David(2) Looney, son of Robert(1) and Elizabeth Looney, was born ca.
1736, on the upper Potomac River in Orange (now Frederick) County,
Virginia. His early recollections, however, were probably of the home
place on the James River at Looney's Mill Creek, not far from Natural
Bridge, Virginia.

        David Looney was probably of age in 1757, when as assignee of Thomas
Camp he obtained judgment on Edward Watts,Jr., in Bedford County,
Virginia.

        An early record evidence concerning David is an entry in Henning's
"Statutes of Virginia" about the furnishing of provisions to the Colony
about 1758.

        On 11 October 1759, when his father Robert(1) made an agreement with
his sons, Peter and David, by the terms of which much of his land and
other property was to be given to these sons, they were to build a house
for their parents and care for them.  The agreement did not last long,
but it led to litigation that has enabled us to learn about the family.
For further details, see the introductory chapter, "Robert(1) and
Elizabeth Looney Family."

        On 27 February 1760, David(2) witnessed a deed by Hugh Caruthers, of
Orange County, N.C., to Margaret Clark for 158 acres on Looney's Creek.
On 19 November 1760, he gave bonds as Administrator of the estates of
his brother, Thomas(2) Looney, and of his brother, Daniel(2) Looney. He
witnessed a deed on 14 February 1761, from John McFall of Bedford
County, Virginia, to David Miller; and he appraised the estates of his
brother, Peter(2) Luney and of Peter Absheir on 18 August 1761. On the
same day, Jane Evans, late Looney, asked for administration of her
deceased husband's estate hitherto granted to David(2) Looney. From these
legal activities during his early twenties, it may be inferred that
David(2) Looney received an above-average education for his day and
assumed responsibilities at an early age.


                                -2-

        David(2) married Mary McClelland (sister to Abraham McClelland),
possibly in Bedford County, Virginia. (Some DAR papers give the date as
1755, and sometimes her name is written Margaret Mary McClellan.) He
probably lived on 140 acres of the home tract, but he patented 204 acres
on Craig's Creek of James River, in August 1761 (Patent Book 34, 904).
On 10 August 1761, David was listed as indebted to the estate of
Peter(2) Looney for 5 Pounds. With John(2) Looney, he witnessed a Power
of Attorney in 1761 from Charles Milliken of Orange County, N.C., to
John Buchanon. Also with John, he appraised the estate of Christopher
Hicks in 1762.  On 4 February 1763, David(2) Lunie witnessed a deed by
John Sloan of Roan County, N.C., for 300 acres on Loonie's Mill Creek.
On 21 March 1763, David(2) Looney was a bondsman, with John Smith, for
John Griffith, Administrator of Morris Griffith.

        David(2) and Mary Looney signed a deed on 7 April 1763, for 204 acres
to Amos Potts and John Potts,Jr., and the witnesses were Stephen
Rentfroe and Margaret Looney. (Margaret was doubtless the widow of
Robert(2) Looney, Jr., and the property was that acquired by David on
Craig's Creek in August 1761.) On 8 July 1763, David witnessed a deed by
Robert Williams of Orange County, N.C., for land on Craig's Creek.

        As one result of litigation over the "agreement" of 1759, part of the
Robert(1) Looney land (140 acres) was deeded to David Looney on 20 August
1765. Also, on 18 October 1765, David Looney was appointed guardian of
Margaret(3) Looney, only child and orphan daughter of Daniel(2) Looney.

        On 13 June 1766, David(2) Looney et al witnessed a Power of Attorney
from Robert(1) Looney to James Jacks authorizing said Jacks to make a
second deed in order to confirm title to Jeremiah Jacks for the old
plantation on the Potomac River that Robert(1) sold in or about 1740 or
1741. (Of record in Frederick County, Virginia.)


-3-

On 21 November 1766, David(2) Looney (and wife) Mary Looney deeded to
William Crow, 140 acres of land, part of the 250 acres patented to
Robert(1) Looney in 1742, "land where David Looney lately lived."

        Possibly David(2) and family started their southwestward migration at
this time. Certainly, on 26 December 1766, at Fort Chiswell, David(2)
Looney and James Briggham signed a note to William Thompson, agreeing to
accept 20 Pounds from Henry Harmon. (This refers to settlement of a suit
brought by Lovice(3) Looney, daughter of Thomas(2) Looney, against her
grandfather, Captain Adam Harmon, in 1764. Lovice deposed, by
commission, on 22 August 1766. ( See account of Thomas(2) Looney family
in the introductory chapter, "Robert(1) and Elizabeth Looney Family.")

        Just when David(2) Looney settled in the Holston River district has not
been accurately determined. The region was not open until after the
treaties with the Indians in 1768 and 1769.  David may have already
entered a claim there in August 1769, when he was obtaining judgments
against various persons in Augusta County, Virginia, at that time. Then
the new Botetourt County, Virginia, was formed and on 29 January
1770,(probably in that part of Botetourt that was to become Fincastle
County, Virginia, in 1772, and then Washington County, Virginia, in 1777)
administration was granted to David(2) Looney on the estate of Derby
Shea.  Moses Looney (probably son of Robert(2) Looney) was one of the
appraisers.  This indicates that David(2) and Moses(3) were certainly in
the Holston neighborhood in 1770, because Derby Shea's property lay
between Muddy Creek and Falls Creek, and both of these are mostly , or
entirely, within what later became Sullivan County, N.C., then became
Sullivan County, Tennessee. (In March 1770, David had been appointed to
survey a road from Beaver Creek to Fall Creek, Botetourt County,
Virginia.  In Fincastle County on 6 January 1773, Moses(3) Looney was
appointed surveyor of the road from Muddy Creek to the county line.)
Even late in 1772, David's(2) ties with Botetourt County, Virginia, were
not completely severed. For example, on 19 November 1772, William Walker


                                -4-

conveyed certain horses to David(2) Looney, who had been surety on
Walker's bond of 8 December 1768. (Botetourt Deeds 1; 391.)

        At about the same time, when the will of Edward Sharp, dated 8 May,
1770, was probated in Botetourt County (Will Book A;1), the Executors
were father-in-law, John McClelland and brother-in-law, William
McClelland.  John Sharp was granted administration. The widow was Jane
Sharp, and the securities were David(2) Looney and Abraham McClelland.
(The widow, Jane McClelland Sharpe had married second, Samuel Gamble.)

        It seems that considerable study would be required to understand the
jurisdictional limits of those times and the locations of particular
properties in that area. For example, although Montgomery County was not
cut off from Fincastle until 1777, it's Order Book is said to have
entries showing that on 6 December 1774, David(2) Looney was
Administrator of the estate of William Prince; but in Deeds and Wills 2,
Montgomery County, it appears that David Looney et al were bondsmen for
John (2) Looney, Administrator of William Prince. Fincastle records show
that David(2) Looney was granted administration on the estate of William
Prince, 7 February 1775. ( A surprising entry of 5 March 1774, is that of
a suit in Montgomery County, by Hugh Montgomery, Assignee of William
Farr, against David(2) Looney and Adam Looney. What ADAM? Adam(2) Looney
died in Tryon County, N.C., in 1770.  This could be Adam(3) of Adam(2),
who could have returned temporarily to Virginia.)

        It does seem that it should help somewhat to know that in June 1776,
Peter Looney, Hugh Crawford, Moses Looney, et al, signed a petition, as
inhabitants of the western part of Fincastle County, asking
for a division of the county.  Washington County on the west, and
Montgomery County on the east were established in 1777. On 25 February
1777, in Washington County, David(2) Looney was surety for Anthony
Bledsoe, Administrator of the estate of William White, and
Moses(3) Looney


-5-

was one of the appraisers. On 27 August 1777, David(2) Looney,
Moses(3) Looney, et al, appraised the estate of William Purviance, in
Washington County.

        The homes of some of the early settlers in the Holston area were
actually forts as well as dwellings. The Revolutionary War pension
papers of James Anderson, S1786, show service under Captain David(2)
Looney's Fort on Muddy Creek, about 2 miles from its mouth at the
Holston River. Captain David Looney also commanded a guard for the
conveying of provisions to the American troops at the battle with the
Indians at Long Island, in the Holston River.

        An important list of the early settlers in the Holston area is the
petition of 6 November 1777, by the inhabitants of the lower part of
Washington County, protesting the erection of a Court House
inconvenienly located for them. Among the signers were:

        Walter Johnson
        Benjamin(3) Luney .(Robert(2), married Mary Johnson, killed by Indians
in 1783)
        James Brigham (married Lovice(3) Looney, Thomas(2) and Jane Harmon
Looney.)
        Peter(4) Looney  (of Peter(3), born 1755, Absalom(2).)
        Hugh Crawford  (md. Annis (3), David (2), Robert(1).)
        Robert Looney  (what Robert? Did Adam's(2) Robert (3) return
temporarily to Virginia from Tryon, N.C., where Adam(2) died 1770? )
        John Looney  (of Robert(2); ie Captain John(3) Looney whose company
served against the Cherokees in 1781. )
        Steven Renfrow, Sr.  (md. about 1763, Margaret, widow of Robert(2).)
        Steven Renfrow, Jr. (son of Steven)
        John Renfrow.   (son of Steven)
        Samuel Looney   (of Robert(2). Md. Ann__;killed by indians 1778.)

Continue with Part 7, David (2) Looney Branch (NEXT PAGE)

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