Col. Jacob Blount

A Patriot of the American Revolution for NORTH CAROLINA with the rank of STAFF OFFICER. DAR Ancestor # A011497

https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/blount-jacob

Jacob Blount, planter, landholder, and revolutionary soldier, was born in Beaufort County, son of Thomas Blount and Ann Elizabeth Reading. His father was a landowner and planter. In 1748, Jacob Blount married Barbara Gray of Bertie County and for some years following resided near Windsor. He inherited land on Contentnea Creek, and between 1757 and 1783 he acquired an estate of approximately six thousand acres.

Blount was interested in political affairs and became very active in the colony before the Revolution. He represented Craven County in the General Assembly in 1766, 1768, 1769, and 1770–71. He took part in the Battle of Alamance against the Regulators, but later became active against royal authority. He was a member of the provincial congress at New Bern in April 1775, of the third provincial congress at Hillsborough, and of the fourth provincial congress at New Bern. He was a member of the committee of safety for Pitt County. During the Revolution, Blount was appointed paymaster for the Second Regiment, North Carolina Continental Line, and later he became paymaster for the whole province.

Blount was an active member of the Church of England and was a vestryman in Craven County. His home, Blount Hall, was located sixteen miles southwest of Greenville, first a part of Craven County but later included in Pitt.

Jacob and Barbara Gray Blount had seven children: William (b. 26 Mar. 1749), Ann (b. 3 Oct. 1750), John Gray (b. 21 Sept. 1752), Louisa (b. 17 Jan. 1755), Reading (b. 22 Feb. 1757), Thomas (b. 10 May 1759), and Jacob (b. 5 Nov. 1760). Barbara Gray Blount died on 8 Apr. 1763; Jacob remarried, this time to Hannah Salter Baker, daughter of Colonel Edward Salter and widow of William Baker. Five children were born of this marriage, but only two lived to maturity: Willie (pronounced Wylie, b. 18 Apr. 1768), and Sharpe (b. 4 Apr. 1771). Jacob outlived his second wife also, and on 9 Aug. 1787 he married Mrs. Mary Adams. Two years after his third marriage, he died of "nervous fever" at Blount Hall.\

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SEE "Timeline" for chronological order of events along with photos and documents when available or added

Family information and sources: http://www.judivad.com/gen/getperson.php?personID=P284&tree=tree1

BLOUNT HALL, once located north of Grifton, was the ancestral home of the Blount family. The house was built about 1756 by Jacob Blount (1726-1789). It was a popular gathering place for the people in the area and was said to have been the scene of many prominent social and political functions. A post office was established there on January 15, 1833, with William L. Blount as postmaster. The post office was discontinued September 6, 1833. In the early 1830s, a ferry was located near Blount Hall over Great Contentnea Creek. The ferry cost five cents for a man and horse to cross. John Washington owned a store on each side of the creek and rented them out to different businessmen. In December 1836, William L. Blount and 549 others in the community got up a petition to build a bridge there. Blount Hall was destroyed by fire on the evening of March 8, 1963. Roger Kammerer

http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/NC-PCFR/2006-08/11559...

From USGenWeb:

http://files.usgwarchives.org/nc/craven/obits/blount01.txt

Craven County, NC - Obituary of Col. Jacob Blount, 1789

Newbern NC - August 20

Died on Monday the 17th instant, of a nervous fever at his seat (Blount's Hill), Col. Jacob Blount aged 63 years.

He was possessed of an affluent fortune which he acquired by his own industry in the early part of his life and enjoyed in the latter with ease and liberality; in either of which he never risked his good name but on the contrary enhanced it.

Independent in his sentiments and steady in his resolutions, he obeyed the impulse of his own mind and by always doing that which appeared to him right, obtained the friendship of many and the esteem and respect of all who knew him.

It would be difficult to determine whether his hospitality was most general, or liberal. At all times his doors were alike open to the poor and to the rich. The distressed, the weary and the sick traveler were sure to find a home at Blount Hall and the face of honesty was the best recommendation there.

In public life he was the patriot; in private, the uniform, steady and sincere friend. He adjusted the differences in his neighborhood with justice and moderation and contributed much to the order, peace and happiness of it. He was candid, cheerful and social; seldom too grave for the young, or too gay for the old.

The equality of his spirits bespoke the comforts of a quiet confidence and agreeably to the idea of Mr. Pope, he was "the noblest work of God, an honest man."

Source: The New York Packet - October 17, 1789

Information Source: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~bennieblount/pafg38.htm#925

GEDCOM Note

Jacob and Barbara Blount had several children including the statesmen William, John Gray, and Thomas Blount. In the early 1760s, Jacob built Blount Hall, the family plantation in Pitt Country, and Thomas, with his other brothers, was born at the plantation

GEDCOM Note