Where was Looney's Mill?

     Looney's Mill was built by 1739-40.  Surveys were made on April 8, 1740, which described the land as located on Luney's Mill Creek (so the mill must have been built by this date).  Looney's Mill was one of the first mills in Augusta County, Virginia (an area south of Frederick County and west of the Blue Ridge Mountains).

 

     Looney's Mill was mentioned in an Augusta County Court order on May 17, 1753.  On May 23, 1755,  he court ordered construction of a road to "Robert Looneys Mill."  On October 29, 1753, a group of Moravian Brethren traveled by Lunis (Looney's) Mill.  Their diary mentions Lunis Ferry, Lunis Mill, and other landmarks and the miles between them.  The authors have been able to suggest the location of Looney's Mill by combining this information with the known roads and creeks at the time.  The location of Looney's Mill has never been suggested before the publication of Most Distinguished Characters on the American Frontier, Robert Looney ... and Some of His Descendants (see pp. 105-07).

     The suggested location of Looney's Mill was on the south side of Looney's Mill Creek about 2 miles west of Looney's Ferry and the house of Robert Looney, Sr.  The mill was probably located on the small section of the George Draper place that extended to the south side of Looney's Mill Creek (see map below).

     The suggested location of Looney's Mill is based on the diary entries by the Moravian Brethren on October 29, 1753.  The Brethren crossed the James River at what is now Buchanan, Botetourt County, Virginia (1 mile east of Looney's Ferry).  They crossed to the south side of the river, traveled two miles until they crossed a creek (Looney's Mill Creek?), where they stayed almost all day at a house (possibly Robert Looney's).  Later in the day they traveled four miles, where they camped for the night (two miles beyond the mill).  The Brethren were on the Great Road, which ran along the north side of Looney's Mill Creek.  Since   they had to swim the creek, the mill must have been on the south side.

*Augusta County was created from Orange County in 1738; however , Augusta County was not organized until 1755.