The family is of English origin, and for a long period the principal home of the family in England has been in the vicinity of Derbyshire. For more than a century the name has been spelled Lomas in England, but earlier Lumas, Lommas or Lomes were used. Other variations are Lomys, Lomis, Lomas, while the American spelling is generally Loomis. The name occurred in England in the early part of the fifteenth century, and is supposed to have been a place name. In France and Switzerland, Lomis is a commonplace name. The Lomas coat-of-arms is Argent between two palets, gules three fleurs de lis in pale sable a chief azure. Crest: On a chapeau a pelican vulning herself proper.
(I) Joseph Loomis, immigrant ancestor, was probably born about 1590. He was a woollen draper in Braintree, county Essex, England, and sailed from London, April 11, 1638, in the ship "Susan and Ellen," arriving at Boston, July 17, 1638. He settled at Windsor, Connecticut, and February 2, 1640, was granted twenty-one acres of land adjoining the Farmington river, on the west side of the Connecticut river, and also had several large tracts on the east side of the Connecticut river, by purchase and grant. He is supposed to have come to Windsor in company with Rev. Ephraim Huet, who arrived there August 17, 1639. Joseph Loomis brought with him five sons and three daughters. His house was near the mouth of Farmington river on what was known as the Island, because at every freshet it became temporarily one. His wife died August 23, 1652, and he died November 25, 1653. Children:
- Joseph, born in England about 1616;
- daughter, married, 1640, Captain Nicholas Olmstead;
- Elizabeth, married, May 20, 1641, Josiah Hull;
- Deacon John, born 1622, in England;
- Thomas, born in England, married, November 1, 1653, Hannah Fox;
- Nathaniel, mentioned below;
- Mary, died August 19, 1680;
- Samuel, born in England.
(II) Nathaniel, son of Joseph Loomis, was born in England, and came to America with his father in 1638. He married, November 24, 1653, Elizabeth, daughter of John Moore. He was made a freeman in 1654, and admitted to the church, May 3, 1663. He died August 19, 1688, and his will was dated August 17, 1688, signed Nathaniel Loomys. His wife survived him. Children:
- Elizabeth, born August 7, 1655;
- Lieutenant Nathaniel, March 20, 1657;
- Abigail, March 27, 1659;
- Josiah, February 17, 1660-61;
- Jonathan, March 30, 1664;
- David, January 11, 1667-68;
- Hezekiah, February 21, 1668-69, mentioned below;
- Moses, May 15, 1671;
- Mindwell, July 20, 1673;
- Ebenezer, March 22, 1675;
- Mary, January 5, 1680;
- Rebecca, December 10, 1682.
(III) Hezekiah, son of Nathaniel Loomis, was born February 21, 1668-69, died in 1758. He married, April 30, 1690, Mary Porter, born November 20, 1672, died August 12, 1752. Children, born in Windsor:
- Noah, April 1, 1692;
- Mary, November 15, 1694;
- Hezekiah, November 7, 1697;
- Ensign Solomon, July 14, 1700, mentioned below;
- Joanna, December 4, 1702;
- Jonah, April 1, 1705;
- Elizabeth, August 13, 1708;
- Ann, February 20, 1710-11.
(IV) Ensign Solomon, son of Hezekiah Loomis, was born at Windsor, July 14, 1700. He married, June 28, 1727, Abigail Strong, who died May 6, 1773, aged seventy-two. He bought land in Tolland in 1724, and died in Tolland, August 26, 1772. Children, born in Tolland:
- Abigail, April 18, 1728;
- daughter, May 20, 1730, died same day;
- Michal, a daughter, May 20, 1730;
- Solomon, November 4, 1732, mentioned below;
- Anna, March 29, 1735;
- Esther, July 8, 1738.
(V) Solomon (2), son of Ensign Solomon (1) Loomis, was born in Tolland, November 4, 1732, died there August 5, 1805. He married (first) Mary Chapman, who died February 11, 1774, aged forty-two. He married (second), December 21, 1775, Mary Johnson. Children, born in Tolland:
- Simon, March 7, 1758;
- Solomon, September 27, 1760;
- Luke, April 11, 1764, died April 27, 1764;
- Nathaniel, January 5, 1766;
- Epaphras, September 20, 1768;
- Jeduthun, November 10, 1777, mentioned below;
- Elisha, January 27, 1779;
- Mary, November 5, 1780;
- Justin, July 10, 1783;
- Ralph, February 28, 1785;
- Ruth, April 11, 1787;
- Joel, August 18, 1789.
(VI) Jeduthun, son of Solomon (2) Loomis, was born at Tolland, November 10, 1777. He removed to Cambridge, Washington county, New York, in 1800, and died there, October 22, 1838. He married, July 26, 1801, Abigail Adams; she died January 14, 1868, aged eighty-six. Children, born in Cambridge:
- son, May 25, 1802, died July 16, 1802;
- Alanson D., June 20, 1803;
- Leonard M., December 18, 1804;
- Benjamin M., November 23, 1806;
- son, August 14, 1808, died August 28, 1808;
- Abigail S., September 23, 1809;
- Jeduthun, June 9, 1811;
- Ezekiel A., July 4, 1813, mentioned below;
- son, June 24, 1815, died July 4, 1815;
- Joel, April 13, 1817;
- Mary A. W., July 8, 1818;
- Nathaniel S. P., July 15, 1821;
- Syla Ann, June 25, 1825.
(VII) Ezekiel A., son of Jeduthun Loomis, was born July 4, 1813, at Cambridge, died November 18, 1858, at Granby, Oswego county, New York. He married, April 6, 1839, Ann Rice. Child,
- John R., mentioned below.
(VIII) John R., son of Ezekiel A. Loomis, was born January 15, 1846. He lived in Jersey City, New Jersey. He married, October 6, 1868, Emma Little. Children: Kate L., Russell M. L., John R. Jr. and George L.; all but John R. being deceased.
(IX) John R. (2), son of John R. (1) Loomis, was born January 25, 1873. He was educated in the public schools and at Glens Falls Academy. He has been engaged in the insurance business at Glens Falls since leaving school and is now a member of the firm of Little & Loomis, doing an insurance business in Glens Falls, New York, and in Montreal, Canada. He is a member of Glens Falls club. In politics he is a Republican, and in religion a Presbyterian. He married, March 2, 1897, Alice E. Rugge, daughter of George and Martha Mahala (Sherman) Rugge. They have one child,
- Martha Mahala, born November 26, 1902.