Dear Linda, My earliest known Blackburn ancestor is William, born Ireland 1840, resided Penn Twp Westmoreland Co PA from at least 1870 to about 1905, wife Sarah Brinton. I have not been able to make any connections with the other Blackburns who came much earlier. Best wishes, Bill Blackburn Mt. Shasta, CA Linda Menikos wrote: > Hi Bill, > > Thanks for sending the stories along. Now, tell me, who is your Blackburn > ancestor? You must be a cousin, well, maybe, anyhow. I am a descendant of > Benjamin, born 1739, and have two lines, his son John, and his son Robert. > > Thanks, > Linda > [email protected] > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Bill Blackburn <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Thursday, December 16, 1999 11:44 AM > Subject: [BLKBURN] William Blackburn, Alcalde and judge of Santa Cruz > > > Dear Linda and other interested parties, > > > > Following are extracts from the book "Vigilance Committee of 1851": > > > > ...the records of criminal trials should be reviewed by the Governor > before > > the infliction of any penalty. The method was not entirely > > successful....alcaldes did not always await official sanctions of their > > sentences. William Blackburn of Santa Cruz for instance executed a > murderer > > convicted by a jury, and afterwards reported the case ..for aproval.... > > > > It was also reported that while under the influence of liquor Blackburn > > ordered a horse thief executed, and when sober wished to go on with the > > trial. The sheriff, who had concealed his prisoner, pretended for a time > that > > the penalty had been inflicted. "Never mind" responded Blackburn "proceed > > with the trial. All orders and judgements of this court must be justified > by > > due and legal proceedings had." > > > > Previously I have forwarded extracts from "Pioneer Register and Index" on > > William Blackburn, born VA 1814 Following is additional information on > > AlcaldeWilliam Blackburn, an intelligent, shrewd fellow, honest and > > straightforward...always jovial and popular, whether drunk or sober: (much > > like ME, his namesake !!) > > > > Served in Fautleroys dragoons, joint the California Batt. and was made 2d > Lt. > > of Co. A artillery. Returned to Santa Cruz, but also obtaining a lot at > San > > Francisco. Opened a store, served 1847-49 as Alclade of Santa Crux, also > a > > county judge after a brief experience in the mines. The decisions of his > court > > are famous for their originality, but if technically somewhat irregular > they > > were always in accordance with commond sense and justice. He is said to > have > > built a schooner at Santa Crux in '48, and was chosen as a member of the > > convention of '49 although not serving. Claimant of Atascadero ranches. > > After '51 gave up politics and gave his attention to agriculture, first to > > raising potatoes, for which he got a premium at the N>Y> fair, and later > to > > fruit culture, his orchard being for many years one of the chief > attractions > > of Santa Cruz. He died in '67 leaving a widow. Several of his brothers > cam > > to Cal. after 1848. > > > > That's all I have on Judge William Blackburn !! > > > > Bill Blackburn > > Mt. Shasta, CA >