JOHN BLACKWELL

I

CHAPTER I

T IS with a feeling of utter incompetence for the

task I set myself, that this sketch of my father

is begun. Were is not for my earnest desire that my sons should know something of the character and opinions of this noble man, their grandfather, the task would not be undertaken. What mother will not undertake the impossible for her children!

Perhaps it will be well to go back a little and gather up such details as we have of the forebears. of this man. The inventory of his great grandfather, Robert Blackwell's estate, dated 1789, shows a large plantation in Lunenburg, later Mecklenburg County, and quite a number of slaves. His great grandmother was Elizabeth, daughter of James Goodwin, of York Hampton Parrish, who died in 1757. The children of Robert and Elizabeth Blackwell were Robert, James G., who died young; John, Thomas, Joel, Chapman, who moved to Kentucky; Christianna, Anna, and Elizabeth G.

Robert moved from King William, once a part of York County, to Lunenburg in 1751, and purchased 430 acres of land from William Raines. Lunenburg at this time embraced the present counties of Halifax, Bedford, Charlotte, Mecklenburg, Pittsylvania, Henry, Campbell, Franklin, and Patrick. (See "Virginia County Names," Long.) He was Captain of the Lunenburg Militia in the Revolutionary War and was wounded at the battle of Monmouth. In my possession are numerous papers which belong to his children; also, the will of James Goodwin, of York, dated 1757, bequeathing lands in Louisa, King William and York, together with "my silver tankard" and "silver hilted sword" to different sons. His son John was grandfather to the subject of my sketch; Thomas, grandfather of Mr. Robert A. Blackwell, who recently died at his home, "Midlothian," in "the old Antioch neighborhood," Lunenburg County, Va. Among the Thomas B. papers are a captain's commission in the Virginia Militia in the early years of 1800, and an inventory of his estate in 1820, from which we learn that he was a man of considerable means, owning three valuable farms and a number of slaves. There are also records of business transactions, some of considerable importance, in the counties of Nottoway, Brunswick, Amelia; and in Petersburg. He was administrator on at least four estates and guardian of several sets of children, and evidently a

man whose character was honored far and wide for its integrity and enterprise. At his home was a school patronized by Messrs. A. and Th. Buford, Judge Randolph, Captain Cralle, Mr. Bagley and others.

Of John Blackwell, brother of Captain Thomas, and grandfather of our John, we have a quantity of data-papers written in a beautifully neat, yet vigorous hand, and a clear, forceful style. In his youth he taught school; among his pupils are names distinguished among Episcopalians in Virginia. The quaint old bills are made out in pounds, shillings and pence. He married Mary, daughter of Upton Edmundson, a well-to-do planter-judging from the inventory of his estate, 1812, which we have. Of this union were born four sons and two daughters, viz., Dr. John Chapman, Robert (commonly called Robin) of "Old Lochleven," father of the subject of my sketch, Thomas, Benjamin, Susannah and Elizabeth. They married as follows: Mary Letcher, sister of the "War Governor" of Virginia, Minerva Hardy, daughter of Vincent Hardy, Martha (Patsey) Hardy, her sister, Mary W. Jones, William Wilkinson, R. Blackwell Jones. All except Thomas have descendants.

It will be worth our while to go back and run over a few facts that have come down to us about John Blackwell, grandfather of our John. From numerous letters, it appears that he was from 1816 till her

death, agent and friend of a certain Mrs. Ann Cabiness, whose husband left a large estate to be divided among his children (one of whom then lived in Georgia, other heirs in Tennessee). To Mr. Blackwell Mrs. Cabiness entrusted the painful task of writing to her son in Georgia about the sudden insanity of his sister, which he does with great tact. There are also letters to "Uncle John" from nephews, and at least one niece, in Tennessee, Louisiana, North Carolina, Mississippi and Georgia, several as pioneers crossing the Cumberland Mountains into Tennessee in wagons. Some of these letters are on business which was entrusted to "Uncle John," and the note of perfect confidence and affection runs through all of them. There is every evidence that he was not only true to his trust, but a very painstaking accountant as well.

One of these nephews has written several interesting letters about trading with the Indians on the Mississippi, and taking his furs and buffalo skins, etc., to New Orleans, in his own steamboats. I have a copy of a contract for repairing "Old Antioch meeting house," which was very unpretentious in those days. It was given in 1830 by John B. and Thomas Adams, of "Oak Grove," later on Colonel Haskin's home. I gather from this that said John was one of the "early Methodists," and the descendants among the staunchest upholders of Methodism in the county.