Amy, We don't know who James B. Blackburn's parents are either. The names of his children are similar to the names in the Benjamin Blackburn line but that isn't proof. They appear to have been related at least through the Province/Provine family. Mrs. Hilliard, who compiled a book on the James B. Blackburn line felt the two lines were probably related but could find no good evidence. I have her book and will gladly do look ups. Marriage of first cousins was a very common occurrence in the Blackburn family and most others of that time period. It seemed they went out of their way to pick someone kin. At least they knew about the family that way. M. Blackburn