Colonel Benjamin Blythe, Sr.

• BLYTHE, BENJAMIN Ancestor #: A011557
• Service: PENNSYLVANIA Rank: COLONEL
• Birth: CIRCA 1728 CUMBERLAND CO PENNSYLVANIA
• Death: 4- -1807 SHIPPENSBURG PENNSYLVANIA
• Military service 1: Colonel-(a Ranger)French and Indian War.
• Military service 2: Colonel of Militia- RevWar.
• Military service 3: Served in Capt. Culbertson's Co. F&IWar.
• Military service 4: Sub Lt. of his District of Cumberland Co..
• Occupation: Yeoman (Farmer), Plantation Owner.

Source for above: http://www.genealogy.com/ftm/r/e/e/Richard-C-Reed-LA/WEBSITE-0001/U...

http://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/01/historic_building_or_building....

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2016/02/preservationists...

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XPMD-BY8

• Name Benjamin Blythe
• Event Type Military Service
• State Pennsylvania
• Military Regiment Second (Davis') Battalion (Cumberland County Militia)

1790 census: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHKJ-GM4

1810 censsus: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH2K-YZ9

Christening: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2NN-XSQ

Source: internet on 3/19/2012 at http://www.afrolumens.org/slavery/cumbab.html#Blyth, Benjamin

Slaveholder Name: Blyth, Benjamin, Sr.

City or Township Hopewell Township (Southampton Township)

Occupation Yeoman

Notes A highly influential Cumberland County farmer, politician and former militia officer, Benjamin Blythe was born circa 1723 and died in 1801. He later in life maintained an estate in what is present day Southampton Township. The Georgian limestone house has been restored and is on the National Register of Historic Places as the Colonel Benjamin Blythe Homestead, 217 Means Hollow Road, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania.

Blythe family historian and researcher Pat Bristley, of Fremont, Ohio, writes "It is believed that the slaves lived in a two-room area over the kitchen extension." (Mrs. C. W. [Pat] Bristley to George F. Nagle, January 10, 2005. The Afrolumens Project is indebted to Mrs. Bristley for donating a large packet of biographical and genealogical information on the Benjamin Blythe family.)

While the fate of the persons held as slaves by Benjamin Blythe is not known, the 1820 census enumerated 9 free African Americans living with his son, Samuel Blythe, in Southampton Township, Franklin County. It is likely that these free persons include some or all of the persons listed below. (Mrs. C. W. [Pat] Bristley to George F. Nagle, January 25, 2005.)

Slave Name: Anna Slave Age 04 Slave Sex: Female Slave Date of Birth 1776 (calculated) Slave Description Female Slave Status Slave for life Slave Notes Date of Record October, 1780 Source: "Register of Negro and Mulatto Slaves--Cumberland County, Pennsylvania"

Slave Name: Cesar Slave Age 28 Slave Sex: Male Slave Date of Birth 1752 (calculated) Slave Description Man Slave Status Slave for life Slave Notes Date of Record October, 1780 Source: "Register of Negro and Mulatto Slaves--Cumberland County, Pennsylvania"

Slave Name: Antony Slave Age 10 Slave Sex: Male Slave Date of Birth 1770 (calculated) Slave Description Slave Status Slave for life Slave Notes Date of Record October, 1782 Source: "Register of Negro and Mulatto Slaves--Cumberland County, Pennsylvania"

Slave Name: Bob Slave Age 0.75 Slave Sex: Male Slave Date of Birth 1780-January (calculated) Slave Description Slave Status Slave for life Slave Notes Actual age at registration noted at 9 months and 15 days. Date of Record October, 1780 Source: "Register of Negro and Mulatto Slaves--Cumberland County, Pennsylvania"

Slave Name: Nan Slave Age 18 Slave Sex: Female Slave Date of Birth 1762 (calculated) Slave Description Woman Slave Status Slave for life Slave Notes Date of Record October, 1780 Source: "Register of Negro and Mulatto Slaves--Cumberland County, Pennsylvania"

Slave Name: Harry Slave Age 05 Slave Sex: Male Slave Date of Birth 1784-February 10 Slave Description "Negro Boy" Slave Status Slave to age 28 Slave Notes Date of Record 1789 Source: "Registrations of Children of Slaves"

Slave Name: Casper Slave Age not known, age described as "advanced" in 1801 Slave Sex: Male Slave Date of Birth not known, but prior to 1780 Slave Description "Negro" Slave Status Slave for life, probably "placed out" after the death of Benjamin Blythe in 1801.

Slave Notes Slaves Casper and Nan were mentioned in the will of Benjamin Blythe as follows: "It is my wish that my Executors would in some degree Consult the inclination of my negroes Casper and Dinah previous to their Placing them out, as I should be sorry they would be unhappy in their situation, especially at their advanced Period of life." Date of Record 20 October 1801

Source: Will of Colonel Benjamin Blythe, Sr., Southampton Township, Cumberland County. Will dated October 20, 1801. Cumberland County Will Book G, number 94, pages 244-249. Copy of will provided to the Afrolumens Project by Mrs. C. W. Bristley, Fremont, Ohio. (Letter, Mrs. C. W. Bristley to George F. Nagle, January 10, 2005)

• Slave Name: Dinnah
• Slave Age not known, age described as "advanced" in 1801
• Slave Sex: Female
• Slave Date of Birth not known, but prior to 1780
• Slave Description "Negro"
• Slave Status Slave for life, probably "placed out" after the death of Benjamin Blythe in 1801.
• Slave Notes Slaves Casper and Nan were mentioned in the will of Benjamin Blythe. See notes for Casper, above.
• Date of Record 20 October 1801

Source: Will of Colonel Benjamin Blythe, Sr., Southampton Township, Cumberland County. Will dated October 20, 1801. Cumberland County Will Book G, number 94, pages 244-249. Copy of will provided to the Afrolumens Project by Mrs. C. W. Bristley, Fremont, Ohio. (Letter, Mrs. C. W. Bristley to George F. Nagle, January 10, 2005)

His children are: John Blythe 1745-1801, Abigail Watson (Blythe) 1748-1801, Hannah Blythe born 1752, Elizabeth Blythe 1753-1801, Jacob Blythe born 1754, Samuel Blythe 1759-1830, Benjamine Blythe JR 1765-1832 and William D Blythe born 1776.