Hello Bob, I think you need to get the marriage of, Daniel Looney and Esther Christian to see if He is a Bachelor or Widower
so you can work out Daniel's birth date.

Sue mentioned that in Her reply.

I looked at the online 1881 census Lancashire and found,

William Looney 40 born, Ramsey Joiner
Elizabeth 40 born, Llanfair, Wales
John 7 born, Liverpool
Robert 4 born, Liverpool

Address, 56 Hawdon Street, West Derby

A search on the freebdm found,

Deaths March 1867 8b 423
Looney Elizabeth Jane 33 West Derby

Does the age match, do you know when She was born ? it might be worth a look.
Let me know what you think,
Averil