Capt. James Blackwell

James Blackwell was the son of Samuel Blackwell & Elizabeth (Steptoe) Blackwell of "Walnut Lodge" in Northumberland County, Virginia. It was here that James was born and reared. As a young man he came to live in Fauquier County, Virginia, where two of his uncles had come to live, one being Joseph Blackwell, the first sheriff of Fauquier County, and the other being William Blackwell who also served as an early sheriff for Fauquier County. James served as a lieutenant in the Fauquier County Militia during the Revolutionary War -- following an old family tradition. He married on the 3rd of March, 1766 in Fauquier County to his cousin, Ann (called by her nickname "Nancy") Blackwell, {daughter of Col. Wm. Blackwell & Elizabeth (Crump) Blackwell).

In 1785 James Blackwell and his family removed with his brother-in-law, Armistead Churchill, along with other family members to the wilds of western Kentucky. He settled in Jefferson County, Kentucky and was a magistrate there. He followed the tradition of his family and was a farmer/planter and was active in various capacities in his county and was sometimes cited as Captain James Blackwell in various court documents. Here he lived out the remainder of his days. James and Ann (called "Nancy") Blackwell settled in that part of Jefferson County which later became Henry County.

Deeds and Court papers show that James and Nancy Blackwell resided first in Jefferson County (formed in 1780), then the deeds show Shelby County (formed in 1792 from Jefferson County) and finally Henry County (formed in 1798 from Shelby County). It appears they did not move but that the boundaries of the counties changed as new counties were created and boundaries were redrawn. Drennen's Creek appears in numerous deeds and court papers indicating this is the proximity of their farm. It was customary in the countryside in those days to be buried upon one's own land. Often a family grave site was maintained up to a time that some future generation no longer remembered or cared to tend to it.

The following children were born of this union:

1. William, born 1767, Fauquier County, Virginia; married March 2, 1795, at Capt. Green's in Culpepper County, VA.

2. Robert, born between 1770 and 1780, Fauquier County, Virginia; did not marry; was in Washington Parish, LA.

3. Steptoe, [Steptoe Blackwell] born 1771, Fauquier County, Virginia, never married; came to live in New Orleans, Louisiana.

4. Sarah, born 1770-1775, Fauquier County, Virginia; married August 31, 1795, in Shelby County, Kentucky to William Neale.

5. James, born 1770-1780, Fauquier County, Virginia; married Ocotber 15, 1795, in Jefferson County, Kentucky, to Winney Tuell.

6. Elizabeth, born circa 1780, Fauquier County, Virginia; married 1804 in Jefferson County, Kentucky, to Edward Slaughter.

7. Susannah, born 1784, Fauquier County, Virginia; married March 1, 1806, to Elijah Farmer.

8. Thornton, [Thornton Blackwell] born 1785, Jefferson County, Kentucky; married April 23, 1810, in Harrison County, Kentucky, to Permelia "Amelia" Godman; inherited his brother Steptoe's land grant in Washington Parish, Louisiana.

9. Nancy, born presumably in Kentucky; married to John G. Barnett on March 27, 1809, in Henry County, Kentucky

10. Samuel, born circa 1790, in Jefferson County, Kentucky; married 1st on October 5, 1836, to Mary Bryant; married second on April 1, 1841, to Sarah Cureton, and 3rd on August 30, 1859 to Euphronia Grigsby.

SOURCE: Find A Grave.com

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/139683883/james-blackwell