Exactly where was the Looney land?
The purpose of this article is to discuss the land ownership of Robert Looney Sr. (died 1770 in Botetourt County, Virginia). The first part covers the extent of his holdings as understood after the publication of Robert Looney's land grants by F. B. Kegley in 1938. The remainder of the article deals with the new information presented in Most Distinguished Characters on the American Frontier (1998).
In 1938 F. B. Kegley published Kegley's Virginia Frontier, which listed Robert Looney's land grants (should be patents) on the James River. Kegley introduced his discussion of the Upper James River by listing the grants of the earliest settlers, including three for Robert Looney:
1) 250 acres on a branch of James River,
2) 213 acres on Luney's Mill Creek
3) 400 acres on Luney's Mill Creek
863 - TOTAL
Kegley also listed a grant to Robert Looney for 160 acres on Sinking Spring, which was issued in 1756. This made Robert's total over 1,000 acres, a number sometimes given in writings.
Robert D. Stoner's A Seedbed of the Republic (1962) stated "Robert Looney owned several tracts aggregating 863 acres, in 1742, on Looney's Mill Creek, which was named for him." Other writers have repeated these totals, and the misinformation about Robert Looney's land holdings continued.
It was assumed that Robert Looney's 250 acres was at the mouth of Looney's Mill Creek, since his homestead was at this location. The description (metes and bounds) in the patent does not say Looney's Mill Creek (Kegley says it does). The description just says "on the creek." The exact location of his James River land was not known and there was misinformation about the amount he owned.
Of the three grants listed by Kegley, only one -- the 250 acres -- was correctly listed as Robert Looney, Sen.'s. The 213 acres was issued to Robert Looney Jun. (on July 30, 1742, the same day as Robert Looney Sen.'s grant of 250 acres). A grant for 400 acres to Robert Looney (or any similar spelling) has never been found. Apparently Kegley listed it by mistake.
As explained in the article "What Happened to Looney's Ferry," part of Robert Looney's land was later owned by John Beale. After he died, a plat is on record describing the division of his property (dated January 12, 1810). This plat shows the tracts, including the Looney land, which made up Beale's property. Of the 250 acre patent (issued to Robert Looney, Sen. on July 30, 1742), the plat includes two tracts that were awarded to Robert Looney's sons after settlement of the chancery suit from 1765-65; 1) the 140 acres awarded to David(2) Looney, and 2) 80 acres awarded to Peter(3) Looney (as heir of Peter(2) Looney). The remainder (about 37 acres) which was on the south side of Looney's Mill Creek, had been in the possession of Daniel Looney by 1755. This tract is not shown on the Beale Division because it was sold to John Mills by John and Margaret Looney (Daniel Looney's only child) Miner in 1784.
Robert Looney's 160 acre patent on Sinking Spring is also shown on the Beale Division. The total of Robert Looney's land ownership was:
250 acres* patent July 30 1742
160 acres patent March 10, 1756
410 acres TOTAL
*257 acres by deeds (140 acres, 80 acres, 37 acres)
The Beale Division also shows the George Draper Place (180 acres). This tract was apparently claimed by George Draper, patented to Daniel(2) Looney on August 20 1748, sold to Absalom(2) Looney in 1754, Peter(3) Looney in 1765, and William Anderson in 1785. The records indicate that Peter(2) Looney was living on this tract when he died about 1760. The authors have suggested that Looney's Mill was located on the part of the George Draper Place that was on the south side of Looney's Mill Creek (see * on the plat and article "Where was Looney's Mill").
The Great Road (Indian Road, War Path, Carolina Road) still ran through the former Looney property in 1810. The road crossed at Beale's Bridge over the James River on the Looney's Mill Creek side of the old Robert Looney home site (called Pendleton by the Beales). When William Crow owned it, the crossing was moved about 100 yards upstream (added to plat).
Several items have been added to the Beale Division (which are marked as "added to"). Robert Looney Jun.'s 213 acre patent (July 30, 1742) has been added because it connected with theGeorge Draper Place. This land was sold to the Paxtons, who later sold part of it to John Beale. The road on the south side of Looney's Mill Crek (now approximately U.S. 11), which played a part in taking business away from Looney's Ferry, has alos been added. Capt. Crow's Road, whick was closed about 1785-86, has been added.
Robert Looney, Sr. was also in possession of a 60 acre tract, surveyed to him on March 17, 1762. There is a plat of this tract, but none which connects it with his other land. But the description in the survey says "Beginning at a Red oak in a Creek Corner to a former survey of said Loonies..." and ends "Black oak and Corner his survey aforesaid and with a line of the same...". This 60 acre tract probably bordered the 37 acre tract on the the south side of Looney's Mill Creek that went to Margaret(3) Looney Miner. The two tracts, no doubt, overlapped. Robert Looney, Sr.'s orchard was certainly on this tract, and very likely this was where Robert Looney and Elizabeth's new house was built after 1762. By 1766 David(2) Looney sold the old Robert Looney home site to Capt. William Crow (certainly by this date Robert and Elizabeth had to live in another house). It is also very likely that they died on the 60 acre tract. The authors feel that if Robert and Elizabeth Looney are buried on Looney's Mill Creek, their graves would be located on the 60 acre tract.
Joseph (2)) Looney received the patent for the 60 acre tract on July 14, 1769. There was probably an agreement whereby Joseph assumed the maintenance of his parents, and in turn he would get the remainder of Robert Looney's land (160 acre Sinking Spring tract and the 60 acre tract). Robert and Elizabeth probably died on Joseph's 60 acre tract, but they certainly maintained their own household (based on items listed in Robert Looney's inventory). Joseph would have lived on the Sinking Spring tract. The 60 acre tract, which Joseph sold to James Gilmore in 1773 for 55 pounds, had a grist and saw mill on it. This may have been the site of what much later was Harvey's Iron Works about 1/2 mile upstream from the mouth of Looney's Mill Creek (on the south side). Evidence of the dam at this mill is still visible (large stones butted up against Stable Hill). William Crow purchased the 60 acres in 1778 for 55 pounds.
PLAT OF THE BEALE DIVISION IN 1810 (BOTTOM SECTION). This plat and the following plat have been carefully made from the metes in the Beale Division, but much information that is explained in Most Distinguished Characters has been added. Also, the tracts formerly owned by the Looney's were shown (but not named), so explanations of this have been given. This is the only known plat showing the tracts of land owned by Robert Looney (except the survey for the 160 acre Sinking Spring tract).
(John Beale's Division and plat are recorded in Botetourt County Will Book B (1801-1815), pp. 251-56)
PLAT OF THE BEALE DIVISION IN 1810 (TOP SECTION). The plat of the Beale Division is the only known plat that shows the part of the George Draper place on the south side of Looney's Mill Creek (see *). The authors suggested that Looney's Mill was at this location.
