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Biography of Willoughby Blackard (1758-1838)

In 1979, HD "Doug" Blackard writes that his aunt Kate remembered that Willloughby was the son of Charlie Blackard and the Welsh woman."

Charlie Blackard was said to be a Scot Highland lad, came down into Wales and met and fell in love with a Welch girl. They were married and had two children, then decided to come to America - I know nothing further until Willoughby Blackard, said to be their son, at the age of sixteen joined the Virginia Militia according to the information I found in the Archives at Richmond Va. More may be found about his services, today you might write there and ask about the service of one Willoughby Blackard II - a revolutionary soldier.

I read an article sometime back to Willoughby was a Welch surname in common use in Wales - so I have read (not confirmed) another family story is that he was given a homestead in the highlands of Va. for his services. My father told me that it was 60 acres and was in Carroll county out or near Floyd County. Willoughby Blackard married a Susan Owen of Kentucky said to be a planter's daughter and aristocrat. He came out of the army as a pricefighter met her on one of his trips and married her and brought her to the highlands of Virginia (I laughingly say starved her to death) one more family story and I will have to stop and lay down (excuse me please) it was said that he among others was taken prisoner by the English that they were made to kneel and bow their heads to be shot then an officer went down the line and looked down at them when he looked around grandfather Willoughby he saw 2 crowns, double crowns and ask him who he was and grandfather answered him in Scottish that he was of Scotish ancestry and said who he was and the officer was to have ordered him released.

source: Letter from Kate Blackard to HD Blackard

1757-1764 Granville County, N.C.

During the years 1757-1758 Willoughby's father, Charles Blackard, was in Granville County North Carolina . Charles Blackard is recorded on two separate tax lists in 1757 in Granville County, NC. This portion of Granville County later became Bute County in 1764 and then Warren County in 1779.

We find Willoughby’s army service records and Kate Blackard’s account in agreement about his father being Charles Blackard and his place of birth. Charles Blackard was the only adult Blackard that we find in Bute County NC in 1758 when Willoughby was born. Willoughy’s service record says that he was born in Bute Co, NC and enlisted in Bute Co, NC. However, Bute County had not been formed when Willoughby was born and was still a part of old Granville County.

We do not know at this time why Kate referred to him as Willoughby Blackard II.

1764-1775 Bute County, N.C.

Bute County was created from the eastern portion of old Granville County and that is where the family of Charles Blackard lived. there until he Revolutionary War started and joined the Virginia Militia in 1775.

1775 Virginia Militia Service

In 1775 Willoughby apparently enlisted in the Virginia Militia just as Kate Blackard said. This stands to reason because he fought in the Battle of Great Bridge near Norfolk, Virginia on December 1775 "where Fordyce was defeated", Willoughby refers to this as as "Long Bridge" in his revolutionary war service testament in 1832. This battle occurred in 1775, the year before his enlistment in the Colonial Army suggesting that he served in the Virginia Militia first.

1775-1781 Continental Army Service

The next year Willoughby enlisted in the Continental Army in Bute Co, NC 1776 under Captain John Hogan and served in the Fourth North Carolina Regiment, Col. Henry Dixon, Major Thomas Denaho and Captain Jacob Turner.

Willoughby enlisted in in Bute Co, NC 1776 under Captain John Hogan and served in the Fourth North Carolina Regiment, Col. Henry Dixon, Major Thomas Denaho, Captain Jacob Turner

In 1777 Willoughby found at Battle of Germantown, Pennsylvania on 4 October 1777 under George Washington who was defeated by General William Howe.

Next in 1780 he fought at the battle of Stone Ferry

On May 12 General Benjamin Lincoln surrendered Charleston, South Carolina, to British General Henry Clinton. Willoughby was taken prisoner at Charleston on May 26, 1780. On July 27, 1780, he was exchanged and placed in Captain Edward Yarborough's Company in Colonel Henry Dixon's Sixth North Carolina Regiment.

Next he was in Battle of Gate's Defeat on 16 August 1780 in Camden, South Carolina where Gates met Cornwallis and lost almost all of his forces.

In 1781 Willoughby fought under General Nathanael Greene at as in Battle of Guilford Courthouse in Guilford County NC on 16 March, 1781 intercepting Cornwallis on his march toward Virginia. The colonial forces lost that battle, however, they weakened Cornwallis' forces so severely that Cornwallis surrendered in October at Yorktown, Virginia.

Also in 1781, he was in the Battle of Camden in Sourt Carolina on 26 April 1781

Then he fought at Eutaw Springs on 8 September 1781 under General Greene again.

WIlloughby was discharged from the army on November 15, 1781.

1782 Hillsborough District, NC

1782 Hillsborough District, NC payroll voucher

1783 Warren County, NC

After the war he was recorded as Wilby Black on the 1783 Warren County tax list living close to Frances and Spencer Snow. NC Genealogist, Louise Fuller, believes that he was possibly working on the nearby Alston estate. Warren County is the northern half of old Bute County.

1787-1788 Caswell Co, NC

Previously, Charles Blackard, either Willoughby's brother or father, was listed on the Caswell county tax lists for the years 1780-1786.

The two years after after Charles disappears from the Caswell county lists, Willoughby is listed in 1787 and 1788 for poll tax but without property.

1787 Tax Lists - Caswell Co, NC- St. Luke's District - Williby Blackard -- 1 White Poll
1788 Tax Lists - Caswell Co, NC- St. Luke's District - Willibee Blackard -- 1 White Poll

His brothers Willam and Job were not listed in the Caswell County tax lists until the years 1789.

1790-1791 Rowan County, NC

The 1790 US Census lists Willibee Blackheart for Salisbury Distict, Rowan County, NC. It reports Willilbee as head of household with 3 females. This is probably a wife and 2 daughters. This would indicate that Willougbhy married Susan Owen in 1789 when he left Caswell County.

1790 Rowan Co NC Census - Willibee Blackheart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MALES	
1		Willoughby Blackard
FEMALES 	
3		Susannah Owen Blackard, Daughter 1, Daughter 2

He is also listed in "Heads of Families at the first census of the United States taken in the year 1790 North Carolina." Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Baltimore 1973. pg 171. Salisbury District, Rowan County.

The next year 1791 Rowan County NC Tax List for Davie Distict includes Willube Blackhart taxed for 1 white poll.

1800 Rockingham County, NC

Wil You Be Blackart is recorded on the 1800 Rockingham county, NC census. listed as 26-45 with a wife and 6 children.
The two daughters listed in the 1790 census are not included among the children in this household.

1790 Rowan Co NC Census - Willibee Blackheart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MALES	
2	under 10 years		Thomas & William
1 26 to 45 Willoughby
FEMALES 	
3 under 10 years Dilcy Jane, Lucy, Daughter #2 ?
1 10 to 16 years Daughter #1 ? (possibly Martha J. Blackard) 1 26 to 45 Susannah Owen Blackard

Willoughby apparently left this unsettled debt in Person County according to the estate settlement of Samuel McMurry in 1802.

Inv. estate of Saml. McMurry taken 15 Mar. 1802. List of bonds and notes on: Duncan Carmicle, Nathan Williams, George Eskridge, William Ball, William Yalock, William Woods, Williby Blackard, Benjamin Douglass, James Bark, Martin Douglas, William Farrar, Thompson McKissock, John Black, David Breeken.

1810? Stokes County, NC

Willoughby's 1838 Pension payment mentions that he lived in Stokes County, NC prior to moving to Grayson County, Virginia. No other record of this has been found.

1811-1816 Grayson County, VA

On May 25th, 1811, Willoby Blackard obtained deeds from Thomas Jessup and John Pearson according to Grayson County court minutes. This is the land that Kate Blackard mentions, however, it later is later transferred to Carroll County.

 

 

On February 25th, 1812, Thomas Dalton sued Willoughby Blackard for debt. The sheriff could not find him to serve the writ and Willoughby did not appear in court.

Willoughby is again recorded in 1815 on the Grayson Co, Virginia personal property tax list with 2 head of Cattle.

Willoughby Blackard still resided in August 1816 according to this land deed for John Dalton adjoining Willoughby's property.

Virginia. Land Office. Register. Land grants, 1779- Library of Virginia. Archives.
Land Office Patents & Grants/Northern Neck Grants & Surveys
Dolton, John. grantee. 1 August 1816.
Location: Grayson County.
Description: 60 acres on the waters of Big Read Island River adjoining Willibe Blackard.
Source: Land Office Grants No. 66, 1816-1817, p. 61 (Reel 132).

1818/1820 Wythe County, VA

Willoughby then moved and resided in Wythe Co, VA from about 1818 or 1820 until his death in 1838 according to his final pension records..

1820 Wythe Co NC Census - Susannah Blackert
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MALES	
1	10 to 16 		Aaron?
2 16 to 18 John? & Charles ?
3 16 to 26 Thomas, John? & Charles?

FEMALES
1 10 to 16 Susannah?
1 16 to 26 Jane
1 over 45 Susannah Owen Blackard

1830 Wythe County, VA

 

1832 Wythe County Virginia

1832 On Oct 8 1832, appeared in person to testify for war pension in Wythe Co, Virginia

Willoughby made this declaration:

Wythe County, to-wit:

On this eighth day of October 1832, personally appeared before Justices of the County court of Wythe in open court Will you be Blackard a resident of Wythe County, and State of Virginia, aged 74 years on the

12th of August last past, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by act of Congress passed June 7th

1832, That he enlisted in the Army of the States on the 12 Oct 1776 with Capt. John Hogan and served in the 4th Regiment of the North Carolina line under the following named Officers Col. Henry Dixon, Major Thomas Donoho, Capt Jacob Turner who was promoted to Maj. and killed at Germantown -then Capt. William Sanders. At the time of his enlistment he lived in Bute County North Carolina, marched first to a place in Virginia called the long bridge, & was in the battle when Fordyce was defeated, from thence he returned to North Carolina to Bute county thence to Halifax county, & then to Stono River & was in the battle of Stono - Genl Lincoln was commander in chief who was there wounded –from the battle of Stono went into Charleston & was there taken prisoner May 2n. 1780 & remained a prisoner until the 27 July same year was then exchanged & then was put in the 6th Reg. North Carolina line, Col Henry Dixon, Liut Col Robert Mayben, Maj. Donoho, Capt. Edward Yarborough served under Capt Yarborough to the end of the war was in Gates defeat Aug 16, 1780 - then in Guildford battle March 15, 1781 - then the battle of Camden April 23d 1781 - then the Eutau Spring battle Sept. 8th 1781 - Green commanded. Was discharged Nov. 15, 1781 - Has lost his discharge. He hereby relinguishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state.
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.

Will you be (his mark) Blackard

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion that the aforenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. I, John P. Mathews, Clark of the County Court of Wythe County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Will you be Blackard for a pension. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 21st day of October 1832
J. P. Mathews Clk
by A. B. Moore his Dep
."

1834 Wythe County Virginia

1834 Annual pension of $80 allotted on 4 March, 1834 in Wythe Co., VA.

1835 Wythe County Virginia

Virginia Pension Roll of 1835 Report from the Secretary of War In relation
to the Pension Establishment Of the United States 1835

WILL YOU BE BLACHARD WYTHE COUNTY PRIVATE VIRGINIA MILITIA
$80.00 ANNUAL ALLOWANCE
$240.00 AMOUNT RECEIVED
JANUARY 17, 1834 PENSION STARTED
AGE 76

1838 Wythe County Virginia

Willoughby Blackard died: between March and May of 1838 in, Wythe Co, Virginia.

On 9 March 1838 Willoughby signed [X] power of attorney to collect his pension payments, witnessed by Justice of Peace and William Blackard.

Willoughby Blackard's last pension payment Nat'l Archives abstract for "settled" accounts: "Third Auditor records: Entry 722: Selected Final Payment Vouchers, 1818-1864

In all cases, the final payments reflect payments made to the widow, children, or estate of the deceased pensioner."

WILL YOU BE BLACKARD -- RICHMOND -- 1832

Wythe County, VA, 9 March 1838. Willyoube Blackard [x his mark] (former private), resident of this county for upwards of 20 years and previous thereto of Grayson County for about 10 years and previous resident thereto of Stokes County, North Carolina, appoints H.W. & J.J. Fry attorney to collect pension due from 4 September 1837

to 4 March 1838; witnesses John Stranger J.P., John Miller and Wm. Blackard [x his mark].

Richmond 5 May 1838 H.W. & J.J. Fry collected $40.00

1840 Wythe County Virginia

Susannah Blackard (age 80-85) appears to be living with Daniel Sutphin and Jane Blackard Sutphin in the 1840 Wythe Co Census..