John Gray Blount

https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/blount-john-gray

From the North Carolina Highway Historical Marker Program:

http://www.ncmarkers.com/Markers.aspx?ct=ddl&sp=search&k=Markers&sv...

John Gray Blount (1752-1833) and his family exercised considerable influence over the political and economic life of North Carolina and Tennessee during the early National period. His half-brother William Blount served as governor of Tennessee during the War of 1812 while his half-brother Thomas served in Congress when not tending the family business in Tarboro.

J. G. Blount’s business dealings ranged westward to Tennessee and along the Atlantic seaboard and in the Caribbean, but his base of operation from his marriage in 1778 forward was in Washington. Blount made the town his home when it was still known as Forks of the Tar River. He and his business partners had large shipping interests, owning wharves, flat boats, and seagoing vessels. They also owned sawmills, gristmills, tanneries, and cotton gins, and engaged in agricultural pursuits and the slave trade. Blount was heavily involved in land speculation, employing agents to buy and sell large tracts in western North Carolina and Tennessee. Blount represented Beaufort in the House of Commons from 1782 to 1793, served in the constitutional convention of 1787, in the state Senate for three terms, and on the council of state on several occasions. He was a trustee of the University of North Carolina.

Alice Keith, editor of the first two volumes of the Blount papers, noted that John Gray Blount was “one of the most important figures in North Carolina in his day” in spite of the fact that he held not higher office and is generally less well known than his brothers. Blount’s home, a small frame building, is pictured in the second volume of the Blount papers with a caption noting, “Blount did contemplate building a home in keeping with his wealth and social station, but the opportune time never came.” The house was occupied by Blount’s descendants until its demolition in 1923.

References:

Alice Keith et al., eds., The Papers of John Gray Blount, 4 vols. (1952-1982)

Ursula Loy and Pauline Worthy, eds., Washington and the Pamlico (1976)

William S. Powell, ed., Dictionary of North Carolina Biography, I, 179—sketch by Armistead Jones Maupin

Additional info from his wife's bio: Sarah Lee “Sally” Haywood was 17 years old when she married 27-year old Maj. John Gray Blount Jr, of Beaufort County, a veteran of the War of 1812. John was namesake and one of 6 sons born to John Gray Blount Sr. & Mary Harvey of Chocowinity, who was one of the largest landowners in the history of the United States, owning and controlling vast tracts of land in North Carolina and Tennessee. Just one year after their marriage, her older sister Nancy Ann Hawkins Haywood would marry John Blount's younger brother, Gen. William Augustus Blount.

Sally and her husband resided in Chocowinity and with frequent trips to Raleigh, as John spent his time helping to manage his father's vast business and plantation holdings.

Sally was widowed in 1828 when her husband of 12 years passed at the young age of 46. Sadly, the marriage had produced no children, the 29-year old widow was left quite bereft and alone.

In 1834, the 35-year old widow married 46-year old widower, Gavin Hogg of Scotland, who was now a prominent and successful Raleigh attorney. She became stepmother to his then 11-year old son, Thomas Devereaux Hogg.

This second marriage was sadly short-lived, as Gavine died just one year later in New York at the young age of 47. The twice-widowed Sally never remarried, but remained in Raleigh keeping close ties to her stepson and Haywood family.

Sarah Lee “Sally” Haywood Blount Hogg died in 1880 at age 81. She is buried in Oakwood near both her husbands and stepson."

GEDCOM Note

Soldier in war of 1812