William Blanton ¹⁹

  General Notes:

"The Holston region of Virginia was settled first in 1750. This settlement grew apparently, to nearly a thousand persons when it was suddenly and ruthlessly wiped out or dispersed by the French and Indian War outbreak, At the end of this war, the area remained uninhabited, thanks to the uncompromising stand and of the Royal Proclamation of 1763. The new influx of settlers began timidly and tentatively in 1768 and, by 1773, at least, had grown to a flood." (From Historical Society of Washington Co. VA Pub., Series II, No 16, May 1979.)
Russell County was formed 1787 from Washington County. Lee County was formed 1792/93 from Russell and Scott County
There is a document "The Call to the Reverend Charles Cummings" dated: 5 January 1773 and signed by 137 settlers. The names would have been gathered in 1772. One of the signers was William Blanton. In 1799, William Blanton sold 30 acres of land located in Lee County to James Young who also signed the call to Rev. Cummings. The Wilderness Road by Robert L. Kincaid, Published 1947 by Babbs-Merrill Co., gives proof that the Rev. Charles Cummings accepted the call. On page 157 in this entry: "On the night of May 22, 1780, the weary Colonel Fleming found lodging in the hospitable home of the stout Scotch-Irish preacher, the Rev. Charles Cummings at Wolf Hills, later known as Abingdon, Virginia." (In 1988 his cabin home was still standing in Abingdon.)
According to an affidavit filed in Washington County, Virginia in 1855, William Blanton served under General George Washington at Braddock’s Defeat (1755), in the French and Indian Wars and served to the end of the Revolutionary War and became entitled to bounty land.
No written evidence has been found to establish in what section of Virginia, William lived before 1772, when he signed the "Call to Rev. Cummings".
However, in Mecklenburg county, Virginia in 1756-1760, a William, John and George Blanton were land owners. In the property taxes in Lee County, Virginia. in 1795, the Names William, John and George were listed, and also from "Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia" and extracted from the original court records of Augusta County, 1745-1800: Tax levies Delinquents - 1767 Wm. Blanton.
William Blanton was also listed with the "Long Hunters" in 1760-1775. In 1803, he stated he had been acquainted with Powell’s Valley since 1770 and was on a hunting party there in 1771-72 and that he moved to Powell’s Valley 1782-83. Vincent Hobbs, Hannah’s father. stated he became acquainted with the land in 1773 and settled there in 1780. His family came to Southwest Virginia circa 1769.
In 1788, William bought land on Moccasin Creek, a branch of the North Fork of the Holston River. The next year he bought 226 acres on Copper Creek, a south branch of the Clinch River. He sold both tracts in the winter of 1792. These are recorded in Russell County.
In 1796 and 1797, William bought land on the Powell River which he sold in 1799 and 1804. The Powell Valley opens onto the Cumberland plateau and, no doubt, William Blanton had been on hunting trips into the Tennessee area. Land grants were being made in Tennessee and a group of Southwest Virginia settlers moved into the area of Warren County. William was listed as a Lieutenant in the May 21, 1808 roll of the 29th Regiment, Tennessee State Militia. He received a land grant of 100 acres in Warren County in 1810 which he sold to John Denton. The sale was not registered until December 4, 1819. Aggie Blanton Johnston, William’s daughter stated in an affidavit her father died about 1817 in Virginia, and also gave some facts about his military service.
On the 2nd day of September, 1797 William Blanton bought from Wm. Daniel, and Susanna, his wife, for 120 pounds, a certain tract or parcel of land, containing 82 acres lying on both sides of Powell’s River. Beginning at a white oak and black walnut on a Rocky Ridge ... to comer to said Ann Campbell crossing a creek, and said river to a white oak on the top of a cliff ... to a white oak on the top of a ridge to a white oak on the bank of the said River crossing the river to a White Oak on the west side of a Ridge ... Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of Samuel Howard; John Howard; Robert Daniel; and Vincent Blanton.
At Lee, June term 1798, This Indenture, of bargain and sale was produced in Court and proven by the oath of Vincent Blanton, it being formerly proven by two witnesses whereupon it was ordered to be recorded.
On the 11th day of ____1799 William Blanton and Hannah, his wife, sold to James Young, both of the County of Lee and Commonwealth of Virginia, in consideration of the sum of 40 pounds current money of Virginia, one certain tract or parcel of land, containing 30 acres... lying and being in the County of Lee, on the south side of Powell’s River ...
At a Court, held for Lee County the day of ______1799. This indenture of bargain and sale for land from William Blanton and Hannah, his wife, to James Young was acknowledged in Court, whereupon, it was ordered to be recorded.
October 1804 William Blanton of The County of Lee in the Commonwealth of Virginia sold to Robert Ely for the sum of One Thousand Dollars a certain tract or parcel of land in the said County of Lee, lying on Powell’s River containing 93 acres, beginning at a white oak and black walnut on a rocky hill to a beech on the bank of Powell’s river, thence down the meanders thereof ... crossing said river ... to Job Crabtree’s land ... crossing the mill creek to the beginning. .. In witness whereof the said William Blanton and Hannah, his wife, both hereunto subscribed their names and affixed their seals the day and year above written.
On the 27th day of November 1804, William Blanton and Hannah, his wife, of the County of Lee and State of Virginia sold to Randolph Noe in consideration of 60 pounds, ... a tract or parcel of land lying and being in the County of Lee, containing 34 acres... Beginning at an Ash and Beech on the bank of Powell’s River, thence up the said river as it meanders with appurtenances there unto belonging.
{Warren County Deeds - Bk 3, Pg 80} ... granted by the State of Tennessee unto William Blanton, Sr., assignee of James Philips a certain tract or parcel of land containing 100 acres part of a warrant lying in Warren County in the first district in a fractional section adjoining the ninth section in the fourth range... with the heriditments and appurtenances... to the said William Blanton, Sr. 26 Apr. 1810. Registered in Warren County, April 19, 1814. State of Tennessee No. Bk A, Pg 438.
{No. 5499 Warren County TN Bk A, Pg 439} State of Tennessee No. 5499. Know ye that in consideration of military service performed by granted Jonathan Trickle to the State of North Carolina warrant No. 4146 dated December 8, 1796 and entered on March 17, 1812 by No. 71819 there is granted by the said State of Tennessee unto William Blanton, Sr. Assignee of the heirs of the said Jonathan Trickle a tract of land containing fifty acres part of said warrant lying in Warren County in the first district on the head waters of the dry fork of Smith’s fork. Beginning at a Lynn standing on the North side of the short mountains running thence West one hundred and forty one poles with said Mountain on Sectional boundary to a sugar tree thence North fifty six poles to a beach in James English’s South boundary line thence East with said line one hundred and forty one poles to a Sassafras thence South fifty six poles to the Beginning. Surveyed March 24, 1813 by A. Harris D S. To have and to hold the said land with its appurtenances to the said Blanton, Sr. and his heirs forever. In witness whereof Wilie Blount, Governor of Tennessee hath hereunto set his hand and caused the great Seal of the State to be affixed at Knoxville April 1, 1814. By the Governor Willie Blount; State of Tennessee} The within Deed was acknowledged in Warren County} Open Court this 14 April 1820.
Jos. Colville Clerk; Recorded 1; 10th Aug. 1820.
{Warren Co., TN Bk B, Pg 60} Indenture. 12 Apr 1814. Between William Blanton of Warren County, State of Tennessee and Vincent Blanton of the same place, Witnessed: For a consideration of One hundred dollars William Blanton sold to the said Vincent Blanton a certain parcel of land in Warren County on the north side of Mountain Creek part of two hundred acres granted by the State of Tennessee to the said William Blanton by No. 2194 dated April 26, 1810. Beginning at a chestnut and red oak the northeast corner of the original survey thence with the original line west one hundred and sixty poles to two lynns the northwest corner of the original survey hence south eighty poles to a stake on the original line hence east across the original line one hundred and seventy poles to a stake in the old line form thence along said line to the beginning, containing eighty acres more or less. Title guaranteed. William Blanton (Seal); Witnesses: Gail Evans, George Berger; State of Tennessee; April term 1814. Warren County; Acknowledged in open court on the 5th day of September, 1814; Joseph Colville, Clerk.
{Book C, Pg 250-1} William Blanton sells to John Denton, Sr. the 100 acres on Mountain Creek, entered by No.2193 Recorded 4 Dec 1819.
{Book C, Pg 215-6} John Denton sells this same 100 acres to Alexander Blanton. Oct. 21, 1818. Recorded 24 April 1820.
{Warren County TN DB D, Pg 59-60 29} Jan, 1820; Alexander Blanton (**Note: He is grandson of William and Hannah Blanton, son of Vincent Blanton) of the County of Warren, and State of Tennessee sells two tracts of land to Archibald Hicks, (**Note: Rutha Hicks a daughter of William and Hannah Blanton married Archibald Hicks) in consideration of the sum of $1,200.00. One parcel of land lying and being in the first district, County of Warren ... adjoining the ninth section and in the range. Beginning at ... a conditional corner made between William Blanton ... including and the said Alexander Blanton’s improvements ... containing 600 acres. The second parcel lying and being in the first district of the S. side of Short Mt. ... beginning at a small Poplar standing in William Blanton’s east boundary line of 100 acre tract whereon the said Alexander Blanton now lives ... to a stake on the side of Short Mountain ... to a red oak in the said Blanton’s east boundary line ... including also an improvement made by said Blanton’s east boundary line...including also and improvement made by the said Alexander Blanton containing 50 acres...The first mentioned tract of 100 acres founded on Grant No. 2193. The second tract of 50 acres founded on Grant No. 7445." Recorded 14 April 1820. Witnesses: James Newby and Sam Reynolds.
The Virginia Magazine of History, Vol. E82, and other records show that one William Blanton on Caroline County VA., age 22, 5’ 7¾" a carpenter by trade, was on the size roll of Major Andrew Lewis’ Company of Virginia Troops, in the French and Indian War. No date given, but since General Braddock was defeated and slain in 1755, this William Blanton was possibly born around the year 1730, or 1735. The date on the previous Roll is 1756, the date on the following roll is 1757.
The Index to the Manuscripts of General George Washington, the great collection of letters and papers now in the Library of Congress … shows the name of William Blanton on Pgs 49, 67, 141, 152, and 164. On Pg 49: General George Washington, in his own handwriting, further describes William Blanton as: "Complexion: Brown; Large good Limbs; Black Hair."
Virginia French and Indian War Land Bounty Certificates Vol I, Cert# 1148: "At a court held for Greenbrier County, Feb. 15, 1780, I do hereby certify that William Blanton, an inhabitant of this State, made proof to this Court that he served as Sergeant in First Virginia until he was discharged that he never proved such service before nor received and bounty for land for : same agreeable to the King of Great Britain, therefore an Certificate is granted him."

  Noted events in his life were:

• Residence: Virginia, United States. ¹⁹

William married Hannah Hobbs, daughter of Vincent Hobb Sr and Mary Hannah Shelby. (Hannah Hobbs was born in 1745 in Maryland, USA and died in 1833 in Greenbrier Lee, VA.)