Dear List, There has been a lot of traffic on William Blackburn recently, and I thought the following extract from the California Pioneer Register might interest you: "William Blackburn, Virginia, cabinet maker born in 1814. Migrated overland in 1845 with the Swasey-Todd party. He went to work at Santa Cruz as a lumberman.....served as alcalde (mayor) of Santa Cruz from 1847 to 1849. Also county judge in 1850. The decisions of his court are famous for their originality....Blackburn was an intelligent, shrewd fellow; honest and straightforward in his dealings; always jovial and popular whether drunk or sober." I have more on this William Blackburn, if there is any interest. I have some particularly funny stories about his court cases. Good luck! William John Blackburn III , father of William John Blackburn IV, great grandson of William Blackburn born Ireland 1840, resided Penn Twp, Westmoreland PA from at least 1870 to about 1906, wife Sarah Brinton. Researching in PA and Ireland ancestry of William Blackburn born 1840 Ireland.