BLACKBURN

ELIZABETH BLACKBURN, Betsy, was born on 21 January 1797 in the Newberry District, South Carolina, and died on 25 August 1856 in Perry County, Alabama. On 25 September 1817, she married, as his first wife, John Boyd (see Boyd), who was born on 11 October 1795 and died on 9 November 1872 in Perry County, Alabama. Elizabeth and John are buried in the Fellowship Cemetery out from Marion, Alabama.

The children of John and Elizabeth are listed under "Boyd."

Elizabeth was the daughter of

JOHN BLACKBURN was born in Virginia, probably Buckingham County, on 30 June 1760 and died on 24 December 1853 in Perry County, Alabama.(2) He married in Edgefield District, South Carolina, Nancy who was born on 22 September 1769 in Edgefield District and died on 30 November 1830 in Perry County, Alabama.(2-4) Nancy's last name is not known. John and Nancy are buried in Mt. Zion Cemetery, near Marion, Alabama.

John moved with his parents to South Carolina some time before 1768, the date his father, then a resident of Berkley County, South Carolina, received a land grant from the Lt. Governor of South Carolina. Newberry County was later cut off from Berkley County. As mentioned, John married Nancy in Edgefield County, and they moved back to Newberry District where all of their children were born.

Newberry County records show that John Blackburn sold his 308 acres on Indian Creek, part on Johnson's branch and the other on Long Branch, at a consideration of $1,500, on 8 February 1817. His wife, Nancy, signed her dower release 27 October 1817.(6)

The John Blackburn family moved to Perry County, Alabama, and were settled there in 1818.

John joined the Methodist Church in 1796 and the Mt. Zion Methodist Society was organized in their Alabama home in 1819.(2) He was elected its first Steward.(7)

The children of John and Nancy were (l-2) Sarah 1787-1789; William, born 9 October 1790 and died 11 August 1842; John, born 23 December 1792, died 11 July 1856, and married Martha Milner; Thomas, born 20 January 1795, died 11 November 1850, and married Elizabeth Gantt; Elizabeth (see above), born 21 January 1797, died 25 August 1856, and married John Boyd; Rachel, born 1 April 1799, died April 1878, and married John P. Dunklin; Jane, born 20 February 1801 and married David Payne; Daniel, born 31 December 1802, died 21 July 1879, and married Elizabeth B.; Nancy Ann, born 11 June 1805, died 14 September 1870, and married James McLaughlin; Marish Wells, born 1 October 1807, died 16 February 1891, and married Hirman Payne; George Herbert, born 15 September 1809; and James Lowe, born 7 April 1812 and married A. Humphreys.

John was the son of

WILLIAM THOMAS BLACKBURN was born on 11 March 1727 and died on 1 April 1782 in Newberry County, South Carolina.(2) About 1751, he married Rachel who was born on 3 March 1731 and died on 8 November 1790. Rachel's family name is not known.

William and Rachel were living in Buckingham County, Virginia, when John, their fourth child, was born on 30 June 1760. In 1768, we find William Blackbum, Sr., a resident of Berkley County (Newberry County was later cut off from Berkley), South Carolina, receiving a land grant from the Lt. Governor of the Province of South Carolina.(8)

Daniel Blackburn, the oldest son, was the surviving heir to the estate of William Blackbum who died in 1782. Nothing was done in settling the estate until 1790, the date of Rachel's death, at which time it was deeded by Daniel to William Blackburn, Jr., who was living in Newberry County.

The children of William and Rachel were:(1-2) Daniel, born 28 November 1752 and died 14 March, 1824; Elizabeth, born 2 January 1757 and died 4 March 1819; William, born 9 January 1758 and died 4 March 1819; John (see above), born 30 June 1760, died 24 December 1853, and married Nancy; James, born 26 November 1762, died 1 December 1782; Stephen, born 29 March 1764 and died 1 March 1782; and Sarah, born 27 March 1766 and died 7 June 1829.

Ref:
1. Christenberry-Boyd-Blackburn Family Bible, published by Merriam, Moore & Co., Troy, New York, 1850 owned by Mrs. Sue Thomas, Greensboro, Alabama.

2. Letters-Rev. F. S. Moseley, Eutaw, Alabama.

3. Obituary-John Blackburn, New Orleans, Christian Advocate, I April 1854. 4- Letter-Mrs. Ruth A. Blackburn, Jackson, Mississippi.

5. The Blackburn Genealogy by Venetta Wells Ranke, p. 114.

6. Letter-Mrs. Jack Bullard, Jefferson, Texas.

7. West's History of Alabama Methodism, p. 161.

8. Land Grant to William Blackburn, Berkley County, South Carolina, Book CCC, p. 30.