isle of Man, via Pennsylvania, Maryland, and what is now part of West Virginia, finally settling (by 1742) in Orange County (now Botetourt) on the south (right) bank of James River at its crossing by the Great Road (now followed in general by US 11 and I-81). Looney built a home, operated a ferry, built and operated a grist mill, farmed, and took part in community affairs. He had ten [known] children, many of whom played important roles in the expanding frontier in southwestern Virginia, and on into Tennessee and westward. Abb's Valley in Tazewell County, Virginia was named for a son, Absalom Looney, who was an early settler there. The Looney name shows up in many other places, as well, and many are described in this book.
In 1754-55 as the Indian menace developed into what we call the French and Indian War, Robert Looney palisaded his home, creating Looney's Fort, which served as a neighborhood refuge when danger threatened. The home was demolished in 1914, and the home-fort location became an archeological site, named the Lipes Site, for recent owners. An archeological test of the site in 1968-69 revealed part of the house foundation, the ditch which supported posts of the palisade, plus an underlying prehistoric Indian occupation. The report on the work is in ASV's Quarterly Bulletin for December, 1971 (Vol. 26, No. 2).
This reviewer had written the Lipes Site report, with many statements in it based on his (then) limited knowledge of the site and its history. This publication by the Cranes corrects his errors and this writer appreciates the kind way in which they did this. Naturally, some of the conclusions about the site still need better proof, and the writers join this reviewer to urge further archeological work at the Lipes Site. In the meantime, the current owners are protecting the site.
In this volume, the Cranes assembled a tremendous body of data. At times, the reader feels overwhelmed by details. However, those details are the crucial building blocks of history. Students interested in the Looney genealogy, the history of the Great Road, events during the French and Indian War, frontier forts in general, and related data are encouraged to use this source, either through purchase, or by having your library acquire a copy. It is unlikely that anyone will (or can) replicate the research and data presented so well in this book. Those of us with an interest in Virginia's frontier history will use this book extensively, especially in seeking leads and data concerning homes, mills, forts, roads, bridges, and so on of the James River valley west of the Blue Ridge during the mid-18th Century. As an archeologist, I already see dozens of potential data sources (sites) leaping from the pages and demanding attention!
Howard A. MacCord, Sr.
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Another review was printed in the Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society Quarterly Volume 27, Number 2,
Fall 2000 Page 60
Most Distinguished Characters On The American Frontier; Robert Looney (b. 1692-1702 d 1770) of Augusta (now Botetourt) County, Virginia and some of his descendants with histories of the Great Road, Looney's Ferry, Crow's Ferry, Anderson's Ferry, Boyd's Ferry and Beales's Bridge. Volume 1 By: Madge Looney Crane and Phillip L. Crane, 1998 vi + 442 pp. 8 1/2 x 11 cloth profusely illustrated, many excellent maps.
This book is far more than a family history, it includes a new interpretation of the Virginia frontier during the French and Indian War 1754-1764, Looney's Ferry being the 'very frontier' for a long time in 1756. This book portrays first hand accounts of the fury on the frontier during this time period. The maps are exceptional and include the Fry & Jefferson 1751 map of the northern Virginia Frontier; Samuel Lewis' map of 1794; Joshua Fry's Report of 1751 and the Indian War Paths in Virginia; Lewis Evans 1749 map; Warner's Map of the Northern Neck of Virginia; Virginia Counties 1738-1750; SW Virginia 1730-1780's; Louis Evans Map of 1755; Fry & Jefferson's Map of 1755-56; the Virginia Frontier 1755-56; George Washington's Tour of Frontier Forts to name only a few. The authors have presented and discussed merits and questions about earlier generations of this family which are not proven, and presented some material from researchers who went to the Isle of Man, with inconclusive evidence. Families by the name were there however. Other early members of the Looney family - but who are they? Are presented as well as places named Looney. What happened to Looney's Ferry is another chapter which incorporates migration paths and The Great Wagon Road from Philadelphia to the Carolinas, the other Ferries in the title, and much on the French & Indian War. Chapter 6 begins with the first generation in America, Robert Looney (1692-1702) who immigrated during or before 1734 with his wife Elizabeth from the Isle of Man to Philadelphia. The moved westward through Pennsylvania and settled near what is now Hagerstown, Maryland, and in 1739-40 moved to the Shenandoah Valley in Augusta (later Botetourt) County, Virginia. Descendants and relatives lived in PA, VA, WV, TN, TX and elsewhere. A meticulously researched and presented volume - you owe it to yourself to read this on and follow its guidelines.
Review by: Jean S. Morris
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8/12/04 NEW
Phillip,
...There were a number of books I have read that talk about Frontier Virginia and the big picture. But they didn't teach me much about the people and their everyday lives. What about wolf heads and hemp certifications, titheables and dower and banns, not to mention noncupative will? I admired the people of colonial Augusta but I didn't understand some of their customs and a lot of their language. That is what I like about your book. The local history that tries to explain their world. You go back and walk the ground they walked. You show pictures of where they lived and describe how they lived. You go into detail about court battles and Indian battles. And the maps that show where the families lived in relation to other frontier families and the forts that were supposed to protect them. That is why I bought the book. You write abut the little picture. And while I still haven't figured what a noncupative will is, I know what a juggle is.
I enjoyed the book.
James M. Wells