I posted this earlier, but maybe someone missed it and can add to my findings. Thanks Linda Blackburn Family of Ashe, Watauga and Wilkes County North Carolina Benjamin Blackburn, a clergyman, came to this country in 1774 from Scotland. He first settled in the Halifax District of North Carolina before moving on to the Deep Gap Section of Ashe County. He married Elizabeth Adkerson and they were the parents of four children. Many of their descendants were instrumental in establishing the Methodist Church in the Blue Ridge Mountain area of North Carolina. Benjamin died between 1800 and 1804. Elizabeth's will can be found at the Ashe County, North Carolina Courthouse in Jefferson, North Carolina (Book A, Page 39, dated September 27, 1804/1814). (Will has been read by several that think the date is 1814. It is possibly 1804. The will names Levi, Sarah, Edmund and John as children. - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- First Generation: Children of Benjamin Blackburn and Elizabeth Adkerson Edmund LeRoy Blackburn, Sr. m. 1) Unknown 2) Frances "Frankie" Hodges Levi Blackburn (abt. 1794-1871 m. Sarah Greer (?-1862) John Blackburn Sarah Blackburn (1799-1875) m. John M. Morphew, s/o Silas Morphew and Elizabeth England - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Second Generation: Children of Edmund LeRoy Blackburn, Sr. and First Wife Jack Blackburn m. 1) Fanny Unknown 2) Mary Michael (abt. 1850-?), d/o Wilson Michael and Tempy Trivett John Blackburn ------------ Children of Edmund LeRoy Blackburn, Sr. and 2) Frances "Frankie" Hodges William Blackburn (1819-1905) m. Sarah McNiel (1815-1871), d/o Thomas McNiel and Mary Hannah Parsons Sarah Blackburn (?-abt. 1847) m. Joseph W. Miller, s/o David Miller and Elizabeth Norris Andrew Blackburn (1821-?) Soloman Blackburn (1823-1863) m. Mary "Polly" Elrod (1823), d/o Adam Elrod and Nancy Phillips Edmund LeRoy Blackburn, Jr. (1824-1906) m. Martha Phillips (1832-1922), d/o William "Billy" Phillips and Jemima Yates Thomas Blackburn (1827-?) m. Nancy Elrod (1829-?), d/o Adam Elrod and Nancy Phillips Joseph Blackburn (1828-?) m. Rhoda Fouts Martha Jane Blackburn (1831-1883) m. William Tomlinson (?-1863), s/o William Tomlinson, Sr. and Mary Brown Elizabeth Blackburn (1833-1857) m. Hiram Tomlinson (1834-aft. 1860), s/o William Tomlinson, Sr. and Mary Brown Levi Blackburn (1835-?) (lived in Ohio) m.Elizabeth Seashorn Edmund LeRoy Blackburn, Sr. and Frankie Hodges Blackburn reared their children on a large farm just off the present day Blue Ridge Parkway. Although they were farmers, they were not slave owners. During the Civil War, the Blackburn's were often the subject of raids by Confederate soldiers. Livestock was frequently stolen. On July 25, 1863, during a raid, a Confederate soldier, Alex Wilson, killed Edmund's son Solomon. The slaying took place under the direction of Major H Bingham. - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Third Generation: (Copied from Family Bible) Children of Edmund LeRoy Blackburn, Jr. and Martha Phillips Elizabeth Evelyn Blackburn (1850-1907) m. John D. Cheek Laura Virginia Blackburn (1852-1945) m. James F. Church Hiram Marshall Blackburn (1853-1925) m. Juliette Calloway Sarah Camilla Blackburn (1855-1939) m. William Franklin Beshears (1852-1945), s/o Aaron Beshears and Alice "Aley" Owens Delphia Alzena Blackburn (1856-1910) unmarried America Jane Blackburn (1858-1932) m. James Larkin Welborn, s/o Lewis Johnson Welborn and Susannah Miranda Watson Mary Alice Blackburn (1860-1915) m. Levi Tomlinson William Pinkney Blackburn (1861-1892) m. Fannie Brown Martha Ellen Blackburn (1863-1911) m. Thomas "Tom" Aaron Church (1866-1928), s/o Henry Harrison Church and Clarissa Catherine Beshears Frances Melinda Blackburn (1866-1931) m. Leander James Whittington (1860-1937), s/o John Whittington and Sarah Lenderman Thomas Marion Blackburn (1867-1900) m. Amelia Ettie Church Edmund LeRoy "Lee" Blackburn, III (1868-1953) m. Judy Bishop Lawrence Decatur Blackburn (1869-1937) m. Kate "Callie" Calloway Joseph Franklin Blackburn (1871-1953) m. 1) Nancy Myrtle Phillips 2) Lola Bare Julia Ann Blackburn (1872-1969) m. William Gaither Parsons 2) Will Norris Lillie Belle Blackburn (1875-1957) m. L. Decatur Whittington (1871-?), s/o John Whittington and Sarah Lenderman James Monroe Blackburn (1878-1963) m. Mary Jane Keys